RTHK: Confront the "deranged", not gun owners: Trump Former US president Donald Trump on Friday argued the United States should make it easier to confine "deranged" people and eliminate gun-free school zones after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers this week at a Texas school. "Clearly, we need to make it far easier to confine the violent and mentally deranged into mental institutions," Trump said in a speech at a convention in Houston of the National Rifle Association, a gun rights advocacy group. Tuesday's fatal shooting of 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, by an 18-year-old gunman equipped with an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle again focused attention on the NRA, a major donor to Congress members, mostly Republicans. On suggestions to improve the security of schools, Trump said every school should have a single point of entry, strong fencing and metal detectors, adding there should also be a police official or an armed guard at all times in every school. "This is not a matter of money. This is a matter of will. If the United States has US$40 billion to send to Ukraine, we can do this," he said, referring to Washington's financial and military support for Ukraine after Russia's invasion in February. The former US president also called for eliminating gun-free school zones, adding that such zones leave victims with no means to defend themselves in case of an attack by an armed person. "As the age-old saying goes, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," Trump added. "The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens." Video images of the main auditorium in Houston, which holds about 3,600 people, showed it to be about half-full as Trump took the stage on Friday afternoon. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-05-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. CPC leadership deliberates regulation on Party's political consultation work Xinhua) 10:25, May 28, 2022 BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to deliberate a regulation on the Party's work regarding political consultation. Political consultation is an important component of the CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation system, and a major form of socialist consultative democracy, the meeting said. Political consultation is also an important means of pooling wisdom, enhancing consensus, and promoting scientific and democratic decision-making, it added. The regulation is of great importance for strengthening the CPC's leadership over the work of political consultation, improving the work, upholding and improving the country's new model of political party system, and consolidating and developing the patriotic united front, according to the meeting. The meeting stressed implementing Xi's important thoughts on strengthening and improving the united front work as well as the work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership to ensure the right political orientation and the efficiency of political consultation. It stressed efforts to build consensus through political consultation and achieve unity in understanding on fundamental and major issues, so as to rally strength from all sectors closely around the CPC and form synergy in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and achieving national rejuvenation. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Seven groups of black-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix nigripes), an endangered species, are living in Chua Chan Mountain in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam, according to a local review. The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai announced the result of the review, of which the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development took charge, on Friday. The seven groups include around 159 to 192 black-shanked douc langurs, which have grown well and are in the expanding stage of population growth. In particular, each herd has adult and semi-adult males and females, juveniles, and newborns. Officers also noticed the langurs separating from their original herd and merging into a new group during the review process. A pregnant black-shanked douc langur is spotted in Chua Chan Mountain, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. Photo: V. Dung / Tuoi Tre In addition, the officers identified 154 plant species that are food for the black-shanked douc langurs, accounting for 48.7 percent of the total plant species in the reviewed area. The langurs do not eat bark, other animals, and insects. The related departments of Dong Nai have proposed a number of urgent solutions for conserving these rare packs of langurs. Chua Chan Mountain, also known as Gia Ray or Gia Lao Mountain, is the second-highest mountain in Vietnams southeastern region after Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province, with an altitude of 837 meters. It is one of the charming and unique landscapes in Dong Nai and an attractive tourist destination for nature exploration. The mountain has been recognized as a national scenic relic since 2012. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria will not support European Union's new set of sanctions against Russia if the Balkan country does not get a derogation from the proposed ban on buying Russian oil, Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev said late on Sunday. European Union governments moved closer on Sunday to agreeing to tough sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but scheduled more talks for Monday to work out how to ensure countries most dependent on Russian energy can cope. "The talks will continue tomorrow, on Tuesday too, a meeting of the leaders may be needed to conclude them. Our position is very clear. If there be a derogation for some of the countries, we want to get a derogation too," Vassilev told national BNT television. "If not, we will not support the sanctions. But I do not expect to get to that, based on the talks at the moment," he said. Landlocked Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which all depend heavily on Russian crude delivered via Soviet-era pipelines face a challenge to secure alternative sources and have asked for a derogation from the ban. Bulgaria has also requested a derogation. The European Commission proposed changes on Friday to its initial planned embargo on Russian oil to give the three countries more time to shift their energy supplies, while Bulgaria was not offered concessions, EU sources said. Vassilev said Bulgaria also needs to get a derogation, as its only refinery at the Black Sea port of Burgas needed time to upgrade its de-sulphurization facilities necessary to switch to processing only non-Russian crude. Neftochim Burgas refinery, owned by Russia's LUKOIL, is the dominant fuel provider in the Balkan country, the poorest in the 27-member bloc. At present, half of the oil it processes comes from Russia. Lack of an exemption would either pose serious environmental risks to the region of Burgas or force the oil refinery to decrease processing, which would create a deficit and further increase fuel prices, he said. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; editing by Diane Craft) Czech Republics We Are Domi have delivered an energetic performance of their song Lights Off during the opening slot of the Eurovision grand final. They are one of 25 acts vying for the top prize during the climax of the week-long contest in Turin, Italy. The trio were all dressed in elaborate outfits including purple statement jewels. Their performance, which combined strobe lighting and projections of the sculpture of David by Michelangelo, went down well with the 7,000 fans cheering from the Pala Olimpico arena. Graham Norton returned for his 13th contest to cast a watchful eye over proceedings while delivering his customary barbs. He said: How great were they. You should be cheering in Leeds because all three of them went to music college in Leeds and lived in the UK for a time. What a way to open the show the Czech Republic's We Are Domi literally smash their Grand Final performance on the #Eurovision stage! pic.twitter.com/QQiLi0U3Tb Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 14, 2022 Eurovision entrant Sam Ryder will take to the stage, 22nd in the running order, in a bid to improve the UKs standing during the grand final tonight. The 32-year-old TikTok star will perform his uplifting pop song Space Man, which he co-wrote with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Wadge, who has previously worked with Ed Sheeran and Max Wolfgang. Story continues This years final features the 20 successful nations from the weeks two semi-finals, as well as the so-called big five of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Eurovision favourites, Ukraines folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra, will also perform their song Stefania 12th in the running order. Reigning Eurovision Song Contest champion Italian rock band Maneskin will also be taking to the stage to perform their new single Supermodel. This year, Spain's biggest military celebration is back in its biggest version with a parade presided over by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles; the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban Lopez Calderon; the President of Aragon, Javier Lamban; the Mayor of Huesca, Luis Felipe; and various civilian and military authorities. Huesca hosted the military parade two years later than initially planned as a result of the pandemic, which forced the Armed Forces Day to be reduced to austere military events in Madrid in its 2020 and 2021 editions. More than 3,200 military members, 154 vehicles and 69 aircraft paraded through the centre of Huesca for Armed Forces Day. Ronnie Wood says Charlie Watts wanted the Rolling Stones to keep rocking after his death. (Getty/The Roundhouse) Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood says the band's late drummer Charlie Watts would have wanted them to go on touring for as long as possible. The 74-year-old rocker told the Mirror that Watts had given the band their blessing to continue with new drummer Steve Jordan before he passed away in August 2021. Read more: Mick Jagger explains how he's still rocking at the age of 78 Wood said the band members had "a very strange feeling" as they began rehearsing with Jordan, even though they had been given the green light by Watts. He added: "But despite the uncertainty and sadness we keep going. It is what he would have wanted. The Rolling Stones do not stop. Watch: Rolling Stones to play Hyde Park on anniversary tour "And oddly enough, even if its almost magic, I can tell you the band now has an extra boost. Its Charlies energy. Charlie lives." The Stones are currently in Madrid, where they will play the first shows of their European tour. Read more: Ronnie Wood's family tree too complex for Who Do You Think You Are? Over the next few months, the 60th anniversary concerts will take in a number of huge venues, with UK gigs planned at Hyde Park and Liverpool football stadium Anfield. Wood said: "This world sucks sometimes, with all this going on. Id like to think that we started this tour to make people forget for a couple of hours about the problems that overwhelm us so much." The Rolling Stones are currently in Europe as part of their 60th anniversary tour. (Europa Press/Getty) The return to the stage is particularly emotional for Wood, who was diagnosed with cancer for a second time during the COVID-19 lockdown. Wood previously battled lung cancer in 2017 and was given the all-clear again after his small-cell cancer diagnosis in 2020. Read more: Roger Daltrey calls Rolling Stones "a mediocre pub band" Speaking in 2021, he said: "Im going through a lot of problems now, but throughout my recovery, you have to let it go. And when you hand the outcome over to your higher power, that is a magic thing." Wood joined the Rolling Stones in 1975, replacing departing guitarist Mick Taylor. Watch: Mick Jagger dismisses Harry Styles comparisons Marchers at Stormont before the start of the Northern Ireland centenary parade (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) Cries of no surrender echoed at Stormont on Saturday as tens of thousands of people gathered in Belfast to celebrate the centenary of Northern Ireland. Around 20,000 marchers, with tens of thousands more spectators, thronged Belfast city centre on Saturday to mark 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921. While political deadlock remains, attendees at the centenary event were upbeat and in a relaxed mood as they gathered to celebrate the past, present and future of Northern Ireland. They said the celebration, delayed by a year, was not overshadowed by the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol. However, the post-Brexit arrangements which have paralysed politics in the region were mentioned repeatedly by speakers and others as one of the great threats to the place of Northern Ireland in the UK. Marchers at Stormont before the start of the Northern Ireland centenary parade from Stormont towards City Hall in Belfast ((Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Rev Mervyn Gibson, appealed for unity within unionism, as he hit out at US president Joe Biden and US congressman Richard Neal in his speech at Stormont. He suggested that compromise might be necessary to secure the stability of Northern Ireland, telling the crowd: We do not live in a world as we would like it to be. We live in a world in the reality of today, with its challenges for this generation. There were cheers and applause during his speech as he defended the place of Northern Ireland in the UK. Someone tweeted ahead of today that we as unionists are living in times of uncertainty and opposition. They are right, but that is and always has been the case, he told the crowd. We have always lived in such times due to those within who want to destroy Northern Ireland for the sake of some new utopian Ireland where we are told we will all be valued. Members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) A new Ireland where the planter after 400 years will finally be accepted. Let me respond to this magnanimous gesture: we neither need your permission nor acceptance. We are here longer than Joe and Richies folks are in America. We are United Kingdom citizens by birth, Northern Irish through our culture and heritage, which makes us British by choice and conviction. Story continues We have no interest in becoming part of an all-Ireland. Save your breath. He continued: Not one Unionist politician, not one, believes the protocol is good for Northern Ireland, he said. The big day has finally arrived! Wishing everyone - participants and spectators - a very enjoyable day as we celebrate the Centenary of Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/7Ga6ctVETo Orange Order (@OrangeOrder) May 28, 2022 The majority of Unionists have voted that political Unionism do not join an executive until the wrongs lurking in the protocol are rooted out and thrown out. Let us make it very simple for our European neighbours, not least those on the other side of the border in the Republic of Ireland. Two key elements must go, no tweaking, no tampering, no fudge, no constructive ambiguity, no excuses. We will not tolerate any system, process or structure that will allow checks on any goods trading within the UK for use within the UK. No fundamental change to the protocol, then no functioning Assembly. Members of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) He continued: The words of our forefathers still ring true for us today even from Derrys walls to the signing of the Covenant. United we stand divided we fall. And the cry to those who seek to persuade us, protocol or push us into a United Ireland, is still the same, no surrender. The parade left Stormont at around 1.20pm, before making its way towards Belfast City Hall where marchers were greeted by Grand Master of the Orange Order, Edward Stevenson. Many businesses had closed early, with every street in the city centre thronged with enthusiastic observers of the parade. A large police presence was stationed in parts of Belfast as the parade continued late into the afternoon. Earlier, Mr Stevenson had opened proceedings at Stormont by telling the crowd: From its earliest days, Northern Ireland had to face turbulent times and very many challenges. He was cheered as he promised that Northern Ireland will remain an integral part of the UK in the years to come. He said: Due to the adversity of those years, I believe that we are fully justified in not only commemorating, but proudly celebrating this anniversary. People gather at Stormont (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) Disappointingly, but predictably, throughout 2021 there were those who told us that there is nothing to celebrate. They sought to belittle, undermine and erase the history of our people and our country. Rather than a celebration, they repeatedly downplayed the anniversary and all it stood for. Regrettably, even our own UK Government did little, despite much encouragement by this organisation and others, to ensure that the centenary was marked in a fitting way. The celebration at Stormont included prayers, a short act of remembrance and the singing of God Save the Queen. Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was among many unionist politicians who joined the parade. He told the PA news agency that the lack of a functioning Executive, which his party has prevented from forming, did not mean Northern Ireland could not be celebrated. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Centenary Parade will take place in Belfast today at 1pm. The parade will leave Stormont at 1pm and proceed to City Hall. Diversions are in place and delays are expected. Allow extra time for your journey if you are travelling through Belfast. pic.twitter.com/mPeeL3GRd3 Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) May 28, 2022 We have lots to celebrate in Northern Ireland. We have come through adversity in the past and we faced it down. And were looking to build for the future. Of course we want to see Stormont restored, but that means restoring Northern Irelands place fully in the United Kingdom. Everyone is welcome here and if people feel they cant be here, that of course is a matter for them. But we are here to celebrate 100 years of Northern Ireland. We are proud of what has been achieved in that century and were looking ahead to the future, he said. Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said it was important to separate the celebration of Northern Irelands history with the current political deadlock at Stormont. He said: We have to separate that slightly from the political ebbs and flows of this place. Orangemen file past the statue of Sir Edward Carson (Niall Carson/PA) (PA Wire) We have had many ebbs and flows as far as Stormont is concerned, and the devolved settlement, and we need to separate one from the other. Mr Beattie said he understood some people will not want to celebrate the history of Northern Ireland. He added: Those people who want a united Ireland, many of them will not want to commemorate 100 years of this place we live in now, which we call Northern Ireland. That is up to them and I have no issue with them they can stay away. They are not being forced to come here, nobody is being forced to come here, but I hope they do take an opportunity to watch and see how respectfully this is going to be done today. Some spectators had arrived as early as 9am along the route into the city centre, with Union flags hung along streets around Stormont. Tens of thousands of others thronged the streets from Stormont into City Hall. The event to mark the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921 comes after the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the celebrations last year (PA Wire) Many families took deck chairs as they awaited the arrival of the parade in the May sunshine. At the Arches Care Home on the Upper Newtownards Road, residents were taken out on to the pavement to watch the proceedings. The event to mark the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921 comes after the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the celebrations last year. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) warned ahead of Saturday that the parade was likely to cause delays and diversions for motorists in and around the city. Members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland, the Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the Royal Black Institution and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, also took part in the parade. Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire) Boris Johnson has stressed the vital need to provide Ukraine with fresh military support including long-range rocket launchers as Russian forces slowly chew through ground in the east. The Prime Minister warned Vladimir Putins invading army is making palpable progress in the Donbas region after abandoning the attempt to encircle Kyiv. Mr Johnson argued, in an interview with Bloomberg, that more offensive weapons including long-range multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRSs) are needed. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 27 May 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/8oy0CIaoIP #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/6gQjEGEiRb Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 27, 2022 He warned of the dangers in negotiating with the crocodile Russian President but said Mr Putin must accept that his so-called de-Nazification of Ukraine has finished so he can withdraw with dignity and honour. Mr Putins invading troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Donbas region, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). But it said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys defending forces are holding multiple defended sectors as Russia deploys 50-year-old Soviet-era T-62 tanks. These, the intelligence update said, will almost certainly be particularly vulnerable to anti-tank weapons and their use shows Russias lack of modern, combat-ready equipment. Mr Johnson said: I think its very, very important that we do not get lulled because of the incredible heroism of the Ukrainians in pushing the Russians back from the gates of Kyiv. Story continues Im afraid that Putin at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas, hes continuing to make gradual, slow but Im afraid palpable progress. And therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily. Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba this week urged allies, particularly the US, to provide MLRSs. 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, Mr Kuleba said. The UK has M270 MLRSs but it was unclear from the interview whether Mr Johnson wanted to send the weapons from British stocks or was urging allies to send supplies. But he said the weapons would enable them to defend themselves against this very brutal Russian artillery, and thats where the world needs to go down. Reports in the US suggest President Joe Bidens administration is preparing to send MLRSs to Ukraine. On peace talks, the Prime Minister said: How can you deal with a crocodile when its in the middle of eating your left leg? Whats the negotiation, and thats what Putin is doing. He will try to freeze the conflict, he will try to call a ceasefire The guys completely not to be trusted. (via REUTERS) North Korean officials are testing rivers, lakes and waste in order to detect the source of the countrys Covid outbreak. Amid the outbreak of the virus, state media has reported that the government is stepping up testing and disinfection across the country. In a statement, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said: Emergency anti-epidemic sectors at all levels are giving precedence to the test of specimens collected in rivers and lakes, while disinfecting hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of sewage and thousands of tons of garbage every day and analysing them. A further video from the state news channel showed a group of government officials wearing protective clothing and medical masks with boxes labelled specimen carrier. Officials are collecting samples from people showing fever and testing drinks produced at factories in Pyongyang to ensure they are clean and safe, Jo Chol-Ung, vice chief of the Pyongyang Municipal Hygienic and Anti-epidemic Centre said in footage. North Korean state media claimed the government had developed its own Covid test equipment but has never revealed how many people have tested positive. The hermit state had claimed to be Covid-free throughout the majority of the pandemic and rejected vaccines for the virus last year. State media claimed a further 100,460 cases of fever were reported on Thursday evening. Earlier this month, 400,000 cases were reported after the state claimed Covid was spreading throughout the country. Such was the spread of the outbreak that Kim Jong-Un said the virus was a great disaster for North Korea. "The spread of the malignant epidemic is the greatest turmoil to fall on our country since the founding," the KCNA news agency quoted Mr Kim as saying. Onetime Trump Administration Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is projected to win the Republican primary in the race to be Arkansas next governor, a position held by her father from 1996-2007. The Associated Press called the primary race in Sanders favor early this evening. Huckabee Sanders took over the White House Briefing Room podium from Sean Spicer in July 2017 and almost immediately established herself as a fierce defender of Trump and his policies. Her tenure was marked by sometimes-ugly clashes with with the White House press corps famously CNNs Jim Acosta and Democrats accusations she spread falsehoods. More from Deadline Trump announced her departure with an appreciative 2019 tweet in which he also said, I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done! A few months later, she debuted as a Fox News contributor on Fox & Friends. She declared her candidacy for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in January 2021 saying, As governor, I will defend our right to be free of socialism and tyranny, your Second Amendment right to keep your family safe and your freedom of speech and religious liberty. Our state needs a leader with the courage to do whats right, not whats political correct or convenient. Sanders would not be the first former White House press secretary to seek elective office. After serving as press secretary for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, Pierre Salinger was appointed to fill a vacancy to the U.S. Senate in 1964 but lost an election for a full term that year. She will face the winner of Arkansas Democratic primary and Libertarian nominee Ricky Dale Harrington in November. Best of Deadline Story continues Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A group of veterans marched through the downtown Waco area Saturday morning. Some held flags high, flags of Texas, of the United States and of their branch of the military. Others wore the names of fallen comrades on their backs as they marched and joked with fellow veterans. They were marching in a Silkies Hike, the flagship event of Irreverent Warriors, a nonprofit with a mission based in improving veteran mental health and preventing veteran suicide. According to Irreverent Warriors website, the first Silkies Hike was held in 2015 in San Diego and spread to over 40 cities within a few months. Now, there are Silkies Hikes held across the United States and internationally. The hike started as a bar crawl but has evolved into an event focused on bringing veterans together to re-create the camaraderie experienced in the military, said Jerry Neel, Irreverent Warriors district coordinator for Texas and Oklahoma. Waco hike coordinator Bryan Kutej said a hike has been held annually in Waco since 2016. Kutej said veterans have a special brand of humor that allows them to connect with one another and be themselves. He said that sense of humor inspired the Irreverent Warriors name. Irreverence is basically an inability to take serious things seriously, Kutej said. Theres a lot of humor thats placed onto us from being in the military and having to go through hardships. We tend to make light of that in a way that we can soldier through it by either making fun of the situation, or just making fun of each other so that we can bring each other closer in order to finish something thats usually not that fun to complete. Silkies is a nickname for the short shorts issued to soldiers in boot camp for exercising. Although not required, they are the official uniform of the Silkies Hike. Kutej said many soldiers held disdain for the shorts, which played into the humorous aspects of the Silkies Hike. It has become so not funny that its funny, Kutej said. Its dressing out in order to make a joke. Skies out, thighs out. The hike is based on the military rucksack march, where soldiers must march together wearing combat gear and a heavy backpack for long distances. While not required, some veterans choose to wear rucksacks on the Silkies Hike to fully recreate the experience. Neel said veteran suicide is one of the biggest reason for the Silkies Hike, as 22 veterans die by suicide each day. By bringing veterans together, the hikes can build a peer-to-peer support network so veterans can build lasting friendships, Neel said. He said he has met many veterans through the Silkies Hike who he connects to on the same level as soldiers he served with, and that he believes the hikes can be the difference between life and death. Rafael Deras, a veteran, said the Waco hike is the second Silkies Hike he has participated in. No matter what part of life were from, we start making bonds with each other, Deras said. When I first went, it really helped my mental health. It really got me out of my comfort zone. Everybody was just so welcoming and friendly, it made it a safe environment, a very comfortable environment to be open and out with yourself. 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. It is possible to find swimming lessons in Waco, but the pool of options is pretty shallow. As kids finish the school year, they are heading into summer with two fewer publicly accessible pool options in town since the city of Waco purchased and closed the Doris Miller YMCA with plans to reopen the facility as a community center. Across town, summer camps will fill the halls of the Greater Waco YMCA with kids, but only some of them will learn to swim. Swimming lessons are either separate from camps or offered as an add-on feature parents can purchase along with the camp. The citys purchase of the Doris Miller YMCA site in September cleared the way for the remaining local YMCA off Harvey Drive, which also was struggling financially, to stay afloat by being absorbed into the YMCA of Greater Williamson County. After the merger, the Greater Williamson County organization, which oversees Y locations in several counties, took on the YMCA of Central Texas name. The city plans to convert the Doris Miller facility into a community center. Waco YMCA Aquatics Director Evan Bates has been preparing for the busy weeks ahead by hiring as many swimming instructors and training as many lifeguards as he can. Other days, he is busy helping the rest of the staff paint classrooms in preparation for summer camp. The start of the summer is always full, Bates said. The Y offers swimming classes year-round, but every year students begin trickling in around spring break and their numbers steadily increase until mid-July, he said. YMCA lessons cost $80 for Waco residents and $60 for members, less than the average private swimming lesson. Bates said he is not sure how many members who primarily used the Doris Miller Y will come to the Harvey Drive location, which was renamed from the Waco Family YMCA to the Greater Waco YMCA after the merger. But he said the Harvey Drive Y always had seen significantly more people sign up for swimming lessons than the Doris Miller Y. In 2010, Bates taught a Learning to Swim program at the Doris Miller Y for J.H. Hines Elementary School students, but that program has since been replaced by grant-funded safety courses for kids who cannot swim and lack experience around water. The grant is specifically for kids in ZIP codes with high poverty levels. The link between poverty and drowning is well-established. A USA Swimming Foundation study in 2017 found that 79% of children in households with income of less than $50,000 have no or low swimming ability. And racial disparities in poverty rates are reflected in drowning statistics. Black people are 1.5 times more likely to die from drowning than white people, a disparity that is even more pronounced in younger age groups, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2019 study by the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education surveyed 476 teenagers in YMCA locations in Houston; Jacksonville, Florida; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; and Memphis, Tennessee and found that 23% of adolescents who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch programs learned to swim from a qualified instructor, and teenagers that only learned informally are more likely to say they are not strong swimmers. Learning how to swim from a certified water safety instructor is important to the level of swimming ability, and to the lack of fear that child will have in the water, according to the study. Having proficient swimming skills and confidence is key to avoiding the tragedy of drowning. This summer in Waco, La Vega Independent School District and Waco ISDs Transformation Waco are working with the Greater Waco YMCA to bus summer school students to the Y for water safety lessons paid for by a $30,000 grant from the Cooper Foundation. Its like a part of their physical education, Bates said. Theyre coming over and theyre grasping lifelong, necessary skills to be able to learn to swim or refine those skills. Cooper Foundation Executive Director Felicia Chase Goodman said the organization has a long history of working with the local YMCA. You know when you think about it, here we have a river and a lake in our community, but not a real robust swimming program that is open to anyone, Goodman said. A survey of La Vega parents received more than 190 responses from parents who said their children cannot swim but should learn through a school program, said Charla Rudd, the districts assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and accountability. We felt that was enough interest for us to support this grant funding, Rudd said. She said the school district plans to bus about 150 summer school students from its campuses to the Greater Waco YMCA for water safety lessons starting next month. A Cooper Foundation grant will cover the cost of those lessons, along with extras like bathing suits and caps. Rudd said the district plans to expand the program as part of its after school program in the fall. We will try to make those grants go further, Rudd said. Rudd said more than 90% of La Vega students live under the poverty line, and the district tries to cover the entire cost of programs like this. The grant can also pay for individual swimming lessons for parents through the Y, but parents will have to arrange their own transportation. Last summer, Transformation Waco sent 55 first- through sixth-graders to water safety classes at the Doris Miller YMCA, using federal grants provided through the city of Waco. Not all children swim regularly, so making water safety and swimming lessons available is really important, Transformation Waco spokesperson Josh Wucher said. We want them to gain experience and familiarity in that setting, and we definitely want to continue that. He said the biggest logistical hurdle is managing travel time for 50 students per lesson. Ideally they (lessons) would start when summer school does, Wucher said. But because thats Tuesday, May 31, realistically it will be June. Optimistically, it will be mid-June. He said the district, like La Vega ISD, wants to continue the lessons in fall. There are still spots in private and semi-private lessons, but waitlists have already formed for Sigma Swimmings Waco $125 classes, which also require a $50 registration fee. The organization organizes swim teams and lessons in several Texas cities and offers programs at multiple pools in the Waco area. It most recently expanded to the Olsen Park Pool, the city of Cliftons public pool, this summer. City of Waco summer camps run through community centers do not include a swimming portion, though they do include trips to the local Hawaiian Falls water park. Lions Park had a community pool during its earlier years, but was shut down to swimming replaced by a short-lived bumper boat attraction in 2001. The city of Waco also operated a public pool at Cotton Palace Park during the 1950s. DuConge Pool, located at 1504 J.J. Flewellen Road, was the last city pool in operation when it closed in 2010. At the former Doris Miller YMCA facility the city bought last year, the outdoor pool is in need of work and has been drained so it can be assessed, Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Cook said. Specifics of the work that is needed or the ultimate plans for the pools at Doris Miller remain unclear. The facilitys indoor pool is in better shape, but the building its housed in needs repairs, Cook said. It is possible some water features will be installed at the site before it reopens as a community center, he said. Cook said plans to renovate both Lions Park and Cotton Palace Park are still in their public engagement stage, and both will require multiple public meetings. It would not be a subject thats off the table, Cook said of the potential for the city adding a public pool. 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. If it takes a village to raise a child, as the proverb goes, sometimes it takes a village to feed one when infant formula runs short. The national shortage of baby formula that began in February, triggered by formula manufacturer Abbotts temporary closure of one of its largest plants due to bacterial contamination, continues with some anticipating more months ahead of limited supplies. Locally, shelves once laden with formula are smooth as a babys bottom, cleaned out by anxious moms and relatives assisting in the search for what has become a hot commodity. Visits Friday to two local H-E-B stores, a Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and Walmart revealed limits on purchases, frustrated managers and customers, and limited stock. We get 10 to 20 calls a day on truck days, Tuesday and Thursday, from customers checking on baby formula, said Adrian Gonzalez, a manager at Walgreens on New Road. We try to limit the number each customer can buy, but really it is first come, first served. Its gone by the end of the day. Gonzalez said shortages began about a month ago and have worsened. At the Walmart on Franklin Avenue, shopper Quiara Herron brightened upon spotting six bottles of Enfamil NeuroPro, a baby formula her 4-month-old daughter, Novaa, tolerates well while transitioning from breastfeeding. Herron said she inquired at other local Walmart locations, Target, CVS and H-E-B stores before hitting the mother lode at the South Waco Walmart. She even recruited assistance from relatives in St. Louis, Missouri, and Columbus, Ohio, who unsuccessfully combed the Midwest for her preferred formula. A sign displayed in Walmarts infant formula aisle said effective immediately sales are limited to five units per customer per child. Price gouging captured the attention of attorneys general and lawmakers in several states. Five members of Congress from Texas penned a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, saying they are troubled by news of gouging they heard anecdotally from parents and reports in the press. They said they heard reports of up to $80 in weekly costs, and $50 for a four-day supply, and said formula prices had risen 18% the past year. Bad actors taking advantage of parents desperation must not be tolerated, the lawmakers wrote. Any instances of price gouging, illegal or predatory market behavior, or other actions that will impede parents from purchasing this much-needed formula must be fully investigated and stopped. H-E-B, Wacos dominant grocery chain, released a statement, saying, Many retailers are experiencing shortages of baby formula. We have product limits on baby formula and encourage customers to only buy what they need. Those limits are two items per customer, according to signs posted at H-E-B locations on North 19th Street and on South Valley Mills Drive. The formula aisles of each had vacancies galore on Friday, when shopper Pricilla Mayoral visited the North Waco store determined to find formula for a nephew born on Mothers Day. She had bounced her inquiries between the Walmart stores on Franklin Avenue and on Hewitt Drive before finding success at H-E-B. Mayoral found what she needed, but other customers may not. That H-E-Bs formula section was home to 26 small stickers informing shoppers the store had temporarily run out of a particular brand, size or concentration. The CVS at New Road and Valley Mills Drive keeps baby formula behind the front register. Sales are limited to three items per person, but such a purchase nearly would have wiped out the limited inventory on display. Employees near the register agreed they receive calls daily about formula availability, and deliveries may or may not have the product. The formula shortage has particularly affected mothers of infants who participate in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The program allows low-income women who qualify to receive food, formula and health screenings free or at discounted prices. WIC serves about half of all infants born in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which operates the program. Recipients are limited, however, to specific brands, most of which were affected in the recall of five Similac formulas and the shutdown of the Michigan plant that made them. The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District works with about 6,300 WIC clients in the county on a monthly basis, said Teri Blair, the health nutrition program supervisor for the district. The WIC program covers women who are pregnant, nursing or post-partum as well as children up to 5 years old. Blair estimated about 80% of WIC clients with infants to feed use formula. WIC clients had four approved formulas they could buy, and mothers often need a specific formula to meet their needs, she said. A baby may have an intolerance to milk or milk products, food allergies or other medical conditions requiring a certain nutritional component. Babies born premature, for instance, often need a special formula because their digestive system was not fully developed at birth. For those mothers, the problem was not a lack of formula in general, but the certain one they needed for their child. As of now, Similac Advance is the formula thats hardest to find. If youve been to the grocery store, theres nothing there, Blair said. The general population is buying anything and everything. County and state nutrition workers have scrambled to help WIC mothers, working to expand formula options to include Walmart and H-E-B house brands and formula by manufacturers other than Abbott. WIC clients have to have those alternatives added to the cards they use for purchases and will be able to do so through August, Blair said. The health nutrition supervisor said moms running low on formula should not to dilute it, and those using powdered formula should boil the water first, mix in the powder, then let it cool before using it. She also said parents who need a specific formula for their baby should talk to their doctor for advice on options when formula runs out. Doctors will know the baby and their health condition, she said. In recent weeks, the government has imported formula from Europe and expanded approved formulas for WIC and other programs. Abbotts closed Michigan plant also is expected to reopen next month, and Blair said she hopes formula supply will start to rebound this summer. Until then, volunteers will continue to help formula users cope with scarce supplies. People posting on social media or texting photos of stores with formula on the shelf has helped many mothers by minimizing fruitless trips to stores without formula, trips that cost money with high gas prices, Blair said. The Facebook group Waco Moms In The Know, which counts some 17,600 followers, has posted plenty of those pictures over the last four months, said Kenya Soto, a Robinson mother and speech pathologist who started the group nine years ago and serves as one of its administrators. Pre-pandemic, members often swapped information on school supplies or what area child care centers had openings for children, or engaged in public versus private school discussions and the like. COVID-19 and its impact on families accelerated posts and participants as mothers shared information on child care and school closings, home safety, issues with at-home school kids, vaccinations and more. So when moms started to report formula shortages, others on Waco Moms In The Know jumped in to help. Members posted photos of store shelves with formula and when they found it. Others had leftover unused formula or samples received in the mail they were willing to share. Some shared advice on breast feeding. Theres a pretty large group of moms in Central Texas and its a pretty supportive group, Soto said. Waco Moms In The Know helped Woodways Moldbreakers Fellowship church get the word out when it had formula to share. Nicole Merkledove serves with her husband John as outreach ministers for the church and posted information about a Feb. 26 diaper and formula giveaway at the church. Some 125 people showed up from as far away as Harker Heights. Merkledove, who works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was especially touched that the giveaway had helped military wives from the Fort Hood area. We were able to bless moms in the community with diapers and formula and information, she said. Whenever Moldbreakers Church receives formula from Shepherds Heart and Robinson food pantries, Merkledove passes on the word. She said the church has helped about 70 mothers looking for formula over the last two or three weeks. Whenever were blessed, we put it on the website, she said. Where we see a need, we want to help. Volunteers stepped up for the Waco Child Development Center during the shortage as well. Director Debbie Miller said 10 of the 110 children the center cares for are infants on formula, but donations and support have helped keep the center supplied over the last few months. Nearby Talitha Koum Institute, a smaller center that serves at-risk children up to 5 years old, has had a similar experience with mothers and other supporters dropping off extra formula, Executive Director Susan Cowley said. People helping people. See, thats Texas for you, Miller 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. Carl Hoover Carl Hoover has covered Waco arts and entertainment, and more, for the Tribune-Herald since 1984. Follow Carl Hoover 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 KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russia asserted Saturday that its troops and separatist fighters had captured a key railway junction in eastern Ukraine, the second small city to fall to Moscow's forces this week as they fought to seize all of the country's contested Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the city of Lyman had been completely liberated by a joint force of Russian soldiers and the Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war in the eastern region bordering Russia for eight years. Lyman, which had a population of about 20,000 before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, serves as a regional railway hub. Ukraines train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens during the war, and it wasnt immediately clear how the development might affect either capability. Controlling the city would give the Russian military a foothold for advancing on larger Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, Russia has concentrated on seizing the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Fighting continued Saturday around Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, twin cites that are last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that the situation in the east was difficult but expressed confidence his country would prevail. If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian, he said. On Tuesday, Russian troops took over Svitlodarsk, a small municipality south of Sievierodonetsk that hosts a thermal power station, while intensifying efforts to encircle and capture the larger city. The governor of Luhansk warned that Ukrainian soldiers might have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded. The advance of Russian forces raised fears that residents would experience the same horrors as people in the southeastern port city Mariupol in the weeks before it fell. Sievierodonetsks mayor, Oleksandr Striuk, said Friday that some 1,500 civilians have died there during the war, including from a lack of medicine or because of diseases that could not be treated while the city was under siege. Before the war, Sievierodonetsk was home to around 100,000 people. About 12,000 to 13,000 remain in the city, where 90% of the buildings are damaged, the mayor told The Associated Press. Ukraines police force said Saturday afternoon that the city is under constant enemy fire and civilians were wounded, but did not specify the number. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, volunteers worked to evacuate people Friday amid a threatening soundtrack of air raid sirens and booming artillery. AP reporters saw elderly and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs in Bakhmut, a city in northeast Donetsk province. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to convince reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sieverodonetsk, returned home. I have to know he is alive. Thats why Im staying here, Lvova, 66, said. A nearly three-month siege of Mariupol ended last week when Russia claimed the city's complete. The city became a symbol of mass destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. More than 20,000 of its civilians are feared dead. Mariupol's port reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea off the once-vibrant city. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don entered Mariupols seaport early Saturday. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian navy said Saturday morning that Russian ships continue to block civilian navigation in the waters of the Black and Azov seas along Ukraines southern coast, making them a zone of hostilities. The war in Ukraine has caused global food shortages because the country is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame over which is responsible for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said in a Facebook post that two Russian missile carriers capable of carrying up to 16 missiles were ready for action in the Black Sea. It said that only shipping routes which had been established through multilateral treaties could be considered safe. Ukrainian officials pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons, especially multiple launch rocket systems. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that providing rockets that could reach his country would represent a most serious step toward unacceptable escalation. He spoke in an interview with RT Arabic that aired Friday. In Russia on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that raises the age limits for Russian army contracts. Contractors can now first enter service until age 50 and work until they reach legal retirement age, which is 65 for men and 60 for women. Previously, Russian law set an age limit of 40 for Russians and 30 for foreigners to sign an initial contract. Russia's Defense Ministry said the Russian navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea. The ministry said the recently developed Zircon hypersonic cruise missile had struck its target about 1,000 kilometers away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Zircon,, described as the worlds fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead, and is said to be impossible to stop with current anti-missile defense systems. Moscows claims, which could not be immediately verified, came a week after Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the west of the country in response to Sweden and Finlands bids to join NATO. Putin marked the annual Border Guards Day by congratulating the members of the Russian service. The tasks you are facing are particularly important now, given the unprecedented political, economic and information pressure on our country and the buildup of NATO military capacity right at Russias borders, Putin said. Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. QR Code Link to This Post Stats and math reveal that Biden won only by cheat. You are either very stupid or pretending to be? What's wrong you don't believe in science suddenly? Factually it doesn't make sense. Obama and Trump were movements. Biden was not he was just a bore that put everyone to sleep. Think about it.Sorry reality hasn't kicked in for you but the fact is was a wildly dirty election has for the rest of us that have logic and common sense.RIP your commonsense The crime, which involved a scheme to steal guns and get them onto the street, has left members of the family that lives in the home fearful and on edge. Uvalde a mix of pride and anger as it grieves school attack UVALDE, Texas (AP) Days after a local man burst into an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers before officers managed to kill him, the signs of grief, solidarity and local pride are everywhere in Uvalde. Many are wearing maroon, the color for Uvaldes school district. And light blue ribbons adorn the giant oaks that shade the citys central square, where mourners come to lay flowers around a fountain and write messages on wooden crosses that bear the victims names. In front of a day care center on one of the citys main streets, 21 wooden chairs sit empty. Everyone in the predominantly Latino city of roughly 16,000 people seems to know someone whose life has been turned upside down. Police inaction moves to center of Uvalde shooting probe The actions of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers are at the center of the investigation into this weeks shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Authorities acknowledged Friday that children and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. TIMELINE: Texas elementary school shooting, minute by minute In the hours and days since the fatal shooting of 19 children and their two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, authorities have given varying accounts of what happened and how they responded. The investigation of the massacre at Robb Elementary School is ongoing, but much is already known about the nearly two hours that passed between when authorities say Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother and when police radio traffic indicated that the 18-year-old gunman was dead and the siege was over. Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that European nations halt sanctions on his country and weapons shipments to Ukraine. Putin held a three-way telephone call on Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany. The Kremlin says the Russian leader affirmed Moscow's openness to resuming talks to end the fighting. But Russias recent progress in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region could embolden Putin to keep pursuing his military goals in the country. Moscow claimed that its forces had captured another small city in the Donbas, the second this week. After failing to occupy Ukraine's capital, Russia set out to seize the last parts of the eastern region not controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists. FBI records on search for fabled gold raise more questions A scientific analysis commissioned by the FBI shortly before agents went digging for buried treasure suggests that a huge quantity of gold could be below the surface of a rural site in western Pennsylvania. That's according to newly released government documents and photos that deepen the mystery of the 2018 dig at Dent's Run. The report was authored by a geophysicist who performed testing at the site. The government has long claimed its excavation did not yield any of the Civil War-era gold that legend says was buried there. The newly revealed geophysical survey was part of a court-ordered release of government records on the FBIs treasure hunt. Ex-Proud Boys leader to stay jailed until Capitol riot trial A federal judge has ruled that former Proud Boys national chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio must remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in an order issued late Friday that Tarrio poses a danger to the public. The judge refused to release Tarrio on bond. An indictment in March charged Tarrio and others with plotting to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and interfere with the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote, which Democrat Joe Biden won over Republican President Donald Trump. Children among 31 killed at church fair stampede in Nigeria ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Police say a stampede at a church charity event in southern Nigeria has left 31 people dead and seven injured. One witness said the dead included a pregnant woman and many children. Police said the stampede took place at an annual Shop for Free program organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecostal church in Rivers state. Such events are common in Nigeria, Africas largest economy, where more than 80 million people live in poverty. Police say Saturdays charity program was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. but dozens arrived early and somehow the locked gate was broken open. Dozens of residents thronged the scene, mourning the dead. Doctors and emergency workers treated some of the injured as they lay in the open field. As US mourns shootings, NRA in turmoil but influence remains HOUSTON (AP) Nearly 10 years ago, the mass shooting of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School looked like it might lead to a breakthrough in the political stalemate on guns in the United States. That hope was dashed shortly afterward when the National Rifle Association's CEO gave a defiant speech. Now, Republicans are making similar points as the nation reels from the shooting that killed at least 19 children at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. While much has changed since Sandy Hook, and the NRA is not the powerhouse it once was, it seems that an expansive view of gun rights is so tightly woven into the fabric of conservatism it might not matter. 'Triangle of Sadness' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Fest CANNES, France (AP) Ruben Ostlunds social satire Triangle of Sadness has won the Palme dOr at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, handing Ostlund one of cinemas most prestigious prizes for the second time. Cannes also named Korean star Song Kang Ho best actor for his performance in Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-edas film Broker, about a Korean family seeking a home for an abandoned baby. Best actress went to Zar Amir Ebrahimi for her performance as a journalist in Ali Abbasis Holy Spider, a true-crime thriller about a serial killer targeting sex workers in Iran. This years award for best first film went to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell for War Pony, a drama about the Pine Ridge Reservation made with Oglala Lakota and Sicangu Lakota citizens. Madrid wins Champions League final marred by crowd chaos PARIS (AP) Real Madrid became European champion for a record-extending 14th time after beating Liverpool 1-0 in a Champions League final that started 37 minutes late because of disturbing crowd issues outside the Stade de France. Brazil winger Vinicius Junior scored the only goal with a close-range finish in the 59th. minute. It gave Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti a record fourth European Cup title. Madrid completed a Champions League-La Liga double. Liverpool finished the season that promised so much with just two domestic cups in England. Police deployed tear gas on Liverpool fans waiting in long lines to get into the stadium before kickoff. Some fans climbed fences to get into the stadium. 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 This article is centered toward the Russians: Russians are very introvert and very much always reacting to the circumstances that are presented upon it and this is natural issue for them. I have lived a very long time among Russians and know them well. Svetochka can tell you that I talk much about being Pro-active and not Re-active I have talked extensively about Russians being introverts and being reactionary. This is versus extroverts and being aggressive. They are two worlds, far apart and in this manner, Russians are far more compatible with the East and not the West The basics have come full force in view as we have watched the western reaction to being forced to be, just that reacting, not instigating the control issues. Reaction is always behind the curve when it happens. When you lay plans to instigate, you must always stay on the aggressive and that is what the west is doing. Yet, in this case with Russia, Russia is controlling the narrative and the western world is simply bonkers with confusion of its so-called world position The West is now in and now unable to stop, full stupid mode and that is what this article is about. Once you have your opponent reeling from your actions. You must become what you did to play the gambit to the very end. There is no stopping and there is no rest for the weary Russia has the west were they want them. The west has no idea that this has happened and yet, I see a few waking up, but stupid is rampant in the west and evil has grasped that stupid and is exploiting it. I wont go into details, for I have explained what I feel about this situation that is going on. The Devil in charge will drive the masses in the west to swarm Russia as you would Zombies at fresh food sources With that said above Russia needs to simply put themselves into a different mode. A mode that is contrary to them as a society. They need, better yet, they must become whom they are being attacked by. Except, they simply control it with their true selves. Never go full retard and that is why I am talking to the Russians I spent my life being a fake extrovert. In the extrovert USA society, you do what you have to do. It is a world of fake smiles, fake promises and fake existence. They all want to believe that they simply push it as if it is all real I do not expect Russians to become such fakes, but I know that Russians have to now fake extroversion and fake the desire to take on the world. They do not have the happiness of saying, Just leave us alone and all will be happy! We just want our part of the world! Not one step back, not one hesitation and not one desire for as it used to be. It will never be as it was and introverts love things to stay as they were. Even if that situation was not the best to begin with. They just love status quo It makes them extremely resilient and excellent neighbors.well until you try to kill them! This is what Russia reacted to: the realization that the West (Empire of Lies and the old British Empire of Lies) Wants Russia Dead Therefore, Russia has to become what they are not. They have to become what they despise. They have to become what they have been forced to become. They also have no stopping of their actions right now and in the long foreseeable future. They are now the Bear that was attacked and that Bear will end the attack. Even to the ends of the Earth. This is for the world, as much as it is for Russia Groundwork is laid: The Russians have two successes available and I have no doubt that success will happen. One success is better than the other and one success only delays the inevitable, and we do it all over again.it is still a success, but not final First success: Is what I feel Russia will want to do. they will find that the west will backpedal and try to change the Russian mind about wiping the west off the map. This is desperation of the west, and they will do anything to delay the situation. They will do this behind the scenes and try to garner a slow down of their demise. This has already happened with phone calls about prisoners of the Ukraine war, belonging to the western world and are in custody The west is bonkers over the Bio-Lab issues, the prisoners, the war crimes they committed, the weapons they supplied and dozens of other actions that they did, when Russia jumped their game and took it over While success is on Russias side, this allowing things to status quo will never be a long term situation. The West wants Russia subjugated, dead and all theirs. They need Russian resources, and they need them in a life or death way. The West is a user society, an extrovert society and a colonizing society. Always has been and always will be. they know nothing else. If they can stop Russia from going too far? That will allow them to re-group and start again Success number two: Is so simple and yet for Russia is the Achilles Heel of an introvert and reactionary society. A society that just wants to be left alone. Let us be, and we will let you be, society. It is a simple and obtainable success, yet is against the mindset of a country like Russia Russia simply has to destroy the Western Empire of Lies and or as Iran says, The Great Satan! What? No, Yes! It is now or never.to allow any release of pressure will allow the Empire to build back its war machine. They will do this at all costs, and they will never care who they hurt to do it. They will drive their people to mass hysteria and drive them like Zombies against Russia. Time is now what the Western Empire needs The Western Empire of Lies has left itself open, as have many Empires that fell in the past, to its own hubris and rhetoric The Empire has a hundred mole-hills, and they add up to a huge mountain The reality is, the Empires nukes are not maintained, it is broke financially, it is reliant upon everyone else for resources, it has a woke transgenderism army, it is abusive, it is hateful, it hates its own people, Its weapons are out of date and worthless, it is fat, it is non motivated, it follows no international laws, it has no judicial system, it is corrupt, it is drunk and drugged, It is based upon false data, it is greedy, it is evil, it is as the once Great Roman Empire was, a Giant Toga Party. It has so many Achilles Heels that it can be beat and beaten down for good. Not later. But now Russia has to be what it is not: Russia has to put aside its imposed ideas of right and wrong. It is not fighting a sane foe. Russia is not fighting a foe with common sense and any common sense it shows is strictly due to self-preservation. So that it can come back and stab you later, in the back. The fact is that right now, Russia is leading the real free world to a better form of freedom. All masks are off and all pretenses are in the open. Russia fails? The world fails! Therefore, Russia has to sever all ties, no matter how painful in the short term, with the West. Russia has to create a demarche line and say, Cross this line? You die! Russia has to mean it and never hesitate to back it up. The West only knows life by who is the strongest. Russia has always as an introvert and reactive society, told the Western Empire that they are scared. This is not true, but that is how the west takes it NATO has to die! EU has to be disbanded and let Europe be Europe again. Russia has to fully integrate with the East and never look back. The USA has to be pushed to use that rope that the east gave them long ago and finish hanging herself. She will, dont worry Three Quarters of the world is behind Russia and when push comes to shove. The world will have to shove the Western Empire of Lies and its immoral and world domination sick attitude into a box and tell them to stay put in your own sandbox, like little children. You would be shocked at what countries jump on the new bandwagon. Countries are like people, and they always go where the power is The West says we are the world and it is time that the world tells the West to stick it up their ass If Russia stays Russia and what being Russian means? The world will follow into the New Era! WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 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. Older members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community who have experienced hate attacks believe life in the United States has become more dangerous for them, according to a report from a group that tracks Asian hate incidents. The report, released by the Stop AAPI Hate coalition and supported by AARP, found that Asian Americans ages 60 and older were more likely to be physically assaulted than others in the Asian American population. One out of 4 incidents reported against Asian American elders26.2 percentwere cases of physical assault, compared with 15.4 percent for those under the age of 60. The report also found that older AAPI community members were refused services more often than their younger counterparts and had their property vandalized more often than younger members of the AAPI community. Of those Asian American and Pacific Islanders 60 and older who reported hate incidents: 62.5 percent were verbally harassed or shunned 7.8 percent were coughed or spat upon 7.2 percent had property vandalized 5.7 percent said they had been refused service The Stop Asian Hate coalition has been tracking anti-Asian hate incidents, receiving nearly 11,000 reports between March 2020 and December 2021. Nearly 8 percent of those reports, or 824 incidents, were attacks against older Asian Americans, a figure the group says is likely an undercount because some in that group face language, technological and cultural barriers that make them reluctant to file a report. From the start, we were alarmed by elders who reported racism to our website, says Russell Jeung, coauthor of the report and cofounder of the Stop Asian Hate coalition, and an Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University. You don't normally think of elders going online and complaining about mistreatment. They tend to underreport. [So] the fact that so many elders were sharing their stories concerned us. Daphne Kwok, AARPs vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, Asian American and Pacific islander Audience Strategy, noted that the report is significant because it spotlights the impact of COVID-19 quarantine orders and the rise in anti-Asian hate on the safety, social isolation and mental health of AAPI older adults. Grappling with stress and anxiety Asian Americans aged 65 and older accounted for about 4.4 percent of the total U.S. population in that age range, and more than 9 percent of the Asian American population in 2019, according to the U.S. census. In general, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders represent the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. In 1994, Lohrenz was the only female F-14 pilot on the USS Abraham Lincoln, making her feel very isolated. The missteps that would normally be attributed to just being a first tour pilot are suddenly attributed to the fact that youre a female pilot, Carroll says. Lohrenz recalls how the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), home to the first females to ever fly military aircrafts in World War II, were told they were no longer needed after the war, despite flying over 2 million hours in the 1940s. So, knowing that history and understanding that every day I showed up, I was standing on the shoulders of greatness, she says. Calm is your superpower, but the relentless scrutiny simply because I was a woman, that was nonstop. When the F-14 fighter jet was retired in 2006, 144 of the 632 Navy Tomcats had crashed. But only one of the crashes involved a female pilot. Scrutiny to power In almost a decade in the Navy, Lohrenz flew five other types of military aircraft in addition to the Tomcat, logged almost 1,000 hours of flight time and had 172 carrier landings. I faced a lot of up and downs. But, I started my career in the cockpit and I ended my career in the cockpit. I wouldnt have it any other way, she says. After leaving the Navy, she didnt know what she was going to do with her future until one day she was outside her home with her kids playing with sidewalk chalk. A neighbor who worked as an executive at a major food company came up to her because he was having a difficult time with a product rollout. Im like, OK, what are your resources? What are your threats? And then in big jumbo sidewalk chalk I drew this strategic plan for him in under 10 minutes. And he ran in, got a camera and took a picture, Lohrenz says. And next thing you know I'm starting a strategic planning consulting career. That evolved into being a keynote speaker, appearing on television and authoring two books on leadership that later went on to be Wall Street Journal best sellers. At the end of the day its not about me. Its what can somebody do with the lessons that I learned. If theres part of my story that I can share or if theres somebody who looks at me and thinks, Oh my gosh, maybe I can do that too then its worth it, she says. Carroll says, Because Careys efforts to kick in doors paved the way for female integration, compressively, now, if you visit a squadron you will see a large number of female naval aviators. And you will see the attitudes of their male counterparts. There is zero stigma. There is no differentiation. It is a regular thing. Courage does not mean the absence of fear, it means you have to feel the fear and go for it anyway, Lohrenz says. This is the eighth episode from AARP Studios new documentary series Reporting for Duty. Each month you can expect a new inspirational story about veterans and military families at YouTube.com/aarp. Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agencys Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. Officials provided updates on two shootings by Albuquerque police that occurred in the last two months one in which they say an accused killer exchanged fire with officers, but was not hit, and the other in which an unarmed suspect was critically injured. Investigations by the Multi-Agency Task Force and Internal Affairs are ongoing. Police Chief Harold Medina said the first case highlighted how the officers were in danger and how difficult it is for our law enforcement officers in todays climate. The second shooting marks the second time this year that officers have shot an unarmed suspect. Officers have shot at seven people total, killing four, injuring one and missing two. In response to questions, Medina said the Force Review Board made up of command staff and others will look at the most recent case to see if there was anything that could be done differently regarding training or policies. One of the things I think about is its always good for us to slow things down, Medina said. For us to use the establishment of perimeters. No one injured A little after 3 a.m. on March 29, officers were flagged down at the Ambassador Inn, on Candelaria NE near the Pan American Freeway, because security guard Heath Mora had been killed. Security camera footage shows a man later identified as 44-year-old Donovan Bookout enter a hallway in the hotel and shoot Mora, unprovoked. Mora died at the scene. Deputy Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock with the Criminal Investigations Division said more officers arrived in the area and saw Bookout carjack a truck near the hotel. As officers tried to stop him he fled and crashed into a police unit, Hartsock said. Officers followed Bookout and he eventually turned into an empty driveway for a business on Candelaria. The subject Donovan Bookout then exited the truck armed with a pistol and immediately began shooting at officers who were still in their vehicles as they were pulling up, Hartsock said. Officer (Justin) Collins and Sgt. (Andrew) Herpolsheimer both fired back at Donovan. Police released lapel camera video, however, the security camera footage shows the clearest view of the shooting. They also released photos of two police cruisers with bullet holes in the bottom of the doors and a silver and black Smith & Wesson handgun that was found at the scene. Hartsock said the gun has not been reported stolen and detectives are still investigating its origins. Neither Bookout nor the officers were injured. Bookout lay down on the ground, face down, and surrendered. He was arrested and has been indicted on charges of murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer and other crimes. He is awaiting a competency evaluation because there is a reasonable belief that the defendant may not be competent to stand trial, according to court documents. Bookouts attorney said his client is innocent until proven guilty and were still investigating the case. Officer Collins has been with APD since 2018 and Sgt. Herpolsheimer has been there since 2009. Neither has been involved in any other shootings. Hartsock said both are back on duty. Suspect was unarmed Around 9:45 p.m. on April 12 officers found a red Chevy Volt on Central and Pennsylvania that had been reported stolen in Santa Fe earlier in the day. Hartsock said officers tried to pull the car over but the driver fled. They were able to attach a GPS device called a StarChase to the car. At some point a passenger got out and said his brother Shannon Candelario, from Algodones, was driving. He reportedly said he did not know if he was armed or had any drugs on him. Officers caught up with 46-year-old Candelario at the Motel 6 on Central and Tramway and watched him enter the lobby. Detectives and officers came into the parking lot and while making the plan to arrest the subject if he walked back out observed the driver exit the motel and start to walk towards the stolen car, Hartsock said. An officer observed the subject put his hand in his pocket and pull out an unknown object in response (to orders) from police to surrender. The detectives followed Candelario, their guns drawn. On his lapel camera video Detective Jerry Arnold can be heard saying I cant see whats in his hands. I think its a knife as he follows behind him with his gun drawn. Then, as Candelario opened the drivers side door he raised his hand and Detective Damian Lujan who had approached from the back of the car fired. Arnold also fired a shot but his bullet hit the car. Candelario was not armed and instead had been carrying a black key fob with a red metal lock attached to it. Hartsock said the detective said in the statement that he thought that he pulled a black handgun out of his pocket. Candelario was taken to the hospital and then booked into jail on May 20 for a bench warrant for not complying with pretrial services. He was released Thursday. He is not facing any charges related to the shooting or car theft and Hartsock said they are still investigating the case. The Journal could not reach Candelario, his family or attorney for comment. Police did not release photos of Lujan and Arnold because they work in sensitive investigative units the gun violence street team and the auto theft unit respectively. Lujan has been with APD since 2007 and has been involved in three previous shootings in 2011, 2019 and 2020. Arnold has been with APD since 2003 and has not been involved in any previous shootings. Both detectives are back on duty in their positions. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A former state Children, Youth and Families investigator has testified that she tried in vain to remove a 4-year-old boy from an abusive and life-threatening home situation, and was directed by her supervisors to erase and edit her case notes after he was killed by his mothers roommate. The allegations of a cover-up are the latest in the ongoing civil lawsuit filed against CYFD by the estate of James Dunklee Cruz. The boy had been the subject of 10 referrals of child abuse or neglect before he was found unresponsive Dec. 10, 2019, in an East Central Avenue apartment shortly after his mother left for work He was beaten to death by a man they were staying with, Zerrick Marquez a man CYFD warned the mother not to live with. Marquez pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death on May 5; he has since indicated he wants to withdraw his plea. At issue in the civil case is why child welfare workers never filed for legal custody of the boy, even after he had suffered a shoulder injury, sexual abuse and told police and social workers that he was being hurt by men in his mothers life. A video taken while James was being interviewed by police and the social worker shows him sitting on a table at an urgent care center, his arm in a sling, politely answering questions and engaging with the adults. Two months later, he was dead from new injuries. Instead of taking James into CYFD custody in the last three months of his life, CYFD workers relied on his mother to adhere to a series of safety plans to direct where he would live with his mother without ensuring his long-term safety and well-being, states the lawsuit. His body spoke for itself. The injuries speak for themselves. On top of the physical proof, the doctors concerns, the injuries, the stories that dont add up, we had a four-year-old saying to the adults, he was being hurt. What more does it take to know that he needs to be taken away from that environment? said Sara Crecca, one of the attorneys who filed suit against CYFD. A CYFD spokesman said Friday that the agency doesnt comment on pending litigation. The Journal has reported extensively on the case and the lawsuits claims. But new details of the CYFD investigation and allegations of a CYFD cover-up surfaced during an April 25 sworn deposition of the lead investigator on the case, Jessica Etoll. Now a licensed social worker in private practice, Etoll was named as a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit, which was filed by Crecca and attorney Rachel Berenson of Albuquerque. The new revelations prompted the attorneys to file a motion in court Thursday to amend the state district court lawsuit. A copy of the proposed amended lawsuit was filed as an exhibit. Ms. Etoll knew James was being severely abused and believed CYFD should immediately take custody of the child, according to the exhibit. But Etoll needed her supervisors to ask the CYFD legal division to initiate the paperwork to file legal custody. One supervisor told her to calm down, and another, a county case manager who had the authority to approve taking him into custody, dragged her feet, but finally relented, the exhibit alleges. By that time, James couldnt be located. At the time of his death the boy was in Albuquerque living with Marquez, Marquezs girlfriend Pamela Esparza, and his mother, Krista Cruz, who was 22 years old at the time. Cruz, who herself had been in CYFD foster care, was homeless and had been staying with different friends for months. The Office of Medical Investigator determined the boy died of blunt trauma to his head and his torso. An autopsy also revealed healing jaw fractures and other healing head trauma that occurred at a time much earlier (weeks) than the acute injuries, the exhibit states. Upon learning of the boys death, Etolls supervisors decided to change her investigative notes to eliminate direct evidence of CYFD liability, the exhibit states. According to Etoll, supervisors Marvin Paul and Melissa Garcia asked where her notes were regarding the Dunklee Cruz investigation. She told them she hadnt yet formally entered them into the CYFD information system but had them on her work computer, the exhibit stated. She alleges she was told to provide the supervisors with copies of the notes and then was directed to make a number of specific deletions and edits prior to entering them into the formal (CYFD) system, the exhibit states. She was also directed to erase the portion of the notes that revealed that her supervisor, Garcia, had decided to begin the process of taking James into CYFD custody, the exhibit alleges. By that time, however, the boy could not be located and was not taken into CYFD custody. Mr. Paul and Ms. Garcia caused Ms. Etolls notes to undergo extensive editing changing how she worded her observations and removing notes they didnt want to be recorded in the permanent (CYFD) record due to Jamess death and the anticipated investigation into their actions and inactions, the exhibit alleges. The original and unedited copy of her observations and conclusions was saved on the hard drive of her work computer, the motion states. At the time, Etoll had given her two-weeks notice that she was resigning; she had made the decision to leave before James death. She turned the computer into CYFD on her last day of employment, Dec. 14, 2019, four days after James died. She also turned in her CYFD cellphone, which contained photos, text messages to and from her supervisors, another investigator and Krista Cruz. Upon information and belief, CYFD caused a `factory reset of Ms. Etolls phone to occur, rather than preserve this material evidence, even as the agency was opening its own investigation into Jamess death, the exhibit states. The exhibit also alleges CYFD reset Etolls work computer, erasing the only copy of her investigation notes that were not redacted and revised by her supervisors. Depositions of Garcia, who no longer works for CYFD, and Paul have not yet been scheduled in the case. Neither Garcia nor Paul could be reached for comment Friday. In response to Journal questions on Friday, CYFD spokesman Charlie Pabst-Moore issued a statement via email, This childs death, as any childs death, is a tragedy. Zerrick Marquez has pled guilty to abuse resulting in the death of this innocent child. The Department does not comment on pending litigation, but does note that the Department is confident in its position and remains committed to improving New Mexicos child welfare system and preventing incidents like this from happening. Meanwhile, Cruz and Esparza are awaiting trial on charges of reckless child abuse resulting in death. Life filled with abuse The lawsuit alleges James Dunklee Cruzs short life had been filled with abuse, both sexual and physical, by numerous men his mother had left him with. One caller reported to CYFD that James was wandering around a Rio Rancho apartment complex in September 2019 on a daily basis for hours at a time and would ask people for food. A month later, James was brought to a Duke City Urgent Care with multiple injuries, the lawsuit states, including an injured shoulder, and bruising on the shaft of his penis, and a black eye. He disclosed to someone who called CYFD that his mothers boyfriend at the time touched him inappropriately while he was in the shower. The exhibit states after receiving the allegations of abuse or neglect, CYFD imposed safety plans and other verbal directives on Cruz regarding his care. Each plan required her to fulfill certain obligations specifically in exchange for CYFD declining to exercise its authority to take him into legal custody. For instance, she was not to reside with Marquez or his girlfriend, Esparza, in October 2019 and she had to place her son in day care for his safety while she was at work. The state Legislature, by enacting the state Childrens Code, has emphasized keeping a family together whenever possible. But Crecca told the Journal on Friday that CYFD is responsible under the law to investigate suspected child abuse and neglect and assess the risk of future harm to the child. Something dramatic needs to change, Crecca told the Journal. The administration has got to pay attention to this; these children need to be a priority. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The allegations of destruction of internal records at the state Children, Youth and Families Department prompted a top state senator on Friday to ask for a state attorney generals investigation. And Attorney General Hector Balderas promised an evaluation of whether any laws were broken. Senate Minority Floor Leader Gregory A. Baca, R-Belen, issued a statement Friday stating the allegations that surfaced in the wrongful death lawsuit involving the death of James Dunklee Cruz are serious and must be investigated. A former CYFD employee testified at deposition that she was ordered to delete and revise her investigative notes that showed her efforts to try to remove the boy to CYFD legal custody before he died, according to a court filing this week. An AG spokeswoman told the Journal on Friday evening, While our office is not in receipt of a request from the Senate Republicans, we will evaluate allegations of violations of state records law, especially when it involves the safety of children. Meanwhile, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrezs office told the Journal it is reviewing the allegations of potential misconduct by employees of CYFD. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Its a crowded race for those vying to be the Democratic candidate for Bernalillo County Sheriff. Among the seven Democrats who have thrown their hats into the ring to be the countys top cop are three who have worked with the current sheriff, Manuel Gonzales a Democrat. Other candidates include a former sheriff of Quay County, a former state legislator and a 25-year-old who has never served in law enforcement. The seventh candidate, Matthew McCoy, did not respond to the Journals request for an interview and did not complete a questionnaire. As the largest sheriffs office in the state, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office employs 458 staff 305 of whom are sworn deputies and covers mainly the unincorporated areas of the county. However, deputies also have jurisdiction within the city limits. Sheriff Gonzales assistant did not respond to questions from the Journal about whether he was endorsing a candidate. However, financial disclosures show he donated $2,600 each to his former undersheriff Rudy Mora and his current undersheriff Larry Koren. The winner of the primary will face the Republican nominee and libertarian candidate Kaelan Ashby Dreyer in Novembers election. Larry Koren Prior to his career in law enforcement, Larry Koren worked as an aircraft mechanic and inspector. So, he said, when the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office bought a repurposed military helicopter for $1 in the early 2000s, he personally overhauled and rebuilt it. It was all in addition to my duties as a field deputy out on patrol on a graveyard shift, 54-year-old Koren said. I would come in and work extra, and volunteer a lot of hours and blood, sweat and tears into those programs. Koren, now a BCSO undersheriff, said he was inspired to try to replace his boss by a conversation with his wife about the de-fund the police movement and other initiatives. She wanted to know if I get the impression that the Democrats are on the wrong side of law enforcement right now and if it was time for the couple to leave Albuquerque. Ultimately, what she was really asking is: Have I given up and has the community given up? Koren said. I havent. Im still in this fight right now fighting crime and protecting others and I want to continue to do that. What it comes down to is I havent given up on Albuquerque, I havent given up on New Mexico or Bernalillo County. Koren describes himself as a fundamental law enforcement officer that believes in deterrence, but said he also has a compassionate side and believes in alternatives to incarceration. He said that, if elected, he would focus on building up infrastructure meaning additional facilities, information technology, and strengthening the bridge between the city and county. I think we provide an outstanding service for the unincorporated areas, Koren said. And, when it comes down to it, I want to make sure and try to do my best to get the city the same type of service. Rudy Mora It was while he was still hospitalized and on oxygen with COVID-19 in December that Rudy Mora decided to run for sheriff. Im thinking to myself, you know, of my legacy and what I have left if Im able to push through this awful, awful virus, Mora said. I started reading the sheriffs manual, the New Mexico sheriff handbook, and just having an epiphany, if I can get through this, how can I give back to the community? Mora, 50, left the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office in 2019 after serving as undersheriff for four years. Shortly after that, he was hired as the police chief of the Pueblo of Laguna, a position he held until he retired in July 2021. For Mora, being sheriff means being a servant leader who puts others needs before his own. My primary goal, if elected sheriff, is to go into the sheriffs office and just create a culture where people feel valued, they feel supported, and theyll go out there, both civilian staff and sworn, and serve and protect the people in an above-average manner, Mora said. When employees feel valued and supported, its proven they do great things. Mora, whose slogan is we dont have to be bad to get better, said he had disagreed with Gonzales on some issues over the years for instance, he was a proponent of body cameras. However, Mora said, he didnt believe they had the budget for the devices at that time and they had to update the departments vehicle fleet instead. If elected, he would like to expand the Records Management System and intelligence-led, data-driven policing. The sheriffs office is a position where I believe we need to collaborate with everyone, Mora said. I think they just play a pivotal role in what goes on today. We just see it at all levels of government politicians dont get along with one another and they may not communicate with one another at all levels. I just think the only ones that suffer from that are the people. John Allen John Allen has wanted to be sheriff since 2013. As a sergeant with BCSO, he said he would watch news conferences and be dismayed by Gonzales reluctance to get body cameras, the departments lack of transparency on crime statistics and other issues. When I was over the mobile crisis team, and some of our deputy-involved shootings, I saw the resources that our deputies did not have to at least attempt to avoid a deadly force confrontation, Allen said. Thats the worst for a deputy, of course deadly force is our last resort. Allen, 47, retired as a sergeant over the homicide and violent crimes unit in 2020, and now teaches at the Law Enforcement Academy at Central New Mexico Community College. He was one of the founding members of the Mobile Crisis Team, which pairs a clinician with a deputy to respond to calls involving mental health crises. Saying he represents change and reform, Allen said hed like to expand the Mobile Crisis Team, and improve on the way deputies handle mental health calls and those involving people struggling with drug addictions. This includes asking the Crisis Intervention Team to do follow-ups on mental health calls, and make sure individuals and families have the resources and services that they need. I want people to de-escalate, have a clinician if needs be to respond to the call appropriately, or even a deputy thats even better trained in the mental health arena, Allen said. That way, we have a rapport not just with our community, but with that specific family to make sure we dont have a deputy having to make a deadly force confrontation. And dont get me wrong, I know that might arise at times, but why would we not look at every tool to prevent that? Pat Ruiloba To show his commitment to transparency, 55-year-old Patricio Pat Ruiloba published his personnel files from his time at APD on his website. He is the only candidate to do so. The public expects transparency from their leadership and I wanted to make sure that people within the community, the voters, are going to be able to see my file, and some of the things that occurred during my time with policing, he said. I think thats really going to drive what I want to do as a leader in regards to being transparent. Those nearly 200 pages include, among other things, letters of commendation including one designating him non-uniformed officer of the month and a letter of reprimand disciplining Ruiloba for using a gun to disable a vehicle in 2005. Ruiloba said he shot at the tires of a gang member with a history of violence and several felony warrants who avoided apprehension for two years, while making statements about not going back to jail as he was fleeing so he could be taken into custody. I chose this action instead of using deadly force to stop the suspects dangerous actions, Ruiloba said. My supervisor chose a letter of reprimand. I didnt challenge this action as I believed the suspects life and the detectives lives were spared during this incident. Ruiloba worked in various units within APD from 1988 until he retired in 2008. Since then, he has served as president of his South Valley neighborhood, worked as a school resource officer at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School and was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2014. Ruiloba said that, as a legislator with a law enforcement background, he was able to provide input on proposed bills and introduce the Attendance for Success Act that requires public schools to establish an early warning system for students who are frequently absent, limits the ability of a student to withdraw, and more. I think what were seeing today in regards to crime and, specifically with our juveniles, is that some of the biggest factors is that those young people were either suspended or expelled, or dropped out of school, Ruiloba said. So, really trying to find and create policy that allows for some reflection, using restorative practices to keep our kids at school, but also hold them accountable for their behavior. He said that, if elected sheriff, he would like to focus on providing mental health treatment for deputies and building relationships with the community. Philip Snedeker Philip Phil Snedeker is the only candidate to have already held the office of sheriff. The Silver City native was elected Quay County Sheriff in 1987 when a little over 10,000 residents lived there. Snedeker, 66, said that, while some things have modernized in law enforcement and society including more programming for rehabilitation and mental health services in general, he expects that serving as Bernalillo County sheriff would be very similar to his time in Quay County. Nothing has changed whatsoever, Snedeker said. Youve got to have a very strong law enforcement effort, by that, I mean a very purposeful database into areas to prevent, suppress, stop crime, hold people accountable. Then, you work to rehabilitate them that has not changed. Following his stint as sheriff, Snedeker worked for the State of New Mexico Probation and Parole Division. He said that, in his time at the division, he learned that most of the people in the criminal justice system are affected by a chemical or alcohol dependency, poor influences in their lives and a lack of opportunities. While diversionary programs are very successful for first-time youthful offenders, Snedeker said that more serious, violent, repeat offenders need to be removed from society, and they do need to be in prison, they need to be held accountable for the misconduct. Referencing lawsuits alleging excessive use of force and racial profiling that the county has settled under Gonzales, Snedeker said there needs to be new leadership and enhanced training at the department. Its a matter of training; youve got to change the way people are responding to things, Snedeker said. Youve got to make sure that the people who are doing the training and are directing new recruits that theyre doing that in a constitutionally sound manner and that things are on track. And thats something that I think I can bring to a very successful resolution. Sheridan Lund Sheridan Lund decided to run for sheriff because he didnt like what he saw in all the other candidates. Its 20-year cop, 20-year cop, 20-year cop, 20-year cop, 20-year cop, and me, Lund said So, its pretty obvious that we at least need my voice in this race to spell out that its not criminals and cages. Its citizens who commit crime out of desperation, and we need to re-center the discussion. At 25, Lund has not held a job in law enforcement, does not have a law enforcement certificate, and is currently working as an electrician and a community manager at a tech company. He said his main initiative as sheriff would be working to set up a program with the county to give people cash directly. Crime is 100% a problem in the county, theres no denying that, Lund said. The solution is not more officers on the street banging heads. Its cash into the problem areas. Because, honestly, a lot of these problems of crime are destitution problems, edge cases where a little bit of cash, even like $50, or $100, would abate it. Lund, who tried to run for Congress last year, but didnt get enough signatures to get on the ballot, doesnt have a campaign website and is not taking donations. Hes campaigning through word of mouth, talking to neighbors and going to functions as a precinct chair with the Democratic Party. He said that, if hes elected, he would donate a lot of his salary to those in need. The first day would be a lot of why the heck do you do this? Why the heck do you do that? Why is this this way? Lund said. Because there would be a fresh perspective on the ways weve been doing stuff for decades. To read candidate bios and the complete questionnaires, visit ABQJournal.com/election-guide The public will have an opportunity to thank 25 veterans for their service during a June 3 welcome home ceremony at the Albuquerque International Sunport, as they return from a trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to honoring veterans and giving them closure with a free trip to visit the various veteran and war memorials around the nations capital. The organization is funded by private donations and fundraising efforts. Among those participating in this years Honor Flight will be two World War II veterans, 11 Korean War veterans and 12 Vietnam War veterans. They will depart June 1 and their trip will take them to the WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Navy Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, where they will view the changing of the guard. The return flight to Albuquerque arrives about 2:10 p.m. The public is encouraged to begin arriving inside the terminal building at 1:15 p.m. and to wear red, white and blue. For further information, go to honorflightnorthernnm.org. Do you know that feeling of nervousness you get before youre about to meet someone famous or important? That feeling that makes your heart beat fast, your face turn red and gives you the shakes? Thats the feeling I had not long before I had a short sit-down interview with the famed comedy duo and current heads of the Cannabis States of America, Cheech and Chong. And Im positive thats the same feeling some fans of the duo, who headed to PurLife in Rio Rancho last week, had when they finally got the chance to meet the two. Unfortunately, I wasnt able to meet the Cannabis States of Americas secretary of state Snoop Dogg. Maybe in the future. But this story is about meeting Cheech and Chong, man, and all that came along with it. Heres some background on the event, held May 18, before I give you some buzzer quotes from the famed duo. PurLife, which is exclusively selling the duos cannabis products Cheech & Chong Cannabis Co. in New Mexico, was able to secure some meet-and-greets at some of its locations. One of those stops was in Rio Rancho. Cheech and Chongs media representatives had reached out to the Journal in April to see if we would like to sit down with the two for an interview. Of course, as the Journals resident cannabis reporter, I had to oblige! I was in for a surprise. I showed up to PurLife about 10 minutes before 5 p.m. the time Cheech and Chong were meant to arrive at the dispensary and the time our interview was slated to start. But as I pulled up, hundreds of fans were lined up around the building in anticipation of meeting Cheech and Chong. I should have expected that. I walked into the dispensary and mentioned my interview to employees of PurLife. The workers told me that my interview would have to wait at least 45 minutes so the two could greet fans, but I shouldnt have expected the store employees to know the itinerary of Cheech and Chong. I was still able to interview the duo before their meet-and-greet started. The two arrived about 20 minutes after 5 p.m. Cheech and Chong jumped out of a blacked-out van and fans screamed like they just witnessed Kanye West make an appearance. The two walked into the dispensary and were escorted to a quiet space in the back. Shortly after, I was escorted back there, too. Before we sat down, a Cheech and Chong representative told me I had 10 minutes shortened from our originally scheduled 20 minute interview before the two had to go outside and make their appearance. As we sat down, Chong asked Cheech where the heck they were. But before Cheech had time to respond, Chong said, Albuquerque! in a tone of excitement. Shortly after, Chong said Burque to which I replied, Yep, thats what we call it. (We were in Rio Rancho but I didnt want to be the guy who pointed out that the two cities are, in fact, different.) Chong then mentioned how extremely stoned he was before we dived into the questions I had for the two. Upon further examination of Chongs eyes and mannerisms, I can confirm that he was pretty dang baked. Ive been around enough stoners in my life to know if he was just playing up the part or if he had hot-boxed the van before the event. My first question for the two was how and why they secured a deal with PurLife to sell their cannabis products in New Mexico. Yeah, money, Chong replied. We heard there was a lot of money in New Mexico in the weed industry, so were here to take it, Cheech said in a follow-up. I then asked what changes the two have seen in the cannabis space leading up to now. The truth is, were too stoned to really think about it, Chong said. After a good laugh, I then asked a few other questions about what legalized cannabis means for states across the country, advice they have for newbies looking to enter the industry and how they knew they wanted to make a business out of their pot-smoking habits. Of course, the two kept to their comedic ways and answered those questions with a fistful of humor. I should have realized. I took a picture with the two after our interview snapped by none other than Darren White, the former Bernalillo County Sheriff before the two went outside to greet their fans. I headed back to the newsroom and later in the evening I listened to one of Cheech and Chongs first singles, Santa Claus & His Old Lady, which came out in 1971. What an experience, man! UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Matthew at 505-823-3919, mnarvaiz@abqjournal.com PARIS Mohamed Benhalima looks wary and frightened as he is led off a plane at Algiers airport, handcuffed with a security officers arm wrapped around him. A team from Algerias Rapid Intervention Force then puts him in their vehicle and whisks him to an unknown destination. The video was posted online on March 24. Three days later, Algerians watched on television as the 32-year-old confessed to involvement with an organization that authorities have listed as an Islamist terrorist group plotting against the Algerian government. Once a faithful servant of his homeland as a non-commissioned army officer, Benhalima became a supporter of Algerias pro-democracy movement, then a deserter who fled to Europe. Spain expelled him after Algeria issued a warrant for his arrest. The confession scene was made public by Algerias General Directorate of National Security, in what could be seen as a warning to other soldiers or citizens. Hundreds of Algerian citizens have been jailed for trying to keep alive the Hirak movement that held weekly pro-democracy protests starting in 2019, leading to the downfall of longtime Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The marches were banned last year by the nations army-backed government. Authorities then expanded their sweep, linking some Hirak supporters to two groups added to Algerias terror list last year: Rachad, regarded as Islamist infiltrators whose leaders are in Europe, and MAK, a separatist movement in Kabylie, home of the Berbers. For the last two or three years, there have been thousands of legal cases against activists, said well-known lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi. Their only error is that they expressed their political opinions on social media and are fighting for a state of law. For authorities of the gas-rich North African nation, guaranteeing the stability of the state is at the heart of their actions. For human rights groups, Benhalima and others are victims of an unjust, antiquated system of governance that views dissidents, or any critical voices, as criminals. They say that Algerian authorities use threats to national security to stifle free speech, including among journalists, and justify arrests. A campaign on social media, with the hashtag #PasUnCrime (not a crime) was launched May 19 by dozens of non-governmental organizations against repression of human rights. The U.S. State Departments 2021 report on human rights in Algeria cited a long list of problems, including arbitrary arrests and detentions and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association. In March, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, asked Algeria to change direction to guarantee the right of its people to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. To be a human rights activist in Algeria has become very difficult, said Zaki Hannache, a Hirak militant recently temporarily released from prison. To be an activist who refuses the system is complicated. It even means sacrifices. Hannache, best known for keeping track of Hirak-related arrests, was arrested and jailed in February on a string of charges, including defending terrorist acts. The alleged confession of Benhalima captures the combination of evils that Algeria claims it is up against. He said that he was under the spell of Rachad and in contact with its London-based leader and his two brothers. The official APS news agency said Benhalima confirmed the implication of the terrorist organization Rachad in abject plans targeting the stability of Algeria and its institutions by exploiting misguided youth. Rachads website claimed the police video showed the forced confession of a hostage in a security services propaganda exercise. Rachads true goals are unclear, but it is a key target of Algerias crackdown. In December, Rachad said it had submitted a complaint to a U.N. special rapporteur over Algerias arbitrary classification of the group as a terrorist organization and asked U.N. authorities to urge Algeria to cease its illegal practices. Spain expelled Benhalima based on national security interests and activities that may harm Spains relations with other countries, according to Amnesty International. Spain expelled another deserter, Mohamed Abdellah, a dissident gendarme, to Algeria last August. Amnesty International described him as a whistleblower. Spain has a special interest in remaining on good terms with Algeria, which provides much of its gas needs. According to the National Committee for Freedom for the Detained, some 300 people are behind bars in Algeria for their political opinions. Up to 70 were given provisional freedom at the the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but others have since been arrested. In a case emblematic for Algerian journalists, the man who heads the outspoken Radio M and the online news site Algerie Emergent, Ihsane El-Kadi, risks three years in prison with a five-year ban on working for allegedly attacking national unity, among other things. He had raised the ire of a former communications minister with a column pleading for the protest movement Hirak not to divide itself over Rachad. The verdict is set for next week. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently launched an ill-defined initiative dubbed outstretched hands, described as an internal front to promote dialogue across all sectors of society. Army chief Said Chengriha suggested in several speeches that it is also to counter Algerias perceived enemies. The initiative precedes the July 5 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Algerian independence from France, which was won after a brutal seven-year war. No one can refuse to take part in this initiative, said Abou El Fadl Baadji, secretary-general of the National Liberation Front, once Algerias sole political party. He was among the officials that Tebboune has recently met with on the subject. People await with suspense the contents of this initiative but were for this idea, even before knowing the details. Benhalima awaits a verdict of his appeal of a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in absentia for invasion of privacy and attacks on state interests, linked to his online posts on the Algerian military, including confidential information on senior officers. ___ Lotfi Bouchouchi in Algiers, Algeria, contributed. KRAMATORSK, Ukraine As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraines defense. The Russian Defense Ministry said Lyman, the second small city to fall this week, had been completely liberated by a joint force of Russian soldiers and Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war for eight years in the industrial Donbas region bordering Russia. Ukraines train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens through Lyman, a key railway hub in the east. Control of it also would give Russias military another foothold in the region; it has bridges for troops and equipment to cross the Siverskiy Donets river, which has so far impeded the Russian advance into the Donbas. Ukrainian officials have sent mixed signals on Lyman. On Friday, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian troops controlled most of it and were trying to press their offensive toward Bakhmut, another city in the region. On Saturday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar disputed Moscows claim that Lyman had fallen, saying fighting there was still ongoing. In his Saturday video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the east as very complicated and said that the Russian army is trying to squeeze at least some result by focusing its efforts there. The Kremlin said Putin held an 80-minute phone call Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany in which he warned against the continued transfers of Western weapons to Ukraine and blamed the conflicts disruption to global food supplies on Western sanctions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the chancellors spokesperson, and called on Putin to engage in serious, direct negotiations with Zelenskyy on ending the fighting. A Kremlin readout of the call said Putin affirmed the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue. The three leaders, who had gone weeks without speaking during the spring, agreed to stay in contact, it added. But Russias recent progress in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas, could further embolden Putin. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraines capital, Russia has set out to seize the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Russia has intensified efforts to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, which are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai reported that Ukrainian fighters repelled an assault on Sievierodonetsk but Russian troops still pushed to encircle them. He later said Russian forces had seized a hotel on the citys outskirts, damaged 14 high-rise buildings and were fighting in the streets with Ukrainian forces. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said there was fighting at the citys bus station. A humanitarian center couldnt operate due to the danger, Striuk said, and cellphone service and electricity were knocked out. And residents risked exposure to shelling to get water from a half-dozen wells, he said. Some supply routes are functioning, and evacuations of the wounded are still possible, Striuk said. He estimated that 1,500 civilians in the city, which had a prewar population of around 100,000, have died from the fighting as well as from a lack of medicine and diseases that couldnt be treated. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, Associated Press reporters saw older and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs Friday in Bakhmut. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to persuade reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sievierodonetsk, returned home. I have to know he is alive. Thats why Im staying here, said Lvova, 66. On Saturday, people who managed to flee Lysychansk described intensified shelling, especially over the past week, that left them unable to leave basement bomb shelters. Yanna Skakova left the city Friday with her 18-month-old and 4-year-old sons and cried as she sat in a train bound for western Ukraine. Her husband stayed behind to take care of their house and animals. Its too dangerous to stay there now, she said, wiping away tears. Russias advance raised fears that residents could experience the same horrors seen in the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which endured a three-month siege before it fell last week. Residents who had not yet fled faced the choice of trying to do so now or staying. Mariupol became a symbol of massive destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. Mariupols port has reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia entered the port early Saturday. In the call with Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said, Putin emphasized that Russia was working to establish a peaceful life in Mariupol and other liberated cities in the Donbas. Germany and France brokered a 2015 peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that would have given a large degree of autonomy to Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine. However, the agreement stalled long before Russias invasion in February. Any hope that Paris and Berlin would anchor a renewed peace agreement now appears unlikely with both Kyiv and Moscow taking uncompromising stands. Ukrainian authorities have reported that Kremlin-installed officials in seized cities have started airing Russian news broadcasts, introduced Russian area codes, imported Russian school curriculum and taken other steps to annex the areas. Russian-held areas of the southern Kherson region have shifted to Moscow time and will no longer switch to daylight saving time, as is customary in Ukraine, Russias state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Krill Stremousov, a Russian-installed local official, as saying Saturday. In his address Saturday, Zelenskyy also accused Russian forces of preventing Kherson residents from leaving, saying they effectively try to take people hostage in a sign of weakness. The war has caused global food shortages because Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations over which side bears responsibility for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage and Ukraine citing a Russian naval blockade. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said two Russian vessels capable of carrying up to 16 missiles were ready for action in the Black Sea, adding that only shipping routes established through multilateral treaties may be considered safe. Ukrainian officials have pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems. Russias ambassador to the United States, Anatoliy Antonov, said Saturday that such a move would be unacceptable and admonished the White House to abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine. Moscow is also trying to rattle Sweden and Finlands determination to join NATO. Russias Defense Ministry said its navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea that struck its target about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The Zircon, described as the worlds fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead and is said to be impossible to stop with current defense systems. Last week Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the countrys west in response to Sweden and Finlands bids to join NATO. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The work of Jeffrey Gibson swirls with explosions of color, pattern, geometrics and collage. The renowned Mississippi Band of Choctaw/Cherokee artist is showcasing his work in Jeffrey Gibson: The Body Electric at SITE Santa Fe through Sept. 11 in a comprehensive survey. The exhibition reveals paintings, sculpture, a film series, a live performance and a newly commissioned mural brightening the buildings front lobby and main galleries. The work reflects Gibsons identification as an outsider through a celebration of nonconformity incorporating his Native American identity, as well as his experiences in North Carolina, Korea, Germany and Chicago. Expecting a largely Native influence, viewers often seem surprised by the inclusion of such varied backgrounds in his work. His father was a civil engineer whose government career took him across the globe. We moved a lot, Gibson said in a telephone interview in the Hudson River Valley north of New York. When he would come back (from traveling), hed bring me something art-related. Family members quilted and worked in beadwork, traditions surfacing regularly in the artists work. The divisions in Gibsons college They Play Endlessly, 2021, echo quilt squares. The phrase is something I used in a piece in 2013, Gibson said. Ive grown up with an awareness of the traumatic history of Native people. But I grew up in a family with love, of music, of listening to pop music in a pickup truck. In Chicago, Gibson worked at the Field Museum, helping tribal delegations sort through the collections under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. It was there that he discovered the flourishing of Native patterns in the museums archives. I spent a lot of time in the collections, he said. I didnt want to copy anything that was in that museum because those patterns belonged to those people. He also counts geometry, Op art, design, fashion and psychedelia as influences, as well as punk rock and house music. They come from a very playful place, he said. Its playful, but as an Indian person I want to feel like I have the autonomy of creating my own patterns. When Im in the studio, I try to operate and work in a state of play. The mixed-media collage Pahl Lee, 2021, evolved from Gibsons reaction to the 19th century paintings of Native Americans by Elbridge Ayer Burbank. As I was working with them, they made me very sad, very angry, he said. Were not learning anything about them. These people were oppressed. They had been displaced and they were told what to wear. I decided to use them almost as a mark. Red Sunset, Desert Sky and Red Moon, Jeffrey Gibson, 2021. (Courtesy of Shayla Blatchford) Firebelly, Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972), 2021. (Courtesy of Site Santa Fe) Untitled Figure I, Jeffrey Gibson, 2022. (Courtesy of Shayla Blatchford) Jeffrey Gibson, "She Never Dances Alone," 2020. (Courtesy Shayla Blatchford. Pahl Lee, Jeffrey Gibson (b. 1972), 2021, mixed media collage. (Courtesy of Site Santa Fe) Prev 1 of 5 Next Gibson crowned a commercially produced purse hand-beaded by a Native person to the top of the piece. Its not so much about Pahl Lee as it is about Native women, he said. The handbag is so sweet. He took a similar approach to Burbanks portrait of Chief Black Coyote, adding beadwork, a vintage buckle and pin, as well as a belt to the collage. A series of beaded birds stems from the whimsies (pins and novelties) tribes made as tourist souvenirs at Niagara Falls. I first saw them in the 90s and they didnt reflect a tribal aesthetic, Gibson said. The artist began his college education at the University of Maryland, but he lasted only one year. I was asked not to go back, he said. I didnt go to class; I wasnt a good student. I went traveling; I followed the Grateful Dead. He tried community college and was then accepted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, then Londons Royal College of Art. His Mississippi-based tribe funded his overseas room, board and tuition. People sometimes assume he had a traditional Native upbringing, but both of his grandfathers were Baptist ministers. My parents were both southern Baptists, he said. There were definitely some splits in the family. Some members still practiced sun dances. My parents never pushed either way onto me. It was kind of a weird mix. Ive always tried to be really honest about what percentage of those experiences built me up. Im interested in how these things intersect with my being Native. Carol Carpenter remembers watching her grandmother create dolls from hollyhock blossoms. It just fascinated me, the Albuquerque watercolor artist said. Today, Carpenter is locally renowned for her hollyhock paintings. Her work has generated a flurry of awards: first place in Albuquerques Masterworks and Best in Show for miniature works as well. Sumner & Dene Gallery carries her paintings. Born in Kansas, Carpenter flourished in an artistic home. Her mother painted and created mosaics with glass tile. She thought all mothers were so accomplished. She took paper and pencil to drawing classes at the Wichita Art League with her mother. But she is largely self-taught. After moving to California and attending community college, Carpenter transferred to the University of New Mexico. I thought Id be an art teacher, she said. I took some classes but they didnt have watercolor. Still, she graduated, got married and had kids. But the artistic gene called to her. By the time my kids were 2, I thought, This is so dull; I sound like Mr. Rogers. She began experimenting with watercolor, knowing they were nontoxic. She juried into the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair, where they accepted three of her paintings. Additional art shows followed. She fell in love with watercolor. You just lose yourself and its just like you get into this zone and you dont know whats around you, she said. Its just like a magic thing. She lightly sketches the composition first, often working from her own photographs, still taking classes and workshops when she can. You cant ever learn everything there is to know about watercolor, she said. The mistakes are where you learn, she added. Sometimes what you think is a mistake can be the very best part of it. Old Ranch, Carol Carpenter. (Courtesy of Sumner & Dene) Grant Street, San Francisco, Carol Carpenter.(Courtesy of Sumner & Dene) Evening in Old Town, Carol Carpenter. (Courtesy of Sumner & Dene) Prev 1 of 3 Next Old Ranch emerged from a photograph of the landscape in southern New Mexico, complete with old trucks and outbuildings. Grant Street, San Francisco captures both the beauty and grit of image-packed Chinatown. She filled the scene with dangling paper lanterns. I lived near San Francisco for a long time, Carpenter said. On the sides on the buildings I used a different technique. It was overwhelming to me, so it looks full. It has that real detail, but on the right it looks smoother, so you have that contrast. The languid Along the Seine came from her first trip to Europe. She painted the image from her own photograph. Carpenter said she was dazzled by the greens. I cant even tell you how thrilled I was, she explained. It was two years ago. The landscape was green; it was real deep with different light on it. There the light is darker. I had never seen that before. She is about to attend a four-day San Diego workshop that includes some plein air (outdoor) work. I feel like Im branching out again, she said. Cineline India Limited has made a comeback in the movie exhibition business under a new brand, MovieMax, and aims to grown PAN India in the cinema space. Under the new brand, it successfully started operations from 1st April 2022. Currently, the Company has 23 operational screens across Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and Nashik and has plans to have 75+ operational screens during FY23. To support the enormous growth opportunity, the Company is currently in the process of hiving-off the Non-Core Business to become an asset-light Company. It plans to monetize the Eternity Mall in Nagpur, Commercial Properties in Kanakia Boomerang as well as Hotel Asset in Goa owned by the wholly-owned subsidiary. Our Current Footprint is as follows: (Includes Operational + Tied up Screens) No. of Cinemas 26 No. of Screens 101 No. of Seats 22,600+ Cities Present 17 Commenting on the same, Mr. Rasesh Kanakia, Chairman, said, We are pleased to see a strong traction of footfall at MovieMax in April and May. While going live online and creating brand awareness for MovieMax started in April, we did very good business. Post the pandemic, we are seeing huge opportunities in the film exhibition space, and we will aggressively grow our business. We are focusing on Tier II & III cities because of lack of entertainment avenues especially multiplexes. We want to increase our penetration and acquire more screens, PAN India. We will look to convert single screens into multiplexes. We are going to be a prominent player in this film exhibition industry, and we are targeting to tie up ~300+ screens by FY25 Paree Sanitary Pads, a homegrown brand by Soothe Healthcare has been actively working with real life women champions toward prioritizing menstrual health for women in India. To mark this years Menstrual Hygiene Day, the brand joined hands with India Vision Foundation founded by Dr. Kiran Bedi in an effort to make a positive impact by raising menstrual hygiene awareness. Paree is a young progressive brand that is working towards making menstrual hygiene a priority for women across all walks of life. India Vision Foundation is known for its commendable work in improving the lives of prison inmates and this association will help in spreading menstrual hygiene awareness in female prison inmates. Through this year long partnership, Paree will conduct sanitary pad distribution drives in various prisons along with facilitating gynaecologist sessions to make female inmates aware about correct menstrual practices. Dr. Bedi commented on the association saying The foundation has been working for the reforms of prison inmates for a very long time. We are happy that a young brand like Paree Sanitary Pads also understands our mission and want to actively participate in changing the narrative and making women aware about the importance of menstrual health. Along with the association with India Vision Foundation, Paree Sanitary Pads continues with its initiative of #ChampionForChampions where it has associated with Women Police Force Pan India to not only provide them with the right menstrual protection but also promote the importance of menstrual health. The intent of the brand is to celebrate and salute these real champions who work tirelessly for our safety with their heavy-duty performance. The brand joined hands with thousands of Women Police Officers across 50 cities under its campaign Paree #ChampionforChampions to add voice and power to dialogue on the importance of menstrual hygiene. The initiative aims at reaching out to approximately 20,000 female police officers across 75 cities to become a part of this cause. Sahil Dharia, Founder & CEO, Soothe Healthcare commented, As a proud, young Indian brand we want to positively impact the lives of women be it through our products or our initiatives. We are thankful to India Vision Foundation, who works diligently for women reforms at grass root levels, for helping us take the message of Menstrual Health to female prison inmates. World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on 28th May every year which signifies 28 days which is the typical gap between 2 periods and 5 days which is the average duration of a period. It is a significant day to collectively raise awareness and attempt to change damaging social norms around menstruation. In India, these efforts are even more important because menstruation in our country is still shrouded in silence, misinformation, and embarrassment. And unfortunately, even today, many young girls discover what it is only when they experience it physically for the first time. Mothers are usually the primary source of information for these young girls. But years of conditioning around menstruation continue to influence a mothers approach and thinking, and so she passes on dated lessons of hiding periods from men, even their fathers and brothers. Fathers, on the other hand, having been kept away from the menstruation conversation for generations, think of periods as a womens secret unsure of their role and choosing to make themselves unavailable because they dont know how to offer the much-needed support. Stayfree, a leading sanitary napkin brand in India has been deeply involved in all aspects of normalizing periods. These efforts include education partnerships, promoting best practices for Menstrual Hygiene Management and encouraging open conversations on the subject, by the people who matter the most to the young girl her family. To unmute and normalize conversations around periods, Stayfree, wanted to nudge those primarily responsible for a young girls holistic coming of age mothers and fathers - to step up and do more to change this narrative of shame and silence. This journey began in 2020 when Stayfree helped young girls say Its Just a Period by encouraging their fathers and mothers to say it with them. After all, while menstruation may mark the physical maturity of a girls body, she is still emotionally vulnerable and ill equipped to brave societal stigmas around periods. Hence, it becomes imperative for the people closest to the young girl - fathers, mothers, teachers - to help her understand that periods are just a normal biological process. Continuing this school of thought, Stayfree has launched its new film conceptualized by DDB Mudra that encourages fathers to be involved in the period conversation with daughters because every conversation has an impact beyond that moment. It helps set the tone that periods need not be hushed conversations and an open dialogue can make the father-daughter bond stronger. Talking about the film, Manoj Gadgil, Vice President Marketing, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, India said We believe the onus of normalizing period conversations rests on the people that the young girl trusts her family, teachers, and society at large. Stayfree is once again stressing on the role of a father, because we realized that there is a distinct vacuum in a father-daughter relationship during her teenage years. Right from the daughters birth, fathers are increasingly taking on greater responsibility for caregiving; a fact recognized by corporates who are now offering generous paternity leaves. These same fathers want nothing but the best when it comes to supporting her dreams and ambitions, no matter how unconventional they may be. Yet, during her teenage years, they take a step back and let the mother become the primary parent to help her navigate her periods. This begins the subtle conditioning around periods hushed voices, not to be spoken about in front of the men of the household and the accompanying worry about storing, changing, and disposing pads. This film urges fathers to do more- to talk to their daughters and help drive more positive social norms and behavior around periods. Pallavi Chakravarti, Creative Head - West, DDB Mudra said So what if Dad pretended that periods didn't exist? So, what if he pointedly looked the other way when I was young and confused and bleeding for the first time? It isn't his job to talk to me about menstruation - Women believe this to be true. Stayfree digs deeper to unearth what lies beneath this age-old norm, resulting in revelations for both, fathers, and daughters. Stayfree is walking the talk by providing resources to parents who want to have this conversation via Stayfree Periodshala Digital Masterclasses an informative 1-hour session co-created by Stayfree and Menstrupedia (an NGO involved in creating menstrual awareness through engaging educational material) Last year on Daughters Day, more than 2000+ families participated in these sessions to equip and prepare themselves to have this conversation. Following the strategic review of selected Popular brands of United Spirits Limited (USL), announced on 23 February 2021, the Board of Directors of USL today approved the sale and franchising of selected brands to Inbrew Beverages Pvt Limited (Inbrew). The transaction does not include the McDowells or Directors Special brands, which will be retained by USL. USL and Inbrew have executed definitive agreements for the sale of the entire business undertaking associated with 32 brands, including iconic brands Haywards, Old Tavern, White-Mischief, Honey Bee, Green Label and Romanov, for a total cash consideration of approximately INR 8,200 million, subject to customary adjustments. The sale portfolio covers the entire business undertaking associated with the 32 brands set out below, including the related contracts, permits, intellectual property rights, associated employees, and a manufacturing facility. In addition to the above, USL and Inbrew have entered into a 5-year franchise arrangement for 11 other brands, including Bagpiper. USL has also granted Inbrew a right, subject to certain conditions, to convert the fixed term franchise arrangement into one with perpetual rights to use and/or a call option to acquire the brands at a pre-agreed consideration. Certain ancillary agreements, including transitional services arrangements, in relation to the sale of the business undertaking and the franchise and option agreements have been approved to be executed between USL and Inbrew. Hina Nagarajan, Managing Director & CEO of USL, commented: The transaction reflects the continued evolution of the management of the Popular portfolio since 2016, when the company moved to a franchise model in many states, to enable a sharpened focus on Prestige & Above. This is a significant move to reshape our portfolio in service of our publicly stated mission to deliver sustained double digit profitable top-line growth. Ravi Deol, Chairman of Inbrew, said: The acquisition of these iconic brands provides Inbrew with a unique platform to extend its ambition of becoming Indias trusted household beverage company. These brands have delighted consumers over generations, and we are excited at the prospect of strengthening this legacy. Inbrew will revitalise these brands through expanded distribution, innovation and investments. After the acquisition of Molson Coors beer business last year, we will now participate in the mainstream spirits category, making Inbrew Indias diverse AlcoBev player. The brands/ variants covered under the franchise agreement are the subject of a previously disclosed encumbrance. The validity of the encumbrance has been disputed by USL on the basis that the underlying loan has already been fully repaid (together with the accrued interest and all other amounts). Pending the resolution of the ongoing dispute and the release of the existing encumbrance over the franchised brands, the legal title to the franchised brands remains with USL. Following the release of the existing encumbrance over the franchised brands, and subject to the exercise of the call option by Inbrew, the Company will assign ownership of these brands to Inbrew. The Company expects to complete the transaction by the end of the quarter ending 30 September 2022. A copy of USLs announcements to the Stock Exchange relating to the transaction will be available on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange. #Kyiv Russian forces on Friday pounded the last Ukrainian strongholds in a separatist-controlled eastern province of Ukraine, including a city where authorities said 1,500 people have been killed and 60% of residential buildings destroyed in the war. Ukraines foreign minister warned that without a new injection of foreign weapons, Ukrainian forces would not be able to stop Russia from seizing Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, locations that are crucial to Russias goal of capturing all of Ukraines industrial Donbas region. The cities are the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, one of two provinces that make up the region. Russian forces have made slow but persistent advances as they bombarded and sought to encircle both Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk. The Russians are pounding residential neighborhoods relentlessly, regional governor Serhiy Haidai wrote in a Telegram post Friday. The residents of Sievierodonetsk have forgotten when was the last time there was silence in the city for at least half an hour. Russian shelling killed four people in the city over the past 24 hours, he said. Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said late Thursday that at least 1,500 people have been killed in Sievierodonetsk since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. About 12,000 to 13,000 remain in the city - down from a pre-war population of about 100,000 - and 60% of residential buildings have been destroyed, he said. Stryuk said a Russian reconnaissance and sabotage group entered a city hotel, and that the main road between neighboring Lysychansk and the city of Bakhmut to the southwest remains open, but travel is dangerous. He said only 12 people were able to be evacuated Thursday. In Donetsk, the Donbas regions other province, Russia-backed rebels claimed Friday to have taken control of Lyman, a large railway hub north of two more key cities that remained under Ukrainian control. There was no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian officials. NATO: Turkey urges to solve its concerns #Istanbul Turkeys foreign minister said Friday that Sweden and Finland must now take concrete steps to alleviate his countrys security concerns to overcome Ankaras objections to their NATO membership bid. Delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with documents detailing Turkeys concerns, like information on terror groups, after a visit this week and Ankara is awaiting their answers, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week. BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged efforts to advance the study of Chinese civilization amid a push to enhance people's confidence in the Chinese culture. Xi made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on a national research program dedicated to tracing the origin of the Chinese civilization. The long-standing and rich Chinese civilization is the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, and a treasure trove inspiring cultural innovation, Xi noted. He called for a better understanding of the 5,000-plus-year history of the Chinese civilization to strengthen historical awareness and cultural confidence of the Party and society in the joint pursuit of national rejuvenation. Xi said the research program on the origin of the Chinese civilization has made marked achievements, but it should be moved forward as there are still many historical mysteries to be unraveled and many issues waiting for settlement with consensus built based on solid evidence and study. It is a complicated, time-consuming, and systematic task to explore the origin and formation of civilization, noted Xi, urging efforts to combine archaeological excavation and literature research with tools and methods of natural sciences. Xi called for greater efforts in studying unearthed artifacts and cultural relics and promoting related knowledge to enhance the power of the Chinese civilization to influence and inspire. Over 5,000 years and more, the Chinese people created a splendid civilization and made great contributions to the progress of human civilization, he said. Stressing that fine traditional Chinese culture is the root and soul of the Chinese nation, Xi said efforts should be made to adapt it to the context of a socialist society and to develop advanced socialist culture. The Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times, Xi said, urging efforts to promote the view of civilization that champions equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and mutual accommodation. Misunderstandings between civilizations can be overcome through enhanced exchanges, clashes avoided by strengthening mutual learning, and civilization superiority replaced by the co-existence of various civilizations, Xi said. Xi also called for respect for people in different countries exploring their own development paths. He stressed telling the stories of the Chinese civilization well to present China as a trustworthy, loveable and admirable country, and the charm of the long-standing and rich Chinese civilization. The protection and use of cultural relics and the preservation of cultural heritage should be actively advanced, Xi also said. He ordered cadres at all levels to provide greater policy support and create a strong social atmosphere for the preservation and development of the Chinese civilization. With all the noise about the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, its easy for the voice of reason to be lost. Gefuhl uber alles! Emotion above all! The only thing that matters is our anger. Thats how Hitler launched the Holocaust. He demonized non-Germans and non-Aryans, stirring massive hatred that led to the deaths of millions. And hatred is all that the Left is purveying in the wake of the evil manifested in Texas. However, a critical analysis reveals that a gun was only the last cause, not the only one. This isnt the place to recite statistics on gun ownership, gun crime, and defensive use of firearms. Those are well handled elsewhere. We have a classroom full of innocent children lying on slabs in the local morgue, not due to any actions by an AR-15, but by the actions of a demented eighteen-year-old, made possible by a chain of critical incidents. This is where we should look. But first, an illustration of the process. On December 29, 1972, around midnight, Eastern Airlines flight 401 from New York crashed into the Everglades, killing 101 of the 176 people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the crash and slowly assembled the sequence of events that led to it. As the plane descended into Miami, the crew noticed that the indicator light for the nose gear being down and locked was unlit. Landing without nose gear would be a major hazard, so the crew took manual measures to ensure that the gear was down. The light stayed dark, though, because it was burned out, not because the gear wasnt down. So, the plane entered a holding pattern over the Everglades to sort out the problem. The crew engaged the autopilot to reduce workload. While crew members were in the avionics bay below the cockpit, the autopilot changed modes when the pilot gently leaned on the yoke as he turned to discuss the gear difficulty with the copilot. The jet slowly drifted down toward the surface. No one noticed, partly because it was late at night and there were no lights on the ground. When the crew finally noticed a problem with the planes altitude, there was no time to correct it. There were a number of steps in this daisy chain of disaster that, had any one of them been effectively interrupted, would have seen the plane land safely. Each error had to be in the critical incident chain, or nothing bad would have happened. Lets put that in plain English: Any single change in the critical events would have saved 101 lives. And that includes having the senior, highly experienced pilot fly the plane instead of leaning on the yoke accidentally. This process is critical incident analysis. It identifies every moment when someone can put a finger in the dike to prevent a bad event. So, lets start with the screaming lefties. They want common sense gun laws and other pablum. Space prevents a full discussion but they dont offer a single reason why any of their nostrums would change a single step in the chain. So, their approach must be discarded out of hand. This leads us to the predictable Republicans. He was mentally disturbed. We need more mental health services. And so on. Perhaps the much-touted but unconstitutional Red Flag laws would have helped? Texas doesnt have a Red Flag law but the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 573 allows a police officer to detain someone who appears to be mentally unstable and a likely danger to others. Any weapons can be put into lockup. But no one bothered to tell the cops that the future shooter was coco-loco. They saw his posts, and he was a known bad apple, but this link in the chain didnt get broken. By not breaking that link, the shooter was able to buy guns because he didnt have any red flags in the NICS database. This isnt the first time thats happened. Dylann Roof bought his gun legally because a police department didnt report his arrest on a drug charge. Nine people died at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, because that link was still intact. Details remain unclear, but the shooter in Uvalde drove to the school and then crashed his vehicle. An eyewitness reports that he fired on nearby people as he left the truck. It was twelve minutes before he entered the school. Its unclear why either the police or the school did not get the message that he was headed to the school. Had that message been passed on, the school could have locked down, preventing his entry. This isnt new, since Uvalde schools get locked down almost every week due to violence related to illegal immigration. Another link in the chain remained intact. Related to this link is the fact that the back door of the school was unlocked. Had entry been restricted to one or two monitored points, his gun would never have been pointed at defenseless children. And that brings us to the last link in this critical incident chain. Image: Gunman entering through the unlocked back door. YouTube screen grab. No one was armed inside the school. Uvalde is a high threat environment, as we see from all the lockdowns. It is criminally negligent not to prepare to meet the threats. But Texas law allows local school districts to declare themselves Gun Free Zones, thereby becoming the favorite target of mentally disturbed mass murderers. Sandy Hook, Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School, and Umpqua Community College should make this abundantly clear. Someone intent on mayhem knows that no one will be able to stop him in a gun-free zone. So now we have multiple links in the chain. First, no one dropped a dime on this kid when he was known to be trouble. Next, the message that a man was shooting a rifle and heading to the school got lost. That left the school wide open to invasion and, finally, no one inside the school had the means to protect the most vulnerable in our society. These are four easily identified places where this tragedy could have been averted. Political solutions that only tackle one are doomed to fail. But there is an example we can emulate. Israel has armed guards at its schools and both staff (some of whom are also armed) and students are taught to be proactive to defend themselves. No students are ever harmed, even though Arab violence is an everyday problem. The final common path of evil is met with overwhelming force, so bad guys look elsewhere. Its obvious that steps will fail from time to time. So, its essential to have defense in depth. Schools can easily be hardened so that shooters have considerable difficulty entering. But that may fail, so shooters must know that they will suffer acute lead poisoning promptly administered should they enter. That requires a significant percentage of the staff to carry arms on their person at all times. Schools with such defense dont get shot up, and their charges go home safely. Its time to shut off the noise and do serious after-action critical event analysis. Maybe there were even police failures that can be fixed. But remember, when seconds matter, the police are only minutes away. Ted Noel MD is a retired Anesthesiologist/Intensivist who podcasts and posts on social media as DoctorTed and @vidzette. His DoctorTed podcasts are available on many podcast channels. Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI) is now big business in America. A 2021 Heritage Foundation study found that the average American college employs forty-five full-time DEI administrators. At a reported average salary of $81,800, this army of DEI staffers costs the average college $3.68 million annually. Across Americas more than 4,000 colleges, the yearly college DEI bill exceeds $14 billion. And that figure omits the vast private-sector industry of diversity trainers and equity consultants, as well as the ubiquitous DEI officers that populate virtually all government agencies, plus a wide array of non-profits. This aggressive expansion of the DEI industry across leading American institutions has proceeded with little opposition until now. Like an invading army in hostile territory, the DEI industry has made the mistake of seeking to extend its reach across Americas K-12 educational sector, and taxpaying parents are standing up, saying: Not with my children -- the indoctrination stops here! The DEI industrys answer is that such parents are just old-fashioned racists, White supremacists who seek to suppress discussion of Americas history of slavery, Jim Crow, and continued systemic racism today. An entire academic industry supports this false view. An alphabet soup of university studies departments -- Black Studies, Chicano Studies, Gay Studies, Gender Studies, Whiteness Studies, Womens Studies -- supported by ever-expanding diversity bureaucracies, promote the view that America denies that it remains a deeply racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic country. These XXX Studies professors and their ideological allies promote a hard-left menu of alleged solutions to this litany of damning isms, namely: dismantle capitalism; expand the welfare state; impose anti-racist hiring quotas; eradicate biased ability testing in schools, college admissions, and hiring practices; outlaw and prosecute speech deemed offensive; and establish sprawling government bureaucracies to combat this alleged plague of American horribles. Leading writers in this field have crafted a flawed but seductive argument that delegitimizes and shuts down those who question their ideology, as exemplified by Robin DAngelos book White Fragility. In DAngelos world, any critique of the ideology is not an invitation to discuss -- rather, it is proof of the fragile questioners inherent racism, and hence illegitimate. Unfortunately, much, if not all of this -- to borrow the philosopher Jeremy Benthams apt phrase -- is just nonsense on stilts. The claim that DEI (and its linked twins, Critical Race Theory and ethnic studies) merely involves teaching about slavery, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement is a bald-faced lie. Our public schools have been teaching these important subjects for years. DEI is something entirely different. As actually applied in K-12 classrooms, DEI is primarily a classification system that divides kids into various us-vs-them groupings of privileged oppressors vs. marginalized oppressed. For instance, a typical DEI lesson plan will teach that white, heterosexual, males fall into three privileged oppressor groups; and that non-white lesbian females fall into three marginalized oppressed groups. Often this is taught through a DEI exercise called the Privilege Walk. Elementary and middle school kids are forced to stand in an open space while a teacher reads out a series of so-called unearned, unfair Privileges -- like being white, male, wealthy, heterosexual, or cis-gender. The teacher orders the students having such privileges to take a step forward for each one; and those lacking the same must take steps backward. The shame and blame message could not be clearer. These lessons are doubly harmful. They discourage the so-called oppressed kids with the message that the system remains rigged against them -- hence if the fix is in, then why even try? And it shames the oppressor kids as being the cause of the rigged system -- inviting them to doubt and question their aspirations and achievements. Notably, DEI ideology often includes in the oppressors category children from minority groups that have long experienced discrimination but presently reflect favorable academic and income measures -- such as children of Jewish and Asian lineage, now deemed White adjacent. Hence DEI pedagogy often stigmatizes, rather than honors, such positive efforts at overcoming past discrimination. Jewish students are further demonized by DEI programs frequent and false slanders of Israel as a genocidal white supremacist entity, which is now happening under Californias new K-12 ethnic studies curriculum. This charge is especially absurd because the majority of Israelis are of native Middle East ancestry going back millennia, 850,000 of whom were expelled from Muslim-supremacist Arab countries after 1948. The core problem with DEI curricula is that they train students to think of themselves and others primarily by their separate racial, ethnic, and gender/sexual characteristics. Hence. they teach the very opposite of Dr. Martin Luther Kings momentous call for racial equality. Whereas Dr. King called for E Pluribus Unum, DEI calls for E Pluribus Discord. Oftentimes DEI programs also force schools to lower academic standards, to make kids feel more equal. Across America, DEI advocates have been in the forefront of efforts to eliminate gifted and talented programs, and to stop teaching Algebra I classes in middle schools. The DEI industry justifies these attacks on excellence as simply dismantling the attributes of white supremacy culture -- which per the DEI ideology, include such evils as objectivity, perfectionism, and worship of the written word. This is both counterproductive and profoundly demeaning to children of diverse backgrounds, by its false implication that such advanced learning is not for them. Instead of downgrading standards, the effort should be to uplift those kids having a harder time. Ironically -- and damningly -- among those who suffer most from DEIs erosion of standards are children of color. In one representative example, the Seattle, Washington public schools in 2018 refocused each grades traditional math curriculum to emphasize math ethnic studies. Students now had to explain how math is used to oppress and marginalize people and communities of color... [and] explain how math dictates economic oppression... Sure enough -- as per journalist Luke Roziak -- [o]n the next state math exam, the performance of black students plummeted. At one pilot school, black achievement had been rising steadily every year, but all those gains and more were wiped out. In sum, DEI programs bring to our schools the very antithesis of what they purport to achieve, namely, racial division and lower standards. Our kids need the opposite: mutual respect and positive uplift. The late British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks used to say that there are two principal pathways by which cultures attempt to fix their problems. One way consists of what he calls blame cultures -- these cultures ask, Who did this to us -- then they go looking for scapegoats to blame and persecute, only making their problems worse. The other way consists of what he calls penitential cultures -- which ask the question, Now that we have this problem, what can we ourselves do to fix it? This is how progress is achieved. The focus of DEI programs is blame culture and scapegoating -- they harm, rather than help, our efforts to build a culture of equal respect and dignity. And in so doing, DEI programs substitute intergroup discord for pluralistic amity. This is why K-12 parents across the country are standing up to school boards that insist on indoctrinating our kids in this simplistic and destructive ideology. DEI advocates seem blind to the historical reality of humanitys long and painful efforts to rise above our ancient, hard-wired tendencies towards tribal, us-vs-them division and violence. The flawed DEI teaching model would send us back down that violent rabbit hole. It should be opposed by all supporters of pluralistic liberal democracy, regardless of ones race, creed, color, or political affiliation. Henry Kopel, a former federal prosecutor, is the author of War on Hate: How to Stop Genocide, Fight Terrorism, and Defend Freedom, and is working with several parents to oppose DEI curricula in a Connecticut school district. Image: Quinn Dombrowski Patrisse Cullors admits shes made a few mistakes" as the ugly headlines continue to mount over her scandalous spending as the disgraced former leader of Black Lives Matter. She attempted to keep a lid on her self-authorized spending for several years, but the IRS simply couldnt be ignored for another fiscal year. (The group hadnt filed since 2017 and was forced to halt collection of donations.) Once the bad news broke in a public tax filing last week, Cullors couldnt be bothered to address the allegations of her being at the center of a multi-million dollar grifter project, but rather she doubled down on the absurd claim of being cast in the role of victim. Weaponizing against black women, was the ex-leaders way of explaining the IRSs routine demand for a 990 form from the world-famous social justice network for purposes of fiscal accountability. Apparently, her hand got caught in the non-profit cash register, but Cullors viewed her generous six-digit payments to friends and family for various services in a different light. We didnt figure out how to protect ourselves. says Cullors in an interview at Vashon Center for the Arts in Washington. And whats true often, especially for black women is we dont protect ourselves first. Who knew? The media was engaging in straight-up attacks, says Cullors in the Vashon townhall meeting. Cullors, who was forced to step down last year, was confident in knowing that her interviewer, radical abolitionist, Nikkita Oliver, wouldnt ask embarrassing questions about what precipitated the attacks. Most of the young people in the audience may never learn that Cullors started her campaign of self-enrichment back in 2016. As her movements diehard supporters were throwing Molotov cocktails at police, she went on a real-estate shopping spree, treating herself to four private residences, totaling a well-publicized $3.2 million total. It isnt just white folks, says Cullors, questioning the beautiful work she and her colleagues had accomplished as BLMs inner circle. Now her accusations of racism ring hollow as black supporters want to know more about her largesse to private individuals -- using other peoples money (OPM). Among the red flags include: Paul Cullors, Patrisses brother, enjoyed a whopping $840,000 for security; Damon Turner, who fathered a child with Cullors, was paid $970,000 through his private company for creative services and producing live events; Cullorss wife, Janaya Khan, topped the list with an $8 million mansion in Canada to run her social-activist non-profit. In hindsight, Cullors admits it may have been a mistake to throw a birthday party for her son at a much disputed $6 million mini-mansion purchased by BLM in Studio City, CA. This, too, caused a firestorm of criticism as the property was hidden behind an LLC purchase before being disclosed as a BLM expenditure. It is some comfort to Cullors supporters that she regarded the birthday party as a mistake. And she reimbursed the network $390.00 for the use of the home (an excellent discount) but, more importantly, the disgraced leader reimbursed the group another $73,523 for dipping into donor funds to charter a private plane. Why bother with first class when you can have even more leg room in a private plane? Such damaging facts never surfaced in Olivers interview with Cullors. Instead, Oliver appeared to share Cullors distorted perception of personal responsibility and asked the absurd question: What does it look like to set a standard for accountability and transparency thats maybe not existed before? Huh? Doesnt the IRS demand fiscal accountability from every non-profit? And its probably unfairly placed upon us, Oliver concluded. The use of the word us could not be missed in the exchange. Sisters in arms -- coming up against the big-bad-regulatory world. Diehard supporters of Cullors remain firm in defending the embattled social justice warrior, whose 63-page tax filing continues to cause a firestorm in the media. Patrisses two colleagues -- who served as co-founders -- can be counted on to adopt Culllors defiant attitude and continue to revile the right-wing media machine leveraging all of its weight against the organization and the movement. I think theyve attempted to cancel us, but they have not been successful in canceling us, says co-founder Melina Abdullah. She is joined in defense of Cullors by co-founder Alicia Garza: Theyve (presumably white people) attempted to say -- and Im just gonna say it -- She bought some damn houses. We gonna cancel her. More than once, Cullors, and her comrades, have appeared tone deaf to the controversies swirling around them. It wasnt a good look for Cullors, Abdullah, and Garza to appear sipping champagne -- and clinking expensive crystal glasses -- on the balcony of the much-disputed posh home in Studio City, located in a predominantly white neighborhood. (A much-criticized fact by donors.) Viewing the photo, one could conclude that the party is over. The thing that still lingers is BLM supporters wondering how many of their donor dollars went into an extravagant lifestyle of poolside parties and meetings at a five-star resort was not the support they had envisioned for the beleaguered black community. Image: Steven Eason Last month, Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified that the Department of Homeland Security had set up a Disinformation Governance Board, to be led by "disinformation expert" Nina Jankowicz. Jankowicz was among those who dismissed news from a reputable source about Hunter Biden's infamous laptop as "Russian disinformation." She was a proponent of the Clinton campaigncreated Steele dossier, which was full of invented claims about President Trump being compromised by the Russians. She also appeared in a cringe-inducing lampoon of a famously silly song from the children's musical Mary Poppins, blaming Republicans for all disinformation. You can just call me the Mary Poppins of disinformation https://t.co/eGV9lpctYn pic.twitter.com/WVQFA2bPmq Nina Jankowicz (@wiczipedia) February 17, 2021 What troubled observers is that Mayorkas was unclear about powers that would be granted to the Board. He just claimed that the board would "work and to equip local communities, to identify individuals who could be descending into violence by reason of ideologies, hate, false narratives, or other disinformation and misinformation propagated on social media and other platforms." That seemed like a dog whistle for targeting political opponents. The Biden administration's record on honoring democratic values (by respecting political opponents) hasn't exactly been stellar. The protesters of January 6 are being subjected to draconian punishment. The partisan January 6 Select Committee's sole function is to harass and intimidate political opponents. Parents concerned about their children being indoctrinated with Critical Race Theory were branded as domestic terrorists. Biden branded the "MAGA crowd" as "the most extreme political organization that's existed in recent American history." Government works for the citizen. It is a citizen's function to sit in judgment of the government, not the other way around. When the government assumes that role and places the citizen under the microscope, it ceases to be democratic. There were also several open questions about the Board. The obvious question was how it was going to define "disinformation." There were questions and concerns about the authority the board would have and whether it would be constitutional. Would it be just within the realms of social media platforms, or would they collaborate with law enforcement to conduct arrests? Even their most ardent fans of the Democrats i.e., the mainstream media found it hard to defend the disinformation board. GOP lawmakers and conservative commentators did a sterling job in challenging and ridiculing the board. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) opined that "Homeland Security has decided to make policing Americans' speech its top priority." Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and former Democratic representative for Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard likened the board to the Ministry of Truth from George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. Representatives Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and John Katko (R-N.Y.) wrote that "[g]iven the complete lack of information about this new initiative and the potentially serious consequences of a government entity identifying and responding to 'disinformation,' we have serious concerns about the activities of this new Board." Republican Federal Communications Commission commissioner Brendan Carr called the board "Orwellian," "un-American," and "unconstitutional." Finally, after only a few weeks, the unconstitutional board was "paused" while Jankowicz was compelled to resign. The DHS claimed that the board's intended purpose has been "grossly and intentionally mischaracterized." Mayorkas said, "The board does not aim to police speech and is only aimed at protecting constitutional rights." The DHS has announced that former DHS secretary Michael Chertoff and former U.S. deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick, both members of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, were to lead a "thorough review and assessment" of the disinformation board. On the surface, this may sound like good news. Chertoff is a Republican, and Gorelick is a Democrat. The Biden administration can claim that the assessors are bipartisan. Dig deeper, and you discover that Chertoff is a NeverTrump who once wrote an op-ed in The New York Times, claiming that the Trump administration was hijacking the DHS for political purposes. Chertoff also dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop scandal as Russian disinformation. Chertoff is the co-author of the PATRIOT Act that allowed the federal government to spy on its citizens. The Washington Examiner reported that Gorelick was responsible for directing the FBI and federal prosecutors to ignore information gathered through intelligence investigations prior to 9/11. This was cited by the 9/11 Commission as among the factors that derailed the prevention of the terrorist attack. But instead of testifying at the 9/11 Commission, Gorelick was on the commission. Chertoff and Gorelick are no better than Jankowicz; it's just that they do not have Mary Poppins song parody TikTok clips or videos that make their intentions apparent. They are the typical dreary variety of Washington insiders who give the impression that they are "serious" people. Chertoff and Gorelick have to submit the final recommendation within 75 days. During the review, the disinformation board will not convene, and its work will be paused. Do not for a moment think the Democrats are remorseful about their undemocratic actions and are hence initiating remedial action by "pausing" the board and conducting a detailed review. The board was "paused" because everything from its name to the hiring of Scary Poppins made its nefarious intentions obvious. The self-righteous Democrats have always looked upon citizens as inferior beings whom they need to monitor and talk down to. This 2.0 version of the board is merely an act of subterfuge. Two-point-oh will do everything that 1.0 intended to do; they will just not be blatant about their intentions. They will operate from the shadows. The GOP and the citizen successfully mounted a successful campaign to pause 1.0. GOP lawmakers must continue to monitor the Department of Homeland Security and various other departments of the federal government to block any such efforts to target citizens. The citizen too must continue to be very watchful. Image: Twitter screen shot. After the evil perpetuated at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in a column entitled "Don't Surrender to Do-Somethingism on Guns," David Harsanyi at The Federalist is mostly correct when he writes, "Law-abiding Americans have no obligation to take ownership of a madman's actions." The only thing I take issue with in Mr. Harsanyi's piece is his referring to the Uvalde mass murderer as a "madman." When such events occur, we must be careful not to confuse evil with mental illness. "Madman" doesn't necessarily always refer to someone who is mentally ill. However, inevitably even among those who should know better whenever we have a mass shooting, a frequent and near immediate default assumption is that the perpetrator was mentally ill. Perhaps the Robb Elementary School murderer was mentally ill, but we don't yet know that, and early indications are that he did not have a history involving mental illness. What's more, ascribing mental illness to the Robb Elementary murderer doesn't help Mr. Harsanyi's case. If someone who kills another human being is "mentally ill," then it means something should have or could have been done to cure him or protect others from him. As I noted in 2018 (see above link), after the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, FL: As our culture grows more and more secularized, it has become a very common practice to describe those who commit widespread acts of violenceespecially if such violence involves the death of multiple human beingsas "crazy." Some of this is tongue-in-cheek, but much of it is sincere. I believe this is the direct result of the psychiatric community attempting to redefine what is moral. For decades we have witnessed the psychiatric community take acts that were long considered evil, or at least immoral and illegal, and deem them a "psychological disorder" that needs to be cured. It's just good for business, I suppose. In his essay "The Humanitarian Theory of Punishment," C.S. Lewis noted that, when it comes to crime and punishment, we too often are facing off with those who believe "that all crime is more or less pathological." Thus, instead of the criminal "getting what he deserves" what used to be called "justice" we must heal or cure him, and, as Lewis puts it, "punishment becomes therapeutic." Additionally, when we refuse to simply call evil what it is, lawmakers especially, but not exclusively, Democrats feel emboldened to "do something" to "fix" the problem. After all, when politicians can paint themselves as part of "the solution," it makes re-election more likely. If we learned anything from COVID-19, this should have been the lesson! If so many Americans weren't susceptible to "do-somethingism," the left wouldn't continuously try and often succeed with it. And if leftists can't accomplish their do-something wish list via legislation or executive order, they have often been able to rely on like-minded judges in U.S. courts. Tragically, many Americans simply want to be mothered, and the left is only too happy to play such a role. The left's "do-somethingism" on COVID-19 has destroyed countless lives and livelihoods. The damage is still being measured, and worse, still happening! If the American left can "do something" to get rid of guns (or ammunition) in the U.S., it absolutely will. As numerous nations have proved, America has remained America largely because of the Second Amendment. Recently, the idea that America needs to be "fundamentally transformed" has reached the highest levels of the left. The quickest way for this to happen would be to take guns from law-abiding Americans. We largely surrendered to "do-somethingism" on COVID. We should never make that mistake with guns. Trevor Grant Thomas At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason. www.trevorgrantthomas.com Trevor is the author of The Miracle and Magnificence of America. tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com Image via Pexels. Not long ago, I had a conversation with a family member who fancies herself to be on the left end of the political spectrum. Her thought process is based upon emotion rather than truth and logic (as is the case with most, if not all American "progressives"), so her political views are completely predictable. Somehow, the topic of discussion wound up at China's well-documented gruesome practices of organ harvesting. Her response was genuine she was in disbelief. She said something to the effect of "Olivia, that doesn't make any sense. How is a government allowed to do that?" I told her, "Well, they're communists. They don't have a government based upon Judeo-Christian morality as we do." Like a good denier-of-fact American "liberal," she said, "I don't believe that" and wrote it off I was the Trump-loving conservative, and as Snopes had told her so many times before, I was guilty of disinformation. Well, just this week, a human rights organization, the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, leaked new documentation of China's persecution against the ethnic minority known as the Uyghurs. Sourced from domestic police and government entities in China, the files were compiled into a searchable website, which details exactly what you'd expect from a communist regime and its foot soldiers: mug shottype photographs of those detained without due process, police instructions detailing a "shoot to kill" protocol, and images of prisoners subject to "hooding" while handcuffed. With the data dump, Chinese citizens with missing family members pored over the photos of the detainees, hoping to find their missing loved ones. Chinese police leak reveals human cost of Uyghur incarceration https://t.co/32LjdSfx8S BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 25, 2022 Marx's doctrine of communism emphasizes the need to throw off religion and specifically given the context and era of his writings, the need to throw off the Christian religion. When speaking of the proletariat, Marx wrote, "Law, morality, religion, are to him so many bourgeois prejudices, behind which lurk in ambush just as many bourgeois interests." How could a communist revolution of a proletariat uprising succeed without the "radical rupture" from pesky Christian tenets like the sanctity of human life, monogamous nuclear families, and a hard work ethic? Communism rejects the idea of a moral arbiter greater than man the communist is the standard of morality, and anything goes. Communist regimes throughout history share a commonality they all batted a thousand for oppression and murder. But so many don't, or refuse to see! Of these unwitting comrades, Yuri Bezmenov said this: They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of the subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed any more. They know too much. Some of them, when they get disillusioned, when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power obviously they get offended they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot. When will "certain Americans" favor intellectualism and historical scholarship and rebuke their identity of "useful idiot"? Time is of the essence. It's very clear that, in his own mind, Joe Biden isn't the president of the American people. He is president only of those American people who support his agenda or who can be used to advance his agenda. Biden made that clear when, after ignoring the obviously race-related mass slaughter in Waukesha, he made a beeline for Buffalo, New York, where an evil man nurtured on leftist politics and racial obsessions went on a murder spree. Once there, Biden talked about gun-grabbing and race. Now, after not only avoiding Waukesha, but also avoiding the chaos he created at the border, Biden is finally heading for Uvalde. No matter how one slices it, this man is reprehensible. I won't rehash Biden's disgraceful display in Buffalo, a visit he made in an instant after insisting that it was just too difficult to visit Waukesha. I also won't remind you of Biden's equally disgraceful display when he first spoke about the horrors in Uvalde. Anyway, you won't need a repeat because, on Sunday, you can see the whole thing play out again in Uvalde. Yup, Joe announced that, for the first time in his presidency, he's heading to the Texas town that has borne much of the brunt of Biden's open-door policy for illegal aliens: On Sunday, Jill and I are traveling to Uvalde, Texas to grieve with the community that lost 21 lives in the horrific elementary school shooting. President Biden (@POTUS) May 26, 2022 Many Democrats used his tweet as a springboard to demand gun control: You must ban all guns and enforce gun laws. Citizens shouldnt even have a gun or stand your ground. There is VIOLENCE Across the country. Enforce police protection and SPO. Ms.CourtneyKarynn (@KaaRose) May 27, 2022 Please honor them with action. Issue an executive order banning assault rifles, imposing age requirements, and comprehensive background checks. We all know this Senate wont do any of that. #HonorWithAction #BanAssaultWeaponsNow You promised to do this after 100 days in office. Dawn (@DLNettnin) May 27, 2022 Please announce an executive order banning assault rifles. Take a stand please Domacoblue (@domacoblue) May 26, 2022 Just for fun, remind your leftist friends that, in 2015, even the WaPo was forced to concede that Sen. Marco Rubio was correct when he said that none of the mass shootings over the preceding three years would have been prevented by existing or proposed gun laws. After that, ask them what laws would have stopped the Uvalde shooting. They need to account for the fact that, despite the killer's scary weirdness, no one had made an effort to use Texas's laws to detain him. A smaller-capacity magazine or a ban on rifles would also have been irrelevant. Thanks to the police department's inexplicable decisions, the killer had an hour alone in a locked classroom with children. In that chamber of horrors, he had no need for a big magazine or a long-range weapon. Also, ask the leftist how the school's being a "gun-free zone" deterred the killer. Image: Joe Biden (edited). YouTube screen grab. See, too, if the leftist can explain how, even if there were no Second Amendment, the government could seize all the guns in America while making sure that no criminal would ever get hold of a gun in the future. Remind the leftist about Biden's open border over which drugs, guns, trafficked children, sex offenders, and terrorists come streaming into America. But back to Biden's trip, we know it will be the equivalent of Paul Wellstone's famous funeral that is, not an occasion to mourn but an opportunity to use grief as a lever to move the political dial. And conservatives were quick to note a few obvious problems with Biden's plans: We all know why he wont be visiting Waukesha.https://t.co/pWiOhqjvht KGH (@kghaspel) May 27, 2022 And chicago Master4t9 (@master4t9) May 27, 2022 In addition, there were some who noted that Uvalde has been absolutely slammed by illegal aliens, something that was a problem even before Biden came along, and that got significantly worse after he erased the border. Moreover, Uvalde is going to be under even greater illegal alien pressure now that the DHS has announced that ICE and the Border Patrol will stop making any effort to enforce immigration laws at Uvalde. The mass murder means the area is now "protected." By ignoring Americas immigration laws, Biden created an unstoppable flood of illegal aliens, most of whom are probably illiterate, at least in English, and many of whom are criminals, sex-traffickers, terrorists, and those with dangerous diseases. No wonder that, having created lawless chaos, Biden has refused to go near America's southern border. It's unseemly that he does so now, given that he'll probably use the occasion for politicking. Maybe you can make your first ever trip to the open border allowing criminals, terrorists and enough drugs to kill the entire country! Gonna blame White Supremacists again, Joey? Tony Ultra Dark FJB Bruno (@TonyBrunoShow) May 26, 2022 No country can survive a ruling class that despises it. That's especially true when the ruling class is open about its efforts to destroy the country. Whether it's the destruction of our economy, energy policies that will return us to a pre-modern era, the destroyed border, or pouring taxpayer dollars into Ukraine, Biden and his ruling class really don't like us. Moreover, as Biden's border policy demonstrates, he and his handlers intend to trade the American people in for a newer, more ignorant, less fractious, more compliant model that will take "free" money and keep its collective mouth shut. Biden's rush to Uvalde merely rubs that fact in harder. Kiribati, China vow to enhance cooperation in building Belt and Road, dealing with climate change Xinhua) 10:31, May 28, 2022 Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tarawa, Kiribati, May 27, 2022. (Xinhua) TARAWA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Kiribati and China pledged here on Friday to enhance cooperation in building the Belt and Road, dealing with climate change and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau said the visit by the Chinese delegation brings mutual trust, friendship and cooperation, which bears milestone significance in the relations between Kiribati and China. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries in September 2019, the practical cooperation between the two sides has yielded fruitful results and the substantial improvement of the wellbeing of the Kiribati people has been witnessed, demonstrating China's sincerity, friendship and fulfilment of promises, the president said. Kiribati unswervingly upholds the one-China principle and firmly supports China in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the president said. Expressing gratitude to China for its help and assistance in dealing with the pandemic, economic development and infrastructure construction, the Kiribati president said his country is devoted to lifting the bilateral ties to a new high so as to bring more benefits to the Kiribati people. Wang said China is not only the friend of Kiribati, but also the most reliable friend of all the developing countries. China will firmly safeguard the rightful interests of the developing countries, especially the small and medium-sized countries on the international and multilateral arenas, he added. Since the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Kiribati more than two years ago, the two sides have witnessed the rapid development in bilateral ties with cooperation in all fields pushed forward, which has brought tangible benefits to the people of Kiribati, Wang said. The two countries have trusted and supported each other, which has become a model of equal treatment between big and small nations, Wang said. Facts have shown that Kiribati's decision to resume diplomatic ties with China is in the fundamental interests of the Kiribati people, Wang said. Noting the world is still experiencing the pandemic, wars and poverty, Wang said the United States and its allies, however, are bent on containing the development of China. In essence they do not want to see the success of a non-Western force as well as strengthened solidarity and cooperation between the developing countries. The development and revitalization of China and other developing countries are their legitimate rights. In this sense, the developing countries supporting China in safeguarding its core interests are actually supporting themselves. Similarly, China facilitating the economic development of the developing countries is actually helping itself, Wang said. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in fighting COVID-19. The first batch of the Chinese medical team arrived in Kiribati along with the Chinese delegation to help Kiribati fight the epidemic and provide medical services for the Kiribati people. The two sides pledged to deepen cooperation in joint construction of the Belt and Road to synergize the Kiribati 20-year Vision, expand cooperation in various fields and focus on improving people's livelihood. They also vowed to give full play to Kiribati's advantages in resources and create new highlights in maritime cooperation on the premise of ecological protection. The two sides are committed to carrying out cooperation in tackling climate change, and agreed that the developed countries should genuinely shoulder their historical responsibilities, fulfill their commitments on climate change financing to the developing countries, and help the developing countries enhance their capacity building. Wang stressed that China is firmly committed to a green and low-carbon development path and will help small island countries tackle climate change through South-South cooperation. Following the meeting, the two sides attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents including joint building of the Belt and Road, disaster prevention and reduction, infrastructure construction, tourism and people's livelihood. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- While the United States is sinking deeper in its anti-China paranoia, Australia might well take a different path that best serves its own national benefit. The U.S. government, still in the grip of a Cold War mindset, is only using the so-called Indo-Pacific Economic Framework as a tool to contain China, rather than benefit the region, which could be seen from its choice of "partners," draft of the rules and the approval process. Patronizing its "allies" and using them, including Australia, as pawns, the U.S. government has been playing a game of power politics with no regard for their interests. This is quite obvious when the United States took over the market Australia has lost in China with no hesitation. Australia needs to be clear-eyed enough to recognize the fact that its national interests are not always in line with those of the United States, and a better choice should be made with an independent foreign policy to benefit its own people. From shared sufferings in history to present-day trading partners, for a long time, China and Australia have maintained a good relationship that brought both sides tangible benefits. In World War II, China and Australia both fell victim to the Japanese fascists, and fought shoulder by shoulder against the Japanese aggression. A concentration camp set up by the Japanese in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province, which is preserved until today, had witnessed the suffering of some Australian soldiers. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia diplomatic ties. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said earlier this week that the sound and stable development of China-Australia relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common aspirations of their people and is also conducive to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. China has remained for years Australia's largest trading partner, export market, source of imports, source of tourism revenue and source of international students, according to Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian. The two countries have engaged in cooperation and exchanges in many different areas, which have blossomed in the past half-century. Two-way trade between them has jumped from less than 100 million U.S. dollars at the beginning of their diplomatic relations in 1972, to 230 billion dollars in 2021. Tens of thousands of Chinese students come to Australia every year and 1.2 million overseas Chinese are living in the country. Many Australians also have aspirations for maintaining a sound and healthy relationship with China. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia's philanthropic group the Minderoo Foundation procured over 90 tons of critical medical supplies from China, including face masks, medical coveralls and ICU-grade ventilators. "We are receiving great support from China," said Andrew Forrest, founder of the foundation. "When we were desperate for COVID-19 tests and vaccines were only a distant fantasy, China came to our aid." "It's only in a very short space of time that the relationship has gone off the rails," said Australian arts patron and former diplomat Carrillo Gantner. "I hope it can get back on the rails quickly as well." Various online public opinion posts and editorials on both sides expressed similar yearnings over the past years when the China-Australia relationship slipped, calling for concerted efforts to move towards a detente. The 50-year anniversary of the diplomatic ties offers a rare opportunity for the new federal government of Australia to review the achievements in bilateral relations, and allow the good experience to steer their ties back onto a track of long-term, healthy and stable growth. "China is our close neighbour," said former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam during his visit to Beijing in 1973. "Close co-operation and association between our two peoples is both natural and beneficial." "We believe that there are great benefits for all in putting aside the rigidities and animosities of the Cold War era and grasping the opportunities inherent in the more open framework of relationships now developing in the world, to build a structure of cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual trust." His words still resonate today. In The Washington Post article Ahead of Biden visit, Israel launches biggest eviction of Palestinians in decades (5/13/22), The Post sides with the Palestinians once again. Israel didnt launch anything; it complied with the verdict of Israeli Courts, Courts that exist in all Democratic nations throughout the world. Further, these Courts include Arabs and Jews as judges. Propagandists can contend whatever narrative they want but the Israeli Courts determined after an extensive review over years that the Arabs of Hebron illegally settled neighboring land - and that has to end. Homes built illegally in any part of the world are illegal, and the West Bank is no exception. Why does The Washington Post not accept this? According to the Post article, the Israeli defense force stated: The Supreme Court fully accepted the State Of Israels position, and ruled that the petitioners were not permanent residents of the area, the statement said. The court also noted that the petitioners rejected any attempted compromise offered to them. What is the purpose of this non-news article other than to disparage Israel? Image via Pixy. Despite evidence to the contrary, there is the continued belief that there were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. Between the Democrats, the media who serve as their propagandist, and those who have an irrational hatred of George W. Bush, there has been a refusal to give up the lie that nothing was found in Iraq. One of the reasons given by former president Bush for going into Iraq beyond Hussein's government funding international terrorist activities that did target Americans was weapons of mass destruction were in fact found. In other words, the weapons were not the only reason, but also the financing of international terrorism. A "weapon of mass destruction" is not just nuclear, but other weaponry meant to harm a large number of people through unconventional means. According to DHS, "[a] weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people." Weapons of mass destruction do include chemical weapons, which were found in Iraq. Just because they did not get much attention from the media, does not mean they did not exist. From a Fox News article titled "Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq": 'The Iraqi Survey Group confirmed today that a 155-millimeter artillery round containing sarin nerve agent had been found,' Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, the chief military spokesman in Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad. 'The round had been rigged as an IED (improvised explosive device) which was discovered by a U.S. force convoy.' This was not a one-off instance of a chemical weapon, but one of thousands. From the Yahoo News article "U.S. troops found nearly 5,000 abandoned chemical weapons in Iraq from 2004 2011: Report": On at least six occasions, American troops and American-trained Iraqi troops were wounded by the abandoned munitions, but news of the encounters was neither shared publicly nor widely circulated among the troops, the victims told the Times. Others said they were told to be vague or deceptive about what they found. Those American soldiers and Iraqi allies who were exposed deserve to be remembered, not ignored for political convenience. Just because the Democrats, their media propagandists, and those who irrationally hate Bush want to ignore the truth, that does not make the truth any less accurate. From Greensboro News & Record, "ARMY TESTS BARRELS IN IRAQ: A SUSPECTED CHEMICAL WEAPONS SITE IS THE FOCUS OF EFFORTS TO FIND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION": Preliminary tests run after the site's discovery indicated the barrels contained chemical weapons Besides the barrels, the Army found mobile laboratories and a large yellow warehouse containing hundreds of gas masks and 36 partially assembled SA-2 rockets capable of delivering chemical agents. Those barrels, and others found throughout Iraq, were also weapons of mass destruction. It does not take long to turn a warhead into a chemical weapon with partially assembled rockets close at hand. There was also that yellowcake uranium that was not supposed to be in Iraq that was found. Uranium is a component needed to make nuclear weapons, and Iraq had hundreds of metric tons. From CBS News, "U.S. Secretly Takes Yellowcake From Iraq": The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" - the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment - was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions. That yellowcake uranium was a sign that Hussein wanted nuclear weapons and hid it from inspectors, before kicking them out and never letting them back into Iraq. Everything the Bush administration claimed would be found in Iraq was found. There were chemical weapons and yellowcake uranium, both of which continue to be denied as having been found. It is a blatant falsehood that does not fit the evidence. Bob Ryan is a writer who has an MBA. He is an American Christian Zionist who staunchly supports Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. He has been a weekly blogger at the Times of Israel since 2019. In New Mexico, its almost impossible to prove voter fraud and thats exactly what the Democrat-controlled state legislature wants. Ive previously written about what a joke American voter ID and absentee ballot laws are compared to those in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. In brief, Canada, Mexico, and 46 of the 47 countries in Europe require a government-issued photo ID for in-person voting. Mexico goes a step farther by having a thumbprint on the back of its photo ID. For absentee voting, Mexico and 32 of the 47 countries in Europe only permit absentee voting for citizens who reside out of country. The overwhelming majority of the 49 countries require a government-issued photo ID to even obtain an absentee ballot. And New Mexico? No ID of any kind is required to vote in person. The voter goes to a polling place and tells the poll worker his name. The poll worker then asks for the voters year of birth and street address. If everything matches up, thats it and a ballot is given to the voter. Although the voter signs his signature on an electronic screen, there is no signature verification. What about getting an absentee ballot? NM will mail an absentee ballot to any registered voter who requests one. No physical ID of any kind is required. One can request an absentee ballot by a phone call to the county clerk or online through the Secretary of State. As long as the applicant knows the registered voters name, address, NM drivers license number, and last 4 digits of his social security number, anyone can obtain an absentee ballot. Are there any additional safeguards that NM has to ensure that the absentee ballot has been submitted by the real registered voter? Not really. The most common method to verify that absentee/mail ballots come from the intended voter is to conduct signature verification. When voters return an absentee/mail ballot, they must sign an affidavit on the ballot envelope. When the ballot is returned to the election office, election officials in over half the states have a process for examining each and every signature and comparing it to other documents in their files that contain the voter signatureusually the voter registration record. But NM only requires that the outer envelope containing the ballot be signed and does not verify the signature. (Most states have much tougher absentee ballot laws than NM). So, whats the point of this article other than to bash New Mexico? Its to show the rest of the country what not to do if it wants to have fair elections that can be trusted. Id suggest the following: 1. To understand the true scope of the cheating problem, Id recommend seeing 2000 Mules. The movie makes a compelling case, using cell phone meta-data and video from election drop boxes that massive election fraud occurred in AZ, GA, PA, and WI during the 2020 presidential election with absentee voting. 2. Review what the election laws are where you reside. The National Conference of State Legislatures has some good comparative law information about voting outside the polling place. 3. Ask yourselves this question: How tough is it to catch cheaters where I vote? If the answer is almost impossible then youve got a problem and your voting laws need to be changed. 4. Educate people about how weak U.S. voting laws are compared to other countries. Millions of Americans just dont know how third-world our voting laws are. Im not optimistic that voting laws in New Mexico will be tightened up. The last time that Republicans held a majority in both houses of the state legislature at the same time was 1930, and Democrats have held a majority in both houses of the state legislature for 82 of the last 92 years. Its in their interest to maintain the status quo. To state the obvious, there will be no fundamental change in NM voting laws until there is fundamental political change and the voters have shown no interest in fundamental political change. Image: Ron Cogswell via Flickr (cropped). I'm no political expert merely an observer of life around me and an avid reader. I've lived in California for well over 40 years, surviving quietly in an enclave of extreme leftist society. It's a sad thing that once-wonderful places to live have been so degraded. We feel a force a machine pushing those changes, but we cannot see the machine itself. I experience my community shrinking in on itself, as it's overwhelmed by an ever-expanding lack of safety, increasing violence, rampant crime, homelessness, filth, drugs, and rotting infrastructure. My little bedroom town has now installed license place readers at every entry, and the police blotter is filled with the resulting arrests. Lots of entries say, "car left at high rate of speed, did not chase." This is what our world is coming to unsafe schools included. How is it that we allow such degradation of our quality of life? When Dorothy pulled back the curtain in Oz, you saw a little, manipulative man pulling the levers of power. Who's pulling the levers here? So far, the lever-pullers have managed to keep the curtain closed. But there is little doubt that a mastermind or several masterminds, plus a coterie of toadies who keep the secret, are joining in planning for "fundamentally changing" America for the worse. Some of the manipulation is blatant. Laws are changed over time, with people not even realizing what's happening until it's too late. For instance, open primaries are now held in 22 states. The ramifications? Let's look at Georgia: Stacey Abrams ran unopposed in the Democrat column. That left the door wide open to force the very unpopular Republican governor, Kemp, who had been way down in the polls, to win with massive, coordinated Democrat voting in his favor, against Trump endorsee Perdue. The same thing happened with the secretary of state election, where the much-reviled Raffensperger handily defeated Trump-backed Jody Hice. Look at California. I just got my "ballot," which I will be able to return at my convenience, not that it will matter a whit, to a drop box in my 'hood. The governor's race has 26 candidates listed. California has what is known as a top-two primary. This type of primary election lists all candidates on the same primary ballot, and the top two candidates, regardless of their partisan affiliation, advance to the general election. Image: Golden Gate Bridge (edited) by wirestock. Besides Newsom and a couple of no-name Dems opposing him, there's the usual smattering of greens and such and a whopping 13 Republicans. We clearly have no California Republican leadership capable of winnowing this group down and promoting a viable candidate. It will be very easy to split to vote, confuse the voters, and end up with Newsom running against some nonentity nobody will vote for. He doesn't even need to lift a finger to campaign. In fact, less than two weeks before the primary, there's been zero coverage of the race on the local news. No debates, no real way to find out who's who except to rely on the voter pamphlet. What's worse, if the candidates are spending on TV spots, most of us will never know. Who watches live TV these days? The DVR rules. We all record and watch later, minus ads. The machine knows exactly where to have an impact. A few years back, a ballot measure a "proposition" in California parlance asked the voters to approve ranked-choice voting a top-two primary. Top vote-getters in the primary go on to face off for the golden ring. What could go wrong? It was touted as an improvement, and the voters bought the lie. Fox News shows regularly offer "here's what they're saying" clips from other stations. We see that all use identical language, again and again. The left is very, very organized and the fact that the Squad is placed to the farthest left gives the rest an excuse to move left some more. The right is split between the leadership class, on the one hand (that is, McCarthy/McConnell and the rest of the RINOs, who are old-school "conservatives" in the Chamber of Commerce, mo' money mode) versus the young contingent of Trumpster firebrands, on the other hand. They couldn't be farther apart, and they are never going to trust one another. The ill-kept secret, of course, is that the RINOs are really a uniparty with the left, for any vote that counts. They speak with forked tongues and will always side with the money. Just ask the Ukrainians, who are $40 billion richer, while our border has been ripped wide open and our schools are at risk. Congresspeople's main job is to fundraise. For the most part, those elected are forced to sell their souls to the devil for cash. Only a few manage to stay true, and those, sadly, never get the plum committee memberships where they'll have any influence. Only those indebted to the lobbyists may apply. That's the system. That's the machine. I don't know how to change it. Do you? Closing remarks in Johnny Depp and Amber Heards multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit ended with both sides urging jurors to think about other victims of domestic abuse. Ms Heards legal team highlighted the message that a verdict in Mr Depps favour would send to others, while the actors representatives said her claims were an act of profound cruelty to true survivors. The actor is suing his former partner over a 2018 article she wrote in the Washington Post, which was titled: I spoke up against sexual violence and faced our cultures wrath. That has to change. Amber Heards legal team highlighted the message that a verdict in Mr Depps favour would send to others (Steve Helber/AP) The article does not mention Mr Depp by name, yet his lawyers say it falsely implies he physically and sexually abused the Aquaman actress while they were together. Following six weeks of evidence, which has seen testimony from both Mr Depp and Ms Heard as well as individuals including British supermodel Kate Moss, jurors have now been sent out to consider their verdict. Judge Penney Azcarate reminded jurors of their obligation to consider all the evidence before reaching their conclusions, and forbade them from using outside sources for research purposes. In his closing remarks, Benjamin Rottenborn, representing Ms Heard, said that a verdict in Mr Depps favour would demonstrate to abuse victims that they would always need to do more. The facts are absolutely overwhelming, of abuse, he told the jury. Mr Depp simply cannot prove to you that he never once abused Amber, and if you dont know, you have to return a verdict for Ms Heard. A ruling against Amber here sends the message that no matter what you do as an abuse victim you always need to do more. No matter what you document you always have to document more, no matter who you tell you always have to tell more people. No matter how honest you are about your own imperfections and shortcomings in a relationship you need to be perfect in order for people to believe you. Dont send that message thats what (Mr Depp) wants you to do. Mr Rottenborn added that the Pirates Of The Caribbean actor was running head-long into the first amendment of the US Constitution and urged members of the jury to stand up for freedom of speech. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to tell Mr Depp that this was last chance, he said. Tell him to move on with his life. Tell him to let Amber move on for hers. He added: This trial is about so much more than Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Its about freedom of speech. Stand up for it, protect it, and reject Mr Depps claims against Amber. In her closing remarks, Mr Depps lawyer Camille Vasquez said the mountain of evidence that Mr Depp assaulted his former partner was simply not there. Following six weeks of evidence jurors have now retired to consider their verdict in the case (Steve Helber/AP) Ms Vasquez began by reminding jurors that Ms Heard had filed a restraining order against her former partner on May 27 2016. In doing so ruined his life by falsely telling the world that she was a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of Mr Depp, she said. On May 27 2022, exactly six years later, we ask you to give Mr Depp his life back. What is at stake in this trial is a mans life. There is an abuser in this courtroom but it is not Mr Depp. There is a victim of domestic abuse in this courtroom, but it is not Ms Heard. She added: It is disturbing to think Ms Heard would make up the horrific tales of abuse that she testified to in this courtroom. What Ms Heard testified to in this courtroom is a story of far too many women, but the overwhelming evidence and weight of that evidence is that it is not her story. It is not Ms Heards story. It was an act of profound cruelty not just to Mr Depp, but to true survivors of domestic abuse for Ms Heard to hold herself out as a public figure representing domestic abuse. During the course of the trial fans have gathered outside the courtroom (Craig Hudson/AP) It was false, it was defamatory and it caused irreparable harm. Mr Depp is claiming 50 million dollars (40 million) in damages in the lawsuit and says that the allegations caused him to lose several high-profile film roles, including in the Fantastic Beasts and Pirates Of The Caribbean franchises. Ms Heard is counter-suing Mr Depp over comments previously made by his lawyer Adam Waldman, who allegedly referred to her abuse claims as a hoax. The case is being brought in Virginia rather than in California, where the actors live, because The Washington Posts online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. At one point in Fridays proceedings alarms were heard inside the courtroom, which Judge Penney Azcarate dismissed as an amber alert but were later reported to be a storm warning. During the course of the trial at Fairfax County District Court, legions of fans have gathered outside in an attempt to enter the courtroom and observe proceedings. Tui has announced a small number of flight cancellations and delays in a blow to travel plans at the start of the half-term break. The travel company said various operational and supply chain issues are to blame for the flight cancellations. It has cancelled three flights from Birmingham, two flights from Gatwick and one from Manchester. It comes after the airline EasyJet announced it will cancel more than 200 flights over the next 10 days. EasyJet said the cancellations would affect about 24 flights per day from Londons Gatwick airport between May 28 and June 6. A Tui spokesperson said: We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to customers who have experienced flight delays or a flight cancellation. Delays have been caused due to a combination of factors and we are doing everything we can to keep customers updated, and will provide refreshments and, where appropriate, provide hotel accommodation. Where we have made the difficult decision to cancel a small number of flights, customers will receive a full refund within 14 days and we will contact them directly to help them try and find another holiday. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused. EasyJet earlier said its 200 cancellations were necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period. It comes after a software failure forced EasyJet to cancel around 200 flights on Thursday. A spokeswoman for the company said in a statement: We have taken the decision to make advance cancellations of around 24 Gatwick flights per day starting from May 28 until June 6. EasyJet has cancelled about 200 flights (David Parry/PA) We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancellations and inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights, however we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period. Customers are being informed from today (Friday) and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulations. Over the next week we will be operating around 1,700 flights per day, with around a quarter of these operating to and from Gatwick. Elsewhere, Liverpool FC supporters travelling to the Champions League final and families embarking on half-term getaways faced long queues at the Port of Dover and UK airports. Thousands of fans descended on the Kent port on Friday to board cross-Channel ferries en route to Paris for Saturdays match. Airline passengers were also stuck in lengthy queues at airports such as Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Bristol. There is also high demand for sailings from families embarking on trips to the continent for half-term. The port advised passengers to pack adequate supplies including food and water as it is expecting a very busy week ahead. Andy Cohen and Bravo continue to face backlash for Real Housewives of Dubai. Ahead of the show's June 1 premiere and days after the first trailer was released, a group of 12 human rights groups called for the network to publicly oppose the violence against women as well as the homophobic laws perpetrated by the rulers of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Andy Cohen and Bravo are being slammed by human rights groups ahead of the Real Housewives of Dubai premiere on June 1. (Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) The human rights groups Freedom Forward, Action Corps, Clearinghouse on Women's Issues, CODEPINK, European Centre For Democracy and Human Rights, FairSquare, Health Advocacy International, Human Rights Sentinel, Just Foreign Policy, Last Mile4D, Peace Action and ReThinking Foreign Policy sent an open letter to Bravo, its parent company NBCUniversal and the production company Truly Original expressing deep concern over the show. "Dubai is an absolute monarchy that is part of the dictatorship of the United Arab Emirates," it said. "By setting the Real Housewives franchise inside Dubai, you are helping the UAE dictatorship hide its male rulers' misogyny, legalized homophobia and mass violence against women." Real Housewives of Dubai faces backlash ahead of its June 1 premiere on Bravo. (Photo: Bravo via Instagram) The groups demanded the executives to "reveal whether the rulers of Dubai and the UAE funded or financed the Real Housewives of Dubai in any way." They also asked that a disclaimer run before the episodes saying Bravo and the other businesses "oppose the UAE and Dubai dictatorship's misogyny, homophobia, women's rights violations and war in Yemen." They also want money to be donated to human rights organizations which fight against those human rights violations. Additionally, a request was made that fans of the Real Housewives franchise be educated on the injustices. Some of the human rights violations are outlined, including Dubais ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum kidnapping and detaining his adult daughters, one of whom has been held captive for over 20 years, and intimated and harassed his ex-wife. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, a member of the UAE ruling family, was accused of sexual assault, but the dictatorship has not investigated it. In addition to discrimination against women, the UAEs homophobic laws and criminalization of LGBTQ people are also among the list of reasons objecting to the programming. "As these examples reveal, the dictatorship of the [UAE] and Dubai is a deeply flawed choice for the Real Housewives series," the groups stated. "By producing and launching the [RHOD], you risk providing the rulers of the UAE and Dubai with the soft propaganda they need to hide their human rights crimes from the world. We urge you to immediately take the above steps to demonstrate your rejection of the human rights violations, homophobia and predatory male behavior of the rulers of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai." Several of the human rights groups also made direct comments, including CODEPINK's National Co-Director Danaka Katovich, who called it "shocking" that Cohen and Bravo "are giving Dubai's rulers a blank check of free publicity. The rulers [there] have kidnapped their own adult daughters and have been accused of rape. Dubai and the UAE are run by homophobic and misogynistic leaders that all Real Housewives fans should stay as far away from as possible." Peace Action Executive Director said, "Imagine if [Cohen] and Bravo decided to launch the Real Housewives of Moscow during this terrible time for the people of Ukraine? The rulers of the UAE and Dubai are responsible for a horrible war in Yemen that has killed countless women and men. Bravo and NBCUniversal are insulting the intelligence of their viewers by whitewashing the human rights violations and military adventures of the UAE dictatorship." Health Advocacy International Coordinator Mary Anne Mercer said, "Why cant we see a Bravo show on 'The Women of Yemen'? The women of Dubai face the rules of a misogynistic and homophobic government. Meanwhile, the women of Yemen have lived for seven years with the horrors of seeing their children under the rubble of their homes, schools and even hospitals, in a war supported by the rulers of Dubai and the [UAE]." Just days ago, the first look at the show was released. In the voiceover, the co-stars gush, "Anything is possible in Dubai. It's the land of opportunity" as highlights of the out of touch and excessive lives of the super rich stars flash on the screen. At another point, cast member Caroline Stanbury says, "In Dubai, the women are far from submissive. Most of the women are running this town." When the show was announced by Cohen who executive produces the Real Housewives franchise and hosts the network's reunion specials (recently screaming at the RH of New Jersey stars to "shut up" in theirs) there was swift backlash the show would film in a city known for for human rights violations, particularly against women and the LGBTQ+ community. Cohen specifically was called a "sellout" on social media at the time. The Bravo exec, who is gay, reportedly earns $10 million annually for his Housewives gig. A rep for Bravo did not respond to our request for comment. HAIKOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chen Lei traveled all the way from northwest China to the southern Hainan Province just to catch a glimpse of blue-tailed bee-eaters and blue-throated bee-eaters nesting in a wetland park. "I traveled more than 2,000 km from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the tropical island province to observe the beautiful birds here in Haikou," said Chen, 44, referring to Hainan's provincial capital. "Environmental protection is important, and I see people from different walks of life are doing their part in this regard." Bee-eaters are a richly-colored bird family. As their name suggests, they are known to hunt bees, in addition to wasps, and dragonflies. In Haikou, these birds are often found along the western coast. The blue-tailed bee-eaters are under state protection. Each year, from April to June, the birds nest and reproduce at the Wuyuan River National Wetland Park in Haikou, a huge draw for many bird watchers. On Thursday, a group of nature enthusiasts came to the park to observe the bee-eaters, dubbed "the most beautiful birds in China," and "feel the beauty of biodiversity in Hainan." In Haikou, the birds were first spotted in 2018, about 300 meters from a government office building, said Lu Gang, head of the Duotan wetland research institute. "On that occasion, we saw more than 20 birds nesting near the park," Lu said. Over the past few years, the number of bee-eaters has increased from 28 to 80 by early May, according to the latest monitoring figures. Haikou authorities started building the wetland park in 2017, it was later given national park status. In 2019, the city launched a project to protect the bee-eaters, and Lu's institute started working to "build a good surviving environment for the birds," and improve bird monitoring. "If the bee-eaters are thriving in a city, it means that the local wetland system is good," Lu added. "It also shows that the city pays great attention to the environment." TAKING BEE-EATERS UNDER WING To enhance wetland protection, Lu's institute hired two patrollers. One of them is Chen Chuanglin. Chen, 40, previously worked for the agriculture and rural affairs bureau of Xiuying, a district in Haikou. Years of forest patrolling work honed his skills to "identify bird species by their song." "I began working for the Wuyuan River environment protection project in December 2019," Chen said. Besides his daily patrols, Chen also helps monitor birds in other areas in Haikou. "I learned from horticulturalists how to differentiate plants, and I taught myself how to install infrared cameras," he said, adding that he also uses cameras to record animals and plants in his patrol areas. "As a good patroller, you need to understand the characteristics and functions of a forest when you see it," he said. "You need to be able to tell the types and habits of birds when you see them." Chen is now a major force in bee-eater monitoring. "After getting involved in bird protection, I realized that Mother Nature has a lot of hidden secrets," Chen said. "I learned that people, the trees, the birds and the nature environment are all inter-connected." Leaving aside the bloviating at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the event often does at least reflect whats going on in the world of politics and markets. This year's edition was particularly interesting given Russias invasion of Ukraine, rising interest rates, and, of course, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year's buzzword seemed to be 'deglobalization,' a mild surprise given this trend has been underway since at least 2016 when Donald Trump was elected U.S. president and the U.K. voted for Brexit. I'd argue this is less deglobalization than it is a realignment. Technology, culture, sports, transportation and more make globalization irrevocable. But alliances and priorities are shifting, accelerated by Russias ill-fated foray into Ukraine and Chinese policies on (not) protecting intellectual property, cyber-security, and its handling of the pandemic. This all makes Russia certainly and to some degree China no longer crowd favorites on the world stage. Not surprisingly, both countries had zero and very limited presence, respectively, in Davos this year, with Russians banned because of sanctions while the Chinese were hindered because of onerous quarantine protocols. Enter India. Magazines "India Davos 2022" are seen at the India Lounge during the World Economic Forum 2022 (WEF) in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann India has had a strong presence at Davos for decades, with CEOs and senior government officials making the pilgrimage to this small Swiss mountain town. And while Prime Minister Narendra Modi didnt attend, half a dozen senior offices did along with at least 100 Indian CEOs, according to the Business Standard. During the World Economic Forum, most of the stores in Davos are converted into mini-promotion centers by giant companies like Google, Meta, and Cisco, or countries, including Indonesia, Poland, and Namibia, among others. India, though, made the biggest splash this year. Indian companies like Wipro, Infosys, HCL and others were present on the Promenade in Davos, as well as Indian states. I counted six out of Indias 28 states Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, plus the central government taking over local shops. Temporary offices of several regions of India are seen on Promenade street during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos Switzerland, May 22, 2022. Picture taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (Sidenote: The most talked about storefront was "The Russia War Crimes House," which showed scenes of war atrocities in what was the Russia House in previous years.) But back to India. Given the paucity of Russian and Chinese attendees and with some 10% fewer Americans too perhaps this presence was just a matter of India maintaining a strong showing while others dialed back. Some insiders, however, thought there was more to it. I think its a bit more than that, a leading global Indian business leader told me inside the Congress Centre. India senses correctly, I believe, that there is an opportunity to enhance its presence, not just as a domestic market story, but as part of the global supply chain. They see the world worried about China and they are saying we can fill the gap. China has overshadowed India, but maybe not so much going forward. Indian media covers the action at Davos intensely the Business Standard publishes a calendar of Indian events, for instance and sometimes a trifle chauvinistically. This year may well be the India Everywhere moment again," read the Economic Times. Not only is India part of the global conversation, especially given its willingness to engage in pressing challenges to the world, Indias participation may be the third largest at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos. And this from the Hindu Times: The Indian contingent at this Swiss ski resort town is brimming with confidence when it comes to share their story of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and attracting more investments Dr. Nirvikar Singh, co-director of the Center for Analytical Finance at UCSC, offered this view: This is part of an overall strategy of projecting the accomplishments of the Indian government and part of a strategy of attracting foreign investment, he says. This is the proverbial full court press. Of course, India faces big-time economic headwinds just like any other country. After Walmart and Target recently sneezed, the Indian tech giants Wipro and Infosys got colds. Then theres Indias troublesome relationship with Russia. Troublesome because India hasnt condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine or imposed sanctions, raising the ire of the U.S. and Europe. Indians will tell you that its easy for Western powers to complain, but that Russia and India have longstanding ties. Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi India grew close to Russia for a number of reasons. For one, as a counter to China which shares a sometimes uneasy border with India, and for another because of the U.S. militarys support of arch-rival Pakistan. Not surprisingly, then, Russia has been the primary supplier of military hardware to the Indian armed forces, which, given Russias track record in Ukraine, doesnt look so smart. But India had been looking to wean itself from the Russian war machine (such as it is), even before the Ukraine invasion. The Wall Street Journal reports that Indias reliance on Russian arms has been decliningdown from 69% of Indian arms purchases in 2012-16 to 46% in 2017-21. Some also point to Indian purchases of Russian oil as another contributing factor, but that may be a red herring as the Journal also reports that though India has doubled its imports of Russian oil this year, it still isnt among the top 10 importers of Russian energy. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put India in a position where it has had to choose between condemning Russia, and protecting the partnership with the US, says Dr. Ashley J. Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Privately [Indians] express a good deal of dismay about the invasion, while continuing to build a relationship with us, and encouraging us to understand their constraints as to why they can't cross swords with the Russians openly. There has been a challenge for India to manage both these relationships simultaneously, but thus far, it seems to have pulled it off. Thats complicated stuff, but not enough to deter the scores of Indians working the rooms in Davos. Indians sell hard, notes the Indian business executive. The Chinese, sitting at home in Beijing, should take note. This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on May 28, 2022. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe Follow Andy Serwer, editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance, on Twitter: @serwer Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez is photographed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in 2016. (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times) Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez tested positive for COVID-19 after a recent trip, church officials confirmed Friday. Gomez was experiencing mild symptoms and is fully vaccinated and boosted, according to a statement by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Church officials said he was at home after the recommended isolation period. "I am grateful to be experiencing mild symptoms and look forward to returning to my in-person ministry soon," Gomez said in a statement. "I continue to offer my prayers for all those suffering from this virus." He encouraged all to continue to pray for those who may be seriously ill. The archbishop's diagnosis comes as California is being hit with another resurgence of the coronavirus. Nineteen California counties were moved from the low to medium COVID-19 community level Thursday, including San Diego, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara. Los Angeles County was already in the medium level before this week. According to CDC data, 33 of Californias 58 counties are now in the CDCs medium COVID-19 community level, accounting for 78% of the states population. By contrast, the previous week, there were only 14 counties in the medium COVID-19 community level, accounting for less than half of the states population. Overall, coronavirus cases still are on the rise in L.A. County. During the weeklong period that ended Thursday, the county reported an average of more than 4,200 new cases a day a rate of 293 new infections per 100,000 residents. A rate of 100 or more is considered a high rate of transmission. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. UCLA's Megan Faraimo, shown here in a game against Fresno State on March 3, hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to spearhead the Bruins' 3-2 comeback win over Duke in an NCAA super regional Friday. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press) Whether in the circle or at the plate, Megan Faraimo has got this. The UCLA pitcher slapped the go-ahead two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth as a pinch hitter and retired the final 14 Duke batters to seal a 3-2 UCLA comeback victory in the NCAA super regional Friday night at Easton Stadium. The redshirt junior recorded her first hit since May 12 and gave up four hits, two runs and one walk with 10 strikeouts to put the No. 5-seeded Bruins one win away from the Womens College World Series. They can advance to Oklahoma City with a victory Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT at Easton Stadium. The Blue Devils, a program in only its fifth season and playing in its first super regional, jumped on the Pac-12 pitcher of the year early, scoring on an RBI double in the first inning and a solo home run from freshman Ana Gold in the second. The Bruins stranded five baserunners in the first four innings against Duke's changeup specialist Jala Wright before catcher Delanie Wisz got UCLA on the board with an RBI double in the fifth. Wright gave up eight hits and three unearned runs as Duke committed two errors. UCLA first baseman Kinsley Washington went four-for-four at the plate, scoring one run. The Blue Devils did not start third-team All-American and All-ACC first-teamer Peyton St. George, who has a 22-3 record this season, and could use her in Saturdays must-win game. The Bruins could start redshirt senior Holly Azevedo, who starred in the teams regional tournament with two wins, or call upon Faraimo again after she threw 106 pitches Friday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. UVALDE, Texas (AP) A young survivor of the massacre at a Texas elementary school said she covered herself with a friend's blood and pretended to be dead while she waited for help to arrive. Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she and a friend called 911 from her dead teacher's phone Tuesday and waited for what felt like, to her, three hours for officers to arrive at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The 18-year-old shooter, Salvador Ramos, was inside the school for more than an hour before he was shot to death by Border Patrol tactical officers. That's according to top law enforcement officials who provided new details Thursday of a confusing and sometimes contradictory timeline that has angered and frustrated the parents and onlookers who had urged police to charge into the school. Miah said that after the shooter moved from one room into the adjacent one she could hear screams and a lot more gunfire, and that the gunman then started blaring music. The children who survived the attack, which killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers, described a festive, end-of-the-school-year day that quickly turned to terror. Samuel Salinas, 10, told ABC's Good Morning America that he and other classmates pretended to be dead after Ramos opened fire on the class. Samuel was struck by shrapnel in his thigh. He shot the teacher and then he shot the kids, said Samuel, who was in Irma Garcia's class. Garcia died in the attack and her husband, Joe Garcia, died Thursday of an apparent heart attack. Gemma Lopez, 10, was in a classroom down the hall when Ramos entered the building. She told Good Morning America that a bullet came through her classroom wall before any lockdown was called. Her best friend, Amerie Garza, died in the rampage. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings The Texas school shooter emerged from a closet and opened fire when police burst into the classroom where he was killing children, according to a report. A hodgepodge tactical unit led by Border Patrol agents returned fire and killed 18-year-old Salvador Ramos inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, an official told the Washington Post. The Border Patrol agents had arrived to a chaotic scene. They told me it was hard to discern who was in charge, the anonymous person told the Post. Crime scene tape surrounds Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Wednesday. Crime scene tape surrounds Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Wednesday. (Jae C. Hong/) While police were struggling to get their act together, Ramos gunned down 19 children and two teachers inside a classroom. Law enforcement officers on site didnt have any breaching material, the Post reported, so they were desperate for a master key provided by a janitor. Once they got the key, they used a tactical shield provided by a U.S. Marshal for cover, according to the Post. A motley crew of law enforcement officers followed behind a Border Patrol agent carrying the shield. When Ramos opened fire, three Border Patrol agents and at least one Uvalde County sheriffs deputy returned fire and killed him. When officers entered the classroom, they found the surviving children huddled in a corner, the official told the Post. The first Border Patrol agent arrived on the scene around 12:15 p.m., approximately 45 minutes after Ramos entered the school, the Post reported. The agent spotted bullet holes in the classroom door. Ramos entered the school at 11:33 a.m., according to Texas state police. He was not dead until 12:50 p.m. Former President Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association on Friday in Houston, about 300 miles from Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman massacred 21 people, including 19 children, in an elementary school. With the country reeling from the latest mass shooting, the NRA gathering proved too fraught for some Republicans and entertainers to attend. Lee Greenwood, the musician who penned Trumps entrance song, God Bless the U.S.A. pulled out of the event, saying that showing up would be seen as an endorsement of the AR-15 rifle that had been used only days before to gun down children at Robb Elementary School. Trump saw no such risk, and walked defiantly on stage to Greenwoods anthem. And unlike some, I didnt disappoint you by not showing up, Trump said early in his remarks, a reference to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, as well as Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Dan Crenshaw, also of Texas, all of whom had pulled out of speaking live at the event. Trump read aloud the names of the victims, the recorded sound of a mission bell punctuating each name. And while those he slaughtered are now with God in heaven, he will be eternally damned to burn in the fires of hell," Trump said of the 18-year-old killer, who purchased his weapons legally. As have other Republicans, Trump depicted the assailant as an out-control-lunatic who had been corrupted by alienating cultural forces, while seeking to minimize the role of lax gun laws in what was the nations 214th mass shooting of the year. Trump attending the National Rifle Association annual convention in Houston. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) The former president branded as grotesque and repulsive efforts for stricter gun control in the wake of the latest tragedy, which followed a racist massacre of 10 people in Buffalo earlier this month. Those horrific crimes have spurred a bipartisan group of senators to spend this week working on a bipartisanship bill that would expand scrutiny of people trying to buy guns. Although Trump has routinely styled himself a political maverick not beholden to special interests, in Houston he hued closely to the organizations talking points, as did the other speakers, regardless of the thousands of protesters who had gathered outside the venue. It was time to harden our schools, Trump said, reprising what Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas had said from the convention floor only minutes before. Our schools should be the single-hardest target in our country, Trump said, adding that teachers should be armed, a line that received hearty applause from the less-than-capacity crowd. The NRA pushed for the arming of teachers after the 2012 massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 children and six adults were murdered by a gunman. No one should ever be allowed to get near a classroom until they have been checked, scanned, screened and approved, Trump added. And he appealed to the same nativist strain that helped him win the 2016 presidential election. If the United States has $40 billion dollars to send to Ukraine, we should be able to do whatever it takes to keep our children safe at home, the former president said, alluding to growing resistance among congressional Republicans to aid the Eastern European nation that has thus far successfully repelled a Russian invasion with the help of a Western alliance helmed by the United States. People protesting gun laws outside the NRA annual convention in Houston. (Daniel Kramer/Reuters) Republicans have sought to turn the discourse about guns into a referendum on Democratic policies in cities like Chicago, where gun violence has persisted at alarmingly high levels despite strict gun laws. Defenders of gun control point to the fact that weak gun laws in neighboring states effectively frustrate any efforts on Chicagos part. Thats a war zone, he said of Chicago, a perennial target of Republican attacks on gun control. Though he enacted a significant criminal justice reform measure while in office, Trump returned on Friday to his roots as a booster of big city law-and-order policing, which in 1989 infamously saw him call for the death penalty for five young men of color wrongly accused of raping a nighttime jogger in Central Park. You really wonder, Trump mused, do the Democrats even care? He depicted the Democratic Party as beholden to the Defund the Police slogan from the summer of 2020, which many liberals did support at the time but most have since renounced. His speech also served as a freewheeling campaign stump speech that included false claims about the 2020 presidential election. At one point, he reminisced about having received the NRAs endorsement when seeking the presidency in 2016. As did abortion opponents, gun advocates looked past Trumps own record as a liberal New Yorker, correctly predicting that he would appoint conservative judges if elected. It was like getting into a great college, Trump said of the endorsement. You say, Boy, that feels good. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, in an image from video, speaks during an online news conference in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong province on Saturday. Bachelet is on a six-day visit to China that includes the Xinjiang region. (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ) The top United Nations human rights official said Saturday that she raised concerns with Chinese officials about the effect of the broad application of counterterrorism and deradicalization measures on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in Chinas Xinjiang region. Michelle Bachelet, who visited Xinjiang as part of a six-day trip to China, said it was not an investigation but a chance to raise concerns with senior Chinese leaders and pave the way for more regular interactions to support China in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law. It provides an opportunity for me to better understand the situation in China, but also for the authorities in China to better understand our concerns and to potentially rethink policies that we believe may impact negatively on human rights, she said in a video news conference before leaving China. Bachelets measured words, while expected, will probably not sit well with activists and governments such as the United States, which have been critical of her decision to visit Xin-jiang. Chinas ruling Communist Party, which has vehemently denied all reports of human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang, showed no sign of being open to change. A statement attributed to Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu accused some Western countries and anti-China elements of lying about Xinjiang under the guise of human rights. It said the government had adopted lawful measures to combat violent terrorism and brought security, stability and prosperity to the region in Chinas northwest. The Chinese side pointed out that essentially, Xinjiang is not at all a human rights issue, but a major issue concerning upholding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the statement said. All ethnic groups of Xinjiang belong to the family of the Chinese nation. Agnes Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, said Bachelet should condemn human rights violations in Xinjiang, call on China to release people arbitrarily detained and end systematic attacks on ethnic minorities in the region. The high commissioners visit has been characterized by photo opportunities with senior government officials and manipulation of her statements by Chinese state media, leaving an impression that she has walked straight into a highly predictable propaganda exercise for the Chinese government, Callamard said in a news release. Bachelet, making the first visit by a U.N. high commissioner for human rights to China in 17 years, said she raised the lack of independent judicial oversight for a system of internment camps that swept up a million or more Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. China, which describes the camps as vocational training and education centers to combat extremism, says they have been closed. The government has never publicly said how many people passed through them. Bachelet, who visited a prison and former center in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar, noted the reliance by police on 15 indicators to determine tendencies toward violent extremism that could result in detention, the allegations of use of force and reports of unduly severe restrictions on religious practices. It is critical that counterterrorism responses do not result in human rights violations, she said. The application of relevant laws and policies, and any mandatory measures imposed on individuals, need to be subject to independent judicial oversight, with greater transparency of judicial proceedings. All victims must be able to seek redress. Bachelet described as deeply worrying the arrest of lawyers, activists, journalists and others under Hong Kongs national security law, noting the semiautonomous Chinese citys reputation as a center for human rights and independent media in Asia. She said it is important to protect the linguistic, religious and cultural identity of Tibetans and that they be allowed to participate fully and freely in decisions about their religious life. I ... stressed the importance of children learning in their language and culture in the setting of their families or communities, she said. Before her trip, she said she heard from Uyghur families living abroad that had lost contact with their loved ones. In her meetings in China, she said she appealed to authorities to take steps to provide information to families as a matter of priority. To those who have sent me appeals asking me to raise issues or cases with the authorities, I have heard you, she said. Your advocacy matters and my visit was an opportunity to raise a number of specific situations and issues of concern with the government. The U.N. and China agreed to set up a working group to hold follow-up discussions on a range of issues, including the rights of minorities, counterterrorism and human rights, Bachelet said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Pope Francis is to join the Archbishop of Canterbury and the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on a historic peace pilgrimage to South Sudan. Taking place in July, the religious leaders have been invited by President Salva Kiir Mayardit. They will meet with him and his five vice-presidents in Juba, the capital city. Pope Francis, Most Rev Justin Welby and Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields will meet people living in a refugee camp and lead an open-air prayer vigil for peace. They will also meet with local church leaders. The three churches will stand in solidarity with millions of ordinary people who are suffering from continued armed conflict, violence, floods and famine. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but civil war broke out two years later. A peace agreement was signed in 2018 but the economy of the country is still on the brink of collapse. Pope Francis, leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, described the visit as an important step. He said: Archbishop Justin Welby and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, two dear brothers, will be my travelling companions when, in a few weeks time, we will at last be able to travel to South Sudan. Ours will be an ecumenical pilgrimage of peace. Let us pray that it may inspire Christians in South Sudan and everywhere to be promoters of reconciliation, patient weavers of concord, capable of saying no to the perverse and useless spiral of violence and of arms. The Archbishop of Canterbury said: I greatly look forward to this historic pilgrimage of peace to South Sudan with my dear brothers in Christ, Pope Francis and the Rev Dr Iain Greenshields. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (left) and Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, will be joined by Pope Francis (Cameron Brooks/PA) We hope to stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan in their great struggles. We hope to support and encourage the continued unity of churches for the good of the nation. We hope to encourage political leaders to pursue peace in this remarkable country. We pray that the symbolism of our joint visit will show that reconciliation and forgiveness are possible and that relationships can be transformed. Church of Scotland moderator Dr Greenshields said: I am genuinely humbled at the opportunity to assist our brothers and sisters in South Sudan in the search for peace, reconciliation and justice. It is a privilege to be joining the Holy Father and the Archbishop of Canterbury on this historic ecumenical pilgrimage of peace and we come as servants of the global church. It has helped local church leaders work at both a grassroots level and political level to try and bring unnecessary conflict to an end and build lasting peace, stability and unity. Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in Belfast on Saturday to celebrate the centenary of Northern Ireland. Lambeg drumming, food stalls and speeches are all planned, as thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of the city to mark 100 years since partition as part of parade organised by the Orange Order. Thousands more spectators are set to gather to watch the parade, with a few attendees arriving as early as 9am along the route into the city centre. The event to mark the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921 comes after the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the celebrations planned last year. The big day has finally arrived! Wishing everyone participants and spectators a very enjoyable day as we celebrate the Centenary of Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/7Ga6ctVETo Orange Order (@OrangeOrder) May 28, 2022 Large crowds are set to gather at Stormont from 10am, with speeches planned at Parliament Buildings before the parade makes its way into Belfast city centre along Prince of Wales Avenue and the Upper Newtownards Road. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) warned ahead of Saturday that the parade will likely cause delays and diversions for motorists in and around the city. Some shops and businesses are also expected to close early to avoid the disruption. Grand Master of the Orange Order Edward Stevenson will be among those addressing the crowd. Members of the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland, as well as the Junior Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, the Royal Black Institution and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, will join the event. The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Centenary Parade will take place in Belfast today at 1pm. The parade will leave Stormont at 1pm and proceed to City Hall. Diversions are in place and delays are expected. Allow extra time for your journey if you are travelling through Belfast. pic.twitter.com/mPeeL3GRd3 Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) May 28, 2022 Orangemen and women from England and Scotland are also expected to attend. Unionist politicians are set to join the event, including Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie. Mr Beattie called the event truly historic. It was unfortunate that the Covid-19 pandemic delayed celebration plans, but it is testament to the leadership and members of the Orange Order that this parade is now proceeding. The West is working to break the Russian blockade on Ukrainian ports in order to avert a global food crisis by releasing millions of tons of grain, Boris Johnson has said. The Prime Minister spoke on Saturday morning with President Volodymyr Zelensky about international efforts to put a stop to the despicable blockade of Odesa, Ukraines major southern port on the Black Sea. The conversation between the leaders comes after Mr Johnson revealed this week that the West was supporting the Ukrainians to demine the Black Sea and reopen international shipping lanes. Ukraine was known as the bread basket of Europe and was one of the worlds largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. But the Russian invasion and Moscows mining of the access to the southern ports has halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies. I told President @ZelenskyyUa this morning that we stand with Ukraine for the long-term. We'll continue to provide equipment to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces defend their country, and we're working intensively to find ways to resume grain exports & avert a global food crisis. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 28, 2022 Giving details of the phone call, a No 10 spokeswoman said: The leaders spoke about Putins despicable blockade of Odesa, Ukraines biggest shipping port. The Prime Minister outlined to President Zelensky the intensive work taking place with international partners to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine to avert a global food crisis. He said that the UK would work with G7 partners to push for urgent progress. The leaders agreed next steps and the imperative for Russia to relax its blockade and allow safe shipping lanes. In an interview with Bloomberg on Friday, the Prime Minister said the Royal Navy would not be able to play any part in minesweeping the Black Sea, as the Montreux Convention restricts the movement of warships through the Turkish Straits. But he said efforts were being made to aid Kyiv in finding solutions to the problem. As part of the regular dialogue, I had another phone conversation with @BorisJohnson. We talked about strengthening defense support for , intensifying work on security guarantees, supplying fuel to Ukraine. We must work together to prevent a food crisis and unblock ports. (@ZelenskyyUa) May 28, 2022 He said: I think there is an absolutely appalling situation, which is when so much of the world is facing food price inflation, if not actual shortages of food, caused by whats going on in Ukraine, caused by Putins war of choice. He decided to invade Ukraine, he had no reason to do it and it is he who is making it difficult to get 25 million tons of grain from those Black Sea ports, particularly from Odesa. Twenty-five million tons is equivalent to the entire grain consumption of the poorest countries in the world, and weve got to get it out. Russia has suggested the blockade could be relaxed in return for international sanctions being eased but Mr Johnson said president Vladimir Putin was completely not to be trusted. The Prime Minister said the UK was looking to work with international partners to help the Ukrainians to demine the approaches to the harbour in Odesa. But he added: That will be something they have to do themselves. Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson and Mr Zelensky also spoke about the equipment Kyivs defenders need to battle against the barbaric Russian onslaught in the Donbas. In a tweet, Mr Zelensky confirmed they discussed strengthening defence support. People are fleeing the Donbas as heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) The Kremlins forces are making slow but steady gains in Ukraines eastern industrial heartlands amid fears Russia will subject the same devastation to towns and cities in the region as was delivered on the battered southern port of Mariupol. The fighting in Donbas is focused on two key cities: Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk. They are the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, one of two provinces that make up the Donbas and where Russia-backed separatists have already controlled some territory for eight years. The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, has warned that Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded. Kyiv has warned the West that unless its troops are supplied with more advanced weapons, it will not be able to halt the Russian advance. A Downing Street spokesman, detailing the rest of the conversation, said: The Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the international community continuing to work and act together, so that Ukraine succeeds and Putin fails. He also emphasised that countries have a duty to support Ukraine, both now and in the long-term, so that it is never in the position to be attacked again. BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The schedule for the first phase of the 2022 Chinese Super League(CSL) was released on its official Weibo account on Saturday, announcing that 18 clubs will play 10 rounds in three host cities. According to the schedule, the first phase (rounds 1-10) of the CSL will start on June 3 and end on July 12. During the 40-day span, a total of 90 matches will be played. The 2022 season CSL, ahead of the severe financial crisis for clubs and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, will kick off in Meizhou, in south China's Guangzhou Province, Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, and Dalian, in the northern Liaoning Province, with each city hosts six teams. Newly-promoted Zhejiang FC will challenge defending champions Shandong Taishan in the CSL opening match on June 3. Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, MAY 28 ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan referred to the statement of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev that there is no Nagorno Karabakh, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, there is no OSCE Minsk Group. Answering the question of ARMENPRESS, the Armenian FM emphasized that they can show a document signed by Azerbaijani president that is still in force, which says that there is Nagorno Karabakh, and that is the trilateral declaration signed on November 9, 2020. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasizes that by signing the document, the president of Azerbaijan acknowledged the existence of Nagorno Karabakh, and this is an irreversible fact. The Armenian Foreign Minister also referred to Aliyev's statement that an agreement had been reached in Brussels that a corridor linking Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan will pass through Meghri. Question - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on May 27 that there is no Nagorno Karabakh, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, and there is no OSCE Minsk Group. What can you say about this? Answer We can show a document signed by Azerbaijani president that is still in force, which says that there is Nagorno Karabakh, and that is the trilateral declaration signed on November 9, 2020. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasizes that by signing the document, the president of Azerbaijan acknowledged the existence of Nagorno Karabakh, and this is an irreversible fact. We can show the official statements made by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, where they reaffirm their commitment as Co-Chairs. The United States and France made such statements only in the last week. The Prime Minister of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation also emphasized the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in their joint statement on April 19. At the December 2021 summit of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm, the foreign ministers of dozens of countries stressed the exclusive role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group was not created by Azerbaijan, but by the international community, so Azerbaijan cannot dissolve it or consider its mission over. The same international community states today that the OSCE MG exists. As I mentioned, it also states that there is a Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that needs to be resolved. This is stated in the above-mentioned statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of the Russian Federation. The US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Armenia stated this quite recently, expressing the official position of the USA. Moreover, in the same statement, it was emphasized that the issue of NK status is on the agenda, the right of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination is also on the agenda. By the way, Armenia has never had territorial claims from Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a matter of right and is perceived by the international community as so. And that is evidenced from the meeting in Brussels. We have stated that the page of the war is closed for us, there is a problem that must be solved through political and diplomatic means. Question - Ilham Aliyev also stated that an agreement had been reached in Brussels about a corridor connecting Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan through Meghri. Answer - We have continuously recorded Armenia's position. But let us repeat again. The existence of any corridor in the territory of Armenia is ruled out. This is not even a matter of debate. Our discussions are exclusively about opening roads, transport and economic communications, unblocking them. As for the routes, we said that before clarifying the routes, we must first agree on the legal regulations for the passage of Azerbaijani citizens and cargo through our territory and the passage of Armenian citizens and cargo through Azerbaijan (including Nakhichevan). However, it is obvious that one branch of the railway will pass through Meghri, Ordubad, Julfa, Yeraskh. There is no agreement on the route of the highways at the moment. GUANGZHOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 43 sea turtles have recently been released back to the sea in south China's Guangdong Province. Bred in captivity, these sea turtles had received a year of training before being released to the wild. As an endangered species, sea turtles are on the country's top protection list. Aryan was granted bail by the Bombay high court on October 28 last year Mumbai: All the hype and hoopla over the drugs case against Aryan Khan has come to nothing. Almost eight months after the registration of the case, in which the 24-year-old star kid spent 26 days in custody, the narcotics control bureau has given him and five other accused persons a clean chit. The special investigation team of the NCB on Friday filed a 6,000-page charge sheet naming 14 accused. The agency said that the names of six persons, who were made accused by the earlier investigating team, including Aryan, Avin Sahu, Gopal Anand, Samir Sehgal, Bhaskar Arora and Manav Singhal have been dropped from the charge sheet for the lack of sufficient evidence. In a statement, deputy director general Sanjay Kumar Singh of the NCB said, SIT carried out an investigation in an objective manner. The touchstone of the principle of proof beyond reasonable doubt has been applied. Based on the investigation carried out by SIT, a complaint against 14 persons under various sections of NDPS Act is being filed. Complaint against rest six persons is not being filed due to lack of sufficient evidence. Among the five others exonerated in the case, Sahu was a guest of the cruise ship and the remaining four persons were the organisers of the party. The charge sheet has been filed against Aryans friend Arbaaz Merchant (26), Munmun Dhamecha (28), Vikrant Chhokar (33), Mohak Jaiswal (28), Ishmeet Singh Chadha (33), Gomit Chopra (28), Nupur Satija (29), Abdul Kadar Shaikh (30), Shreyas Nair (23), Manish Rajgariya (30), Aachit Kumar (22), Chinedu Igwe (27), Shivraj Harijan (33) and Okoro Uzeoma (40). An NCB team headed by then NCB zonal director Sameer Wankhede raided the Cordelia Cruise Ship docked at Mumbai cruise terminal and claimed to have busted a drug party. The team arrested several people including Aryan from the ship. Though the investigators did not recover any drugs from Aryans position, they allegedly recovered six grams of charas from Merchant and five grams of hashish from Dhamecha. Aryan was granted bail by the Bombay high court on October 28 last year. In its order, the HC held that prima facie there was no evidence to infer that Aryan and his friend Arbaaz Merchant conspired to commit offences under the NDPS Act. Following several controversies courted by Mr Wankhedes style of function and personal allegations against him, the investigation was handed over to an SIT from NCB (New Delhi), headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh on November 6, 2021. Welcoming the NCBs admission that there wasnt sufficient evidence against Aryan and no drugs were recovered from him, his lawyer Satish Maneshinde said, The arrest and detention of Aryan Khan for 26 days was unjustified more particularly when he was not found in possession of any drugs, there was no evidence of any kind, there was no material of any nature of the violation of any law much less the NDPS Act. We are happy that the Special Investigation Team under Sanjay Kumar Singh investigated the case in an objective manner and decided not to file a complaint against Aryan Khan for lack of sufficient evidence. God is great. Satya Meva Jayate. Though the trial has been going on for the past many years, it is for the first time that Rubaiya has received witness summons in the case SRINAGAR: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Jammu has issued summons to Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, to appear before it on July 15 as a witness in the case of her kidnapping by the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in December 1989. The incumbent chairman of the JKLF, Muhammad Yasin Malik, who was sentenced to life after his conviction in a terror funding case by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi earlier this week, is an accused in Rubaiyas kidnapping. Though the trial has been going on for the past many years, it is for the first time that Rubaiya, who is the younger sister of former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, has received witness summons in the case. She has been listed as a prosecution witness by the CBI that took over the investigation of the case in the early 1990s. Rubaiya, then 23 years old and doing her medical internship at Srinagars government-run Lala Dev Memorial Womens Hospital, was waylaid by the JKLF cadres while she was returning home in a minibus on December 8, 1989. Her father, Mr Sayeed, was serving as Indias first Muslim home minister in the Janata Dal government headed by V.P. Singh then. After days of negotiations between the captors and the Central governments official mediators and some family friends of the Muftis, Rubaiyas release was secured in exchange for five jailed members of the JKLF -- Sheikh Abdul Hameed, Ghulam Nabi Butt, Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Muhammed Altaf and Javed Ahmed Zargar on December 13, 1989 evening. She currently lives with her family in Tamil Nadu. The then J&K chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, who had strongly opposed releasing any militants to secure Rubaiyas release, had later said that setting five JKLF cadres only gave a fillip to militancy in Kashmir. He had alleged that his government was threatened with dismissal by the Centre if the militants were not exchanged for Rubaiya. Yasin Malik is among several JKLF members accused of conspiring or being actively involved in the sensational kidnapping, which proved a watershed for militancy in the Valley. In 1999, three JKLF activists -- Shoukat Ahmed Bakshi, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi and Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo -- arrested for kidnapping Rubaiya were granted bail by the court after nine years. Brahmjot has always been keen to join the military service but the 'attraction of the white uniform has been particularly strong' Sub Lieutenant Brahmjot Kaur of the Indian Navy with her family at INA, Ezhimala on Saturday. (Photo by arrangement) Kolkata: A strong attraction to serve the Indian Navy inspired a young woman to become a third generation military officer from her family on Saturday. Meet Brahmjot Kaur who graduated alongwith other cadets in an impressive passing out parade at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in the morning as a Sub Lieutenant of the Naval Armament Inspectorate Cadre. She comes from a family of officers of the Indian Armed Forces. Her grandfather, Wing Commander Swarn Singh Birdi, earlier retired as a technical officer from the Indian Air Force in 1992 while her father, Group Captain Simranpal Singh Birdi, who is currently serving in the IAF. Brahmjot's family background from her maternal side is also connected to the defence. Her maternal grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel KS Cheema, retired from the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army in 1998 while her maternal uncle Lt Col Paramjeet Singh staked parental claim to join his father's unit in 1998 and is serving at present. Brahmjot has always been keen to join the military service but the "attraction of the white uniform has been particularly strong," according to her family. She started preparation for her goal after passing out from SRM University in Chennai with an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication. She was elated on hearing that her name figured in the list of merited candidates and joined the INA on December 26 last year. After undergoing a grueling training schedule for around five months, Brahmjot will head to her next naval base to undergo further training. Shah thanked prime minister Modi for the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation last year Gandhinagar: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Centre and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will soon undertake an ambitious project to computerise around 65,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the country. Speaking at the 'Sahkar Se Samruddhi' conclave of cooperative entities here at Mahatma Mandir auditorium, he also said the Union government was planning to bring in several amendments to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the event. "There are nearly 65,000 PACS in the country. We have decided to computerise all these PACS with the help of NABARD. This will prove to be a revolutionary step for our agricultural finance credit system. There will be common software for all PACS, and NABARD will get details on a daily basis, such as daily business and recovery of these PACS," said Shah. The system will bring transparency and stop cooperative societies from going bankrupt, he said, adding that the government was working to make the PACS "multipurpose". "We are also bringing in a lot of amendments to Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. Work is also on to prepare a national database of cooperative entities, as there is no such database at present in the country. We are also in talks with state governments to change the audit system for cooperative societies," said Shah. "All these changes will bring in more transparency in purchase and recruitment processes and eventually make cooperatives more trustworthy among the masses. I am confident the cooperative sector will rise again to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making India a USD 5 trillion economy," he added. On the occasion, Shah announced that Amul -- the brand owned by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation -- will soon set up a laboratory in its AmulFed dairy unit in Gandhinagar to certify organic products which will be sold through a cooperative network across the country. Shah thanked prime minister Modi for the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation last year, adding that it was a long-pending demand of the cooperative sector. "This is a revolutionary step by PM Modi and crores of farmers and others associated with cooperatives know that the formation of a separate ministry will give a new lease of life to this sector for another 100 years," said Shah. He also listed various steps the Modi government has taken for the benefit of the cooperative sector, such as reduction in surcharge and minimum alternate tax on cooperatives and abolition of income tax on additional income of cooperative sugar mills. Today's headlines: Violence erupts inin Kashmir following the arrest of independence leader Malik; Japanese Red Army co-founder Fusako Shigenobu released from prison; Ankara mulls reform of press law, with three years in jail for 'disinformation'; divisions between Beijing and London scuttle a note on Myanmar at the UN; Georgia celebrates independence. CHINA Hundreds of students from Tianjin University, a northern port city, staged a protest against the Covid-19 containment measures imposed by the authorities. Chanting slogans and chants including 'down with bureaucracy', the young people gathered in Beiyang Square to express their discontent. Scenes that, according to some, are reminiscent of the first uprisings of the 1989 Tiananmen uprising. INDIA Violence has erupted in Kashmir triggered by the recent life sentence of local separatist leader Yasin Malik. In the gunfights between the parties, government forces killed at least 10 guerrillas. Among the victims were a 35-year-old TV cameraman and a police officer. At least 10 arrests were made by security forces. JAPAN Fusako Shigenobu, 76 year old co-founder of the ARJ, the Japanese Red Army, a movement that sowed terror in the 1970s and 1980s in the name of the Palestinian cause, was freed after 20 years in prison in Japan. Nicknamed 'Red Queen' or 'Empress of Terror', she had been arrested in 2000 on her (clandestine) return to her homeland after living for 30 years in the Middle East. TURKEY MPs from the ruling Akp and Mhp parties want to reform the Press Law, introducing imprisonment for the 'crime' of 'disinformation'. Those who 'disseminate' misinformation on 'internal and external security, order and public health' risk up to three years in prison. The proposal aims to introduce a further clampdown on the media in the run-up to the 2023 elections. MYANMAR - UN The UN Security Council failed to reach agreement yesterday on the text of a statement addressed to the junta in Myanmar. It called for steps towards a "peaceful" solution to the ongoing crisis. Divisions between London and Beijing caused the text to fail at the end of a day of vain negotiations. The UN document spoke of 'limited progress', China wanted to use the term 'slow'. GEORGIA Georgia celebrated Independence Day, its main national holiday, which had been held in muted tones for the past two years due to Covid-19. This time, large demonstrations were held in Tbilisi and in all regions of the country, performing the European anthem for the first time together with the national anthem; Brussels' answer on EU membership is expected in June. KAZAKHSTAN - KYRGYZSTAN Kazakh President Tokaev paid a visit to Biskek, during which he met his Kyrgyz counterpart Zaparov. Together the two leaders signed 13 important cooperation agreements between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the economic, military and social fields, and for coordination in international affairs. by Stefano Caprio The mission of the two Thessalonian brothers is indeed a prophecy not only of the development of the peoples of Eastern Europe, but even of their conflicts. Well before the Baptism of Kiev in 988, the endless wars between Russians and Poles, up to the present conflict, Europe had remained unfinished. And their language remained 'written on water' and blood, waiting for a new miracle of peace. In recent days, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow (Gundjaev) commented on the memory of saints Cyril and Methodius, "equal to the apostles", also known as the "masters of the Slavs", whom the Orthodox Church celebrates on 24 May and whom the Polish pope, John Paul II, wanted as Catholic patrons of Europe. The Patriarch reiterated the themes he has expounded on in several homilies during this dramatic period of war, recalling the common roots of the Slav peoples, and in particular of Russians and Ukrainians and of "all the states on whose territories the Russian Orthodox Church exists and acts, where I hope we can strengthen that communal faith (sobornaja) that the holy Masters have embedded in the depths of the Slav people's experience". The mission of the two Thessalonian brothers is truly a prophecy not only of the development of the peoples of Eastern Europe, but even of their conflicts. They were sent by the Byzantine Emperor Michael III in the year 862, at the request of Prince Rostislav, leader of the Slavs of Great Moravia, who had vainly sought an audience with Pope Nicholas I in Rome. The latter did not believe in the sincerity of these barbarians who wanted to become Christians. Cyril's name was still Constantine, he was a philosopher and man of letters at the pinnacle of Constantinople's culture, and he decided to bring his brother, the monk Methodius, who shared with him his Macedonian origins and knowledge of the Slavic dialect, which they elevated to the dignity of an official, even liturgical language. He expressed his doubts to the emperor that the task might be as futile as 'writing words on water'. Instead, they succeeded in inventing an alphabet, Glagolitic, which was later replaced by Cyrillic, and performed the miracle of having it approved by both Rome and Constantinople, uniting Eastern and Western Europe. The two brothers arrived in Rome just before Christmas in the year 867, travelling along the ancient Roman road known as the Flaminian Way, and instead of the hostile Nicholas I they found another pope, Hadrian II, elected a month before their arrival. He solemnly welcomed them at the Porta Flaminia, as they were carrying the remains of Saint Clement, the fourth pope of Rome chosen by Saint Peter himself, from the Crimea. The Slavs became heralds of a universal Christianity, and the martyr's relics still rest in the extraordinary basilica of St Clement, together with those of Constantine himself, who fell ill in Rome and took monastic vows before dying, taking the name Cyril, the same name taken in his honour by the current patriarch of Moscow. Methodius was sent by the pope to Moravia with the dignity of archbishop, but was blocked and imprisoned by the Bavarian bishops, who considered him an usurper of their territory. With great difficulty he managed to be freed, but had to take refuge with his disciples in more southern territories, Macedonia and Bulgaria, which remained vassals of the Byzantines. The dream of the great sobornaja unity of the Slavs, evoked by Kirill of Moscow, was left hanging over a divided reality, the Catholic West Slavs (Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenes and Croats) against the Orthodox East Slavs (Bulgarians, Serbs, Macedonians, Russians), with a series of 'in-between' territories marking their incommunicability: the Finno-Ugric Baltics, the Hungarian Magyars, the Latin Wallachians and Moldavians (now Romanians), and above all then the Ukrainians, a border people who assume in themselves elements of both sides. Well before the Baptism of Kiev in 988, the endless wars between Russians and Poles, Russians and French, Russians and Germans, up to the present conflict, Europe had remained unfinished and divided, and even today it is still unable to piece together the whole picture. The language of Cyril and Methodius remained 'written in water' and blood, waiting for a new miracle of peace and unity between 'brother' peoples. Patriarch Kirill wished on the occasion of the feast to express his thanks to the Orthodox metropolitans and bishops, both Russian and from other nations, who have expressed solidarity with him in recent times. Indeed, he is well aware that the division of the war is closely linked to divisions in the Churches and in the Orthodox Churches, which are leaving the Moscow Patriarchate in an increasingly uncomfortable and isolated condition. Kirill recalled the patriarchs of the past who have "expressed personal ideas, even very interesting ones", but ended up provoking further schisms and conflicts, such as that of the Old-Believers in the 17th century because of a patriarch, Nikon (Minin) who claimed to rule even over the tsar, and was eventually dismissed by a local synod, as many would like to see happen to Kirill himself. So Kirill justified himself by saying that 'the main task of the patriarch is not to generate ideas and try to propose them to the people of believers, but first and foremost to guarantee the unity of the episcopate, and through it the unity of the whole Church'. These words sound like a surrender to the official ideology, which imposes military action as an indispensable act to reunite the historical peoples of Russia, without any other "interesting ideas" and discordant opinions. In fact, the Patriarch insists, 'we live in a time of great suffering, when external forces seek to destroy the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, and tear our Church in Ukraine from the fullness of the Russian Church... I pray every day, that the Lord will give strength to our brothers who are thus subjected to hard trials, that they may preserve their fidelity'. The Patriarch casts all the blame on the 'external enemies who seek followers and supporters within our Church', and want to destroy true Russian Orthodoxy. He recalls when 'we resisted together the most dangerous pressures at the time of state atheism and were able to guard the purity of our Church from all temptations and dangerous ideas', the times when he himself trained as a young bishop collaborating with the Soviet regime, when Ukrainians in dissent from Moscow, especially Greek Catholics, were harshly persecuted. He now says he 'feels the weight of the patriarchal cross', aware that a decisive game is being played for the future of Orthodoxy. The Ukrainian autocephalous Church, detached from Moscow because of the 'external enemies' condemned by Kirill, the first of whom is the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew II, came together on the very day of Saints Cyril and Methodius in a synod held in the cathedral of St Sophia in Kiev, the mother-church of Russian Orthodoxy. After pointing out that several hundred Moscow parishes have already passed under the leadership of Kiev, Metropolitan Epifanyj (Dumenko) made an explicit appeal "to the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine" to unite in the single independent Church, and together appeal to Constantinople, the other ancient patriarchates and all the Orthodox Churches in the various countries to demand the dismissal of Kirill. It should "bring the Russian Patriarch to answer canonically for spreading the heretical teaching of ethno-filetism" - religious nationalism - "on the basis of the ideology of the Russian World, which has led to the blessing of the Russian armies in the war in Ukraine and to provoke schisms in Orthodoxy at every latitude, particularly after the creation of Russian eparchies on the canonical territory of the Patriarchate of Alexandria". Autocephalous Ukrainians cite as an example to follow the behaviour of the Church of Serbia, which in recent days recognised from Belgrade the autocephaly of the Church of North Macedonia, already blessed as canonical by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Indeed, the peaceful reconciliation and separation between Serbs and Macedonians has something of the miraculous, and must be considered largely an effect of the Ukrainian conflict. For years, the Serbs had in turn threatened to have to intervene even by force, something they proved to be no less capable of doing than the Russians already thirty years ago, fighting for Kosovo 'the homeland of the local Orthodox Church'. Then they tried to prevent the division of a part of their Church, formed by the union of various jurisdictions just like in Ukraine, into a State that Serbia tried in turn not to recognise and that became independent with no less uncertainty and suffering than Kiev, North Macedonia of Skopje and Ohrid, ancient cities with Orthodox schools that taught Cyrillic to all the other southern and eastern Slavic peoples. The Slavic apostle Methodius and his disciples had in fact taken refuge in the Balkans and Macedonian territories, from which the two brothers had departed at the beginning of the mission. The first to attempt to create independent ethnic patriarchates were the Bulgarians and the Serbs, who were stifled first by the Byzantines and then by the Ottomans; the Russians have for a thousand years pretended to interpret this aspiration of the Slavs for unity free from any other master, ending up in turn becoming masters of other Slavs who do not want to submit to them. What is at stake is not only Orthodoxy and its many jurisdictions, among which Catholics try to fit in with varying fortunes as brothers and mediators; it is the whole of Europe that must rediscover the sense of its own history, its own unity, its own faith. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SATURDAY IN YOUR E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. PIRAEUS, Greece, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Greece have benefited greatly from bilateral cooperation over the past half-century and are moving forward to seize opportunities to strengthen ties in the future, officials and scholars from both sides said Friday during a symposium held both online and offline. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Greece-China diplomatic relations, the event, entitled "China and Greece: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Partnership," was hosted at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Chinese Embassy in Greece. After a review of accomplishments achieved to date through China-Greek collaboration in many fields, the speakers stressed that there was huge potential for synergy in the coming years. Greek Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos said in his congratulatory letter that the basis of the strong friendship and cooperation between Greece and China is the mutual respect among two great ancient civilizations. "My country wishes the further enhancement of bilateral relations," he added. For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng said that over the past 50 years, the two countries have increasingly strengthened mutual political trust, setting an example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between different countries and civilizations. "No matter how the international circumstances change, the two countries have always respected, understood, trusted and supported each other," said the ambassador. In the new era, to tap into new opportunities and address new challenges, Greece and China must continue to respect and trust each other, pursue mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, and press ahead with mutual learning, which involves dialogue between civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, particularly strengthening cooperation in education, youth, tourism and other fields, he added. "We share a common past through centuries and I am certain we will share a common future. I thank you for the investments already made. Your investments are welcome," Greek Minister of Development and Investments Adonis Georgiadis said during a video speech. "In the 21st century the (China-proposed) Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), rooted in the spirit of the ancient Silk Road, is an initiative that has added new meaning to the relationship between China and Greece and has opened up new opportunities for the development of bilateral relations," said Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis while addressing the symposium. "I am confident Greece and China will continue furthering their bilateral relations, continue enhancing multilateralism, peace and development around the world," said Greek Ambassador to China George Iliopoulos online. "Greeks and Chinese have benefited a great deal by cooperation, while respecting differences between us... More trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges are highly desirable," added Loukas Tsoukalis, president of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, one of the top think tanks in Greece. The entire incident was caught on video, which must have helped the Redland Police Department apprehend the suspect. In the video, you can see the victim, her car, multiple people who had received food from the 81-year-old, and the alleged carjacker While the video has no sound, you can see that a person approached the silver SUV , met the victim, and proceeded to enter her vehicle after getting the keys from the victim's hands.From there, the suspect closed the door, and then another conflict erupted as the owner of the vehicle attempted to open it but failed to overpower the suspect.Once the engine is on, and the vehicle is put in reverse, the suspect drove off, without caring that the 81-year-old woman was desperately holding on to the driver's door handle.The victim fell on her side, while two of the people she had just provided food to ran to her assistance. A third person who was helped had attempted to stop the alleged carjacker, but did not succeed. Fortunately, the 81-year-old was not seriously injured after the violent event.The 2015 Kia Sportage was found in a parking structure in downtown Los Angeles. When police officers found the vehicle that had been reported stolen , a man was behind its wheel, and the keys of the vehicle were in his possession.The 24-year-old man was arrested under the charge of possession of a stolen vehicle, and was then transferred to a San Bernardino jail. The bail of $250,000 was set because of the charges of carjacking and elder abuse, which were also filed against the defendant.Despite going through a dangerous event at 81 years old, the victim of the carjacking told CBS News that this event would not stop her from continuing to help those in need. SUV The design concept for displaying some of the most luxurious cars in the world spins around the idea of immersive experience. Divided into three sections, each area is meant to already put you behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce, as if it were your own.As you step in, the iconic Pantheon Grille adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot carries you past and present at the same time, with the feeling that you are in the right place. The galleria-style interior follows, with the Bespoke Commissioning Atelier, where you can touch, discuss and select surface finishes, wood veneers, leathers, embroidery threads and fabrics. To create an even more interesting experience, a "Cabinet of Curiosities" filled with objets dart is meant to inspire you in your choices, as in the end to enjoy and relax in the Hospitality Lounge.By remaking the local showroom, Rolls-Royce targets a younger audience, especially given how some of their products are now essentially cooler. After redesigning Ghost, launching the all-wheel drive Cullinan, introducing the Black Badge option package, and starting its own social media and content app - Whispers, only for Rolls-Royce owners - it seems that now has come the time to redecorate the house where these gem stones are sold.The new visual identity is a key component in a long-term programme that converts the act of buying a Rolls-Royce in a highly modern shopping experience."The new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha showroom represents a major milestone for the evolution of our brand from an automotive manufacturer to a true House of Luxury. Our new showroom visual identity, which we launched last year, offers our clients a fully immersive experience that takes them to the very heart of our brand and everything it represents," said in a statement Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "?emsiye ile ucan adam" uzaya giden ilk Turk olmak istiyor! pic.twitter.com/SkV2mmkuSZ ENSONHABER (@ensonhaber) May 24, 2022 Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that, as part of a national $6 billion space program, preparations had started to find a Turkish citizen that would head to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch is expected to take place as early as 2023, and applications are now open for anyone whos under 45, has a bachelors degree in engineering, natural sciences or basic sciences, and is fluent in English.This man isnt checking all the boxes, but he hopes to somehow be able to do so by the time hes accepted in the program MEMO reports. He has something no other candidate has: the unofficial title of Turkeys first astronaut, from an incident in 2019 when he accidentally flew a patio umbrella.Sadik Kocadalli sells fruit and vegetables at a local market in the Osmaniye province. He was at his job post in 2019 when a tornado hit, and he did his best to try and keep a giant patio umbrella with a wheeled metal base from moving around. He and two other men jumped to secure the umbrella, but he was the only one to step on the metal base as a means to add more weight to it and keep it from rolling around.Because of this, he was also the only one to be carried off when the umbrella took flight. Kocadallis flight was short but very eventful: when he realized that the thing wasnt coming down but was actually going higher, he jumped. The umbrella came to a stop against power lines Kocadalli had good timing.The video of the incident, which you will also find below, went viral, earning Kocadalli the nickname of Turkeys first astronaut . In a new interview (also below, just in case you speak Turkish), he says he hopes he will actually become one, and head out to the ISS. His friends at the market are backing him up.Our President is choosing some of the Turks to go to space, he says, as reported by the same media outlet. I also became famous as a flying man. Now I want to go to space, too. It would be good if Mr. President sends me to space as well.Kocadalli may lack the degree or English proficiency, but he sure has the right attitude If there is a recipe for happiness, the Trautmans have it, and its main ingredient would be a sailing vessel with self-sufficient capabilities and low environmental footprint , an adventurous spirit, and the knowledge that whatever comes their way can be overcome as a team. The Trautmans and their SV Delos are an adventurers dream come true, and their story is nothing if not motivational.Since 2020, weve covered dozens of rigs meant to inspire fellow adventurers to get a taste of the vanlife or experience the joys of downsizing . Objectively, few other downsizing stories are as amazing and all-out ballsy as that of Brian Trautman, former mouse-clicker (software engineer) in Seattle turned full-time seafarer and content creator. He is the owner and captain of SV Delos, the sailing rig he calls home for over 13 years now, and on which hes lived full-time since, with only a handful of exceptions.At the peak of his career in IT, Brian had it all, he often says in interviews: he made enough money to live comfortably, had his own home, a car, TVs in every room of the house, and some money in the bank. He wasnt born in a seafaring family, either, so its not like he had saltwater coursing through his veins. Once he moved to Seattle, he got into boating but was far from experienced. None of that stopped him when he laid eyes on SV Delos, a 53-foot (16-meter) Amel Super Maramu sloop rig ketch, built in 2000 in La Rochelle, France.In 2008, Brian made the decision that would change his life, as cliche as that might sound. He bought the boat for a reported $375,000 and, one year later, sailed off on it for what he assumed would be an 18-month journey from Seattle to New Zealand. He sold everything he had but held onto his job for a while longer, and he continued to work onboard. Two years later, he arrived in New Zealand and met the woman who would become his (second) wife, a Swedish woman studying architecture in Australia.Brian, Karin and their daughter Sierra have been living onboard SV Delos since right after Karin graduated, with the only break on land when Sierra was born. At first, they traveled with an ever-rotating crew, many of whom they found online or picked up along the way on their travels . This helped make traveling easier, because they would share everything from mess duties to fuel and food costs.Right now, the Trautmans travel alone as a family, because they no longer need to work in ports to save money to continue sailing , or split the costs. They are officially the king of the seas on YouTube, and rely mostly on monetization on the platform and crowdfunding for revenue. Estimates say they pull some $17,000 per video, and they can upload as many as four of them in a month. As Brian says in the 2020 interview below, maintenance and running costs on the boat are about $2,500 a month for the three of them.So, how did they do it? With guts , of course. Guts not just to sell off everything and dive into the unknown, but to learn to live (and die) by the sea. As Brian explains, the sea dictates their every move, from the destination they head to, to how much they can stay in a single spot. Planning also plays a huge part, because they have to be very organized when it comes to going off the grid for months on end. A devil-may-care attitude also helps, as does the knowledge that whatever obstacle comes their way will only be overcome by working together, as a team.In the years its been out to sea, SV Delos has been upgraded constantly, mostly by Brian himself. It can now run on solar and wind power (1,400 Watts of solar and 800 Watt of wind power from two generators), has a diesel engine and a diesel generator for backup for when theres no wind for the sails, and sufficient storage to pack it with supplies that will last them for a long time. This includes freezers under the couch and storage underneath the floor. In addition to a generous fresh water tank, they also have a desalinator, which produces 200 liters (52.8 gallons) of fresh water an hour.The interior is very practical and can sleep as many as six people. Theres a master bedroom with an office and ensuite wet bathroom, another bedroom with a bathroom, a living room / dining room, a fully-equipped but small kitchen, and the cockpit that also doubles as a secondary living room. Because both Brian and Karin earn their living online, they also have broadband internet onboard. Creature comforts like a washer-dryer combo, toaster, and a proper oven have also been added in time.SV Delos has now traveled thousands of nautical miles and been around the world a couple of times. Its journeys are documented on the SV Delos YouTube channel, as well as on social media and could have also been documented in a reality show, if networks had their way. But Brian turned down all offers, because he wanted to retain creative control over his own story.On average, the sail-assisted boat travels some 8,000 nautical miles (9,206 miles / 14,816 km) per year, but the Trautmans say that they spend 90% of their time on the boat docked, and only 10% of it actually sailing . They prefer remote destinations to marinas and ports, because the latter are too expensive and crowded. When they reach a place they like, they will stay there for as long as they want. If thats not living the dream, we dont know what is, really. Amadea is a gorgeous and totally outrageous 2017 build delivered by Lurssen foor billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, one of President Putins closest allies. Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, several oligarchs have been included on sanctions lists as a means to cut down funding for the military aggression; Kerimov was among the first to be targeted.In April, his superyacht Amadea undertook a surprising and highly-mediated crossing of the Pacific that cost over $530,000 worth of fuel and was meant to take the ship to safety. For whatever reason, the captain asked permission to dock in Fiji mid-way, and authorities here seized it on behalf of the U.S. What followed (and still continues) was a legal battle between the paper owner, Millemarin Investments, the Fiji government and U.S. representatives. The latest fight had the U.S. in the winners corner, the AP reports: the Fiji Court of Appeal dismissed Millemarins appeal to halt the seizing procedures.In its attempt to halt the seizure, Millemarin claims that the owner of Amadea is not Kerimov, but another, non-sanctioned Russian businessman. Its also arguing that the U.S. jurisdiction doesnt extend to Fiji waters, even under existing partnerships.The court has decided against the appeal, but Millemarin has seven days as of Friday (May 27) to file another one with the Supreme Court. Should that one fail too, the superyacht goes under full U.S. control and will have to sail out of Fiji, into U.S. waters. Local authorities dont want it here anymore (its berthed at Lautoka harbor) because its too expensive , costing them some $1 million a week in maintenance.Even assuming that this figure is grossly exaggerated (and it probably is), Amadea is not cheap to run or maintain. Annual costs for a superyacht are about 10% of its value, even if it never leaves dock; Amadea is priced at $325 million $400 million. As U.S. property, all these assorted costs will fall on the U.S. government , unless the decision is made to sell it at auction. New Delhi police have already arrested three men, and they already discovered the crew's hi-tech tools, including scanners and GPS jamming devices. According to the police, the series of thefts was inspired by the Fast & Furious franchise.Police have informed that the accused have been identified as residents of the New Delhi region in India. Once they got hold of the vehicles , the suspects would park them in locations where there were no CCTV cameras, until the vehicles were ready to be sold in other regions of the country.The police apprehended the suspects during one of these transactions, as local deputy commissioner of police, Manoj C., told media representatives. Upon seizing the vehicle, police also found some of the tools that they used.The findings include various instruments, including a sensor kit, magnets, lock picking tools, and eight remote car keys, NDTV reports. While the initial news story announced the capture of a luxury car theft ring, the vehicles that were stolen, at least those mentioned in the article, are not a part of the luxury class.Despite the unclear description of the modus operandi, we are willing to bet a tuna sandwich without the crust on the fact that the team used the relay method to unlock and then steal the vehicles. With access granted, blank keys could be programmed to a vehicle to make it appear that nothing is wrong with it.For example, the trio stole vehicles like the Maruti Brezza, the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Swift, and Hyundai Creta. While their method might have worked on more expensive vehicles, at least on some older models, we fail to see any mention of any model that would fit in the luxury class.While the police thought about Fast and Furious as the inspiration for the thefts, we are inclined to see a resemblance to Gone in 60 Seconds , rather than the Fast franchise, but that is an entirely different matter. ISLAMABAD, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced a new relief package worth 28 billion rupees (around 140 million U.S. dollars) per month to mitigate the impact of the increase in the prices of petroleum products on the lower-income people of the country. In a televised address to the nation Friday night on National TV, Sharif said the relief package will provide around 14 million deserving families with immediate assistance of 2,000 rupees each on monthly basis. The package will provide financial assistance to almost 85 million people which is nearly one-third of the total population of Pakistan, he said, adding that this relief is in addition to the support already being provided to the under-privileged faction through the framework of Benazir Income Support Program. The prime minister said that this relief package will be included in the next financial budget. Sharif said that Utility Stores Corporation throughout the country has been ordered to provide 10 kilograms of flour bags at a subsidized rate of 400 rupees. The prime minister also announced to initiate a consultative process to take all the political parties on board in order to ensure smooth implementation of the economic policies. The military branch is not doing this whole social media offensive on its own, and seems to have given its airmen the tools they need to snap incredible instances of military aircraft in action. If youve been following our Photo of the Day section these past two years, you know what that means.But this entire online advertising effort is relatively new compared to what special demonstration teams like the Thunderbirds have been doing for decades now: take the tale of military pilots and tell it to onlookers below, at various air shows, in a manner that is both inspiring and frightening.For those who dont have the opportunity to see the Thunderbirds in action, theres always that whole camera thing to fall back on. The team constantly releases images of its exploits, and the USAF chooses the most spectacular to include in its weekly releases.The photo we have here is one of the most recently unleashed one, but was snapped at the beginning of May, at a time when the team was flying over Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the local air show.Its not an image snapped from above, or level with the aerobatic F-16s the Thunderbirds are fielding, but from inside the cockpit of a plane flown by one of the teams pilots. It shows three fighters, the one from which the photo was taken and two others to its right, as they bank over the water, leaving the shore behind.In some respects, this image is quite similar to the one snapped by a Romanian F-16 pilot during an air policing mission close to the Ukrainian border, a country now engulfed in war because of Russia.The two pics only go to show that pilots elsewhere are quickly picking up on USAFs efforts to become more visible, and that can only mean more extraordinary photos are just around the corner. 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. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Lyle W. Norton is a wine enthusiast and blogger who has written a wine column for 20 years. He incorporates wine into his passion to travel and tries to bring his readers along on the journey. Visit his blog at lifebylyle.com. CalMatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more, go to calmatters.org. MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the global food security. Putin informed Macron and Scholz of the latest developments of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, noting that the Russian armed forces strictly observe the norms of international humanitarian law, the Kremlin said in a press release. As for the peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, Putin confirmed that the Russian side is open to resuming the frozen dialogue. The Russian leader criticized the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, which could further destabilize the situation and aggravate the humanitarian crisis. When discussing the issue of ensuring global food security, Putin said the difficulties in food supplies are caused by the erroneous economic and financial policies of Western countries as well as their anti-Russian sanctions. Russia is ready to help find options for the unimpeded export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports, he said. An increase in the supply of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products will also help reduce tensions on the global food market, which will require the lifting of relevant sanctions, Putin told Macron and Scholz. He could be cryptic, demeaning and scary, sending angry messages and photos of guns. If they didn't respond how he wanted, he sometimes threatened to rape or kidnap them - then laughed it off as some big joke. But the girls and young women who talked with Salvador Ramos online in the months before he allegedly killed 19 children in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, rarely reported him. His threats seemed too vague, several said in interviews with The Washington Post. One teen who reported Ramos on the social app Yubo said nothing happened as a result. Some also suspected this was just how teen boys talked on the Internet these days - a blend of rage and misogyny so predictable they could barely tell each one apart. One girl, discussing moments when he had been creepy and threatening, said that was just "how online is." In the aftermath of the deadliest school shooting in a decade, many have asked what more could have been done - how an 18-year-old who'd spewed so much hate to so many on the Web could do so without provoking punishment or raising alarm. But these threats hadn't been discovered by parents, friends or teachers. They'd been seen by strangers, many of whom had never met him and had found him only through the social messaging and video apps that form the bedrock of modern teen life. The Washington Post reviewed videos, posts and text messages sent by Ramos and spoke with four young people who'd talked with him online, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of further harassment. The girls who spoke with The Post lived around the world but met Ramos on Yubo, an app that mixed live-streaming and social networking and had become known as a "Tinder for teens." The Yubo app has been downloaded more than 18 million times in the U.S., including more than 200,000 times last month, according to estimates from the analytics firm Sensor Tower. On Yubo, people can gather in big real-time chatrooms, known as panels, to talk, type messages and share videos - the digital equivalent of a real-world hangout. Ramos, they said, struck up side conversations with them and followed them onto other platforms, including Instagram, where he could send direct messages whenever he wanted. But over time they saw a darker side, as he posted images of dead cats, texted them strange messages and joked about sexual assault, they said. In a video from a live Yubo chatroom that listeners had recorded and was reviewed by The Post, Ramos could be heard saying, "Everyone in this world deserves to get raped." A 16-year-old boy in Austin who said he saw Ramos frequently in Yubo panels, told The Post Ramos frequently made aggressive, sexual comments to young women on the app and sent him a death threat during one panel in January. "I witnessed him harass girls and threaten them with sexual assault, like rape and kidnapping," said the teen. "It was not like a single occurrence. It was frequent." He and his friends reported Ramos' account to Yubo for bullying and other infractions dozens of times. He never heard back, he said, and Ramos' account remained active. Yubo spokeswoman Amy Williams would not say whether the company had previously received reports of abuse related to Ramos' account. "As there is an ongoing and active investigation and because this information concerns a specific individual's data, we are not legally able to share these details publicly at this time," she said in an email. Williams would not say what law prevents the company from commenting. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that Ramos had also written, "I'm going to shoot my grandmother" and "I'm going to shoot an elementary school" shortly before the attack in messages on Facebook. And Texas Department of Public Safety officials said Friday that Ramos had discussed buying a gun several times in private chats on Instagram. Ten days before the shooting, he wrote in one of the messages, "10 more days," according to the official. Another person wrote to him, "Are you going to shoot up a school or something?" to which Ramos responded, "No, stop asking dumb questions. You'll see," the official said. Andy Stone, a spokesman for Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and the chat service WhatsApp, referred The Post to an earlier statement from the company that said the messages were sent privately. The rise of services that connect strangers through private messaging has strained the conventional "see something, say something" mantra repeated in the decades since the Columbine High School massacre and other attacks, according to social media researchers. And when strangers do suspect something is wrong, they may feel they have limited ways to respond beyond filing a user report into a corporate abyss. Many of Ramos' threats to assault women, the young women added, barely stood out from the undercurrent of sexism that pervades the Internet - something they said they have fought back against but also come to accept. A 2021 Pew Research Center study found these experiences are common for young people, with about two-thirds of adults under 30 reporting that they've experienced online harassment. Thirty-three percent of women under 35 say they have been sexually harassed online. Danielle K. Citron, a law professor at University of Virginia, said women and girls often don't report threats of rape to law enforcement or trusted adults because they have been socialized to feel they do not deserve safety and privacy online. Sometimes, they don't think anyone would help them. Women and girls have "internalized the view, 'What else do we expect?'" said Citron, the author of the upcoming book "The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity, and Love in the Digital Age." "Our safety and intimate privacy is something that society doesn't value." Ramos' hatred toward women and obsession with violence were clear in the messages viewed and interviews conducted by The Post, but his identity was mostly hidden. The teens who spoke with The Post said they saw him on live videos he did on Yubo, then they exchanged Instagram user names to message with him. And he'd constrained his comments to private messaging services like Yubo and Instagram, leaving only the recipients with the burden to react. Like many of the people he spoke with, Ramos had shared little about himself online. He used screen names like "salv8dor_" and "TheBiggestOpp" - and shared only his first name and his age. His profile pictures were selfies, him holding up his shirt or looking dour in front of a broken mirror. He shared animal videos, struck up flirtatious conversations and shared intimate things about his past that left some feeling like distant friends. But in recent months, he'd also started posting darker imagery - moody black-and-white photos and pictures of rifles on his bed. His threats were often hazy or unspecific, and therefore easily dismissed as just a troll or bad joke. One girl told The Post she first saw Ramos in a Yubo panel telling someone, "Shut up before I shoot you," but figured it was harmless because "kids joke around like that." In the week before the shooting, Ramos began to hint that something was going to happen on Tuesday to at least three girls, she said. "I'll tell you before 11. It's our little secret," she said he told them multiple times. On the morning of the shooting, he messaged her a photo of two rifles. She responded to ask why he'd sent them, but he never wrote back, according to a screenshot viewed by The Post. "He would threaten everyone," she said. "He would talk about shooting up schools but no one believed him, no one would think he would do it." Another 16-year-old said she met Ramos on Yubo in February and that he messaged her asking for her Instagram account. Earlier this month, he reacted to a meme she'd posted that referenced a weapon with a laughing emoji and said, "personally I wouldn't use a AK-47 but "a better gun": an AR-15-style rifle like the one police have said he used in the shooting, according to a screenshot viewed by The Post. The Uvalde shooting comes less than two weeks after another gunman killed 10 Black people in a Buffalo grocery store. He live-streamed the attack through the video service Twitch, which removed the stream within a few minutes; copies of it remain online. The alleged gunman, Payton Gendron, also used the chat platform Discord as a place to save his online writing and pre-attack to-do lists. On the day of the attack, he invited people to his private room, and the 15 who accepted were then able to scroll back through months of his racist screeds and see another view of his attack live-stream. Discord has said the messages were visible only to the suspect until he shared them the day of the attack. The revelations about the Uvalde gunman's social media activity follow years of complaints from activists and high-profile figures about Instagram's ability to combat its most troubling users. Instagram has said that tackling abusive messages is harder than in comments on public pages, and that it doesn't use its artificial intelligence technology to proactively detect content like hate speech or bullying in the same way. Instagram users can report direct messages that violate the company's rules against hate speech, bullying and calls to incite violence, and they can block offensive users. But many abusive messages still slip through the cracks. The Center for Countering Digital Hate, an advocacy group, said last month it had analyzed more than 8,000 direct messages sent to five high-profile women and found that Instagram had failed to act on 90% of the abusive messages, despite the posts having been reported. Facebook's critics have alleged that the ability to tackle dangerous posts could get harder once the company follows suit on its plan to expand end-to-end encryption, which scrambles the contents of a message so that only the sender and receiver can see it, as a default setting on all of its messaging services. Currently, encryption is the default setting on WhatsApp but users only have the option of encrypting their messages on Instagram and Facebook. But the company has argued that as more people flock to private messaging it wants to ensure social media networks are "privacy focused." In recent years, Instagram has launched new tools to protect teens from predatory users, particularly adults attempting to groom them. Last year, the company began making young teens' accounts private by default once they signed up for Instagram, and they stopped adults from being able to send direct messages to teens that don't follow them. The company also recently announced a "hidden words" feature, which allows users to filter offensive words, phrases and emoji in message requests into a separate inbox. Yubo said it bans posts that threaten, bully or intimidate other people and uses a mix of software and human moderators to curb inappropriate content. People can block others' accounts or report concerns to a team of "safety specialists," who the company says respond to each person's report. Researchers have documented that a history of violence or threats toward women is a common trait among gunmen in mass shootings, as evident in the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting and the 2019 shooting in Dayton, Ohio. Whitney Phillips, a researcher joining the faculty of the University of Oregon this fall, said social networks could do more to push back on violent harassment toward women, but that the threats on their site are a reflection of a larger "boys will be boys" cultural attitude that normalizes men's bad behavior online and offline. "When someone says something violent to you or makes some sort of death threat to you, for many women that happens so often that it wouldn't even register with them," Phillips said. - - - The Washington Post's Shawn Boburg and Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report. DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) Iowa has hardly any bears, but one keeps popping up in Dubuque and has led state and city officials to advise residents to be on guard for black bear encounters. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the city of Dubuque issued a bear aware release this week following a number of sightings since early May of a black bear in the northeastern part of the city. The suggestions including stowing away food sources, such as bird feeders, pet food and garbage cans, and a warning for residents who encounter a bear not to run, but back away slowly. The Jefferson County grand jury on May 11 indicted 45-year-old Jadrien Joseph Barry of Beaumont with the second-degree felony of Burglary of a Habitation. Barry has been indicted in connection to an offense that was allegedly committed on April 4 at an apartment complex located at 3580 Martin Luther King. Police received a call at the apartment for a robbery in progress. The officer also had been advised that a person had fled the unit and ran back to a different unit. The officer met with two female Lamar University students, who were roommates, outside of the unit for the call. One of the roommates told the officer that a man had knocked on the door. When she answered, the man told her that he believed units tenants had his mail. According to court documents, the student denied having the mail, informed the man that she would ask her roommate, and attempted to close the door. At that time, court documents said Barry allegedly forced the door open and entered the apartment without consent. The second roomate noticed Barry lock the door as he entered. (She) stated that Barry was holding what looked like a gun in his right hand in a sock and demanded they get on the floor, court documents said. The second roommate told Barry the two were poor students who did not have anything. She attempted to dial and advised Barry she was calling the police at which time Barry took her cell phone from her, court documents said. Both victims stated they feared Barry would sexually assault and kill them as he began to assault both and threw them to the ground. At that point, police said the two roommates felt they had to fight back. One of the roommates picked up a lamp and struck Barry. The other roommate also fought back by reaching out to grab what appeared to be a gun in the sock but was discovered not to be. It is not clear from court documents what the man had inside of the sock. The roommates managed to open the door and both screamed for help as Barry allegedly fled to the different apartment unit. Police later knocked on the door of the apartment that he allegedly ran into, but reported Barry did not respond. I was later able to find an unsecured window and lifted the window and called out to Barry, identified myself, and asked him to come to the door, police said. Barry came to the door and was arrested for Burglary. Police on the scene were able to photograph abrasions on one of the roommates legs and the broken lamp, court documents said. Police said the broken lamp was found and the officer noticed a small abrasion on the right side of Barrys face. Both victims stated at one point Barry appeared to be pulling his pants down and had a porn video playing on his phone, thus leading the victims to fear Barry may have intended to sexually assault them if they had not fought back. Barry was previously convicted of the second-degree felony offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance on July 8, 1996 in the 252nd Criminal District Court of Jefferson County. He was also previously convicted on October 2, 2000 in the Criminal District Court of Jefferson County of both the first-degree felony offense of Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant and the third-degree felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office confirmed Barry, who is not listed on the Jefferson County jail's inmate roster, is on bond for the offense and no other charges have been filed. No further information was immediately available by press time. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie 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 A survivor of Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas says suspected gunman Salvador Ramos played menacing music and taunted her teacher before killing her amid a spree of violence that took the lives of 19 students and two educators at Robb Elementary School. Speaking to CNN's Nora Neus on Thursday, 11-year-old Miah Cerrillo recounted harrowing moments inside a shared classroom space where Ramos shot and killed all 21 of his victims before he was killed by a responding Border Patrol tactical unit. Miah said her class was watching "Lilo & Stitch" when Eva Mireles and Irma Garcia, two teachers present in the conjoined classrooms, received an email about an active shooter on campus. One teacher went to check the door, according to Miah, and found 18-year-old Ramos peering into the room. At this point the teacher and Ramos made eye contact, Miah said, and the gunman proceeded to back her into the classroom. The teacher and the gunman then made eye contact a second time, at which point Ramos said "good night." He then shot and killed the teacher, Miah said. After killing her teacher the gunman opened fire on students in the room, killing many of Miah's friends and leaving her with bullet fragments in her side, shoulder, back and neck. She recounted that Ramos then stalked into the adjoining classroom space and continued shooting. The 11-year-old told Neus she heard screams, gunshots and music coming from the other room over the course of the nearly hour-long attack. "She thinks it was the gunman that put it on," Neus said. "She just said it sounded like 'I want people to die' music." Miah said she survived the ordeal by covering herself in her friend's blood and lying motionless on a classmate's still-breathing body. At one point she and another student grabbed their dead teacher's phone and used it to call 911. "Please send help because we're in trouble," Miah told the dispatcher, according to Neus. The 11-year-old said she believed the attack lasted three hours before responding officers entered the classroom and killed Ramos. Her mother later informed Miah the attack had lasted an houra duration that outraged many Uvalde parents cordoned behind a police perimeter set up outside the building. Neus reports that Miah became emotional when informed that police officers waited outside the building and "didn't understand why they didn't just come inside and get them." Texas DPS Regional Safety Director Victor Escalon on Thursday told reporters that responding officers entered the building but pulled back to await additional resources after coming under fire from Ramos, who had locked himself in a classroom. The tactical unit that ultimately killed Ramos arrived "approximately an hour" after the shooter entered Robb Elementary, Escalon 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." Miah's mother Abigale Veloz created a GoFundMe on Thursday seeking $10,000 in donations to cover her daughter's medical expenses and mental health care. As of this writing, the campaign has raised $105,000. "My daughter is an amazing person and is a very good sister to her siblings," Veloz wrote in the fundraiser's description. "We will need help with her medical expenses that were caused by the bullet fragment in her back." Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close PITTSFIELD A 19-year-old city man who authorities have implicated in a shooting that left another young man seriously injured was deemed dangerous by a judge Friday. Keyondre Taft, of Tyler Street, is facing charges in Central Berkshire District Court in connection with a shooting in Pittsfield on April 26. After a dangerousness hearing, Judge Paul Smyth agreed to a request by Deputy District Attorney Richard Dohoney to hold Taft without the right to bail for up to 120 days. Taft is also being held in custody on an alleged probation violation stemming from a previous case that involved a similar gun charge, according to Dohoney. That issue will be adjudicated at a probation violation hearing. Dohoney argued no conditions of Tafts release exist to ensure public safety. According to Dohoney, Taft is accused of taking part in a joint venture with two juveniles to shoot an 18-year-old man. He said Taft and the juveniles stalked and tracked down the victim during the exceedingly violent incident. Dohoney alleged at least one, and probably two firearms were used in the shooting about 5 p.m. on Brierwood Lane. The victim was seriously injured. He tried to drive himself to the hospital, but crashed into a utility pole on Pecks Road, Dohoney said. Police recovered 22 rounds from the scene and observed bullet holes in the victims car. Police reviewed surveillance footage from Carr Hardware, according to Dohoney. Officer Anthony Lizotte testified as an identification witness for prosecutors and said that Taft was the person captured on the stores surveillance system purchasing blue latex gloves the day of the shooting. Ive been dealing with Keyondre and his friends almost on a nightly basis, Lizotte said. Dohoney said witnesses told investigators the shooters were wearing that type of gloves. A box of them and the receipt were found in a suspect vehicle. This was a clear, premeditated armed assault with murderous intent, Dohoney said. Defense lawyer Dean Manuel argued for Tafts release from pretrial custody, arguing Officer Lizottes identification was tainted by confirmation bias. Manuel asked for pretrial release with conditions including a GPS bracelet and curfew. Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, are also being held in custody without the right to bail in connection with the shooting, according to Dohoney. The Pittsfield Police Department recently called attention to a series of shootings in the city and issued a statement asking that community leaders take a strong stance against gun violence and condemn the possession and use of illegal firearms. In a press release Friday, Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington said all individuals Pittsfield Police charged in recent shootings are in pretrial custody. She said her office worked to build trust in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence and oppressed by a history of systemic racism. We hope the Pittsfield Police Departments similar efforts are successful so that we obtain the evidence we need to meet our burden of proof in court, Harrington said in the statement. Reporter Greta Jochem, a Report for America Corps member, joined the Eagle in 2021. Previously, she was a reporter at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is also a member of the investigations team. GREAT BARRINGTON The towns Mason Library will soon be the keeper of artifacts related to civil rights architect W.E.B. Du Bois, including his original letters, after the town accepted the donation of a massive collection of Du Bois-owned and related materials. Quote Theres no difference between Du Bois in Great Barrington or regional history, because thats what created Du Bois. Randy Weinstein, founder of Du Bois Center Great Barrington The Select Board on Monday said it would accept the collection of the nonprofit Du Bois Center Great Barrington on South Main Street, and approved the establishment of a W.E.B. Du Bois Center within the library one that will dedicate the local history room to Du Bois-related materials, as well as an extensive collection of African American history books. The library will also commingle some of that with the current collection, and host Du Bois-related programs and events. The town will also establish an advisory committee to oversee the department. Make America Great, Du Bois-style: Unsent petition to JFK asks for sweeping changes GREAT BARRINGTON Nearly 50 years ago, someone wanted a U.S. president to make America great.A hard-hitting petition written in 1961 by W.E.B. Du Bois to John F. Kennedy but never sent The new Du Bois center would essentially replace the nonprofit, though founder Randy Weinstein will continue his research on Du Bois, as well as the running of his antiquarian shop, North Star Rare Books, at the same location, he said. He said hell lend support to the center as both a citizen and as chair of the towns W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Committee. He isnt sure about the timing; that will also depend on the town. Weinstein said that for three decades, hes dreamed of the Du Bois legacy finding a permanent home under the towns governance. Great Barrington and Du Bois are inseparable, he said. Du Bois Legacy Festival to honor the Great Barrington native black scholar, civil rights leader GREAT BARRINGTON In his book, "The Souls of Black Folk," W.E.B. Du Bois talks about a kind of racist treachery that lives in sterilized language. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up The Legacy Committee is wholeheartedly behind the effort. I know this is his lifes work that hes donating to the library, said Gwendolyn VanSant, committee vice chair and CEO and founder of Multicultural BRIDGE. I think that its also commendable to make all the things that hes spend his life collecting now accessible to the community. VanSant also said the project will tie into the broader, ongoing movement to enmesh Du Bois into the towns culture: The Du Bois statue planned for the front lawn of the library, the restoration of a historic Black church building that will focus on Du Bois as well as the Du Bois Boyhood Homesite. The announcement comes about four years after the town began to embrace the legacy of Du Bois, a town native, after years of controversy surrounding his remembrance. Art in honor: W.E.B. Du Bois mural goes up in Great Barrington GREAT BARRINGTON They packed the alley for the native son.At the downtown unveiling of a new mural honoring W.E.B. Du Bois, around 100 people came for the big impact of a little mural in a The town now holds, for instance, an annual W.E.B. Du Bois Festival over several days in February around his birthday, and the school district renamed the middle school for Du Bois. Weinstein said his interest in the scholar spans far back. Ive had a passion for history and Du Bois forever, he said. Its an obsession of mine. Several decades ago he worked with troubled young people at the now-shuttered Kolburne School in New Marlborough, where he was program director. He found historical figures like Du Bois helpful to engaging students who had been sent to the school for delinquency, he said. He said hell be donating as many as 500 books to the library, and that will depend on the librarys capacity. In his mind, Du Bois history cant be separated out from the rest. Theres no difference between Du Bois in Great Barrington or regional history, because thats what created Du Bois, Weinstein said. From Sheffield and beyond, three generations of the Ullrich family answered a call to duty. We spoke with them all The "Stop the Steal" rally outside the White House in Washington, hours before a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, on Jan. 6, 2021. The figure of John Eastman, a constitutional theorist, former law professor and legal adviser to Donald Trump, looms increasingly large in retrospectives on the events of Jan. 6, and for good reason, writes New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. Senior United States District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced Kimberly Ann Brischle, 56, of Post Falls, Idaho, to 30 months, or 2.5 years, in federal prison for stalking an ex-boyfriend across state lines online. Judge Peterson also ordered Brischle to pay more than $175,000 in restitution for the damages arising from a fire she started in her ex-boyfriends home. Brischle will also serve three years of federal supervised release after she gets out of prison. Brischle pleaded guilty in May 2022 and has been in federal custody since July 2021. According to court documents, Brischle began sending her ex-boyfriend a series of threatening text messages in April 2021. The next day, Brischle broke into her ex-boyfriends home in Spokane, while her ex-boyfriend was away on business. Brischle damaged property in the home and started a fire in a bedroom closet. Investigators determined that the fire had been set intentionally. For the next several months, Brischle used online applications to obscure her identity while she continued to send her ex-boyfriend threatening and harassing texts and emails. In one message, she claimed to have paid another person to torture and mutilate him and to kill his dog. In the information age, Internet stalking has become a significant problem that crosses state and international boundaries and subjects innocent people to serious harassment, said Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Fortunately, through the collaborative work of ATF, the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Fire Department, and the Kalispel Tribal authorities, law enforcement was able to hold the defendant accountable and prevent her from causing further damage and harassment, said Waldref. "The United States Attorneys Office is committed to protecting our communities from cybercrime and physical violence to keep Eastern Washington safe and strong," said Waldref. Arson is a heinous crime that has broad impacts, not only on those who are directly affected, but because of the risk it presents to the community as a whole, said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. This sentence should deter anyone who contemplates engaging in the destructive, cowardly act of setting someones home on fire. Kent Anton Hewitt, 18, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 2020 shooting death of a 14-year-old. Hewitt was sentenced in Yakima County Superior Court Thursday after the victims family members addressed Judge Richard H. Bartheld. Hewitt pleaded guilty to shooting Charlie Taylor with a shotgun on Sept. 14, 2020. Taylor was shot at a home in the 1100 block of Willow Street in Yakima and died at Virginia Mason Memorial hospital, court documents said. The documents identified Hewitt and Taylor as Norteno gang members. Witnesses told investigators that Hewitt was playing with a shotgun and had been told to put it down when it went off, hitting Taylor in the leg. Officers found the gun hidden in the houses attic, while the car used to drive Taylor to the hospital was left in Wapato, court documents said. Detectives identified Hewitt from surveillance video footage, a probable cause affidavit said. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Heather Thorn said Hewitt, who was 17 years old at the time, would have been tried as a juvenile if the charge was second-degree manslaughter. She said first-degree charges and trial as an adult were recommended because Hewitt had previously exhausted all rehabilitation efforts in the juvenile justice center. Hewitts prior convictions include third-degree theft, drug possession, fourth-degree assault and malicious mischief. Defense attorney Christopher Swaby said during the sentencing portion of the hearing that he didnt want to breach the agreement reached with the prosecution, but said he disagreed with putting someone who is still a child in prison. Bartheld removed a deadly weapons enhancement from the manslaughter charge before Hewitt entered his plea Thursday at the request of Thorn and Swaby. Comments from victims family Taylors sisters Miranda Hawkins, Destiny Taylor and Crystal Taylor shared memories of their younger brother and the impact of his death on their family while addressing the court Thursday. Destiny said Taylor was close with his family. One big challenge was seeing how his death affected Taylors nieces and nephews, she said. Charlie was the fun uncle and made them all feel special, she said. She said there are no words to describe losing a child, for their mother, or losing a family member. Our family feels the person responsible should be held responsible for their actions, Destiny said. Miranda said her brother had a spirit that could light up a room. He was always involved and a special person, she said. The lives of all who loved him will never be the same, she said. Hewitt apologized to Taylors family during the hearing. Im sorry. I know thats not going to help at all, but thats all I can do, he said. Charlie was my friend. I didnt want this to happen. Sentencing Before issuing the sentence, Bartheld told the courtroom that the justice system right now is not working. When are people going to wake up? he said, mentioning the 19 children and two teachers who were killed by an 18-year-old gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday. You had no right to be wielding a firearm, Bartheld told Hewitt, bringing the conversation back to the case. I see some hope in you, Mr. Hewitt, because you accepted responsibility, Bartheld continued. Its still difficult to understand what was going through your head (the day of the shooting). Bartheld sentenced Hewitt to five years in prison with credit for time already served. Hewitt will have been in custody for two years come October. Bartheld also sentenced Hewitt to three additional years of community custody upon release and a $600 fine. For community custody, Hewitt will be under strict supervision and must meet guidelines including no controlled substance use and no firearm or ammunition possession, Bartheld said. Its our hope you will use your time constructively (and) become a good, responsible citizen, Bartheld said. (The Center Square) While western Washington has had a wetter and cooler than normal spring, that is not the case for the central and southern sectors of the state that are at above-normal risk for wildfires. The National Interagency Fire Center delivered that message in its latest report. The agency says 18 counties east of the Cascade Mountains are currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. A prediction for higher than normal temperatures and below normal precipitation are two factors that can lead to a spike in wildfires, according to NIFC. With those factors in play, NIFC expects much of the east side of the state to soon be at significant risk for wildfires. Last year, the Northwest region, which includes Oregon, had about 90 wildfires, most of which were human-caused, reports NIFC. Over half of the fires were in Washington state, with one large wildfire in the northeast burning 442 acres. Most of the wildfires burned fewer than one acre of land, said NIFC officials. A recent assessment by the NIFC found that roughly one in three properties in Washington, Oregon and California are at risk of wildfires. To reduce potential catastrophic events, the Bureau of Land Management has imposed fire restrictions on public lands throughout Oregon and Washington. That prohibits the use of fireworks, exploding targets or metallic targets, steel component ammunition (core or jacket), tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns. BLM said a fine up to $1,000, a prison term up to one year and a bill for the cost of fire suppression are possible if someone is caught violating the new fire restrictions. Washingtons Department of Natural Resources, the largest firefighting agency in the state, is already readying its personnel and deciding where it will send resources during the summer. The state agency set a long-term goal in 2017 to reduce wildfires by restoring 1.25 million acres of forest to healthy conditions, which reduces fuel loads. As of last October, DNR had completed forest health treatments on 363,143 acres across central and eastern Washington. On Friday, the NIFC reported that nine large fires, five in New Mexico, are currently burning. A total of 606,120 acres is involved and none are contained. In addition to New Mexico, these fires are located in Texas, Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona. So far in 2022, 26,684 wildfires have burned 1,780,488 acres in the United States. This is well above the 10-year average of 20,305 wildfires and 838,935 acres burned, says NIFC, which is based in Boise, Idaho, and is the nations support center for emergency situations. The NIFC reports that drought conditions persist across nearly 90% of the western U.S. and the amount of acreage burned this year is 70% above the country's 10-year average, continuing an upward trend. To deliver positive impact and value within the biotechnology innovation ecosystem GenScript Biotech and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Continuing Education and Training (CET), work-study degree programmes and explore applied research project opportunities. This partnership allows students from SIT to gain global exposure in biotechnology and equip them with industry-relevant skills. Under the agreement, GenScript will provide internship, full-time employment, industry networking and field service project opportunities for SIT students across several disciplines. As a global biotechnology company, GenScript will leverage its extensive network and deep expertise to provide SIT students with opportunities to gain solid real-world experience. Through the collaboration, SIT students will gain opportunities to work in GenScript China or Singapore, allowing them to gain a greater understanding of the global biotechnology industry, and develop effective interpersonal skills and behaviours to work in a cross-cultural setting. SIT students will also have opportunities to network and establish professional contacts within the sector, and emerge industry-ready when they graduate. Cambodian PM praises China as key contributor to country's infrastructure, electricity development Xinhua) 10:33, May 28, 2022 PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Friday that China is the major contributor to the development of transport infrastructure and electricity in the Southeast Asian nation. In a speech delivered via video link to an international conference on the future of Asia, Hun Sen said more than 3,000 km of national roads and eight large-scale river bridges in Cambodia have been built with China's financial support. He added that Chinese-invested hydropower plants have played a crucial role in securing electricity security in the kingdom, while the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway project will play a vital role in helping boost economic growth when it is put into use. The kingdom has seven Chinese-built hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1,328 megawatts. Vasim Sorya, a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said China-funded infrastructure projects have played a key role in enhancing transport efficiency, reducing time and transportation cost, improving competitiveness in the logistics sector and attracting foreign investors. "The transportation sector has greatly contributed to boosting economic growth," he told Xinhua. "With China's financial assistance, we are able to build and improve our road infrastructure to better serve our people, tourism and logistics industry." Sorya said under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has helped develop roads, bridges and other major infrastructure in Cambodia and other developing countries. "China-financed infrastructure projects are essential to help boost our socio-economic development and improve our people's livelihoods," he said. Sin Chanthy, president of the Cambodia Logistics Association, agreed that China's financial support has importantly helped Cambodia connect urban and rural areas as well as farms and markets. "Moreover, it has helped link Cambodia with its neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Laos," he told Xinhua. "All in all, transport infrastructure is the key element to support economic development and poverty reduction." Chea Chandara, president of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia, said China is the key supporter for infrastructure development in Cambodia. "China-backed infrastructure projects have importantly contributed to economic growth and development of the logistics industry," he told Xinhua. Speaking of the 2 billion-U.S. dollars Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Chandara said this Chinese-invested road will inject a new impetus into the country's economic development, as it connects Phnom Penh to the deepwater seaport in Sihanoukville. "There's no doubt that the expressway will provide great benefit to our economic development as it will facilitate goods transportation between Phnom Penh and the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, a major gateway for Cambodia's trade exchange with other countries," he said. The 190-km-long expressway will be ready for trial use in July 2022. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) A man pleaded guilty to his role in a Brandon-based drug trafficking network that had links to British Columbia. Advertisement Advertise With Us FILE The Brandon courthouse A man pleaded guilty to his role in a Brandon-based drug trafficking network that had links to British Columbia. Mitchell Livingstone pleaded guilty in Brandon provincial court to conspiring to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine between Oct. 19, 2020, and April 20, 2021, and possessing a stun gun and a firearm contrary to a prohibition. Livingstone told the court he understood there wouldnt be a trial on the charges and said he was pleading guilty voluntarily. No other details were read in court on Thursday. Livingstone was previously arrested as part of Project Debris, which was a joint investigation by the Manitoba RCMP, the Brandon Police Service and the Rivers Police Service. The investigation culminated in April 2021 after police seized $17,000 in cash along with cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and 14 firearms, police said at the time, noting there was evidence of "high-level" drug trafficking. Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn said a joint recommendation on Livingstones sentence was expected to be presented at a future sentencing hearing. A total of 12 people were charged in Project Debris. James Livingstone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic a schedule-1 substance earlier in May and is expected to be sentenced in June. Clay Kirby pleaded guilty in February to possession of a prohibited device and improperly storing firearms for charges stemming from Project Debris. Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta sentenced him to a six-month conditional sentence order and ordered him to forfeit all of his firearms. She also banned him from owning firearms for five years. The charges for a number of other co-accused are still before the court and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mitchell Livingstone is expected to be sentenced for the charges in mid-June. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in New Mexico history have both been traced to planned burns set by U.S. forest managers as preventative measures, federal investigators announced Friday. Fire rages along a ridgeline east of highway 518 near the Taos County line as firefighters from all over the country converge on Northern New Mexico to battle the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fires on May 13, 2022. (Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP) SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in New Mexico history have both been traced to planned burns set by U.S. forest managers as preventative measures, federal investigators announced Friday. The findings shift responsibility more squarely toward the U.S. Forest Service for initiating a natural disaster that has destroyed at least 330 homes as flames raged through nearly 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers) of high-altitude pine forests and meadows. The wildfire also has displaced thousands of residents from rural villages with Spanish-colonial roots and high poverty rates, while unleashing untold environmental damage. Roughly 3,000 firefighters, along with water-dropping planes and helicopters, continue to fight the blaze as it approaches mountain resorts and Native American communities. Firefighting costs already surpass $132 million, climbing by $5 million a day. Fire and law enforcement officials offered a cautious but hopeful Friday night status report, with fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner noting they need to watch the so-called red flag conditions warm, dry weather with high winds starting Saturday. The weather is a big concern for us, Turner acknowledged, saying even an errant pine cone rolling down a slope and crossing a control line could spread flames. Red flag warning is a big message for tomorrow. He said dry conditions are expected through Tuesday, but some moisture and even thunderstorms are possible starting Wednesday. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez described a rising sense of outrage as the fire triggers new evacuations of families and livestock. Fear of flames is giving way to concern about erosion and mudslides in places were superheated fire penetrates soil and roots. The destruction these two fires caused is immeasurable and will be felt for generations, said Leger Fernandez, sponsor of a bill that would reimburse residents and businesses routed by the fire. The Forest Service has not yet released detailed planning documents for the original planned burns that might indicate whether fire protocols were followed. Scientist and forest managers are racing to develop new tools to forecast the behavior of planned fires amid climate change and an enduring drought in the American West. The intentionally set blazes, known as prescribed burns, are aimed at limiting the accumulation of timber and underbrush that, if left unattended, can fuel extremely hot and destructive wildfires. The Biden administration announced in January a $50 billion plan to stave off catastrophic wildfires that would more than double the use of planned fires and logging to reduce trees and other vegetation that serve as tinder in the most at-risk areas. Prescribed burns often are used in wildland areas that are too vast to thin by hand or machine. The two fires east of Santa Fe joined in April to form the massive blaze at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains, in the Sangre de Cristo range. One of the fires was previously traced to April 6, when a planned burn, set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush, was declared out of control. On Friday, investigators said they had tracked the source of the second fire to the remnants of a planned winter fire that lay dormant through several snowstorms only to flare up again last month. Investigators said the prescribed pile burn was initiated in January at Gallinas Canyon in the Santa Fe National Forest outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, and concluded in the final days of that month. Fire was reported again in the same vicinity April 9 and escaped control 10 days later amid dry, hot and windy conditions, Forest Service investigators found. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in a statement called the investigation results a "first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility" for the New Mexico wildfire. She highlighted her pending request to President Joe Biden to direct the Federal Emergency Management Administration to pay for 100% of costs related to a broad range of recovery efforts. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore last week announced a 90-day pause and review of protocols for planned fires that limit the buildup of flammable vegetation. He cited extreme fire danger and unfavorable weather and did not specifically link the review to New Mexico's fires. It will also ensure the prescribed burn program nationwide is anchored in the most contemporary science, policies, practices and decision-making processes, and that employees, partners and communities have the support they need to continue using this critical tool to confront the wildfire crisis, the agency said in a statement Friday. Moore said prescribed fires go as planned in more than 99% of cases. Notable exceptions include the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire that swept through national security installations and residential neighborhoods at Los Alamos. So-called pile burns can often include wildland debris collected over months or even years. Forest managers cut back trees and gather debris into mounds, preferring to burn forest fuels in the winter when planned burns are easier to control. In January, Santa Fe National Forest workers started burning through a series of piles across an area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers), after advising the public of possible smoke hazards. ___ Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/ Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter. The childcare sector is facing a staffing crisis with the number of job vacancies more than doubling since before the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing up rates for nannying and casual babysitting to as high as $45 an hour. National figures from employment marketplace SEEK show a 40 per cent increase in job advertisements for early childhood teaching jobs and a 34 per cent increase for childcare and outside school hours care jobs from April 2021 to April 2022. Jessica Seen, a Sydney client of 99aupairs, with son Charlie, 3. Her new au pair Giulia Spinelli (green top) is from overseas and her departing au pair Madeline Warr is from Australia, and will take up another placement in Melbourne. Credit:Renee Nowytarger The trend over time shows demand for childcare staff plummeted during the 2020 national lockdown and 2021 NSW and Victorian Delta lockdowns. Yet, each time, the sector recovered with even higher vacancies than before the fall, reflecting the fact workers were quitting the industry to seek better pay and conditions. Grattan Institute economic policy program director Brendan Coates said with unemployment sitting below 4 per cent, the pool of potential childcare workers had more job opportunities. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Two years after graduating from his teaching degree, Will Booker works in an abandoned school building with not a student in sight. An old classroom in Sydneys north has been transformed into the office of his employer, a socially conscious start-up called Communiteer. Bookers job at the social enterprise is to connect corporate workers with skilled volunteering opportunities at charities. Its certainly not what he expected to do when he began studying, and says his career switch can be attributed to, strangely enough, pandemic doomscrolling. Will Booker appreciates that his life values and everyday work go hand in hand (and that dogs are allowed in the office). Credit:Rhett Wyman You can ... get in these loops on social media that just keep showing you all the crap happening around the world, Booker tells the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. So I think people are living their lives with [a desire to make the world a better place] in mind. The 23-year-olds sentiments are shared by many of his Generation Z peers loosely defined as being born between 1995 and 2009 and will make up a third of Australias workforce by 2030. Determined to make a difference, they are sweeping into the workplace (real and virtual) with the expectation that employers align with their values, not the other way around. They are the most technologically supplied, formally educated, globally connected, and socially aware generation in history, says demographer and social researcher Mark McCrindle. Advertisement The expectations of this group are high. McCrindle argues that what motivates this generation which he says has grown up indignant about climate inaction, disillusioned by a culture of profit at the cost of other outcomes, and forced to start their careers in a global pandemic is markedly different from generations past, who were more content to collect a pay cheque and call it a day. Weve got a generation looking for careers and roles that are around purpose, meaning, values resonance, community connection and making a difference or having an impact, says McCrindle, author of the 2019 report Understanding Generation Z. Social researcher Mark McCrindle says Gen Z is the most technologically supplied, formally educated, globally connected, and socially aware generation in history. Credit: These young adults walk onto the job with diversity, inclusion and social impact as priorities from day one. The result is a refreshed outlook on leadership that begins when theyre hired and comes into fullness when they step into management roles. And they certainly have career ambitions: 63 per cent said advancement opportunities were a crucial workplace attribute, second only to workplace wellbeing (72 per cent). Theyre bringing about change in organisations because theyre asking these questions. Theyre changing workplace culture, says McCrindle. Theres a collegiality, a flatter structure of interaction and social connection. Employers should take heed. The [old] hierarchy is not a place that has a long span. This next generation is ushering this in. Self-empowerment is another defining characteristic of Gen Z. Unlike millennials, who came of age alongside the internet and began wielding smartphones only in their teens, Gen Z have been digital natives virtually since birth. A whopping 86 per cent of Gen Z-ers expect to be entrepreneurs of some sort in the future, either as a side-hustle or as their main job, McCrindle research shows. Advertisement Loading Not only that, but they are conscious that they are inheriting a world economically stacked against them. McCrindle points out that some of Gen Zs earliest experiences are of the decade-long impacts of the global financial crisis, in which flat wages growth became the norm. Not only is Generation Z the most entrepreneurial generation of our time, but they carry a conviction of collective responsibility and have the means to do something about it. Theyre combining economic pragmatism ... with digital savvy and intuitive technology skills to move to this entrepreneurial mindset, McCrindle says. Money or motivation? Gen Z wants both But its not to say this generation will sacrifice remuneration for their noble ideals. The war for talent triggered by a COVID-driven shrunken talent pool has raised salary expectations. Grant Robson, vice president of sales at graduate recruitment company GradAustralia, says employers were in the drivers seat four years ago amid an oversupply of graduates and interns. Advertisement Not anymore. The ball is in [Gen Zs] court, he says. This current generation has figured out theyve got more authority to start asking: what can you do for me? In 2019, salary was the sixth most important factor for graduates when considering a job offer; this year its second, ranking only behind the work itself. But a good salary itself wont be enough to make Gen Z stick around. Manon te Riele, who works in PwC Melbournes cybersecurity division, has seen some of her friends quit their jobs because they didnt feel their work was contributing to the greater good. Gen Z worker Manon te Riele says she and her friends want careers that give them a sense of purpose. Credit:Paul Jeffers, The Age People are becoming a lot more picky about the work theyre doing, she says. They want to feel like theres a point to it. Though te Riele is only 23, shes a very active employee. Often finding herself the only woman in the room, te Riele has joined the companys Women in Cybersecurity and Technology group. Her passion for mental health has found an outlet through PwCs Green Light to Talk program. Advertisement I dont want to dial myself down for work, she says. Im a mental health advocate Im really focused on making sure we can bring our whole selves to work. Problem solvers drift to new platforms A new ecosystem of apps, communities and education providers has emerged to cater to Gen Z workers who arent satisfied with traditional university courses or job sites. Jeanette Cheah runs HEX, an education technology provider that aims to be the innovation gap year for high school and university students. With a curriculum co-designed by Atlassian, HEX is arming students with design thinking, leadership and technical skills to work in the tech sector and for jobs that dont yet exist. Cheah wants to plug a hole left by idle university degrees that she believes arent closely aligned with industry and dont recognise Gen Zs strengths. HEX founder Jeanette Cheah wants to help students shortcut their way to a job. Young people are already sophisticated digital consumers. Education often doesnt treat them as such, she says. Conventional careers such as medicine, law and engineering are still popular, but theres a big chunk of students becoming curious about what a product manager or a UI designer is. Advertisement Why? Its the one question that applies to so much of celebrity Craig McLachlans astonishing saga which has little to do with the tawdry claims originally levelled against him by his former Rocky Horror Show co-stars in this masthead and on the ABC four years ago. McLachlan and Scammell pictured with his legal team. Credit:Oscar Colman For starters, why did he ever agree to last years paid interview on Channel Sevens Spotlight ahead of a defamation trial - a trial which he had initiated? Any media lawyer worth their salt would advise strongly against such an idea given it dangerously flirts with strict contempt laws. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In 2015, Australian actor Odessa Young starred in not one but two films, Looking for Grace and The Daughter, both of which screened at the Venice and Toronto film festivals. Its a remarkable feat for any actor, but all the more impressive as these were Odessas first feature roles. Oh, and she was just a teenager. Naturally, headlines followed with words such as one to watch and star on the rise plastered next to her name. Years on, shes still wearing these tags. US Vogue named her as one of only six actors set to rule 2021. These articles have been written about me since I was 16, says the 24-year-old via Zoom from her apartment in New York, where she has lived for four years. Im excited that people are thinking that way. Its also like, gosh, how many breakouts before people have considered me broken? I still dont think that theres been one specific role or one job that has made me feel that Im really on the right track. I actually dont think that will ever happen. Loading But Odessas filmography would suggest that shes already there. She moved from Sydney, where she studied at the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, to LA just two days after her 18th birthday. After a quiet first year in Hollywood, when she was still finding her feet on her own, she scored roles in the 2018 films Assassination Nation and A Million Little Pieces. In 2020, she starred in the post-apocalyptic television miniseries The Stand, based on Stephen Kings 1978 novel, and opposite Elisabeth Moss in Shirley, a film about author Shirley Jackson. What will it take for Odessa to feel like shes made it? It is an insecure industry, so its kind of a protection mechanism, she admits. You never really feel like youve made it. And you know, what decides it? Is it going to the Met Gala ball? Is it a magazine article? Advertisement If it is, then Sunday Life is calling it: Odessa Young has made it. This is only confirmed by her breathtaking performance in her latest film, Mothering Sunday, where she leads a cast that includes some of the biggest names in the industry. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Graham Swift. Set in 1924, it centres on a housemaid, Jane Fairchild (Odessa), who finds herself alone on Mothers Day. While her employers, Mr and Mrs Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman) are out, she has the rare opportunity to spend the day with her wealthy secret lover, Paul (Josh OConnor), whos engaged to another woman. If youre thinking it sounds like a Downton Abbey-type period drama, think again. I say this with the utmost respect possible, but its like an anti-British movie, says Odessa. It goes against British sentimentality, and how love and loss is portrayed in British cinema and television. I think Eva [Husson] being a French director obviously has a lot to do with changing the perspective of the narrative. Young with director Eva Husson, on the set of Mothering Sunday. Credit:AP Previously in those stories, a character like Jane would have been a subplot. It would have served some purpose to show how different life is downstairs. But giving Jane the lead and her own story and letting that story play out? I think thats actually the first act of resistance against what has typically been the upstairs downstairs stories. Its not just the plot of Mothering Sunday that deviates from other British aristocracy dramas. The portrayal of passion doesnt shy away from the raw nature of sex, either. But the gentle pace of the film and the tenderness between the lovers makes these moments feel poignant rather than graphic. We get asked to do all sorts of crazy shit as actors, anyway. So in the grand scheme of things, its actually not so crazy to be nude. Advertisement In one memorable scene, Odessas character explores her lovers mansion completely naked, resembling a model from a Botticelli painting with her porcelain skin and flowing auburn hair. Yet Odessa moves with such natural composure that her nudity feels almost unremarkable. I think that Eva would be pleased to hear that because it is meant to feel lived in. Its meant to feel relaxed, says Odessa. But was she really as comfortable as she looks? As comfortable as one can be, she says. We get asked to do all sorts of crazy shit as actors, anyway. So in the grand scheme of things, its actually not so crazy to be nude. Odessa may have been more daunted to work alongside actors whose work shed admired for so long. But as she found out, not only are Colin Firth and Olivia Colman incredible performers, theyre also lovely people. So thats always nice, I dont have to feel disappointed, she says, laughing. Young stars alongside Colin Firth and Olivia Coleman in Mothering Sunday. Credit:Christopher Schoonover She also took the opportunity to learn from the award-winning duo. It was just an incredible school. To see masters do what they do best, in any industry, in any job, is really amazing to watch. Because you see the passion, and you see the time thats gone into it. Especially with them, theyve won Oscars for a reason. And I got to see what that reason is first-hand, and its just magical. Can she pinpoint the reason? Its hard to articulate, because its in the way they carry themselves. Its in the way that they bury their egos, which is truly one of the most difficult things that one can do. Its not trying to tell everybody in the room around you, just by the way you walk into it, that youre the most important person in there. Advertisement And an overblown sense of entitlement is something Odessa has come across. Actors are just awful people sometimes, she says, with refreshing candour. Truly, I dont have many friends who are actors and the ones I do have, we all have a very sceptical understanding of this job, because its really not that important. But she admits shes gone too far the other way at times, a quality she recognises in fellow Australian actors. I think Australians are really afraid to admit how much the job means to them, she admits. Its something that I had to learn how to do. Basically, I had to have this moment where I was like, Okay, its time to stop pretending that I can just put this audition down tomorrow, and I dont care about it. I think Australians are really afraid to admit how much the job means to them. Americans have this culture of individualism, everybody just wants to be on top. But we find it much harder to admit that we want things for ourselves. I remember having to have big talks with myself, like: I want to take this seriously. Why is my weird Australian tall poppy syndrome not allowing me to take my job seriously? It meant that I was really short-changing myself in terms of how I worked. I thought that putting too much work into it was lame. Loading Was she afraid of committing the crime of being a try-hard? Exactly! And its so twisted, she says. I still have to remind myself that I have nothing else I want to do, so why am I pretending I have things I can fall back on? I know that the only person Im hurting is myself. Maybe one day Odessa will even admit that shes made it. Advertisement While Netflixs Maid has generally been applauded for its accurate depiction of the struggles faced by single mothers, its portrayal of womens refuges could not be further removed from the reality of modern refuges. Credit:Netflix When Katie and her daughter arrive, they are taken to their unit, which is pre-stocked with groceries, the beds made up with fresh linen. For Katies daughter theres new clothing, nappies and formula, along with a cot and teddy. Katies case manager guides her through what she can expect in terms of security, support and case management during their stay. Refuge Victorias chief operating officer, Janine Sherrard, says the staff are measured in their initial interactions, as new clients can easily become overwhelmed. When Katie arrived, she presented as wary and reserved, but at the same time clear about the need to protect her daughter, says Sherrard. Like many of our clients, Katie had been pulled into a web of services, not of her own choice. For years, shed been engaged with police, child protection and the court system because of Leos violence. Our clients are forced into a system that can be at times unrelenting, unfair, unclear and exhausting. They have had to leave their home, their friends and their community, all because of family violence. Now, imagine also being Aboriginal, already traumatised as part of the stolen generations, or not speaking English, or having a disability, or being LGBTQIA. And imagine all of this on top of being physically and emotionally injured by the person you once trusted and loved. Family violence is like a hurricane its damage is widespread and often leaves nothing in its wake. Our clients are forced into a system that can be at times unrelenting, unfair, unclear and exhausting. They have had to leave their home, their friends and their community, all because of family violence. Katie had been in a relationship with the violent perpetrator for over 10 years. Leo had an extensive criminal record for drug offences, violence and firearms offences and Katie had reported multiple cases of violence to the police, including assault that involved punching , dragging her by her hair, and strangulation. She was also subject to sexual abuse, which would be used by Leo as a way to psychologically taunt her. It was after a serious assault involving a hammer that police facilitated her move to the refuge. According to Refuge Victoria, the purpose of family violence refuges isnt just to provide safe accommodation to those made homeless because of family violence, its also to provide specialist support. This requires collaboration with partners and community services to create a plan for a new life and to provide the pathway for getting there. Whats not widely understood is that children and young people comprise the largest number of people in refuges. Last year, children accounted for 63 per cent of Refuge Victorias clients. Specialist young persons practitioners conduct safety, risk and needs assessments, and case planning for each child. They also work with services such as maternal and child-health nurses, paediatricians, and teachers. According to Refuge Victoria CEO Ellen Matusko, while there has long been acknowledgement of family violence, greater investment in refuges and the construction of purpose-built facilities is relatively new. Refuges have provided safety and shelter to women for over four decades, but services were, generally speaking, regular homes or backyard garages, initially staffed by female volunteers, Matusko says. Refuges have provided safety and shelter to women for over four decades, but services were, generally speaking, regular homes or backyard garages, initially staffed by female volunteers. Facilities were often shared by multiple women and children. The upside was that they were safe and had access to food and other supports; however the environments were not conducive to recovery. Having to share with others with different lifestyles or parenting styles, and dealing with cultural or linguistic diversity, meant some women would choose to leave and return home to the perpetrator. Things changed in 2014, when Melbourne mother Rosie Batty stood on her front lawn the day after her son was beaten to death by his father and spoke about how family violence must be brought out of the shadows. Australia was shocked by the death of Luke Batty, and the growing call for action on violence against women led to the 2015 Royal Commission into Family Violence and an unprecedented investment by state and federal governments in womens refuges. Loading Last year, the Victorian government spent over $500 million supporting infrastructure for women escaping family violence. Meanwhile, the NSW government announced a budget of more than $480 million for the coming year, making it the single biggest investment in domestic violence prevention in the states history. Importantly, the royal commission recommended that new refuges be built and that they follow whats known as the core and cluster model. The core and cluster refuge model features multiple self-contained units on the one site, with a central and separate office, explains Matusko, adding that providing them with their own home gives families the privacy and dignity they deserve. We work really hard towards making women feel special and important because we know that this has been lacking in their lives as they live with family violence. Almost as soon as a woman enters a refuge, work begins on answering the question: Where is this family going to live after they leave? Some wish to return home, with the person responsible for the violence removed and with security measures such as cameras, lock changes and fences installed. Others, like Katie, whose safety depends on the violent perpetrator not knowing her address, will need to be assisted to find more permanent accommodation. The reality is that some of the women who stay in refuges will return home to their partners. Research tells us that, on average, it can take people up to seven attempts to leave a person using violence, says Sherrard. Many of our clients are coercively controlled. They might not have access to money or a car, they might have had every move tracked via their mobile phone, or they may not be physically or emotionally able to leave. Loading By the time Katie was ready to leave the refuge, she had private accommodation secured and had started looking for employment. She says she is now experiencing feelings she had almost forgotten existed: including confidence and optimism. But as Katie left to start her new life, a new woman, Mawa*, arrived by taxi, her three children wrapped around her leg and that familiar blank expression on her face. *Names have been changed. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Thousands of Indigenous Australians who enlisted to fight in foreign wars were formally recognised by Queenslands RSL on Saturday. Indigenous Australians were legally excluded from military service until 1949, but records show tens of thousands enlisted for the Boer War and the two world wars. Former Indigenous naval officer Ray Rosendale remembers minor racism during his career, but says most servicemen treated him like a brother. Credit:Will Gordon, RSL Queensland Australians classified as half castes were allowed to enlist from 1917 during World War I. Indigenous contributions to Australias war efforts were acknowledged at a special service held by RSL Queensland in Anzac Square on Saturday. The developers of a prominent site in Brunswick overlooking Princes Park have been accused of using the state governments COVID-19 economic recovery strategy to avoid public scrutiny of a proposal for 168 apartments. Property giant Mirvac has lodged plans directly with Planning Minister Richard Wynne for the controversial $147 million development with several towers between six and 10 storeys high, despite opposition from both residents and the local council. The development will incorporate several towers, including one 10 storeys high. Credit:Mirvac The Park Street site, best known as the location of the Princes Park Motor Inn, has been the subject of a failed attempt to build a 13-storey tower and 333 apartments, which was rejected by Moreland City Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Mirvac purchased the property from the previous developer JWLand last year for $40 million, according to the Australian Financial Review. A short drive from some of Victorias most expensive seaside real estate on the Mornington Peninsula there are rough sleepers staying long term in tents in the foreshore campgrounds. Homelessness has become so dire on the peninsula that the council has allowed some rough sleepers to move into the camping grounds that are often prized summer holiday spots. But many more are couch-surfing, sleeping in cars or living in rooming houses. Rosebuds popular foreshore campgrounds are now home to rough sleepers as the Mornington Peninsulas homelessness crisis worsens. Credit:Craig Sillitoe Ben Smith, manager of the Mornington Community, Information and Support Centre, says the growing use of its free shower service is another sign that homelessness is rising in the area. On weekdays, the centre gives away more than 100 loaves of bread to people who cannot afford daily necessities. Phelps says the real caseload is much higher because many people are not testing or not reporting the results of their tests. Critics agree, but say that simply shows the real death rate is lower than the figures suggest. Demanding COVID restrictions return: Dr Kerryn Phelps. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Phelps and other prominent health experts are frustrated by many aspects of the current COVID discourse; peoples blase attitude to the virus, their apathy about reinfection or long COVID and - most of all - the way the pandemic is often talked about in the past tense. One thing that has been enormously frustrating is the subtle use of language to imply that the pandemic is over. Were still in the middle of it, says Phelps. Theres no question there was message massaging from Scott Morrison and his then government ministers. He was saying things like, We have led the country out of the pandemic. That was just plain and simply wrong. The media were reporting what they were saying, as they do, but without critical analysis of the facts. Phelps concedes that for the majority of people who contract COVID-19, it will be a mild illness - perhaps even similar to the common cold - which probably explains their lack of concern about contracting it again. But thats a mistake, she says. What about next time? Theyre still susceptible to the next variant that comes along. Some people get a lot sicker the second time around or the third time around. This claim is highly contentious. UNSW Kirby Institute professor Greg Dore says there is now good data from the United Kingdom that shows reinfection with Omicron is rare. While some individuals may get sicker on reinfection, the likelihood is that it will be less severe. Dore believes case numbers will decline in coming weeks. He has some sympathy for those who want stronger measures to reduce transmission, but he does not believe they will work. N95 masks might be appropriate for the vulnerable, but most people will not truck them after more than two years of disruption. I know people are frustrated and they want to do something, but bringing in mask mandates is not going to turn the epidemic around. Thats where the discussion gets stuck, Dore says. Even the people more on the left end of the COVID spectrum, they are realistic in saying we cant go back to lockdowns. Theyre clutching at straws saying: what can we do? While there has always been a range of views in the medical fraternity about how to handle COVID, some experts feel the more alarmist commentators among them are beginning to deploy the same kinds of arguments used by anti-vaxxers last year. Nick Coatsworth, the former deputy chief medical officer who appeared in government vaccine ads and was a major figure in the earlier stages of the pandemic, says there are three major parallels - the spectre of the unknowns of long-COVID, the notion that the real statistics are being covered up, and the use of highly emotive but false analogies. The sequences of logic that theyre using are almost identical, Coatsworth says. Theyre reverse engineering the arguments from their ideological position, which is why the arguments appear so similar. Though long-COVID is real, Coatsworth says it has been misused by hard line COVID-zero advocates in the same way anti-vaxxers said they wont take the vaccine because they dont know its long-term effects. COVID-zero advocates say we dont know enough about long-COVID; therefore we should err on the side of caution. Just as anti-vaxxers suggested the public was not being given all the data about deaths and side effects from the vaccines, many who want stronger action on COVID claim the government and media are covering up the true extent of the virus in the community. Coatsworth acknowledges Australia is currently experiencing a relatively high number of COVID deaths. Some people have called it a plane crash a week. But he takes issue with that analogy, pointing out COVID deaths are very much skewed to the elderly. A plane crash has anywhere between babies through to people at the end of their lives and everything in between, Coatsworth says. So its not a reasonable analogy to draw when were talking about largely the very frail elderly, who are very likely to succumb to infection whether theres a pandemic or not. Dore, the UNSW epidemiologist, makes the same point. The median age of death is in the 80s. There are very few people younger than their 70s dying - very, very few. Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says public interest in the pandemic has waned. Credit:Jamila Todera Phelps finds such observations distasteful, as she does the distinction between people dying of COVID or with COVID, which implies other factors were at play. Ninety per cent of people are dying from the disease. They are losing years of life, she says. Statistics on excess mortality show this is true; the Herald and The Age reported that in January there was a 22.1 per cent increase in overall deaths compared with the January average. Phelps rejects comparisons to the language or arguments used by anti-vaxxers. Some of the people making that case were demonstrably wrong throughout the pandemic, she says. They were wrong about airborne spread, they were wrong about the need to wear masks. I think we need to go back to that precautionary principle because we now know quite a lot more about things like long-COVID and the death rates. But Phelps does believe there are deliberate efforts afoot to fool people into thinking COVID is over. On Monday, she retweeted a tweet saying the media and government must drop the quite frankly bizarre denial the pandemic is over and COVID doesnt exist. Loading Phelps also retweeted someone who said he wont stay in a hotel with corridors anymore as they are absolutely lethal. Hotels with sealed windows, corridors and no balconies may well become obsolete, Phelps added. During the campaign, Anthony Albanese said if he won the election he would order an urgent briefing on COVID-19 and promised a step up in the countrys national strategy. But it was not clear that would involve much more than an attempt to accelerate booster uptake. The states - all Labor except for NSW and Tasmania - have shown no desire to reintroduce COVID measures. Around the world there is a reluctance to go back in time and start resuscitating the restrictions of the past, despite high case numbers. The United Kingdom removed all COVID-19 rules in February, including the requirement for COVID-positive people to isolate, which Australia seems unlikely to scrap in the near future. Anthony Albanese during a TV interview while isolating at home with COVID on April 22. And New York City mayor Eric Adams last week resisted pressure to reintroduce a mask mandate. Variants are going to come, he was quoted as saying. If every variant that comes, we move into shutdown thoughts, we move into panicking, were not going to function as a city. Loading Dore says there are three things Australia could do that dont involve going backwards: ensure vaccine coverage, including fourth doses, is as high as possible; revisit the eligibility criteria for antiviral treatments to approve greater access; and take a closer look at who is dying and why. Its not as if theyre hiding it - not at all, he says. But theres more that can be done. Dore points out that with no longer public health problem have we had anywhere near the level of publicly available data as we have with COVID-19. The state health departments still release the number of cases and deaths daily, as does the federal government. The tree is still falling in the forest, even if fewer people are interested in hearing it. Speaking to 3AW radios Neil Mitchell last week, Burnet Institute microbiologist Brendan Crabb expressed astonishment that COVID-19 had fallen out of the public mindset despite the deaths. Loading Theres a bit of a mass brain fade, a national brain fade thats happened right from the beginning of Omicron, he said. Weve been living with COVID, euphemistically, meaning do nothing about it. We are living in a kind of fantasy land. But Coatsworth says its not fantasy - its reality. Attention will naturally wane, thats not a new phenomenon, he says. Thats been in pandemic plans ever since weve had pandemic plans. The upside of Albaneses weakness going into the campaign that few voters knew him is that Albanese doesnt carry much baggage. That could change, and quickly, and will not be enough to save him from crises of competency, such as we saw during his campaign. Peter Dutton, almost certainly anointed as the new opposition leader, does not have the same thing going for him. He is known, but for his hard-man portfolios and for the delight he takes in baiting the left. Loading His forays into racial stereotyping saying in 2018 that Melburnians were afraid to go out to dinner because of African gang violence, and his 2016 comments on the mistake of resettling Lebanese Muslim immigrants in the 1970s were deeply disappointing. Dutton is also notorious for boycotting the apology to the Stolen Generations (something he later said he regretted), which will put him, and his party, in an interesting position when they formulate a response to a referendum on the Voice to parliament. Dutton, as a former Queensland cop, has seen Aboriginal disadvantage up close, and perhaps he believed the apology was tokenistic. But symbols matter in politics, and the Uluru Statement from the Heart is not virtue-signalling from a white-woke minority. Besides, what the right-wing of the Liberal party calls woke is becoming increasingly mainstream, especially when these issues are framed for what many of them are - a request for fairness. Dutton, as the man who guided the Coalition to a deft solution to its impasse over same-sex marriage, will hopefully be cognisant of the culture-war follies of his predecessor. It was encouraging that he spoke this week about the Liberals being the party who believed in families whatever their composition. Duttons world-view seems to have been formed in a crucible of threat he was a policeman in the Drug and Sex Offenders Squads in the 1990s, and left the police force after sustaining terrible injuries in a car crash in the line of duty. I have seen the wonderful, kind nature of people willing to offer any assistance to those in their worst hour, and I have seen the sickening behaviour displayed by people who, frankly, barely justify their existence, he said in his 2001 maiden speech in parliament. More recently, in the Home Affairs and Defence portfolios, Dutton has been alive to threats of a national security nature. He was one of the first people at high levels of government to realise the profound shift in Chinas intentions in our region. In the lead-up to the election, Dutton spoke freely about Australias future prospects for war. He told the Australian Financial Reviews Jacob Greber that most Australians would be shocked at the scale of Chinas interference and cyber-warfare. He spoke of an invasive approach not limited by morals or by law and said he had no doubt were heading in a very troubled direction . The same rhetoric, of course, could be applied to the threat of climate change, but there is no doubt Dutton speaks from a place of intimate knowledge of Chinas capability. Loading How will Dutton balance this serious talk of threat with his apparent desire, now, to show the Australian public his warm side? We have heard much this week from Coalition frontbenchers, and his wife, about Duttons humour, his decency, his compassion and his intelligence. Stuart Robert, Duttons Queensland ally, says Dutton is a warm-hearted, very, very decent, very competent individual. Robert also made the strange assertion that: you cant judge someone on either comments theyve made or decisions theyve done when theyre exercising their either personal conscience or their particular viewpoint. Oh, but people can, Stuart! And they will. Neglecting renters was a key factor behind the major parties losing their hold on inner-city Brisbane, according to two of the citys three successful Greens candidates. The cost of renting has risen at a faster rate in Brisbane than in other capitals, incoming Greens MP for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather said. Successful Greens candidates Stephen Bates (left) and Max Chandler-Mather say the major parties failed to appeal to renters. Credit:Tony Moore Domain property experts showed rent in Brisbane jumped 14.9 per cent in the past 12 months to a weekly average of $500 the steepest rise in the citys history. In the inner-city seats of Griffith and Brisbane, about 50 per cent of residents are renters. Beijing: The top UN human rights official says she has raised concerns with Chinese officials about the impact of the broad application of counter-terrorism and deradicalisation measures on the rights of Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in Chinas Xinjiang region. Michelle Bachelet, who visited Xinjiang as part of a six-day trip to China, said the visit was not an investigation but a chance to raise concerns with senior Chinese leaders and pave the way for more regular interactions to support China in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law. It provides an opportunity for me to better understand the situation in China, but also for the authorities in China to better understand our concerns and to potentially rethink policies that we believe may impact negatively on human rights, she said late on Saturday in a video news conference on the final day of her trip. Michelle Bachelet is the first UN high commissioner for human rights to visit China in 17 years. Credit: Its uncertain whether Chinas ruling Communist Party, which has vehemently denied all reports of human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang, would change its policies. Bachelets measured words, while expected, will likely not sit well with activists and governments such as the United States, which have been critical of her decision to visit Xinjiang. The child that made it home, thankfully they are here. But mentally and emotionally, a piece of that child that left their home that morning never came back with them, said Ruiz, 31, a former teachers aide at Robb Elementary School. They are traumatised, and they have to deal with it for the rest of their lives. Loading Daniels terrifying day began just minutes after his class completed an awards ceremony marking the end of the school year. As they were returning to their classroom, Daniel heard gunshots coming from the hallway near a back door that the gunman apparently used to enter the building. Immediately, Daniel said, his teacher rushed to the door and inserted a key, apparently breaking it in such a way that door jammed, he said. The teacher also turned off the lights and urged her students to dive under their desks or crawl into the corner. We just ran to get to cover, Daniel said. And [the teacher] grabbed the key, and it broke and just jammed in the door. Loading Crouched under a classroom table, Daniel could see his classroom door. Initially, Daniel said he could hear the gunman firing on another classroom at the end of a hallway. Ruiz said there are about eight classrooms in that wing of the school, but several were probably unoccupied because students were at lunch or in gym class. Then, Daniel said, he could hear the gunman make his way down the hall, firing into another classroom. About 15 minutes after the shooting began, Daniel said he saw the gunman approach his classroom door. The gunman initially tugged at the door handle but was apparently unable to open it. Daniel also told his mother that Ramos made mocking hand gestures toward the students in his classroom. Then Ramos fired through the doors glass window and into Daniels classroom. Daniel described the bullets as being hot as they bounced around the classroom. A fragment of one of those bullets slammed into his classmates nose. Daniel was close enough to hear the crunching sound as it struck the student. He then shot like two or three bullets, and then the glass broke, but like a bullet hit the wall, and bounced off and tried to hit us, but it hit her nose, Daniel said. He then shot like two more bullets, and then he stopped and then went back to the classroom next to us. During the gunfire, Daniels teacher was shot twice but survived. On Wednesday, Texas law enforcement officials said it took about an hour for police officers to find and shoot the gunman and rescue the students. Daniel believes it took about 2 hours for his classroom to be evacuated. While they waited for help, Daniel said heard his injured classmate softly ask the teacher to call 911 because she was bleeding a lot. But for much of the time, Daniel said the injured student neither cried nor spoke. Daniels teacher, meanwhile, was lying on the floor where she had been shot. She had some blood on her, but she was like whispering, Stay calm. Stay where you are. Dont move, Daniel recalled. He said that some students whispered back to the teacher asking if she was okay. But most of the time, the students just did what the teacher asked them to do. They stayed quiet. Ruiz, meanwhile, faced her own nightmare outside of the school. When she was a teachers aide, Ruiz also worked at the junior high school. During the 2014-2015 school year, Ruiz said Ramos, the alleged gunman, was in her class. The morning of the shooting, Ruiz attended Daniels awards ceremony at Robb Elementary School. She had just driven away from the school when she got a phone call from her father alerting her about a disturbance at the school. He said, you need to get the school now, there is someone shooting, and they say there is someone running with guns on the outside, Ruiz said. As she stood outside the school, Ruiz and other parents were confused as to why police officers at the scene were not entering the building to confront the gunman. She watched panicked fathers attempt to tear down a fence to enter the school to rescue their children. Ruiz and other mothers started screaming at anyone they could find, demanding answers about what was going on inside the school. I kept telling them, That is his building. That is his building, Ruiz said as she saw officers start aiming their weapons at the section of the school that included Daniels classroom. All I kept thinking is I should have just brought him home with me after the awards ceremony. Over the next hour, Ruiz watched as students in other sections of the school either fled or were evacuated to safety by police. But Daniels cousin never emerged. Meanwhile, inside the school, Daniel said eventually the gunman stopped firing his weapons. Daniel thinks the gunman hid in a nearby classroom until police arrived. We could hear a cop telling him to come out and stuff, Daniel said. We heard the cop say put your handgun down, and put the rest of your guns down, and come out of the classroom. We could hear the shooter say something in Spanish, Daniel added. And then we heard like two gun shots, and the cop calling for backup to get us out to safety. After the gunman was shot and killed by police, Daniel said police officers were also unable to open the door that his teacher had jammed with the key. Officers then broke out the windows in the room so Daniel and his classmates could crawl outside, leaving shards of glass in the palm of their hands. Daniel watched as police also broke the windows out of the neighbouring classroom. But Daniel said only four students crawled out, his first sign that his cousin, 9-year-old Ellie Garcia, did not survive. Ruiz said Daniel often stood up for Ellie when she was bullied at school, and now he feels guilty that he survived but she did not. By telling his story to a reporter, Ruiz hopes that it will make Daniel feel comfortable talking about his feelings with a psychologist. At a news conference Friday, Abbott promised that anyone in Uvalde will be able to receive free mental health services. Since Tuesday, Ruiz said Daniel sleeps in her bed and wakes up with nightmares. On Wednesday night, Ruiz and Daniel sat down and looked at the photos of all the students who died that day. Daniel pointed to photographs of one of his best friends and nine other friends who were among the victims. Even though Daniel lives in a cramped trailer with his sister and brother, Ruiz said he has yet to set foot in the room that contains his gaming equipment. His two favourite video games used to be Fortnite and War Game. Asked why he no longer plays his video games, Daniel dropped his head and said, I dont like the gunshots and stuff. Loading Yet despite his trauma, Ruiz is confident Daniel will grow up knowing that he is also a hero. He feels that his friends and his classmates, at that moment, were being very brave even as they were so scared, Ruiz said. He kept saying, We did good, mom. We did good. We stayed quiet. Washington Post Reports reveal Texas gunman made threats to girls online Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss As former India head Manish Maheshwari quit Invact Metaversity -- an online platform for education and Web3.0 and Metaverse -- in just six months of its birth, skeletons have started tumbling out after one of the accused Maheshwari of "lying and bullying". Founded by Maheshwari and Tanay Pratap just six months ago, the startup in February received $5 million in funding led by Arkam Ventures to build a metaverse of education and expand globally. In an email to investors, Gergely Orosz accused Maheshwari of wanting "more equity than vested". "Manish has been bullying Tanay into silence, threatening to use the company funds of $1.7M, including our angel investment money, to sue him, should Tanay speak ill of him in public. This broke the straw with me, as that includes my money: which I never invested to be used as an instrument of a co-founder bullying the other one," Orosz said in the email. "Manish is keeping the company hostage. He controls the majority of votes and is refusing to sign agreements which he confirmed he would sign to leave. Named investors and employees all want him to leave, taking fair terms. In a strange way, everyone's hands are tied until he steps down," alleged Orosz, a software engineer and an author. In a tweet tagging Maheshwari, he further said: "If I invest in a company, and a cofounder unethically holds that company hostage, looking at their sole selfish interest: I will do what is best for the employees, the customers and the investors. If the only way to do this is in public: I do it in public @manishm." Maheshwari was yet to react to Orosz's allegations. On Friday, Maheshwari announced he is leaving the startup to "pursue new opportunities". "I am moving out of Invact to first take a break for a few months and then pursue new opportunities. It is heartbreaking for a founder to leave the startup, like a mother leaving her baby. I am going through the same emotion," he tweeted. Orosz alleged in the email that "Manish keeps walking back on promises he made to named investors, then breaking them". "Named investors were meeting the terms he put up to accept the exit settlement so the company can continue operating. He then walks back on these terms. He has been doing this for weeks. "No current employees trust Manish to stay. They feel he has misled them too many times. I have talked with most of them to confirm this is the case," he claimed. Maheshwari earlier envisioned building a virtual-first curriculum and expanding into Europe and the US. "Metaverse is a concept that stands at a cusp where it will be a lead factor in transforming the educational landscape," said Maheshwari. Orosz said in another tweet that they tried to resolve the internal tussle at the startup privately and it looked like it worked. "Until investors got lied to, agreements waked back on. I am doing this in public because weeks of doing it in private did not lead anywhere. And because I told @manishm exactly this will happen if he acts unethical," he posted. --IANS na/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 EV fires continue to make headlines in the country, a fire broke out at electric scooter manufacturer Ather Energy's experience centre in . The company said in a tweet that there has been a minor fire incident on its premises in . "While some property and scooters got affected, thankfully all employees are safe and things are under control. The experience centre will be operational shortly," the EV company said late on Friday. It, however, did not reveal what caused the fire incident. The company was awaiting a report from the local fire brigade officials. This was the first time came in for a fire incident as several top EV players are facing government inquiry over battery explosions and fire incidents across the country. A Hero Photon Electric scooter in Odisha caught fire this week while it was being charged. The incident left the scooter partially damaged. "When contacted, the customer explained that he heard abnormal cracking sounds and discovered that fumes were coming from the electric switchboard of the home, adjacent to the e-scooter and sparks were continuously falling onto the floor and a can of paint lying nearby," the company said in a statement. "By the time he went on to switch off the mains and get back to try and put off the fire, it spread and burnt the rear part of the scooter and some household belongings," it added. EV makers such as Ola Electric, Pure EV, Jitendra EV Tech and Okinawa have been involved in earlier EV fire incidents. Meanwhile, a government panel probing EV fire incidents is set to submit its report next week. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) that was tasked with investigating EV fire incidents by the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, has found serious defects in the batteries, including designs of the battery packs and modules. These defects occur because the electric two-wheeler manufacturers like Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors may have used "lower-grade materials to cut costs". The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) at the DRDO has submitted its fact-finding report to the Ministry. Earlier this month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry, sent notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors after their e-scooters exploded in April. The consumer watchdog is also examining more cases of e-scooter fires and will serve similar notices to other EV makers too. --IANS na/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.) Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who is under the radar of the (ED) in connection with her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, has got the court's permission to travel to the (UAE) from May 31 to June 6. Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh said, during this time, the Lookout Circular (LOC) against her issued in the case shall stand suspended. Jacqueline, who wanted to attend the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi, had approached the Patiala House court, seeking its permission. The court directed her to submit a Rs 50 lakh Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) along with a surety of Rs 50 lakh and details of her itinerary, stay, and return date.Also, she has to inform the investigating agency on her return to the country. In her plea, she stated that she is a Sri Lankan national living in India since 2009 and holds a good name in the Bollywood industry. The actress has been invited to events, press conferences, rehearsals, and participation of the IFAA, it stated. The ED has interrogated Jacqueline multiple times and recorded her statement after her alleged friendship with Chandrashekhar came to light. In the Rs 200 crore involving Chandrashekhar, the ED had last month attached gifts and properties worth Rs 7 crore given to the Sri Lankan actress, terming them proceeds of crime. In February this year, the agency had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who had introduced him to the actress. It has been alleged that Irani used to choose costly gifts for Jacqueline and later dropped them at her house after the payments were made by Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that India is looking at road connectivity through and sea connectivity through and this would see a huge change in the region. Addressing a "NADI (River) Conclave 2022" in Guwahati, the External Minister said that six old cross border rail links between India and need to be restored." There are 10 waterway protocol routes between India and . Nine new "Border Haats" (markets) between India and Bangladesh are being set up," Dr Jaishankar said adding "We are improving connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan". Saying that land connectivity through and sea connectivity through Bangladesh would facilitate easy connectivity with Vietnam and Philippines. "The upcoming connectivity not only would build the strong partnership with the ASEAN countries and Japan, but would actually make a difference to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. It is absolutely within our capability to overcome geographic bottleneck and rewrite history." The External Affairs Minister said that this vision can be productively realised by enhancing connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and to improve access to ASEAN countries and beyond. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also attended the "NADI Convlave-2022" organised by Shillong based thing tank and research group 'Asian Confluence'. Taking to Twitter, the Assam Chief Minister said: "Due to its strategic location, Assam provides a great opportunity for economic growth. The state has immense potential in tourism sector, including wildlife tourism, tea tourism and river tourism. Our government is taking necessary steps in this direction." "Northeast India, including Assam, not only provides the only land link between India and ASEAN region, but also acts as a cultural and civilisational bridge. We share the vision of Adarniya PM Shri Nareendra Modi ji that northeast is the sunrise area of Indian economy," Sarma said in another tweet. --IANS sc/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.) Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on Saturday visited bp's Global Business Services Centre in Pune as he looked to get the first-hand experience of digitisation efforts by the UK oil major. During his visit, Pradhan interacted with leadership and employees at the centre, bp said in a statement. Varsha Singh, Vice-President and Head, Pune centre, said, "It was a privilege to host Minister Pradhan at our Pune centre today. We are delighted that he interacted with our employees and was present with us to see the centre we set up in the middle of the pandemic. "The centre draws upon digital talent and skills which are critical in solving complex business problems for bp globally as it pivots itself from an international oil company to an international energy company." Launched in 2021, the bp-owned and operated centre aims to provide business processing and advanced analytics capabilities in support of bp businesses worldwide and is expected to employ around 2,000 staff. The centre in India seeks to further extend its work with analytics and data science capabilities to pursue better business outcomes. Co-located within bp's major global business services (GBS) operations centre in Pune is also a Digital Hub that aims to create, grow and deliver a range of digital solutions to help transform bp's core operations, extend its customer interfaces and support new and emerging business models. Operational since July 2021, with an initial headcount of up to 100 digital engineering, data, information security and design specialists, its teams have the technical depth and capability to explore, experiment, develop and execute digital solutions. The centre has been conferred with the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Gold certification, reinforcing bp's commitment towards sustainability, right from water and energy conservation to sustainable material and resources used, ensuring an optimal indoor environment quality for its people, the statement said. "Make digitisation simple so that people at the bottom of the pyramid can gain. Energy transition should lead to new pathways of convenience," the statement quoted Pradhan as saying. (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 arrested one Gurupada Maji in connection with its investigation linked to an alleged coal mining scam in West Bengal, stated the ED on Friday. He was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi and has been granted seven days of ED custody. According to ED, Gurupada Maji is one of the partners of Anup Majee, the kingpin of illegal coal mining business activities in . He has also received more than Rs 66 crore from the Proceed of Crime (PoC) generated through illegal coal mining business from Anup Majee alias Lala and his associates, stated the ED release. Further, he had provided Rs 26 Crore (Approx.) in cash to a Kolkata based CA for arranging shell companies for the purpose of taking accommodation entries. In this process, Gurupada Maji had acquired 13 shell companies with the help of the said Kolkata based CA. The net worth of these 13 shell companies is more than Rs 28 crore but he acquired these companies after paying only Rs 88 Lakh on paper to respective shareholders, thereby managing to bring the huge illegally generated cash into the financial system. This is the third arrest in this case. Earlier two accused persons namely Shri Vikas Mishra and Shri Ashok Kumar Mishra (Inspector-in-Charge of Police) were arrested on March 16, 2021 and April 3, 2021 respectively. In this matter one Prosecution Complaint has also been filed on May 13, 2021 against Vikas Mishra and Ashok Kumar Mishra and the Court was pleased to take the cognizance of the said Prosecution Complaint on July 28, 2021. Abhishek Banerjee, TMC MP and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been questioned in this case by the ED even as his wife Rujira was also summoned. This case was initiated by ED on the basis of an FIR dated November 27, 2020 of CBI against Amit Kumar Dhar, the then GM, Kunustoria Area, ECL (Eastern Coalfield Ltd), Jayesh Chandra Rai, General Manager, ECL, Kajora Area, Tanmay Das, Chief of Security, ECL, Asansol, Dhananjay Rai, Area Security Inspector, Kunustoris, ECL, Debashish Mukherjee, Security In-charge, Kajora Area, ECL, Anup Majee alias Lala and unknown officials of ECL, CISF, Railway, other department and unknown private persons. The ED said that the total proceeds of crime in the case stand at Rs 1,352 crore and it has attached assets of Rs 180 crore till now. (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.) Dalit leader on Saturday slammed the Left government in Kerala for sending a delegation of senior officers to study a system aiding good governance introduced by BJP-ruled Gujarat. Mevani, who is in Thrikkakara constituency to campaign for Congress candidate Uma Thomas, said there was some sort of pact between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the in the state. Referring to the 'Gujarat model' of development, the independent MLA from Gujarat said, "It is anti-minority, anti-Dalit. The Gujarat model has no agenda of secularism and social justice. The Gujarat model doesn't have faith in the Indian Constitution." "We are far behind Kerala when it comes to education and public health. Gujarat model has been the model of loot and plunder. It's the model of corporate loot. Our land and resources have been handed over to corporate giants. That's what the Gujarat model is," Mevani alleged. He criticised the visit of Kerala Chief Secretary VP Joy and his staffer to Gujarat in April this year to attend a presentation on the Gujarat Chief Minister's Dashboard system for project implementation in the western state. He noted that there are over a dozen chief ministers but none of them have visited Gujarat or sent a team of top bureaucrats to study the so called Gujarat model. "No chief minister has gone to Gujarat to appreciate or celebrate the Gujarat model the way the LDF is trying. This is a very dangerous sign." Mevani campaigned for Uma Thomas at Thrikkakara constituency and attended a public meeting seeking votes for the Congress candidate. Kerala's CPI(M)-led LDF government had in April sent a two-member high-level official team to Gujarat to study a system aiding good governance introduced by the BJP-ruled state, sparking a row in the southern state. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Friday described as "unacceptable" the comments made by OIC-IPHRC (Independent Permanent Commission) criticising New Delhi for the court ruling against Kashmiri separatist leader . External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the world seeks "zero tolerance" against terrorism and urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) not to justify it in any manner. "India finds unacceptable the comments made by OIC-IPHRC today criticising India for the judgement in the case of Yasin Malik," Bagchi said. "Through these comments, OIC-IPHRC has implicitly expressed support for the terrorist activities of Yasin Malik, which were documented and presented in the court," he said. Bagchi was responding to media queries regarding the comments made by the OIC-IPHRC on the judgement of an NIA court against Malik. "The world seeks zero tolerance of terrorism and we urge OIC not to justify it any manner," the spokesperson said. A special NIA court this week awarded life sentence to Malik in a terror-funding case. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (JNU) on Saturday congratulated its alumna Geetanjali Shree, whose Hindi novel has become the first book in an Indian language to win the prestigious International . The New Delhi-based author won the prestigious award for 'Tomb of Sand', originally titled 'Ret Samadhi'. Set in north India, the story follows an 80-year-old woman in a tale the Booker judges dubbed a "joyous cacophony" and an "irresistible novel". "Many Congratulations to JNU alumna, Geetanjali Shree to be the first hindi author to win International 2022. 'Everything Tells A Story'..." JNU tweeted. At a ceremony in London on Thursday, the writer said she was "completely overwhelmed" with the "bolt from the blue" as she accepted her prize, worth GBP 50,000, which was equally shared with the book's English translator Daisy Rockwell. Originally published in Hindi in 2018, 'Tomb of Sand' is the first of her books to be published in the UK in English by Tilted Axis Press in August 2021. Shree's novel was chosen from a shortlist of six books, the others being: 'Cursed Bunny' by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur from Korean; 'A New Name: Septology VI-VII' by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls from Norwegian; 'Heaven' by Mieko Kawakami, translated by Samuel Bett and David Boyd from Japanese; 'Elena Knows' by Claudia Pieiro, translated by Frances Riddle from Spanish; and 'The Books of Jacob' by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft from Polish. This year, the judges considered 135 books and for the first time in 2022, all shortlisted authors and translators will each receive GBP 2,500, increased from GBP 1,000 in the previous years bringing the total value of the prize to GBP 80,000. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is expecting a Foreign Direct Investment worth Rs 75,000 crores in sectors like biotech and start-ups, the state's Education Minister Dr Ashwath Narayana has said. The minister, who accompanied Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at the World Economic Forum at Davos, said that the Davos meeting was very successful. He said the government was keen on developing other cities like Mysore, Mangalore, Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Shimoga as well. "The state is also developing seven to eight more airports," the minister told PTI after addressing members of the KannadigaruUK at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan here on Friday. in Davos signed two major MOUs worth Rs 52,000 crores, with two major companies -- ReNew Power for Rs 50,000 crores and the Lulu Group International for Rs 2,000 crores. Siemens is taking up two projects in Bengaluru focusing on Magnetic Imaging and Diagnostics and a health-related R&D project. The Government has assured special incentives for the company to set up its production unit for medical equipment. Earlier, addressing the members of the KannadigaruUK, Dr Ashwath Narayana said Karnataka is developing fast and that Bengaluru is emerging as a city of opportunity and a city of future in sectors like space, defence, and IT. "We welcome all as we want to be competitive," he said. Dr Nanda Kumara, Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan here, was also present on the occasion. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Live news updates: cut Ukraines rating by one notch amid a more protracted conflict than originally forecast when invaded the nation in February. Ukraines foreign-currency rating was reduced to CCC+, on par with Argentina and Mozambique, and only five notches above default. It also assigned a negative outlook to the country as risks to the economy, external balances, public finances and financial stability stemming from the war might undermine the governments ability to meet its debt obligations, S&P said in a statement. India on Friday described as "unacceptable" the comments made by OIC-IPHRC (Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission) criticising New Delhi for the court ruling against Kashmiri separatist leader . External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the world seeks "zero tolerance" against terrorism and urged the (OIC) not to justify it in any manner. Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday praised India for extending support amid the continuing economic crisis and expressed a desire to further strengthen ties between the two nations. "I expressed our country's appreciation for the support India has extended during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening ties between our nations," the Sri Lankan PM tweeted. Former President rejected tighter gun control after a Texas school shooter killed 19 children and two teachers, telling a National Rifle Association (NRA) meeting that solutions include mental-health care and training teachers to carry concealed weapons. Over 89,000 commuters have travelled in Delhi's since they were flagged off by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, an official statement said on Friday. The chief Minister had flagged off 150 e-buses on May 24. The government had announced free travel for everyone in the e-buses from May 24 to 26 to promote clean mobility. A total of 89,801 passengers rode on ebuses, out of which 51.73 per cent were men. The bus staff accounted for 7.31 per cent of the figure. On May 25, the next day after the flag off, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot travelled in an electric bus and interacted with the passengers travelling in the bus about this new initiative, the statement said. "I travelled in e-buses and am very happy to see the passengers accept the initiative so will. Talking about the facilities of the bus to the travelling Delhiites, people called the to have the comfort of the metro itself," he said. The minister said "about one lakh people have travelled in for free on three days on 24, 25 and 26 May". "Out of which 40 per cent are women. In which about 12,000 thousand people travelled on the first day on May 24. On May 25, about 28,000 people travelled. Along with this, on May 26, about 52,000 people travelled for free," 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.) Senior BJP leader on Friday said the MVA government and NCP chief misled and cornered Sambhaji Chhatrapati in the run up to the polls for six Rajya Sabha seats from . Sambhaji Chhatrapati, a descendant of Shivaji Maharaj and prominent Maratha leader, who had announced that he would contest the RS polls as an Independent, had, earlier in the day, said he was pulling out after failing to garner support for his re-election bid. "The way MVA treated Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati is highly condemnable. It seems the (state) government deliberately cornered him. When he had approached me and informed that he wished to contest as an Independent, I had made it clear that if he managed to get support across parties, I will speak to our high command (about giving extra party votes to him)," Fadnavis said. Lashing out at the NCP supremo, the former chief minister said, "Pawar was aware this time his party will have to give its extra votes to Shiv Sena for the latter's second seat. Still, he misled Sambhajiraje and ensured there would be more confusion." Despite knowing that the Sena would field two candidates and that the NCP would have to support its MVA ally, Pawar had said if Sambhaji contests as an Independent, then NCP's additional votes would go to him, Fadnavis further alleged. (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 (AAP) on Saturday nominated environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist Vikramjit Singh Sahni as its candidates for Rajya Sabha seats from . Both the Rajya Sabha nominees are Padma Shri awardees. "I am very happy to inform you that the is nominating two Padma Shri awardees as members of the Rajya Sabha... one environmentalist Padma Shri Sant Balbir Singh Seenchewal, the other Padma Shri Vikramjit Singh Sahni is related to Punjabi culture... my best wishes to both," Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in a tweet. The term of Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, Ambika Soni (Congress) and Balwinder Singh Bhunder (Shiromani Akali Dal) will end on July 4. Balbir Singh Seechewal was awarded the Padma Shri for rejuvenating the 160 km-long tributary of the Satluj and Beas rivers, while Vikramjeet Singh Sahni has evacuated over 500 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs and rehabilitated them, besides ensuring free education for their children. (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.) Filmmaker Shaunak Sen's documentary "All That Breathes" has been honoured with the 2022 L'OEil d'Or award. The L'OEil d'Or documentary award, also known as The Golden Eye award, was created in 2015 by French-speaking authors' society LaScam in collaboration with the . "All That Breathes", which recently had its premiere at the Cannes in the Special Screening segment, follows the lives of siblings Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad who, working out of their derelict basement in Wazirabad, a village in Delhi, rescue and treat injured birds, especially the Black Kites. The 90-minute long film was chosen the winner by the jury, comprising Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, Ukrainian writer-director Iryna Tsilyk, French actor Pierre Deladonchamps, journalist Alex Vicente, and Moroccan writer-filmmaker Hicham Falah. "L'OEil d'Or goes to a film that, in a world of destruction, reminds us that every life matters, and every small action matters. You can grab your camera, you can save a bird, you can hunt for some moments of stealing beauty, it matters. "It's an inspirational journey in observation of three Don Quijotes who may not save the whole world but do save their world," the jury said in a note shared on the L'OEil d'Or website. The award includes a cash prize of 5,000 euros. In 2021, filmmaker Payal Kapadia had won the award for her documentary "A Night of Knowing Nothing". The jury's Special Award was given to Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius' final film "Mariupolis 2", an intimate look at the Russia-Ukraine war. Kvedaravicius was allegedly killed by the Russian army while shooting the documentary in April. "Mariupolis 2" also had its premiere at the last week. The 75th edition of the film gala, which kick-started on May 17, concludes on Saturday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A plane, which was heading to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, returned to on Saturday after a crack was observed on the windshield, according to an official statement. "On May 28, Boeing 737 aircraft was scheduled to operate SG-385 (Mumbai-Gorakhpur). During cruise, windshield outer pane was observed to be cracked," the airline's spokesperson said. The pilot-in-command decided to return to Mumbai, the spokesperson said. The air traffic controller was apprised and the aircraft landed safely at the airport, the spokesperson added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consumer companies are looking at inorganic ways to grow their business and also enter new categories, driving up the number of deals in the sector. Geetanjali Shree, the 65-year-old author from New Delhi, made literary history when her Hindi novel, Ret Samadhi won the International 2022. Read more on these in our top headlines. Consumer sector deals rise in January-March quarter amid consolidation Consumer companies are looking at inorganic ways to grow their business and also enter new categories, driving up the number of deals in the sector. The number of deals in this space jumped to 74 in the January-March quarter of 2022 from 45 in the corresponding period last year. Also, the value of deals increased to $1.4 billion compared to $566 million in the year-ago quarter, according to data. Read more markets still on the edge a fortnight after govt's export ban On May 13, the government announced a ban on exports, effective immediately, citing a sudden surge in global prices and the resulting food security risks to India. While some ships have been able to move in recent days, not all of them have got full clearance. Companies which were waiting to export in bulk are invoking force majeure clauses to ward off arbitration proceedings from buyers abroad. Read more Meet Geetanjali Shree, first Booker awardee for an Indian language Geetanjali Shree, the 65-year-old author from New Delhi, made literary history when her Hindi novel, Ret Samadhi translated into English by Vermont-based Daisy Rockwell (53) as Tomb of Sand won the 2022 International for Translated Fiction. Set in North India, this is the first novel originally written in any Indian language to receive the prestigious honour. Read more to invest Rs 1200-1,500 cr in e-two-wheelers in two years Undeterred by the fire incidents involving its scooters, is charging ahead with an aggressive investment plan. It seeks to make the most of the burgeoning demand for electric two-wheelers in India. Jeetender Sharma, founder and managing director, Okinawa Autotech, said his company will invest Rs 1,200 crore-Rs 1,500 crore over the next two years. Read more searches 16 'suspected entities' in Axis MF front-running case The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has conducted searches at multiple premises associated with 16 suspected entities, in connection with an ongoing probe in the front-running case at . The search operations were carried out this week, covering over 30 locations in multiple cities, said a regulatory official. Read more India is expected to face a wider coal shortage during the quarter ending September over expectations of higher power demand, an internal power ministry presentation seen by Reuters showed, worsening risks of widespread power outages. The energy-hungry nation expects local coal supply to fall 42.5 million tonnes short of demand in the September quarter, 15% higher than previously projected, due to higher growth in power demand and lower output from some mines. The grim forecast shows the extent of the fuel shortage in India, at a time when annual power demand is seen growing at the fastest rate in at least 38 years and global coal prices are trading at near-record levels due to a supply crunch resulting from the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India has stepped up pressure on utilities to increase imports in recent days, warning of cuts to supply of domestically mined coal if power plants do not build up coal inventories through imports. However, one of the slides in the presentation showed that most states had yet to award contracts to import coal and that Indian utilities would run out of coal by July if no coal was imported. Only one state had awarded a contract to import coal as of end-April, a power ministry import status report reviewed by Reuters showed. India expects domestic coal supply of 154.7 million tonnes, 42.5 million tonnes short of the projected requirement of 197.3 million tonnes in the September quarter, the presentation showed. It previously expected a shortage of 37 million tonnes. The presentation was made on Friday in a virtual meeting in which the federal coal and power ministers were present, with top energy officials from the federal government and the states in attendance, according to two government officials familiar with the matter. The federal coal and power ministries did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. Details on the presentation have not been previously reported. Coal inventories at power plants have declined by about 13% since April, which translates to eight days of coal requirement, the lowest level at this time of the year in at least nine years. The higher coal demand could also stifle efforts to build power plant inventories. India now expects the demand for coal from utilities to be 784.6 million tonnes for the year ending March 2023, the presentation showed, 3.3% higher than projected earlier. The projected annual coal shortage is now 49.3 million tonnes, nearly three times the 17.7 million tonnes projected earlier, the presentation showed. India reconciled its coal demand projections after higher-than-expected power demand growth in April, when electricity use hit a record high due to soaring temperatures. Many states on Friday called for the federal government-run Coal India to import coal in bulk and distribute it among the states, the officials said. States cited high global prices and supply challenges to seek aggregated imports, the officials said, adding that the coal minister had told states the demand would be considered. Higher imports could put further pressure on state-government-owned power distribution companies, which are already saddled with debt and owe billions of dollars to generators as they have historically absorbed higher input costs to keep tariffs steady. Coal India did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The world's largest miner has not imported coal in the recent years. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Leslie Adler) (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.) 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 suspects in the shootings at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school and a Buffalo, New York, supermarket were both just 18, authorities say, when they bought the weapons used in the attacks too young to legally purchase alcohol or cigarettes, but old enough to arm themselves with assault weapons. The Buffalo suspect was taken to a hospital last year for a mental health evaluation, but the incident didn't trigger New York's red flag law and he was still able to purchase a gun. The Texas suspect's mother told ABC he gave her an uneasy feeling" at times and could be aggressive ... If he really got mad." But authorities say he had no known criminal or mental health history. The state has no such red flag law. They are just the latest suspected US mass shooters whose ability to obtain guns has raised concerns. In some cases shooters got guns legally under current firearms laws, or because of background check lapses or law enforcement's failure to heed warnings of concerning behavior. After the shootings, which together left 31 people dead, President Joe Biden renewed calls for stronger gun laws and questioned whether people as young as 18 should be allowed to purchase firearms. In the past, Biden has called for banning assault weapons and expanding background checks. Many Republicans oppose the measures. A look at how suspects in recent mass shootings obtained guns, based on police accounts, court documents and contemporaneous reporting: UVALDE, TEXAS: MAY 24, 2022. 21 DEAD. Salvador Ramos legally purchased two guns in the days before the attack that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School an AR-style rifle from a federally licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17 and a second rifle on May 20. Ramos made the purchases just days after turning 18, the minimum age under federal law for buying a rifle. He also purchased several hundred rounds of ammunition. At least one of the rifles was a DDM4, made by Daniel Defense and modeled after the U.S. military's M4 carbine rifle, though without the M4's ability to switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst. The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong, Biden said hours after the shooting Tuesday. What in God's name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone? Ramos was killed at the school by a Border Patrol team. ___ BUFFALO, NEW YORK: MAY 14, 2022. 10 DEAD. Payton Gendron legally purchased the Bushmaster XM-15 E2S used in the attack on Tops Friendly Market from a federally licensed gun dealer near his home in Conklin, New York, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Buffalo. In a personal, online diary that surfaced after the attack, Gendron said he bought the AR-15-style weapon in January, bought a shotgun in December and received a rifle as a Christmas present from his dad when he was 16. Last year, Gendron was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation under a state mental health law after writing murder-suicide in response to a teacher's question. New York is one of 19 states with red flag laws that allow courts to take guns from people posing immediate danger, but that didn't happen with Gendron, who was 17 at the time. State police described his threat as general in nature and said it didn't specifically mention shooting or firearms. After the shooting, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order underscoring the need for red flag interventions and said she would seek to bar people under 21 from buying some semi-automatic weapons in the state. A similar law in California was ruled unconstitutional. Gendron is charged with murder. ___ BOULDER, COLORADO: MARCH 22, 2021. 10 DEAD. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol, a semi-automatic weapon with a capacity of up to 30 rounds, six days before the shooting at King Soopers grocery store, police said. Alissa was prone to sudden rage and was convicted of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to probation for attacking a high school classmate. Colorado has a universal background check law covering almost all gun sales, but that misdemeanor would not have prevented him from buying a weapon, experts said. Had it been a felony, federal law would've barred his purchase. Days before the shooting, a judge struck down city ordinances banning assault rifles and high-capacity magazines in Boulder, citing a state law prohibiting local gun bans. The NRA backed the lawsuit challenging the ordinances. A judge ruled last month that Alissa is mentally incompetent to stand trial. ___ SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: MAY 26, 2021. 9 DEAD. Samuel James Cassidy legally purchased the three 9 mm handguns he used to kill co-workers and then himself at a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority rail yard. He also stockpiled a dozen guns and 25,000 rounds of ammunition at his home, which he set ablaze before the shooting, and had high-capacity magazines that may have been illegal under California law, depending on when they were purchased. Santa Clara's district attorney said authorities would've sought to take Cassidy's weapons away under the state's red flag law had U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed them of a Significant Encounter with Cassidy upon his return to California from a trip to the Philippines in 2016. Customs agents said in a report that Cassidy harbored dark thoughts about harming two specific people and had a memo book in which he expressed his hatred of the transit agency. - ATLANTA: MARCH 16, 2021. 8 DEAD. Robert Aaron Long purchased a 9 mm handgun just hours before going on a shooting rampage at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area, police said. A lawyer for the gun shop said it complies with federal background check laws. Georgia, like the majority of states, has no waiting period to obtain a gun. Long claimed to have a sex addiction, police said, and he spent time at an addiction recovery facility last year. Federal law bans guns for people who are unlawful users of or addicted to a controlled substance or who've been court-ordered to a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility, but doesn't mention treatment for other compulsions as a barrier to ownership. Long is serving a sentence life without parole. ___ MIDLAND, TEXAS, AUG. 31, 2019. 7 DEAD. Seth Aaron Ator purchased an AR-style rifle through a private sale, allowing him to evade a federal background check, and fired it indiscriminately from his car into passing vehicles and shopping plazas. He also hijacked a mail truck, killing the driver. Ator had been blocked from getting a gun in 2014 after his background check was flagged because a court determined he was mentally ill, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. Private sales, which account for up to 40% of all gun sales according to some estimates, are not subject to a federal background check and private sellers aren't required to determine if a buyer is eligible to own a gun. Ator was killed by police. ___ DAYTON, OHIO: AUG. 4, 2019. 9 DEAD. Connor Betts' classmates said he was suspended in high school for compiling a hit list and a rape list, but authorities said nothing in his background prevented him from purchasing the AR-15-style pistol used in the shooting at Ned Peppers Bar. Ohio law requires that sealed records of any juvenile crimes be expunged either after five years or once the offender turns 23. Betts, who was 24 at the time of the shooting, bought the gun online from a Texas dealer. It was then shipped to a Dayton-area firearms dealer, in accordance with federal law. Betts was killed by police. ___ EL PASO, TEXAS, AUG. 3, 2019. 23 DEAD. Patrick Crusius bought an AK-47-style rifle and 1,000 rounds of hollow-point ammunition online 45 days before he walked into a Walmart store and opened fire, killing 23 people and injuring two dozen others, before confessing that he had been targeting Mexicans, according to prosecutors. A Crusius family lawyer said his mother raised concerns about the purchase in a call to police on June 27. Police said she asked if Crusius, who was 21 at the time, was old enough to buy a gun. Police said she was assured he was and that he'd qualify if he passed a background check. Police said she expressed concern only about his safety and said she'd seen no recent change in his behavior. Crusius posted a racist screed online just before the attack and appeared to target Mexicans. He's charged with capital murder in Texas and federal hate crimes and firearms offenses. ___ VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA: MAY 31, 2019. 12 DEAD. Former Virginia Beach city employee DeWayne Craddock legally purchased six firearms in the three years before he opened fire on a municipal building, including the two .45-caliber pistols used in the attack. An independent review of the shooting, commissioned by the City of Virginia Beach, found that Craddock displayed no warning signs or prohibited behaviors associated with a pathway to violence, and that he had no known history of mental health treatment. Craddock was killed by police. THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA: NOV. 7, 2018. 12 DEAD. Ian David Long, a former Marine machine gunner who served in Afghanistan, used a legally purchased .45-caliber pistol with an extended magazine in the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill. California tried to outlaw high-capacity magazines, but a federal judge reversed that after a pro-gun group sued. Months before the shooting, sheriff's deputies called to Long's home found him acting irrationally, but a mental health specialist didn't feel he needed to be involuntarily committed. California has a red flag law, but there's no indication authorities sought a court order to take away Long's guns. Long killed himself. ___ PITTSBURGH: OCT. 27, 2018. 11 DEAD. Robert Gregory Bowers had a carry license and legally owned the Colt AR-15 SP1 and three Glock .357 handguns police said he used to kill worshipers at Tree of Life synagogue. Bowers spent months posting rants against Jews on Gab, a social media site favored by right-wing extremists. He also posted photos of his "glock family. Just before the attack, he posted a screed against a Jewish organization that resettles refugees, saying: I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in. None of the rhetoric appeared to raise red flags. His case is pending. SANTA FE, TEXAS: MAY. 18, 2018. 10 DEAD. Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old student, used a shotgun and a .38-caliber handgun that his father purchased legally and stored in a closet at their home, authorities said. It wasn't clear if his father knew he'd taken the guns. Prior to the attack, Pagourtzis posted a photo on social media of a T-shirt with the phrase Born to Kill and had writings indicating he planned to attack his high school. A judge sent him to a mental health facility after ruling he was incompetent to stand trial. ___ PARKLAND, FLORIDA: FEB. 14, 2018. 17 DEAD. Nikolas Cruz legally purchased a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 rifle in February 2017 from a licensed dealer a few miles from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, authorities said. He'd been treated at a mental health clinic but hadn't been there in more than a year. Federal law prohibits gun purchases if a court declares a person a mental defective or commits that person to an institution, but not if the person seeks treatment voluntarily. Cruz was 19 at the time of the shooting. He pleaded guilty in October and is scheduled to be sentenced next month. SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS: NOV. 5, 2017. 25 DEAD. Devin Patrick Kelley's history of domestic abuse barred him from buying guns. He was able to because information about his crimes was never entered into a federal database used for background checks. The Air Force failed to follow rules requiring that it inform the FBI about his conduct. Kelley purchased four guns, including an AR-15-style rifle found at First Baptist Church, from licensed Texas and Colorado dealers over a four-year span. Kelley killed himself. LAS VEGAS: OCT. 1, 2017. 58 DEAD. Stephen Paddock purchased 33 of the 49 weapons found in his hotel room and at his homes in the year before he opened fire on a country music festival. Paddock passed all background checks. His gradual accumulation of guns went undetected because federal law doesn't require licensed gun dealers to alert the government about rifle purchases. Paddock killed himself. ORLANDO, FLORIDA: JUNE 12, 2016. 49 DEAD. Omar Mateen purchased an AR-15-style rifle, a Sig Sauer MCX, and a handgun from a licensed dealer on separate days about a week before the Pulse nightclub attack. He passed a background check and had a security license that allowed him to be armed while on duty. The FBI investigated Mateen in 2013 and 2014 over co-workers' concerns that he'd spoken about ties to terrorist groups. Neither inquiry led to charges. Even if he'd been placed on a terrorism watch list, Congress in 2015 rejected attempts to prevent people on the list from purchasing guns. Mateen was killed by police. ___ SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA: DEC. 2, 2015. 14 DEAD. Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, used weapons the FBI said his neighbor, Enrique Marquez, legally purchased from a licensed dealer in 2011 and 2012. Marquez pleaded guilty to charges he conspired to provide support to terrorists and made false statements to acquire a firearm. He told investigators Farook asked him to buy the weapons because he would draw less attention. Farook and Malik were killed by police. ___ ROSEBURG, OREGON: OCT. 1, 2015. 10 DEAD. Christopher Harper-Mercer and his family members legally purchased the handguns and rifle used in the Umpqua Community College shooting from a licensed dealer. Investigators found six guns at the college and eight at an apartment. Neighbors said Harper-Mercer and his mother went target shooting together. Harper-Mercer killed himself after he was wounded by police. ___ CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: JUNE 17, 2015. 9 DEAD. A drug arrest should've prevented Dylann Roof from purchasing the pistol he used at Emanuel AME Church, but a record-keeping error and background check delay enabled the transaction to go through. The FBI said a background check examiner never saw the arrest report because the wrong arresting agency was listed in state criminal history records. After three days, the gun dealer was legally permitted to complete the transaction. He was convicted and is on federal death row. ___ WASHINGTON: SEPT. 16, 2013. 12 DEAD. Aaron Alexis, a former reservist turned civilian contractor, passed background checks and legally purchased the shotgun used in the Washington Navy Yard shooting despite recent mental health treatment and a history of violent outbursts. He previously fired a gun in anger twice but wasn't prosecuted in either case. Alexis was killed by police. ___ NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT: DEC. 14, 2012. 26 DEAD. Adam Lanza used his mother's weapons, including a .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle, in the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Lanza's mother, whom he fatally shot before going to the school, also purchased the ammunition. Lanza killed himself. AURORA, COLORADO: JULY 20, 2012. 12 DEAD. James Holmes was receiving psychiatric treatment when he passed required federal background checks and legally purchased the weapons he used in his movie theater assault. As in the Parkland and Navy Yard cases, treatment alone did not prevent him from buying guns. He was convicted and sentenced to 12 life terms and thousands of years in prison. (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.) Three people were shot and wounded on Friday in a suburb west of Chicago, authorities said. The Chicago Police Department said a man was sitting in a parked car with a woman standing by his driver side window when both were struck with gunfire at about 10.15 p.m. in South Austin, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The man, 34, was shot twice in the neck and taken to the hospital in critical condition, and the woman, 31, was shot in the elbow and in good condition, police said. A third person, a 32-year-old man, was driving down the street when the shooting occurred and was also struck by gunfire, police said. He was also taken to the hospital and is in good condition. No additional details about the shooting were immediately made available. No one was in custody. (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.) China's foreign minister signed a deal with Samoa on Saturday to strengthen diplomatic relations, while Australia's new leader said he had a "comprehensive plan" for the Pacific, as Beijing and Canberra continued rival campaigns to woo the region. is building on a security pact it recently signed with Solomon Islands, which has alarmed the and its allies such as as they fear a stepped-up military presence by Beijing. Australia's new centre-left government has made the Pacific Islands an early diplomatic priority. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, sworn in on Monday, said on Saturday his Labor government's plan includes a defence training school, support for maritime security, a boost in aid and re-engaging the region on climate change. "We will be proactive in the region, we want to engage," he told reporters. China's Wang Yi, on a tour of the Pacific seeking a 10-nation deal on security and trade, finished a visit to Samoa, where he met Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and signed documents including an "economic and technical cooperation agreement", Samoa said in a statement. "Samoa and the People's Republic of will continue to pursue greater collaboration that will deliver on joint interests and commitments," it said. Also Saturday, Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said he had a "wonderful meeting" with Australia's Penny Wong, who had visited days after taking office to show the new government's attention to the Pacific Islands. "Fiji is not anyone's backyard - we are a part of a Pacific family," Bainimarama wrote on Twitter, posting a picture of himself and Penny Wong shaking hands. Bainimarama appeared to be taking a veiled swipe at Scott Morrison, the conservative prime minister ousted in an election last weekend, who once referred to the Pacific as Australia's "backyard". Climate change, which Pacific Island nations consider an existential threat, had been a key issue in the election. Australia's Wong has said that Canberra will be a partner that does not come with strings attached, while China's Wang expressed hope that Beijing's ties with the could be a regional model. Wang was headed to Fiji, where he is expected to push for the regional deal in a meeting he is to host on Monday. (Reporting by Samuel McKeith in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former President rejected tighter gun control after a Texas school shooter killed 19 children and two teachers, telling a National Rifle Association meeting that solutions include mental-health care and training teachers to carry concealed weapons. The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens who know how to use their weapon, Trump said in a speech in Houston. The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens. He also took swipes at Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a fellow Republican, for dropping out of the NRA convention and Democratic mayors whose cities are suffering from gun crime. Trumps stance meshed with the defiant mood of the meeting, held days after the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that has renewed anger and political recriminations over Washingtons paralysis on gun control. Several hundred protesters rallied outside the meeting venue earlier Friday. While President Joe Biden suggested after Tuesdays shooting that Americans should stand up to the gun lobby, Trump said hed keep his commitment to the NRA, one of his major supporters. The group was the largest outside financial backer of his 2016 campaign, spending $31 million to help elect him, and it spent $16.6 million on his re-election campaign in 2020, according to OpenSecrets. Measures suggested by Trump included early vigilance over young peoples mental health, dealing with broken families, single points of entry at schools and to let trained teachers conceal carry. Our schools should be the single hardest target in our country, Trump said. But one of the biggest cheers came when he said that if the US spends some $40 billion to arm Ukraine, it should also do whatever it takes to keep American children safe. Convention speakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, and NRA head Wayne LaPierre, cast the Uvalde shooting as the act of an individual monster. Gun-control laws across the US havent stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts, Abbott said in a video message. That didnt prevent Trump from taking a dig at Abbott for canceling his in-person appearance to give a news conference in Uvalde, where he voiced anger about the bungled police response at Uvalde. Unlike some I didnt disappoint you by not showing up, Trump said. Earlier in the day, a festive mood reigned on the exhibit floor where NRA members browsed among vendors hawking everything from silencers and high-capacity rifle magazines to switchblades and do-it-yourself gun kits. Even so, firearms, accessories and knives werent permitted in the hall because the US Secret Service was handling the event with Trump speaking. Trump spoke at the last NRA convention in 2019, held before a two-year break in meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hes a vocal supporter of gun rights and often mentions in his endorsements of candidates that they back the US constitutions Second Amendment right to bear arms. After two mass shootings left more than 30 people dead in 2019, Trump said he wants meaningful background checks. But he also said hed ensure the NRAs views are fully represented and respected. No legislation was enacted. The former president has been endorsing candidates running in this years midterm elections and has teased plans to run for president again in 2024 -- and he did so again Friday in Houston. He hasnt made a formal announcement, citing campaign finance restrictions once he does. Biden to Visit President Joe Biden plans to visit Uvalde on Sunday to meet with grieving families and community members. Earlier this week, he decried the deaths as senseless and demanded lawmakers confront what he called powerful lobbies that have thwarted gun-control legislation for decades. 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, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday. There have been 214 mass shootings in 2022 alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun violence incidents and defines a mass shooting as an event in which at least four people are killed or injured with a firearm. To a threatening soundtrack of air raid sirens and booming artillery, civilians are fleeing towns and cities in eastern Ukraine as Russian forces advance. Negotiating narrow apartment building staircases, volunteers carry the elderly and infirm in their arms, in stretchers or in wheelchairs to waiting minibuses, which then drive them to central staging areas and eventually to evacuation trains in other cities. The Russians are right over there, and they're closing in on this location, Mark Poppert, an American volunteer working with British charity RefugEase, said during an evacuation in the town of Bakhmut on Friday. Bakhmut is a high-risk area right now, he said. We're trying to get as many people out as we can in case the Ukrainians have to fall back. He and other Ukrainian and foreign volunteers working with the Ukrainian charity Vostok SOS, which was coordinating the evacuation effort, were hoping to get about 100 people out of Bakhmut on Friday, Poppert said. A few hours earlier, the thud of artillery sounded and black smoke rose from the northern fringes of the town, which is in the Donetsk region in Ukraine's industrial east. Donetsk and the neighbouring region of Luhansk makes up the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have controlled some territory for eight years. The evacuation process is painstaking, physically arduous and fraught with emotion. Many of the evacuees are elderly, ill or have serious mobility problems, meaning volunteers have to bundle them into soft stretchers and slowly negotiate their way through narrow corridors and down flights of stairs in apartment buildings. Most people have already fled Bakhmut: only around 30,000 remain from a pre-war population of 85,000. And more are leaving each day. Fighting has raged north of Bakhmut as Russian forces intensify their efforts to seize the key eastern cities of Sieverodonetsk and Lysychansk, 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the northeast. The two cities are the last areas under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region. Northwest of Bakhmut in Donetsk, Russia-backed rebels said Friday they had taken over the town of Lyman, a large railway hub near the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, both which are still under Ukrainian control. On Thursday, smoke rising from the direction of Lyman could be seen clearly from Slovyansk. But even when faced with shelling, missiles and an advancing Russian army, leaving isn't easy. Svetlana Lvova, the 66-year-old manager for two apartment buildings in Bakhmut, huffed and rolled her eyes in exasperation upon hearing that yet another one of her residents was refusing to leave. I can't convince them to go, she said. I told them several times if something lands here, I will be carrying them injured to the same buses that have come to evacuate them now. She's tried to persuade the holdouts every way she can, she says, but nearly two dozen people just won't budge. They're more afraid to leave their homes and belongings for an uncertain future than to stay and face the bombs. She herself will stay in Bakhmut with her husband, she said. But not because they fear leaving their property. They are waiting for their son, who is still in Sieverodonetsk, to come home. I'm not going anywhere, she said. I have to know he is alive. That's why I'm staying here. Lvova plays the last video her son sent her, where he tells his mother that he is fine, and that they still have electricity in the city but no longer running water. I baked him a big cake, she said, wiping away tears. Poppert, the American volunteer, said it was not unusual to receive a request to pick people up for evacuation, only for them to change their minds once the van arrives. It's an incredibly difficult decision for these people to leave the only world that they know, he said. He described one man in his late 90s evacuated from the only home he had ever known. We were taking this man out of his world, Poppert said. He was terrified of the bombs and the missiles, and he was terrified to leave. In nearby Pokrovsk, ambulances pulled up to offload elderly women in stretchers and wheelchairs for the evacuation train heading west, away from the fighting. Families clustered around, dragging suitcases and carrying pets as they boarded the train. The train slowly pulled out of the station, and a woman drew back the curtain in one of the train carriages. As the familiar landscape slipped away, her face crumpled in grief and the tears began to flow. (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 former chief justice of the Supreme Court, a retired army general and a leading businessman persuaded ousted prime minister to not go ahead with the planned sit-in at the end of his party's long march in Islamabad, a media report said on Saturday. Khan launched his Azadi March' on March 25 to press for fresh elections in the country with the announcement to stage a sit-in in Islamabad but later called it off, saying the government would be happy if he goes ahead with it as it would lead to clashes between the people, police and the army. "I had decided that I will sit here until the government dissolves assemblies and announces elections, but of what I have seen in the past 24 hours, they (govt) are taking the nation towards anarchy," he told his thousands of supporters at the Azadi March' at Jinnah Avenue on Thursday morning. The surprise decision by Khan not to go ahead with the sit-in at the end of the long march left almost everyone baffled foes and allies alike. According to the Dawn newspaper report, there is convergence on one thing the manner in which it all ended, at least for now, carried clear indications of who made it happen. The report quoting a source said that those who acted as a go-between included a former chief justice, a leading businessman, and a retired general. It was not an easy task given Imran Khan's obstinacy and the fact that he had invested a lot of effort into it, the source privy to the negotiations said. Though the source did not share the chronology of the negotiations, it appeared from the discussion that they continued late into Wednesday night and probably into the early hours of Thursday, the report said. Khan agreed to go back, without staging the planned sit-in, on the assurance that the date for the dissolution of the assemblies and fresh general elections would be announced in June. Ousted prime minister Khan on Thursday gave a six-day deadline to the Shehbaz Sharif government for dissolving provincial assemblies and announcing fresh general elections, warning that if the "imported government" failed to do so, he would return to the capital with the "entire nation". "My message for the imported government is to dissolve assemblies and announce elections, otherwise, I will come back again to Islamabad after six days, he said on Thursday. According to the Dawn newspaper report, the general perception is that the military had to ultimately play its role to prevent things from getting out of control. Former National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi candidly admits that he too agrees with this. There is a strong possibility of positive interference by the military to prevent chaos and seek a return of semblance of political stability so that the process for resuscitating the economy could begin, Lodhi said. Another retired general, on the condition of anonymity, said there was a realisation in the top brass that no one at the helm of affairs would be able to escape responsibility if matters were to go in a wrong direction. The biggest challenge for the military, a source claimed, was to open up communication channels with Khan, especially in view of their frayed relations. But, as the former prime minister proceeded with the long march plans, a sense of urgency was felt everywhere and multiple channels were employed to bring him around. Fissures between the former government and the military began late last year after the establishment decided to end all support that it had been extending to the Khan-led PTI government. The then opposition would point fingers at selectors' a euphemism used by them to blame the military for helping PTI form the government. It was decided that the military would not play a role in the political affairs, a source said. This withdrawal of support was, however, misconstrued by Khan as the military siding with his opponents. That's how neutrals began to feature in the former prime minister's political statements. His view was that he was righteous and the rest were evil and hence the military should continue supporting him, the report said. Lt Gen Faiz Hamid's transfer and the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as the ISI chief which many believe caused the eventual breakup was actually a consequence of the military's decision to distance itself from political affairs, said a political source, who had watched the episode from close quarters. Khan, who was ousted from power last month through a no-trust vote, had apparently lost the support of the Army after he refused to endorse the appointment of the ISI spy agency chief last year. He has been claiming that the no-trust motion against him was the result of a foreign conspiracy because his independent foreign policy and funds were being channelled from abroad to oust him from power. He has named the US as the country behind the conspiracy, a charge denied by Washington. (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.) Pakistani film "Joyland", written and directed by debutant Saim Sadiq, won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 75th Film Festival on Friday, becoming the first-ever film from the subcontinent to bag the award. "Joyland", a drama about a Lahore family in the firm grip of deep-rooted patriarchy, was pipped to the section's top award, the Un Certain Regard Prize, by the French film "Les Pires" (The Worst Ones), helmed by the Paris-based directing duo of Lisa Akoka and Romane Gueret. "Les Pires" is the second female-helmed film in two years to win the coveted award. Last year, the Un Certain Regard prize was won by Kira Kivalenko's "Unclenching the Fists". The award for "Joyland" represents a global breakthrough of immeasurable proportions for the relatively small Pakistani movie industry. Incidentally, "Joyland" also won the Prix Queer Palm, awarded by Jury chaired by filmmaker Catherine Corsini on Friday. One of the central characters in the film is a transwoman played by a real-life transwoman Alina Khan The Un Certain Regard Best Director Award went to the Romanian director Alexandre Belc for "Metronom", while the Best Screenplay Prize was bagged by the Israeli-Palestinian director Maha Haj for "Mediterranean Fever". Luxembourg actress Vicky Krieps, for her performance in Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreutzer's "Corsage", shared the best acting award with French actor Adam Bessa's turn in Nathan Lotfy's "Harka". The Un Certain Regard jury was chaired by Italian producer-director-actress Valeria Golino. (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 Marcy de Luna HOUSTON (Reuters) - prices rose on Friday, closing out the week with gains ahead of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, the start of peak U.S. demand season, and as European nations negotiate over whether to impose an outright ban on Russian crude . Brent crude rose $2.03, or 1.7%, to settle at $119.43. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 98 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $115.07 a barrel. For the week, Brent rose 6% while WTI gained 1.5%. Prices drew support from strong worldwide demand for fuel, with both gasoline and heating futures outpacing crude this year. "Demand is strong with products leading the way, especially gasoline which dragged crude oil up with it," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC. "The U.S. driving season and strong travel demand should help (prices). With supply growth lagging demand growth, the oil market is likely to stay undersupplied. Hence, we remain positive in our outlook for crude prices," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. countries are negotiating a deal on Russian oil sanctions that would embargo shipment deliveries but delay sanctions on oil delivered by pipeline to win over Hungary and other landlocked member states, officials said. Hungary's resistance to oil sanctions and reluctance of other countries have held up implementation of a sixth package of sanctions by the 27-member EU against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. EU government envoys could reach an agreement in Brussels on Sunday in time for leaders to endorse it at their May 30-31 summit, officials said. Iranian forces seized two Greek oil tankers on Friday in the Persian Gulf, which has also made investors wary of being short going into the weekend, said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group. "We are seeing assumptions that the demand for oil and gas may be stronger as the stock market suggests that fears of a recession may be being overplayed," Flynn said. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer that Moscow would meet its natural gas delivery commitments. (Reporting by Marcy de Luna in Houston, additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London, Stephanie Kelly in New York; Editing by Diane Craft, Kirsten Donovan 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.) Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khans surprise decision about not going ahead with the sit-in at the end of the long march left almost everyone baffled, foes and allies alike, but there is convergence on one thing, the manner in which it all ended, at least for now, carried clear indications of who made it happen, a media report said. The general perception, though most shy away from saying that openly, is that the military had to ultimately play its role to prevent things from getting out of control, the Dawn news report said. Former National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi candidly admits that he too agrees with this. "There is a strong possibility of positive interference by the military to prevent chaos and seek a return of semblance of political stability so that the process for resuscitating the economy could begin." Another retired general, on the condition of anonymity, said there was a realisation in the top brass that no one at the helm of affairs would be able to escape responsibility if matters were to go in a wrong direction, Dawn reported. The biggest challenge for the military, a source claimed, was to open up communication channels with Khan, especially in view of their frayed relations. But, as the former Prime Minister proceeded with the long march plans, a sense of urgency was felt everywhere and multiple channels were employed to bring him around, Dawn news reported. The source said those who acted as a go-between included a former chief justice, a leading businessman, and a retired general. "It was not an easy task given Imran Khan's obstinacy and the fact that he had invested a lot of effort into it," the source privy to the negotiations said. Though the source did not share the chronology of the negotiations, it appeared from the discussion that they continued late into Wednesday night and probably into the early hours of Thursday. --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.) Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced a new relief package worth 28 billion PKR ($140 million) per month to mitigate the impact of the increase in the prices of petroleum products on the lower-income people of the country. In a televised address to the nation, Sharif said the relief package will provide around 14 million deserving families with immediate assistance of 2,000 PKR each on monthly basis, reports Xinhua news agency. The package will provide financial assistance to almost 85 million people which is nearly one-third of the total population of Pakistan, he said. This relief is in addition to the support already being provided to the under-privileged faction through the framework of Benazir Income Support Program, according to Sharif. The Prime Minister said that this relief package will be included in the next financial budget. Sharif said that Utility Stores Corporation throughout the country has been ordered to provide 10 kilograms of flour bags at a subsidized rate of 400 PKR. The premier also announced to initiate a consultative process to take all the political parties on board in order to ensure smooth implementation of the economic policies. --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.) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that the primary goal of educational reforms should be to create good citizens, who would be able to contribute to the economy of the island country. The President made these remarks while speaking on prioritizing the educational sector in Sri Lanka, reported Colombo Page. In-depth discussions regarding the National Reform Process were held during the meeting where Sri Lankan Minister, Susil Premajayantha expressed his views that a new reform policy is expected to be implemented whose objective would be of directing a child leaving school to join the future without wasting time. Further, the Director-General of the National Institute spoke that the implementation of the educational reform will provide an opportunity for the students to showcase their talents and potential. They will not be restricted to the constraints of receiving education from only the contents of a book. President Gotabaya also highlighted the need to develop a curriculum that would enable the students to study IT subjects, regardless of the subject they have chosen, reported Colombo Page. Issues pertaining to school development, and teacher training were also addressed in the meeting. Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Ministry of Education M.N. Ranasinghe, and Chief of Staff Anura Dissanayake attended the meetings well. Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke on a complete regime change through a new approach to education. He added that youngsters in the country should have full financial support for their educational ventures. Accompanied by the systematic change, the political sphere must witness changes as well Meanwhile, is facing its worst since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices, and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests leading to the resignation of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President told the leaders of France and Germany in a phone call on Saturday that was willing to discuss ways to make it possible for to resume shipments of grain from Black Sea ports, the Kremlin said. and account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while is also a key global fertilizer exporter and is a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil. "For its part, Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports," the Kremlin said. It said he also informed French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia was ready to increase its export of fertilizers and agricultural products if sanctions against it were lifted - a demand he has raised in conversations with the Italian and Austrian leaders in recent days. Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of weaponising the food crisis created by its invasion of Ukraine, which has sent the prices of grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer soaring. Russia has blamed the situation on Western sanctions against it, and on the mining of Ukrainian ports. The Kremlin said Putin also said Russia was willing to resume talks with Ukraine. "Special attention was paid to the status of the negotiations that are frozen because of Kyiv. President confirmed the Russian side's openness to resume dialogue," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global Ratings cut Ukraines rating by one notch amid a more protracted conflict than originally forecast when Russia invaded the nation in February. Ukraines foreign-currency rating was reduced to CCC+, on par with Argentina and Mozambique, and only five notches above default. It also assigned a negative outlook to the country as risks to the economy, external balances, public finances and financial stability stemming from the war might undermine the governments ability to meet its debt obligations, said in a statement. The governments capacity to meet its foreign-currency commercial debt payments is contingent on the flow of donor support, according to the statement published Friday. Moodys Investors Service cut Ukraines credit rating a week ago to the third-lowest level, also citing risks around the nations debt sustainability amid a more drawn out conflict than expected. People can read the headlines. People know the cost of the war, said Hans Humes, the founding partner of New York-based hedge fund Greylock Capital Management in an interview on Bloomberg TV. Anybody who wants to invest is looking for months and possibly a couple of years through a process of rebuilding. A ship has entered the Ukrainian port of Mariupol for the first time since completed its capture of the city to load metal and ship it east to Russia, TASS news agency reported on Saturday, in a move that Kyiv decried as looting. A spokesperson for the port told TASS that the vessel would be loading 2,700 tonnes of metal before travelling 160 km (100 miles) east to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Monday. The spokesperson did not say where the metal being shipped had been produced. Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova said the shipment amounted to looting by . "Looting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine continues," she wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Following the theft of Ukrainian grain, the occupiers resorted to exporting metal products from Mariupol." Ukraine's largest steelmaker Metinvest on Friday said it was concerned that may use several ships stranded in Mariupol to "steal and smuggle metallurgical products" belonging to the group. It accused Russia of piracy. Asked on Saturday whether the metal due to be shipped out belonged to Metinvest, a company spokesman said: "We said yesterday that our metal is in the port of Mariupol, yes." Russia seized full control of Mariupol last week when more than 2,400 Ukrainian fighters surrendered at the besieged Azovstal steelworks on the Azov Sea. It said on Thursday that the port had been demined and was open again to commercial vessels. Moscow's capture of Mariupol helped it secure full control of the Sea of Azov coast and create a land bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to demilitarise its southern neighbour and rid it of nationalists threatening Russian speakers there. Kyiv and Western countries have dismissed Russia's claims a baseless pretext to invade. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State said Friday he's confident Turkey's objections to and joining can be overcome swiftly, possibly in time for a summit of alliance leaders at the end of next month. At a news conference in Washington with visiting Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, Blinken said the US has no reason to believe Turkey's concerns cannot be addressed. His comments came after Turkey's top diplomat said and would have to take concrete steps before Ankara could support their membership. The United States fully supports and joining the alliance and I continue to be confident that both will soon be members, Blinken said. "We look forward to being able to call Finland and Sweden our allies." Haavisto said his country and Sweden had held good negotiations with the Turks over their concerns in recent days and said those discussions would continue with an eye toward resolving them before the summit in Madrid at the end of June. We agreed to continue to those talks, Haavisto said. We think that these problems can be solved that has been raising. We hope that some results could be achieved before the NATO summit. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week. The move represents one of the biggest geopolitical ramifications of Russia's war in Ukraine and could rewrite Europe's security map. The countries' membership bids require support from all 30 current NATO countries, but Turkey, which commands the second-largest military in the alliance, is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants whom considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to . Earlier Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Finnish and Swedish negotiating delegations had been given documents detailing Turkey's concerns, like information on terror groups, during their visit to Turkey this week. He said Ankara is awaiting specific answers. Cavusoglu said an approach of we'll convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies' would not be correct. He insisted that these countries need to take concrete steps. He added that we understand Finland and Sweden's security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkey's legitimate security concerns. Turkey this week listed five concrete assurances it was demanding from Sweden, including what it said was termination of political support for terrorism, an elimination of the source of terrorism financing, and the cessation of arms support to the banned PKK and a Syrian Kurdish militia group affiliated with it. The demands also called for the lifting of arms sanctions against Turkey and global cooperation against terrorism. Cavusoglu's comments came at a news conference with the visiting foreign ministers of NATO allies Poland and Romania, both of whom expressed strong support for Finland and Sweden's bids. There is no doubt that we do need the accession of Sweden and Finland to the NATO alliance in order to make it stronger," Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, agreed, saying their membership would consolidate the collective defense and our security. (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.) 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. The leaders of the Orthodox churches in that were affiliated with the Russian Orthodox have adopted measures declaring the church's full independence and criticizing the Russian church's leader for his support of Russia's invasion of . Orthodoxy, the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, is divided between churches that had been loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate and those under a separate ecclesiastical body. The council of the Moscow-connected body, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on Friday said it condemns the war as a violation of God's commandment Thou shalt not kill!' ... and expresses disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the war in . It also adopted charter changes indicating the full autonomy and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox . ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: The Kremlin-backed leader of Russia's southern province of Chechnya has posted a video in which he warns that Poland could be next after Ukraine. Ramzan Kadyrov, who is famous for his bluster, said in the video he posted to his official Telegram page that Ukraine was a done deal and that if an order is given after Ukraine, we'll show you (Poland) what you're made of in six seconds. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has provided its neighbor with weapons and other aid since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has also welcomed in millions of Ukrainian refugees. Kadyrov later urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finally come to his senses and accept the conditions offered by our president (Vladimir Putin). Kadyrov has repeatedly used social media to boast about Chechen fighters' alleged performance against Ukrainian troops and to make other unconfirmed statements about the war in Ukraine. ___ MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Ukraine should remove sea mines from areas near its ports to allow safe shipping. Putin made the statement in Friday's call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, according to the Kremlin readout of the conversation. It said that Putin and Nehammer had a detailed exchange of views on issues regarding food security with Putin rejecting Western claims that Russia's action that exacerbated a global food crisis. The Kremlin noted that Putin emphasized that attempts to blame Russia for difficulties regarding shipments of agricultural products to global markets are unfounded. It added that the Russian leader gave a detailed explanation of the real roots behind those problems that emerged, in particular, because of the U.S. and the EU sanctions against Russia. The U.S. and other Western allies have rejected the Russian demand for the sanctions to be lifted and accused Moscow of blocking grain supplies from Ukraine to global markets accusations the Kremlin has denied. ___ LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian forces are making palpable progress in eastern Ukraine, and Kyiv's forces need long-range rocket launchers and other military support. Britain's defense ministry said Friday that Moscow's troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in the eastern Donbas region, but do not yet have full control of the region. Johnson told news agency Bloomberg that Russian President Vladimir Putin at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas, he's continuing to make gradual, slow but I'm afraid palpable progress. He said that therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily. Johnson said long-range multiple-launch rocket systems, or MLRSs, would enable them to defend themselves against this very brutal Russian artillery. Britain possesses some of the systems, but Johnson did not say whether the U.K. would send any to Ukraine. ___ PRAGUE The U.K.'s top diplomat says countries supporting Ukraine have to be ready for the long haul and there should be no talk of appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said after meeting her Czech counterpart in Prague Friday that we need to make sure that Ukraine wins and that Russia withdraws and that we never see this type of Russian aggression again. She said that there should be no talk of cease-fires, or appeasing Putin. Truss says that Ukraine needs to receive more heavy weapons and gradually get upgraded to get NATO-standard equipment. She said that at the moment, they're using a lot of ex-Soviet equipment. We need to make sure they're able to defend themselves into the future. ___ BUDAPEST, Hungary -- A U.S. lawmaker is urging the Biden administration to consider imposing sanctions on some Hungarian companies in an effort to pressure Budapest to agree to a European Union embargo on Russian oil. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi urged him to consider all tools including sanctions to ensure that Hungary -- a member of the EU and NATO -- gets on board with the proposal. The EU has for weeks has sought to forge a consensus on a new sanctions package that would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held up negotiations and threatened a veto of the plan, arguing it would devastate Hungary's economy and lead to energy insecurity. In his letter to Blinken, Krishnamoorthi wrote that the EU's proposed embargo would significantly increase financial pressure on Russia's economy and Putin's war machine. If Orban continues to stall EU negotations, he wrote, the Biden Administration should consider implementing sanctions against companies in Hungary that continue to do business with Russian oil exporters. ___ ISTANBUL Turkey's foreign minister says Sweden and Finland must now take concrete steps to alleviate his country's security concerns to overcome Ankara's objections to their NATO membership bid. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with Turkey's demands after a visit this week and Ankara is awaiting their answers. The countries' membership bids require support from all NATO countries, but Turkey is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants that Turkey considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. Cavusoglu said that an approach of we'll convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies' would not be correct. He insisted that these countries need to take concrete steps. He added that we understand Finland and Sweden's security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkey's legitimate security concerns. ___ ROME Italian Premier Mario Draghi has discussed the emerging food crisis in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Draghi's office said that the call Thursday focused on the situation in Ukraine and ... efforts to find a shared solution to the ongoing food crisis and its serious repercussions on the world's poorest countries. 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. Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia, seeking to shift the blame for the food crisis. ___ BERLIN -- Germany's development minister has traveled to Ukraine to pledge further civilian support and discuss the country's rebuilding. Svenja Schulze is the second German minister to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited on May 10 and reopened the country's embassy in Kyiv. Schulze's ministry said she planned to meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other senior officials in Kyiv on Friday. It said the talks will address immediate aid to address the problems Ukraine faces now and strategic questions related to rebuilding the country. Schulze said in a statement that we must already lay now the foundations for internationally coordinated support for the rebuilding of a free and democratic Ukraine and Germany will contribute. ___ MOSCOW -- Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim to have taken control of Lyman, a town in the Donetsk region. There has been no confirmation yet from Ukrainian officials. The military of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic said on Telegram that rebel forces, supported by the Russian troops, as of Friday have liberated and taken full control of 220 settlements, including Lyman. Lyman, which had a pre-war population of over 20,000, is a large railway hub in the Donetsk region, north of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, cities that remain under Ukrainian control. ___ MOSCOW -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has announced that it is expelling five Croatian diplomats in response to unfriendly steps taken by Zagreb to reduce the size of Russia's diplomatic mission there. The ministry said in an statement that it summoned Croatian ambassador Tomislav Car on Friday. It said it expressed a strong protest in connection with the groundless attempts of the Croatian authorities to blame Russia for war crimes in Ukraine and the provision of military assistance by the Croatian side to the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime. Last month, Croatia expelled 18 Russian diplomats. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraine's foreign minister is pleading with Western nations to provide Kyiv with heavy weapons to enable it to push Russian forces back. Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday night tweeted a video of himself answering questions submitted on Twitter and said: We need heavy weapons. The only position where Russia is better than us it's the amount of heavy weapons they have. Without artillery, without multiple launch rocket systems we won't be able to push them back. Kuleba said that the situation in the east of the country, where the Russian forces are on the offensive, is as dire as people say. He added: I would even say it's even worse than people say. We need weapons. If you really care for Ukraine, weapons, weapons and weapons again, the minister stressed. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian regional governor says that four people have been killed in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk over the past 24 hours by Russian shelling. One more person was killed by a Russian shell in the village of Komushuvakha. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, wrote in a Telegram post Friday that the residents of Sievierodonetsk have forgotten when was the last time there was silence in the city for at least half an hour. He said that the Russians are pounding residential neighborhoods relentlessly. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said on Thursday that 60% of the city's residential buildings have been destroyed, and about 85-90% have been damaged and require major repairs. ___ WELLINGTON, New Zealand The United States has won the latest round of a legal battle to seize a $325-million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nation's top court. The case has highlighted the thorny legal ground the U.S. finds itself on as it tries to seize assets of Russian oligarchs around the world. Those intentions are welcomed by many governments and citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine, but some actions are raising questions about how far U.S. jurisdiction extends. Fiji's Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Feizal Haniff, who represents the company that legally owns the superyacht Amadea. Haniff had argued the U.S. had no jurisdiction under Fiji's mutual assistance laws to seize the vessel, at least until a court sorted out who really owned the Amadea. Haniff said he now plans to take the case to Fiji's Supreme Court and will apply for a court order to stop U.S. agents sailing the Amadea from Fiji before the appeal is heard. ___ WASHINGTON The U.S. general nominated to take over European Command has told senators that Sweden and Finland's push to join NATO won't require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Thursday that 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. Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing that The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward." He said that 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. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian forces may have to retreat from their last pocket in the Luhansk region to avoid being captured, a Ukrainian official said, as Russian troops press an advance in the east that has shifted the momentum of the three-month-old war. A withdrawal could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of capturing eastern Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions in full. His troops have gained ground in the two areas collectively known as the Donbas while blasting some towns to wastelands. Luhansk's governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said Russian troops had entered Sievierodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days. Gaidai said 90% of buildings in the town were damaged. "The Russians will not be able to capture Luhansk region in the coming days as analysts have predicted," Gaidai said on Telegram, referring to the area including Sievierodonetsk and its twin city Lysychansk, across the Siverskiy Donets River. "We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. However, it is possible that in order not to be surrounded we will have to retreat." Russia's separatist proxies said they controlled Lyman, a railway hub west of Sievierodonetsk. said had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, to the southwest. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said was protecting its land "as much as our current defence resources allow". Ukraine's military said it had repelled eight attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk on Friday, destroying tanks and armoured vehicles. "If the occupiers think that Lyman and Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian," Zelenskiy said in an address. 'PERFORMED POORLY' Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said while Russian forces had begun direct assaults on built-up areas of Sievierodonetsk, they would likely struggle to take ground in the city itself. "Russian forces have performed poorly in operations in built-up urban terrain throughout the war," they said. Russian troops advanced after piercing Ukrainian lines last week in the city of Popasna, south of Sievierodonetsk. Russian ground forces have captured several villages northwest of Popasna, Britain's defence ministry said. Reached by Reuters journalists in Russian-held territory on Thursday, Popasna was in ruins. The bloated body of a dead man in combat uniform could be seen lying in a courtyard. Resident Natalia Kovalenko had left the cellar where she was sheltering in the wreckage of her flat, its windows and balcony blasted away. She said a shell hit the courtyard, killing two people and wounding eight. "We are tired of being so scared," she said. Russia's eastern gains follow the withdrawal of its forces from approaches to the capital, Kyiv, and a Ukrainian counter-offensive that pushed its forces back from Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv. Russian forces shelled parts of Kharkiv on Thursday for the first time in days. Authorities said nine people were killed. The Kremlin denies targeting civilians in what it calls its "special military operation" in . In the south, where Moscow has seized a swath of territory since the Feb. 24 invasion, including the port of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials say aims to impose permanent rule. STRUGGLING TO LEAVE In the Kherson region in the south, Russian forces were fortifying defences and shelling Ukraine-controlled areas, the region's Ukrainian governor, Hennadiy Laguta, told media. He said the humanitarian situation was critical in some areas and people were finding it very difficult to leave. Police said 31 people had been evacuated on Friday from the Luhansk region, including 13 children. On the diplomatic front, European Union officials said a deal might be reached by Sunday to ban deliveries of Russian oil by sea, accounting for about 75% of the bloc's supply, but not by pipeline, a compromise to win over Hungary and clear the way for new sanctions. Zelenskiy has accused the EU of dithering over a ban on Russian energy, saying the bloc was funding Russia's war and delay "merely means more Ukrainians being killed". In a telephone call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Putin stuck to his line that a global food crisis caused by the conflict can be resolved only if the West lifts sanctions. Nehammer said Putin expressed readiness to discuss a prisoner swap with Ukraine but added: "If he is really ready to negotiate is a complex question." Both and Ukraine are major grain exporters, and Russia's blockade of ports has halted shipments, driving up global prices. Russia accuses Ukraine of mining the ports. Russia justified its assault in part on ensuring Ukraine does not join the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. But the war has pushed Sweden and Finland, who were both neutral throughout the Cold War, to apply to join NATO in one of the most significant changes in European security in decades. The Nordic states' bids have been tripped up over opposition by NATO member Turkey, which contends they harbour people linked to a militant group it deems a terrorist organisation. Swedish and Finnish diplomats made little headway during talks in Turkey this week, two sources said. "It is not an easy process," a Turkish official told Reuters. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Conor Humphries and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv, Vitaliy Hnidyi in Kharkiv and Reuters journalists in Popasna; Writing by Rami Ayyub and Robert Birsel; Editing by Grant McCool and William Mallard) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that he discussed his country's post-conflict reconstruction with Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze during their talks in Kiev. " needs to restore the infrastructure in the liberated regions as soon as possible to ensure the normal logistics and operation of enterprises," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram after the talks. Financial support for small and medium-sized businesses will also help stabilise the Ukrainian economy, Shmyhal was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The prime minister said he exchanged views with Schulze on the results of the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) development ministers in Berlin last week and called on the G7 countries to take the lead in rebuilding . Shmyhal said that he briefed Schulze about a global platform entitled United24 (U24) for collecting charitable donations in support of . Besides, Shmyhal said Kiev is counting on Germany's support for Ukraine's European integration. For its part, Ukraine is ready to contribute to the European Union's food security, energy transition, digitalisation and enhanced collective security, and to offer a new promising market for European goods, Shmyhal 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.) Former US President said that the Washington government should prioritise funding for school security in the country rather than sending aid to the war-torn Ukraine. Trump made the remarks on Friday at the National Rifle Association's (NRA) ongoing three-day annual convention in Houston, which comes just three days after the deadly shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. Addressing thousands of supporters, the former President said: "We spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and got nothing for it. Before we nation-build the rest of the world, we should be building safe schools for our own children in our own nation." Trump also rejected calls for tightened gun controls, saying decent Americans should be allowed firearms to defend themselves against "evil", the BBC reported. He instead proposed a "top-to-bottom overhaul" of school safety, with fortified single points of entry including metal detectors and at least one armed police officer on every campus, and also accused Democrats of stonewalling such security measures. The former President also read out the names of the Uvalde shooting victims, with each marked by a bell toll. In his speech, Trump also called to "drastically change our approach to mental health". The annual convention of the NRA, the country's most powerful gun lobby group, is taking place after a two-year Covid-induced hiatus. In the wake of the Uvalde massacre, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, both Republicans, have cancelled their in-person appearance at the convention, reports Xinhua news agency. The Governor is expected to address the convention "through pre-recorded video". "While a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all those suffering in Uvalde," Patrick said on Friday. Meanwhile, protests have been planned against the event. Friday witnessed hundreds of protesters outside the convention venue holding signs saying "NRA kill kids", "protect children not guns" and held crosses and photos of shooting victims. In a statement, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged participants to "remain peaceful out of respect to the families of the 19 children and two teachers killed in their classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde". The City of Houston is aware that several organisations have planned demonstrations near the convention centre, and the Houston Police Department and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have a public safety plan, Turner was quoted as saying in the statement. The NRA convention is expected to draw 55,000 attendees, who are prohibited from bringing "firearms, firearm accessories, knives, and other items", including backpacks and selfie sticks. The gun lobby group, currently has over 5 million members. The US has witnessed at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. As of Tuesday when the Uvalde school shooting occurred, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the US this year. --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.) Europe's frantic search for alternatives to Russian energy has dramatically increased the demand and price for Norway's oil and gas. As the money pours in, Europe's second-biggest natural gas supplier is fending off accusations that it's profiting from the war in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who is looking to the Scandinavian country to replace some of the gas Poland used to get from Russia, said Norway's gigantic oil and gas profits are indirectly preying on the war. He urged to use that windfall to support the hardest-hit countries, mainly Ukraine. The comments last week touched a nerve, even as some Norwegians wonder whether they're doing enough to combat Russia's war by increasing economic aid to Ukraine and helping neighbouring countries end their dependence on Russian energy to power industry, generate electricity and fuel vehicles. Taxes on the windfall profits of oil and gas companies have been common in to help people cope with soaring energy bills, now exacerbated by the war. Spain and Italy both approved them, while the United Kingdom's government plans to introduce one. Morawiecki is asking to go further by sending oil and profits to other nations. Norway, one of Europe's richest countries, committed 1.09 per cent of its national income to overseas development one of the highest percentages worldwide including more than USD 200 million in aid to Ukraine. With oil and gas coffers bulging, some would like to see even more money earmarked to ease the effects of the war and not skimmed from the funding for agencies that support people elsewhere. has made dramatic cuts into most of the UN institutions and support for human rights projects in order to finance the cost of receiving Ukrainian refugees, said Berit Lindeman, policy director of human rights group the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. She helped organise a protest on Wednesday outside Parliament in Oslo, criticising government priorities and saying the Polish remarks had some merits." It looks really ugly when we know the incomes have skyrocketed this year," Lindeman said. Oil and gas prices were already high amid an energy crunch and have spiked because of the war. Natural gas is trading at three to four times what it was at the same time last year. benchmark Brent crude oil burst through USD 100 a barrel after the invasion three months ago and has rarely dipped below since. Norwegian energy giant Equinor, which is majority owned by the state, earned four times more in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. The bounty led the government to revise its forecast of income from petroleum activities to 933 billion Norwegian kroner (USD 97 billion) this year more than three times what it earned in 2021. The vast bulk will be funnelled into Norway's massive sovereign wealth fund the world's largest to support the nation when oil runs dry. The government isn't considering diverting it elsewhere. Norway has contributed substantial support to Ukraine since the first week of the war, and we are preparing to do more," State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson said by email. He said the country has sent financial support, weapons and over two billion kroner in humanitarian aid independently of oil and gas prices. European countries, meanwhile, have helped inflate Norwegian energy prices by scrambling to diversify their supply away from Russia. They have been accused of helping fund the war by continuing to pay for Russian fossil fuels. That energy reliance provides Russia with a tool to intimidate and to use against us, and that has been clearly demonstrated now, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, told the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Russia has halted natural gas to Finland, Poland and Bulgaria for refusing a demand to pay in rubles. The 27-nation European Union is aiming to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas by two-thirds by year's end through conservation, renewable development and alternative supplies. is pleading with Norway, along with countries like Qatar and Algeria, for help with the shortfall. Norway delivers 20 per cent to 25 per cent of Europe's natural gas, vs. Russia's 40 per cent before the war. It is important for Norway to be a stable, long-term provider of oil and gas to the European markets, Deputy Energy Minister Amund Vik said. But companies are selling on volatile energy markets, and with the high oil and gas prices seen since last fall, the companies have daily produced near maximum of what their fields can deliver, he said. Even so, Oslo has responded to European calls for more gas by providing permits to operators to produce more this year. Tax incentives mean the companies are investing in new offshore projects, with a new pipeline to Poland opening this fall. We are doing whatever we can to be a reliable supplier of gas and energy to in difficult times. It was a tight market last fall and is even more pressing now, said Ola Morten Aanestad, a Equinor spokesman. The situation is a far cry from June 2020, when prices crashed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and Norway's previous government issued tax incentives for oil companies to spur investment and protect jobs. Combined with high energy prices, the incentives that run out at the end of the year have prompted companies in Norway to issue a slew of development plans for new oil and gas projects. Yet those projects will not produce oil and gas until later this decade or even further in the future, when the political situation may be different and many European countries are hoping to have shifted most of their energy use to renewables. By then, Norway is likely to face the more familiar criticism that it is contributing to climate change. (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.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Saturday accused the of insulting Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, whom he called a hero who did not get the respect he deserved. did not get the respect he should have received after the Independence, Adityanath said. The left no stone unturned in "insulting, a revolutionary, writer, philosopher, poet like Savarkar", said Adityanath. "Had the accepted Savarkar's words, the country would not have been divided. had said that is not a reality but will always be there," Adityanath said according to a press statement. Adityanath was addressing a programme held to mark the birth anniversary of . A book on Savarkar was released during the programme. Adityanath said Savarkar had only one goal that the country should be free. His whole life has been spent in giving a vision to the country, he said. The chief minister said the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had installed a statue of Savarkar in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, which was later removed by the Congress government. "Savarkar was a great hero of the 20th century. He served two life sentences in a single life for the nation," he said. According to the statement, the chief minister said political parties in power compared Savarkar with Jinnah. "Savarkar had said that cannot be a reality, but will always be there. This is the principal of nation first which is the reality of today," he said. The chief minister said socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia had once said if a person is remembered after 50 years of his death with reverence, he cannot be an ordinary person. "Now, we are remembering him (Savarkar) after 56 years, so we can assess his personality," 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.) Tech giant is working on two built-in snores and cough detection features that will let it detect if users snore or cough in their sleep. The tech giant is reportedly working on these features for Pixel and Android, 9To5Google reported. The tech website spotted lines of code in the installation file of the Health Studies app. It revealed that the company is conducting a study called aSleep Audio Collection' that is only available to employees. "You must be a Full-Time Googler with an Android phone to participate in this study," the report said. "Environmental conditions required for this study are to have no more than one adult sleeper in the same room who does not work for a competitor company," it added. Google explained that its "Health Sensing team is actively working to bring an advanced suite of sensing capabilities and algorithms to Android devices to provide users with meaningful insight into their sleep". This audio collection "supports this mission by providing data necessary to validate, tune, and develop such algorithms". These "Cough and Snore algorithms" will translate into a "bedside monitoring" feature on Android devices that works in a "privacy-preserving, on-device" manner for acenocturnal cough and snore monitoring". --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.) The business of dragon boat-making in Shangjiao village in South Chinas Guangdong province took a hit from Covid-19 in the run up to Fridays Dragon Boat Festival, as access to workshops was curtailed and races were put on hold. With a history of more than 2,500 years, the iconic racing boats are essential to the annual festival and an important part of Chinas cultural heritage Jun 02, 2022 07:56 PM Ukrainian PM, German development minister discuss Ukraine's post-conflict recovery Xinhua) 10:48, May 28, 2022 KIEV, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday he discussed his country's post-conflict reconstruction with Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze during their talks in Kiev. "Ukraine needs to restore the infrastructure in the liberated regions as soon as possible to ensure the normal logistics and operation of enterprises," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram after the talks. Financial support for small and medium-sized businesses will also help stabilize the Ukrainian economy, Shmyhal added. The prime minister said he exchanged views with Schulze on the results of the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) development ministers in Berlin last week and called on the G7 countries to take the lead in rebuilding Ukraine. Shmyhal said that he briefed Schulze about a global platform entitled United24 (U24) for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Besides, Shmyhal said Kiev is counting on Germany's support for Ukraine's European integration. For its part, Ukraine is ready to contribute to the European Union's food security, energy transition, digitalization and enhanced collective security, and to offer a new promising market for European goods, Shmyhal added. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Photo: Nicholas Johansen The scene of a fatal shooting in Kelowna Mar 25, 2020 During the first year of the pandemic, firearm-related violent crimes climbed in southern rural British Columbia faster than anywhere else in Canada, says a new report from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. From 2019 to 2020, southern rural B.C. saw a 34 per cent increase in gun-related violent crimes. That puts the B.C. region ahead of northern rural Ontario and rural Alberta (both up roughly 32 per cent)) as well as the Northwest Territories, which saw a 23 per cent jump. The gun-related violent crime was largely due to an increase in "certain types of crime," including discharging a firearm with intent, pointing a firearm, and using a firearm in an indictable offence, states the report. The upward swing in rural gun violence is an acceleration of an increase that began in 2014 after years of declines. On average, rates for these offences from 2015 to 2020 increased over those reported from 2009 to 2014. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, police across Canada reported 8,344 victims of violent crimes where a gun was present. And while southern rural B.C. saw the biggest increase in gun-related violent crime, other regions of the country reported much higher overall rates. Saskatchewan, Manitoba and all three territories reported the highest rates of firearm-related violent crime in 2020. In urban areas, the majority of victims of firearm-related violent crimes involved a handgun (63 per cent). In rural areas, rifles and shotguns were more commonly used, appearing in 43 per cent of such crimes. Pellet guns or flare guns, meanwhile, were involved in 30 per cent of crimes in rural areas as opposed to 20 per cent in urban areas. Sawed-off rifles or shotguns and fully automatic firearms remain rare in Canada gun-related violent crimes at just five per cent in urban areas and seven per cent in rural areas, says the report. In 2020, police reported a total of 743 homicide victims in Canada in 277 of them, a firearm was used to commit the homicide. The province with the highest rate of firearm-related homicides in 2020 was Nova Scotia. This was connected to the mass shooting in April 2020 that left 22 people dead. After this, the federal government amended regulations to prohibit over 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms. Gang activity was confirmed or suspected in 39 per cent of all firearm-related homicides in Canada. According to the report, one in four female victims of firearm-related violent crime were victimized by a current or former spouse. Canadian law requires an individual have a valid license under the Firearms Act in order to own or possess a firearm or to purchase ammunition. Photo: The Canadian Press The Greek-flagged oil tanker Prudent Warrior, background, is seen as it sails past Istanbul, Turkey, April 19, 2019. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers on Friday, May 27, 2022, in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, according to officials. The actions were an apparent retaliation for Athens assisting the U.S. in seizing Iranian crude oil in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington's crushing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. (Dursun Cam via AP) Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers Friday in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, officials said. The action appeared to be retaliation for Athens' assistance in the U.S. seizure of crude oil from an Iranian-flagged tanker this week in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington's crushing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The raid marks the first major incident at sea in months as tensions remain high between Iran and the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Tehran enriches more uranium, closer to weapons-grade levels than ever before, worries mount that negotiators won't find a way back to the accord raising the risk of a wider war. The Guard issued a statement announcing the seizures, accusing the tankers of unspecified violations. Nour News, a website close to Irans Supreme National Security Council, warned a short time earlier that Tehran planned to take "punitive action" over Greece assisting the U.S. in seizing oil days earlier from the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana. Greece's Foreign Ministry said it made a strong demarche to the Iranian ambassador in Athens over the violent taking over of two Greek-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf. These acts effectively amount to acts of piracy, a ministry statement said. The ministry called for the immediate release of the vessels and their crews, warning the seizure would have particularly negative consequences in bilateral relations and in Irans relations with the European Union, of which Greece is a member. An Iranian helicopter landed on the Greek-flagged Delta Poseidon in international waters, some 22 nautical miles off the coast of Iran, the ministry said. Armed men then took the crew captive, it said, adding that two Greek nationals were among the crew. A similar incident has been reported on another Greek-flagged vessel, that was carrying seven Greek citizens, close to the coast of Iran, the ministry said. A Greek official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the attack with a journalist, identified the second ship as the Prudent Warrior. Its manager, Polembros Shipping in Greece, earlier said the company was cooperating with the authorities and making every possible effort to address the situation effectively. Greek officials did not identify the nationalities of the other crew on board the vessels. Both vessels had come from Iraq's Basra oil terminal, loaded with crude, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic.com. Prudent Warrior just before had been off Qatar and likely loaded oil there as well, the data showed. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said it appeared the two ships had come close to but not into Iranian territorial waters Friday. After the hijacking, they drifted into Iranian waters. The ships also had turned off their tracking devices another red flag, the official said. However, neither had issued a mayday or a call for help, the official said. Irans seizure on Friday was the latest in a string of hijackings and explosions to roil a region that includes the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. The incidents began after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The U.S. Navy blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on vessels that damaged tankers in 2019, as well as for a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members in 2021. Iranian hijackers also stormed and briefly captured a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the United Arab Emirates last year, and briefly seized and held a Vietnamese tanker in November. Tehran denies carrying out the attacks, but a wider shadow war between Iran and the West has played out in the regions volatile waters. Tanker seizures have been a part of it since 2019, when Iran seized the British-flagged Stena Impero after the United Kingdom detained an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar. Iran released the tanker months later as London also released the Iranian vessel. Iran last year also seized and held a South Korean-flagged tanker for months amid a dispute over billions of dollars of frozen assets Seoul holds. This incident is assessed to be a retaliatory action in line with a history of Iranian forces detaining vessels in a tit-for-tat manner, maritime intelligence firm Dryad Global warned. As a result, Greek-flagged vessels operating within the vicinity of Iran in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are currently assessed to be at a heightened risk of interception and it is advised to avoid this area until further notice. Underlining that threat, Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency warned in a tweet: There are still 17 other Greek ships in the Persian Gulf that could be seized. Meanwhile, the Guard is building a massive new support ship near the Strait of Hormuz as it tries to expand its naval presence in waters vital to international energy supplies and beyond, according to satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press. Talks in Vienna over Iran's tattered nuclear deal have been stalled since April. Since the deal's collapse, Iran runs advanced centrifuges and has a rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60% purity a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% to make one nuclear weapon if it choose. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003. Building a nuclear bomb would still take Iran more time if it pursued a weapon, analysts say, though they warn Tehran's advances make the program more dangerous. Israel has threatened in the past it will carry out a preemptive strike to stop Iran and already is suspected in a series of recent killings targeting Iranian officials. On the occasion of 75 years of US-Nepal diplomatic ties, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to visit Washington in mid-July, in the first official visit by a Nepali prime minister in two decades. The Prime Ministers of Nepal have been regularly visiting the US, but mostly to New York. However, these visits were not part of bilateral visits and therefore this is the first official high-level trip from Nepal. PM Deuba is expected to visit Washington from July 14 to 16, said diplomatic and government sources. Given the tight schedule of US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and senior American officials, two windows are kept for PM Deuba's visit, the Kathmandu post reported. The Nepalese PM could either visit US in early July or in mid-June. Govinda Pariyar, press chief to Prime Minister Deuba, said, "The Prime Minister will be visiting the United States this year. Both sides are working on dates," He added, "He will be participating in the second Summit for Democracy. Anyway, the PM will be attending the coming session of the United Nations General Assembly." US Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal's Foreign Ministry will decide on the dates after which it will be made public. Pariyar while speaking with Nepalese media outlet the Kathmandu Post said, "Once his meetings and other engagements in the US are fixed, the visit will be announced." Despite sharing such longstanding ties, there have not been many high-level exchanges between the two countries. Lately, Washington seems to be showing a renewed interest in sending high-level officials to Kathmandu. Just last week, US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya concluded her three-day Nepal visit, the highest-level visit since 2012. The recent highest-level official visit from Nepal to the United States took place in December 2018 when then foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali flew to Washington, marking the first visit by a Nepali foreign minister in 17 years. In the wake of Nepali communist leaders' continued opposition to the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact (MCC), its ratification got delayed, which vexed Washington to the extent that it even warned of reviewing its Nepal policy should Kathmandu fail to ratify the grant. Prime Minister Deuba, who also leads the five-party coalition, however, played an instrumental role in getting the grant ratified. The US Government's MCC signed the pact with the Government of Nepal in September 2017 aimed at maintaining road quality, increasing the availability and reliability of electricity, and facilitating cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India--helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty. "The recent passage of the MCC compact, Nepal's successful local elections and 75 years of bilateral ties just simply make a visit to Washington at the prime ministerial level imperative," said Suresh Chailse, Nepal's former ambassador to the United States. "The visit will certainly help further strengthen Nepal-US ties." (ANI) Amid the rising risk of a monkeypox outbreak in Pakistan, the Pakistan Health ministry on Saturday said that the country has no facility for diagnostic tests for the virus. The officials of the federal health ministry said that there are no cases of monkeypox reported in the country yet, however, in the case of an outbreak, the samples can be sent abroad for testing, Geo TV reported. "The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Islamabad clarifies that NO case of Monkeypox has yet been diagnosed in Pakistan. The news circulating on social media about monkeypox cases is incorrect. The situation is being closely monitored by the health authorities," NIH wrote on Twitter. The ministry further said that the government is trying to procure the testing kits for the National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH). They further stated that Aga Khan University and other health organisations are also trying to procure the testing kits, Geo TV reported. The officials said that given the circumstances, the health experts can declare a patient as a suspected case by examining the symptoms. The monkeypox virus is tested through a PCR machine similar to the diagnostic tests for COVID-19, Geo TV reported citing the health experts. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation on Friday issued a warning against the disease and said that countries should take the right measures to contain Monkeypox cases easily and also share data about their vaccine stockpiles. Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness said that the extent of the disease is uncertain. On the risk to the community spread, she said, "We are afraid that it will be spread in the community but currently it is very hard to assess this risk." "There is also much uncertainty about the future and this disease because we don't know if this transmission will stop. What we have seen in endemic countries as usually we have self-limiting outbreaks, and so we hope it will be exactly the same with the current one," she added. According to WHO, Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease and typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. It may be severe in children, pregnant women or persons with immune suppression due to other conditions. The incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days but it can be longer from 5 to 21 days. Typical symptoms include fever headache, muscle ache backache and fatigue and swollen lymph nodes and then it's followed by skin rashes and or lesions. (ANI) Also Read: Pakistan: Fault lines visible in Shehbaz govt as PML-N calls for immediate elections 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. 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 Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Chattanooga State Community College announced a new articulation agreement that will allow students enrolled in their Criminal Justice Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program to seamlessly transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Professional Leadership in Criminal Justice program at Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU). Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president, Chattanooga State, and Dr. Grant Willhite, vice president for Academic Affairs, who was representing Dr. Harley Knowles, president, Tennessee Wesleyan University, made the agreement official with a formal signing ceremony on May 27, 2022. Tennessee Wesleyan University is proud to partner with Chattanooga State Community College to assist adult students in the completion of their bachelors degree in criminal justice, said Dr. Willhite. Never has it been more important to provide criminal justice professionals opportunities to further their education and expand their career opportunities. Students wishing to transfer credits to TWU for this degree must have completed all graduation requirements for Chattanooga States Criminal Justice AAS degree and must meet admission requirements for TWU. It is so important for Chattanooga State graduates to have quality educational pathways that lead to meaningful careers and prosperous futures, said Dr. Ashford. The articulation agreement I signed today with TWU creates a solid pathway for our criminal justice graduates. For more information about this opportunity, call the Academic Advising Office at 423 697-2456. State Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton, congratulates Aviagen on the opening of its new state-of-the-art feed mill in Pikeville. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility was held on Friday. The project will allow the global poultry breeding company to supply its growing number of internal flocks with high-quality, pathogen-free feed, said officials. "Aviagens impressive new feed processing facility is an exciting addition to Pikevilles growing and diverse business community, Rep. Travis said. This investment brings much-needed jobs to our area and will benefit Tennessee farmers whose grain will be used at the site. I commend all of those involved in making this project possible, and look forward to the positive impact it will have across our region for years to come. Officials with Aviagen announced in 2020 that the company would invest $35.3 million to expand operations in Bledsoe County. Up to 36 new jobs new jobs are expected to be created as a result of the project. Aviagen supplies broiler breeding stock to customers in more than 100 countries worldwide under the Arbor Acres, Indian River and Ross brands. The company also offers specialty breeding stock aimed at giving customers flexibility in their product choice and to meet specific market requirements. Proceedings of the city of Daltons Municipal Court will move to the Dalton Convention Center beginning on Monday, July 18. The Municipal Court currently has proceedings on Wednesdays at City Hall, but beginning July 18 those proceedings will be held on Mondays in the second-floor lecture hall at the Convention Center. The Dalton Convention Centers lecture hall space can accommodate approximately 200 people at one time. The space is located inside of the Convention Centers main entrance to the left. Officials from the court as well as the police department and the citys IT department have been meeting over the past several weeks to work out the logistics of the move. Proceedings of the Municipal Court have been held at the Convention Center in the past before moving into the City Council Chamber at City Hall. Proceedings are being moved to the Convention Centers lecture hall to allow more space and more parking for day-to-day business operations of the other departments housed in City Hall. The Municipal Court will continue to hold its weekly proceedings on Wednesdays at Dalton City Hall through Wednesday, July 13. Each year National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Chapters collaborate with their local schools to promote citizenship, patriotism, service, and knowledge of American history. This year Chattanoogas Chickamauga Chapter NSDAR worked with 27 local schools to present 24 awards in four categories. The DAR Good Citizens Program recognizes outstanding young people who exhibit qualities of good citizenship in their homes, schools, and communities. Awards are given to high school seniors exhibiting the qualities of dependability, truthfulness, honesty, punctuality, service, cooperation, helpfulness, responsibility, leadership, self-control, initiative, patriotism, and unselfish loyalty to American ideals. Chickamauga Chapter presented a Good Citizen Pin, Certificate, and a $100 award check to the following five local seniors: Ibilola Esho from The Baylor School, who will attend Harvard University. Leulseged Barnes, Chattanooga Christian School, to attend Dalton State College Raven Griffin, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, to attend Tennessee State University Emmy Richey, Girls Preparatory School, to attend Washington and Lee University Oliver Castillo Perez, The Howard School, who plans to join the Air Force The DAR Youth Citizenship Medal was established to foster a greater appreciation of the qualities of citizenship for students in grades 5-11 who exemplifies qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. Chickamauga Chapter presented certificates and medals to 15 local elementary students in either grade 5 or grade 8 in recognition of their achievements in this area. DAR Bronze JROTC Medal is awarded to a junior or senior student in a secondary JROTC program to recognize student cadets of outstanding ability and achievement in high school with JROTC programs of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps. Recipients have demonstrated loyalty and patriotism and earned military and scholastic achievements. They must be in the upper 25 percent of their JROTC classes and academic subjects. Winners must display dependability, good character, military discipline, leadership, and a fundamental and patriotic understanding of the importance of JROTC training. This year Chickamauga Chapter presented two Bronze JROTC Medals to: Debora Perez, The Howard School Hannah Shay Minor, Soddy Daisy High School The DAR American History Essay Contest promotes knowledge of specific American history topics through essay writing each year. All grade 5, 6, 7 and 8 students in public, private or parochial schools and those who are home schooled are eligible. This years theme asked students to imagine that you had a brother who lost his life on the battlefields of France during World War I. You and your family attended the Nov. 11, 1921, dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. Describe what this meant to you and your family. Why is it important to remember those who gave their lives to serve our nation? Chickamauga Chapter awarded certificates and $25 checks to one 5th and one 8th grade student this year: Braydin Truckenmiller, fifth grade, Allen Elementary Catarina Andres, eighth grade, Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. For more than 130 years, the DAR has strived to bring awareness to the honorable sacrifices and enduring legacy of all patriots who fought for Americas freedom. On Thursday, a tip was received regarding threats of violence on social media. Cleveland Police and investigators acted quickly on the threat of violence and responded to the home of Tyler Durham on Willow Springs Drive NE in Cleveland. After a thorough interview was conducted, a 9 mm SCCY semiautomatic handgun was recovered and placed into Cleveland Police evidence. While no specific school was targeted, Durham was arrested for the threats and charged with threat of mass violence on school property or at a school related activity. Durham was transported to the Bradley County Justice Center where a bond was set by the Bradley County General Sessions Judge and Magistrates Office. In partnership with the Bradley County Sheriffs Office, the Cleveland Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), consisting of a police officer and co-responder, went to the home of Durham to conduct an assessment and transported him to a local facility for a follow up evaluation. After becoming aware of the low bond set, a decision to follow up with Durham was made out of safety and concern for the community.In partnership with the Bradley County Sheriffs Office, the Cleveland Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), consisting of a police officer and co-responder, went to the home of Durham to conduct an assessment and transported him to a local facility for a follow up evaluation. Cleveland Police officials said, "We are proud of the thorough investigation and assessment conducted by of our officers, Investigator Bobby Ruth, CIT (Officer Nathan Hartwig and co-responders Kelsey Taylor and Luke Hannah) and the mutual aid effort between our department and the Bradley County Sheriff's Office. For any concerns regarding the bond, it is imperative to understand that bonds are set by judicial magistrates, not law enforcement agencies. THE TWO FARMERS Farmers Brown & Jones had adjoining farms for years and didn't get along at all. One night after supper, Farmer Brown knocked on Farmer Jones's door. When Farmer Jones answered the door, Farmer Brown said, "I know we don't talk often, but I wanted you to know that our mule just died today." Farmer Jones replied, "I'm certainly sorry to hear that, but I am wondering why you came over here to tell me?" "Because," Farmer Brown said, "you're always supposed to notify the next of kin." * * * LET ME TALK TO THE HALF-WIT A man owned a small ranch in Montana. The Montana Work Force Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him. "I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent. "Well," replied the farmer, "there's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years.. I pay him $200 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $150 per week plus free room and board. Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally." "That's the guy I want to talk to, the half-wit," says the agent. "That would be me," replied the Rancher. * * * SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS -- When plumbers sleep do they have pipe dreams? -- Vegetarian: Native American name for lousy hunter -- I carry a permanent marker just in case someone without a mustache falls asleep. -- There are 12 things employees do when they haven't completed a job. They lie, tell stories and exaggerate. -- Ninety-nine percent of Senators give the rest a bad name. -- An asteroid 1,200 light years away has a 0.06% chance of colliding with the Earth, and you're walking around like everything is fine. -- I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. I couldnt park anywhere near the place. -- I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out. -- I installed a skylight in my apartmentThe people who live above me are furious! -- If A is for Apple and B is for Banana what is C for? Plastic explosives. * * * THE EXPENSIVE SUIT A man who just died is delivered to the mortuary wearing an expensive, expertly tailored black suit. The mortician asks the deceaseds wife how she would like the body dressed. He points out that the man does look good in the black suit he is already wearing. The widow, however, says that she always thought her husband looked his best in blue, and that she wants him in a blue suit. She gives the mortician a blank check and says, I dont care what it costs, but please have my husband in a blue suit for the viewing. The woman returns the next day for the wake. To her delight, she finds her husband dressed in a gorgeous blue suit with a subtle pale stripe; the suit fits him perfectly. She says to the mortician, Whatever this cost, Im very satisfied. You did an excellent job and Im very grateful. How much did you spend? To her astonishment, the mortician presents her with the blank bill. Theres no charge, he says. No, really, I must compensate you for the cost of that exquisite blue suit! the woman says. Honestly, maam, the mortician says, It cost nothing. You see, a deceased gentleman of about your husbands size was brought in shortly after you left yesterday, and he was wearing an attractive blue suit. I asked his wife if she minded him going to his grave wearing a black suit instead, and she said it made no difference as long as he looked nice. Then it was just a matter of switching the heads. * * * THREE ENGINEERS There are three engineers in a car; an electrical engineer, a chemical engineer and a Microsoft engineer. Suddenly the car just stops in the middle of the road, and the three engineers look at each other wondering what could be wrong. The electrical engineer suggests the computer or electrical system might have a problem. The chemical engineer suggests that maybe the fuel is contaminated or the flow is blocked. Then, the Microsoft engineer comes up with a suggestion, "Why don't we close all the windows, get out, get back in, open the windows again? That's what I've been trained to do" * * * THE WRONG BET An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural-history museum. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year-old mummy of a man who died of heart failure!" the excited scientist exclaimed. To which the curator replied, "Bring him in. We'll check it out." A week later, the amazed curator called the archaeologist. "You were right about the mummy's age and cause of death. How in the world did you know?" "Easy. There was a small scroll in his hand that said, '10,000 Shekels on Goliath'." * * * ITS GOOD TO SEE YOU A tired pastor was at home resting, and through the window he saw a woman approaching his door. She was one of those too-talkative people, and he was not anxious to talk with her. He said to his wife, "I'll just duck upstairs and wait until she goes away." An hour passed, then he tiptoed to the stair landing and listened ... not a sound. He was very pleased, so he started down calling loudly to his wife, "Well, My Dear, did you get rid of that old bore at last?" The next moment he heard the voice of the same woman caller, and she couldn't possibly have missed hearing him. Two steps down, he saw them both staring up at him. It seemed like a crisis moment. The quick-thinking pastor's wife answered, "Yes, Dear, she went away over an hour ago. But Mrs. Jones has come to call in the meantime, and I'm sure you'll be glad to greet her." * * * WHATS THE PROBLEM? Taxiing down the tarmac, the jetliner abruptly stopped, turned around and returned to the gate. After an hour-long wait, it finally took off. A concerned passenger asked the flight attendant, "What was the problem?" "The pilot was bothered by a noise he heard in the engine," explained the flight attendant, "and it took us a while to find another pilot." * * * MORE FROM HENNY YOUNGMAN -- Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport. -- My mother-in-law is so neat she puts paper under the cuckoo clock. -- She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. -- I bought my wife a new car. She called and said, "There's water in the carburetor." I said, "Where's the car?" She said, "In the lake." -- I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back. -- I miss my wife's cooking - as often as I can. -- Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays. * * * THIS WEEKS TOP VIDEOS * -- Candid Camera Classic: Shopping From Strangers' Carts! CLICK HERE. * -- Andre Rieu - You'll Never Walk Alone CLICK HERE. * -- Candid Camera Classic: Drone Delivery CLICK HERE. * -- "Battle Hymn of the Republic" w/ the Mormon Tabernacle Choir LIVE from West Point CLICK HERE. * -- Candid Camera Classic: 5 MPH Limit! CLICK HERE. * -- Candid Camera Classic: Daylight Crazy Time! CLICK HERE. --- royexum@aol.com An investigation by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agents, Marion County deputies, and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers has resulted in the arrest of an Illinois man, charged with the fatal shooting his father inside the Tennessee rest area in Lookout Valley. The investigation began at the request of 12th Judicial District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor around 6 p.m. CST Friday. The victim, Michael Monroe Woods, Jr., 53, was found deceased in the bathroom of the I-24 eastbound rest area near mile marker 160. During the course of the investigation, agents and investigators developed information that identified the victims son, Micah E. McElmurry, 30, of Decatur, Illinois, as the individual responsible for the shooting. McElmurry was taken into custody Friday night. He was charged with one count of criminal homicide and booked into the Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, God called our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, and friend home to dwell with him. Elvira Roberts Madison was born on May 18, 1949, in the Cross-Green Community, Emanuel County, GA to the late Charlie and Lizzie Green Roberts. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and joined Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She remained a member there until she joined New Monumental Baptist Church in Chattanooga, in 1979. Elvira graduated from Emanuel County High School in 1967 as valedictorian. After graduation, she attended Fort Valley State University, where she graduated with honors, in 1971, with a B.S. degree in mathematics. She later earned her masters degree in math from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. While at Fort Valley State University, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She also met the love of her life, Charles Madison, whom she married in 1973. This union was blessed with two children. After graduating from Fort Valley State University, she began her teaching career in Columbus, Ga., and also taught in Macon, Ga. After moving to Chattanooga, she taught at East Lake Junior High and completed her career at Howard School of Academics and Technology; retiring after 30+ years of teaching in 2006. One of her passions was teaching and working with young people. In keeping with her desire to make sure that the young people of the church had fun and were spiritually fed, she approached the pastor, the late Dr. V.J. Caldwell, about starting a youth program in the church. After getting his approval, she recruited several ladies in the church to assist her. In addition to making sure that the program provided fun for the individuals, she also incorporated an educational aspect into all activities. Her desire was to expose the church's young people to other places outside of the local area. Their travels took them to several historical sites around the country including our nations capital, Washington DC. In addition, the youth were also able to participate in Bible quizzes, which further allowed them to learn the Bible and to travel to different places. Elvira served as chairperson of the Deaconess Ministry, in which she helped establish the Bereavement Ministry, and consistently visited the elderly. She served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Progressive Ministry, and the Missionary Ministry. She was also a member of the Meals on Wheels Ministry. Elvira was preceded in death by her parents and nine of her siblings: James Green, Warren Green, Jr., Mattie Lee Clayton, John Roberts, Rev. Winder Green, Willie Mae Webb, Charlie Roberts, Rev. Moses Green, and Alean Roberts. She leaves to cherish her memories, her loving husband of nearly 49 years, Charles; one son, Keith (Sequanta) Madison; one daughter, Kristina (Tobias) Gaddis; three grandchildren that she adored, Jayden, Jaiya, and Kailyn; one brother, Rufus Roberts; two sisters, Emma Rucker, Amanda (Ralph) Brown; one sister/niece, Almaria (Jerome) Williams; and a host of sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Public visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, at the John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995. An 11:30 a.m. funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 2, at New Monumental Baptist Church, 901 Woodmore Lane, with Rev. Dr. Gregory Odom officiating. Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. As Johnny Depp sat in court with his legal team during defamation arguments with his ex-wife Amber Heard, he snacked on sweets and drew on a sketch pad. And Heards legal team used those behaviors during the trial to suggest Depp had an unfavorable personality trait. Keep reading to find out what was implied and how the judge responded. Johnny Depp | Michael Reynolds/POOL/AFP/ Getty Images Johnny Depp ate candy like gummy bears and doodled in court Over the weeks Depp was in court in Virginia, he often snacked on candy like gummy bears. Fans noted the actor is a smoker and might have used sweets to curb his desire for nicotine. But Depps attorney Ben Chew also seems to be a candy lover. According to court witnesses, he was seen rationing out gummy bears to the team before the start of one day. So, the Edward Scissorhands actor wasnt the only one with a sweet tooth. While many trial watchers found the candy-eating counsel table endearing, others felt it was poor form for such a severe case. And Heards legal team was among them. Amber Heards legal team tied how Johnny Depp ate candy in court to narcissism Have you noticed the gummy bears? Usually attorney Ben Chew pulls them out of his pocket and sets them in front of #JohnnyDepp. #AmberHeard's atty asked Dr. Speigel what "doodling" and "eating candy" has to do with narcissism. Objection. Sustained pic.twitter.com/X1nyvGdf4i Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) May 23, 2022 Heards attorney Elaine Bredehoft asked an expert witness, what if any evidence there was Depp had narcissistic personality traits based on his doodling and eating candy during the trial. That question received a sustained objection for lack of foundation before the psychiatrist could answer for the record. Witnesses said Depps attorney Camille Vasquez happily grabbed a piece of candy and ate it following the interaction. However, the witness still argued he believed that Depp has narcissistic personality traits, though the judge wouldnt allow him to link them to what the actor ate during the trial. What do legal experts think of Johnny Depp doodling and eating candy in court? A pile of gummy bears sits on actor Johnny Depp's table in the courtroom at Fairfax County Circuit Court during his defamation case against ex-wife, actor Amber Heard, in Fairfax, Virginia. Photo by @lizfrantz pic.twitter.com/JZtTdHlVwe corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) May 4, 2022 Legal experts weighed in on the issue of Depps in-court behavior. Of course, there are different theories as to how it could impact his case with the jury. For example, legal commentator Emily D. Baker gasped when Bredehoft tied eating candy and doodling to narcissism. Where are my straws? she asked during her trial stream that day. I need to grasp for them. On the other hand, Virginia lawyer Lee Berlik told the Daily Mail that Depps behavior might seem too light-hearted, even if it doesnt prove hes got a narcissistic personality. It could come off as a bit dismissive for the amount of money each party sued for and the weight of the accusations in the case. You want the jury to sympathize with your client, and they have to be likable for that. If youre acting like this is just fun and games that could turn a lot of people off, Berlik explained. He guessed some jury members who arent dazzled by the actors celebrity status could be turned off by his behavior. Of course, its all up to the jury to decide how much Depps behavior impacted his case now that arguments have closed. Deliberations resume on Tuesday, May 31. RELATED: Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard: Closing Arguments Leave the Stars on Verdict Watch Rapper Rick Ross has been known over the years for showing off just how hard hes been Hustin'. The Miami native spares no expense when it comes to things like jewelry, businesses, and automobiles. But his auto collection goes far beyond luxury and classic cars: the Maybach Music executive owns vehicles including tanks, fire trucks, and vintage campers. Rick Ross | Johnny Nunez/WireImage Rick Ross started working at a car wash Ross traveled a long way to get where he is today. He looked back on his first job while speaking at the 2021 Revolt Summit. My very first [hustle] Well, I always go back to the car wash, he said. I was 13, I got $30 a day from 8 in the morning to 8 P.M. Thats when I just learned to go above and beyond from the big homies that brought their cars in. Ross reflected on the lessons that the job taught him in a 2021 appearance on The Real. I found out life is a competitive sport, he said honestly about the time. You gotta find a way to enjoy it, but it is a competitive sport. I used to be behind the car wash waiting for the hustlers to pull up with their music turned up loud, he continued. I let them know Ill put gas in your car, Ill organize your cassette deck, anything you need for that extra five dollars. Rozay wanted that tip. You gotta take advantage of your time, he urged anyone looking to make boss moves like him. Multiply your output. Thats what being a boss is all about: multiplying your output. Rick Ross car collection includes tanks and fire trucks Today, Ross boasts a large fleet of automobiles and other vehicles. He spoke about his collection in a 2022 interview with HotNewHipHop. I have 1959 campers that have a bed, a shower, a stove. The list goes on, Rhe said. You put them on the back of the station wagon and to me thats dope as f***. So I got two of those, and Im gonna have them on the back of some dope-a** classic, flawless cars. So when we talk about a collection, you better talk about a wide range of s*** cause I got tanks, fire trucks, tow trucks, limousines, and Cadillacs. Rick Ross had a car show at his Georgia estate Ross brought out his collection in May 2022 at his inaugural Rick Ross Car & Bike Show. The event took place at his Promise Land estate in Fayetteville, Georgia. Ross showed off some of his well-known (and endearingly named) cars such as a golden Gucci top 1971 Chevrolet Impala named Lemon Pepper and a black 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith named Rihanna. But Rozay also showed much of his collection that the public has never seen before, including a car named Scorcese and a wide array of wagons and classic campers. RELATED: Rick Ross Biggest Lesson From His Early Days of Washing Cars: Life is a Competitive Sport Sarah Silverman is no stranger to the spotlight. When it comes to humor, the comedian is a bit of a legend. Her standup and writing has made Silverman a worldwide favorite. However, more recently, the conditions of the global pandemic reluctantly inspired her to begin her own podcast, The Sarah Silverman Podcast. The star has a reputation for being both outrageously funny and pushing boundaries. Although, this isnt anything new for Silverman. Sarah Silvermans childhood Comedian Sarah Silverman in 2003 | Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic Silverman, a New Hampshire native, was born in December of 1970. Ironically enough, Adam Sandler and Silverman come from the same hometown. Silvermans older sister and Sandler were closer in age and attended school together. Though the famous comedy actor and successful standup comedian werent friends growing up, their parents were. Sandlers mom was even Silvermans teacher at one point, which even inspired one of Sandlers sets. Talk about a small world. Silverman, the baby of her family, was the fifth sibling to join the crew. However, sadly, one of Silvermans siblings died at a young age, and, naturally, Silverman decided to use the tragic event for joking purposes. Sarah Silvermans brother died, and she turned into her first joke NPR has the story behind Silvermans first very joke. Spoiler alert: It didnt go well. This seems fitting considering Silvermans controversial journey in comedy. In her book The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee, the comedy star explained how it all went down. Being the youngest child, Silverman often heard stories about a brother named Jeffrey. Silverman never met her older brother because he tragically died. While just an infant, her older brother suffocated in a crib. Already displaying a knack for comedy, Silverman decided to use this devastating loss to try out some new joke content. She shared how her grandmother picked her and her sisters up for Sunday morning breakfast when she unleashed the unforgettable joke. In the car, when her grandmother reminded them to buckle up, Silverman said, Yeah, we dont want to end up like Jeffrey. As many can imagine, the joke didnt go over well. It even caused Silvermans grandmother to burst into tears. Sarah Silvermans history of taking jokes too far "9/11 widows give the best hand jobs." -Mark Twain#notcooltwain Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) October 6, 2010 Silverman has never been afraid to test the boundaries. In the light of 9/11, many people were offended when she made a joke regarding American Airlines. Today recapped the bit, but it revolved around the airline now having the ability to advertise first through the towers. When she compared her dream of a shark who wears braces to the dream of Martin Luther King Jr., Silverman once again found herself facing deep scrutiny. From AIDS to the Holocaust, there isnt anything that seems to be off limits for the successful star. Silverman even managed to get on Paris Hiltons bad side when the comedian roasted Hilton while hosting the 2007 MTV Movie Awards. Despite not always being liked, Silverman never lets it deter her or change her sense of humor. Silvermans upcoming projects Its true. David Lettermans Stupid Pet Tricks Becoming TBS Show Hosted by Sarah Silverman https://t.co/wkHs5htYMg Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) July 29, 2021 In addition to performing standup and writing, Silverman has heavily been involved in the acting scene as well. For over a decade, she worked on Bobs Burgers impressing viewers with her range of voice acting. More recently, Silverman finished filming for the upcoming movie Viral. Looking ahead, her fans and followers can expect to see her hosting Stupid Pet Tricks. The television series is inspired and based off of David Lettermans popular segment that so many people loved. RELATED: Sarah Silvermans Brutal Sex Scene That Hurt for Days Wouldnt Fly in Hollywood These Days TL;DR: Seeking Sister Wife star Dannielle Merrifield revealed she and Garrick Merrifield are still together. In season 4, the couple brings another woman into their relationship while also trying to make things work with Roberta. Dannielle wonders if she can trust Roberta in a clip from the new season, which premieres June 6. Dannielle Merrifield of Seeking Sister Wife | TLC via YouTube Dannielle and Garrick Merrifield are still going strong. The couple, who appear on the TLC series Seeking Sister Wife, divorced in season 3 so that Garrick could marry Roberta, a move that Dannielle didnt seem completely on board with. But despite her complicated feelings about plural marriage, Dannielle isnt giving up on Garrick. She recently confirmed that the two are still together. Plus, a new trailer for Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 suggests another woman is now in the picture as well. Dannielle from Seeking Sister Wife reveals she and Garrick are still together In Seeking Sister Wife Season 3, Dannielle reluctantly agreed to divorce her husband so that he could marry Roberta, a potential sister wife who lived in Brazil and would need a fiance visa to enter the United States. Dannielle insisted she was OK with sharing her husband with another woman. But as Garrick and Robertas relationship deepened during meet-ups in Mexico, Dannielle had to deal with feelings of jealousy and abandonment. At times, it seemed Garrick had checked out of his marriage to Dannielle and was only interested in Roberta. Though Dannielle had some reservations about embracing plural marriage, shes sticking with Garrick, with whom she has two children. She recently took to Instagram to confirm that she is still with her husband. Guilty, she replied to a follower who wanted to know if she was still with this guy? I am very happy, I promise, she wrote in response to another persons comment on the post promoting the new season of Seeking Sister Wife. She also said that those who tune in to the new episodes will see tears for sure emotional on every level. Garrick and Dannielle are bringing another woman into their relationship Cheers to dating the same guy! Jump into the world of polygamy on a brand new season of #SeekingSisterWife Monday, June 6 at 10/9c. pic.twitter.com/OtpsDPJQtE TLC Network (@TLC) May 24, 2022 RELATED: Seeking Sister Wife Season 3: Fans See Parallels Between Dannielle and Sister Wives Star Meri Brown Not only are Garrick and Dannielle still together, but they appear to have brought another woman into their relationship in addition to Roberta. A teaser for Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 (via Twitter) shows the Colorado couple with a woman named Lea. Now, it may be Robertas turn to be jealous. We need Bert to be 100% on board, Dannielle says in the clip. Lea wonders if issues with Roberta will impact her relationship with the Merrifields. Are we going to have to slow down because shes not here? she asks. My hope is that we can all be on the same page, Dannielle replies. Dannielle wonders if she can trust Roberta in Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 teaser Roberta is apparently still in Brazil, and the Merrifields travel to South America this season to see her and hash out whats happening in their relationship. We came to Brazil. Weve got to get a hold of Roberta to find out whats going on, Garrick says. Later, Dannielle confronts Roberta, telling the other woman shes not sure she can trust her. There have been moments I have second-guessed if you were the right choice, she says. Its been very hard. I dont deserve it, you know. Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 premieres Monday, June 6 at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. RELATED: Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 Release Date and Cast One week before Tom Petty moved to California to pursue his dream of being a musician, he married his first wife, Jane Benyo. They had been dating on and off for over a year, and, at her insistence, they decided to get married before making the cross country move. Petty agreed, but he had some last-minute doubts. He attempted to run away from his wedding because he realized he didnt want to go through with it. Tom Petty | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Tom Petty met his first wife in his hometown Petty and Benyo met in their hometown of Gainesville, Florida. When they met, she was dating Pettys friend. I met Jane in Florida, he said. I think I first met her when she was dating Tom Leadon, and came to a gig. Tom Petty and Jane Benyo | Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images The pair dated for a bit over a year, and Petty had all but moved in with her. Wed been going out for a while, didnt officially live together, but I spent a lot of time at her apartment, Petty said in the book Petty: The Biography by Warren Zanes. She shared a place with Jim Lenahans girlfriend, Alice, who would later become his wife. And we got along good, but she was adamant that we get married before we leave. All throughout their relationship, Petty was intent on pursuing music and wanted to move to California to do so. Benyo would join him, but she wanted to get married first. The Heartbreakers frontman didnt want to go through with the wedding Petty was so focused on the move to California that he didnt give her request much thought. He agreed to marry Benyo. Looking back, he thinks their marriage was a combined effort of Benyo, his mother, and his grandmother. Ive given it a lot of thought, he said, and I think it was a bit of a conspiracy between Jane, my mother, and my grandmother. I think Jane wanted to find a way to make sure I didnt elbow her out of the picture. And my mother was a Christian woman. Jane was going over there a lot, hanging out, talking to them. Janes rap to me was, Whats the difference? Were going to be together anyway. This way everyone will be happy.' Though hed agreed to it, Petty got cold feet. I didnt want to do it, he said. I was very vocal about it, too. On the first trip to the church, I jumped out of the car and tried to run away. Then my mother called me and said she wanted me to come over to the house. I did, and she said, Listen, for my sake, please get married before you go out there. Its the right thing to do.' After his mothers words, Petty went through with the marriage. Tom Petty and his first wife divorced in the 1990s Petty and Benyo had two daughters together, Adria and Annakim. As Petty rose to prominence as a musician, he credited Benyo with holding their family together. Tom Petty, Jane Benyo, and their daughters | Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images There were a lot of years when I just wasnt really around, he told Rolling Stone in 1991. And fortunately Jane was strong enough to basically run the whole show by herself for a long time. In 1996, however, the couple split after 22 years of marriage. In 2001, Petty married Dana York, with whom he remained until his death. RELATED: Tom Petty Wanted a Comment He Made About Bob Dylan Taken Out of His Biography Pro-life watchdog group's investigation shutters Florida abortion facility A national pro-life watchdog group's investigation has led to the closure of a Florida abortion facility that failed to abide by standard emergency medical protocols, with reports surfacing of patients experiencing extensive bleeding and other severe complications. Reprotection, the pro-life group responsible for spearheading the investigation that led to the suspension, began the process of attempting to shut the facility down two years ago. On May 20, Florida's Agency of Health Care Administration issued an order to suspend the license of the American Family Planning abortion facility in Pensacola. The document describes multiple cases where the clinic failed to comply with the law and put patients' safety at risk. Earlier this month, a patient experienced an incomplete second-trimester abortion due to a possible uterine rupture and cervical lacerations, according to the order. There is no record of the facility monitoring the woman's condition or vital signs before or after the procedure, as required by law. Additionally, the document states that she experienced a blood loss of between 250 and 750 milliliters, with the exact amount unclear due to a "seven (7) and two (2) digit being written over one another" on the record. The woman reportedly sat in the car with her husband after the abortion. Clinic staff later instructed the husband to drive his wife to a hospital in Mobile, Alabama, instead of a closer one. By the time the woman received care from a hospital, she had "undetectable blood pressure" and "required resuscitation and mass transfusion." In March, another woman undergoing a second-trimester abortion began bleeding, but there is also no record of the facility monitoring her vitals. She had no pulse by the time she was transferred to the emergency room and was later forced to undergo a hysterectomy. Last year, a woman who had an abortion later "required repair of uterine perforation, a colon resection, a colostomy, a sigmoidectomy, and a cystoscopy." The clinic did not report the complication or any of the others to the agency, as required by law. "The lack of regulations and the lack of willingness to enforce basic medical standards on abortion facilities creates a hotbed for seedy abortionists," Reprotection CEO Missy Martinez-Stone told The Christian Post. "The abortion industry touts itself as 'We are for women's health; we're for women's choice,'" she continued. "Yet we go into these facilities, and we find out how these abortion facilities are harming women and exploiting women." Reprotection launched its investigation into American Family Planning after Emerald Coast Coalition for Life informed them two years ago that the facility lied about having a transfer agreement with the nearby Baptist Health Hospital. Martinez-Stone told CP that the American Family Planning clinic also lied about having a transfer agreement with another hospital in West Florida. Florida law requires abortion facilities to have a written transfer agreement with a nearby hospital if an abortionist does not have admitting privileges. The agreement outlines the circumstances under which a clinic should conduct an emergency transfer of a patient to the hospital with medical records related to the pregnancy termination. The coalition had heard about the facility's violations from its volunteers outside the clinic and communication with pregnancy resource centers. They contacted Reprotection with the information due to the group's history of investigating and shutting down dangerous abortion facilities. Reprotection's CEO said the process for shuttering abortion facilities like American Family Planning typically consists of following state protocols that are already in place. The group contacts the agency responsible for dealing with the clinic's violations and makes a report or files a complaint. In the case of this particular Florida abortion facility, Martinez-Stone said that Reprotection contacted the AHCA. "And they were hesitant; they did not want to get involved," the pro-life CEO said. "It was really difficult to get them to move, even when we had firsthand documentation of fraudulent transfer agreements. They just didn't want to touch it because it's abortion." The watchdog group took the issue up the ladder and went above people's heads, moving higher and higher through the chains of command until they got the attention of state officials, who then put pressure on the agency to act. Martinez-Stone's group is currently conducting around 50 investigations in some 30 states of abortion facilities reportedly violating the law and endangering women. The pro-life leader contends that this is a "national issue." "Every time I go into a new pro-life community and I talk to the people serving abortion-minded patients the ones counseling, the ones in pregnancy centers they can immediately tell me all the ways the abortion facility is harming women," she said. "This is absolutely not safe. There's nothing about this that is empowering to these women. It is taking advantage of women in vulnerable situations for money." Florida is not the only state with reported cases of abortion facilities allegedly breaking the law and operating relatively unchecked for years. One egregious example is Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell who, in 2013, was found responsible for the deaths of one woman and multiple infants born alive at his unsanitary abortion clinic. The Pennsylvania Department of State and the Pennsylvania Department of Health failed to inspect the abortion clinic for more than 17 years, allowing Gosnell to conduct his operations without scrutiny. A grand jury report detailed what investigators discovered during a Feb. 18, 2010, drug raid on the clinic. Blood-stained floors and furniture, haphazardly stored fetal remains, and dirty equipment are just some of the things investigators uncovered during the raid that exposed Gosnell's crimes. The report also revealed that Gosnell profited $10,000 to $15,000 a day at his late-term abortion clinic and made additional money as "one of the top Oxycontin providers in the state." USPS can require Christian postal carrier to work on Sundays, appeals court rules A federal appeals court panel has ruled against a U.S. Postal Service employee who sought religious exemptions from working on Sundays because of his faith. A three-judge panel for the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Pennsylvania postal worker Gerald Groff in a decision released Wednesday. Groff, a former employee of the Quarryville Post Office in Lancaster County who opposed working on Sundays, argued that he could only avoid working on Sundays by switching shifts with other employees. Circuit Judge Patty Shwartz, an Obama appointee, wrote that if Groff were to receive exemptions from working on Sundays, the accommodations "would cause an undue hardship" for the postal service. "Exempting Groff from working on Sundays caused more than a de minimis cost on USPS because it actually imposed on his coworkers, disrupted the workplace and workflow, and diminished employee morale," the ruling reads. Although USPS doesn't typically deliver mail on Sundays, it will occasionally do so under "certain circumstances," such as priority mail or delivering Amazon packages. As a rural carrier associate, Groff had never been asked to work Sundays until the U.S. Postal Service expanded about four years after he started the job. The expansion involved employees working Sundays for Amazon package delivery in rural areas. Following the expansion, Groff was not in attendance for dozens of his work shifts that fell on Sundays. The only option Groff felt he had was to swap shifts with another employee. The USPS brass told Groff that due to the shortage of staff, it is bound by a collective bargaining agreement that mandated that a Sunday rotation be part of rural carrier associates' job requirements. For missing multiple shifts, Groff received disciplinary action. In response, Groff resigned from his job and filed his lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In April 2021, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl, an Obama appointee, dismissed Groff's case because the plaintiff failed to show that he was "treated differently with regards to Sundays because he was a Christian." Clinton appointee and Circuit Judge Julio Fuentes joined the Shwartz opinion. Circuit Judge Thomas Hardiman, a George W. Bush appointee, authored a partial dissent in which he wrote that "a conflict had to be totally eliminated to result in reasonable accommodation under Title VII." "Inconvenience to Groff's coworkers alone doesn't constitute undue hardship. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed Gerald Groff from the completion of his appointed rounds," Hardiman wrote. "But his sincerely held religious belief precluded him from working on Sundays. Because USPS has not yet shown that it could not accommodate Groff's Sabbatarian religious practice without its business suffering undue hardship, I respectfully dissent." Baker Botts attorney Christopher Tutunjian, who represented Groff, said in a statement that he was "pleased with the Third Circuit's unanimous holding that a 'reasonable accommodation' under Title VII must completely eliminate the work-religion conflict." "This holding correctly addresses a circuit-splitting issue and will protect the religious rights of employees throughout the Circuit," stated Tutunjian, as reported by Courthouse News Service. "However, as Judge Hardiman persuasively explained in his partial dissent, the majority's erroneous conclusion that USPS established undue hardship only underscores the need for the Supreme Court to address the continued vitality of the Court's decision in TWA v. Hardison. We are considering our options for further review." 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." 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." Off-duty Border Patrol agent helps mother deliver baby in public bathroom An off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent was with his family at a charity event earlier this month when he came to the aid of a woman giving birth in a public restroom, according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Border Patrol Agent George Huertas, a member of the Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Team in San Diego, was participating in the Miracle Babies Superhero 5K with his family on May 15, a fundraising event for premature babies. The agent remains active in the preborn baby community, as his son was born prematurely and spent the first three months of his life in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Just as Huertas and his family were packing up and preparing to leave, his sister informed him of the woman in labor in a nearby public restroom. The agent is a trained emergency medical technician and went to assist the woman with delivering her baby. CBP did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. While the bathroom was not a safe, sanitary location for the woman to give birth, Huertas used rubber gloves provided by a janitor. After the child was born, the agent and father used his EMT training to stimulate the baby boy and initiate breathing. Then, he wrapped the baby in a blanket provided by his sister and cleaned the infants face before introducing him to his mother. If you know George, you know he is too humble to bring this up for attention, Michael E. McEwan, the acting commander of San Diego BORSTAR, said in the statement. He only told a group of us in passing during muster and downplayed the whole incident. Huertas remained with the mother and her newborn child until medical personnel with the proper equipment arrived to deal with the babys umbilical cord and provide further care. George responds to those in need on and off duty, McEwan said. He is a strong advocate for those under his care. He truly embodies what it means to be a BORSTAR Agent and lives our moniker So Others May Live. The woman is not the first mother to deliver a baby in a public setting instead of a hospital. In October 2013, firefighters responded to a call about a woman in labor at a Los Angeles Barnes & Noble bookstore. The first responders debated whether they should immediately transfer the woman to the hospital or help her deliver the baby in the store. "The baby made that decision for them. They went ahead and delivered a healthy baby boy, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Steve Deuel said. Paramedics assisting with the delivery drew up a cloth to preserve the womans privacy. Both mother and child were reportedly in good health after the woman was taken to the hospital after giving birth. According to the store manager, Marchelle Hughes, the woman gave birth just a few minutes after entering the establishment. Store employees were forced to ask onlookers to stop taking photos as the incident drew a crowd. "That is a really awkward event to do in public. At the same time, it's a really tender moment, and I think everybody wanted to share that, Hughes said. Another woman, in January 2012, underwent a speedy delivery on a New Jersey PATH train. Rabita Sarkar and Aditya Saurabh had been on their way to the hospital when Sarkar went into labor early. The mother was experiencing pain and thought they could be contractions. The couple was traveling to the hospital to determine whether it was false labor. Sarkar felt the baby coming as soon as she boarded the train, which another passenger also noticed. She asked me, Where are you headed to? I said, 33rd then to the hospital at 59th. Then she told me, You cant wait, the first-time mother recalled. Other passengers alerted the conductor, who made the train push through the stops and called ahead for the paramedic to meet the train. On the train, Sarkar gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Jhatpat. As the train came into the station, the woman had already given birth. Thats a good baby. He barely made a peep, Port Authority Police Sgt. Mike Barry said. Doctor suspended for prescribing trans hormone drugs without properly assessing patients A doctor based in the United Kingdom has had his license suspended over allegations that he prescribed cross-sex hormones to patients without adequately assessing them beforehand, one of whom took their own life a few months later. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal ordered the erasure of Dr. Michael Webberley's license to practice medicine Wednesday following a six-month suspension. Webberley is alleged to have run an online clinic that prescribed puberty blockers to kids as young as 9 without being assessed by a doctor. According to the General Medical Council, which works "to protect patient safety and improve medical education and practice across the U.K.," Webberley's erasure is "not yet in force, pending an appeal period." His erasure follows a Nov. 14 suspension. Allegations of wrongdoing against Webberley prompted the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, which makes "independent decisions about whether doctors are fit to practice medicine" in the U.K., to investigate Webberley's medical practices. A hearing took place Wednesday. In the ruling ordering the revocation of Webberley's medical license, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal determined that "erasing Dr. Webberley's name from the Medical Register is the only appropriate sanction in order to meet the overarching objective, which is to protect patients, maintain public confidence in the medical profession and uphold proper professional standards." A group of volunteer citizen reporters has created a Twitter account devoted to covering Webberley's misconduct tribunal. The account, which has the handle @tribunaltweets2, live-tweeted the proceedings of Webberley's trial. The group's corresponding Substack account outlined the allegations against Webberley, who founded the gender clinic GenderGP along with his wife, Helen. "The tribunal will inquire into the allegation that, between April 2017 and June 2019, Dr. Webberley failed to provide good clinical care to 25 patients. It is alleged that Dr. Webberley's failings related variously to consultation, history taking, examination, diagnosis, prescribing, communication, follow up, informed consent, assessment, working with colleagues, working within the limits of his expertise and working within guidance," a summary of the allegations against him posted at the beginning of the trial stated. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal accused Webberley of a "wide range" of failures in relation to the numerous patients. Webberley is said to have failed to conduct or obtain adequate psychological and mental health assessments and made "inappropriate diagnoses" without "accurate information." The doctor is accused of prescribing patients "without clinical indication and/or sufficient information." Additionally, he is charged with failure to obtain informed consent. Webberley also allegedly failed to "adequately engage with other clinicians involved in a patient's care," did not "provide adequate follow-up care" and engaged in "dishonesty linked to the obtaining of consent." "The Tribunal's findings included findings of dishonesty in relation to the consenting of the androgen patient," the order from the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Services states, according to the copy shared by the Twitter account. Webberley is said to have inappropriately diagnosed male patients with hypogonadism and prescribed them androgen hormones. Hypogonadism results in the reduced production of sex hormones. Some of those patients "experienced androgen toxicity." The determination of the facts compiled by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service revealed that one of seven trans-identified patients he treated "took his own life" after "receiving hormone treatment from GP." The tribunal accuses Webberley of diagnosing a trans-identified patient with gender dysphoria without conducting a "physical assessment" or a "face-to-face video consultation," instead relying on counselors who aren't registered with a recognized regulatory body. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service also found that Webberley "prescribed oestrogen and anti-androgens to Patient S without" adequately monitoring their physical and psychological response to the treatment and failing to discuss "alternative treatments." The determination of the facts noted that Webberley continued to prescribe "excessive" doses of estrogen to the patient even though the patient was experiencing "known risks." Webberley reportedly failed to consider that the patient was on the autistic spectrum. When treating another patient, identified as "Patient V," Webberley provided the parents with a leaflet that "incorrectly advised that hormone blockers are fully reversible." He also allegedly provided false information to parents asserting that "testosterone could be prescribed to patients under 16 in exceptional circumstances." In a statement, GenderGP said that Webberley had not been involved with the practice for "some time" but praised his "courage in putting everything on the line to provide the best care possible for his patients." "Gender Affirming Healthcare has made great strides, producing better care outcomes for trans people around the world, and providing protocols that transform peoples lives," the May 19 statement reads. "Dr. Michael Webberleys patients have been united and unwavering in their support, feedback, and thanks for his role in helping progress models of care that have aided them to live as themselves." The erasure of Webberley's medical license comes more than three years after his wife Helen faced a fine the equivalent of $15,000 for running Gender GP illegally out of her home. While Mrs. Webberley had her license to practice medicine suspended in 2018, it was reinstated earlier this year with conditions including a "ban on prescribing any drugs, and a requirement to keep a log detailing every consultation with a transgender patient." GenderGP claims that despite "equal healthcare" moving forward globally, "there is further progress to make in the UK." "The contradictory findings of the Drs. Webberleys cases demonstrate two things: the importance of having the opportunity to defend yourself, and the lack of key expertise, and a united approach, in the provision of trans care within the UK," the statement adds. "GenderGP as an international provider has continued the fight for equal access to healthcare, applying globally recognised protocols and standards, and will continue to do everything we can to provide vital care and support to our patients and the trans community." Gunmen abduct 2 priests, 2 boys from Catholic church in Nigeria: 'Pray for their safety and release' Unidentified gunmen attacked a Catholic parish in northern Nigeria this week and abducted two priests and two unidentified boys as kidnappings and attacks on Christians carry on unabated in the African country. The priests, identified as Fr. Stephen Ojapa and Fr. Oliver Okpara from the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, and two young boys were abducted from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Gidan Maikambo area of Katsina states Kafur Local Government Area early Wednesday, Vatican News reported. The whereabouts of the four seized during the raid are not known, Fr. Chris Omotosho, the director of social communications for the Sokoto diocese, was quoted as saying. Kindly pray for their safety and release, he added. The kidnappings come a week after the death of Fr. Joseph Aketeh Bako from the Archdiocese of Kaduna who was abducted in March by gunmen from his residence in St. John Catholic Church in Kudenda area. Earlier this month, radical Islamic militants from Islamic Fulani herdsmen or the Islamic State West Africa Province killed at least eight Christians, including children younger than 5, and wounded several others in an attack in Borno state. The attackers had AK-47 rifles and shouted, Allah Akbar [Allah is the greatest] while firing indiscriminately, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. Weapons are being made available to militants in Nigeria through war-torn Libya. And in the countrys Northeast region, the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have killed thousands and displaced millions in recent years. In a report released last year, the Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) estimated that about 10 million people had been uprooted in northern Nigeria, where extremist violence was most severe, from July 2009 to July 2021. The report added that about 2,000 Christian schools were attacked during that time. The atrocities included massacres, killings, mutilations, torture, maiming, abductions, hostage-taking, rape, girl-child defilements, forced marriages, disappearances, extortions, forceful conversions and destruction or burning of homes and sacred worship and learning centers, Intersociety reported. Intersociety said the mass violence had resulted from the propagation of radical Islamism. The Nigerian government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, who comes from a Fulani background, attributes the violence in the Middle Belt states to decades-old farmer-herder clashes. However, Christian human rights advocates have accused the government of overlooking religious elements and not doing enough to protect Nigerian citizens. Many have raised concerns about what they perceive as the governments inaction in holding terrorists accountable for the rising number of murders and kidnappings, which some groups warn have reached the level of genocide. ICC identified Nigeria as one of its 2021 Persecutors of the Year. Nigeria is one of the deadliest places on Earth for Christians, as 50,000 to 70,000 have been killed since 2000, the ICC Persecutors of the Year report states. Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, reported that at least 4,650 Christians were killed between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. That is an increase from 3,530 the previous year. Additionally, more than 2,500 Christians were kidnapped, up from 990 a year earlier. New Oklahoma law requires students to use bathrooms that match their biological sex Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law a measure that requires students in public schools to use bathrooms that correspond with their biological sex as opposed to their gender identity. Stitt signed Senate Bill 615 Wednesday, which requires each public school and public charter school that serves students in prekindergarten through twelfth grades in this state to require every multiple occupancy restroom or changing area designated either for the exclusive use of the male sex or for the exclusive use of the female sex. The bill defines sex as the condition of being male or female based on genetics and physiology, as identified on the individuals original birth certificate. The measure contains a provision requiring schools to provide a reasonable accommodation to any individual who does not wish to comply with the requirement that students use bathrooms and changing areas designated for their biological sex. It cites access to a single-occupancy restroom or changing room as the reasonable accommodation schools can offer. In other words, trans-identified students who do not want to use bathrooms that match their biological sex can use single-occupancy restrooms. A school districts failure to comply with the law will result in a 5% decrease in state funding for the fiscal year following the year of noncompliance. The bill took effect immediately following its approval. Stitts signature followed the Republican-controlled Senates 38-7 vote to approve the measure on May 19 and the House of Representatives approval of the legislation in a 69-14 vote that same day. The bill was nearly unanimously opposed by Democrats, with one Democrat voting in favor in the Senate and no Democrats supporting it in the House. Tanya Cox-Toure, the executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, condemned the legislation in a statement. Transgender people are part of our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods, and they, like everyone else, need to be able to safely access restrooms, she said. By singling out transgender students for discrimination and excluding them from restrooms that match their gender identity, SB 615 discriminates based on transgender status and sex in violation of the United States Constitution and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, Cox-Toure added. These violations put Oklahoma at risk of losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, and harms transgender youth, all to solve a problem that plainly does not exist. The activist insisted that transgender individuals go to the restroom just like everyone else, and their presence harms no one. SB 615 has and will continue to cause severe harms to transgender students who are just trying to live their lives and go to school alongside their peers," Cox-Toure stressed. Policies allowing trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity have received increased scrutiny across the U.S. The proposed implementation of such a policy led to massive protests in Loudoun County, Virginia, where school district leadership assured concerned parents that no sexual assaults had taken place in girls bathrooms at the hands of male students. However, three weeks before the contentious Loudoun County school board meeting, a sexual assault did occur in a girls bathroom at one of the high schools in Loudoun County, committed against a girl by a boy reportedly wearing a skirt. The two students had a previous history of romantic involvement. Emails released by the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office showed that district leadership was aware of the sexual assault on the day that it occurred, leading to a conclusion by outraged parents that Superintendent Scott Ziegler misled parents at the June 2021 school board meeting. Critics of the Loudoun County Public Schools claim that the district deliberately concealed the sexual assault in an effort to avoid the derailment of a proposed policy that would allow trans-identified students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity. The school board ultimately approved the policy in August 2021, and news of the sexual assault broke two months later. Concerns about biological males using areas where women are partially or completely undressed extend beyond public schools. Last year, a video of a woman confronting employees at a Korean spa in Los Angeles for allowing a trans-identified male with his genitals exposed to enter an area where females, including little girls, were naked went viral. When employees defended letting the man use womens facilities based on his self-identified sexual orientation, the woman responded What sexual orientation? I see a d***! Besides Oklahoma, other states that have passed laws requiring students to use bathrooms that correspond with their biological sex include Tennessee and North Carolina. The North Carolina law was derided as a bathroom bill by critics, and backlash led to the bills repeal in 2017. 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. Does God prosper His worshipers? Some Christians believe that since the prosperity Gospel is rightly identified as a false Gospel, that, therefore, God never desires to prosper His worshippers. There are several scriptures that show the opposite of that, and that that God is delighted in His servants prosperity (Psalm 35:27). God prospered Solomon so wonderfully that no one in the past or in the present world has beaten the prosperity track record of King Solomon. Abraham was also greatly blessed by God "Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold (Genesis 13:2). There is no doubt that God prospers His people. Anyone who disputes this does not know God and does not understand the omnipotent power of God. The earth is the LORDs, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him (Psalm 24:1). There is a great difference between the false prosperity Gospel, which some preachers teach, and Gods loving-kindness to His people. Christians should not give with sense of entitlement for God's blessings because it was not originally so. However, God does choose to bless His people. It is important to note that biblical rich men did not follow any formula before they were blessed by God. They did not even anticipate any blessing before God prospered them. They served God diligently and He decided on His own to prosper them. God vowed to bless Abraham when He saw his faithfulness and determination to please Him. And said, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me (Genesis 22:16-18). God swore to bless Abraham because Abraham was determined to sacrifice his son to Him. He was not motivated by reward. He simply decided to give his son to God. The prosperity which some pastors teach today is motivated by greed and the will of man while the blessing of God comes by the will of God. God responds to sacrifice, which is not motivated by selfish desire and greed, but by love. Solomon was the richest man in the Bible. He attracted divine prosperity when he gave a thousand burnt offering. When others were giving just one burnt offering, he went the extra miles. He did not sow seed to receive a hundred-fold; his offering was motivated by love for God. So God said to him, Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both wealth and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings (1 King 3:11-13). Solomon did not put his personal desire first, neither did he give a thousand burnt offering for God to honor him and make him wealthy. God saw his heart and decided to prosper and honor him. God granted him his heart desire and added all the things that He deemed fit including wealth and honor. When believers seek the kingdom of God first with His righteousness, God adds all these things which include wealth and honor. First thing should be placed first and not the other way round, as advocated by prosperity Gospel preachers. Whatever God decides to add is His prerogative and should be accepted without complaints. He knows our needs more than we do. All we need to do is to prioritize and seek His kingdom. Christ enjoined us not to think about our needs because our Heavenly Father knows about them and is able to take care of us (Mathew 6:25-26). It is also important to note that whatever God has added to us should be used to advance His kingdom through Gospel intervention, especially to areas where no one has preached nor heard about Jesus. Believers resources should also be used for humanitarian projects that touch the lives of the less privileged ( Mathew 25:35-40). Christians are not to accumulate wealth here on earth for themselves. Our treasures should be invested in God's Kingdom by keeping them in Heaven where moths cannot corrupt and thieves cannot steal (Mathew 6:19). We all need money. But wealth can also be a trap. The kind of attention that we often give to wealth and prosperity in churches today calls for sober reflection. Instead of Christians following man-made theology on prosperity, we should strive to seek the kingdom of God first with its righteousness. That remains our top priority. Jordan Peterson ponders the Bible and consciousness after death The renowned clinical psychologist, Jordan Peterson, has developed a growing interest in the Bible. In a discussion earlier this year on Joe Rogans podcast (see the YouTube video with nearly 6 million views), Peterson shared what he learned about Scripture when visiting the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Peterson now believes the Bible is more than true. Only Jordan Peterson can say whether or not he has been able to connect the dots between the message of the Bible and the salvation of his own immortal soul. While speaking at the University of Cambridge in the UK last November, Jordan Peterson was asked: Does consciousness die with the body? Peterson responded, Well I dont know, I would say. I mean, we dont understand consciousness. We dont really understand its place in the cosmos, lets say. But Im not qualified to answer such questions. As a psychologist with decades of experience, Jordan Peterson speaks intelligently on a wide range of topics. But the challenging question he was asked about consciousness after death brings the discussion into a realm far above human reason. We simply do not know the answer to this all-important question unless God tells it to us. The secret things belong to the Lord our God (Deuteronomy 29:29). Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). Christs apostles were entrusted with the secret things of God (1 Corinthians 4:1). Secrets are revealed when the Messiah enters your life. Jesus is the Word made flesh; (John 1:14) the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End; (Revelation 22:13) the sinless Son of God; the second Person of the Trinity; and the "Creator of all things in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16). No one understands consciousness after death better than Jesus Christ. The Lord who created our immortal soul and our mental faculties has revealed in Scripture the truth about life after death. Jordan Peterson is on a spiritual journey, and the Bible holds the key to unlocking his personal perplexities and uncertainties concerning consciousness after death. Noah Webster Jr. has been called the Father of American Scholarship and Education, and Websters name has become synonymous with dictionary in the United States." Noah Webster said, Education is useless without the Bible. The Bible was Americas basic text book in all fields. Interestingly, Noah Webster also founded the Connecticut Society for the Abolition of Slavery in 1791." In order to understand consciousness after death, one must accept what God has said on the subject. God created mans body, soul, intellect, emotions, consciousness, etc. And there is a level of knowledge that can only be reached when the Holy Spirit gives you the answers as you read the Bible with an open mind and a believing heart. Some people will immediately object and say, You cannot possibly know for a fact that Heaven and Hell exist, and that everlasting life in Heaven is a free gift given to those who receive Christ as Savior. You can only believe it and take it on faith. Actually, you can know it, too. First, you believe it, and then God gives you an assurance that what you are believing is definitely true, real, and eternal. I refer to this knowledge as sanctified reason. It is spiritual knowledge from God that flows from the Word of God as a Christian stands in faith on the promises of God. The Apostle John penned these beautiful words of assurance and affirmation to believers: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Notice that faith comes first for the believer: You who believe. And this faith is based on the Gospel message, which is rooted in the historical events of the cross and the empty tomb. Relying upon Gods promise in the Gospel (John 3:16) results in sanctified reason: So that you may know that you have eternal life. The 19th-century American evangelist D.L. Moody said, Faith is the root. Assurance is the flower. You first place your faith in Christ as your Savior from sin, and then God begins to give you the assurance that your sins are forgiven and Heaven is your eternal home. None of us would have a clue about Heaven or Hell apart from God revealing the truth to us in His Word. All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). And when you take God at His Word, the Holy Spirit breathes on your soul. God breathes faith, knowledge, and assurance into the hearts and minds of those who receive Jesus as Savior. (John 1:12) Sanctified reason is what led Job to proclaim, I know that my Redeemer lives (Job 19:25). How else could he possibly know such a thing? God revealed it to him, and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you as well when you take God at His Word. Jordan Peterson, like each of us, is free to accept the following declaration from Jesus as literal truth: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25,26) Some people believe Christs promise in the Gospel, while others reject it. Some people rely only upon human reason, while others believe the biblical doctrines contained in Scripture. Believers are given sanctified reason from the Holy Spirit to know that what they believe is true. The choice is yours. Pondering Scripture is one thing, but actually believing the Gospel is central to knowing Christ (John 10:14) and becoming wise for salvation. (2 Timothy 3:15) Trusting Jesus as your Savior is what makes all things new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Taking God at his Word is the only way to have genuine certainty about life after death. Everything else is just a shot in the dark. Pensacola abortion business closed following report of 3 women hospitalized Florida health officials issued an emergency order last Friday closing an abortion business in Pensacola after a report by Reprotection, a pro-life investigative organization. The group found that within the last nine months, three patients had been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after their abortions. Extensive blood loss, a big hole in the uterine wall, and loss of pulse are just some of the horrors inflicted on patients that the report uncovered. American Family Planning of Pensacola is the only operating abortion center on the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Tallahassee. But as of May 20, Floridas Agency on Health Care Administration (AHCA) suspended the facilitys license and issued an immediate closure until an administrative hearing is held in the state capital. This news comes a month after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a new law that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks, effective on July 1. Missy Martinez-Stone, CEO of Reprotection, who led the investigation into the abortion business said, The standard of care at American Family Planning of Pensacola was non-existent, and we are elated that the clinic has been shut down before more women are seriously harmed. The report revealed that in November 2021, one patients abortion procedure was so badly botched that it later required the repair of uterine perforation, a colon resection, a colostomy, a sigmoidectomy, and a cystoscopy. The clinic failed to report these complications in accordance with Floridas laws. In March 2022, another patient who had a second-trimester abortion at 20 weeks experienced severe injuries. During the laminaria procedure to open the cervix she began to bleed excessively. The patient was given Pitocin and Methergine but there are no records of her vitals being monitored as required by law. When she was finally transferred to the ER, physicians discovered she had no pulse and there were two big holes on the left and right walls of the uterus. The patient was forced to undergo a total hysterectomy since doctors were unable to save any of her reproductive organs. The third incident took place earlier this month with another patient who was 19 weeks pregnant. When she arrived at the abortion facility, she was given drugs and told to wait in the car with her husband. The patients vitals were not monitored. When she began to bleed excessively because of a uterine rupture and cervical lacerations, the clinic reportedly told her spouse to take her to a hospital an hour away in Mobile, Alabama rather than rushing to a hospital in Pensacola. According to the order, once they arrived at the hospital, she had undetectable blood pressure and her blood oxygen level was at 80%. Physicians were able to resuscitate her and perform a mass blood transfusion to save her life. The abortionist who carried out the procedures on the last two patients told AHCA officials that he was unfamiliar with emergency medical procedures and sought guidance from the office manager, who had no medical or clinical licenses. Our investigation into this specific abortion clinic has been going on for two years and we have utilized every avenue possible to work to protect the health and safety of women from dangerous abortion clinics like this one, said Martinez-Stone. While we dont know why AHCA did not shut them down earlier, we are grateful the state of Florida has taken decisive action to protect women from dangerous abortion clinics who seek profit over safety. Originally published at the Family Research Council. 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. TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania's Interior Ministry said Saturday that four Albanian women and nine children, all related to Albanians who joined Islamist extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq, have been repatriated from a Syrian camp. The group, which landed at the Pristina Adem Jashari Airport in neighboring Kosovo, was joined by other Kosovar citizens leaving the hell camps, the statement said, without disclosing the number. At least one man's blurred face was seen in a video distributed by the ministry. While changes to Michigans auto insurance policies have reduced the amount people are spending on auto insurance, those who benefited from those policies have found it more difficult to carry on. Representatives of the Grand Rapids-based AdvisaCare Home Health & Hospice have gone to the boards of commissioners of several counties explaining the need for further reforms. AdvisaCare offers services such as private duty home care, skilled/certified home care services, rehabilitation services, and working with those who suffered catastrophic injuries. It currently has 250 clients it works with, including a handful in Huron County. Kristy Groce, the executive director for AdvisaCare, said that as a result of changes implemented last year, their patients have had to be admitted into nursing homes instead of with caregivers and Michiganders have died due to the lack of care. The company stands that auto reform was needed, Groce said. Home care was an unintended consequence. Michigan changed its no fault auto insurance in May 2019, where drivers no longer had to purchase unlimited personal injury protection to lower auto insurance premiums. Drivers can choose their level of coverage based on needs and budget and can now rely on their own health insurance to cover medical bills. Personal injury protection covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses for a persons lifetime up to the maximum coverage amount selected in a policy, or unlimited if they choose. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association acts as the policy payer. The changes from that law went into effect in July 2020. Outside of other advocacy groups, AdvisaCare was one of the first home health care organizations to weigh in on this issue. It has had conversations with legislators, the governors office, the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, and the Insurance Alliance of Michigan. Julie Wagner, a home care consultant with AdvisaCare, said that as soon as those changes were implemented, 20 other home care companies closed and AdvisaCare tried taking in as many clients as it could. Over 40 companies have since closed with some of their clients discharged into nursing homes. The amount that caregivers were being reimbursed from auto insurance companies was cut 45%, dropping from $32 an hour down to $12 an hour. Changes to that law also limited the amount of time that caregivers who care for their clients 24/7 could get reimbursed for, to only 56 hours a week. No ones taking them, so who has to take care of them? Wagner said. Its the families that take care of them 24/7. Now they have to quit their job to take care of their loved one. Theyre not getting paid from insurance companies because the state says you cannot work more than 56 hours a week, even though they are taking care of loved ones. AdvisaCare is trying to hold on to its clients, but it also has to pay its employees a living wage of between $14 and $18 per hour. Brian Harrison, the executive director of therapy services for AdvisaCare, said that what makes the most sense is to use what the states workers compensation statute says and apply that to home health care. Conversations are taking place to have that written up. Its a tried-and-true trusted system, Harrison said. It works for carriers that do workers and auto insurance. We believe this is something the majority of the House, Senate, and people of Michigan would support. The AdvisaCare representatives have gone to nearby counties urging their commissioners to adopt resolutions advocating for further no-fault reform. According to Groce, 20 Michigan counties have adopted such resolutions, including Bay, Saginaw, Lapeer, Genesee, and Midland counties. The two reps plan on visiting Sanilac County next. It is a state problem ultimately, but its a fix that need to happen, Groce said. Harrison said that in a perfect world, changes would be passed before the Legislature goes on its summer recess, while also saying they put on rose-colored glasses every day. Youre going to see a lot more providers that cant sustain the burden of acting in good faith while taking a loss on financials every single day, Harrison said. Every hour we work, were paying for that care. We feel were on the right side of this conversation, helping families to the care theyre entitled to. For the third year, Americans are greeting the unofficial start of summer shadowed by the specter of the coronavirus amid rising covid-19 cases and hospitalizations across the country. The United States is recording more than 100,000 infections a day - at least five times higher than this point last year - as it confronts the most transmissible versions of the virus yet. Immunity built up as a result of the record winter outbreak appears to provide little protection against the latest variants, new research shows. And public health authorities are bracing for Memorial Day gatherings to fuel another bump in cases, potentially seeding a summer surge. It's a far cry from a year ago, with predictions of a "hot vax summer" uninhibited by covid concerns. Back then, coronavirus seemed to teeter on the brink of defeat as cases plummeted to their lowest levels since spring 2020 and vaccines became widely available for adults. Even the vaccinated and boosted now grudgingly accept the virus as a formidable foe that's here to stay as governments abandon measures to contain it. As the virus morphs and the scientific understanding of how it operates shifts with each variant, Americans are drawing their own lines for what they feel comfortable doing. "This time last year, I was so hopeful," said Margaret Thornton, a 35-year-old Philadelphia researcher preparing to spend her summer socializing mostly outdoors because of her weakened immune system. "Now, I don't know when it's going to be over, and I don't think there is necessarily a light at the end of the tunnel. Or rather, if there is a light, is it an opening to get out? Or is it a train?" Parents of children too young to be vaccinated are making cross-country travel plans. Octogenarians are venturing to bars. And families are celebrating graduations and weddings with throngs of mostly unmasked revelers - mindful they may get sick. Again. More than half of the U.S. population is living in areas classified as having medium or high covid-19 levels by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest cases have yet to overrun hospitals, but that could change as the virus spreads among more vulnerable people. The dominant strains circulating in the United States are the most contagious thus far. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by An Rong Xu. Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo for The Washington Post by An Rong Xu. Show More Show Less 3 of 3 "This one is really revved up, and it's probably getting up there with something as transmissible as measles," said Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College, describing the BA.2.12.1 subvariant now accounting for more than half of new cases. "Over the Memorial Day holidays, if you are in settings where you are indoors with large numbers of people without masks . . . there is a good likelihood you will suffer a breakthrough infection." Experts had hoped that the explosion of the omicron variant this winter, estimated to have infected a quarter of Americans who hadn't already been infected, and the subsequent spring wave of omicron's even more transmissible subvariants, would provide a buffer against future surges. But an emerging body of research suggests those infections will not confer lasting protection as the virus's latest iterations show remarkable ability to escape immunity. Experts say the recently infected who also received booster shots can count on at least several months of immunity, while the unvaccinated should expect little protection. "You should not think, 'Oh, I had omicron, I don't need any shots' or 'I don't need any more shots,'" said Melanie Ott, director of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and a co-author of a paper recently published in Nature finding limited natural immunity from the omicron variant. "We are going into a surge of the omicron subvariants that are more and more able to infect people who have preexisting immunity." Experts say vaccines are still showing durability in protecting people against severe illness. But the initial burst of antibodies from shots or infections fades after several months, said Celine Gounder, an infectious-diseases specialist and senior fellow at Kaiser Health News. That means the virus can develop into an infection before the body's immune system kicks in. Burhan Yardimci, his wife and their three young children - who had all contracted coronavirus in February - joined thousands of Turkish Americans on Madison Avenue recently for the return of New York's annual Turkish Day Parade, canceled the last two years because of the pandemic. The next day, the family stood among another crowd of thousands for the Celebrate Israel Parade. Yardimci doesn't take much solace in his recent infection as an extra layer of protection. He thought his booster shot would stop infections, but he knows people who've had the virus three times. Because no one in his family became seriously ill, he doesn't see the need to upend his life when everyone around him appears to be carrying on as normal. "Hopefully, we'll never get it again," said Yardimci, 42. In the Boston suburbs, Mandy Boyd found herself humbled by coronavirus after getting infected twice in five months: during the massive omicron wave in January, and again in May after attending a 150-person indoor wedding. Neither case was severe. The experience left the 35-year-old health technology worker reassessing how to protect her 4- and 6-year-old children from infections that would disrupt their schooling or summer camp. She still plans to dine out and go to the gym, but her family will wear masks on their flight to Seattle for an upcoming vacation as well as when they watch a WNBA game while there. She worries about passing on a future variant to her children, even if her short-term immunity protects her from getting sick. "We're in a strange spot because it turned into a much more minor virus," said Boyd of Swampscott, Mass. "From that perspective, I don't see that the world should stop or schools should close." Graduations, proms and weddings have also returned after being canceled in earlier stages of the pandemic when cases were lower than they are now. Adeline Rosales, 26, was among the hundreds of California State University Long Beach students in caps and gowns flooding into Angel Stadium in Anaheim on a recent morning. It was her first encounter with some classmates in the College of Health and Human Services who were only familiar as faces on a computer screen during virtual class. She felt comfortable marching alongside them through a tunnel and onto the field knowing the university required vaccines and booster shots. And it was important for her relatives to celebrate the occasion with her because she is the first in the family to graduate college. But to avoid graduation crowds, she said the family waited several days for their celebratory dinner because they were "a little scared" as infections rose and Los Angeles County moved from a low to medium covid-19 risk level. Rosales lives with her parents, both of whom have preexisting conditions, and six other relatives. "I don't want to risk it at this point," Rosales said. "We're just trying to be as respectful to my parents as possible." For most Americans, coronavirus has faded from the foreground. More than half say they are not too concerned or not at all concerned with coronavirus, according to a May survey by Monmouth University. Nearly three-quarters say they hope to vacation this summer and less than a third say coronavirus is a major factor in their plans, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. The Transportation Security Administration on Thursday reported screening more than half a million additional fliers a day compared with the same day last year. Experts are paying close attention to the Southeast for a potential covid resurgence because the region did not experience as many cases in the spring as the Northeast, and rising temperatures are driving people indoors. Florida residents are bracing for the return of another summer surge in sharply different ways. For Jeff Schulte, a 63-year-old retiree, coronavirus has never really gone away, and he sees no reason to change his behavior for an omnipresent threat. He is not planning on masking, social distancing or getting booster shots this summer. "For the rest of our lives, it's here," he said while smoking a cigarette outside the library in downtown Sarasota. "It's going to catch every one of us." To the north near Tampa, Rick Kilby, 57, donned a KN95 mask as he hawked his book about the Victorian-era belief in the healing properties of Florida springs at Floridania Fest in a Gulfport casino ballroom. Mostly unmasked attendees snaked past his table, conveniently situated near an open door that brought in fresh air. He's not worried about getting seriously ill after a second booster shot. But after hearing about five vaccinated friends getting infected in just two days, he does fret about having to cancel his upcoming trip to western Pennsylvania - the only vacation he had planned for the year. "It's not like it was two years ago where you are really concerned about going to the hospital and not getting out. Now, it's more of a concern that this is going to be a real inconvenience to my schedule," said Kilby, who lives in Orlando. "That's the wonder of the vaccine. It made it from a life-threatening condition to one that's really more like having a flu or cold or something." Others at the vintage Florida memorabilia festival feared worse consequences. Patti Kane-Wood, 78, entered the expo wearing a blue surgical mask but felt uncomfortable by how attendees "were squeezed in there like sardines" and didn't stay long. She has heard about more people getting covid in the last month than in the last two years. While she feels well-protected from getting her second booster dose, she worries about long-term complications after watching friends develop persistent breathing problems following their illnesses. A recent study found vaccines may offer little protection against most long-covid symptoms. "If I catch covid, even the slightest case of covid, it's possible I have long covid and have issues for the rest of my life," Kane-Wood said. "I'm very afraid because people are very relaxed now and understandably so, but it's not a time to let our guard down." Parents of young children are entering Memorial Day weekend frustrated that children younger than 5 remain the only group ineligible for vaccines. The prospect of regulators clearing shots by the end of June is becoming increasingly likely after Pfizer-BioNTech reported data showing their three-dose regimen proved 80 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infections in children 6 months to 4 years old. In the meantime, parents are navigating how to protect their unvaccinated children when cases are rising and others are dropping their guards. In Portland, Oregon, Jessica Poole said she is not taking her 5-year-old daughter, Lucia, and 3-year-old son, Max, to indoor play facilities, where Lucia would catch illnesses even before covid. She asks Lucia to wear a mask while she's at prekindergarten. And the family isn't planning any travel, because Max is too young to get vaccinated. But Poole, 37, is not trying to avoid the virus at all costs. "Whatever strain is going around now, you can't be too terrified of it," Poole said outside a CrossFit gym where she planned to work out without a mask on. "We need to live a normal life now." At a southeast Portland pub, George Cummings, 85, took a leap of faith as he joined his friends from a local mountaineering and climbing club for drinks. He knows he's at a higher risk because of his age and wears a mask at the grocery store. He said he has not received a second booster shot because his doctor had not told him they were available. He went maskless as he drank lemonade, ate a cheeseburger and mingled with a group of two dozen in the crowded bar. "I'm not sure I'm 100 percent comfortable with my decision, but the alternative was not to go to the event," said Cummings, who lives alone and had suspended his social life for the better part of two years. "It's almost a question of, do you want to live - and that includes some sort of social life for a human being - or am I going to hide in my basement?" - - - The Washington Post's Jack Wright in New York, Yvonne Condes in Anaheim, Calif., and Doug Moser in Boston contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CHICAGO (AP) Temperatures barely climbed into the 90s and only for a couple of days. But the discovery of the bodies of three women inside a Chicago senior housing facility this month left the city looking for answers to questions that were supposed to be addressed after a longer and hotter heat wave killed more than 700 people nearly three decades ago. Now, the city and the country is facing the reality that because of climate change, deadly heat waves can strike just about anywhere, don't only fall in the height of summer and need not last long. Hotter and more dangerous heat waves are coming earlier, in May ... and the other thing is we are getting older and more people are living alone," said Eric Klinenberg, a New York University sociologist, who wrote Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. about the 1995 heat wave. It's a formula for disaster. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has yet to determine the causes of death for the three women whose bodies were found in the James Sneider Apartments on May 14. But the victims' families have already filed or plan to file wrongful death lawsuits against the companies that own and manage the buildings. The City Council member whose ward includes the neighborhood where the building is located said she experienced stifling temperatures in the complex when she visited, including in one unit where heat sensors hit 102 degrees. These are senior residents, residents with health conditions (and) they should not be in these conditions, Alderman Maria Hadden said in a Facebook video shot outside the apartments. Part of the problem, experts say, is that communities nationwide are still learning how deadly heat can be. It took the sight of refrigerated trucks being filled with dead bodies after Chicago's 1995 heat wave to drive home the message that the city was woefully unprepared for a silent and invisible disaster that took more than twice as many lives as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. That realization led to a system in which city workers call the elderly and frail and turn city buildings into 24-hour cooling centers when temperatures become oppressive. What happened this month is a reminder that the safeguards in place to make sure people don't freeze to death because they have not paid their heating bills often do not exist to prevent people from overheating in their homes. We have nothing for air conditioning, Hadden said. One expert isn't surprised. We recognize people need heating in cold weather and set up programs, financial assistance, to enable that but we dont do that for cooling, said Gregory Wellenius, a Boston University professor of environmental health who has studied heat-related deaths. But subsidies for cooling are really controversial (because) for many people cooling is seen as a luxury item. In Chicago, Hadden said the building's management company believed it was not allowed to turn off the heat and turn on the air conditioning until June 1, because of the city's heat ordinance. But while she said the ordinance has no such requirement, the explanation may at least be a signal that the ordinance should be amended to better protect vulnerable people from heat. Wellenius said statistics show that while well over 80% of homes in cities such as Dallas and Phoenix have air conditioning, the percentage is far lower in cities like Boston and New York. And in the Pacific Northwest, the percentage is even lower, something that came into stark relief in Oregon, Washington and western Canada last June, when temperatures climbed as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit, killing 600 people or more. There is encouraging news. More people have air conditioning and we are more aware of the health risks of heat waves, Klinenberg said. Still, there is evidence that people don't appreciate or even know just how dangerous the heat can be. In a study published in 2020, Wellenius and other researchers estimated that nationwide about 5,600 deaths a year could be attributed to high heat eight times more than the 700 heat-related deaths that the study found were officially reported each year. Wellenius said the reasons for what he called a gross miscalculation begin with the fact that official statistics only count death certificates that list heat as the sole cause of death. In some cases, heat is not listed as a cause even though it may have led to death in people with other conditions. He said the same thing happened in the earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic when people who died in nursing homes in Europe were not tested for COVID so they were not counted as COVID deaths. In Cook County, which includes Chicago, the medical examiner's office reported two heat-related deaths last year, and seven the year before. Just how many deaths in the U.S. are heat related today is unclear. Wellenius' study, published in 2020, is the result of research from 1997 to 2006. And Klinenberg said the issue has been complicated by the pandemic because the people at greatest risk of being killed by COVID-19 are also at the greatest risk of being killed by extreme heat. It's hard to distinguish excess heat deaths from COVID deaths, he said. Still, Hadden knows something must be done to deal with heat that can hit earlier and later in the year than it once did. We have to plan for this, she said. Klinenberg wonders if cities will follow up on such talk. Heat never feels like the most important thing in cities and by the time it feels like the most important thing it is too late to do anything about it," he said. Easton The Board of Selectmen appear likely to approve an affordable housing plan for the town next week. But some residents are not thrilled with its contents. When I read this document, it appears to be a pro-developer, pro-development document, resident Jeff Becker said. It will be weaponized against this town using 8-30g. Becker said the plan, if implemented, would lead to more housing density, which would result in even more development. Residents spoke to officials about the plan during a public hearing on Thursday, which ended in a special selectmen meeting. The board went on to suggest putting more of an emphasis on town controls and playing down recommendations for specific locations in town in the plan. Glenn Chalder, the president of Planimetrics, the firm hired to help officials build the plan, noted that Easton is required to submit the plan to the state by June 1, and that it has to be updated every five years thereafter. The state has placed a real priority on this issue because of the importance of affordable housing to the State of Connecticut and to all of the communities in Connecticut, he said. The plan, Chalder said, looks at the specific circumstances of Easton and how it can increase the amount of affordable housing. He said participants in the last meeting on the plan made it clear Easton needed to balance affordable housing with protecting the watershed and environment. That led to the plans overall value statement: Increase the number of affordable housing units in Easton while protecting environmental resources and preserving water quality for the region. A main goal of the plan is to add 10 to 20 affordable housing units in town by 2027, Chalder said, noting that would also be the year when the town would have to update its plan. Chalder said housing is becoming more unaffordable across the state and country. He said 18 out of 2,015 housing units in Easton qualify as affordable, noting that number will decrease as the affordability restriction on some of those units expires in coming years. That percentage comes into play with state statute 8-30g, which allows developers to bypass municipal laws and regulations as long as a certain percentage of the project is considered affordable. It applies to municipalities where less than 10 percent of the housing stock qualifies as affordable. At previous public hearings on the plan, Chalder said, residents have suggested extending the affordable deed restrictions on those houses, using tax breaks to get new deed restrictions and helping people who need assistance to live in Easton. Chalder said coming up with an affordable housing plan and strategies to build more will help the town keep local control over development. The plan has five major sections focusing on planning, relevant factors, overall goals, main strategies and supporting strategies. Some ideas in the plan are changing zoning regulations to allow for and encourage more affordable housing and incentivizing affordable units on conservation subdivisions. It also said the town could look into building affordable housing for farm workers and establishing an affordable housing fund. Chalder said it might be worth looking into developing affordable housing in the 22 percent of the town thats not watershed. One place housing could be considered is the Old Samuel Staples School, the current location of the senior center, he said. The South Park Avenue property, which the town owns and is not on a watershed, could also have housing built on it. He said it would be possible to add a small cluster or small clusters of affordable housing units on the property. The housing could be sited to minimize environmental impacts and visibility from the road. A majority of the South Park Property was recently sold to the Aspetuck Land Trust, after approval in a town-wide referendum. So the remaining approximately 10 acres would be a site for that development. But the window on that option may be closing, as a petition to deed-restrict the land to prevent development recently gathered enough signatures to be brought before the town in an official capacity. A meeting to discuss that petition is scheduled for May 31. Dana Benson, speaking for the groups Save Our Schools and Save Our Town, suggested the South Park property be taken out of the plan as well as a portion that suggested allowing affordable units to be built on smaller lots. Several other residents also suggested taking South Park out of the plan. While the plan does name this approach, resident Daniel Lent (urged) the town rush to meet 8-30g moratorium status by putting a number of trailers on Morehouse Road near Samuel Staples Elementary School. If a town builds enough affordable housing in a certain period of time, it can apply for a four-year moratorium from 8-30g, during which developers could not use to the statute to circumvent local zoning laws. Anne Manusky, another resident, said the plan goes against what residents want for their town. This is very critical, very concerning, she said, adding the town should push to reach the moratorium. Becker also raised concerns about how more affordable housing could bring in more children to Eastons school system. What does that do to the budget and tax bill of the town? he said. First Selectman David Bindelglass said the plan is very clear that any action taken on affordable housing would be weighed and studied, with residents able to vote on any purchase or sale of town land. Is this perfect? No. Are there problems with the statute that makes us create this plan? Yes, he said. Is 8-30g a perfect statute? No. Does all of this, in some way, infringe upon home rule? Yes. Im sure it might be nice if we could go slower. But, also, the cost of going slower is the increased risk that somebody will come in under 8-30g and move forward in a way that would be difficult for us to control. This is a balance between doing enough ... to keep us off the radar and doing the right thing. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A Texas man has been sentenced to six years in prison for setting fire to the Travis County Democratic Party office in downtown Austin. Federal court records show Ryan Faircloth, 31, of San Antonio was sentenced Friday to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty in January to arson for throwing a Molotov cocktail into the office in September. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The actions or more notably, the inaction of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers have become the center of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. The attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a fourth grade classroom was the nation's deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, and for three days police offered a confusing and sometimes contradictory timeline that drew public anger and frustration. By Friday, authorities acknowledged that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. Officials said he believed the suspect was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that there was no longer an active attack. The chief's decision and the officers' apparent willingness to follow his directives against established active-shooter protocols prompted questions about whether more lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, and who should be held responsible. In these cases, I think the court of public opinion is far worse than any court of law or police department administrative trial, said Joe Giacalone, a retired New York police sergeant. This has been handled so terribly on so many levels, there will be a sacrificial lamb here or there. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. But it wasnt clear why the school chief ignored their warnings. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a news conference earlier in the week lauded the police for saving lives, said he had been misled about the initial response and promised there would be investigations into exactly who knew what, when, who was in charge and what they did. The bottom line would be: Why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there and to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children? Abbott said. Criminal charges are rarely pursued against law enforcement in school shootings. A notable exception was the former school resource officer accused of hiding during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. New York City defense attorney Paul Martin and Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, both said Saturday that they did not know of any other officers who have been criminally charged for failing to act in a mass shooting. Martin, who has represented police officers charged with murder, assault and other crimes, said he thinks what happened in Uvalde differs from Parkland because the officers who waited to confront the assailant were following orders. Martin said he doesnt think they can be charged based on decisions from their command. As for the school district police chief who decided to wait, Martin said it would be a very high bar to charge him criminally because police officers are given latitude to make tactical decisions. The families can sue the police department for failing to act. ... They can clearly be found civilly liable, he said. I think its very doubtful that they could be criminally charged. In terms of civil liability, the legal doctrine called qualified immunity, which shields police officers from lawsuits unless their actions violate clearly established laws, could also be at play in future litigation. Potential administrative punishments meted out by the department itself could range from a suspension or docked pay to forced resignation or retirement, or outright termination. The families of most of those killed or wounded in Parkland reached a $127.5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over the FBIs failure to stop the gunman, even though it had received information he intended to attack. Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson is scheduled to go to trial in September on charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, culpable negligence and perjury. He has said he did the best he could at the time. A federal judge threw out all but one of the lawsuits against the school district and sheriffs office after the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, ruling that the gunmen were responsible. The daughter of a teacher who bled to death reached a $1.5 million settlement in her lawsuit against the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office in 2002. Police were heavily criticized at the time for not going into the school sooner. What Columbine taught us is, when you have an active shooter situation, waiting for additional resources will result in people losing their lives, Wexler said. Here we are, 20 years post-Columbine and thats the same issue that continues to challenge law enforcement." He said every department should clearly spell out in their policies that a gunman must be immediately confronted in these situations. The Uvalde School District police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided that the group of officers should wait to confront the assailant, on the belief that the active attack was over, according to Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The crisis ended shortly after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and shot and killed Ramos. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday, and Uvalde officers were stationed outside his home, but they would not say why. Maria Haberfeld, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said the police department's policies, procedures and training will be scrutinized to see whether the officers on the ground in Uvalde followed them. If they did, and criminal charges are still brought, she said it would send a chilling message to police nationwide. "If you follow your procedures, youre still brought up on charges. So whats the point of having procedures? she said. But Jorge Colina, a former Miami police chief, wants to know more about what was going through the minds of the officers inside the school as the chief told them to wait in the hall. Did someone challenge the decision there? he said. Did someone raise an objection at least? ___ Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Uvalde, Texas; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Mike Balsamo in Washington, D.C.; and Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis, the archbishop of Canterbury and the leader of a the church of Scotland will together lead a prayer vigil for peace while visiting South Sudan next month, the Vatican said Saturday. It released details of the pontiffs itinerary of his July 2-7 African travels, which he will begin in Congo. Then he travels to South Sudan, where he will make what is being billed as an historic ecumenical pilgrimage of peace along with the Rev. Justin Welby, who heads the Anglican church, and the Right Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The visit seeks to boost a 2018 agreement aimed at ending civil war in South Sudan. The African trip will be the first overseas voyage for the pontiff since he has taken to using a wheelchair on occasion in public lately as he struggles with a knee ligament problem. Francis, 85, battled a major medical issue last summer, when he underwent intestinal surgery in July necessitated by what the Vatican said was a severe narrowing of the colon. While warring parties signed the peace agreement after 20 months of violent conflict, South Sudan is facing heavy challenges, including an economy risking collapse, a deteriorating humanitarian situation and "an unsteady political will to implement the peace agreement,'' the Church of Scotland said. I am genuinely humbled at the opportunity to assist our brothers and sisters in South Sudan in the search for peace, reconciliation and justice,'' Greenshields said in the statement. He said Francis, Welby and himself are coming as servants of the Global Church." On the first full day of their pilgrimage in South Sudan, the three men will visit a camp in Juba for internally displaced people. While in Congo, Francis will deliver the homily during Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasha. After arriving in Goma, he will give another homily during Mass at the Kibumba Camp. Earlier this year, thousands of people in Congo were displaced after they fled clashes between the Congolese army and rebel fighters. Francis will also meet with victims of violence in Beni and in the east of Congo, the Vatican said. Last year, two explosions on the same day hit a Catholic church and a market in Beni. The explosions were claimed by the Islamic State groups Central Africa Province. A Cape Cod science center and one of the worlds largest shipping businesses are collaborating on a project to use robotic buoys to protect a vanishing whale from lethal collisions with ships. A lab at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution developed the technology, which uses buoys and underwater gliders to record whale sounds in near real time. The robotic recorders give scientists, mariners and the public an idea of the location of rare North Atlantic right whales, said Mark Baumgartner, a marine ecologist with Woods Hole whose lab also operates the buoys. The whales number less than 340 in the world and ship strikes are one of the biggest threats to their existence, as they travel through some of the busiest stretches of ocean on the planet. Now, French shipping giant CMA CGM is working with Woods Hole to deploy two of the robotic buoys off of Norfolk, Virginia, and Savannah, Georgia. CMA CGM is funding the deployment of the buoys, which will add to the data collected by six others off the East Coast, Baumgartner said. The two new buoys could be deployed for testing soon, he said. We have to change our industrial practices when whales are around. That's what this tech enables, Baumgartner said. Having the industry tell us what works and what doesn't is the best way to have solutions that will actually be implemented. The whales were once abundant off the East Coast, but their populations were decimated generations ago by commercial whaling. These days, they're vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in fishing gear. And they've dwindled in population in recent years because of high mortality and poor reproduction. The whales are aided by a complex network of protected areas and shipping restrictions. However, scientists have sounded alarms recently that the whales have been straying outside of protected areas in search of food as waters warm. That has made them more vulnerable. Representatives for CMA CGM, which has a U.S. headquarters in Norfolk, said the company chose to locate buoys off the Virginia city and Savannah because those are among the busiest shipping ports in the United States. Ed Aldridge, president of CMA CGM America, said it's an effort to responsibly share the ocean with marine mammals and protect endangered species. The company is paying for the construction, maintenance and operation of the buoys for three years, said Heather Wood, director of sustainability for CMA CGM America. The company declined to disclose the cost of the project. It hopes to build a consortium of shippers that use this kind of technology to protect whales, Wood said. It's an investment we're making in the future of the seas and the future of the right whale, she said. Acoustic recorders have tracked whale sounds for decades, but the buoys that provide sound in near real time are a relatively recent invention, Baumgartner said. The robotic buoys make data available every couple of hours as opposed to months later, he said. The results go on a public website and are also used by federal authorities to help make decisions about when to announce right whale slow zones, which call on vessel operators to slow down to 10 knots (11.5 mph) or less. The data allow us to send information to mariners quickly so those that are able can take action (by slowing down or avoiding the areas) to reduce the risk of vessel strike, which is one of the largest threats to this endangered population, scientists Diane Borggaard and Genevieve Davis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a joint statement. Conservation groups and academics also use the data collected by the robotic buoys. They're also used on the West Coast to help protect blue, fin and humpback whales, said Callie Steffen, a project scientist with Whale Safe in Santa Barbara, California. We hope shipping companies will integrate this, Steffen said. It's a Smokey Bear fire warning, but for whale presence. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Schools across the country are facing a wave of violent threats in the days following the devastating rampage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that left 21 people, including 19 students, dead. Experts say that while school threats are a daily occurrence, schools are now on edge as administrators assess threats made on social media and in classrooms, resulting in heightened security and lockdowns. In New York, Suffolk County police said they arrested a 16-year-old for posting on social media Thursday that he planned to conduct a "massive shooting" at Bellport High School, which he attends. In Maryland, a high school in Prince George's County went into lockdown on Thursday after a student brought parts of a "ghost gun" into a classroom; the student was later arrested. And at least six threats have been made this week against schools in Texas, according to media reports. While there's no national database tracking school shooting threats, experts say it's not surprising that there would be more of them reported in the wake of the Texas massacre. "In the aftermath of a school shooting tragedy, school shootings are front of mind for everyone and we may be more inclined to report suspected threats of violence, thus increasing the number of threats," James Densley, professor of criminal justice at Metropolitan State University and a co-founder of the Violence Project, wrote in an email. "At the same time, high school students try to seize on the moment by calling in hoax threats to get school canceled." In other cases, the threats may be made by people wanting to copy the most recent tragedy. David Reidman, co-founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database, said he has recorded more than 2,500 instances of threats to carry out school shootings through media reports since 2018, though warned that this is far from an exhaustive database. Already, in the days following the Uvalde shooting, schools have informed families about threats of gun and other violence against their children's schools, announcing shutdowns and arrests of suspects. In Southern California, a high school canceled classes Friday after a threat that appeared to target the school circulated on social media. The threat reportedly originated in Texas and was later deemed to be not credible. "The District encourages everyone in our community to be alert and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, to bring it to the attention of a trusted adult right away," a statement from the school district to families read. And across Texas, threats or incidents of violence were reported this week in at least six school districts, according to the Dallas Observer. These included three instances of a student bringing a weapon to school, the accidental discharge of a parent's gun near school and a bomb threat. The district that received the bomb threat, Mercedes Independent School District, also drew "a social media rumor threat," according to spokeswoman Daisy Espinoza. In response, the district "went ahead and canceled school for the rest of the year," she said. "Just totally canceled." On Wednesday, Donna Independent School District in Texas canceled classes after they received credible threats of an attack on the high school. Two minors and two adults were arrested. "In light of the recent events and in an abundance of caution, we will be canceling school districtwide and staff will work from home," school officials wrote in a letter to families. "The safety and security of our students & staff is our first priority." In the weeks following the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Michigan, the nation's school districts grappled with threats made on social media. The result was hundreds of school shutdowns as administrators worked to determine which threats to take seriously and which to consider hoaxes. At the time, Maryland's Howard County, for example, wrote a message to families about "a new TikTok challenge encouraging students to make school shooting threats to schools" and asked parents to urge their children not to participate. "At this point, there are no credible threats," the message said. "However, even hoax threats create fear and cause disruption to the school community." Amy Klinger, co-founder and director of programs for the Educator's School Safety Network, said her organization has been tracking school threats and incidents since 2013. One major reason for spikes in threats now is that some teenagers are trying to mimic the tragic events in Texas they see reported on so widely in national media, Klinger said. She predicts that the threats will subside in the coming days and weeks as schools let out for the summer and news outlets turn to reporting on other topics. In the meantime, Klinger said, schools must take every threat seriously, launching investigations and communicating instantly with parents and students about what steps officials are taking in response. She also noted that schools typically receive more threats in the final stretch of the academic year, as bored teenagers looking to get out of exams send hoax threats. But Klinger cautioned against canceling classes, saying that keeping children engaged with school is one way to help prevent violence. "Going virtual is one of the contributing factors to . . . the social issues and the violence we're seeing right now, and not just in schools," she said. "People are disconnected, they're spending too much time in front of screens, they don't have good relationships." Reidman, the co-founder of K-12 School Shooting Database, said his group is trying to learn why students engineer empty threats when the consequences are so severe, and how leaders should assess the myriad threats that schools receive. Schools face threats on social media, in classrooms, in scribblings on walls, said. There is no uniform training for how personnel should assess threats and, according to Reidman, when the threats unfold in school buildings, it often falls to one person's discretion on whether to report them. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Police in Sri Lanka used tear gas and a water cannons Saturday to disperse demonstrators trying to approach the president's office to demand he resign over the country's ongoing economic crisis. The demonstrators were rallying to mark the 50th day of protests in which they have camped outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office. Police broke up the rally and briefly detained three people before releasing them. Sri Lanka is nearly bankrupt, having defaulted on its foreign loans, and is battling acute shortages of essential goods like cooking gas, fuel and medicines. People have been forced to wait for hours in long lines to try to buy goods and many still go empty handed. The country's foreign currency reserves have also dwindled to only enough to purchase two weeks of needed imports. Authorities announced last month that they are suspending repayment of nearly $7 billion foreign debt to be repaid this year. Sri Lanka has to pay up $25 billion through 2026. Total foreign debt of the Indian Ocean island nation is $51 billion. The protesters say the primary responsibility for the economic crisis rests with Rajapaksa and his family, who they accuse of corruption and mismanagement. Violence erupted countrywide on May 9, when Rajapaksa supporters attacked peaceful protesters. Nine people including a governing party lawmaker were killed and homes of sitting ministers were burnt down. It nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa dynasty after the president's brother, then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned amid the violence. Three of president's siblings and a nephew had already resigned from their Cabinet posts. New Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he will have a economic reform plan ready within two weeks to seek approval from the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package. BENZONIA Four special tributes were given to members and former employees of the Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce, by the state of Michigan this month. The Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce received the proclamation placards recognizing those awards and their winners on May 23, signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Curt VanderWall, Rep. Jack O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Garlin GIlchrist. Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the former Benzie County Visitor's Bureau and Traverse City Tourism presented service awards to Mari Heffelfinger, former marketing coordinator; and Carol Kraak, former communications coordinator, who served both organizations for over 20 years. "Their years of dedication and service impacted both organizations and the community as a whole; their legacy lives on in the lasting impressions that were left on each and everyone they touched," read a press release from the Benzie County Chamber of Commerece. The state of Michigan Senate 35th District also awarded both Heffelfinger and Kraak with Special Tribute Awards for their years of service and dedication. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The largest wildfire in New Mexico history wouldnt stand in the way of a normal prom for Mora High School students. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham saw to that. Students laughed and danced with Lujan Grisham at the Governors Mansion on Thursday evening a silver lining for students during a tumultuous end to the school year. Many students were forced to flee their homes by the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire in recent weeks, and some had only recently returned. Im really excited to be here with my friends, and be able to enjoy this, and to have everyone welcome us, said prom queen Jayme Pacheco, adding that it has been over a month since shed seen her friends. They mean a lot. Some students arrived decked out in suits and gowns while others stuck to their roots showing up in cowboy hats, jeans and boots. Spanish and country music boomed through speakers as students two-stepped across the governors back patio. Lujan Grisham said she couldnt throw a party and sit on the sidelines, and jumped in to dance the Cupid Shuffle with students, state Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Espanola, and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. Im just elated that we could do this for the kids, said New Mexico Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus. Ive chaperoned a lot of proms this ones a little different than Ive done before. The idea to have it at the Governors Mansion was Mora Independent School District Superintendent Marvin MacAuleys. He said he asked Lujan Grisham during a conversation if students could have prom at her place. MacAuley said she grinned, and told him shed need to think about it. Her staff told him later that the idea was a go. Lujan Grisham said a lot of work went into making sure students knew they had a whole state that cares about their happiness and well-being. We have to celebrate each other, and we have to make room even in a tragedy, Lujan Grisham told the Journal. This is the way we ought to show how resilient we are these experiences matter. Middle and high school Principal Lefonso Castillo said this years seniors have only spent two years in an in-person school setting, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thats part of why making the end of this year as normal as possible was so important, he said. Seniors have a luxurious week lined up. After Thursdays dance with the governor, 33 students are slated to graduate Friday during a ceremony at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe. Many are also being put up in hotel rooms funded by members of the Mora community. Community members also chipped in for prom essentials, including dresses, tuxedos and corsages. The snazzed-up students fit right in with the elegant mansion, which even featured a chocolate fountain for them. Prom was originally planned for April 30, and staff had already begun decorating for the dance. But about a week before, the evacuation orders came, forcing the district to come up with a new plan. So far, Castillo knows of one or two of his students who have lost their homes to the fire. Three staff members homes were also destroyed. Its once in a lifetime, for sure senior Ellianna Martinez said about the dance. Still, she noted the past weeks had held many hardships, and that the fires had devastated our community. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed off on a new campaign finance and ethics face-lift, bucking objections from some of the state's most influential advocacy groups who opposed the measure. I think that transparency is a good idea," Lee told reporters earlier this month. "I think that whenever we have transparency into organizations that politically lobby, thats a good thing. The Republican governor signed the measure Friday. The move comes as a federal investigation has hovered over the GOP-controlled General Assembly for over a year that has so far led to one Republican lawmaker pleading guilty to a federal wire fraud charge over allegations she helped carry out a political consulting kickback scheme. However, even as the statehouse's top legislative leaders called for campaign ethics reform amid the ongoing investigation scandals, so-called dark money groups have remained fiercely opposed to the new changes. Many argued that the law will result in them disclosing donors. Opponents include Americans for Prosperity, Tennessee Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. Supporters counter that the new law will shine a light on expenditures, not donors. Specifically, certain politically active nonprofits must disclose spending totaling at least $5,000 within 60 days of an election on communications that contain a state candidates name or likeness. The measure also states that political committee leadership must provide identification. To the life of me, I still cant figure out why all these groups think that theyd have to disclose donors, House Speaker Cameron Sexton told The Associated Press earlier this month. Sexton said lawmakers tweaked the bill multiple times to appease concerns from politically active groups, but they kept coming back with more suggested changes. Some suggestions would have been a poison pill on the whole bill," Sexton said. We kept making the changes, and the thing is, what you really find out is some of these groups just didnt want anything, he said. Senate Speaker Randy McNally previously said the bill was aimed at weeding out bad actors," like shell companies and shadowy PACs used by certain legislators to line their own pockets." Independent groups have become increasingly more influential ever since the U.S. Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United ruling, which removed caps on how much corporations, unions and interest groups can spend on advocacy communications that do not specifically call for the election or defeat of candidates. While the ruling encouraged transparency, the federal government doesnt require such disclosure and most states dont either. In March, ex-Rep. Robin Smith resigned from her legislative post and pleaded guilty in federal court under an agreement with prosecutors. The charging document said Smith, former House Speaker Glen Casada and his then-chief of staff, Cade Cothren, used a political consulting firm to illegally funnel money to themselves through both campaign and taxpayer-funded work, while concealing their involvement in it. The charge came nearly a year after FBI agents raided the homes and offices of several state lawmakers and staffers, including Casada, Smith and Cothren. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON - The site was once called Kidwell Flats, an insect-ridden tract on the Potomac River that had been reclaimed with mud dredged from the bottom. Bedrock was 50 feet down, and a prominent member of Congress called it a "God-damned swamp." Back then, it was a remote spot, two miles from the U.S. Capitol - yet fitting, many believed, for the noble project at hand. So there, over 100 years ago, builders began sinking concrete pilings, gathering earth, and hauling in blocks of marble and limestone to erect one of the nation's most hallowed shrines. It was the Lincoln Memorial - the 38,000-ton columned edifice built to honor President Abraham Lincoln, who led the United States through the Civil War, ended the enslavement of millions of African Americans, and died by the hand of an assassin with a pistol in 1865. Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial on May 30, 1922, an event attended by thousands, including President Warren G. Harding and Lincoln's 78-year-old son, Robert, on what was then called Decoration Day. It was the unveiling of the monument that would captivate Americans for a century, draw visitors as if pilgrims, and stand as a global symbol of courage, possibility and solace in times of grief. The weather in Washington was breezy and warm that Tuesday. Old movie footage from the National Archives shows women carrying parasols, men in straw hats, and people clustered in the shade of trees along what is today the Reflecting Pool. Inside the memorial, the 175-ton marble sculpture of a seated Lincoln had just been cleaned, and seemed to shine in the soft light. The memorial itself, its 44-foot tall columns tilted slightly inward for architectural effect, was majestic in its isolation by the river. It was modeled on the Parthenon, the Greek temple to the goddess Athena. Lincoln, too, was "of the immortals," his former close aide and biographer, John Hay, had said. "You must not approach too close," Hay said. "His monument should stand alone, remote from the common habitations of man . . . isolated, distinguished and serene." But people could not resist approaching. Fifty thousand were there for the dedication - African Americans, as was the cruel custom in segregated Washington, shunted off to the rear. And over the next century millions more trudged up the steps to stand by the seated figure of America's most revered president, invoke his words, and add to the story of the Memorial. Let's go see old Abe, the poet Langston Hughes wrote in 1926. Sitting in the marble and the moonlight, Sitting lonely in the marble and the moonlight, Quiet for ten thousand centuries, old Abe. The memorial was supposed to represent the healing of the country after the Civil War. But Lincoln knew the war had been about slavery, and "the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil," as his words carved in the memorial proclaimed. And in 1922 the United States was unhealed. It was still harshly segregated and racially oppressive. Fifty-one Black Americans were lynched that year, and six months after the dedication, the Senate killed a federal anti-lynching law, according to the Library of Congress. On Easter Sunday 1939, the African American opera star Marian Anderson elevated the meaning of the memorial when she sang there after she was barred from performing at Whites-only Constitution Hall, seven blocks away. "When Marian Anderson stepped on that platform and sang, 'My country tis of thee' . . . it was transformative," said historian Harold Holzer, author of the 2019 book, "Monument Man," about the Lincoln sculptor Daniel Chester French. "Sweet land of liberty," she sang, "to thee we sing," changing the standard lyrics "of thee I sing." "Suddenly this statue and this building became a symbol of aspirational equality, instead of just a symbol of northern and southern brotherhood," Holzer said in a recent telephone interview. "And I think it's held that place now for four score of its hundred years," he said. "It means much more. And that's why it's so mesmerizing and so moving to this day." Twenty-four years after Anderson's performance, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech before 250,000. The speech's powerful legacy adds another assassinated leader to the memorial's story. And 50 years later, President Barack Obama, the country's first Black president, spoke there on the anniversary of King's speech. Hundreds of gatherings to protest, celebrate, pray, mourn and entertain have unfolded against the backdrop of the memorial. Fourth of July fireworks, and formations of warplanes have appeared overhead. (A single airplane buzzed the 1922 dedication, too.) In recent years, U.S. presidents-elect have visited the memorial the night before their inaugurations, "as if to touch base with Lincoln and to be as one with America's greatest president," Holzer said. But it has also been vandalized, marred with racist graffiti, and, on a recent weekend, was trashed during a graduation event that left broken bottles, litter and spilled wine on the steps, the National Park Service said. The impulse to create a memorial to Lincoln began shortly after he was assassinated in Ford's Theatre by actor John Wilkes Booth, who was enraged that the Confederacy had just lost the Civil War. In 1867, Congress approved the incorporation of a Lincoln Monument Association, "for the purpose of erecting a monument in the city of Washington, commemorative of the great charter of emancipation and universal liberty in America." But nothing came of this effort, according to a 1927 history of the memorial by Edward F. Concklin. And the focus changed with the times from emancipation and liberty to reunion. Other plans were raised and fizzled. Finally, in 1911 an official Lincoln Memorial Commission was set up to carry the project through. But who would build it? Where would it be located? And what would it look like? Designs were suggested that showed the memorial as a huge pyramid, or a giant ziggurat topped with a statue of Lincoln, or a large circle of columns around a statue of a seated Lincoln. Officials quickly settled on a 44-year-old New York architect, Henry Bacon Jr., to design and build the memorial. In 1915 his friend, New England sculptor Daniel Chester French, 64, was picked to carve the statue of Lincoln. Bacon had come up with an elegant design suggested by the 2,000-year-old Parthenon, in Athens, and he built a detailed seven-foot-wide wooden model to show the commission. (The National Park Service still has the model.) Inside the memorial, a statue "of heroic size . . . will occupy the place of honor," he wrote in 1912. One of the interior walls would display the carved words of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Another wall would show the words of his Second Inaugural Address. But where to build it? Some suggested Washington's Meridian Hill. Others preferred a spot near what is today the Armed Forces Retirement Home, or a place near the Capitol, or Fort Stevens, or somewhere in Virginia. Some thought the memorial should just be a special road from Washington to Gettysburg. The site on the former marshland by the river was preferred by Bacon. But one powerful opponent was Rep. Joseph G. Cannon, former speaker of the House, who called the place a swamp. A memorial there "would shake itself down with loneliness and ague," he said. He was overruled, and ground was broken on Feb. 12, 1914. The first task was to create a solid foundation. A special railroad spur was built to get stone to the site, and a special river pier was built to carry earth and gravel, according to old newspaper accounts. Workers began by sinking 122 hollow steel cylinders through the soft ground down to solid rock, according to Concklin's history. Huge stone slabs were stacked atop the cylinders to press them into the earth. When the cylinders reached bedrock, the dirt was scooped out, and they were filled with concrete to create solid pillars. Over this was built an upper foundation, which raised the floor level of the memorial about 25 feet above ground. Dirt was packed around the foundation to create an artificial hill. And upon that, the memorial itself was constructed. On Feb. 12, 1915, the 17-ton cornerstone was lowered into place. An old photograph shows a team of African American workers guiding it as it was lowered on what looked like a cold day. A small chamber had been cut into the stone to receive a sealed copper box filled with mementos. The box contained, among other things: Copies of the Bible and the U.S. Constitution, a signature of Lincoln's, a map of the Gettysburg battlefield, a dollar bill and $2.06 in change, a copy of the Feb. 12, 1915, Washington Post, and a small silk American flag. That same year, French started on the sculpture. He pored over literature about Lincoln and studied casts of the president's face and hands. "I feel at times so inadequate," he fretted, according to Holzer's biography. The first thought was to make the statue in bronze, but that was scrapped in favor of a marble statue that would be about 12 feet tall. In 1917, though, French realized that a 12-foot-tall statue would be dwarfed inside the giant memorial. It needed to be seven feet taller. Twenty-eight blocks of Georgia marble were brought in, and carved with French at the New York studio of the Piccirilli brothers, a team of renowned Italian stonecutters. The blocks were then shipped to Washington and assembled inside the memorial in 1919. At least two workers were seriously injured during the project, and one was killed when he was crushed by a huge block of stone that fell from a toppled wagon, according to news reports at the time. On Jan. 28, 1922, officials announced that the dedication would be May 30. It would be "the greatest exercise of a dedicatory nature ever witnessed in Washington," The Washington Post declared. When the day came, there were VIPs aplenty. Lincoln's son, Robert, received an ovation when he arrived. Speeches were carried via loudspeakers and radio. The Marine Band played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." A poet said Lincoln was made of "clay of the common road." The lone Black speaker was Robert Russa Moton, head of the Tuskegee Institute. He had written a speech suggesting that the "unfinished" work Lincoln spoke of in the Gettysburg Address remained unfinished for African Americans. Holzer wrote that the White House frowned on what he had written, and told him to tone it down or lose his chance to speak. Moton changed the speech, but ended it: "I somehow believe that all of us, Black and White, both North and South, are going to strive on to finish the work which [Lincoln] so nobly began to make America an example for the world of equal justice and equal opportunity." Editors Note: In recognition of National Historic Preservation Month, local historian Cindy Reinhardt tells the stories behind some of Edwardsvilles historic buildings in a series of eight articles in the month of May. No documentation has been found to determine exactly when the house at 404 N. Buchanan St. was built, but there are clues. Frederick George and Phillipena (Ritter) Bernius bought the property in two parts in 1878 and 1879, before there was a house, and they are listed as living there in the 1894 Edwardsville City Directory. Fred took out a mortgage of $2,000 in 1891 which could indicate that is when the house was built, but there is no documentation to prove it. What is certain, is that the house was built for the Bernius family. Fred Bernius, known as Fritz in his youth, was born in Edwardsville on Sep. 14, 1843, the son of Henry and Louise Bernius, early German immigrants to this area. Freds father was a shoemaker by trade who also served terms as constable and police magistrate. Fred was educated in private schools and apprenticed to a merchant to learn the retail trade. He worked in that field until the winter of 1861 when he joined Company K, 10th Illinois Infantry of the Union army. He saw action in many well-known battles before joining Sherman for his famous March to the Sea. He was twice wounded, once in the head at Atlanta, then again in South Carolina where a more serious wound left him with a permanently stiff arm. He was an active member in the GAR, an organization for veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, and when a Sons of Veterans fraternity was organized in Edwardsville, it was called Camp Bernius, No. 178. Sons of Veterans. For many years, newspaper articles about him began with, Fred Bernius, the old soldier After the war, Fred came home to Edwardsville and went to work for the G. B. Crane general merchandise store. In June 1867, he married Philippena Ritter and started a family that would grow to six children; the three that survived to adulthood were Henry, Benjamin and Pearly. Philippena, born Dec. 28, 1846, near Belleville, Illinois, also had German immigrant parents. Her father, Phillip Ritter, moved his family to Edwardsville when Philippena was very young when he accepted a job as manager of the Wabash Hotel. The building still stands on the northwest corner of Union and Main streets. When Cranes store closed in 1891, Fred was one of four employees that founded the Edwardsville Dry Goods Company where Fred became president. The company was taken over by Henry Bollman and later became the Model Department Store. Its probably no coincidence that when the Edwardsville Dry Goods Company was sold, Fred and Philippena left the house on North Buchanan Street. Fred tried the grocery business for a time, but then found a position as a rural mail carrier, a job he held until the age of 75. Fred and Phillipena, moved from North Buchanan Street to Columbia Avenue where they lived on the same block as their son Benjamin. At that time, Benjamin also worked for the Post Office. Philippena died in 1920 at the age of 73 after an illness of several years. In her obituary she was called a kind and gentle mother and wife with a wide circle of friends. Fred died in January 1926, while on a visit to his son Benjamin who then lived in Long Beach, California. He was 83 years old. An 1894 article by Capt. George C. Lusk regarding Freds character said, As a man he was generous, upright, and honorable, and as a soldier was dutiful and brave. In 1903, the house at 404 N. Buchanan was purchased by Louis and Caroline (Hoffman) May who moved in with their four children, Adelia, Rowena, Louis Jr., and Calvin. Louis May Sr. was born in Marine, Illinois, in 1870, but left the farm for Edwardsville when just 15 years old. By the time he moved to the house on North Buchanan St., he was well established as a realtor who also served on the board of numerous financial institutions. In August 1893, Louis married Caroline Hoffman whose father built the Hoffman House Hotel at the corner of St. Louis and Main streets. The Hoffman House later became the Leland Hotel. One of Louiss numerous businesses was a tavern which on July 1, 1919, due to a wartime prohibition amendment, was no longer allowed to serve alcohol. This was followed by the national amendment that prohibited the sale of alcohol until the end of Prohibition in 1933. Caroline died in October 1919, when her youngest son, Calvin, was only 11 years old. The following year, in the 1920 census, her daughters, who were already married, had moved into the house with their husbands and maintained the household. Through most of the 1920s the daughters and their families lived at the house. Louis Jr. married Margaret Belknap and established his own home after his marriage. When Louis Sr. died in 1930, his will stipulated that his real estate holdings, including the house, were to be sold. In 1932, each of his children purchased different appraised portions of his personal and commercial properties with the house going to Louis Jr. and the property behind the house to Adelia. In 1935, Adelia sold that property to Louis. After just a few years living in other houses, Louis May Jr. returned to his childhood home in 1932 and lived there until the 1950s when he and his wife built a new house in the new subdivision of Montclaire. Fred Bernius would be surprised to see his old home at 404 N. Buchanan St. looking so nice after all these years. From the front, he would recognize it immediately, but from the side, it has been greatly expanded while remaining sympathetic to the original Victorian architecture of the house. The police response to the Texas school massacre was led by the chief of a six-officer police department that oversees about eight schools. The first officers on the scene were from the Uvalde city police force, which has a part-time SWAT team and about 40 officers on the payroll. Policing experts said it makes sense that the school police chief was in charge, given that it was his campus and he knows the safety protocols. But authorities made clear Friday that many other things went wrong as those small police departments were joined by state, local and federal law enforcement agencies in the town of 16,000. Officers waited nearly an hour inside Robb Elementary School before a group stormed into the classroom and confronted 18-year-old Salvador Rolando Ramos. At that point, police say, officers with Customs and Border Protection shot and killed the gunman, who had slain 19 children and two teachers and wounded 17 others. State officials have offered contradictory and partial accounts of the slow response, which included police forcing parents away from the school and subduing them as they pleaded with the officers to go in. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, and others initially said officers had responded quickly and saved lives. Officials now say the school-system police chief erred by deciding the gunman had shifted from an active shooter to a "barricaded subject" and making no effort to break down the door and get inside. An off-duty Border Patrol tactical agent was the first to arrive outside the classroom and "basically said let's get this done," according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who spoke on condition of anonymity to share preliminary details of the investigation. "They have not told me they were frustrated," the official said of other border patrol agents who converged. "But they told me it was hard to discern who was in charge." Pedro "Pete"Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department, who was the incident commander, did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. A spokeswoman for the Uvalde Police Department referred inquiries to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and requests to the local district attorney's office went unanswered. "We needed the help ASAP for our kids, and it wasn't there," Amanda Flores, who said she knew all 21 victims, said at a memorial on Main Street on Friday. "I saw those parents running, wanting to go get their children and the police tackling the parents, and that should have never happened." Since the Columbine school massacre in 1999, many police departments have trained officers to go after an attacker as soon as possible, to minimize the number of teachers and children shot. Before then, guidance often emphasized waiting for specially trained tactical officers with specialized equipment. In March, the school district police hosted active-shooter training at Uvalde High School, according to a post on the agency's Facebook page. "Our overall goal is to train every Uvalde area law enforcement officer so that we can prepare as best as possible for any situation that may arise," the post said. The state-mandated course curriculum advises that, "In the event of an active school attack, school-based law enforcement officers should do the best they can to fill the gap until other first responders can arrive." An arriving officer's "first priority is to move in and confront the attacker," even if that officer has to act alone, the guidance says. The Texas legislature in 2019 approved a measure that required such training for all school police officers. The curriculum teaches officers about Columbine and the shift in police response tactics since then, as well as the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., in 2018. It notes that an armed school resource officer remained outside the Parkland high school rather than confronting the gunman, bringing criticism upon himself and his department. "First responders to the active shooter scene will usually be required to place themselves in harm's way and display uncommon acts of courage to save the innocent," the state's curriculum says. Chris Grollnek, a retired police officer and active-shooter prevention expert, said he was baffled that the school officers waited to confront the gunman while children and teachers were inside the room with him. "The first responding officer -- I don't care if it's the deputy dog cartoon guy -- he goes in and stops the shooter. That's just part of the job," Grollnek said. "You've got a ballistic vest. You know what the kids have? Crayons. You are duty-bound to do something. If someone is telling you to stay outside, you disobey that order." In 2020, the city of Uvalde's police SWAT team toured school campuses to interact with students and familiarize themselves in case of an emergency, according to a department Facebook post. The department's 2018 annual report said the SWAT unit had monthly tactical training sessions, open to all officers to attend. Rogelio Martin Munoz, an Uvalde defense attorney and former city council member, said Friday that Uvalde "isn't one of these communities where you have the distrust between the police and the populace. There isn't an issue of police violence, police brutality. The criticism is more about that they just don't do a very good job." "I'm not saying I take that position," Munoz added. "They're people that are trying to do a good job that are probably underpaid." Sara Spector, who worked as a prosecutor in Uvalde about a decade ago, said officers in the area tend to be both underpaid and undertrained. "They're asked to do something that you would expect to see out of a New York Police Department or a Dallas Police Department." said Spector, who is now an attorney in Midland, Texas. But "It's a different world, especially as you get into less affluent rural communities." Abbott said Friday that he is seeking a full examination of the law enforcement response. "There will be ongoing investigations that detail exactly who knew what when, who was in charge of what strategy. Why was that particular strategy employed? Why were other strategies not employed? Bottom line would be why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there and to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children?" Abbott said. --- The Washington Post's Tim Craig and Teo Armus in Uvalde, Texas, and Timothy Bella and Nick Miroff in Washington contributed to this report. MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) A Connecticut truck driver has been charged in an interstate crash that claimed the life of a New Hampshire state trooper last fall. Jay Paul Medeiros, 43, of Ashford was charged earlier this month with negligent homicide and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. Authorities said he was driving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Portsmouth early on Oct. 28 that struck a police cruiser occupied by Staff Sgt. Jesse Sherrill, who was working at the site of an overnight paving project. Sherrill, 44, of Barrington, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Prosecutors said Medeiros passed at least two advanced warning signs and failed to slow down despite flashing lights of emergency and work vehicles and a yellow direction arrow board. They also allege in court documents that marijuana was found in the cab and tests indicated marijuana ingestion by Medeiros within three days. Its unclear whether Medeiros has an attorney; a person who answered the phone at a number listed in his name said he couldnt talk and hung up. Gov. Chris Sununu ordered flags lowered to half staff in honor of Sherill, who had been a state trooper for 19 years. Col. Nathan Noyes said he was known as a troopers trooper, a consummate, dedicated professional and a true family man. New Hampshire state police issued a statement thanking the county attorneys office and Maine State Police for their work on the investigation and said Sherrill is missed each and every day by his family, friends and state police colleagues. UNITED NATIONS (AP) Libya faces a serious security threat from foreign fighters and private military companies, especially Russias Wagner Group which has violated international law, U.N. experts said in a report obtained by The Associated Press. The experts also accused seven Libyan armed groups of systematically using unlawful detention to punish perceived opponents, ignoring international and domestic civil rights laws, including laws prohibiting torture. In particular, "migrants have been extremely vulnerable to human rights abuses and regularly subjected to acts of slavery, rape and torture, the panel said in the report to the U.N. Security Council obtained late Friday by the AP. The oil-rich North African nation plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. It then became divided between rival governments one in the east, backed by military commander Khalifa Hifter, and a U.N.-supported administration in the capital of Tripoli. Each side is supported by different militias and foreign powers. In April 2019, Hifter and his forces, backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, launched an offensive to try and capture Tripoli. His campaign collapsed after Turkey stepped up its military support for the U.N.-supported government with hundreds of troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries. An October 2020 cease-fire deal led to an agreement on a transitional government in early February 2021 and elections were scheduled for last Dec. 24 aimed at unifying the country. But they were canceled and the country now has rival governments with two Libyans claiming to be prime minister. The cease-fire agreement called for the speedy withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries but the panel said there has been little verifiable evidence of any large-scale withdrawals taking place to date. The report said Chadian opposition groups operate from Libya and Sudanese fighters have been recruited by Hifter. Turkish-backed Syrian fighters have been seen by the panel in government military camps in Tripoli while Hifter-affiliated Syrian fighters operate alongside the Wagner Groups fighters in the strategic northern city of Sirte and nearby Jufra. At least 300 of these Syrians have returned home and not been replaced by Hifter, the report said. The panel said it continues to investigate the deployment of Wagner fighters and the transfers of arms and related materiel to support its operations. The Wagner Group passes itself off as a private military contractor and the Kremlin denies any connection to it. But the United States identifies Wagners financer as Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The panel said it considers a Samsung electronic tablet left on a Libyan battlefield by a Wagner mercenary and obtained by the BBC in early 2021 to be authentic. It contained maps of the locations of 35 unmarked anti-personnel mines in the Ain Zara area of south Tripoli that was then a frontline area under Hifter's control, supported by Wagner. Several mines had never been reported as being in Libya before and their transfer therefore violated the U.N. arms embargo, the panel said. It added that a booby-trapped mine exploded during a mine clearance operation killing two civilian mine clearers. Experts also received information about the recovery of anti-tank mines from positions primarily occupied by Wagner in south Tripoli. The panel said the failure to visibly mark the anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and issue warnings of their locations to civilians in the areas was a violation of international humanitarian law by Wagner. The Wagner tablet also contained a list of requested items including drones and tanks that would violate the arms embargo if delivered, the panel said, but it didnt know if any of it had. The panel said it identified 18 arms transfers and four examples of military training between March 2021 and late April 2022 that violated the U.N. arms embargo. Among the examples it cited was the Luccello, a ship flying the Comoros flag that delivered 100 armored vehicles to Hifter in Benghazi. The experts said four migrants suffered human rights abuses in secret detention facilities controlled by human traffickers in the areas of Tazirbu in the Libyan desert and Bani Walid near the northwest coast. They said victims were enslaved, severely beaten, deliberately starved and denied medical care. Two former female detainees, who were 14- and 15-year-old girls at the time, further testified to the panel that multiple perpetrators repeatedly raped them, subjected them to sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence during the period of over 18 months in a secret detention facility in Bani Walid, the report said. The panel said it also found that guards responsible for protecting the most vulnerable migrants in the government-run Shara al-Zawiya detention center took a direct part in or turned a blind eye to consistent acts of rape, sexual exploitation and threats of rape against women and girls detained there between January and June 2021. Texas public safety officials on Friday said an incident commander in charge of police response at the May 24 school massacre made "the wrong decision" in deciding to stop treating a gunman who locked himself in adjoining classrooms with children as an active shooter and instead view him as a barricaded subject as his shots became less frequent. The gunman was in the classrooms for more than an hour before officers entered and killed him, according to an account released Friday during a news conference outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw revised authorities' timeline of the shooting once again and said children called 911 from the classrooms as officers gathered in the hallway outside. McCraw's account -- combined with video, interviews and emergency line audio -- show how police responded as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers. 1. Late morning: Ramos's grandmother calls police after he shoots her Ramos's 66-year-old grandmother was able to call police after Ramos shot her at her home not far from Robb Elementary and departed in her truck, according to an account Wednesday from Gov. Greg Abbott, R. Authorities have not released the exact timing or content of her 911 call. - - - 2. 11:27 a.m.: An open school door Video shows that a teacher propped open an "exterior door" near the school's parking lot, according to McCraw, who said the teacher was retrieving a cellphone. The door remained opened, he said. - - - 3. 11:28 a.m.: Ramos crashes, prompting 911 call and soon starts shooting Ramos crashed his grandmother's truck into a ditch near Robb Elementary at 11:28 a.m., state public safety officials said. Two witnesses heard the crash and approached the truck, officials said, and Ramos shot at them. A witness called 911 to report the crash and a man with a gun, McCraw said. Ramos went to Robb Elementary on foot and fired a barrage outside the school just after 11:30 a.m., McCraw said. - - - 4. 11:33 a.m.: Gunman enters school unchallenged, officials say, and shoots into classroom Ramos entered the school through the open exterior door and immediately started shooting into either Room 111 or Room 112 -- adjoining classrooms connected with an internal Jack-and-Jill style bathroom, McCraw said. Ramos fired more than 100 rounds "at that time," he said. McCraw said that "hundreds of rounds were pumped in in four minutes, into those classrooms." Subsequent fire was "sporadic" and apparently aimed at the door, he said. McCraw said Friday that the school police officer was not on campus but rushed there after the 911 call about a man with a gun at the crash. "He drove right by the suspect," who was crouched behind a vehicle in the parking lot, and mistook a teacher for an intruder, McCraw said. - - - 5. 11:35 a.m.: Three officers enter school and two are wounded, official says McCraw said that three officers with the Uvalde Police Department were the first officers into the school and that two "received grazing wounds at that time from Ramos. McCraw said Ramos had locked the doors to Rooms 111 and 112 but briefly re-emerged into the hall -- at a time McCraw did not specify -- before locking himself in the classrooms again. Gunfire was heard at 11:37 a.m., 11:38 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 11:44 a.m., he said. Four more local officers -- from the police department and county sheriff's office -- arrived, according to McCraw, at a time he did not say. - - - 6. 11:43 a.m.: School announces lockdown after gunshots Robb Elementary announced a lockdown on Facebook "due to gunshots in the area" at 11:43 a.m. and claimed that students and staff were "safe in the building." - - - 7. 11:54 a.m.: Video shows family members frustrated with police A video recorded outside the school starting at 11:54 a.m. captures parents criticizing the police response to the gunman still inside. "They need to go in there," a man says in the video verified by The Washington Post and Storyful, accusing police of "standing outside." Just before noon, the video shows students' family members confronting a uniformed officer who pushes a man back and yells at people to retreat across the street. Speaking at Thursday's news conference, Escalon said police were working to assemble the right resources - "specialty equipment," body armor, negotiators -- and also evacuating students and teachers. "They were taking gunfire . . . developing a team to make entry to stop him," Escalon said. McCraw on Friday attributed delays in confronting the shooter to law enforcement's eventual decision to treat the shooting as a "barricaded subject situation" rather than an active shooter situation. By 12 p.m., video showed children running away from the school. - - - 8. 12:03 p.m.: Child starts calling 911 repeatedly from classroom A girl called 911 for a little over a minute and whispered that she was in Room 112, McCraw said. She called back at 12:10 p.m. reporting multiple people dead, he said, and again a few minutes later. - - - 9. Shortly after noon: 'There was plenty of officers' McCraw said that "as many as 19" law enforcement officers had converged on a school hallway. McCraw initially suggested they assembled by 12:03 p.m., but later said that number included Border Patrol tactical team members who arrived around 12:15 p.m. with shields. "There was plenty of officers to do whatever needed to be done," McCraw said. But the incident commander believed more equipment and people were needed for a "breach," McCraw said, and a sense that law enforcement "had time" and saw "no kids at risk" was relayed to Border Patrol members. - - - 10. 12:16 p.m.: Eight or nine students alive, child says In yet another 911 call at 12:16 p.m., McCraw said, the girl from Room 112 said eight or nine students were alive. - - - 11. 12:19 p.m.: 911 call from another classroom A student in Room 111 called 911 but hung up at the urging of another student, McCraw said. At 12:21 p.m., he said, three shots could be heard over the 911 line. - - - 12. 12:21 p.m.: Gunman believed to fire 'last shot' before entry The gunman fired again inside one of the classrooms and was thought to be at a classroom door, McCraw said. Law enforcement moved down the hallway, he added. - - - 13. 12:23 p.m.: Scene 'remains active,' police say In a Facebook update time-stamped 12:23 p.m., the Uvalde Police Department asked parents to pick students up at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center -- about a five-minute drive from the elementary school -- and said the shooting scene was still "active." The Uvalde school district wrote on Facebook at 12:30 p.m. that students were being taken to the civic center for "reunification." - - - 14. 12:36 p.m.: Girl calls 911 again At 12:36, 911 received another from the child in Room 112, according to McCraw, and she was "told to stay on the line and told to stay quiet." - - - 15. 12:43 p.m.: 'Please send the police now' The same girl asked 911 to send police at 12:43 p.m. and reiterated the plea four minutes later, McCraw said. - - - 16. 12:50 p.m.: Officers unlock classroom doors and kill gunman McCraw said Friday that officers used keys they got from a janitor to unlock the classroom doors and fatally shot Ramos in Room 111. - - - 17. 1:06 p.m.: Police say they have stopped Ramos The Uvalde Police Department wrote on Facebook: "Update @ 1:06 Shooter is in Police Custody." - - - The Washington Post's Annie Gowen, Mark Berman, Meryl Kornfield, Silvia Foster-Frau and Shawn Boburg contributed to this report. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Sen. Ted Cruz was confronted by an activist about the Uvalde school shooting on Friday following his speech at the National Rifle Association Convention in Houston. Benjamin Hernandez, board member of progressive advocacy group Indivisible Houston, confronted Cruz about his stance on gun control measures in wake of the elementary school mass shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. The interaction with Cruz reportedly happened at Uptown Sushi in Houston hours after the junior senator gave a speech to NRA members. In his speech Cruz blamed the Uvalde tragedy on a culture of absent fathers and moral decay, and stated "good guys" with guns were the answer to mass shootings. A two-minute clip posted by Indivisible Houston on Twitter and Facebook, Hernandez poses for a photo with Cruz before challenging the junior senator about his unwillingness to consider gun reforms. Our federal government has failed to protect the American people from gun violence. After 27 school shootings so far in 2022 and 678 since 2000, lawmakers still sit on the sidelines, paralyzed as more innocent children and citizens are injured or senselessly murdered by people who should never come close to having access to a firearm. According to The Gun Violence Archive (if mass shootings are defined as four or more people shot), there were 693 mass shooting incidents in the United States during 2021. The number of mass shootings in 2020 was 611 and in 2019 there were 417. This trend is moving in the wrong direction. A Reuters Report calculates that more than 2,000 Americans have been killed or seriously injured as a result of mass shootings in the United States since 1999. In 2020, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the United States., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you exclude suicides, that number is 20,746. Since 2018, there have been four mass shootings in Texas, including this latest horrific event. Shockingly, the prior shootings paved the way for the state to allow concealed firearms at churches, K-12 schools and universities and colleges. Last year, the state passed legislation that allows people 21 and over to carry guns legally without training or a license. Long rifles, like the one used in the Uvalde school shooting, can be openly carried in public. These data points debunk the contention made by some that if more citizens were armed, there would be less gun violence because citizens would be able to take matters into their own hands. The opposite appears to be true in Texas. In Connecticut, despite some of the most stringent gun laws in the United States, there is still room for improvement. For instance, people under 21 are prohibited from purchasing handguns, and all assault weapon purchases are banned regardless of age. However, a CTInsider article states that existing law still allows 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to legally purchase and possess many other types of guns, including some semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. This is a loophole that should be closed swiftly. On a federal level, why cant our legislators hammer out sensible laws that can both defend the Second Amendment right to own a firearm legally while closing loopholes that would help prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands. As a Republican, it is clear to me that this legislative inertia lies at the feet of my party in Congress. Their stubborn allegiance to the national gun lobby shapes their inability to take action in the best interests of the American people whose safety is their No. 1 priority. Republicans need to show real leadership on this issue, if they do, there are actionable items that can and should be addressed promptly. They could begin by passing H.R. 8 in the Senate. This bill, which passed the House in March 2021, would close loopholes on all gun purchases, requiring a background check for all gun sales. This is important and according to the group Everytown For Gun Safety 22 percent of Americans reported that they purchased their most recent gun without any background check. Also on the table is H.R. 1446, a bill that would close the Charleston Loophole which allows gun sales to proceed without a complete background check after three business days. This bill is linked to the 2015 shooting in South Carolina, where a white supremacist obtained firearms through this loophole and later killed nine people at Mother Emanuel AME Church. The assault weapons ban of 1994 expired in 2004, and although multiple attempts were made to renew the legislation, none were successful. This should be renewed so as to prevent the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines which are often the weapons of choice in mass shootings to the general public. To reduce the number of firearms on the street, federal, state and local governments should offer tax deductions for those who turn in weapons to local authorities. The governmental bodies could then dispose of all returned firearms, reducing the number of weapons outstanding. Incentivizing the public to turn in weapons at no penalty (especially if they were obtained without proper permits) is a win-win. All of these measures alone will not eradicate gun violence, but taken together they will provide a framework that will make accessing weapons harder for those who should not have them. Clearly there is a broader component of gun violence connected to mental illness which poses further, more complex problems to remediate. However, progress can be made if there is a will at the federal, state and local level. In the meantime, we are left to watch helplessly in horror as the steady stream of continual mass shootings and day-to-day gun violence get beamed into our lives with sickening regularity. Like many unresolved issues in Washington, the problems associated with gun violence have become increasingly complicated and at times, seem too daunting to solve. As a lifelong Republican I understand, appreciate and respect my partys concern for the rights embodied in the Second Amendment. Yet, it is clear to all that gun violence in American needs to be addressed with urgency. It is my fervent wish that our elected leaders on both sides of the aisle will roll up their sleeves, work together, and the ones with the elephants on their lapels will show some true grit and do the right thing. As the mother of a 10-year-old girl killed in the Uvalde massacre said; This keeps happening and no one is doing anything about it. Dan Quigley is the former chair of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee. The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call an emergency special legislative session to consider a variety of gun restrictions and safety measures in the wake of a mass school shooting in Uvalde that left 19 children and two adults dead this week. In a letter released Saturday morning, all 13 Senate Democrats demanded lawmakers pass legislation that raises the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21-years-old. The Uvalde gunman was 18 years old and had purchased two AR-style rifles which he used in the attack. The caucus is also calling for universal background checks for all firearm sales, red flag laws that allow a judge to temporarily remove firearms from people who are considered an imminent threat to themselves or others, a cooling off period for the purchase of a firearm and regulations on high capacity magazines for citizens. Texas has suffered more mass shootings over the past decade than any other state. In Sutherland Springs, 26 people died. At Santa Fe High School, 10 people died. In El Paso, 23 people died at a Walmart. Seven people died in Midland-Odessa, the leader reads. After each of these mass killings, you have held press conferences and roundtables promising things would change. After the slaughter of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, those broken promises have never rung more hollow. The time to take real action is now. Such laws are unlikely to gain traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has a track record of favoring legislation that loosens gun restrictions. Only the governor has the power to call lawmakers back into session for emergency work. Asked about a special session at a Friday press conference in Uvalde, Abbott said all options are on the table adding that he believed laws would ultimately be passed to address this weeks horrors. However, he suggested laws would be more tailored toward addressing mental health, rather than gun control. You can expect robust discussion and my hope is laws are passed, that I will sign, addressing health care in this state, he said, That status quo is unacceptable. This crime is unacceptable. Were not going to be here and do nothing about it. He resisted the idea of increasing the age to purchase a firearm, saying that since Texas became a state, 18-year-olds have been able to buy a gun. He also dismissed universal background checks saying existing background check policies did not prevent the Santa Fe and Sutherland Springs shootings, which both happened while he has been in office, If everyone wants to seize upon a particular strategy and say thats the golden strategy right there, look at what happened in the Santa Fe shooting, he said. A background check had no relevance because the shooter took the gun from his parentsAnyone who suggests we should focus on background checks as opposed to mental health, I suggest is mistaken. Since the massacre at Robb Elementary School, the governors comments about potential solutions have centered around increasing mental health services, rather than restricting access to firearms. But in the letter, Senate Democrats criticized the governor for blaming a broken mental health care system that you and other state leaders continue to underfund severely. We need evidence-based, common sense gun safety laws. Without a doubt, if at least some of the measures noted above had been passed since 2018, then many lives could have been saved, the caucus wrote. Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter. After the Santa Fe school shooting in 2018, Abbott released a variety of recommendations to address school safety, including a call to the Legislature to consider a red flag law. At the time, Abbott claimed in his plan to improve school safety that similar protective orders restricting gun possession could have prevented the mass shootings in Sutherland Springs, southeast of San Antonio, and Parkland, Florida. But Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and gun rights activists pushed back and the proposal died. By the end of the 2019 legislative session Abbott signed a package of school safety measures that primarily focused on expanding mental health resources and hardening school buildings. He expanded the number of school staff who could have a firearm on school grounds. When he signed that legislation at the end of the 2019 session, reporters asked if he still supported a red flag law. Abbott said such a measure wasnt necessary in Texas right now. On Friday, Roland Gutierrez, the Democratic state senator who represents Uvalde, interrupted Abbotts press conference by walking to the front of the auditorium and urged the governor to bring lawmakers back for three weeks. "We have to do something, man, he said to Abbott, the second Democratic politician to interrupt a press conference this week. "Just call us back. In the hours after the shooting on Tuesday, Gutierrez told the Texas Tribune that the state needed to make it more difficult to obtain a firearm, especially the gun used by the shooter, an AR-15, which he called a weapon of mass destruction. There's not a hunter in Texas that utilizes these kinds of weapons, he said. And so I'm not saying let's take those kinds of weapons away, I'm saying that we should have some greater accessibility restrictions When you've got an 18 year old kid getting his hands on this kind of weaponry, it just makes no sense to me. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern Foard County in northern Texas... Northern Knox County in northern Texas... * Until 630 PM CDT. * At 600 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 7 miles west of Truscott, moving northeast at 35 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Gilliland and Truscott. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather ZZ Top pulled into the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Wednesday evening for a rocking performance. The band has been together for over five decades and sold over 30 million records across 15 studio albums. The loss of long-time bassist Dusty Hill in 2021 did not stop the band as his spot o This is 10-year-old Makenna Lee Elrod, a 4th-grader at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas. Makenna liked to sing and dance and play baseball. She loved animals and was fond of giving her friends friendship bracelets. She was one of 19 pupils and two teachers shot to death in their classroom Tuesday. Minimal gun safety legislation is again being introduced by Democrats in the Senate, but even in the face of the slaughter of children like Makenna, Republicans seem unlikely to agree to it. CIO is proud to launch the second CIO50 Awards in the Middle East, recognising the top 50 senior technology executives driving innovation, strengthening resiliency and influencing rapid change. Reflective of IDGs increasing commitment to the region, CIO50 is aligned to a global awards program and viewed as a mark of excellence within the enterprise. In 2022, CIO50 will be judged on four core pillars ofInnovation, Diversity & Culture, Workplace and Data Intelligence, honouring transformational, inspiring and enduring CIOs at both in-country and regional levels across the Middle East. The role of technology leaders whether CIO, CTO, CSO or CDO continues to rapidly evolve, driven by the emergence of pioneering technologies and business models. CIO50 will capture this change through highlighting the innovative work of individuals and organisations across the region. Whether a small project or large company-wide initiative, entrants are encouraged to document the positive impact of technology and the business benefits of disruptive thinking. Criteria The CIO50 is open to the top technology leader within an organisation who has overall responsibility and control of the IT vision and direction of the company. This C-level executive provides innovation, leadership and resiliency within their organisation, while being at the forefront of decision-making and strategic change. Specifically, the CIO50 questionnaire seeks to determine: the technology innovation/s that have changed the way an organisation operates. why the innovation/s are unique in the marketplace. the efforts to ensure diversity at the workplace. how s/he collaborates and influences the organisation and its leadership team. the role technology plays to help the organisation achieve its objectives. Nominations Nominations are now open and run until June 20. Submissions are free to enter and can be self-nominated or nominated on behalf of someone else, with all entries set for review by a select and independent CIO50 judging panel, who will rate each section of the questionnaire to determine the final list. After 25 CIOs and organisations are highlighted, the remaining 25 honourees recognised are listed alphabetically by company. Submissions will also form the basis of written profiles of all 50 technology leaders. This year will also see the introduction of three individual awards, acknowledging CIO excellence across the four pillars. The more powerful nominations will be the ones that can provide real-world examples of where technology and digital chiefs successfully provide value to their organisations, drive innovation and lead their teams. The word count for responses to questions under each of the four pillars should be no more than 800 words (2,400 words in total for the four pillars). Liberty Mutual is one of the most experienced and advanced cloud adopters in the nation. And that is in no small part thanks to the vision of James McGlennon, who in his role as CIO of Liberty Mutual for past 17 years has led the charge to the cloud, analytics, and AI with a budget north of $2 billion. Eight years ago, McGlennon hosted an off-site think tank with his staff and came up with a technology manifesto document that defined in those early days the importance of exploiting cloud-based services, becoming more agile, and instituting cultural changes to drive the companys digital transformation. Today, Liberty Mutual, which has 45,000 employees across 29 countries, has a robust hybrid cloud infrastructure built primarily on Amazon Web Services but with specific uses of Microsoft Azure and, lesser so, Google Cloud Platform. Liberty Mutuals cloud infrastructure runs an array of business applications and analytics dashboards that yield real-time insights and predictions, as well as machine learning models that streamline claims processing. As the Boston-based insurance companys journey to the cloud has unfolded, it has also maintained a select set of datacenters from which to run legacy applications more economically than they would on the cloud, as well as software from vendors that make licensing on the cloud less attractive. And while McGlennon believes that will change over time, he is far more focused on technologies that will define the next generation of applications. Were really trying to understand the metaverse and what it might mean for us, says McGlennon, whose mild Irish brogue bares his Galway, Ireland, upbringing. Were focused on augmented reality and virtual reality. Were doing a lot on AI and machine learning and robotics. Weve already built up blockchain and well continue with all those. And that ability to push the envelope, especially around machine learning and AI, finds its foundation in Liberty Mutuals rich cloud capabilities. The benefits of a solid cloud foundation Despite his laser focus on embracing emerging technologies, McGlennon remains highly enthusiastic about Liberty Mutuals use of and expertise in the cloud. Sixty percent of the insurers global workloads run in the cloud, delivering significant savings in hardware and software purchasing, but the big benefit comes in the form of business insights from analytics on the cloud that are immeasurable, he says. The cloud has been a huge positive impact on us economically and surely you hear this story all the time, but it didnt necessarily start out that way, he says. It tended to be additive to our legacy platforms when we started building out our cloud initially, but more recently, weve become far more mature in our use of the cloud and in our ability to optimize it to make sure that every single cycle of a CPU that we use out in the cloud is adding value. Here, McGlennon says governing controls, instrumentation, and observability metrics are key. The CIO would not specify how much the multinational company has saved by deploying workloads to the cloud but estimated it has saved about 5% over the past two and a half years. Its a big number, he says. Implementing cloud-native architectures for autoscaling and instrumenting Liberty Mutuals applications to control how theyre performing have been crucial to realizing those savings, McGlennon says. Like many other early cloud adopters, Liberty Mutual deploys off-the-shelf tools such as Apptio to monitor costs and automate scaling depending on workloads, he says. Weve worked with our cloud partners to better instrument our applications and better understand how theyre performing, says McGlennon, who was a finalist for the MIT Sloan CIO Leadership Award for 2022. That gives us greater insight into where we are potentially wasting resources and where we can optimize such as moving workloads to smaller cloud platforms. McGlennon is proud of his teams use of Apptio, for example, to best exploit its consumption-oriented model for not just its data on the cloud but for its internal services, software, and SaaS offerings, which, when linked to Liberty Mutuals business portfolio, essentially provides the insurers partners with a bill of materials for all of the resources used. The payoff of AI Over the past eight years, the Liberty Mutual IT team, which consists of 5,000 internal IT employees and about 5,000 outside contractors, has used a variety of development platforms and analytical tools as part of its cloud journey, spanning from IBM Rational and .NET in the early days to Java and tools such as New Relic, Datadog, and Splunk. Liberty Mutuals data scientists employ Tableau and Python extensively to deploy models into production. To expedite this, the insurers technical team built an API pipeline, called Runway, that packages models and deploys them as Python, as opposed to requiring the companys data scientists to go back and rebuild them in Java or another language, McGlennon says. Its really critical that we can deploy models quickly without having to rebuild them in another platform or language, he adds. And to be able to track the effectiveness of those machine learning models such that we can retrain them should the data sets change as they often do. The insurer also uses Amazon Sage Maker to build machine learning models, but the core models are based on Python. Liberty Mutuals IT team has also created a set of components called Cortex to enable its data scientists to instantiate the workstations they need to build a new model so the data scientist doesnt have to worry about how to build out the infrastructure to start the modeling process, McGlennon says. With Cortex, Liberty Mutuals data scientists can simply set their technical and data-set requirements, and a modeling workstation will be created on AWS with the right data and tools in an appropriately sized GPU environment, McGlennon explains. The insurer also deploys software bots in its claims model to enable customers to initiate a claim, e-mail a digitized photograph of their damaged vehicle, answer a few questions, and arrange a car rental quickly. On the back end, a machine learning model analyzes the photograph of the damaged vehicle to detect whether its airbag has been deployed, for instance, and to determine immediately whether a vehicle is totaled or the damage is limited to a fender bender. The insurers computer vision models may also tap into IoT devices and sensors deployed outside to generate more data for the claim. Liberty Mutual has come a long way from its technology manifesto to its advanced use of the cloud and AI, and embracing next-generation technologies such as augmented reality and blockchain will yield further advances, McGlennon notes. But this CIO is happy enough with the cloud and AI platform of today. Weve already seen significant economic payback from being able to use machine learning models to fine-tune quotes and pricing, in fraud detection, and our coding process to make it easier for customers to do business with us, McGlennon says, pointing to advanced cloud applications benefits in its core business of processing claims. We use it all over the place. Although his is a property and casualty company, McGlennon believes CIOs must drive innovation and take risks to create a culture where people feel there is the latitude to try something. Risk is our business, McGlennon said during a panel at the MIT Sloan CIO Symposium this week, adding that CIOs need to show that when things go wrong, and sometimes they will, no one is going to be made to feel that the risk wasnt worth it. You have to incubate something, nurture it, give it support, he said. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access UNHCR thanks China for PPEs donation to support COVID-19 response for refugees Xinhua) 10:52, May 28, 2022 DAR ES SALAAM, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency on Friday thanked China for donation of personal protective equipments (PPEs) to support COVID-19 response for refugees and host communities in western Tanzania. The PPEs were handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Tanzania, Mahoua Parums, by the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian, in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. The PPEs worth 1,265 million Tanzanian shillings (about 0.5 million U.S. dollars) included respiratory masks N95, disposable fluid-resistant gowns, medical gloves, eye protection goggles and reusable gumboots to be delivered to refugee camps in the country's western region of Kigoma. Parums thanked the government of China for the donation, saying it is a demonstration of its solidarity with refugees and support to Tanzania as an important refugee hosting country. Parums said the PPEs will be used to improve COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in health facilities in refugee camps and other government health facilities in Kigoma region and beyond for the benefit of refugees and their hosts. She said as part of the multi-country COVID-19 response program, China has also provided the same assistance to two other east African countries of Kenya and South Sudan through the UN refugee agency. "As we are all aware, infectious diseases know no borders and do not require visas, hence the importance of approaching it from a regional perspective," said Parums, adding that Tanzania is currently hosting 250,000 refugees, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Jenitha Ndone, the assistant director for Refugee Services Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the humanitarian aid donated by China to the refugees was a testimony to the long-lasting friendship and cooperation between China and Tanzania. Chen Mingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, said China appreciated the significant role played by the UNHCR in resolving refugee issues. Since 2020, COVID-19 has brought unprecedented crisis to refugees across the world and also posed severe challenges in refugee protection, she said. "China will continue to uphold the authority of multilateral mechanism with the United Nations at its core and firmly support UNHCR and other multilateral institutions to play their role in addressing challenges of the refugee issue," said Chen. She said China will uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, actively deepening cooperation with UNHCR and make continuous contributions to improving global refugee governance. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Author Tom Williams is a Marco Islander. He is the author of two books: Lost and Found and Surrounded by Thunder - the Story of Darrell Loan and the Rocket Men. Both books are available on Kindle and Nook. I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366. Follow this search 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 28-year-old Indian goes missing on Azerbaijan trip; family seeks help A solo trip by a 28-year-old Indian man turned into a nightmare for his loved ones after he has remained missing for over two weeks now in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan trip turns ordeal for 28-year-old Indian, Manikanth Kondaveeti; family seeks help. Photo courtesy:Facebook/@dharan.kondaveeti Manikanth Kondaveeti left India on April 26, and as per his family the first sign of trouble came when Kondaveeti failed to respond to their WhatsApp messages on May 12 and thereafter. Speaking to Instagram page Humans Of Bombay, his brother Dharan Kondaveeti narrated the ordeal that the family has been through over the fortnight. Sharing a bunch of pictures of Manikanth, Dharan says, "The boy you see in the photo is my bhai, Manikanth and he's been missing for the past two weeksI haven't been able to eat or sleep all I think about is, 'Where is he?'" Speaking about Manikanth's trip to Azerbaijan, Dharan says, "Bhai's a traveller - I loved hearing about his adventures! So, when bhai told me he's going on a solo trip to Azerbaijan; I was excited. A day before leaving, he came to Delhi to stay with me we went for dinner. Next morning, I dropped him to the airport and said, 'Next time, I'll come too.'" Manikanth, who left India on April 26 would "spam" the family with pictures and take them on virtual tours. They spoke every day till May 12 but then things changed. "12th May, 7 pm was the last time we spoke. I messaged him later but it didn't deliver. I pacified myself saying, 'Maybe he has no network,'" he explains. But attempts to contact Manikanth failed day after day. "We tried contacting him the following day and the day afterno response. I knew something was wrong -- bhai always kept in touch," Dharan says. The family then contacted the Indian embassy in Azerbaijan. "They (the embassy) said, 'He might be in the hills.' They assumed he was gallivanting and asked us not to worry. But how could we not? asks Dharan. "We contacted everyone in the embassy until one said, 'We'll send a search party.'" Dharan has also requested the public to help the family find Manikanth by signing a petition. He has also requested those who know people in Azerbaijan to help look for his brother. "We'll be forever indebted to you," Dharan says at the end of the note. Read more India News and Breaking News here By Andrew Machin (The following is the continuation of Part 3.1 Before illustrating these relationships, two fundamental explanations are needed. The assertion: , requires some clarification.At that time, indeed, it is to be excluded that Verduci could act autonomously, but only as a representative of his Locale, subject to the consent of the top bosses above him.Undoubtedly, [2009-2011], Verduci was a Ndrangheta high-ranking member. Nevertheless, it is likely that he was not yet the top boss (Capo Locale) of the Locale of Toronto, dependent on the mother-Locale of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, as he will presumably become later. Probably, this apical position was held by Antonio Coluccio, the youngest of the three Coluccio brothers. He had lived for five years in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto, before deciding to leave Canada in Jul. 2010 under pressure from immigration authorities. During his stay in the GTA, Antonio was assisted by men who, like him, periodically visited Calabria for the purposes of their Clan. They were: His father-in-law, Carmelo Bruzzese, on the right in the photo above taken by the police in Siderno, on Aug. 20, 2009, following wiretapping activities. The picture was interesting because it documented Bruzzeses meeting with another Ndrangheta member (later sentenced to 14 years in prison), including the non-random way of carrying it out: the two talked outdoors and walked along a busy street, which is a precise technique to hinder possible listening of conversations (about the integrated activities of police intelligence, and the relative counterintelligence by mobsters, see the precedent Part 3.1). Back in Canada, Carmelo Bruzzese (a formally permanent resident of Canada since 1974) was arrested in Vaughan, always just north of Toronto, by the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency, in Aug. 2013. He was deported to Italy in Oct. 2015. Vincenzo Tavernese, who was a very close business partner of Antonio Coluccio, as widely documented by Italian Project Crimine. Therefore, such an important decision should have passed the scrutiny of Antonio Coluccio and the other influential figures close to him. And not just of them. Indeed, Antonio Coluccio, in turn, should almost certainly have received instructions from the boss of his mother-Locale in Calabria. We are not referring to his older brother Giuseppe, who was at the time under the strict prison regime in Italy (the so-called 41-bis) after being caught right in the GTA (Markham) on Aug. 8, 2008. But to Rocco Aquino ( see Part 1 ), related to the Coluccio brothers themselves and supreme boss of the mother-Locale of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica until his arrest on Feb. 10, 2012 (so, he was fully operational during the attack on the Rizzutos). In conclusion, the decision regarding the possible choice of taking the field alongside Salvatore Montagna would never have been taken by Carmine Verduci individually, but only by the supreme boss of the mother-Locale in Calabria, previously consulted by the leading exponents of the Locale operating in the GTA ( in Part 1 , quoting Project Crimine, we ascertained how high the authority attributed to Aquino, for instance, by Vincenzo Tavernese, was; on that occasion, during a visit to Calabria, the latter invited Aquino to go to Canada to resolve a conflict with presumably another member of the Ndrangheta in the GTA). Furthermore, such a decision-making process would have been coherent with what is commonly heard in interceptions and statements by former members of the 'Ndrangheta who have become government witnesses in Italy. According to them, as a rule, all relevant decisions, especially if they have a strategic value, are taken in Calabria even when they concern issues in territories outside it.Not surprisingly, the wait for approval from Calabria (without which there is no way to proceed) is a typical phase that distinguishes any matter or relevant affair involving the 'Ndrangheta outside its homeland. In any case, denying that the Ndrangheta from Marina di Gioiosa Ionica had supported the attempted overthrow promoted by Salvatore Montagna does not mean that other criminal components of Calabrian origin in Ontario could not have joined the plans of the high-ranking member of the Bonanno Family from New York City instead. In this regard, the reconstructions, in particular, in the best seller by P. Edwards and A. Nicaso: Business Or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto's Last War (Random House Canada, 2015), can be considered more than plausible. According to it, "Soon after his move to Canada [in 2009]", Salvatore Montagna appeared in front of organized crime figures of Calabrian origin rooted in Southern Ontario (without instead contacting the Sicilian mobsters who resided there, as he should have done according to the mafia protocol, being himself of Sicilian origins). More precisely, he would have met individuals: From the GTA and belonging to the Ndrangheta (a description and an update of its structure have been provided, respectively, in the fourth and seventh articles of this series). From Hamilton and belonging to the Calabrian component of the American Cosa Nostra Buffalo Family. It cannot be excluded that one or more components of these two criminal organizations had adhered to Montagnas possible proposals or even encouraged him to plan a takeover in Montreal.One or more of them could be motivated even by revenge alone; first of all, the Luppino-Violi blood families from Hamilton. Indeed, they certainly could not forget the assassination, on Jan. 22, 1978, of Paolo Violi, the top boss of the Calabrian mafia in Montreal, as well as of his two brothers, Francesco and Rocco, by the Sicilian Rizzutos (as is well known, mobsters' mentality does not conceive of setting a deadline for revenge).For others, the aim could be to achieve, thanks to this alliance, that strategic goal represented by the opening of the Port of Montreal to the transit of drug shipments as the front door to enter the Canadian and US markets.This last brilliant hypothesis formulated by the two aforementioned authors was undoubtedly well-founded.'Ndrangheta members are generally great drug traffickers on an international scale. Therefore, they are well aware of the key role of ports along drug supply chains, especially cocaine from South and Central America (generally, the responsibility for loading a shipment of cocaine lies with the seller; unloading is the buyer's responsibility).In this sense, sea transportation would have been a much more advantageous alternative to the land route from Mexico used until then to supply eastern North America.Such a perspective could therefore be attractive for some Locali from the GTA. In particular, for those that did not have relations with the Montreal Family but perhaps had, or planned, with the Calabrian faction in Montreal deployed at the side of Salvatore Montagna. o-o-o-o-o-o-o After making these two clarifications, a number of judicial records and news items will now be reported to show that the top bosses of the Coluccio Clan (in chronological order: Carmelo Bruzzese and the brothers Antonio and Giuseppe Coluccio) had stable and significant relationships with the Rizzuto crime family. As will be explained in point below, these close ties continued until Giuseppe Coluccios arrest in Aug. 2008. Therefore, only a few months before the frontal attack suffered by the Rizzutos. The first known relationships dated back to the early 2000s, and they were reported as part of an Italian Project code-named Orso Bruno, transl. Brown Bear (2007), which, among others, focused on the figure of Carmelo Bruzzese. Specifically, the investigation in question concerned the attempted laundering of a huge amount of money by the Rizzuto crime family through the construction of the bridge across the Strait of Messina. Having to stand on their territory, mobsters have always paid attention to this bridge project, which was (and is) gigantic by Italian standards. Suffice it to say that, in this regard, already in 1990, during a meeting in Calabria with the supreme bosses of all three macro-areas of the Ndrangheta in Reggio Calabria province (Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sides, Center-Reggio Calabria City), Salvatore Riina in person (below) had stated the rule underlying the agreement between the two organizations. It had been revealed, together with other topics covered on that occasion, by a government witness, Antonino Lo Giudice, a former high-ranking member (the rank of Padrino; transl. Godfather) in charge of a district of the city of Reggio Calabria. [Note that the English term rank is used here for translation and comprehension purposes only. Indeed, the 'Ndrangheta categorically refuses to use any military term that can evoke law enforcement. For this reason, in the specific case, it attributes this fundamental meaning, in Italian, to the not-military word "dote"; transl. gift, privilege]. This information had come to him from an even more powerful boss, a leading exponent of the Locale of Archi (the Locale that dominated and dominates even today the city of Reggio Calabria). His position had allowed the latter to attend that meeting at the highest criminal level ( in the first part of this article , we explained that the contents of a mafia meeting can be revealed live by police listening devices set up at the meeting place, but also by one or more government witnesses subsequently able to report news learned directly or de relato). Many [men affiliated with the Ndrangheta] were afraid of the Corleonesi because the oath that is made in some clans you swear loyalty to the group. But they [the Corleonesi], compared to others, had a particular oath that if, for example, one was affiliated by Riina and Riina asked him to kill his brother, he had to kill him. Based on these revelations, Sicily (Sicilian Cosa Nostra) and Calabria (Ndrangheta) would have shared 50% of the entire construction work. Thus, indirectly establishing equal dignity between the two organizations.This last story is far from irrelevant. It tells us that, even in the moment of maximum criminal power by the Sicilian Cosa Nostra under the dictatorship of Salvatore Riina (1982-1992), the Ndrangheta was recognized to have, without question, the same strength and weight.All this despite many members of the 'Ndrangheta being aware that not even they could compete in criminal ferocity with the Corleonesi headed by Riina.Another government witness, Antonino Fiume (always from the Locale of Archi), in the course of a trial in 2019, motivated this superiority by mentioning the special oath requested by the Corleonesi at the time of the official affiliation of new members with their Family. His words described a ritualization that, potentially sacrificing even the closest blood ties, reached levels inconceivable even for the Ndrangheta members:It is noteworthy that it was impossible to back down in a situation like the one quoted above. Any refusal by the candidate to swear would have meant for him not to leave the place of the ceremony alive. Toto Riina. A part of the quotation referring to Project Orso Bruno and concerning Carmelo Bruzzese has already been presented throughout this explanation ( see Part 1 ), as reported by Project Crimine. However, below is the complete passage. In this way, it will be possible to note first the relationships between Bruzzese and Verduci, confirming their closeness; right after, Verducis role as a messenger of news and orders between the two Atlantic sides ( see Part 2 ). The same function that, in the context of the present examination, he could then also have performed between different cities in Canada (as we learned in the first part of this article , the task of bringing or receiving news and orders on behalf of one or more top bosses who prefer to stay covered or cannot move is called, in Italian mafia jargon, ambasciata, pl. ambasciate; transl. embassy, embassies). BRUZZESE Carmelo who is defined in the cited order of pre-trial detention [resulting from Project Orso Bruno] as the referent of the "Calabrian cell" of the organization, closely linked to the top of the organization, in contact with Vito RIZZUTO's most direct collaborators and with the same boss before his arrest, which took place in Jan. 2004, as well as with leading exponents of the Calabrian organized crime. () In the course of the investigations, in addition to documenting relationships functional to the existence of the partnership with ARCADI Francesco, who was listed by the Canadian police as the successor of Vito RIZZUTO (after his arrest - extradition to New York), it is possible to note, for the current proceedings, the relationships between BRUZZESE Carmelo and VERDUCI Carmine who, based on the conversations taped in that context, is defined a figure who has already emerged in the investigations to be close to the well-known Carmelo BRUZZESE and having the task of systematically traveling between Italy and Canada, acting as a news carrier between the Italian and Canadian groups, as moreover found in the current proceedings [Project Crimine]. As just reported, Bruzzese had direct and indirect relationships with Vito Rizzuto. The number of new housing units that were issued permits in Connecticut last month tumbled by 21.7 percent compared to April 2021, according to data released Thursday by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. There were 406 new housing units issued permits last month across 118 towns. During the first four months of this year, 1,558 units have received permits. Newtown led the state with 64 housing permits issued in April, followed by New Haven with 22. East Lyme had the next largest number of housing permits issued with 18 followed by Milford with 16. New housing permits are considered a key economic indicator because moving into a new house or apartment is usually accompanied by purchases of so-called big ticket items like consumer electronics and appliances. Bob Wiedenmann Jr., who is a principal of Sunwood Development in Wallingford, said a variety of factors are likely the reason for the year-over-year decline in housing permits. Developers are being cautious and want to see where the market is going, Wiedenmann said. I think buyers are probably a little hesitant about whether they want to purchase a new home right now, with the stock market and all the volatility that is going on. The average annual percent rate on 30-year fixed rate mortgage on Friday was just over 5.14 percent, according to the financial website Nerdwallet. Annual percentage rate is the yearly interest generated by a sum charged to borrowers or paid to investors. Five percent is still a great rate for mortgage as anyone whose been arround for awhile can tell you, Wiedenmann said. But its quite an adjustment for younger home buyers. Wiedenmann has over 30 years experience in the nw home building business. He said views what is happening right now as a market adjustment, although I dont feel its 2008 all over again. Its probably helpful to get rid of that crazy sellers market, Wiedenmann said. It simply was not sustainable and as prices adjust back to more sensible levels, it will make people less hesitant to enter the market. Sunwood Development has 36-unit town home rental development in Wallingford that will hit the market in late June. He is also developing a small six-lot subdivision of small single family homes that should be finished by the end of the summer, he said. The release of April housing permit numbers come after DECD commissioner David Lehman told an audience of business people from the Greater New Haven area that Connecticut needs more housing stock of all types to remain economically viable in the future. Lehman said the state needs boost its housing permit numbers to between 10,000 to 15,000 units annually. Wiedenmann said Connecticuts new housing market hasnt achieved that level of permit activity since the late 1980s and early 1990s. If there are not any incentives, its hard for any for-profit builder to build affordable housing units, he said. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com When Lu Burke, a resident at Pomperaug Woods retirement community, died at age 90 in October 2010, the event barely registered in Southbury. This was not unusual, of course. As the home to Pomperaug Woods, as well as Heritage Village and The Watermark at East Hill, Southbury counts thousands of older residents among its ranks, including many in their 80s and 90s who came to town late in life. The local obituary pages are crowded with names of men and women whose lives were largely lived elsewhere. Burke herself moved to Southbury in the late 1990sfirst to Heritage Village and then, in 2004, to Pomperaug Woodsafter having lived and worked as an editor most of her life in New York City, most notably at The New Yorker. She never married and brought few possessions with her other than a few boxes of old books, which she described to a Pomperaug Woods staff member as my friends. When she got to Southbury, she bought a used 1990 Honda Civic, which she liked to say was Chianti red, pronouncing it like Hannibal Lecter, and took it on short jaunts around town. Mostly, however, she lived a quiet, almost hermetic existence in those last years at Pomperaug Woods, where New England-style apartments are surrounded by 22 wooded acres. Theres a store, hair salon, art studio, performing arts center, even game rooms on the premises, but Burke seldom availed herself of these amenities. She made few friends or even acquaintances there, and never took her meals in the dining room with other residents, preferring to carry her dinner back to her apartment in a bag. And there the story would end, in the silence of the surrounding countryside, were it not for something extraordinary that happened in the wake of Lu Burkes passing. Though she had no direct next of kin at her death, Burke named a beneficiary in her will. This gesture was entirely in keeping with her love of books but, still, town residents were taken aback by the news that a veritable stranger in their midst had left her entire estate, worth $1,083,669.31, to the Southbury Public Library. It was the largest bequest the library, in all its incarnations over more than a century, had ever received. Adding to the mystery was the distinct possibility that Burke may never even have visited the library. She had no active library card on file and no one on the staff recalls for certain ever seeing her there. Head Librarian Shirley Thorson was blindsided, happily, by the news. We had no inkling whatsoever, says Thorson. The probate court in Southbury notified us of a bequest from Lu Burke but no amount was named and we didnt hear anything else for more than a year. Then in December [2011], right around the holidays, the attorney handling the estate called and told us the amount over the phone. We were overwhelmed. After much discussion, many library board meetings and some input from the community, it was decided that the most appropriate way to honor the gift was to name a part of the library after this great and unexpected benefactor. She was a private person but was clearly dedicated to words, says Thorson. The Million-Dollar Enigma In that spirit, on May 19 the library will be hosting a Lu Burke Literary Night for its benefactors, area writers and a few invited guests in the first of what Thorson hopes will be many such evenings. On that night, the librarys front counter will be officially rechristened the Lu Burke Circulation Desk and novelist Steven Millhauser, known for his own reclusive tendencies, will read from his work. Alice Quinn, a former editor at The New Yorker whose father, Ray, is a Pomperaug Woods resident, arranged for the appearance by Millhauser, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1997 for his novel Martin Dressler. Quinn had been drawn back into contact with Burke during one of her weekly visits to have dinner with her father. Shed spotted an elderly woman across the room whose face and piercing blue eyes were familiar. When we first noticed each other, we sized each other up from afar like a couple of catsjust a glimpse on both sides, says Quinn. The second time, we fell into step in a corridor, and she said, I thought Id seen you here. Im glad youve materialized! Yes, it was true. Here was Lu Burke, who as copy editor extraordinaire had been the scourge of sloppy writing for many years at The New Yorker, Life and Saturday Review. Shed also done a stint at Simon & Schuster, where her bailiwick was mystery novels. As The New Yorkers poetry editor, Quinn had encountered Burke often from 1987 to 2007. I worked with Lu quite a bit, as she was often the copy editor for the poems and also gave me her copyedited proofs on many of the stories I edited, says Quinn, now executive director of the Poetry Society of America. I liked Lu. She was brusque and had a gimlet eye, and was very much her own person. Most memories of Lu Burke by her former colleagues are work-related. Few of her colleagues interviewed for this storypeople with whom she worked closely for yearscould recall much about her life outside The New Yorker other than that she lived on Horatio Street in the West Village, loved jazz and classical music, drank martinis and read Anthony Trollope. No one, for example, could recall where she came from originally, though Massachusetts is the consensus guess, or where she went to school; she told one colleague shed gone to Vassar, but another colleague said, I am absolutely certain that she didnt graduate from college and pretty sure she had never gone to college at all. One thing was known with as close to certainty as anything: Burke was estranged from her family. As Lindsley Cameron, a friend of Lus and a former copy editor at The New Yorker, put it, Lu was sparing of personal details and my memories of those she did share are often cloudy because when she revealed things, it was usually in a deliberately vague way. She had a brother, or stepbrother, who may have had a couple of daughters, but whether because all her relatives had died or she had cut them off, she considered herself to have no family, and often said so. Even her full first nameLu being the shortened, or edited, form she preferredwas a mystery to those who knew her. All in all, Burke was almost as much a mystery during her long and distinguished editing career as she is now to the library patrons of Southbury. Though for some reason she is not mentioned in any of the myriad memoirs about The New Yorker, from 1958 to 1989 when William Shawn and then Robert Gottlieb were the top editors, Lu Burke was a presence on just about every page of the magazine. A formidable page OKer on the magazines copy deskher penciled OK on a proof meant that it was good to goBurke was the catcher in the rye, so to speak, flinging unnecessary commas and run-on sentences (like this one) aside and sprinkling needed commas, periods and quotation marks into their proper places. Statues may not be erected to copy editors, but no good magazine or publishing house could exist without them. Like umpires, good copy editors simply disappear if theyre doing their jobs well. Copy editing is an invisible and often thankless job, says Mary Norris, one of Burkes closest colleagues on the copy desk and someone who visited her a few times in Southbury after her retirement. The only time youre noticed is when you make a mistake. Peter Canby met Lu Burke when he started at The New Yorker in the fact-checking department. Her official title, Page OKer, sounds arcane and Dickensian but its a very significant role at the magazine, says Canby, now the head of the fact-checking department. Page OKers are the ones who make the final sign-offs before a page can be printed. They meet with the fact-checking department in the final days before deadline and go over everything. Canby recalls one of Burkes amusing inventions, dubbed the comma shaker. She had a pizza-parlor shaker on her desk on which shed written, COMMAS, and shed pretend to sprinkle the commas onto the pages of copy, he says. I liked Lu a great deal. She was the foot-stomping, foul-mouthed sort of person whoI hate to use a cliche but it sticks herehad a heart of gold. She was tempestuous and overopinionated but likable and very dedicated to her job, as people with that temperament often are. Shed come to our office to complain about the worldto her, the world was always a disaster. The Million-Dollar Enigma Ann Goldstein, now head of the copy-editing department at the magazine, worked closely with Burke for years, but admits she didnt get to know her all that well. Lu was very particular, and in her last years at the magazine she mainly edited fiction, says Goldstein. In the beginning, of course, she edited everything, as we all did. But she was one of the senior members on the staff when I arrived and she preferred fiction and poetry. Lu was the consummate professional, and she edited or did everything with her whole being, says Norris, who now has custody of Burkes comma shaker. She felt that if we were going to run newsbreaks [brief filler items featuring errors and bad writing culled from newspapers around the country] and make fun of mistakes found in other publications, we better not make any ourselves. She could be so mean about pointing out mistakes made by others because she never made them herself. Being a crank at The New Yorker in those early days, when the office was on West 43rd Street across from the Algonquin Hotel, was par for the course. This was the William Shawn [the legendary editor who ruled the roost from 1952 to 1987] era and it was pretty much a nuthouse here, says Canby. There were many eccentric and difficult people who had offices scattered among the corridors of the old building, cartoonists and writers who still maintained offices. It was the sort of environment where Lu fit in. She was a bullya brilliant bully, but a bully, says Charles McGrath, former fiction editor at The New Yorker and now an editor and writer at The New York Times. McGrath recalls that Burke was such a force to be reckoned with that she crossed swords with Eleanor Gould, the epochal grammarian who, unlike Lu, is mentioned in all the memoirs about The New Yorker. Gould was a great editor, but great in her own way, says McGrath. She could be tone- deaf and edited everything the same way, as if from a mathematical formula, making no allowances for writers individual styles. Real style, in fact, bugged her, and she often went crazy over someone like John McPhee. According to Daniel Menaker, an editor and writer at The New Yorker for 26 years and now editor-in-chief of the Random House Publishing Group, The height of Gouldism was the time when someone left off a second comma at the end of someones name that contained a Jr. She circled the space where the comma should have been and wrote a note in the magin, Have we lost our minds? Lu was a moderating force for this, but Eleanor was more famous for a reason. By the time McGrath arrived at the magazine in the early 1970s, there had been a figurative revolt against Goulds one-size-fits-all approach. Those doing the revolting looked to Burke as an anti-Eleanor Gould, as the editor who was more sensitive and, despite her irascibility, more flexible with language. Lu had the office right next to Eleanor and they had different philosophies, to say the least, says Norris, laughing. Eleanor would have edited Proust the same way she did Talk of the Town. She had a way of making you feel very small if you asked a question, but Lu preferred that you ask ignorant questions rather than stay ignorant. The upshot of this friction between editors was that Burke agreed to stop editing nonfiction pieces and turn to fiction and poetry. This was a fine arrangement for William Shawn, who was terrified of Lu, because she was just as impatient and bossy with him as with anyone else at the magazine, says McGrath. He was perfectly happy to have the editing turf divided up this way. In the end, McGrath believes, everybody benefited from the new arrangement. Everyone came to respect what Lu Burke did, says McGrath, who insists that even the production staff was terrified of Burke, calling her Sarge behind her back. Her fussy insistence on good writing was important, if not essential, to The New Yorker. She had a genuine sensitivity to the individual styles of writers. She was very well-read and she really rolled up her sleeves. McGrath recalls a particularly long story by John Updike that had a huge cast of characters. While editing the story, Lu created a genealogy chart with all the characters listed and found some inconsistencies the author had missed. Updike was incredibly grateful to her for this, says McGrath. Lu knew the real thing from gilded crap. Because of her, and the rest of the editorial system at the magazine, we could take something mediocre and give it the veneer of something much better. Lus legend has been eclipsed by Eleanor Gould but in her way, Lu was just as important a figure to the magazines reputation. She just did not want the attention. When I started on the copy desk in 1983, I was terrified of Lu and wanted so badly to please her, recalls Norris. Once she came in to compliment me on the way I had handled the commas in a story by Edna OBrien. OBrien, she said, had an idiosyncratic way with punctuation, which I had noticed, and after reading the piece she had thought, I bet this was copyedited by Mary Norris. I knew I had made it after that. Menaker had a similar trial by fire. His mother, Mary Grace, was a legendary editor at Fortune, but he made a less than auspicious debut on the copy desk. The Million-Dollar Enigma I was really in trouble when I first arrived, says Menaker, screwing up all over the place, making a lot of mistakes, and I was even told to leave at one point. I was really clinging by my fingernails, and Lu was skeptical of me. Shed say, You dont want to do this. You want to do other things, and I would say, But I want to learn thisyou know, because my mother did this and, yes, I know its Oedipal but its in the blood. When he told Burke who his mother was, she was impressed enough to pull back a bit and be less critical of Menakers work. Four or five years later, after Id climbed back up the cliff, Lu came into my office and told me, I really respect what youve done. Youve turned it around, says Menaker, whos working on a memoir of his New Yorker days entitled My Mistake, due out next year. That was something, coming from her. According to her colleagues, Burke looked and dressed as distinctively as she acted. She wore blue jeans, Earth Shoes, long-sleeved jewel-neck pastel sweaters and little stud earrings, and she had those snappy blue eyes, says Norris. She walked like a bear and ate in those depressing Greek coffee shops in Chelsea and the Village. Shed made a point of learning the word for peppers so that she could tell the waiter to hold the peppers. Perhaps Burkes move to Connecticut was inspired by the years she spent at the magazine in an office previously occupied by West Cornwalls favorite son, James Thurber. Lu had her own office on the main editorial floor, recalls Canby. Wonderfully, it had once belonged to James Thurber and there were original Thurber drawings on the walls in there. These murals were eventually removed and preserved and are on display in the front of the new offices at Times Square. She was really in the trenches with her work. She loved being in Thurbers office, adds Goldstein. John Bennet, a nonfiction editor at the magazine, has another vivid memory of Burke, a connection to another of the most celebrated writers in American literature. She said she once dated J.D. Salinger, in the late 40s, I believe, when she was at Simon & Schuster, says Bennet. They went out a few times. This was before Catcher in the Rye made him famous. She also said that years later, Salinger brought his son, Matthew, to The New Yorker to meet William Shawn. Walking down the hall, he passed Lus office, recognized her, and they chatted amiably for a few minutes. Even dishier than the Salinger story was the possibility of her romantic involvement with Janet Flanner, the magazines venerable Paris correspondent who wrote under the pen name Genet. It seems Flanner was quite fond of Lu Burke and even bestowed the flirty nickname Puss on her. Lindsley Cameron insists that Burke definitely identified as straightshe told me she had some rather long-term affair with a man who treated her badly. I believe he was married and told her he would leave his wife but never did. News of Burkes death quickly made its way back to The New Yorker. When we heard about her death, we had a toast in the copy department with the eight people still there whod worked with Lu, says Canby. We remembered her with affection, even knowing that she could be impossible at times. Canby did get one story out of his colleague that has stuck with him. My grandfather was the editor of the Saturday Review and Lu had worked there for Norman Cousins, whod taken over for him, says Canby. She regaled me with stories about what a pain in the ass Cousins was. She said he asked her one day to go to Tiffanys and pick out a wedding gift for a family friend, and gave her a blank signed check. She went off to Tiffanys and picked out a candlestick or something but when she went to pay, the clerk couldnt believe she had been given a blank signed check. So they called Cousins to verify if it was okay, and he said, I dont know anything about that. When this was relayed to Lu, she grabbed the phone out of the clerks hand and started shouting, Norman, you stop this right now! This isnt funny! They accepted the check. Wed been a bit surprised when she told us she was going to move up to Southbury, recalls Canby. Shed never lived in the country before but she insisted, Im sick of New York! Norris and Cameron both visited Burke in Southbury, where they often had three-hour lunches at Friendlys, Burkes favorite restaurant in town. Lu salted herself away a little too early up there in Connecticut, says Norris. At first, she made a friend at Heritage Village named Edgar, who did things for her. But like all the folks at the old-folks home, Edgar was old and he popped off on her. I think that embittered her and after that she didnt bother to make any more friends. She felt everyone was stupid. Im not surprised Lu didnt make friends when she retired to Southbury, says Goldstein. She was an acerbic, no-nonsense person. She was fond of some of us, as we were of her, but she was certainly not a chit-chatty sort of person. Among those who knew her best at Pomperaug were her housekeeper, Beth Lonegan, and a groundskeeper named Robert Cavallaro, who would do odd jobs for her in her apartment. She was more friendly with the staff than with her peers, says Becky Butler, director of social and community relations at Pomperaug Woods. When I started working here, Lu came in to introduce herself and tell me about all the other residents. She really didnt like most of them. Meanwhile, Shirley Thorson, the Southbury librarian, continues to bask in the warmth of Lu Burkes unexpected generosity. Occasionally she stops to muse on the mystery of the gift, and the giver. The whole thing is like a short story in The New Yorker, isnt it? Thorson says with a laugh. My staff was talking about Lu Burke the other day, and we all agreed that someone here must have made an impression on her without ever knowing it. (This article was originally published on a different platform. Some formatting changes may have occurred.) This article appeared in the May 2012 issue of Connecticut Magazine Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Connecticut Magazine Carnivorous snails known to many shore-dwellers for their spiraled shells and use in scungilli salad are on the decline in Long Island Sound, regulators say. That has prompted Connecticut to impose new harvest restrictions on whelk and drawn the ire of local fishermen. The new regulations set to go into effect in August include the states first-ever size requirements on whelk, which fishermen say will require them to toss roughly 40 percent of the smaller snails they catch back into the water. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is also setting new standards for the kinds of traps used to harvest whelk and prohibiting fishermen from setting or tending traps at night. Fishermen say the new rules represent a stark turnaround for state regulators, who have historically applied few limits on the fishery and even treated whelk as pests that harmed the states shellfish industry by preying on clams and oysters. We never had any regulations, said Bart Mansi, a fisherman in Guilford who has harvested whelk for over 45 years. As a matter of fact, when we first started, it was against the law to throw them back. So no matter what we caught, what size they were, (it was) the law that they had to be taken out of the water. DEEP officials, meanwhile, contend that populations of the slow-growing snails have been depleted by unregulated fishing in the Sound, and that similar size limits in other Atlantic coastline states have proven successful at managing whelk populations. In New York, fishery regulators proposed a similar set of size limits to go into effect this summer as part of a coordinated effort between officials in both states. Bill Lucey, the soundkeeper at Save the Sound, said there is lack of scientific research on the health of whelk populations off the coast of Connecticut. But data from fishermen shows that the snails brought to market in recent years are declining in size, indicating that the overall population may be in danger. The bigger whelk are more valuable, so if you create a fishery that has bigger whelk and more of them in the future, then youre making an investment for down the road by putting some restrictions in now, Lucey said. But, of course, the shellfishermen dont like them because all those (whelk) like to eat their product: oysters, clams. The new regulations will allow licensed whelk fishermen to remove whelk below the legal catch size from commercial shellfish beds, so long as they release the snails back into the water in areas not used to cultivate clams, oysters or other shellfish. Whelk fishermen questioned the data that went into crafting the new regulations, but they were successful at getting DEEP to phase in the most restrictive size limits over a period of several years. Still, fisherman like Mansi said that officials have failed to consider the regulations impact on their businesses. With the rising cost of fuel and everything, I dont even know if were going to be able to stay on the water, Mansi said. A spokesman for DEEP did not respond to a request for comment Monday seeking data on the existing whelk fishery in Connecticut. Under the new rules, fishermen will be required to toss back whelk whose shells do not measure at least 4.75 inches in length. That requirement will eventually increase to 5.5 inches beginning in 2028. The rules apply to both species of whelk commonly caught in the Sound, channeled whelk and knobbed whelk. Both species of whelk can grow to a maximum length of 8 or 9 inches, weighing several pounds. Bob Guzzo, a fisherman from Stonington, focuses on catching whelks or conchs, as he calls them, using the name for warm-water relative of whelks. The fishery is hit or miss, he said, depending on the year, but the whelk population in the Sound is mostly stable, albeit at a smaller scale than what it once was. Thirty years ago, sure, there were a lot more, you know, because no one was doing it, Guzzo said. Lobsters were worth more money. No one would go after conchs for $3 a bushel. Beginning in the late 1990s, however, the lobster population cratered in the Sound, decimating the commercial fishery in Connecticut. Around the same time, demand for whelks began to grow in China, prompting many lobstermen to switch to catching the slow-moving snails using traps that work similarly to lobster pots. Today, a bushel of decent-size whelks weighing 50 pounds can sell for up to $200 at the docks, Guzzo said. They started paying a little bit more, a little bit more, and it became a viable market for us to fish for because there was nothing else to fish for, Mansi said. I guess like anything else, when somebody finds out that youre making money doing something, a predator became something that they had to manage. In addition to new rules pertaining directly to whelk, fishermen say they are also squeezed by other regulations that sharply limit the annual harvest of horseshoe crabs, which are one of the main sources of bait used in whelk traps. Under the new fishery regulations adopted by DEEP, daily catch limits for horseshoe crabs will be slashed from 500 to 150, while harvesting will be prohibited altogether around the first full or new moon in June, when high tides bring the horseshoe crabs to shore in their highest numbers to spawn. Even with the stricter regulations, fishermen avoided a possible complete shutdown of the horseshoe crab fishery that was state lawmakers had proposed, after time ran out on the legislative session before the Senate could vote on the bill. While Guzzo said he and other whelk fishermen would likely move on to cheaper sources of bait, the new regulations on a once largely ignored fishery signaled a larger shift that Guzzo said would make it harder and less desirable to join the industry. Im too old to do anything else, said Guzzo, who is 65. Hopefully I can fish for a few more seasons before this all goes to hell. WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is making it clear that he will likely defy a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, escalating a standoff with the panel over his and other GOP lawmakers testimony. In an 11-page letter to the panel Friday, an attorney for McCarthy argued that the select committee does not have the authority to issue subpoenas to the lawmakers under House rules and demanded answers to a series of questions and documents if his client were to comply. Attorney Elliot Berke requested a list of "topics that the Select Committee would like to discuss with the Leader, and the constitutional and legal rationale justifying the request." I expressly reserve Leader McCarthys right to assert any other applicable privilege or objection to the Select Committees subpoena, Berke wrote. Committee spokesperson Tim Mulvey responded Friday evening, Leader McCarthy and other Members who have been served subpoenas are hiding behind debunked arguments and baseless requests for special treatment. He added, The refusal of these Members to cooperate is a continued assault on the rule of law and sets a dangerous new precedent that could hamper the Houses ability to conduct oversight in the future. Mulvey said committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., "will formally respond to these Members in the days ahead. The House panel believes testimony from the Republican lawmakers is crucial to their investigation as each of the men was in contact with then-President Donald Trump and his allies in the weeks and days leading up to the Capitol insurrection. Some participated in meetings and urged the White House to try to overturn the 2020 presidential results. McCarthy has acknowledged he spoke with Trump on Jan. 6 as Trumps supporters were beating police outside the Capitol and forcing their way into the building. But he has not shared many details. The committee requested information about his conversations with Trump before, during and after the riot. His apparent defiance presents a new challenge for the committee after lawmakers decided to take the extraordinary and politically risky step of subpoenaing their own colleagues. For House Republican leaders to agree to participate in this political stunt would change the House forever, the California lawmaker wrote Thursday in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal with GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. The committee now must decide whether to enforce the subpoenas even as it looks to wrap up the investigation and prepare for a series of public hearings in early June. It could refer the lawmakers to the House ethics committee or take steps to hold them in contempt. The subpoenas were issued to McCarthy, Jordan, and Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama in mid-May. The panel has already interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses and collected more than 100,000 documents as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in two centuries. I have no relevant information that would advance any legitimate legislative purpose, Jordan said in a letter detailing his reasons for not cooperating. The others indicated after the subpoenas were issued that they too would not cooperate. Perrys lawyer sent the committee a letter earlier this week saying he could not in good conscience comply with the subpoena because he does not believe it is valid under House rules. Requests for comment from Biggs and Brooks were not immediately returned. The panel had previously asked for voluntary cooperation from the five lawmakers, along with a handful of other GOP members, but all refused to speak with the panel, which debated for months whether to issue the subpoenas. McCarthy and the others were summoned to testify in front of investigators this week and next week. McCarthy, who aspires to be House speaker if Republicans take over the majority next year, indicated that the committees decision will have a lasting impact. Every representative in the minority would be subject to compelled interrogations by the majority, under oath, without any foundation of fairness, and at the expense of taxpayers, he wrote in the op-ed. In a separate move, McCarthy and the No. 2 House Republican, Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, filed a court brief in support of Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon, who is facing criminal contempt charges for defying a subpoena from the committee. In the brief, lawyers for the two write that the committee does not have the authority to issue subpoenas, an argument that has been dismissed in other court proceedings. The lawyers also wrote that McCarthy and Scalise filed the brief out of concern for the potential damage to House institutional" rules and order. As per latest meteorological indications, westerly winds have strengthened at lower levels over the south Arabian Sea and deepened. (PTI file image) VISAKHAPATNAM: Southwest monsoon is advancing towards Kerala, an IMD report from Amaravati said on Friday. The report pointed out that as per latest meteorological indications, westerly winds have strengthened at lower levels over the south Arabian Sea and deepened. The satellite imagery shows an increase in cloudiness over Kerala coast and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea. Hence, conditions are becoming favourable for onset of monsoon over Kerala within the next two to three days, the report said. Meanwhile, monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of south Arabian Sea, entire Maldives, adjoining areas of Lakshadweep and additional parts of Comorin area. Lower tropospheric westerly winds prevailed over AP and Yanam. As a result, thunderstorms are likely for three days from Saturday onwards in both these areas, the Met report added. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Mohamed Benhalima looks wary and frightened as he is led off a plane at Algiers airport, handcuffed with a security officers arm wrapped around him. A team from Algerias Rapid Intervention Force then puts him in their vehicle and whisks him to an unknown destination. The video was posted online on March 24. Three days later, Algerians watched on television as the 32-year-old confessed to involvement with an organization that authorities have listed as an Islamist terrorist group plotting against the Algerian government. Once a faithful servant of his homeland as a non-commissioned army officer, Benhalima became a supporter of Algerias pro-democracy movement, then a deserter who fled to Europe. Spain expelled him after Algeria issued a warrant for his arrest. The confession scene was made public by Algerias General Directorate of National Security, in what could be seen as a warning to other soldiers or citizens. Hundreds of Algerian citizens have been jailed for trying to keep alive the Hirak movement that held weekly pro-democracy protests starting in 2019, leading to the downfall of longtime Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The marches were banned last year by the nations army-backed government. Authorities then expanded their sweep, linking some Hirak supporters to two groups added to Algerias terror list last year: Rachad, regarded as Islamist infiltrators whose leaders are in Europe, and MAK, a separatist movement in Kabylie, home of the Berbers. For the last two or three years, there have been thousands of legal cases against activists, said well-known lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi. Their only error is that they expressed their political opinions on social media and are fighting for a state of law. For authorities of the gas-rich North African nation, guaranteeing the stability of the state is at the heart of their actions. For human rights groups, Benhalima and others are victims of an unjust, antiquated system of governance that views dissidents, or any critical voices, as criminals. They say that Algerian authorities use threats to national security to stifle free speech, including among journalists, and justify arrests. A campaign on social media, with the hashtag #PasUnCrime (not a crime) was launched May 19 by dozens of non-governmental organizations against repression of human rights. The U.S. State Departments 2021 report on human rights in Algeria cited a long list of problems, including arbitrary arrests and detentions and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association. In March, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, asked Algeria to change direction to guarantee the right of its people to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. To be a human rights activist in Algeria has become very difficult, said Zaki Hannache, a Hirak militant recently temporarily released from prison. To be an activist who refuses the system is complicated. It even means sacrifices. Hannache, best known for keeping track of Hirak-related arrests, was arrested and jailed in February on a string of charges, including defending terrorist acts. The alleged confession of Benhalima captures the combination of evils that Algeria claims it is up against. He said that he was under the spell of Rachad and in contact with its London-based leader and his two brothers. The official APS news agency said Benhalima confirmed the implication of the terrorist organization Rachad in abject plans targeting the stability of Algeria and its institutions by exploiting misguided youth. Rachads website claimed the police video showed the forced confession of a hostage in a security services propaganda exercise. Rachads true goals are unclear, but it is a key target of Algerias crackdown. In December, Rachad said it had submitted a complaint to a U.N. special rapporteur over Algerias arbitrary classification of the group as a terrorist organization and asked U.N. authorities to urge Algeria to cease its illegal practices. Spain expelled Benhalima based on national security interests and activities that may harm Spains relations with other countries, according to Amnesty International. Spain expelled another deserter, Mohamed Abdellah, a dissident gendarme, to Algeria last August. Amnesty International described him as a whistleblower. Spain has a special interest in remaining on good terms with Algeria, which provides much of its gas needs. According to the National Committee for Freedom for the Detained, some 300 people are behind bars in Algeria for their political opinions. Up to 70 were given provisional freedom at the the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but others have since been arrested. In a case emblematic for Algerian journalists, the man who heads the outspoken Radio M and the online news site Algerie Emergent, Ihsane El-Kadi, risks three years in prison with a five-year ban on working for allegedly attacking national unity, among other things. He had raised the ire of a former communications minister with a column pleading for the protest movement Hirak not to divide itself over Rachad. The verdict is set for next week. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune recently launched an ill-defined initiative dubbed outstretched hands, described as an internal front to promote dialogue across all sectors of society. Army chief Said Chengriha suggested in several speeches that it is also to counter Algerias perceived enemies. The initiative precedes the July 5 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Algerian independence from France, which was won after a brutal seven-year war. No one can refuse to take part in this initiative, said Abou El Fadl Baadji, secretary-general of the National Liberation Front, once Algerias sole political party. He was among the officials that Tebboune has recently met with on the subject. People await with suspense the contents of this initiative ... but were for this idea, even before knowing the details. Benhalima awaits a verdict of his appeal of a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in absentia for invasion of privacy and attacks on state interests, linked to his online posts on the Algerian military, including confidential information on senior officers. ___ Lotfi Bouchouchi in Algiers, Algeria, contributed. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) Crews have sealed 13 oil wells in Californias San Joaquin Valley that leaked methane, some reportedly at levels that risk an explosion, a state official said Friday. The wellheads have been repaired," and there were no readings of methane emissions in a nearby neighborhood, said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, head of the California Geologic Energy Management, the conservation department division that oversees wells. Inspectors last week discovered that six idle oil wells near Bakersfield homes had been leaking methane, the conservation department announced earlier this week. Seven additional leaking wells were later discovered for a total of 13, the department confirmed Friday. The department didn't say how much methane had leaked but at least three of the original six wells found to be leaking had methane concentrations of 50,000 parts per million in the air surrounding them, according to a report from the state. Methane is potentially explosive at air concentrations of 50,000 ppm, according to federal guidelines. Residents and environmentalists in the region first became concerned when they were alerted by Clark Williams-Derry, an energy analyst, that two wells were hissing within a few hundred feet of homes. He was visiting the area on May 10 with a French documentary crew thats working on a film about cleaning up oil and gas infrastructure around the globe. One of them was leaking; it was making an audible hiss, Williams-Derry told The Associated Press. And I was like What the hell is going on? I thought these things were supposed to be essentially sealed. CalGEM had earlier said there was no reason to alert the public of the leaks, but advocates in the region disagreed. In the days following discovery of the first leaks, Cesar Aguirre, senior community organizer for the Central California Environmental Justice Network, canvassed the neighborhood surrounding the wells to notify residents. Aguirre said he was warning residents about the potential of an explosion or fire in their community, but also about other possible pollution, like acute levels of ozone or smog, that might be forming around the leaking wells. David J.X. Gonzalez, lead author on a recent study on the distribution of abandoned wells in urban areas, echoed some of Aguirres concerns and said earlier this week that the leaks were an urgent public health issue. Researchers have found that methane emissions from abandoned wells, which are disproportionately located in Black and Latinx neighborhoods, likely means other air toxics are being emitted too, which can cause birth defects, neurological damage, impaired hearing, and some cancers, he said in a statement. At an online community meeting Friday, air quality and public health officials said they had sampled the air and were assessing the risk to public health. Ntuk also was questioned about the risks of explosions from a buildup of methane underground. Ntuk said gauges have been placed on the idled wells to monitor underground pressure, although he added that there is little chance of a well blowout because the oil field is old and low-pressured. Ntuk said CalGEM planned to eventually make sure the wells weren't just capped but declared abandoned and entirely plugged with cement. The idled wells, which sit in a vast, century-old oil field, were only inspected recently, he added. Ntuk said his department has about 100 inspectors to handle 37,000 idled oil wells around the state. But getting well owners to deal with them or declare them abandoned can be challenging, he added. Unfortunately, we have bankrupt operators; we have operators who have been gone for decades," he said. BRIDGEPORT Chaotic. Pandemonium. Mayhem. Those were the words some municipal employees used to describe how the workforce within the downtown government center reacted Wednesday to an unspecified and later deemed not credible threat that led to the buildings evacuation. Some staffers, believing it was a shooting threat, encouraged colleagues to leave the building, while others thought they were expected to hide inside. I was like, This is crazy, City Council President Aidee Nieves, who was also at the scene, recalled. Nobody knew what was going on. ... Im like, Whos in charge? Now mandatory training sessions for future potential emergencies have been scheduled for June 1 and June 2 by the citys emergency management office. Due to the uncertainty of what type of threat it was, it was unclear the proper protocol to follow, Scott Appleby, head of emergency management, and Tiadora Josef, the mayors communications director, said in a statement Thursday when asked about staffers descriptions and concerns about what transpired Wednesday. Police were on site when the threat came in and rendered it safe and quickly, even though the confusion was among the staff. Groups of employees spilled out of different exits at the government center at 999 Broad St. around 11 a.m., some said in response to a threat that an armed individual was either en route to or already on the premises. The level of tension was heightened by the fact that on Tuesday a gunmen killed 21 people at a Texas elementary school. Appleby in a statement shortly afterwards said that, in response to an unspecified threat, the building was evacuated but quickly determined to be safe. He also did not specify how the threat was made. The matter remained under investigation Thursday with no arrests made. Workers at the government center, who asked their names not be published because they are not supposed to speak to the media, in interviews described a very disorganized situation. A few said that some colleagues ran through the halls telling everyone to leave the building. All the security people said that is wrong, complained one employee. You dont send people outside to get shot at, possibly. It was pretty chaotic, said another staffer who also understood the citys policy for responding to a possible armed intruder is supposed to be to shelter-in-place. People started running by our office You gotta get out, theres a possible active shooter in the building. It sure went out of control, fast, this person continued. Word-of-mouth probably started escalating. ... It shows how kind of a panic can start. Another municipal employee described the situation as pandemonium. Nieves had been in the government centers lobby waiting to meet a council colleague. She stepped outside the main entrance, and said the mayhem started. She said while others were exiting the government center, another employee told her and a man she had been chatting with to do the exact opposite and get in the building, theres a possible shooter coming. During the whole thing people were coming out, going back in, Nieves said. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minneapolis City Council has approved $1.2 million in legal settlements with two people injured by police during protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of officers two years ago. The settlements with St. Paul resident Virgil Lee Jackson Jr. and Nashville freelance photographer Linda Tirado mean the city has agreed to pay a total of $5.4 million to settle federal civil rights lawsuits over injuries caused by police in May 2020, Minnesota Public Radio reports. A May 17 column by Duo Dickinson titled Tear down culture makes it easy to forget about history is right about the value of history but ultimately misses the forest for the trees. Preserving Connecticuts past shouldnt come at the expense of its future, and valuing history shouldnt choke off dynamism in the present. Fortunately, its entirely possible for Connecticut to simultaneously grow and preserve its history. The issue isnt some kind of tear-down culture, its our ahistorical zoning regime that makes it nearly impossible to build any new places we love. The core of Dickinsons argument is that our buildings simply extend our values and that history is a valuable resource, not just in Connecticut, but wherever it exists in every place that harbors us, even in a housing boom. But theres a key issue with his main point Connecticut isnt in a housing boom. As Camila Vallejo reported in the CT Mirror this January, fewer building permits for new housing were granted in 2021 than in every year since 2011. Similarly, a July 2021 article in the Hartford Courant detailed that in 2020 Connecticut towns and cities permitted 5,471 homes, which paled in comparison to the 28,000 issued in the 1980s. Dickinson writes that the states issue is more people looking for a place to live than the existing housing stock can accommodate, but of course there isnt a fixed housing stock; were simply choosing not to build any. Connecticut isnt facing a tear-down crisis, its experiencing a housing shortage crisis. One of the key drivers of our housing shortage is our restrictive, ahistorical land-use regime. Indeed, the problem isnt that Connecticut is tearing down too many cherished buildings, its that Connecticut has one of the nations largest, hidden historic preservation programs except its for 1970s and 80s suburbs. Our current zoning paradigm of large minimum lot sizes, one-size-fits-all single-family zoning, and massive parking requirements preserves the aesthetic look of 40 years ago hardly anyones idea of an architectural golden era. For example, my neighborhood in Trumbull began with the 1950s post-war housing boom, and it continued to grow up to the 1980s. But since then its remained essentially unchanged, which is completely out of step with Connecticuts history. Historically, Connecticut has been a place that embraces the past while constantly looking to grow and prosper in the future. In 1800, the states population was 250,000, growing to 900,000 by 1900. Then the state exploded, increasing to 2 million in 1950 and 3.4 million by 2000. Throughout those decades the state adjusted, shifting from an agricultural economy to an industrial one and then to a knowledge economy. Unfortunately, that growth has almost entirely dried up. Between 2010 and 2020, the states population increased only 0.9 percent, the slowest decade increase in the history of Connecticut. This lack of growth is truly out of step with our states traditional culture. Ultimately, I think Dickinson comes close to grasping that so much of what we think of as Connecticuts historic charm is actually about land use. He writes that he and his wife really enjoyed visiting the city of Key West because of its distinctive sense of place and history and that they learned so much about the town because its historical environment is so well preserved. I completely agree about Key Wests beauty and its cultural character, but hes missing the most important part Key West isnt so charming because it has some ineffable sense of history, but because it was built before the advent of our modern zoning regime and car-centric land use. On some level we all get what makes our favorite Connecticut towns so wonderful. In April, my wife and I took a day trip to Essex and Chester. We toured the Connecticut River Museum and walked up Main Street, grabbing chocolate and coffee and admiring the gorgeous buildings. Afterwards, we went to Little House Brewing in Chester, walking for a pizza at Otto and reading about the trolley that used to go through its center. Essex and Chester are exactly the types of historic places Dickinson talks about preserving, but again I think he misses the mark. Instead of asking how can we preserve the few town centers and buildings with any charm, I think we should be asking an entirely different question: Why havent we built any new Chesters or Essexes? Since when did our ambitions as a state become so limited? Connecticuts past residents didnt possess some secret historic charm technology that was lost to time; instead, they built as humans have traditionally built, with a mix of retail and residential, with gentle density, and with smaller streets, slow traffic and limited parking. In other words, historic charm is often an umbrella term for human-scaled, walkable environments. History and growth are sometimes in tension, its true, but not in present-day Connecticut. We dont have a large-scale tear-down problem in our state, we just have a zoning regime that produces car-centric environments and too little housing. And we dont have a historic preservation problem in the state weve just made it illegal to build any more of the types of places we find most charming. We know how to design spaces and buildings that people love, but we need to look to our past and find inspiration to build a more dynamic future. Thomas Broderick is a Connecticut educator and Trumbull resident. Indian Army personnel gather at the site after a vehicle carrying 26 jawans fell in the Shyok river, at the Turtuk area in Ladakh. At least 7 jawans were killed while 19 others sustained injuries in the accident, according to officials. (PTI) Srinagar/New Delhi: In a tragic accident, seven Army jawans were killed and 19 others injured on Friday when a vehicle carrying 26 soldiers skidded off the road and fell around 60 feet into the Shyok river in the Turtuk sector, Ladakh. The Army sources said that the soldiers were moving from a transit camp in Partapur to a forward location in sub-sector Hanif in the Turtuk forward area, which is sandwiched between the Karakoram Range and the Himalayan mountains in Ladakh. "A party of 26 soldiers was moving from the transit camp to a forward location. At around 9 am, some 25km from Thoise, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the Shyok river," said a senior Army official. All the passengers travelling in the ill-fated vehicle were injured in the mishap, seven of them fatally, said the sources. The condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical. The Army launched a relief and rescue operation immediately after the accident. According to police officials, the vehicle lost control, skidded off the road and fell to a depth of around 5060 feet. The injured were being treated at the 403 Field Hospital at Partapur. However, hours later, the seriously injured were airlifted to Chandimandir Command Hospital of Western Command, near Panchkula in Haryana, said the Army sources, adding that all "efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured." President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with leaders of several political parties expressed their grief at the accident and hoped for a speedy recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister said all possible assistance was being given to those affected. Mr Modi tweeted, "Anguished by the bus accident in Ladakh in which we have lost our brave army personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected." TD leaders presenting plough to Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during the party's Mahanadu in Ongole on Friday. DC Image/C. Narayana Rao Nellore: TD Mahanadu was kick-started with fanfare at Manduvaripalem near Ongole on Friday, with an assertion by former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu that his party will romp back to power in the next polls. Thousands of partymen including a large number of youths and a sizable number of women arrived from all parts of the state for the highly publicized event. The city was virtually painted yellow. In his welcome address, the party national president slammed the Jagan Reddy government saying it was crushing the states people with its 'welfare betrayals, all-round loot and unbearable taxes. Naidu said the YSRCP leaders were so criminalised, corrupt and incorrigible that they lost the right to rule the state. All sections of the people were rejecting the false welfare claims being made by chief minister Jagan, he said. Naidu described Jagan as an 'inefficient leader' presiding over the government in a maniacal manner in the company of liars, the corrupt and the hardcore criminals. In just three years, the Jagan misrule pushed Andhra Pradesh into a ` 8 lakh crore debt trap with zero development and no roads, he said. Naidu accused Jagan of selling Rajya Sabha nominations and telling blatant lies to the people. One YCP RS nomination was given to a former TDP leader from Telangana, who had in the past got 12 backward castes like Thurpu Kapu and Koppula Velama deleted from the BC list. This leader had gone to court and put hurdles in the four per cent reservations to Minorities, Naidu said. Naidu said the general public were not responding favourably to the bus Yatras that the YCP ministers were conducting to take 'false credit' for the so-called rolling out of the social welfare schemes in the state. The people's non-cooperation with the government began at the chief minister's Eluru meeting itself when the public left the venue despite the police pleas and threats, half way through the meet, he said. The TD chief asserted that until Jagan continued in politics, AP would not see good and happy days. All of us should unitedly raise the slogan, 'Quit Jagan', to save AP from a disaster in the making. Jagan had such a dark track record that he turned the 'babai Viveka' axe attack into a heart attack and enacted 'Kodi Kathi' drama to win polls with sympathy vote, Naidu said. Condemning the YSRCP rule, Naidu said the Government was giving far less under Amma Vodi and taking back a lot more through Nanna Buddi. The TDP government in the past spent 52 per cent of the budget on welfare as against just 41 per cent under the Jagan rule, Naidu claimed. How can Jagan claim welfare credit when he removed Anna Canteens, Videsi Vidya, Pelli Kanuka, Sankranthi Kanuka, Ramzan Thofa, Christmas Kanuka and Chandranna Beema, Naidu asked. The former CM said Jagan looted the people with his own harmful cheap liquor brands while the sand mafia raised the cost of a tractor load of sand from Rs 600 under TDP to Rs 5,000 at present. No sand is available for the CM's promised construction of 30 lakh houses for the poor. The YSRCP leaders grabbed the assignment and dotted land. The 'crazy CM' is signing false MoUs at Davos with the same companies that had worked here under the TDP rule, Naidu said. For instance, the states agreement with Adani Data Centre was signed during the TDP rule. Jagan Reddy cancelled the same and signed a more or less similar MoU with that company at Davos now, he said. TRS Minister Malla Reddy, MLA Maganti Gopinath, Aerakpudi Gandhi and other TRS leaders offer floral tributes at NTR ghat on his birth anniversary. (By Arrangement) Hyderabad: Labour minister Ch. Malla Reddy said that TRS MPs would raise the demand for conferring the Bharat Ratna on former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao in Parliament. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had introduced a number of schemes for poor people by taking inspiration from Rama Rao's ideology of providing basic facilities. Ministers and senior TRS leaders visited NTR Ghat on Saturday and paid floral respects on the occasion of the birth centenary of Rama Rao. The Telangana government also would participate in the year-long celebrations. Earlier, MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha had raised a similar demand for Bharat Ratna to Rama Rao. During the GHMC elections last year, Kavitha participated in elections campaigns in the city and demanded that the BJP's government at the Centre consider honouring the legacy of N.T. Rama Rao by awarding Bharat Ratna. After paying floral respects, Malla Reddy said N.T. Rama Rao had introduced several people-friendly policies. He would have occupied the prime minister's post but it was missed. Chandrashekar Rao had implemented a number of schemes that helped poor and middle-class people by taking inspiration from Rama Rao's ideology, he said. TRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao said they would fight in Parliament for demanding Bharat Ratna for former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and Rama Rao. The MP said Rama Rao had changed the political system after floating a party for Telugu people in united Andhra Pradesh. TRS leader Motkupalli Narasimhulu remembered his association with Rama Rao. Rama Rao had done his job by implementing various reforms in the state. "NT Rama Rao performed my marriage and encouraged me a lot," Narasimhulu recalled. By killing lifelong marriage we are killing children. Liberal Britain cannot see this, but until somebody does, the tragedies will continue. Last week great publicity was rightly given to a report on childrens social care. It predicted that the number of children in care, now 80,000, would rise to 100,000 by 2032, costing taxpayers a colossal 15 billion a year. Of course many terrible things happen to children in so-called care apart from actual violence and death. The general outcomes for children deprived of what we would once have called stable family life, and deprived of fathers, are just not very good. No doubt plenty of social workers, foster parents and others do all they can, and I am not trying to criticise these individuals but they just cannot do what a loving, stable home can do. By killing lifelong marriage we are killing children. Liberal Britain cannot see this, but until somebody does, the tragedies will continue The report does recognise that it is loving relationships that hold the solutions for children and families overcoming adversity. But how will they be created by bureaucracy and state cash the solutions generally offered by those who run our society? A long time ago the Blairites promised us joined-up thinking, but in fact modern dogmas, in which there is no right and wrong and the old Christian rules are spurned, often refuse to see vital connections. The tragedy of care is a direct consequence of 50 years in which the law, and our culture, have encouraged the idea that lifelong marriage is dispensable a cruel prison from which adults should be free to escape. The latest loosening of the marriage laws, effectively allowing divorce on demand, follows the same failed view. Should we not connect the number of children in care to the fact that, in England and Wales, the numbers getting married fell in 2019 to the lowest rate since records began? Less than 20 per cent of these weddings were in a religious building, where the idea that marriage is for life is still pretty much insisted upon. Many modern weddings are lavish affairs in beautiful places, but they simply do not demand the commitment that couples used to make. And many modern couples, seeing which way the wind is blowing, never bother to marry at all. Such commitment is generally discouraged, even viewed as foolish. And of course this results in much freer lives for adults in their prime, no longer tied down by crabby old rules. But the children are the ones who suffer, and whose freedom from worry and insecurity has been sacrificed to allow for grown-up freedoms to do as we will. Among the well-off, the damage is generally not so bad, though there is damage. But among the poor, and in the parts of the country where the schools are bad and the streets are grim, it is another story. And that story often ends in care, with all its miseries, loneliness, insecurity and disappointment. It is not the same sort of hell as the workhouses and the orphanages of the past were, but it can be hell even so. We need a modern Charles Dickens to depict it. If more people realised how bad it was, we might start to wonder if the gradual dismantling of stable marriage was such a good idea after all. Jaccuse the idiots who ban great art Once again, by bootleg means, I have viewed something you cannot see. JAccuse is a recent French film about the Dreyfus Affair, in which a Jewish French Army officer was sent to rot on the penal colony of Devils Island in 1895 on false accusations of spying. One of the great lessons from this case is how vital a free press is. It was such a press which eventually forced justice to be done. The film is enthralling and very beautiful. But because its director is the fugitive paedophile Roman Polanski, nobody will show it in this country. This is ridiculous. Bad men can and often do create good art. It would be easy to ensure that none of the takings reached the ghastly Polanski, and were sent instead to charities for victims of abuse. Somebody fix this, please. The film is enthralling and very beautiful. But because its director is the fugitive paedophile Roman Polanski, nobody will show it in this country Soon after the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, the mighty New York Times found a young woman called Jocelyn Rodriguez who had worked with the killer at Wendys hamburger restaurant. She said the murderer had rowed with his mother and grandmother because they would not let him smoke marijuana. Just 24 hours later, this detail was cut out of the online report, without explanation. I have tried to get in touch with the New York Times to find out why, but have received no reply. I have long suspected that mind-altering drugs are a possible factor in crazed mass killings. Of course this idea is unwelcome to a modern establishment full of drug-takers, who applaud legalisation of marijuana. But would they actually suppress evidence that it may be the case? Surely not. I suspect most reporters now writing about the Ukraine war do not even know that it began in 2014 with a violent US-backed putsch against the legitimate, elected president. Or perhaps they just dont believe it. Well, this is what Jack Matlock, who was Ronald Reagans ambassador to Moscow, says. He states that the USA supported an illegal coup detat that changed the Ukrainian government in 2014, a procedure not normally considered consistent with the rule of law or democratic governance. He should know. This shocking fact is true and shameful. The first shots in this horrible, needless war were not fired by Russia. Its time to refund cruel Covid fines We must now have a national amnesty for all those fined under the ridiculous and futile Covid laws. After the farcical pursuit of politicians and civil servants for breaking laws they should never have imposed on others, there is no case at all for upholding the (often very harsh) fines levelled on gentle, kindly people who were prosecuted by over-zealous police for doing harmless things. One case that fills me with rage is that of a South London pensioner, in poor health, who went to his allotment to get vegetables because he does not eat meat. He was caught by some uniformed bullies simply talking to others at his allotment, found guilty by some cruel dimwit and fined 100, a heavy, possibly fatal blow for someone so poor and so unwell. How the police and courts cannot see that this is an outrage, I do not know. They must be both very callous and very stupid. Neither Al Johnson nor Sir Keir Starmer, both exposed for not taking this rubbish seriously in their own lives, can allow such things to stand. They should combine to proclaim that the laws under which these penalties were imposed were invalid (as a proper judicial review would have shown, if one had been allowed) as well as pointless. And then they should all pledge never to do anything so silly and nasty ever again. Then the whole useless lot of them should all go back into private life, preferably doing good works and taking vows of silence, and never bother us again. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here New York is recognized as one of the most fashionable cities in the world. And it's not just about clothing. It's a mindset. From the city's stunning architectural landmarks to its trendy restaurants, amazing shopping and world-class art, style is an integral part of life for people living in The Big Apple. To this point, alice + olivia's Stacey Bendet hosted a runway-ready baby shower for Nicky Hilton, Jack B. Morgan celebrated his birthday at Ralph Lauren's iconic Polo Bar, and Sydney Sadick launched a new magazine in the Hampton's. Read on to be inspired. Founder and creative director of alice + olivia, Stacey Bendet, hosted a baby shower for Nicky Hilton that was as charming as the transportive sets she creates for her New York Fashion Week presentations In the midst of the party, held at a private residence in Manhattan, was a cascade of baby blue stuffed animals surrounded by balloons in the same shade The table settings including a sea of lush bouquets, candles and balloons, decorated to perfection and arranged like a vision, in the spacious apartment NICKY'S SHOWERED WITH LOVE Founder and creative director of alice + olivia, Stacey Bendet, hosted a baby shower for Nicky Hilton that was as chic as the transportive sets she creates for her New York Fashion Week presentations. In the midst of the party, held earlier this month at a private residence in Manhattan, was a cascade of baby blue stuffed animals surrounded by balloons in the same shade, which made for the cutest photo backdrop. The table settings including a sea of lush bouquets, candles and china, decorated to perfection and arranged like a vision, in the spacious apartment. Notable guests included Nicky's older sister Paris, Tina Craig and Bethenny Frankel. In theme, the mother-to-be wore alice + olivias "Charlise" dress a design created for Paris' bridesmaids only in a new Powder Blue shade. The "Simple Life" star donned the "Karolina" smocked tiered dress, while the hostess with the mostess wore the "Jocelyn" lace maxi paired with platform sandals in the same sweet shade. The mother-to-be wore alice + olivias "Charlise" dress designed for Paris Hilton's bridesmaids only in the new available shade of Powder Blue Jack B. Morgan celebrated his 27th birthday on May 16 at Ralph Lauren's iconic Polo Bar For the celebratory event, the Morgan's rented out the entire two-story restaurant located in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan JACK'S UNFORGETTABLE CELEBRATION Jack B. Morgan celebrated his 27th birthday on May 16 at Ralph Lauren's iconic Polo Bar. For the celebratory event, the Morgan's rented out the entire two-story restaurant located in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan. Guests and longtime friends of the stylish equestrian including model and philanthropist Ariana Rockefeller and acclaimed fashion designer Julien Macdonald were dressed to the nines for the special occasion. Jack looked dapper in his signature look - an embellished black blazer, and a pair of black slacks accessorized with exquisite diamond jewelry. While Ariana stunned in a white Proenza Schouler mini with Amina Muaddi crystal bow glass pumps. Attendees enjoyed cocktails at the bar before a sit-down dinner in the establishment's distinguished dining room. The three course meal was followed by a cake shaped like a bottle of Chrome Horse Tequila, a forthcoming premium spirit created by Jack. Jack (far right) looked dapper in his signature look - an embellished black blazer, and a pair of black slacks accessorized with exquisite diamond jewelry, while Ariana (right) stunned in a white Proenza Schouler mini with Amina Muaddi crystal bow glass pumps Attendees enjoyed cocktails at the bar before a sit-down dinner in the establishment's distinguished dining room The three course meal was followed by a cake shaped like a bottle of Chrome Horse Tequila, a forthcoming premium spirit created by Jack Style expert and media personality Sydney Sadick is launching a brand new magazine this weekend titled "Spotlight on the Hamptons" SYDNEY SPOTLIGHTS THE STARS Style expert and media personality Sydney Sadick is launching a brand new magazine this weekend: "Spotlight on the Hamptons," the first publication in the Hamptons to target GenNow/millennials. Four issues will be produced, starting Memorial Day Weekend, throughout the summer, and then a 5th in Palm Beach for the holiday season. Twenty-five thousand copies will be distributed across the Hamptons in stores, hotels, train stations and restaurants. 'Every issue will feature "The Spotters," our exclusive contributors who are star millennial voices, all of whom are local to the Hamptons and buzzy-worthy on social media,' shared Sydney. Appropriately, "My Unorthodox Life's" Batsheva Haart snagged the first issue's cover. 'Im thrilled to launch the first magazine in the Hamptons to target the next generation,' Sydney told DailyMail.com 'Were providing content thats fun, informative, and smart, via hyper relevance and local appeal. Spotlight is making waves this summerwere here to make a splash!' The Queen left the whole room in shock when she delivered a speech in Gaelic during a historic visit to Ireland in 2011, David Cameron has revealed. The former Prime Minster had joined Her Majesty and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny during a visit to Dublin Castle, which Prince Philip helped her to prepared for 'astutely'. Writing in the Telegraph ahead of her documentary The Royal Diplomat, on BBC World Service, Emma Barnett revealed that David Cameron said he can 'still remember the 'gasp' at rolled through the room at Dublin castle when The Queen began speaking in Gaelic, adding it was a 'brilliant moment'. Her Majesty opened the speech by saying 'A Uachtarain, agus a chairde' which translates as 'President and friends' before going on to finish in English, adding: 'Madam President, Prince Philip and I are delighted to be here, and to experience at first hand Irelands world-famous hospitality.' Meanwhile, Mr Kenny added that the trip went 'a long way towards repairing the wounds left by the troubles'. The Queen left the whole room in shock when she delivered a speech in Gaelic during a historic visit to Ireland in 2011, David Cameron has revealed. The Queen and Prince 'The first thing she did was to agree to come to Ireland,' he recalled. 'The second thing was to prepare for it astutely and in detail. You know, deep down, there was not just symbolism, but a massive effort by her and by her late husband to get that visit right.' He went on that she bought an end to 'a great deal of hostility' and when leaving she told him 'You know, of all the royal visits that I have conducted in 60 years, this is the one that I really wanted to do.' The Queen, who celebrates her jubilee next weekend, was the first monarch to visit Ireland in over a century during the historic 2011 trip. Her grandfather George V was the last King to visit in 1911 before the Republic had secured independence. Belfast-born Mary McAleese, who was president of the Republic when Philip accompanied Queen Elizabeth on the historic visit, has previously said the late Duke of Edinburgh was 'on a mission to heal history' during the trip. She explained that Philip was even willing to was to meet those who were linked to the death of his uncle Lord Mountbatten, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. The Queen, who celebrates her jubilee next weekend, was the first monarch to visit Ireland in over a century during the historic 2011 trip. She is pictured with Irish President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin McAleese, and Prince Philip The former Prime Minster had joined Her Majesty and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny (pictured together) during a visit to Dublin Castle, which Prince Philip helped her to prepared for 'astutely' Appearing on the Andrew Marr Programme last year, she said: 'You can understand that security was very high, concerns were high. So he was there, as she has described in the past as her rock, but he was also there as a character in his own right. 'A man who had come on a mission, as she had come, both of them had come on this mission in their own right to try and heal history, to ensure that for the future these two neighbouring islands would be characterised by good neighbourliness. 'He wasn't just there as her company, if you like, her inevitable company, he was also there making a statement.' Plans had been made for a meeting with Martin McGuinness, the former IRA man who became deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, but this was opposed by his party, Sinn Fein. Although the pair subsequently met the following year, Ms McAleese said Philip would have been perfectly happy to do so during the State Visit, despite the murder of his beloved uncle, Lord Mountbatten, by the IRA during the Troubles. David Cameron shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II as he arrives to attend a state dinner hosted by Irish President Mary McAllese at Dublin Castle She said: 'He was willing even then to meet people who have been so closely associated with the murder of a man who had meant so much to him, Lord Mountbatten.' The royal couple felt a 'duty' to bring about reconciliation between Britain and Ireland, she said. 'I was lucky to have an insight into the desire of both Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip for precisely that reconciliation. 'They both gave me to understand that they really wanted to visit Ireland, they wanted it to be part of a process of reconciliation. 'They saw themselves as people who had a duty to do whatever they could, by way of bringing about that reconciliation between neighbours. 'And so, when they came in 2011, it was at the end of a long process. We had the Good Friday Agreement and that was a long, long, political journey to get to the point where we could offer that visit to Her Majesty the Queen. 'And, of course, when they both came they were greeted very warmly. Why? Because people recognised in them, in every gesture and everything they did, in the speech that the Queen gave, they recognised people who weren't just there as state visitors but in some ways were on a kind of pilgrimage of reconciliation.' Queen Letizia of Spain stunned in a blue polka dot dress today as she joined her husband King Felipe of Spain in Huesca. The monarch, 49, opted for a pastel shift number with an A-line shirt and showed off her Spanish tan and toned arms to honour troops in National Armed Forces Day. Tying her brunette hair back into a low ponytail, the mother-of-two opted for a glamorous make-up look pairing a smoky eye-liner with long lashes and a dazzling diamond earrings. Proving she's a natural beauty, she added a dash of pink blusher and a gentle shine on her lips and she smiled at cameras. Queen Letizia of Spain stunned in a blue polka dot dress today as she joined her husband King Felipe of Spain in Huesca The monarch, 49, opted for a pastel shift number with an A-line shirt and showed off her Spanish tan and toned arms to honour troops in National Armed Forces Day. She paired the dress with towering Louboutin heels, in black, which perfectly complemented her leather clutch bag. Meanwhile Felipe opted for full military regalia as the couple looked at crowds. It is Letizia's second appearance in public since Spain's scandal-hit former King Juan Carlos returned to the country last week, bringing to an end his nearly two-year exile in the Middle East. Juan Carlos, 84, flew by private jet from Abu Dhabi to Vigo, in northwest Spain, where he was met by his daughter Elena, 58. His wife Sofia, 83, and son King Felipe, 54, the reigning monarch, were not present. The royal was spotted at the Royal Sailing Club of Sanxenxo, where he sailed alongside his 'Bribo' boat during the regatta of the InterRias trophy of the 6mR class Copa Espana 2022 circuit. She paired the dress with towering Louboutin heels, in black, which perfectly complemented her leather clutch bag. Meanwhile Felipe opted for full military regalia as the couple looked at crowds. Tying her brunette hair back into a low ponytail, the mother-of-two opted for a glamorous make-up look pairing a smoky eye-liner with long lashes and a dazzling diamond earrings. His daughter Infanta Cristina, 56, was also present. The royal was staying with his close friend Pedro Campos, a former America's Cup sailor, at his home near the Galician resort of Sanxenxo, one of his favourite destinations where he has often been spotted in the past sailing with friends and family. He was expected to remain in the country for a few days, and understood to be meeting members of his family at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. Juan Carlos, who ruled from 1975 until his abdication in 2014, left Spain in August 2020 after becoming the target of several probes in Spain and abroad over alleged tax avoidance and questionable dealings in the Middle East. It is Letizia's second appearance in public since Spain's scandal-hit former King Juan Carlos returned to the country last week, bringing to an end his nearly two-year exile in the Middle East. In March Spanish state prosecutors paved the way for Juan Carlos' temporary return to Spain by shelving the criminal probes against him, saying any alleged crimes were spent or his Head of State status at the time protected him from prosecution. The decision was taken after he paid millions of pounds in tax regularisations. Felipe and his wife, Queen Letizia, have worked hard to restore public trust in the royal family his father's scandals that have tarnished the reputation of the royal family. Felipe has publicly distanced himself from his father. He failed to meet up with Juan Carlos during an official visit to Abu Dhabi earlier this month to pass on his condolences following the death of the United Arab Emirates' president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan aged 73. Letizia met Felipe VI at a dinner party in 2002, and the pair enjoyed an instant connection, leading to their royal wedding in May 2004. The former newsreader is the granddaughter of a taxi driver and the eldest daughter of Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez, a journalist, and first wife Maria de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, a nurse and hospital union representative. She attended public high school and did a degree at the Complutense University of Madrid. She later gained an MA in Audiovisual Journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. An Australian bride has made a disgusting discovery under her wedding dress on the biggest night of her life. After Madalyn Wise's first dance as a married woman with her newlywed husband, Jayden, she discovered a bloodsucking leech fastened to her leg. When she finally removed the engorged parasite from behind her right knee, there was blood drenched all over the lining of her expensive white wedding dress. The stomach-churning moment was documented in a viral TikTok which has attracted nearly 13.5 million views on the social media platform. By the time she found it, the insatiable swollen leech had feasted on her blood and appeared to have been on her bare leg for hours. Aussie newlywed Madalyn Wise got an unexpected shock on her wedding night that she shared with shocked fans on TikTok Australian bride Madalyn Wise made a disgusting discovery under her wedding dress on the biggest night of her life after her first dance with newlywed husband Jayden After Madalyn Wise's first dance as a married woman, she discovered a bloodsucking leech fastened to her leg, covering the inside of her expensive dress in her blood 'Theres always something that doesnt go quite right at your wedding, right?' Ms Wise captioned her video. Shocked commenters said initially they thought Ms Wise had started her period - which is what she also thought, until she found the parasite. Her video showed the aftermath of the leech's removal - a thick bandage wrapped around her knee, with plasters and tissue paper spread out on the ground. Ms Wise said the property they got married on, in the Gold Coast hinterland, had heavy rainfall which created prime conditions for leeches. 'Every day I open TikTok and just get another reason to not visit Australia,' joked one woman in the comments. Leeches are not confined to remote locations. Last year heavy rains saw an army of leeches invade backyards in Sydney. Leeches thrive in wet conditions and wait for mammals to pass by so they can grab hold, and crawl to a spot on their hosts skin where they won't be disturbed to begin feasting. The 'opportunistic' worms will latch onto pets and people with their sharp jaws, but their bite is usually not dangerous to humans Leeches are generally not dangerous and their bite is painless though it cause be extremely itchy after removal Leeches are generally not dangerous and their bite is painless though it cause be extremely itchy after removal. They release a painkilling chemical so that the host does not feel them drawing blood. Bushwalkers are advised against walking in bare legs in wet conditions to avoid leeches making their way to their feet and toes - where they can hide for many hours. Waterproof gaiters are recommended protection against the unwanted stowaways. It is a painfully familiar scenario a mystery virus sweeps the globe, the public is put on alert and scientists frantically search for answers. Only this time its not Covid thats posing the threat but monkeypox, an infection that until recently was largely unheard of outside parts of West and Central Africa. Now health officials in the UK, America and about 20 other countries are grappling with sudden and unexpected outbreaks of infections. At the time of going to press, more than 100 people in England have tested positive. There are three confirmed cases in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. The UK Health Security Agency says the risk to the general population of Monkeypox is low, but it adds: We are asking people to be alert to any new rashes or lesions, which would appear like spots, ulcers or blisters, on any part of their body The UK Health Security Agency has released a photo montage showing what the Monkeypox infection looks like The UK Health Security Agency says the risk to the general population is low, but it adds: We are asking people to be alert to any new rashes or lesions, which would appear like spots, ulcers or blisters, on any part of their body. While monkeypox can be serious particularly vulnerable are those with immune system problems, the very old and very young the illness caused so far has been mild. But numbers are expected to rise and, in the wake of the last pandemic, there is a justifiable sense of trepidation. So just how worried should we be, who is most at risk, and what, if anything, should we do to protect ourselves? The Mail on Sunday looked to some of the countrys leading infectious disease experts to get the answers. Q: Cases of monkeypox appear to be spreading rapidly is this going to be Covid all over again? A: The general scientific consensus at present is no, this wont escalate in the same way but in the wake of the pandemic there is a greater understanding of the need to nip infectious diseases in the bud, which is partly why we are reading so much about it. Experts say that there are also important public health messages that need to be conveyed. Like the virus that causes Covid-19, monkeypox jumped from animals to humans but this is pretty much where the similarities end. Monkeypox is not a new disease, it was first identified in the late 1950s by Danish scientists investigating pox-like illness in primates For a start, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that cases Covid, was new. No one, anywhere, had prior immunity to it. Monkeypox, however, isnt new. It was first identified in the late 1950s by Danish scientists when monkeys they were studying developed a pox-like illness. However monkeys arent actually the primary carriers its thought rodents such as rats, mice and squirrels are. Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus a subset of the Poxviridae family of viruses that includes smallpox (variola) and cowpox. It can be transmitted to humans via a bite by an infected animal, or from contact with its blood, body fluids or blisters on its skin that are caused by the virus. The first official human case, in a child in Democratic Republic of Congo, was recorded in 1970. Once someone is infected they can pass it to other people via close physical contact the spots, blisters and scabs that form carry the virus, which can be passed on. It is also found in saliva, so spread can occur via coughs and sneezes. But respiratory droplets need to be large to carry significant amounts of the virus, and for this reason prolonged face to face contact with an infected person would be needed for this kind of transmission, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For these reasons, experts agree monkeypox is likely to be considerably less contagious than Covid-19, which is mainly spread via microscopic viral particles exhaled by an infected person, which then gather in the air. The first official human case, in a child in Democratic Republic of Congo, was recorded in 1970. Once someone is infected they can pass it to other people via close physical contact the spots, blisters and scabs that form carry the virus, which can be passed on Q: This outbreak seems to have come from nowhere. Why are we seeing cases everywhere now? A: No one knows for sure yet, but there are theories. In truth, the threat of monkeypox has been growing for a number of years. In 2003 there was an outbreak in America, with a total of 72 confirmed or suspected cases recorded in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Investigations suggested the infection was imported with a shipment of exotic animals from Ghana, including prairie dogs and six African rodent species. Nigeria was hit by an outbreak in 2017 that continues to this day with 558 suspected cases, 241 of which have been confirmed. The most popular hypothesis is that the rise is linked to declining use of the smallpox vaccine which also offered some protection against monkeypox (the two viruses are closely related). In 1980, smallpox was eradicated thanks to vaccination. As a result, smallpox jabs were phased out but immunity has waned. This has given monkeypox a window of opportunity to pass more frequently to and between humans. In 1980, smallpox was eradicated thanks to vaccination. As a result, smallpox jabs were phased out but immunity has waned. This has given monkeypox a window of opportunity to pass more frequently to and between humans Prior to this year, seven cases had been recorded in the UK. Two were individuals whod caught it while travelling to Nigeria. One passed it on to four members of their household, including a two-year-old child. The other infected a female healthcare worker at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She later said she believed she was exposed while changing the patients bedding without adequate PPE. All were treated and recovered within a matter of weeks. The new outbreak seems to have taken off when the monkeypox virus began to transmit between gay and bisexual men. Q: So is it a sexually transmitted disease? A: The short answer is no sexual contact isnt the primary way monkeypox spreads. Theres no evidence as yet it is passed through semen or vaginal fluids, like HIV for instance. But skin- to-skin contact during sex can lead to transmission if one of the partners has monkeypox lesions. Commenting last week, infectious diseases epidemiologist Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser to the Health Security Agency, said: This infection is spread through close contact, and sex is definitely close contact. She confirmed that people who identify as gay or bisexual and other men who have sex with men are the most commonly affected in this outbreak. The cases were discovered when these men sought help from sexual health services, and doctors noticed something unusual about their symptoms. Health chiefs are now examining the possibility that the virus gained a foothold in the gay community during large gatherings. Commenting last week, infectious diseases epidemiologist Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser to the Health Security Agency, said: This infection is spread through close contact, and sex is definitely close contact Last week, authorities in Spain said they were investigating whether its 60-plus monkeypox cases may have had links to an adult sauna where men meet for sex in Madrid, and a Gay Pride festival in Gran Canaria. Three cases in Belgium were linked with a gay fetish festival in Antwerp. In all cases the illness has been mild, but Dr Hopkins urged people who have new sex partners of all sexualities to be vigilant of the symptoms, pointing out that the infection can pass just as easily between men and women. Q: So what are the symptoms people should be aware of? A: Initially, monkeypox causes a flu-like illness: fever, headache, sore muscles, back pain, swollen lymph nodes (glands found in the neck, groin or under the arms) and fatigue. Within one to five days, a rash appears, usually first on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body, including the genitals. The rash is similar to chickenpox. It starts as raised spots that then turn into small fluid-filled blisters. These blisters turn into scabs, which eventually fall off. The rash is similar to chickenpox. It starts as raised spots that then turn into small fluid-filled blisters. These blisters turn into scabs, which eventually fall off The illness can last up to four weeks, but most cases clear up on their own without any treatment. However, the UK Health Security Agency and the NHS advise anyone with unusual rashes or lesions on any part of the body in particular, gay or bisexual men, those who have been in contact with someone who has or might have monkeypox, and anyone whos travelled to West Africa in the past three weeks to contact NHS 111 or phone their local sexual health service. Q: What happens if someone does test positive? A: If a person is suspected to have monkeypox they will be given a PCR test like the ones that were used to pick up Covid, but using swabs taken from the skin and throat. There are no specific treatments, and the NHS currently says if symptoms are mild, patients may simply be advised to stay at home until they recover. If the illness is more serious, patients may be offered treatment including antiviral medication Tecovirimat, which was designed for smallpox, and Cidofovir. UK Health Security Agency teams are getting in touch with high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to isolate for up to 21 days The smallpox vaccine, which is known to reduce the severity of symptoms, may also be offered. But these are not needed routinely. UK Health Security Agency teams are getting in touch with high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to isolate for up to 21 days. They may also be offered the smallpox vaccine. Q: Can it be more serious, or even kill? A: There are two strains of monkeypox, and the one in circulation the West African strain is the less virulent. The Central African, or Congo Basin strain, is more severe. Those with a weakened immune system, young children, pregnant women and the elderly are at greater risk. Fatality rates for both have been quoted one per cent and ten per cent respectively. However, this data should be read with caution, say experts. This is what has been seen in Africa, where the healthcare system is very different, says University of East Anglia microbiologist and infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Hunter. Theres no suggestion well see anything like these fatality rates here. In the 2003 US outbreak, no one died. Severe monkeypox can lead to pneumonia, a serious lung condition, and sepsis, a potentially lethal immune system reaction, swelling of the brain and vision loss due to damage to the cornea, the clear lens at the front of the eye. Q: So it poses a greater danger to children? A: According to the very limited information available, the answer is yes. The World Health Organisation points out that if children do contract the virus, they may be at greater risk of severe illness, most likely due to their less mature immune systems which may find it harder to fight the infection off. But experts have urged parents not to be concerned. In Africa, monkeypox is seen most frequently in children, says Prof Hunter: Children play with wild rodents, and then pick up the infection. Often the first case in a household is a child, who then passes it on to their parents. Severe monkeypox can lead to pneumonia, a serious lung condition, and sepsis, a potentially lethal immune system reaction, swelling of the brain and vision loss due to damage to the cornea, the clear lens at the front of the eye However, in outbreaks outside Africa, children are rarely affected. Unconfirmed reports suggest one child may have been affected so far in the UK. However Dr David Porter, a paediatric infectious diseases expert at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, said: I dont think theres any need to worry. Q: Could a person be contagious without knowing that they have the virus? A: Yes, it is possible. Monkeypox has an incubation period of between five and 21 days, during which patients are not symptomatic and not infectious. But as soon as they develop early symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, fever and swollen glands, they can spread the virus. University of Leicester virologist Professor Julian Tang says that at this point it could easily be mistaken for a flu-like illness. Its only two to three days later, when the rash starts to appear, that many realise it could be something else by which time they may have infected others. Q: So could I catch it by sitting next to someone on a flight or packed train? A: Being seated directly next to a monkeypox case on a plane, sharing a car or taxi or being within one metre of an infectious person without wearing PPE were all scenarios that would put an individual at medium risk of exposure to the virus, the UK Health Security Agency said. People found to have had any of these forms of contact are not being advised to self-isolate, but the health body said it would offer them a smallpox vaccine, ideally within four days of exposure. Sitting within three rows of a monkeypox patient on a flight was categorised as low risk. These people may not be advised to take any precautions, as long as they remain asymptomatic. Being seated directly next to a monkeypox case on a plane, sharing a car or taxi or being within one metre of an infectious person without wearing PPE were all scenarios that would put an individual at medium risk of exposure to the virus, the UK Health Security Agency said There is no official line on whether any infections have occurred in this way. However, writing on Twitter last week, London-based infection registrar Dr Jamie Murphy claimed: There have been no onward transmissions during flights, despite contact with others for five hours plus. The UK Health Security Agency says the public can reduce their risk of monkeypox with regular handwashing and avoiding contact with infected people. Q: Is it true that people who had the smallpox vaccine as children will be protected from monkeypox? A: Routine childhood smallpox vaccination was phased out in the UK in the early 1970s, as the disease no longer posed a threat. Officially the vaccine provides protection for only about five years. But Prof Tang says its possible though not proven that some people may have lingering immune system cells that offer some protection against monkeypox all these years later. This, he thinks, might help explain why the majority of UK cases seem to be in those under 50. He adds: It is possible that many older people still have some sort of residual immunity even 50 years later. Aside from smallpox vaccines offered to patients and their close contacts, there is no plan to roll out jabs more widely. However the Government has a stockpile of about 5,000 vaccine doses of a smallpox vaccine called Imvanex and Health Secretary Sajid Javid has sanctioned orders for another 20,000 in case they are needed. Q: Ive heard pets might be at risk. Is this true? A: Possibly. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently drawing up guidance urging people who test positive for the virus to steer clear of family dogs and cats during their self-isolation period, in case it spreads to the animal and is then transmitted to others in the household who stroke it. The real worry is that monkeypox becomes endemic in domestic animals and is then free to infect large numbers of people. The British Veterinary Association said that the risk of pets harbouring the virus was low, but it made sense for infected pet owners to avoid them during quarantine. As a former breast cancer surgeon who has had the disease twice, I was drawn to recent reports of a new gene test that can help determine a womans personal breast cancer risk. The University of Manchester researchers studying it want every woman to be offered the simple saliva swab when they turn 30. Higher-risk women could then be given more frequent breast screening, earlier, potentially saving 4,000 lives a year, they claimed. The idea was backed by Countryfile presenter and fellow breast cancer survivor Julia Bradbury, 51, who said she may have been spared a mastectomy if shed had access to such a test. Dr Liz O'Riordan, pictured, a former breast cancer surgeon who has twice had the disease questions whether mass genetic testing of young women is appropriate as the side effects could dramatically outweigh any benefits In theory, this sounds like an easy win. Huge leaps forward in detection and treatment over the past 50 years mean that eight out of ten women survive breast cancer, but it still kills more than 11,500 a year in the UK alone. Were often told that catching it early is key, so surely spotting it before it strikes is even better? Well, I am sceptical. There are, we know, some genetic faults that can run in families which raise the risk of breast cancer dramatically. These include the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations someone who carries these are between 60 to 80 per cent more likely to develop the condition. If a woman has a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, she might be referred to a genetic clinic and offered a test. When these gene mutations are spotted, many women choose to have a preventative mastectomy, which dramatically reduces their risk. Actress Angelina Jolie underwent the surgery in 2013 after discovering that she carried faulty BRCA genes. Having said that, some women choose not to have the op, and elect instead to be monitored with regular scans. There are other genes more than 110 at last count that increase a womans risk of breast cancer. But we dont know by how much, and its unlikely that any will be as worrying as the BRCA faults. Which brings us to my main concern: if we do flag up all women with a slightly increased risk and offer them regular mammograms from the age of 30, it could do more harm than good. Julia Bradbury, pictured, believes if she was offered earlier screening, she may not have needed a mastectomy The TV star, pictured, is campaigning to offer younger women access to genetic tests to determine their risk of breast cancer Currently women are invited for a mammogram a type of X-ray every three years from the age of 50 to 70. The aim of this is to pick up breast tumours early, when they are tiny. The benefit of this is that most women need to have only the lump removed a lumpectomy and can keep their breast. Many will also avoid chemotherapy. But mammograms are not very effective at spotting small tumours in younger women. Under the age of 50, women tend to have dense breasts which are full of fibrous, glandular tissue with little fat, which shows up as white on a scan. But tumours are also white making them almost impossible to detect. There is also the risk that harmless, non-cancerous lumps will be found and patients will have to endure a biopsy, or an operation, to exclude the possibility of cancer. And this will mean a woman has unnecessarily undergone a procedure, with all the associated risks of infection and scarring. One suggested workaround would be to offer high risk younger women MRI scans instead these give a more detailed picture of dense breasts and are already offered to young women with a BRCA mutation. But MRI scans arent an easy ride. Compared with a mammogram that takes just a few minutes, an MRI takes up to 40 minutes and involves lying in a narrow tunnel while a dye is injected into a vein. The whole experience can make many women me included feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic, and that is why its currently not feasible to offer this to thousands more women every year as a screening test. Angelina Jolie, pictured, discovered she was at a higher genetic risk of developing breast cancer so elected to have a double mastectomy Julia Bradbury believes that if her tumour had been caught in its earliest form, she wouldnt have had to have a mastectomy. This may be the case for her but not for everyone. Depending on the size of the cancer, in women with small breasts a lumpectomy often leaves too little tissue behind and patients can end up with a very poor cosmetic result. Patients in these cases are often recommended to have a mastectomy, with the offer of a surgical reconstruction, because this will give them a much better shape. But what of the claim that 4,000 lives could be saved every year? Well, thats not all it seems. In order to achieve this, the women red-flagged in the gene tests would need to take the drug tamoxifen to reduce their risk. This lowers their level of oestrogen, the female sex hormone which can encourage the growth of breast tumours. Studies show that taking tamoxifen as a preventative measure can reduce breast cancer risk in genetically vulnerable women by up to 60 per cent. But there are huge down sides. Tamoxifen kicks young women into early menopause, triggering all the symptoms hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and painful sex. I think most women in their 30s and 40s would have a hard time putting up with this. I was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 40, and had to take tamoxifen for a decade to stop my cancer coming back. It was awful. A good nights sleep soon became a thing of the past and the dreadful night sweats often made me think Id wet the bed. My libido disappeared too, and there were many times when I considered giving up the drug. Worse still, long-term use is known to raise the risk of womb cancer. The unfortunate truth is that, for most women, very little can be done to prevent breast cancer. My wish is for scientists to focus on a group who desperately require attention: the unlucky women who do develop the disease. Some have cancers that come back, despite their first tumour being caught early. A significant number stop responding to treatment and 31 of these patients die every day. If we could find something to improve the chances for this unlucky minority, it truly would be revolutionary. During a recent eye test, the ophthalmologist spotted a burst blood vessel in one of my eyes and suggested it could be a sign of a heart problem. My GP diagnosed supraventricular tachycardia, and Ive been prescribed beta-blockers. Im 79, have no heart symptoms and feel in very good health. Could they be wrong? Opticians and eye doctors often spot medical problems in a patient that would otherwise be missed. They include high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which cause changes in the eyes. This is one reason why regular eye checks are so important. Supraventricular tachycardia is when the heart beats faster than it should, and this is often due to nerve problems in the upper part of the heart. The pulse can suddenly speed up, then slow down. In some people it remains at a very high level way over the normal maximum of about 100 beats a minute. If it occurs fleetingly, it may be otherwise symptomless, but it can cause dizziness, weakness, breathlessness and anxiety as the heart races. Today's reader went to have their eyes tested but learned they may have a heart problem Palpitations where you can physically feel the heart pumping and chest pain can also happen. It tends to occur more in people who smoke and drink, as well as if caffeine intake is too high. To diagnose supraventricular tachycardia, particularly in a person with no symptoms, we use a 24-hour or 48-hour ECG a type of heart monitor to detect occasional events. A fast heart rate is easy to spot in the results. If there are no symptoms or concerns, treatment might not be necessary. If damage within the eye can already be seen, it would imply that the episodes have been frequent enough to cause problems, so medication would be wise. Beta-blockers and other heart drugs are used to slow down the heart and prevent further damage. I am plagued by sleepless nights because of the amount of mucus constantly trickling down the back of my throat. Initially I was fine in the daytime, but now Im forever blowing my nose. My GP diagnosed post-nasal drip and prescribed a nasal spray. It didnt work and I was given much stronger nasal drops, which also failed and gave me headaches and nosebleeds. I can sleep if I take Night Nurse, but Im worried that this isnt a long-term solution. Post-nasal drip can be caused by allergies, hay fever, nasal growths called polyps, and infections such as sinusitis. Some people have chronic sinusitis, where the sinuses are always inflamed, leading to an over-production of mucus in the upper airways. Often, sufferers can identify triggers in the house such as dust or cleaning products, or smoky rooms. Post-nasal drip is also called upper airway cough syndrome, and there are specific guidelines for treatment that can help. Night Nurse is a combination medication with antihistamine and decongestant the recommended treatments to use. However, it also contains paracetamol, which isnt needed in these instances. Other treatments a GP might recommend include an antihistamine such as chlorphenamine, with a decongestant to reduce and dry up the mucus. If sinusitis is also an issue, steroid drops or spray, or a nasal antihistamine, may help. Long-term use of decongestants is not recommended, as these can end up making the problem worse. But long-term use of a nose-rinse a salt-water rinse or spray is safe. You can make it yourself, or buy it online, and use it to rinse out the nasal passages and wash away allergens. I had an operation to repair my aorta in April last year but suffered something called a spinal stroke in theatre. I spent weeks in hospital and finally got out in June, but ever since then Ive suffered a dreadful feeling of tightness round my trunk, as if Im being given a bear hug. No one can tell me why. Am I the only person to have this problem? It is very difficult to suffer with a condition that is misunderstood or rare, adding to the uncertainty that is so hard about any illness. Do you have a question for Dr Ellie? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Dr Ellie can only answer in a general context and cannot respond to individual cases, or give personal replies. If you have a health concern, always consult your own GP. Advertisement A stroke is when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing damage. If the blockage happens in the spinal cord, which carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body, similar things can happen. We call this a spinal stroke. These are rare, accounting for about one per cent of all strokes. In both types, nerve messages to the body can be interrupted, leading to strange sensations, pain or mobility issues. The symptoms will vary depending on the nerves affected. Unusual feelings in the trunk or lower part of the body would chime with this. Bladder-control problems and weakness in the legs are also seen. A problem like this would be best dealt with by a pain clinic. A GP will be able to make a referral for you. Waiting times can be long, but a wide range of treatments is available including medications, injections, physiotherapy and psychological therapies. Further information is available from the British Pain Society (britishpainsociety.org) and PainUK (painuk.org). We need more like Huw to speak up about depression It was a breath of fresh air to hear BBC newsreader Huw Edwards speak so openly last week about his 20-year battle with depression. The presenter didnt skirt around the cruel realities of the condition, telling Mens Health magazine it often hits him like a strong wave, and hes been unable to get out of bed. I was impressed to hear him say he still suffers. All too often, celebrities talk about their mental health problem as if it is a thing of the past and theyve miraculously recovered. Anyone who has suffered a severe mental illness will know that the problem rarely just goes away. Most people find a way to manage, be it through therapy, medication or support of friends and family, and can absolutely live a full and functioning life. Patients are often reluctant to visit the doctor for a relapse, as they find it difficult to accept they are still unwell after having treatment. If more people in the public eye spoke as honestly as Huw, perhaps others would seek the help they need. It was a breath of fresh air to hear BBC newsreader Huw Edwards speak so openly last week about his 20-year battle with depression. The presenter didnt skirt around the cruel realities of the condition, telling Mens Health magazine it often hits him like a strong wave, and hes been unable to get out of bed. I was impressed to hear him say he still suffers Where are these extra medics? Apparently there are more doctors and nurses working in the NHS than ever before according to a Government press release that landed in my inbox last week. It also claimed that there are 4,300 more doctors than there were a year ago. I hate to be cynical, but something doesnt quite add up. As a GP who works in NHS buildings most days, I am yet to see where these extra doctors are. What I do see is desperate patients waiting weeks for an appointment because so many of our staff have either retired or quit. So I suspect some of these extra medics are part-timers or working at the top level of the NHS where they have little contact with patients. Perhaps the currently over-stretched system is more to do with surging demand, but I highly doubt it. Three-quarters of Britons go in to the office when they feel unwell with a third worrying that their employers wont believe they are sick. And women are the least likely to take time off, with almost 80 per cent admitting to going to work when poorly. The trend is revealed in a survey conducted by medical negligence law firm Patient Claim Line, which asked 2,000 people about how much they worry about taking sick days. Tim Scott, spokesman for the firm said: The research demonstrates how unaware the majority of Britons are about their workplace rights. Employees are legally entitled to up to seven sick days in a row in the UK. Women are the least likely to take time off, with almost 80 per cent admitting to going to work when poorly Men are more likely to take time off while feeling sick according to a new survey New bracelet to help people with Tourette's A pulsating bracelet could reduce tics in people with Tourettes syndrome. Roughly 300,000 Britons have the neurological disorder, which is characterised by frequent, uncontrollable mannerisms such as shouting, twitching and clicking fingers known as tics but there are few effective treatments. Now University of Nottingham scientists have developed wearable technology that has been shown to cut the frequency of tics by a third. Worn on the wrist, the device delivers short bursts of electrical pulses which stimulate nerves that interrupt the brain signals that trigger tics. A prototype will now be available to 135 UK patients on a trial basis. Results are expected by the end of the year, and researchers hope a product will be available for use by 2024. Seeking help for a severe mental health problem may help reduce the risk of developing physical problems too. US researchers analysed the health outcomes of more than 20,000 sufferers of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is triggered by a traumatic event and causes disturbing flashbacks and nightmares. They found that those who received treatment not only saw improvements in symptoms, but were also significantly less likely to develop high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes over the course of a lifetime. The researchers, from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said: Educating patients about the physical health benefits of PTSD treatment may encourage more people to seek it out. A new drug for a type of arthritis that causes scabs on the skin can reduce those symptoms by up to 90 per cent, research has shown. Psoriatic arthritis, which affects 100,000 Britons, features telltale signs of both arthritis and the skin condition psoriasis. Current treatments like anti-inflammatory steroids dont work for many patients, but trial data released last week by doctors at Harvard Medical School show that a drug called bimekizumab reduced psoriasis scabs in two-thirds of patients by 90 per cent. Arthritic symptoms were reduced by 43 per cent. Just days after the horrible Texas school massacre, the National Rifle Association of the US held their annual convention in Houston. To go with their business-as-usual attitude was a resolve not to let the Uvalde school event change things. This is a tragedy without end in the land of the free where there is no sign of a collective will even to bring in common sense bipartisan legislation to usher in checks on people buying guns. The United States goes through eternal cycles of immediate outrage over a public shooting and, in its wake, a degree of optimism over a legislative deal to do something about such carnage before insurmountable partisan division creeps in and life lapses to its regular patterns. What is so particular about the USA and mass shootings in public places, triggered by macabre illogic that takes innocent lives at random, including, most tragically, those of school children? The Republicans who, as a rule, oppose any restrictions on gun ownership and will fight to retain the right as mandated by the Second Amendment, see the carnage as a social problem that has little to do with the pursuit of their ideology. Besides wringing their hands in exasperation, the Democrats have always pursued ways to bring in checks and balances that might help reduce the problem of guns reaching the hands of the wrong people. Debates have run for decades around restricting sales of automatic rifles and the use of armed guards at schools, including in Uvalde where police seemed to have waited too long before intervening. But todays desperados and delinquents are wearing body vests, as at the scene of the recent department store massacre, before launching into a mad, end-of-life misadventure. It appears an armed American, probably motivated by racism as well, is as dangerous as lone wolves who let their zeal drive them into terrorism. Most of the rest of the world may heave a sigh of relief that gun violence massacres are not their problem. But it must set us all thinking about whether individuals who may feel no need for civic responsibility towards the basic rules of civilised society should be entitled to own a weapon. SKY, BRITBOX, AMAZON, DISNEY+, NETFLIX & APPLE TV+ The Midwich Cuckoos When everyone in an area of the small town of Midwich falls unconscious for several hours, the police and the government quickly get involved, but no one can explain what has happened. Keeley Hawes (above) stars in this sci-fi drama where women mysteriously fall pregnant and everything is not quite as it seems It soon becomes clear that all the women of child-bearing age who were inside the mysterious zone are now, somehow, pregnant. And when they all give birth at the same time, their children are not like other kids. Keeley Hawes, Max Beesley and Aisling Loftus star in this adaptation of the classic 1957 sci-fi novel by John Wyndham, who also wrote The Day Of The Triffids. It has its moments of tension and the kids are creepy but, at seven episodes, it feels stretched. Sky/NOW, from Thursday Physical In the second season of this edgy comedy, Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne) is still building her fitness video business in the sexist world of 1980s San Diego, and she still has that self-loathing inner voice. In the second season of this edgy comedy, Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne, above) is still building her fitness video business in the sexist world of 1980s San Diego Her marriage to Danny (Rory Scovel) seems all but over and, now that health as a business is catching on, shes facing a lot of competition, both from old rivals and new players. The White Lotus star Murray Bartlett joins the cast as fitness instructor Vincent Vinnie Green. Apple TV+, from Friday The Real Charlie Chaplin Granted access to unseen archive material from the silent movie stars estate, film-makers Peter Middleton and James Spinney attempt to get to know the man behind the toothbrush moustache. Peter Middleton and James Spinney attempt to get to know the man behind the toothbrush moustache in this documentary about Charlie Chaplin (above) Chaplin was the first global celebrity and, while theres no questioning his impact on popular culture, the film asks if his private life three of Chaplins four wives were teenagers should taint his legacy. Sky/NOW, from Wednesday The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall The mysterious Helen Graham (Tara Fitzgerald) moves into an old mansion and attracts the attention of a handsome farmer, Gilbert Markham (Toby Stephens). But what is Helen hiding? Anne Brontes novel has always been in the shadow of Emilys Wuthering Heights and Charlottes Jane Eyre, but its a powerful story, and this 1996 version is a classy adaptation. BritBox, from Thursday The Boys The unhinged satire returns for a third series of mayhem, gore and very black humour. Our vigilante heroes are still intent on taking down the corrupt superhero outfit The Seven. When they learn of a new weapon that can help in the battle against the supes, they go after Soldier Boy, dubbed the original superhero, who supposedly fought in the Second World War. Any similarity to Captain America is purely intentional. Marvel must really hate this show. Amazon, from Friday Scum Disturbing borstal drama about the brutalisation of inmates in a young persons detention centre first produced for the BBCs Play For Today in 1977. The BBC refused to screen this disturbing borstal drama in 1977. Starring Ray Winstone (above), it is about the brutalisation of inmates in a young persons' detention centre The Beeb refused to screen it because of its violent content. It was remade for cinema in 1979 and thats the version here. Both starred Ray Winstone, then at the start of his career. BritBox, from Thursday Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore The third instalment of the Fantastic Beasts series is visually breathtaking and joins Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) as he realises that powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is attempting to seize control of the wizarding world. Dumbledore recruits magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and a brave muggle baker on a dangerous mission. Sky Store, from Monday The Matrix Resurrections Although it doesnt come close to matching the 1999 original, the latest entry in the iconic series is an action-packed and heartfelt science-fiction love story. Although it doesnt come close to matching the 1999 original, the latest entry in the iconic series starring Keanu Reeves (above) is action-packed Set 20 years after Revolutions, we find Neo, aka Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves), living a mundane life as video-game programmer in San Francisco. Sky/NOW, from Friday Pistol Theres a Trainspotter-ish feeling to the opening of Danny Boyles Sex Pistols biopic. Steve Jones, the bands founder, nicks some of David Bowies equipment and is chased by the police. Theres a Trainspotter-ish feeling to the opening of Danny Boyles Sex Pistols biopic, starring Anson Boon (above) Johnny Rotten But thats the high point. Most of the fun comes from seeing key players turn up. Oh look, that must be Johnny Rotten (Anson Boon). Heres Sid Vicious. Hello Nancy! Disney+, from Tuesday Borgen: Power & Glory The fourth season of the Danish political drama brings back politician Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen), who has just been appointed minister for foreign affairs when a drilling company discovers oil in Greenland. Netflix, from Friday Wearing an Adriana jacket by Anine Bing, jeans by Frame and t-shirt by Lavender Hill Every one of us has our own style journey that is constantly evolving. Over the years, Ive come to pitch my tent firmly in the camp of less is more. I invest in pieces that can be worn multiple ways during the week and also dressed up for evening shenanigans. A blazer, a white shirt, a cashmere knit, a white or black dress, a trouser suit, denims and a pair of great heels. These are my essentials. They might sound boring to the maximalist but Im a happy camper. With this in mind, if an investment piece I want sells out, I will chase it down. Such as when, in snowy New York a few years ago, I set off on a mission to get a chunky wool cardigan by Anine Bing. The wind-chill factor made my face ache and I almost got hypothermia but I still have the cardigan, so it was worth it! Call me boring but Im firmly in the less is more camp Anine, who was born in Denmark but grew up in Sweden, is a poster girl for less is more and her brand, she says, combines Scandinavian simplicity with American energy. Now based in Los Angeles, the former model was one of the first to use social media to build her label, and her stylish collections and lifestyle she even made eating snails on a recent trip to Paris look glamorous are a big hit with her million-plus Instagram followers. This year sees Anine celebrating a decade in business, with her collections now sold in 350 stores globally. She has just opened a second standalone UK shop in Londons Chelsea. With longevity no mean feat in fashion, I wonder what the secret of her success is. Anine, an early riser who likes to take her children to school before heading back to her home office, says, speaking exclusively to The Chic List, Im a very creative person. I love to be involved in every part of the process so I also shoot content, review designs, approve samples as well as finding inspiration for our next collections. To relax, Anine says she likes to hike and go for walks on the beach typically LA. Then, after kissing her children goodnight, shes in bed by 10pm. Its a balance that clearly works, as her brand which she began with her husband Nicolai in 2012 from her garage in California, selling some denims, a leather jacket, boots and T-shirts is going from strength to strength. Effortless wardrobe essentials are our core, she says. We still have pieces from my first collection that we sell today. And the new store isnt Anines only big move this year. Shes expanding into China as well as building on her Resort collection. Sometimes being a minimalist takes maximum effort. Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe FOR A FINE VINTAGE You cant beat the thrill of a pre-loved jewellery find. Susan Caplans online store is bursting with pieces shes sourced from around the world to suit all budgets. Happy hunting! Bracelet, 95, susancaplan.co.uk. JUST OPENED Online brand With Nothing Underneath is my go-to for great boyfriend shirts. Check out its first shop now at 47 Elizabeth Street, London SW1. Shirt, 100, withnothingunderneath.com MOST WANTED The ideal pointed-toe flat with the perfect thin strap is as rare as a unicorn. So its no wonder these beauties keep selling out (new stock end of June). Shoes, 225, aeyde.com MOST GOOGLED Announcing her third pregnancy, actress Michelle Williams wore this feathered dress by Ukrainian brand Sleeper to show her support for the country now everyone wants it. Tom travels to an atmospheric new venture that brings the authentic taste of Thailand to London The smoky nam chub growls with gapi and roasted chillies Theres a small curry shop, in the southern Thai city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, called Raan Kao Geng. Like a thousand other similar establishments, it opens on to the street, with a few plastic tables and chairs, the ubiquitous television blaring in the corner. At one side are a dozen metal trays, filled with curries and stir-fries of every heat and hue. Along with a huge cooker filled with rice. You choose, eat, sweat furiously (this being the south, chilli levels move from incendiary to downright insane), pay and leave. Everything is cheap, freshly made, and, without exception, thrillingly, breathtakingly good. Plaza Khao Gaeng is another southern-style curry shop. But rather than being situated in some sultry Thai backstreet, its actually bang smack in the middle of Londons West End, at Arcade Food Hall Centre Point. With a British chef at the helm, Luke Farrell, who grows all his own herbs and spices in a tropical Dorset greenhouse. Hmm. Still, this is the newest opening from JKS, the folk behind the likes of Gymkhana, Bao and Sabor. And theyre a class act. The restaurant sits above a vast hall that already simmers and seethes with punters, selling everything from Indonesian and Nepali street food to Nashville hot chicken. But from the very first bite fresh tiger prawns with bitter sator beans we realise there are no concessions here to timid Western palates. The rough, pungent edges are left very much intact. A fierce, floral and fragrant pork klua kling is Thai 101 level, and both dishes are made with complex, fresh-pounded pastes of brow-beading intensity. A smoky nam chub (or relish) growls with gapi (shrimp paste) and roasted chillies, with cool slices of cucumber and cabbage providing much needed relief. But its not all about the heat. Braised pork belly is spoon-soft, luscious and joyously rich, while a miang Phuket, wrapped in fresh betel leaf, is all about the gentle chew of coconut, cashew and palm sugar. Farrell sure knows his stuff. Id go as far as to say when it comes to Thai food cooked by non-Thai chefs, this is getting up towards David Thompson level. With buckets of icy cold Singha beer, and the most gleefully heady of atmospheres, you could almost be back in Thailand. All thats missing is the torrid heat, ever-present pong of fag smoke and diesel fumes. And the tuk-tuks incessant beep. About 25 per head. Plaza Khao Gaeng, 103-105 New Oxford St, London WC1, plazakhaogaeng.com DRINKS: Ollys hidden French gems France is wines spiritual home. Prestige and renown can pump up prices, but it still has a hoard of hidden gems which remain bafflingly underrated. Wine that has fallen from fashion is where I love to look. Muscadet is a prime example quality and value are superb at the moment. Try buying from nearby the famous names, or look for lesser-known places to get the real steals, such as Aldis rose from Ventoux. WINE OF THE WEEK Domaine de la Tourmaline Sur Lie Muscadet SEvre et Maine 2020 (12%), from 8.99, Majestic. Perfection served cold with shellfish. Specially Selected Ventoux Rose 2021 (13%), 6.99, Aldi. You have to buy this! Think Provence plus with more flavour and bang for your buck. Paul Mas Heritage Clairette 2020 (12.5%), 9, Sainsburys. The barbecue wine of this summer, textural with pineapple zing, its delicious. Domaine de LIdylle Cruet Alpine Jacquere 2021 (11%), 13.75, yapp.co.uk. Like a mountain carved from grapefruit peel with lemony glaciers. Shares in London's biggest electricity firms sank yesterday amid fresh fears they could be the next target of Rishi Sunak's windfall tax. The Chancellor has unveiled a 25 per cent levy on oil and gas company profits to fund support for households being squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis. These firms have raked in bumper profits over the last year as the emergence of the economy from the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused prices of oil and gas to soar. But Sunak also hinted that his windfall tax could be extended to electricity companies, which have also seen profits boom as a result of the surge in bills. It is thought the Chancellor could announce an expansion of the tax within the next month. The Treasury declined to comment on any timeline. Fears of fresh levies sent shares in London-listed electricity generators into retreat, with SSE slipping 1.6 per cent, or 29p, to 1752.5p and British Gas owner Centrica down 2.4 per cent, or 1.9p, at 77.24p. Both companies own gas-fired electricity plants across the UK. Meanwhile, Drax, a FTSE 250 firm which owns a large power station near Selby in North Yorkshire, also dropped by 4.2 per cent, or 28.5p, to 656p. On Thursday, the Chancellor said the Government was 'consulting with the power generation sector' and 'evaluating the scale of these extraordinary profits' before deciding what to do. The comments were seen as a heavy hint that generation companies could soon find themselves being hit with a windfall tax. Speculation intensified after Sunak refused to rule out further relief for household fuel bills in media interviews. But some have warned such a move risked investment in the UK's renewable energy sector at a critical time as the Government attempts to hit net zero emissions targets. Martin Young, senior analyst at Investec, said that introducing a windfall tax for the nation's electricity generators would be 'immensely complicated' and could leave the Government open to legal challenges. He added the risk of investing in the UK's energy market had 'undoubtedly' increased, meaning companies may be less willing to pour cash into British projects in the future. 'Is a windfall tax on generation, when you want to fully decarbonise your power sector by 2035, the right thing to be doing? Absolutely not. It's the wrong thing,' Young said. Fears a windfall tax could jeopardise investment in British energy followed comments from oil giant BP that it may rethink its plans to invest 18billion following Sunak's announcement this week. Meanwhile, SSE has been attempting to avoid getting hit with the new levy by unveiling plans to invest 24billion in renewable energy by 2030, double its previous target. Ministers must investigate how much UK property and other assets are owned by Chinese officials complicit in human rights abuses, MPs have urged. In a letter to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, a group of 110 politicians called for an audit of UK assets of Hong Kong and Chinese officials. Concern: In a letter to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, a group of 110 politicians called for an audit of UK assets of Hong Kong and Chinese officials The group, led by Labour's Siobhain McDonagh, Tory chair of the foreign affairs committee Tom Tugendhat and former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, said 'targeted sanctions' could then be brought in. Duncan Smith said Truss should learn from the united response to the invasion of Ukraine. He said an audit 'would serve as a pathway to the UK finally introducing a Hong Kong-specific Magnitsky-style sanctions list against those responsible for the ongoing human rights violations in the city.' It follows a report by UK-based Hong Kong Watch, which found five Hong Kong officials and six lawmakers involved in the free speech crackdown own UK properties. More than two-fifths of Britons would support Prince Charles succeeding the Queen on the throne - although a quarter are opposed to him becoming King, a new poll has revealed. Just days before Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations are due to begin, an exclusive survey for MailOnline revealed the extent of support for her eldest child to replace her as monarch. The poll, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, found 43 per cent of Britons would support or strongly support Charles becoming King once the Queen dies. A quarter (25 per cent) were opposed to the Prince of Wales becoming Britain's next monarch. And a similar number (26 per cent) said they neither supported nor opposed him becoming sitting on the throne. Of the 1,500 British adults surveyed, seven per cent said they did not know. A MailOnline poll, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, found 43 per cent of Britons would support or strongly support Charles becoming King once the Queen dies A quarter (25 per cent) were opposed to the Prince of Wales becoming Britain's next monarch after Her Majesty Earlier this month, Charles read the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament for the first time after Her Majesty pulled out due to mobility problems A four-day Bank Holiday weekend will celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, which marks her 70 years of service as monarch Earlier this month, Charles read the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament for the first time after Her Majesty pulled out due to mobility problems. The 73-year-old has been taking on a number of his 96-year-old mother's duties in recent years as Royal aides carefully manage her workload. For her Platinum Jubilee, to celebrate her 70 years of service as monarch, the Queen is due to attend the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday at the start of a four-day Bank Holiday Weekend. The event will end with an RAF flypast, to be watched by Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony. A service of thanksgiving will take place at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday, with the Queen and other Royals due to attend the Derby at Epsom next Saturday. There will then be a 'Platinum Party at the Palace' on Saturday evening, to be broadcast by the BBC, before street parties are held across the country - including a lunchtime picnic at Windsor - on Sunday. An Alabama teenager was jailed for 50 years for killing his doctor father's new fiancee in a rage after his dad got engaged to the woman just 11 months after the teen's mom died. Ross McFarland, 18 entered a guilty plea on Thursday in the murder of teacher Martha Jones 'Marti' White, 66 on October 17, 2019 in Auburn, Alabama. He was 16 at the time of the killing. Officials in Lee County said McFarland 'harbored animosity' toward the woman who got engaged to his father, Dr. John McFarland, just 11 months after his mother's death. Donna McFarland was a scientist who died in November 2018 aged just 45. She was a microbiology graduate who'd been married to John McFarland for 22 years. She had two other children besides Ross, who are called Avery and Samuel. Donna McFarland's Facebook profile, which has not been updated since before her death, lists her relationship status as separated. Police in the city of Auburn responded to a home and found White dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to her face. White was herself a mother of two and grandmother of five, as well as a retired teacher from the city's school district. Ross McFarland, then 16, entered a guilty plea on Thursday in the murder of Martha Jones 'Marti' White, 66 on October 17, 2019 Officials in Lee County said McFarland 'harbored animosity' toward White (pictured) who got engaged to his father, Dr. John McFarland, just 11 months after his mother's death White's daughter Elizabeth Chaisson released a statement. 'Today, we moved closer to obtaining justice for our dear mother, Marti White. She was a faithful and committed servant to ALL the children in her life, from her countless numbers of young students to her beloved family, children, and precious grandchildren,' said Chaisson. 'She dedicated her life to loving and showing compassion to those who needed it most. To the end of her life, she sacrificed herself to help children in need. While we know this is a step towards earthly justice, we will never know true peace and justice until we meet again,' she added. When authorities investigated the case, they found a .40-caliber handgun from Smith & Wesson missing from Dr. McFarland's home. They eventually found a witness who was a close friend of Ross McFarland, who said they saw McFarland shoot White when she turned her head to look away, News 19 said. Ross, the witness said, picked up the bullet's shell casing and fled. White was herself a mother of two and grandmother of five, as well as a retired teacher from the city's school district Ross McFarland was furious after his father John (pictured furthest right with gray beard) began dating Martha White just 11 months after Ross's mom Donna McFarland (pictured center in black halter neck top) died Investigators said McFarland admitted to fantasizing about killing other people in his community, including children, in a statement after his arrest. McFarland was sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was denied youthful offender status despite having no prior criminal record. John McFarland serves as medical director at Lee County Sheriff's Office. He also works as an ER doctor at East Alabama Medical Center. McFarland has since remarried, to a retiree called Kathy Timberlake. An unruly passenger who was caught on camera viciously attacking a Southwest Airlines flight attendant during a flight, breaking her teeth, has been sentenced to over a year in prison. A San Diego federal judge sentenced 29-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez to 15 months in federal prison on Tuesday, ordering her to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution and a $7,500 fine for the May 2021 attack on a flight attendant identified only as S.L. Quinonez was on a May 23, 2021 Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego when S.L asked her to buckle her seatbelt, stow her tray table and wear her mask properly during the descent - all violations of federal rules and regulations. Scroll Down For Video: A San Diego federal judge sentenced 29-year-old Vyvianna Quinonez (pictured) to 15 months in federal prison on Tuesday A federal judge ordered Quinonez to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution and a $7,500 fine for the May 2021 attack on a flight attendant identified only as S.L. The flight attendant lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face and was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said. The assault was recorded on another passenger's cellphone. According to the plea agreement, the flight attendant suffered three chipped teeth, two of which needed crowns, along with bruises and a cut under her left eye that needed stitches. Passengers on the plane captured pictures of the attendant following the incident tending to her bloodied face and leaving the plane in a wheelchair. Now Quinonez, of Sacramento, is prohibited from flying for three years while she is on supervised release and must participate in anger management classes or counseling. Last year Quinonez pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, admitting she punched the flight attendant in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbed her hair. 'Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated,' U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a statement after the sentencing. FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy said the sentence should 'send a very strong message to air travelers - the FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who assaults or interferes with flight crews.' The incident marked an escalation in unruly behavior by airline passengers that has become more frequent on airplanes and at airports as air travel picks up a year on from the pandemic. In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that airlines have reported a total of 5,981 incidents involving unruly passengers, with 4,290 of them involving passengers who refused to wear masks on board their flights. The agency has proposed $5,000,000 in fines against trouble-making passengers. So far in 2022, there have been 1,419 reports of undisciplined passengers, with 1.6 incidents per 10,000 flights for the week ending on May 15, according to the FAA's website. Since January 2021 when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a zero-tolerance policy, the agency has proposed fines of about $7 million for disruptive passengers. Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said Last year Quinonez admitted she punched the flight attendant in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbed her hair Passengers on the plane captured pictures of the attendant following the incident tending to her bloodied face The flight attendant, who was not named, was pictured with a bloodied face and wheeled off the flight in a wheelchair In April the FAA said they would make their 'zero tolerance policy' permanent even after a court ended transportation mask requirements. That month the FAA issued its highest fines to date on passengers: a $81,950 fine on an American Airlines passenger who shoved a flight attendant and spit on crew members; and a $75,000 fine on a Delta Air Lines passenger who bit a fellow passenger after trying to hug and kiss another. The FAA said neither incident that led to the high fines involved passengers who objected to wearing masks. The FAA proposed the $81,950 fine for an American Airlines passenger on a July flight from Dallas, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina, alleging the passenger 'threatened to hurt the flight attendant that offered help to the passenger after she fell into the aisle. The passenger then pushed the flight attendant aside and tried to open the cabin door.' The FAA added 'two flight attendants tried to restrain the passenger, but she repeatedly hit one of the flight attendants on the head. After the passenger was restrained in flex cuffs, she spit at, headbutted, bit and tried to kick the crew and other passengers.' American said in July that it banned the passenger from flying on the airline. 'We applaud our crew for their professionalism and quick effort to protect those on board,' the statement said. The agency also proposed a $77,272-fine for a Delta passenger on a July Las Vegas to Atlanta flight, alleging the passenger 'attempted to hug and kiss the passenger seated next to her; walked to the front of the aircraft to try to exit during flight; refused to return to her seat; and bit another passenger multiple times.' Delta said Friday it 'has zero tolerance for unruly behavior at our airports and on our flights as nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people.' Neither passenger was identified. They have 30 days to respond to the accusations. The first of the 28 people injured when their boat capsized in crocodile-infested waters in Western Australia have been flown to Perth and taken to hospital. The 'major incident' involving a boat carrying 26 passengers and two crew occurred at Horizontal Falls in Western Australia's Kimberley region, 250km north of Broome, at about 7am on Friday. WA Police, the RFDS, St Johns Ambulance and WA Health were all involved in a 'massive rescue effort' to save the passengers who were picked up from a pontoon near Koolan Island. The most seriously injured were flown first to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Services and transported to Royal Perth Hospital. The first of the 28 people injured when their boat capsized in crocodile-infested waters in Western Australia have been flown to Perth and taken to hospital The most seriously injured were flown first to Perth by the Royal Flying Doctor Services and transported to Royal Perth Hospital The 'major incident' involving a boat carrying 26 passengers and two crew occurred at Horizontal Falls in Western Australia 's Kimberley region, 250km north of Broome, at about 7am on Friday The first five arrived in the Western Australia capital just before 8pm and included three women who required stretchers. Two men, one wearing bandages around their head and knee, were also spotted walking out of the aircraft and towards ambulances waiting nearby. Another eight tourists were then flown to the city overnight. Other passengers with less serious injuries were flown to Broome before they were transported to Broome Hospital. Nine with minor injuries were flown in by Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures while four with serious injuries were transported by St John Ambulance. WA police confirmed the presence of saltwater crocodiles and deadly box jellyfish in the dangerous waters, at a media briefing on Friday. It is understood the boat, driven by an experienced skipper, may have overturned in the tidal waters. Several passengers were thrown into the water at the tourist attraction, which is famous for jet boat tours through two narrow channels where huge volumes of water surge through the gaps in facing cliffs. Thirteen seriously injured patients were expected to be flown to Royal Perth Hospital in three flights late on Friday night and early on Saturday. Another four badly hurt people were believed to transported by St Johns Ambulance to Broome Hospital. Another eight tourists were then flown to Perth and transported to Royal Perth Hospital overnight The king tides create the 'horizontal waterfall' phenomenon Others with less serious injuries were also treated in Broome. The Royal Flying Doctor Service rushed to treat the boat passengers at the remote site and a temporary triage zone was set up at the nearby Koolan Island. In all four RFDS aircraft, six doctors and six flight nurses were deployed. Local helicopter services also assisted. 'The area where this incident occurred is one of the most remote locations on Western Australia's coastline the incident occurred in Talbot Bay near Koolan Island which is about 250km north east of Broome,' WA Police said in a statement. 'The area is only accessible by air or sea which has added to the complexity of this rescue operation.' Police said the cause of the accident 'will be investigated' but that 'the priority has been to get the injured people the medical attention that they need'. Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures released a statement hours later, explaining the injuries had occurred while the boat attempted to drive through the notorious rapids. Jet boat tours are regularly run through the treacherous Horizontal Falls where the accident happened 'Falls Express, guided by an experienced skipper during an early-morning tour, was involved in the incident while travelling through the falls,' the statement said. 'The vessel immediately returned to the pontoon.' A Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures plane was spotted landing at Broome Airport on Friday afternoon, where passengers, some wrapped in bandages, were met by health staff. The Royal Flying Doctor Service said it had helped more than 20 patients injured in the incident with four planes rushing to the scene. Local helicopter services were providing assistance to winch some patients to safety. Earlier, a WA Country Health Service spokeswoman described it as a 'serious' incident and said a major medical response was underway. 'Kimberley Hospitals are on stand-by and Broome Health Campus has activated an emergency alert in anticipation of patient arrivals the first of which are expected within the hour,' the spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. Horizontal Falls in Western Australia are a popular tourist attraction In an update just after 1pm local time on Friday, WA Police said it was still dealing with the incident 'but no injuries are believed to be life threatening'. The ocean phenomenon is home to some of the highest tides in the world, creating what's been dubbed a 'horizontal waterfall'. Thousands of litres of water gush through the narrow gap in Talbot Bay, triggered by the region's king tides, which sometimes fluctuate up to 10 metres a day. Tourists are able to experience the falls a number of ways, with local tourism operators offering jet boat tours that speed through the dangerous rapids. Seaplane and helicopter tours also operate in the area, allowing people to witness the raging water from the air. Daily Mail Australia contacted WA Health for comment. Exasperated members of the public have demanded that second-rate civil servants stop blaming working from home and the Covid pandemic for poor service. Those ringing Government phone lines are waiting on hold for as long as two hours at a time to speak to someone who can help them with basic requests. One NHS radiographer had to take four days of annual leave and spend a combined 20 hours on hold to confirm that his payment to HM Revenue and Customs had been received. A Daily Mail audit of 38 official phone lines, carried out over two days, found long wait times, baffling menus and broken systems were the norm. Mary Falconer, 75, tried to phone HMRC after a final warning letter to get in touch over her tax return but was unable to get through and thinks she was a victim of a scammer The Daily Mail has contacted a range of state services, some of whom failed to answer the phone in almost an hour at a cost of 12.33 We had to wait for up to 54 minutes or were simply cut off, directed online and forced to use paid-for lines costing around 23p a minute from a BT pay-as-you-go landline. Some departments buried their contact numbers on their websites. Four organisations contacted by the Daily Mail, used by families and small businesses, blamed Covid or working from home (WFH) for long wait times and poor service. The civil service has faced accusations that working from home is still hitting productivity four months after ministers ordered staff back to their offices. Last night Tory MPs said it was outrageous that millions pay tax but get nothing in return. Bereaved families said they had to wait on the phone to the Probate Office for as long as an hour, while staff are taking four weeks to read emails. A Mail reporter waited 54 minutes on hold last week, which would cost 12.33 from a BT landline. The Office of the Public Guardian, which manages powers of attorney, told customers WFH is impacting our response times and said they should wait at least 20 weeks before contacting us. A Mail reporter took 48 minutes to get through, costing 11.19. How taxman cost me 169 A pensioner was charged 169 by her phone provider after a run-in with HM Revenue and Customs customer service. Mary Falconer, 75, tried to phone HMRC after a final warning letter to get in touch over her tax return but was unable to get through. She sought another way to get in touch online and was on hold to a number she found on Google for 45 minutes before giving up. When her phone bill came she had been charged 168.98 for the call she now thinks was to a scammer. Mrs Falconer later discovered the final warning letter from HMRC had been sent in error. Advertisement Two Department for Work and Pensions lines, for benefits inquiries and Job Centre appointments, had waiting times of 49 and 42 minutes respectively. The Land Registry, which looks after property registers, said it still has a reduced service and the wait time may be longer than usual. Companies House, part of the business department, told callers you may experience longer waiting times than usual and they may hear some background noise as our advisers are working from home. It also said its offices in Cardiff, Belfast and London are still closed due to coronavirus. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), which carries out criminal records checks, said callers might experience longer wait times because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Our calls to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Passport Office and General Register Office cut out due to high call volumes. Tory MP Robert Halfon said: Its outrageous. Millions of us are forced to pay our taxes and yet were getting nothing in return. These organisations should be inspected and if they are not dealing with customers efficiently, the bosses should be fired. Another Tory MP, Sir Christopher Chope, said: The Government has allowed people to work much less efficiently from home and the result is second-rate standards. The revelations come as Money Mails Pick Up Or Pay Up campaign highlights long delays in contacting private firms, calling for those that dont pick up the phone within ten minutes to be fined. Hundreds of readers told of poor service, with many furious at Government departments. They included an NHS radiographer from Dorset who took leave and spent 20 hours on hold to HMRC to get a receipt for a tax bill. Obviously they are all working from home. It was an absolute nightmare, the 44-year-old said. The Office of the Public Guardian said it acknowledges the process needs modernising. HM Land Registry said its message had been out of date and this has now been rectified. HM Courts and Tribunals, responsible for the Probate Office, said: We have hired more staff. The DBS said its hold message was out of date but it had met standards for the past few months. The DVLA said it had recruited more staff, increased overtime and opened new customer service centres to reduce waiting times. A California man has pleaded guilty to plotting to firebomb Democratic headquarters following Donald Trump's election loss. On Friday, 46-year-old Napa resident Ian Benjamin Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiring to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun under a plea agreement. Rogers faces seven to nine years in federal prison after he and 38-year-old Jarrod Copeland planned a series of politically-motivated attacks targeting Democrats after Trump's defeat in the November 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors said the pair believed that their attacks would spark a movement to overthrow the government. Ian Benjamin Rogers, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiring to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun Rogers and 38-year-old Jarrod Copeland's first planned target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said Law enforcement officers who searched Rogerss home in January 2021 seized five pipe bombs (pictured) Copeland, 38, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and destruction of records after allegedly attempting to destroy evidence of the plan after Rogers' January 2021 arrest. Rogers and Copeland used different messaging apps after the election to plan attacks on targets they associated with Democrats and they attempted to gain support from an anti-government militia group, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. 'I want to blow up a democrat building bad,' Rogers wrote in one of the messages. In a different message he said that after Democratic President Joe Biden was inaugurated, 'we go to war.' Their first planned target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said. Law enforcement officers who searched Rogerss home in January 2021 seized nearly 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs, prosecutors said. HIs attorney said that Rogers, (pictured) who 'has never been in trouble before' has accepted responsibility for his actions and will never commit another crime Authorities raided Rogers' home and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms Law enforcement officers seized thousands of rounds of ammunition from Rogers' home in January 2021 Rogers also had a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced former President Trump numerous times Authorities say Rogers was also in possession of a 'White Privilege Card,' which referenced Trump numerous times. The card says 'Trumps Everything' and has the number of '0045' repeated four times like a credit card number, a nod to Trump being the 45th president. It lists the cardholder as being a member since birth and until death. He was taken into custody then on state charges after the FBI said he sent text messages that agents perceived as threats against the unoccupied Governor's Mansion and social media companies Facebook and Twitter. Rogers' federal sentence will be served concurrently with a 10- to 12-year state sentence on similar Napa County charges of possessing fully automatic weapons and explosive devices, his attorney Colin Cooper said. The 39-year-old will remain in custody as he awaits his sentencing on September 30. HIs attorney said that Rogers, who 'has never been in trouble before' has accepted responsibility for his actions and will never commit another crime. 'He's accepted responsibility and he is desirous of paying his debt to society and resuming a life of productivity, of being a good father and good husband and a good family man' with an 11-year-old son, Cooper said. 'He feels awful about what happened and what hes done to his family, and hes a guy I think well never see again in the (criminal justice) system.' Vast numbers of patients are turning to private GP services as they struggle to access appointments with family doctors. Up to 1.6million paid to see a GP for the first time in the past two years, amid growing concern over the lack of face-to-face slots with NHS doctors. A YouGov poll found 7 per cent of Britons had used a private online or in-person GP service in the past two years, suggesting 3.7million adults did so in total. While 4 per cent had used a private service previously, 3 per cent said they had done so for the first time in those two years. This means potentially 1.6million people have used paid-for GP services for the first time, if the figures from the poll of 1,755 Britons commissioned by The Times are scaled up. Only 60 per cent of GP appointments are in person, compared to 80 per cent pre-Covid Campaigners believe many of those going private are desperate patients unable to access the care they need on the NHS. Around 80 per cent of GP appointments were held face-to-face before the Covid pandemic but this fell to just 47 per cent in April 2020, and is still only around 60 per cent. Patients are more dissatisfied than ever with GP services, with just 38 per cent saying they felt happy with family doctors in last years British Social Attitudes Survey the lowest level since polling began in 1983. Dennis Reed, from Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly people, said of the poll findings: GPs are in crisis at the moment. The reliable NHS, which was always there for us, isnt there like it used to be. The number of people seeking help from a private GP appears to be astronomical. Its extremely worrying as many people cant afford this private option and should not have to pay. Its more worrying for those who cant afford to go private and cant get a face-to-face appointment. Almost half of GPs have said they would consider doing private work for an online service based on a sample of 823 family doctors according to magazine Pulse. It comes after the number of full-time and fully qualified GPs fell 4.6 per cent from 29,112 in June 2017 to 27,769 in March this year. Meanwhile, analysis of GP opening hours data from the NHS website reveals that 12 per cent of surgeries closed over lunchtime and in some cases were open for only half a day every weekday. The research, by The Times, was based on 2,115 general practices that have updated their reception opening times since 2020. Under a new contract coming into effect in October, GPs will have to offer appointments until 8pm from Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. Dr Shaima Villait, from private GP practice Chelsea Medics, said the biggest growth had been in video services offering one-off appointments for urgent problems such as tonsillitis. She said: The patients like... seeing the same GP and someone who knows their family and their history. We are able to offer that cradle-to-grave care. Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: We share our patients frustrations when they face long waits for appointments, and GPs and our teams work incredibly hard to minimise these waits. Scott Morrison has been spotted leaving Kirribilli House with his daughter as the ex-prime minister and his family prepare to move back to their family home. Mr Morrison stepped out of the heritage-listed mansion in Sydney sporting a Cronulla Sharks cap and light winter vest on Saturday. He got behind the wheel of his Volkswagen while one of his daughters sat in the passenger seat. Mr Morrison stepped out of the heritage-listed mansion in Sydney sporting a Cronulla Sharks cap and light winter vest on Saturday He got behind the wheel of his Volkswagen while one of his daughters sat in the passenger seat The former prime minister has yet to vacate the premises as he continues to make preparations to move back to the Sutherland Shire. He hired removalists to clear out one of the official residences of the prime minister with movers called out to The Lodge, in Canberra, on Thursday. Mr Morrison has had an entire week to leave Kirribilli House with the former prime minister appearing to take his time moving out of the premises. He was reportedly optimistic he could have been re-elected at the start of election night last Saturday. 'In the first hour, there were those swings in regional areas, and people were thinking it was 2019 all over again,' an insider told The Australian. 'There was definitely a feeling that this looked like a repeat of 2019.' The former prime minister surrounded himself with senior staff and family at Kirribilli House on the night. Chief of staff John Kunkel, private secretary Yaron Finklestein, communications director Andrew Carswell, former Howard adviser David Gazard, former Liberal Party official Scott Briggs and property tycoon Adrian Harrington were among his guests. Kitchen staff offered beef patties to the visitors as they kept track of the vote count on their phones and tablets. The former prime minister has yet to vacate the premises as he continues to make preparations to move back to the Sutherland Shire Mr Morrison was reportedly optimistic he could be re-elected as prime minister at the start of election night last Saturday Mr Morrison leaves Kirribilli House while one of his daughters sitting in the passenger seat The mood began to shift as seats fell in Western Australia later that night. 'We knew it was over as soon as the numbers from Western Australia started coming in,' another insider said. Mr Morrison asked his guests to leave the east-facing study and kept Kunkel, Finkelstein and Carswell behind so the group could work on his concession speech. Mr Morrison was reportedly subdued and called Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election victory. He then left Kirribilli House at 10pm and headed to Fullerton Hotel, in Martin Place. The main function room and several rooms at the hotel had been booked out by the Liberal Party and computers set up so staff could keep track of the results. Party pollster Mike Turner, senior researcher David Hughes and head of campaign media team Guy Creighton were following the numbers right until the end of the night. He hired removalists to clear out one of the official residences of the prime minister with movers called out to The Lodge, in Canberra, on Thursday (pictured) Speaking alongside his wife Jenny and two daughters to the Liberal faithful at the hotel, Mr Morrison said: 'Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison enjoyed a cold drink as he chatted with staffers, friends, and family at a farewell social bash at Kirribilli House after losing the federal election (pictured) An insider described the energy in the room as 'flat' when the results indicated the Liberal Party had lost the election. Speaking alongside his wife Jenny and two daughters to the Liberal faithful at the hotel, Mr Morrison said: 'Tonight, I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. 'And I've congratulated him on his election victory this evening. I have always believed in Australians and their judgement and I've always been prepared to accept their verdicts. 'And tonight they have delivered their verdict and I congratulate Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party and I wish him and his government all the very best.' Mr Morrison was asked by a friend what he planned to do following the election upset before he responded that he intended to sleep. Mr Morrison used the days after his defeat to drown his sorrows with at least one rowdy party where he thanked friends, family, and staff for their efforts. The outgoing PM and his wife both entertained guests by cracking a large whip on the lawn in between guzzling margaritas. A Tory MP's son who is fighting in Ukraine helped a fellow British volunteer soldier escape Russian fire after his leg was blown up by a mine. Former Royal Marine Ben Grant, 30, dragged his comrade to safety as mortars and artillery were fired towards them in woodland north of Kharkiv earlier in May, with the rescue filmed on a helmet-mounted camera. The former Royal Marine, who is the son of Conservative MP Helen Grant, said he was 'terrified' but focused on getting former Grenadier Guardsman Dean Arthur out of danger. He told The Telegraph: 'What was so scary was being so limited by trying to carry someone - I can't pull my weapon up while there are attack helicopters overhead and tanks firing through the woods. 'It was unreal I've never experienced anything like that in my life.' He added: 'Trying to do this [first aid] mid-firefight while there are Russians shooting over us and around us is just so difficult'. A Tory MP's son who is fighting in Ukraine helped a fellow British volunteer soldier escape Russian fire after his leg was blown up by a mine Former Royal Marine Ben Grant, 30, (pictured arriving in Ukraine) dragged his comrade to safety as mortars and artillery were fired towards them in woodland north of Kharkiv earlier in May, with the rescue filmed on a helmet-mounted camera The former Royal Marine, who is the son of Conservative MP Helen Grant, said he was 'terrified' but focused on getting former Grenadier Guardsman Dean Arthur (pictured) out of danger There is heavy fighting in Kharkiv as Russian forces concentrate on the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine Russia has stepped up its attacks in the Donbas region in the east of of Ukraine, an area that is more pro-separatist than the rest of the country Mr Grant (pictured with his mother) left for Ukraine in March, joining a number of Brits who were heading to aid in the country's war efforts Mr Grant, an Afghanistan veteran who has been in Ukraine since March, told the newspaper that his foreign volunteer unit had been gearing up for an assault on a Russian-held target when they were spotted by drones and ambushed. Mr Arthur knelt on a landmine 'which has blown half of his leg off', Mr Grant said. In the dramatic footage, Mr Grant can be heard shouting to his comrades: 'We've got to move now or we're gonna die.' The team is seen carrying Mr Arthur through the undergrowth before lying him down to tend to his wound and tighten his tourniquet as bullets fly over their heads. Mr Arthur, 42, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said: 'It was excruciating pain, with rounds incoming'. He added that he was 'lucky' to have escaped alive. 'This type of camaraderie is only forged in these situations. If the coin was flipped, it was one of those guys, I would have got them out.' Mr Arthur's leg was saved by doctors, and he is in hospital in Kyiv where he said his injury is 'healing great'. Father-of-three Grant, a veteran of Afghanistan, said his decision to leave to fight was made without the knowledge of his mother, who represents Maidstone and is Boris Johnson's special envoy on girls' education. 'I haven't been sent, nothing to do with the Government, nothing to do with my mother,' he told the Guardian. 'Just want to make that clear, completely off my own back, I decided to do this. I didn't even tell my mum, but it is what it is.' Mr Grant quit the Royal Marines after admitting to assaulting two men in a nightclub after they shouted racial slurs - with a judge sparing him from immediate punishment due to him being provoked. The clip shows a launcher firing at an armoured vehicle, which takes damage and is understood to later explode A Conservative MP's former Royal Marine son is part of a foreign volunteer team which took down a Russian transporter during a dramatic battle in Ukraine He is also part of a foreign volunteer team that took down a Russian transporter during a dramatic battle in Ukraine. The BTR was badly damaged and exploded following attacks from what appeared to be American, British and potentially Canadian volunteers, with Mr Grant among the heroic team, according to the i paper. Video shared on social media showed the group of soldiers face off with the armoured carrier. After being hit by the foreign volunteers' launchers, the BTR - understood to be Russian - was reportedly damaged by unfired ammunition exploding. The incredible bodycam footage shows the 30-year-old preparing to take out one of Vladimir Putins BTR armoured vehicles from a forest on the frontline. A Russian transporter was badly damaged and exploded following attacks from what appeared to be American, British and potentially Canadian volunteers After being hit by the foreign volunteers' launchers, the BTR - understood to be Russian - was reportedly damaged by unfired ammunition exploding The clip shows a squad of approximately four men, which included British and American special forces veterans, sneaking through the undergrowth before Mr Grant is heard shouting: Shoot now! As volunteers get ready to launch the missile, he warns: Mind the back-blast. Another fighter is then heard frantically shouting, Its facing towards us. The Government has advised all Britons not to travel to Ukraine and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned British soldiers could be prosecuted for desertion if they head to Ukraine to fight against Russian forces. Elon Musk reignited his feud with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by daring her to retweet a poll asking her Twitter followers whether they would trust billionaires over politicians. 'Who do you trust less? Real question,' Musk tweeted late on Thursday, showing a poll with only two options: 'politicians' or 'billionaires.' He then mentioned Ocasio-Cortez in his follow-up tweet: '.@aoc I dare you to run the same poll with your followers,' later adding: 'Many insightful comments in the mentions.' Ocasio-Cortez has yet to respond to the Space X founder's latest social media activity. Later on Thursday evening, Musk responded to his now-deleted tweet and threw more shade at AOC, saying: 'Next time a politician uses ''billionaire'' as an insult, please remind them that people in glass houses.' His poll has attracted more than 2.6 million votes, with close to three quarters of followers saying they trust lawmakers less than billionaires. Musk's latest tweet comes two days after Ocasio-Cortez, 32, publicly announced her plans to ditch her Tesla Model 3 for an electric vehicle made by unionized workers, which the billionaire strongly opposes. On Thursday, Space X and Tesla founder Elon Musk continued his ongoing beef with New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, daring her to run a poll on Twitter that would ask the Democrat's followers if they would rather trust a 'politician' or a billionaire' The newly-anticipated Twitter CEO shared the same poll with his followers, with a majority (76 percent) of them answering that they would less trust 'politicians' over 'billionaires' Musk publicly called out AOC on Twitter, daring her to run the same poll with her followers He then threw some shade at the Democrat, accusing her of hypocrisy Currently, the only such vehicles that AOC could consider are Ford's huge F-150 Lightning truck, which will be released later this year, or a Chevy Bolt. The progressive Democrat congresswoman from the Bronx, representing New York's 14 congressional district, told Bloomberg that she purchased her Model 3 in 2020 around the time that Covid-19 began. She added that she chose Tesla because it was the only electric car brand that would efficiently bring her from the Big Apple to D.C., as it would complete the trip on 'one, or one-and-a-half charges.' However, the timing of her comments has raised eyebrows. Just a few weeks ago, Musk jokingly told AOC on Twitter to stop flirting with him after she scolded about the billionaire's planned purchase of the social media platform. 'Tired of having to collectively stress about what explosion of hate crimes is happening bc some billionaire with an ego problem unilaterally controls a massive communication platform and skews it because Tucker Carlson or Peter Thiel took him to dinner and made him feel special,' AOC tweeted on April 29. Three hours later, Musk responded to the congresswoman's tweet, sharing: 'Stop hitting on me, I'm really shy.' AOC got engaged to her long-term partner web developer Riley Roberts in Puerto Rico in April 2022. She let the billionaire know that she was not amused by his comment: 'I was talking about Zuckerberg but ok.' The banter continued with AOC later screenshotting her tweet about Musk having an ego problem, writing in that message: 'like I said, ego problems.' When asked why she later deleted the original tweet calling out the billionaire, AOC wrote: 'I try to avoid giving people with massive ego complexes like this the attention and QTs/replies they crave and are seeking [when I can help it].' In May, AOC and Musk went back and forth on Twitter after the congresswoman expressed her dislike at the South Africa-born billionaire's acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion Musk, whose recent purchase of Twitter is currently on hold, has recently revealed that his wealth fall below $200 billion AOC has said that she wants to give up her Tesla Model 3 and switch to an American-built electronic car that's made by unionized workers Once on her Instagram story, AOC posted a screenshot of the 'ego problem' tweet with the caption: 'If he's looking for something to do he can pay taxes.' Musk said in December 2021 that he would pay over $11 billion in taxes to the US government. In May 2021, AOC's Tesla Model 3 was spotted parked illegally outside a Whole Food in the nation's capital. The $35,000 Tesla with New York plates and a Congressional parking pass was pictured in a no-parking zone near AOC's luxury DC apartment on May 14, 2021, the Washington Free Beacon reported. Sources told the Free Beacon that AOC had been seen driving a white Tesla in the neighborhood on multiple occasions. When asked on Wednesday about Tesla CEO Musk's recent declaration that he will vote Republican from now on having previously voted Democrat, AOC said: 'He's a billionaire. I could care less what he thinks.' Musk's multi-billion dollar acquisition of Twitter is on hold while the South African-native investigate the company's user reports. In May 2021, AOC's Tesla was caught being illegally parked in front of a stop sign and in a no parking zone in D.C. The New Yorker was running errands at Whole Foods when the parking violation occured AOC said that she purchased the Tesla Model 3 in order to drive from New York City to Washington DC at the beginning of the Covid pandemic AOC said the purchased the $35,000 car was because it was the only electric vehicle that could make the drive on less than two charges This is the fake tweet about electric cars that AOC was accused of sending in 2019 According to Bloomberg, other Democrats who own Tesla cars include Adam Schiff of California, David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Lisa Blunt of Rochester and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey. Another owner is Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Tom Carper. On the other side of the aisle, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky owns a Tesla which he has modified with a 'Friends of Coal' license plate. He told Bloomberg: 'This is not a car company, it's a battery company. The car is just their first killer app.' In 2019, prior to her purchase of a Tesla, a tweet from fake tweet from AOC spread while Hurricane Dorian was rampaging across Florida. The fake message read: 'I see people are rushing out to fill up their cars for this hurricane at the gas station. This wouldn't be an issue if they had electric cars. If the power is out for a week how are they going to get gas? We need to start planning ahead and moving forward.' According to Snopes: 'The tweet was just a fabricated barb aimed at making Ocasio-Cortez look foolish.' Tony Blair is plotting a new political movement inspired by French president Emmanuel Macron's En Marche. The Future of Britain conference, due to take place at the end of June, is billed as a forum to discuss centrist political ideas. Former prime minister Mr Blair will address the gathering and organisers are said to be 'desperate' for Mr Macron to attend, according to Politico. Key participants are reported to include US economist Larry Summers, financial journalist Martin Lewis and former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson. An advisory board will feature former Tory Cabinet ministers Rory Stewart and David Gauke, who were kicked out of the party by Boris Johnson over Brexit. Ex-Labour MPs Angela Smith and Luciana Berger, former Times columnist Phil Collins and broadcaster Trevor Phillips are also said to be on the board. There is also a bid to involve David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, to talk about Britain's place in the world, according to the website. The Future of Britain conference, due to take place at the end of June, is billed as a forum to discuss centrist political ideas. Former prime minister Tony Blair (pictured) will address the gathering and organisers are said to be 'desperate' for Mr Macron to attend, according to Politico The conference, which is set to take place on June 30, will be hosted by former BBC broadcasters Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis. Those involved are said to be 'desperate' to get the French president to attend to discuss his La Republique En Marche movement. This began in a similar fashion to the ideas conference organised by the Tony Blair Institute and the Britain Project as it formed a think-tank before becoming a party. However, organisers deny that they are creating a new party and say they will instead discuss progressive solutions to the problems facing the country. The Britain Project, said to take its inspiration from Mr Macron's En Marche movement, is reportedly holding fortnightly meetings to organise the conference and discuss wider plans. It was originally formed a few months after the 2019 general election by its now director Monica Harding, the Liberal Democrat candidate vying to unseat Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab. While those involved in the group say that it is not a new party, they did not rule out it becoming one in future, according to the website. 'There are people who think that this is the embryonic new centre party, but nobody wants to say it because they'll be the person who gets struck down,' a source told the website. The group is said to have talked about a proposal to approach Tesla founder Elon Musk for funding. Splits have, however, already started to emerge within the project. 'Some of it is just monstrously ego-driven,' one of those close to the discussions told Politico. Those involved are said to be 'desperate' to get French president Emmanuel Macron (pictured) to attend to discuss his La Republique En Marche movement Mr Blair has been closely involved with the project and mentioned it in a keynote speech he gave in January, when he said the planned conference would seek to 'set out a broad direction for the future of Britain.' A spokesman for the Tony Blair Institute said: 'The event planned for June 30 was flagged in Tony Blair's speech in January on the Future of Britain, when he said: 'There is a gaping hole in the governing of Britain where new ideas should be'. 'Above all, we need to make our economy highly competitive, attract world class talent, and make our independence from the EU a platform for economic growth. 'But it needs a plan, into which hard work and thought has gone. Policy detail. Strategic analysis. At present, there isn't one.' The spokesman added: 'The event has nothing to do with creating a new political party. It's an ideas conference.' Advertisement The medical helpline NHS 111 is being swamped by callers with a rash who think they might have monkeypox, according to a health official The medical helpline NHS 111 is being swamped by callers with a rash who think they might have monkeypox, according to a health official. Mateo Prochazka, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigating the outbreak, is urging worried Britons to use local sexual health services rather than 111 so its staff can focus more on handling other health queries. It comes as another 16 cases of monkeypox have been spotted in the UK, pushing the total above 100 - as health officials plan to start isolating infected people's pets. The UKHSA said the new patients were all based in England. There have been 106 across Britain since the first was detected on May 6. Wales and Northern Ireland declared their first cases on Thursday, while Scotland has so far logged three. Health chiefs are alarmed about the ever-growing cluster of cases, given that until now the smallpox-like infection was confined to a handful of people with travel links to Africa. The majority are among gay and bisexual men. Mr Prochazka told The Daily Telegraph: 'Sexual health clinics are not just for gay and bisexual men. Anyone can be seen in a sexual health clinic, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or identity. Everyone is welcome.' 'There are other potential routes of trying to get yourself into the system, maybe calling NHS 111, but this resource has been really overloaded with everyone calling who had a rash,' he added, during a webinar hosted by Prepster, a volunteer group of London-based HIV prevention campaigners. Meanwhile, a scientific group advising the UK Government has called for the pet hamsters, rabbits and other rodents owned by infected patients to be isolated for three weeks. The Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group said these animals were at the highest risk of catching the virus, and they could spread it into wild populations. Mateo Prochazka, head of the UK Health Security Agency, is urging worried Britons to use local sexual health services rather than 111 so its staff can focus more on handling other health queries. It comes as another 16 cases of monkeypox have been spotted in the UK, pushing the total above 100. Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash or scabby lesions (like above) Experts fear that if the virus is unleashed into wild animal populations then it will become endemic and be hard to eradicate, as is the case in parts of western and central Africa. In new guidance issued on Friday, the group said: 'Based on current evidence, for pet rodents in households where there are infected people, temporary removal from the household for a limited quarantine period (21 days) and testing to exclude infection is recommended, particularly where there are infected human contacts who have had close direct and prolonged contact with the animal or its bedding and/or litter.' The panel warned that hedgehogs, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits and hares could all harbour the virus if monkeypox was to spill into Britain's wildlife populations. Officials are confident the monkeypox outbreak will not grow exponentially like Covid, saying the risk to the public remains low. However, they have urged Britons, especially men who have sex with men, to be on the lookout for any new rashes or lesions, which appear like spots, ulcers or blisters, on any part of their body. 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 infections are 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 and Northern Ireland detect their first monkeypox case in the recent outbreak, while Scotland spots two more cases and England logs eight, bringing UK total to 90. MAY 27, 2022: England detects 16 more cases, meaning 106 people in Britain have confirmed infections. Advertisement Anyone worried about a rash is advised to call their sexual health clinic immediately. Twenty countries across the world have now been affected by the current outbreak, with Finland today becoming the latest to confirm an infection. Additionally, Argentina, Bolivia and Sudan are all probing suspected cases. Teams from the UKHSA are contacting high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to self-isolate at home for three weeks and avoid contact with children. Both confirmed cases and close contacts are being offered the Imvanex vaccine 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. Dr Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA's chief medical adviser, said: 'We are continuing to promptly identify further monkeypox cases in England through our extensive surveillance and contact tracing networks, our vigilant NHS services, and thanks to people coming forward with symptoms. 'We are asking people to look out for new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body. 'If anyone suspects they might have these, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person.' The disease, first discovered in lab monkeys in the late 1950s, is usually mild but can cause severe illness in some cases. It can kill up to 10 per cent of people it infects. The milder strain causing the current outbreak kills one in 100 similar to when Covid first hit. Monkeypox has an incubation period of anywhere up to 21 days, meaning it can take three weeks for symptoms to appear. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, which then spreads to other parts of the body including the genitals. The rash can look like chickenpox or syphilis, and scabs can form which then fall off. The current outbreak, first detected in a traveller from Nigeria to the UK on May 6, has been linked to several super-spreader events, including a gay pride festival in Gran Canaria, a fetish festival in Belgium and a 'sauna' in Spain. Experts this week revealed sexual transmission at these events is the leading theory behind the origins of the current cluster of cases. There are already fears the global outbreak of monkeypox may mean it can never be eradicated in the UK and Europe forever. The concerns are centred around the virus leaking into animal populations, with rodents known harbourers of monkeypox. The HAIRS group said that it was 'unlikely' that an infected pet could spread the disease to wild animals but added it 'cannot be ruled out'. It is recommending that rodent pets are removed from households where there are infected patients and put in 'secure accommodation', where they will be PCR tested and isolated for 21 days. Dogs, cats and other pets will be allowed to stay in the home with their owner but must undergo 'regular vet checks' after their isolation period to make sure they do not have the virus. 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. 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. 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 Dr Adam Kucharski, a UK Government scientist and epidemiologist, said that while new cases may slow down, the 'biggest risk' is that they will 'not be eliminated in some places'. 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 'The chances are it will be something other than monkeypox but it's worth getting it checked.' It comes after an ex-WHO official claimed monkeypox may have been spreading under the radar in Europe for four years. 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. 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. 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. 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) Is it related to chickenpox? Despite causing a similar rash, chickenpox is not related to monkeypox. The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. For comparison, monkeypox like smallpox is an orthopoxvirus. Because of this link, smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox. Are young people more vulnerable? Britons aged under 50 may be more susceptible to monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization. This is because children in the UK were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1971. The WHO also warns that the fatality rate has been higher among young children. Does it spread as easily as Covid? Leading experts insist we won't be seeing Covid-style levels of transmission in the monkeypox outbreak. A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick is two. This is lower than the original Wuhan variant of Covid and about a third of the R rate of the Indian 'Delta' strain. But the real rate is likely much lower because 'distinctive symptoms greatly aid in its early detection and containment,' the team said, meaning it's easy to spot cases and isolate them. Covid is mainly spread through droplets an infected person releases whenever they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze. How is the UK managing the outbreak? MailOnline revealed close contacts of monkeypox cases, including NHS workers, are being offered the Imvanex smallpox vaccine. The strategy, known as ring vaccination, involves jabbing and monitoring anyone around an infected person to form a buffer of immune people to limit the spread of a disease. Additionally, close contacts of those with a confirmed monkeypox infection are being told to stay at home for 21 days and avoid contact under-12s, immunosuppressed people and pregnant women. The Government said unprotected direct contact or high risk environmental contact includes living in the same house as someone with monkeypox, having sexual contact with them or even just changing their bedding 'without appropriate PPE'. As with Covid, someone who has come within one metre of an infected person is classed as a monkeypox contact. This lower category of contact, which also includes sitting next to a person with monkeypox on a plane, means a tracer will call the person every day for three weeks and they will be advised to stay off work for 21 days if their job involves children or immuno-suppressed colleagues. The UK has stopped short of requiring people by law to quarantine if they develop monkeypox, but ministers are considering a public health campaign to alert gay and bisexual men, because of the number of cases in this group. What if it continues to spread? Experts told MailOnline they 'could see a role' for a targeted jab rollout to gay men in the UK 'if this isn't brought under control quickly'. Close contacts of the UK's known cases are already being offered the jab, which was originally designed for smallpox. The two rash-causing viruses are very similar. A health source told MailOnline 'there would be a number of strategies we'd look at' if cases continued to rise. Professor Kevin Fenton, London's public health regional director, said if the outbreak in the capital continues to grow then the rollout of vaccines and treatments could be broadened to more groups. He said there are 'plans in place' to have more antivirals if the outbreak keeps growing. What other countries have spotted cases? Around 20 countries including the US, Spain and Italy have detected cases of monkeypox. The most cases have been detected in Spain, Portugal, Canada and the UK. Within Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland have also confirmed cases. Australia, Israel and the Canary Islands also have monkeypox patients, while health chiefs in Argentina are investigating a possible case. There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox, including the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January Is there a vaccine for it? The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses behind the illnesses are closely related. Data shows it prevents around 85 per cent of cases, and has been used 'off-label' in the UK since 2018. The jab, thought to cost 20 per dose, contains a modified vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people. Because of its similarity to the pox viruses, antibodies produced against this virus offer cross protection. Are there any drugs to treat it? There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox. This includes the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January. Tecovirimat prevents the virus from leaving an infected cell, hindering the spread of the virus within the body. An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also works by stopping the growth of the virus. The Liberal Democrats would work with other parties at the next election to form an alternative government, leader Sir Ed Davey said yesterday. In comments that could be interpreted as a call for a coalition with the Labour Party, he proposed a parliament in which 'different parties put their ideas together'. He said an informal electoral pact with Labour was simply 'rational behaviour' and it made sense for both parties to put their resources where they had the best chance of winning. It came as polling suggested Boris Johnson would lose almost all the key seats he needs to win at the next election to stay in power. Of the 88 'battleground' constituencies those Red Wall seats the Tories won from Labour in 2019 or others with a slim majority just three would remain Tory, according to YouGov. In Wales, every Conservative battleground seat would be lost, while Mr Johnson's Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat would fall into Labour hands. Sir Ed Davey (pictured) said an informal electoral pact with Labour was simply 'rational behaviour' and it made sense for both parties to put their resources where they had the best chance of winning Of the 88 'battleground' constituencies those Red Wall seats the Tories won from Labour in 2019 or others with a slim majority just three would remain Tory, according to YouGov. (Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer) The Prime Minister's deputy chief of staff, David Canzini, has told 60 Tory Red Wall MPs to prepare for a general election in 2023, according to The Daily Telegraph. Sir Ed, a minister in the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition of 2010-2015, told the Politics Home website yesterday that forming an alternative government with other parties could oust the Tories. He said he wanted to replace the Tories with a 'parliament where maybe different parties put their ideas together and we work for the national interest'. The Lib Dem leader said it wasn't necessary to strike a formal deal to make a meaningful change, adding: 'You can exercise power and influence, in my experience, in a whole series of ways in Parliament. 'And if no party has an overall majority you can exercise influence in many, many ways.' He said he wanted to win enough seats at an election to help build a Parliament to replace what he called an 'indecent Government'. Sir Ed said there had been no formal discussions with Labour about an election pact or a coalition, but he added that the 'key thing for me' at the next election was to ensure he had enough MPs to influence who is in No10. However, he said he wouldn't put a ceiling on his ambition given recent by-election successes in Chesham and North Shropshire, and a strong performance in May's local elections. He said: 'The key thing for me is to make sure we have the numbers [of Lib Dem MPs] to be able to influence that so we can move away from this, frankly, indecent government that's got no moral authority, that's got no plan for our country and replace it with a parliament where maybe different parties put their ideas together and we work for the national interest, rather than from an interest which seems to be how do we keep Boris Johnson in No10, which I think is proving increasingly obviously against the national interest.' Sir Ed said there had been no formal discussions with Labour about an election pact or a coalition, but he added that the 'key thing for me' at the next election was to ensure he had enough MPs to influence who is in No10. (Pictured: PM Johnson) There are reports that Labour is holding back in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in Devon next month in a move that would give the Liberal Democrats a better chance of victory over the Tories. Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden accused both parties of working together by not standing in seats where the other had a better chance. Labour and the Liberal Democrats denied this. Sir Ed said his party did intend to 'take on Labour in areas where we can think we can beat them. If you're a business that's what you go for, where you think your biggest market is.' But he added: 'If you're an individual, you go where you think you can be more successful. It's just rational.' The BBC last night performed a U-turn after it emerged a presenter they had hired had suggested that people should vote Labour and had repeatedly attacked the Prime Minister. Former LBC presenter Matthew Stadlen revealed on social media that he was joining Radio 5 Live as a stand-in presenter. But it then emerged Mr Stadlen had repeatedly attacked the Government and Boris Johnson on social media and suggested the Tories should be voted out. Matthew Stadlen, 42 has worked for LBC for six years and his father is Sir Nicholas Stadlen, a High Court judge When the Twitter posts were raised with the BBC last night, the corporation said it had offered him some temporary work but our plans have changed for now. In a recent tweet, Mr Stadlen said: Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries are both unfit to govern. In another he said it was difficult to decide who is less trustworthy out of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. He also described the PM as a lying law-breaker and when asked who else people should vote for, he replied Labour. A Government figure told political website Guido Fawkes that the posts showed Mr Stadlen did not just hold private political views but was nakedly partisan. Ministers are planning a mass deportation next week of foreign criminals and migrants who are in the UK illegally. The carefully choreographed operation, involving up to 300 foreign nationals, is believed to be the biggest deportation exercise ever attempted on one day. Charter flights booked by the Home Office are bound for Iraqi Kurdistan, Albania and Bangladesh on Tuesday. Those being deported are being held at immigration removal centres including Colnbrook, near Heathrow Airport, as they await the flights. A group of Channel migrants are escorted to shore by Border Force officers at Dover, Monday They have been rounded up from all over Britain by immigration enforcement officers and detained over the past month. Each received a Home Office letter last weekend while in detention, giving details of their flight. The deportations will include the first returns flight to the turbulent area of Iraqi Kurdistan in a decade, immigration lawyers say. It comes after the Nationality and Borders Bill became law last month, allowing easier removal of those living in the UK illegally because they are visa overstayers, failed asylum seekers or criminals sentenced to more than a year in prison. Earlier this month, killers, rapists and paedophiles were among those who dodged deportation to Jamaica with a series of last-minute legal challenges and just seven boarded the plane. Last night, the Home Office said: We make no apology for removing foreign criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. This is what the public rightly expects. It comes after the Government made a separate deal to send certain asylum seekers to Rwanda. While the department refused to comment on the details of Tuesdays flights, the Daily Mail understands the deportees include Iraqi-Kurds, Albanians and Bangladeshi nationals. They will be flown, respectively, to their countrys capital cities: Erbil in Iraqs autonomous Kurdistan region, Tirana and Dhaka. The New Arab, a media outlet based in London, reported that Iraqi-Kurd politician Arian Taugozi said the operation followed a secret deal between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Home Office. The ministry said a visit by the KRGs prime minister Masrour Barzani last month was to strengthen joint efforts to address migration challenges. In pics: State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data in SW China Xinhua) 11:51, May 28, 2022 Li Shaobo, head of the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, briefs on the development of an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Staff members work at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A staff member walks past the entrance of the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A staff member works at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A staff member works on a simulation experiment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A staff member tunes up facilities at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Li Shaobo, head of the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, briefs on the development of an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A staff member works on a simulation experiment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data at Guizhou University in Guizhou, southwest China's Guiyang Province, May 27, 2022. In southwest China's Guiyang, Guizhou University's State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data, co-founded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, was put into operation in October 2021. It is the only one of its kind in the field of big data in the country. The laboratory is dedicated to the application of big data in the modernization of industry, agriculture, public administration and the like. In December 2021, an astronomy big data laboratory affiliated to the State Key Laboratory of Public Big Data was also built to work on the big data of astronomy. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Five police officers have been branded a 'disgrace' for performing a TikTok-style dance in a north London suburb with a high crime rate. Footage from a 'youth engagement' community event in Edmonton last Saturday shows the four PCs and a sergeant busting moves to Run-DMC's 1983 hip hop song It's Like That. Their routine, which lasted about a minute on stage and included synchronised moves, was met with some applause - but not all were impressed. Mick Neville, a retired senior Scotland Yard detective, told The Sun: 'It's a total disgrace. People don't want to see police dancing in the street. Edmonton is a high crime area. These officers should be on patrol, not dad dancing.' These five police officers have been branded a 'disgrace' for performing a TikTok-style dance in a north London suburb with a high crime rate Footage from a 'youth engagement' community event in Edmonton last Saturday shows the four PCs and a sergeant busting moves to Run-DMC's 1983 hip hop song It's Like That The officers' attempt at engaging effectively with locals also led to a backlash on social media. One Twitter user said: 'That's why they didn't have enough time to properly investigate when my van got broken into and I lost all my tools.' Another said: 'And with them dance moves, there was never any more stabbings in London.' The police team tweeted positive vibes. However, their routine did lead to a backlash on social media. In March this year, 387 crimes were reported in Edmonton Meanwhile, actor/activist Laurence Fox posted: 'The @metpoliceuk gather to celebrate the eradication of all crime in London. Well done chaps and chapesses.' Some, however, did show appreciation, with one tweet reading: 'What is wrong with the police participating in a pre-arranged event designed to engage with young people in a deprived area of London?' Following the event, the Edmonton Green police team tweeted: 'Thank you for your support. The idea behind the event was a rap battle, dance off, sing off involving the community. 'As part of that we were asked [to] do a dance (and sing)... so as a neighbourhood team, we did... to be part of the community.' In March this year, 387 crimes were reported in Edmonton, according to www.police.uk. These included 142 reports of anti-social behaviour; 63 violence and sexual offences; 35 drug-related crimes; and 147 classed as 'other'. A Cambridge don claims he has been branded a white supremacist for studying and teaching classics. Dr David Butterfield has warned of the political danger and threats to his academic discipline amid rising numbers of woke rows on campuses. The senior lecturer in classics says his subject at Cambridge has even been accused of supporting some shadowy ill-identified cabal of far-Right extremists. Senior lecturer in classics, Dr David Butterfield, claims he has been branded a 'white supremacist' for teaching the subject and has warned of 'threats' to his academic discipline amid rising numbers of woke rows on campuses He added: Folks who want to defend the moral neutrality and political independence of looking at the ancient Greeks and Romans on their own terms, receive the slogan of the day, which is to be a white supremacist. White supremacy is now used as a term for those who defend the intellectual value of studying Greece and Rome in a geographically, technically, culturally, separate discipline. Or those who believe in the very existence of the concept which is Western civilisation. Dr Butterfield, fellow and director of studies in Classics at Queens College, was speaking at a debate on academic freedoms in universities held by think-tank Politeia this week. He said it was wrong to hold the Greeks, Romans and other ancient civilisations to the same moral standard as the present day. Is a scholar studying a culture of a different time and place somehow implicated in the moral character of civilisation? In Classics, the historical relationship between the classical past and the modern present is becoming allegedly morally vicious. So is Classics as a discipline, inherently vicious? Has it committed past sins that require not just the atonement of modern scholars, but also the complete reform afresh of the discipline as a whole? Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, revealed that the union gets 'about a dozen' requests for help a week from university students or academics who've got into trouble for exercising their lawful right to free speech Criticising the current trend for decolonisation, Dr Butterfield added: Decolonisation doesnt mean anything of any intellectual value in the context of studying the ancient Greeks and Romans on their own terms. He attacked the phenomenon of activist scholarships, whereby academics and students want to use their research or scholarships to push their political agendas. And he blamed academics secure in their position, usually over 50 and an angry cohort of graduate students for fomenting extreme views that threaten the discipline. Toby Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, yesterday warned that the intolerant atmosphere on Britains campuses is reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution in Maos China. He added: The union gets about a dozen requests for help a week from university students or academics whove got into trouble for exercising their lawful right to free speech. A small minority of political activists have succeeded in shutting down any dissent from woke orthodoxy. A sombre looking Kristina Keneally has been spotted collecting groceries from a boat and doing some weekend cleaning on the exclusive island she calls home after her failed bid to win a safe Labor seat in Sydney's west. Ms Keneally was alone as she picked up a cardboard box and two full plastic shopping bags - including one from Aldi - at a jetty on Scotland Island at Pittwater in Sydney's north on Saturday. Dressed in a dark jacket and trousers with an orange t-shirt, Ms Keneally carried her haul of groceries back to her house, a three-storey, absolute waterfront property surrounded by dense foliage. A sombre looking Kristina Keneally has been spotted collecting groceries from a boat on the island she calls home after her failed bid to win a seat at the election last weekend Dressed in a dark jacket and trousers with a red t-shirt, Ms Keneally carried her haul of groceries back to her house Later Ms Keneally was seen chatting to an unidentified man and cleaning her front balcony in the orange shirt, having removed her jacket. The former NSW premier, who was beaten by independent Vietnamese-Australian Dai Le in the western Sydney seat of Fowler last Saturday, was one of the most high-profile failures among those seeking a lower house seat at the election. Her candidature in the seat taking in culturally diverse suburbs such as Fairfield and Cabramatta had been a controversial choice by the Labor party, after she had been preferred over Vietnamese-Australian lawyer Tu Le to run in the seat. The safe Labor seat saw a 16 per cent swing against Ms Keneally on election day to install former Liberal Party member turned independent Dai Le as the member for Fowler. After collecting her groceries Ms Keneally was seen chatting to an unidentified man She was also seen cleaning her front balcony in an orange t-shirt, having removed her jacket Ms Keneally was parachuted in as the candidate for the seat of Fowler even though the electorate is a two-hour round trip from her home on the exclusive Scotland Island. She had moved into a property in the electorate in December with husband Ben in her quest to win the seat. The former NSW premier and Labor senator said during the campaign that she would remain living in the Fowler electorate even if she failed to win the seat but it's not clear whether she will now honour that vow. 'Let's be clear about his, I'm going there to be part of the Fowler community,' she told Joe Hildebrand on 2GB in September last year. 'That's the clear commitment I'm making. '[Husband] Ben and I talked about this well in advance of me making this decision that in seeking to represent a community it would mean living there, absolutely.' Former Labor senator Graham Richardson said on election night that Ms Keneally was 'like an alien walking around the Fairfield shops in a $2,000 dress'. Even her own uncle-in-law, beloved Australian author Thomas Keneally, wrote on Tuesday that Labor 'parachuted candidates into plum seats over the intentions of locals'. 'They were heavily punished for it,' said Mr Keneally, the author of Schindler's Ark. Ms Keneally was accused of ducking blame for losing what was previously one of the safest Labor seats in the country after she took to Twitter on Sunday to say Labor couldn't claim the seat. The groceries were brought to Scotland Island by boat and unloaded onto a jetty The former NSW premier, who was beaten by independent Vietnamese-Australian Dai Le in the western Sydney seat of Fowler last Saturday, was one of the most high-profile failures among those seeking a lower house seat at the election 'At the end of today, it seems that Labor will not claim victory in Fowler,' the American-born politician wrote. 'I congratulate Dai Le and wish her well. Thank you to the people who voted Labor & the volunteers on our campaign.' Ms Keneally concluded her concession tweet by congratulating newly-appointed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Labor party and telling her followers a 'better future for Australia lies ahead'. Incoming independent Fowler MP Ms Le has hit back at suggestions she was ineligible to stand for parliament, accusing Labor of a smear campaign. Ms Le faced questions after the victory about whether she was a citizen of another country. The newly elected MP was born in Vietnam and came to Australia as a refugee when she was a child. On her candidate eligibility form lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission, Ms Le said she had never been a subject or citizen of a country other than Australia. In a statement on her Facebook page, Ms Le said the reported claims of her being a citizen of another country were false. 'Over the last few days, the Labor Party has been trying to smear me and try to damage my reputation, dragging my family including my son into stories,' she said. 'The AEC accepted my application to stand for the federal election and that I'm not a subject or a citizen of another country. 'The ALP need to accept the people's democratic decision who have elected me to rep.' How Kristina Keneally couldn't even bring herself to admit SHE lost key marginal seat in concession tweet Kristina Keneally has been accused of ducking blame for losing the safe Labor seat of Fowler to independent Dai Le, after she was controversially parachuted into the western Sydney electorate ahead of a local candidate. The senior Labor politician was unceremoniously dropped into the south-west Sydney seat at the last minute, despite having no connection to the area and previously living 50km away on the Northern Beaches. Outgoing Fowler MP Chris Hayes announced that he would not be contesting the seat for the federal election, which left a space open for a new Labor candidate. Vietnamese-born Western Sydney lawyer Tu Le was originally set to win pre-selection for Fowler. Ms Le was a former staffer of Mr Hayes and received his backing as the Labor representative for Fowler. However, she was eventually sidelined by senior Labor powerbrokers, who chose to parachute Kristina Keneally into the safe party seat instead. But the move caused outrage amongst locals in the area, and led to Ms Keneally's stunning defeat in an electorate that has been held by Labor since its creation in 1984. Her loss came despite an 18 per cent margin - one of the biggest in Australia. The senior Labor figure lost by 3385 votes, with Ms Le gaining 52.3 per cent of ballots compared to Ms Keneallys 47.68 per cent. The senator was unable to admit her loss in a stinging tweet on Sunday, instead declaring it was Labor that couldn't claim the seat, before she congratulated Independent Dai Le on her victory. Kristina Keneally (pictured) lost the safe Labor seat of Fowler after she was controversially parachuted into the electorate Vietnamese-born Western Sydney lawyer Tu Le (right) was originally set to win pre-selection for Fowler. Ms Le was a former staffer of Mr Hayes and received his backing as the Labor representative for Fowler. (Pictured with Anthony Albanese) The senator conceded on Sunday before she congratulated Ms Le on her victory in a tweet. Several users on the platform noticed the carefully-worded tweet focused the loss of Fowler on the party rather than Ms Keneally herself 'At the end of today, it seems that Labor will not claim victory in Fowler,' the American-born politician wrote. 'I congratulate Dai Le and wish her well. Thank you to the people who voted Labor & the volunteers on our campaign.' Ms Keneally concluded her concession tweet by congratulating newly-appointed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Labor party and telling her followers a 'better future for Australia lies ahead'. Several users on the platform noticed the carefully-worded tweet focused on the loss of Fowler on the party, rather than Ms Keneally herself. 'In the end, Kristina Keneally is to blame for losing the super safe heartland Labor seat of #Fowler,' tweeted journalist Troy Bramston, who penned a piece in The Australian on the debacle. 'But in true Keneally style, she is not to blame, only Labor is - 'Labor will not claim victory' ' The political journalist later told Sky News Australia that it was ultimately a 'terrible decision' from Labor. 'You can't just parachute someone from the northern suburbs of Sydney to western Sydney,' he said. 'It's a lesson for Labor too; don't take constituencies for granted.' Timeline of Fowler electorate leading up to 2022 election March 2021: Labor MP Chris Hayes, who holds the seat of Fowler, announces that he will be retiring at the 2022 federal election. April 2021: Vietnamese-born Western Sydney lawyer Tu Le expresses interest in being nominated for pre-selection for the seat of Fowler and Mr Hayes starts touting Ms Le as his favoured successor September 2021: Senator Labor senator Kristina Keneally is parachuted into the safe lower house seat. April 2022: Former Liberal politician Dai Le announced as Independent candidate for Fowler May 2022: Kristina Keneally loses the election to independent candidate Dai Le. Her loss came despite an 18 per cent margin - one of the biggest in Australia. It is the first time Labor has lost the seat since its creation in 1984. The senior Labor figure lost by 3,385 votes, with Ms Le gaining 52.3 per cent of ballots compared to Ms Keneallys 47.68 per cent Advertisement The senior Labor politician was unceremoniously dropped into the south-west seat of Fowler at the last minute despite having no connection to the area Columnist for The Australian, Troy Bramston, said Ms Keneally was to blame for losing the safe Labor seat Mr Bramston's sentiments on the decision were echoed by several other Twitter users. 'Slow Clap for @KKeneally and #Labor's desperate parachute 'strategy'. Did they really think Australians can be fooled that easily,' wrote one. Another said: 'Greet to see Kristina Keneally get destroyed in Fowler. Labor insulted the locals by parachuting her into the seat when she doesn't live there! Time to get a real job now Kristina!' 'Well done. Parachuting Keneally in was a complete disgrace and Labor should learn from this experience,' commented a third. Many Labor politicians conveyed sympathy for Ms Keneally on her loss, while others felt the decision to parachute her into Fowler was foolish. Independent Dai Le (pictured), who won Fowler, relayed the frustration from faithful Labor voters of the party's move to drop Ms Keneally into the electorate Speaking to the ABC about securing Fowler on Monday, independent Dai Le relayed the frustration expressed by voters about the decision. 'A lot of voters were so angry with the fact that the Labor Party was arrogant enough to think that they can parachute somebody from the Northern Beaches to come and represent the south-west, one of the most socially disadvantaged communities, to represent us,' she said. 'She has no roots here. She's not connected to this area. So how can we trust that she can deliver for us? She's never lived through the challenges that we have lived through.' Ms Le spoke to many devoted Labor supporters on election day who felt the move by the party was an 'insult' and a 'slap to the face'. The move ultimately lead to many voters turning their back on the Labor party for the first time in their lives and instead supporting Ms Le. Ms Le has distanced herself from the so-called 'teal' independents, claiming she is focused on her electorate which has 'different needs' to the seats snatched up by those independents. A BBC presenter and hundreds of cancer patients united to help a cannabis dealer avoid jail after telling a judge he supplied the drug solely for pain relief. Andrew Baines, 46, faced up to 15 years in prison after police found around 2lb of cannabis worth 10,000 and at least 30 plants at his Lincoln home in April 2020. He was charged with the supply and production of a Class B substance, but was prosecuted for the lesser offence of cultivation and production when it became clear he only sold to terminal cancer patients. Andrew Baines, 46, faced up to 15 years in prison after police found around 2lb of cannabis worth 10,000 and at least 30 plants at his Lincoln home in April 2020 (file photograph) Mr Baines pleaded guilty at Grimsby Magistrates' Court which was sent testimonies from hundreds of patients and their families explaining how he had helped relieve their pain Mr Baines pleaded guilty and the court was sent testimonies from hundreds of patients and their families explaining how he had helped relieve their pain. Among those who wrote to the judge was Becky Hayes, a presenter on BBC Radio Sheffield, who outlined how Mr Baines helped her father, who had throat cancer. She said: Andrew travelled a long way to come and see me and Dad to talk us through everything. He never charged for his time or asked for anything in return... he is the most selfless man. Mr Baines, who said he fell into debt providing the service, was given a six-month community order with no costs. Senator Ted Cruz has dramatically called for multiple cops and ex-military members to be stationed at school doors to avoid another horrific school massacre. Cruz, 51, suggested at the annual National Rifle Association conference in Houston on Friday that schools should model security measures of courthouses, such as 'limiting the means of entry to one entrance.' 'Schools, likewise, should have a single point of entry,' he lamented on Friday. 'At that single point of entry, we should have multiple armed police officers, or if need be, military veterans trained to provide security and keep our children safe. 'We need serious funding to upgrade our schools to install bulletproof doors, and locking classroom doors.' The Republican lawmaker also recalled the six shooting sites he has visited since 2016 and called all of them 'horrible.' 'I was in Dallas in 2016, in Sutherland Springs in 2017, in Santa Fe in 2018, in El Paso and Midland Odessa in 2019, and now Uvalde. Each time was the picture of horror,' he said on Friday. Despite visiting the sites of six shootings, Cruz - among other GOP leaders, like former President Donald Trump, who also attended the NRA conference - are not calling for gun reform or tighter restrictions. Senator Ted Cruz calls for multiple armed cops and military veterans to be stationed at schools with bulletproof doors installed to protect our 'most precious asset' children at the National Rifle Association conference in Houston on Friday Cruz suggested there only be one point on entry to schools, as well, so the shooter couldn't enter through a backdoor Children ran out of the school with scared looks on their faces after police helped pull them from a window at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, where Salvador Ramos, 18, killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers Cruz went on to blame 'virtual life' as a fundamental reason shootings are happening, saying it creates an 'absence of community and faith and love,' Fox News reported. 'Tragedies like the events of this week are a mirror forcing us to ask hard questions, demanding that we see where our culture is failing.' He cited 'broken families, absent fathers, declining church attendance, and social media bullying' as reasons young people psyches are being effected and could potential lead them to violent. However, Cruz does not want citizens' rights to gun to be limited. 'Many would still tell us that the evil displayed in Uvalde or in Buffalo derives from the presence of guns in the hands of ordinary American citizens. 'It's rather easier to slander one's political adversaries and demand that responsible citizens forfeit their constitutional rights than it is to examine the cultural sickness giving births to unspeakable acts of evil. It's far less comfortable to ask why despair, isolation, and violent hatred is so prevalent in America,' he said on Friday. He also said taking away guns would only cause more deaths, as he slammed Democrats for blocking his gun violence legislation. The Republican said his bill would have helped prevent future shootings by providing funding to secure schools and would have created a federal task force to reprimand citizens who illegally buy guns, he said. 'If they succeeded in confiscating guns, many more people would lose their lives,' Cruz said. He claimed - citing the Obama Administration - that 500,000 to 1million times a year, a gun is used defensively. 'That means, if the left disarms America, those crimes will no longer be stopped,' he said. Cruz did not provide the numbers on how many times guns are used in crimes yearly. Trump agreed with Cruz, saying schools needed to amp up security measures and also suggested teachers need to be trained to carry concealed weapons He also said 'single moms in subways' would be raped or murdered more frequently and that home invasions would become more deadly 'because only the criminals would have guns,' and that 'far more children would be murdered.' The Texan also slammed woke DAs for not 'imprisoning the bad guys' and said the only way to stop violence is to 'stop the bad guys.' 'We must not react to evil and tragedy by abandoning the Constitution or infringing on the rights of our law-abiding citizens,' Cruz said on Friday. Trump, 75, also spoke at the conference and call for a 'drastic' change of the nation's approach to mental health, saying the US needs a 'top-to-bottom security overhaul at schools across the country.' The former president said 'the existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens. The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens.' Trump also agreed with Cruz, saying schools need to amp up security measures by having a single point of entry, strong exterior fencing, and metal detectors, as well as armed officers. He also called for teachers to be trained to be able to carry concealed weapons in classrooms. The conference - a first since 2019 - came three days after the Uvalde shooting, where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, originally of North Dakota, shot 19 students and two teachers around 11pm on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School. The teen purchased two rifles around his 18th birthday and had worked at local Wendy's to save up for the purchase. A distraught father has opened up about the heartbreaking death of his five-year-old son. Uttam Kapil has recalled his family's trauma after taking his son Hiyaan to Logan Hospital in Queensland on Sunday night after he had been feeling unwell with stomach pains for several days. Mr Kapil told 9News Queensland on Friday 'they had a tent outside (the hospital) but even that was full... it took an hour to go inside.' Hiyaan Kapil (pictured) was taken to Logan Hospital in Queensland on Sunday night after he had been feeling unwell with stomach pains for several days The family then spent four hours in the emergency department as Hiyaan was vomiting, but were discharged at 10pm even though the boy was still complaining of being in pain. Two hours later Hiyaan collapsed at home. His family rushed him back to the emergency department, however, he died the following morning. Mr Kapil said that the family asked for more treatment, but were told to go home. Father Uttam Kapil told 9News Queensland on Friday 'they had a tent outside (the hospital) but even that was full...it took them an hour to go inside' (Picture: Logan Hospital, Queensland) Five-year-old Hiyaan Kapil (pictured when younger) died just hours after being discharged from a hospital, despite still being in pain After his discharge papers were released, it revealed that Hiyaan was suffering from fever, lethargy and vomiting, with the diagnosis being 'viral illness'. Mr Kapil claims the family asked for an IV drip and protested his condition. After his discharge papers (pictured) were released, it revealed that Hiyaan was suffering from fever, lethargy and vomiting, with the diagnosis being 'viral illness' Mr Kapil (pictured) decided to speak out after saying he had not been contacted by health authorities or the hospital about what had happened He said that his son told hospital staff that he had too much pain and complained 'I can't walk,' but they kept telling him 'it's just gastro'. Mr Kapil decided to speak out after saying he had not been contacted by health authorities or the hospital about what had happened. 'I don't know, maybe he is nothing for them but for me... he was my boy,' Mr Kapil said through tears. Questioned about the tragic case, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk assured the family that there will be 'a full investigation into the tragic death' by the Queensland coroner. 'These are clinical decisions that are made and I know doctors try to do the best they can,' Ms Palaszczuk said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) announced that there will be 'a full investigation into the tragic death' Hiyaan Kapil (pictured centre, with his parents) died in the early hours of the morning after he had been taken to Logan Hospital vomiting and with stomach pains The acting chief operating officer of Metro South Health, Noelle Cridland, said the hospital is assisting with the coronial investigation. 'Hiyaan's death will be the subject of a thorough review,' she said. 'Our hearts go out to the family of Hiyaan Kapil for their tragic loss and we extend our deepest sympathies to his parents, family and friends.' Neighbours have said they were shocked at the death of Hiyaan, who was a pupil at Bethania Lutheran primary school. 'He was a great kid, he'll be sadly missed,' one neighbour said. Four young siblings aged between nine and 13 died in an exploding house that also killed their grandmother, and left a married couple critically-ill. Police identified Jeremiah White, 12, and Nehemiah White, 10, as the two young boys who died in Thursday's blast in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, which still hasn't been explained. Also killed were the boys' two siblings: Tristan, 9, and Alana, 13. The fifth person killed was the children's grandmother, Francine, 67, according to a Go Fund Me page set up by the dead siblings' older sister Destiny McKee. The father of the four children killed in the blast and his wife are also critically-ill. Eugene White, 44, and his wife Kristina Matuzsan-White, 32, remain in hospital. The explosion's cause is still being investigated, Borough Manager Justin Keller said at a news conference Friday. All seven members of the family lived in the house at the time of the incident. The blast occurred just after 8 p.m. on Thursday in the small town located just about 40 miles northwest of Philadelphia, on Washington Street and Butler Avenue. First responders arrived on the scene just after 7 p.m., following calls made by witnesses. According to a GoFundMe page dedicated to the burial expenses of the victims, the four children who died in the home explosion are all identified in this picture - Jeremiah, 12, Nehemiah, 10, Tristan, 9, and Alana, 13 Jeremiah and Nehemiah White (left), 10 and 12 years old respectively, were among the five victims killed in the Pottstown, Pennsylvania, explosion on Thursday night Eugene White (left), 44, and the father of all four deceased children, and Kristina Matuzsan-White (right) are said to be in critical condition An old wedding photo posted by Matuzsan-White (center) shows her marriage to Eugene White (second from left), accompanied by the four children who died in the home explosion - Alana (first from right), Jeremiah and Nehemiah, and Tristan White A pair of twin homes were reported to have also been destroyed, according to the Pottstown Mercury. One local posting on a Facebook group for the area claimed the area had smelt strongly of gas several weeks ago, but there has been no confirmation that the explosion was gas-related and no connection between the home's gas line and propane tank have been found. On Friday, Cathy McKee, shared the death of her sons, Jeremiah and Nehemiah, on Facebook. 'Today I learned that I lost my two youngest sons Jeremiah and Nehemiah in the house explosion in Pottstown,' she shared. 'My mind has yet to accept the reality that I will never see their smile again, my heart is so broken I can't start to express the pain. Please just pray for me, my family and the families that are affected by the tragic accident,' McKee added. Mother Cathy McKee shared the passing of her two sons and brothers, Jeremiah and Nehemiah, on Facebook on Friday Caution tape cordons off the scene of the deadly explosion in a residential neighborhood in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning. The blast also destroyed two other homes The house exploded northwest of Philadelphia. It is not known what caused the explosion to take place The incident occurred on Washington Street and Butler Avenue. First responders arrived on the scene just after 7 p.m., following a call for an explosion An investigator, center top, moves through the scene of the deadly explosion on Friday Debris could be seen spread out all over the property of where the house once stood after last night's blast Investigators conducted a search at the home on Friday as the investigation in what caused the blast continues Residents in the neighborhood hear a loud boom when the explosion occurred just 24 hours ago. Pictured: Investigators working the scene of the deadly explosion on Friday People who live in the neighborhood claim to have heard a loud blast and then came out to see a bunch of homes either damaged or destroyed. 'I heard a huge explosion,' Russell Noll, a resident, said NBC10 after the explosion. 'I thought a bomb went off. I thought somebody dropped a bomb somewhere. And then all the sirens started going off. And it wasn't too far from where I lived.' 'So I started walking towards where the sirens and ambulance were going and it was just a huge explosion around the whole area.' Another resident, Ashley Miller, said she was sitting on her bed when the back window of the room blew out. 'We thought that either an earthquake was happening or that someone crashed into the building,' said another neighbor, Katie Washabaugh, to Fox 29. The two other homes that were destroyed by the explosion were at the corner of Butler and Hale St in the Pennsylvania small town Local fire and police, as well as state police, the ATF and the Red Cross are still at the seen, as the investigation is ongoing. The local Red Cross chapter announced that it would assist the victims with temporary housing at Pottstown High School. 'The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania has now provided a total of 9 families [25 people] with immediate emergency assistance, including shelter, food, personal care items and emotional support, following Thursday nights explosion in Pottstown,' Red Cross spokesperson Alana Mauger said in a statement. Schools in Pottstown - which has about 22,000 residents - have been canceled for all students on Friday. 'Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families,' Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez wrote. 'When schools open again, our counselors and psychologists will be available to provide support.' Matthew McConaughey returned to his hometown of Uvalde, Texas on Friday to comfort the community left reeling from Tuesday's school shooting. The 52-year-old actor visited staff at the Uvalde school district, and was photographed with them inside their building. McConaughey's mother Kay, who turned 90 in January and lived with her son throughout the pandemic, was a teacher at St. Philip's Episcopal School in Uvalde. Her school, which McConaughey attended, is only a mile from Robb Elementary, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered on Tuesday. McConaughey did not address the public during his visit, but was accompanied by Republican Representative Tony Gonzalez, who thanked him for coming. 'Thank you Matthew for helping to heal our community,' Gonzalez tweeted on Friday. 'Your visit brought so many smiling faces to Uvalde. See you soon my friend.' Matthew McConaughey, center, is seen on Friday visiting Uvalde - his hometown McConaughey, 52, is seen arriving at the city of 16,000 people, where he grew up The actor did not address the press, but instead met privately with local people Earlier, Gonzalez shared photos of McConaughey in the school offices. 'Appreciate Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey helping us heal,' he said. 'This week was a solemn reminder that evil exists in the world, but we will never let it break us. 'We'll unite to be an even more powerful reminder that love never fails & together we can change things.' Gonzalez, a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, has previously tweeted with pride about blocking gun control measures. A memorial to the victims of Tuesday's mass shooting is seen on Friday in Uvalde, Texas People light candles and lay flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Uvalde County Courthouse on Friday McConaughey is pictured with his wife Camila Alvez on April 28 in Austin, where they now live McConaughey's own views are more nuanced: while he was weighing up a run for governor, which he called off in November, he was diplomatic about his position. In March 2018, he addressed the gun control March For Our Lives in Austin, where he lives, and said he supported restrictions on who could buy firearms. A month later, McConaughey says he supports some gun control but fears the youth-led March For Our Lives movement could be 'hijacked' by those hoping to eliminate all guns in the United States. On Wednesday, McConaughey once again said there needed to be change. 'As Americans, Texans, mothers and fathers, it's time we re-evaluate, and renegotiate our wants from our needs,' the actor said. 'We have to rearrange our values and find a common ground above this devastating American reality that has tragically become our children's issue. 'This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better.' Federal agents DEFIED Uvalde police chief's order not to storm school classroom and shot dead gunman when he jumped out of closet: 19 local cops stood in corridor as terrified kids phoned 911 Federal officers arriving on the scene of the Texas school shooting were told by the local police chief not to go into the building, according to a report, but after a maddening 30 minutes overruled him and stormed the site. Pete Arredondo, chief of police for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, had stopped at least 19 officers from breaking into the school as the gunman opened fire for at least an hour, according to Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The first 911 call was received at 11:28am, and it swiftly became clear that the school was under serious attack: units from across the region dashed to the site. They included the elite border patrol tactical unit BORTAC, and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), who were on the scene between noon and 12:15pm. The units were told by Arredondo to wait, and not enter, according to two senior federal law enforcement officers, who spoke to NBC. McCraw said that Arredondo mistakenly believed the gunman was cornered, and no longer a threat. At first they obeyed, the sources said. But after 30 minutes, in desperation, as children were repeatedly ringing 911 from inside their classes and begging for help, they began making a 'stack' formation to enter the building. US Customs and Border Protection agents (left) are seen alongside local police (center) and sheriff's deputies (right) working to rescue kids from Robb Elementary on Tuesday. Questions are being asked as to why they did not enter the school: on Friday, NBC reported that it was because the local police chief ordered them not to go in New photos have emerged depicting part of the law enforcement response to the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, as questions mount about why police didn't engage the shooter more quickly The baseball cap worn by the man who shot and killed Uvalde gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, is pictured They needed a key to open the door - it remains unclear why - and the gunman emerged from a classroom closet firing at the tactical agents entering the room, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told The Washington Post. The gunman was shot dead at 12:50pm by a member of the border patrol, who was wearing only a baseball cap - which was shredded by bullets. Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief Pete Arredondo was in charge and mistakenly thought there were no other kids alive in the room once the shooter had barricaded himself inside The revelation about the officers being held back came shortly after the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, expressed his fury at the conflicting and inconsistent version of events being given by law enforcement. Abbott, who on Wednesday said the officers charged into the building and did everything they could, said he was lied to. 'I was misled,' Abbott said on Friday, addressing a press conference in Uvalde about Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School which saw 19 students and two teachers murdered by Salvador Ramos, 18, who was eventually shot dead by cops. 'I am livid about what happened. I was on this very stage two days ago, and I was telling the public information that had been told to me in a room just a few yards from where we are write now. 'I wrote hand notes in sequential order. 'When I came out on that stage and told the public what happened, it was a recitation of what everyone told me. 'As everybody has learned, the information I was given turned out - in part - to be inaccurate. 'I am absolutely livid about that.' Abbott said that law enforcement leaders must 'get to the bottom of every fact, with absolute certainty.' He said it was 'inexcusable' that families may have suffered from inaccurate information, and ordered law enforcement to 'get down to every second what happened, and explain it to the public - but most importantly, to the victims.' Greg Abbott is seen on Friday in Uvalde, Texas, explaining why he got so much information wrong on Wednesday Abbott on Wednesday had defended the actions of the police and other local officials, emphasizing their heroics and insisting they prevented the situation from being far worse. Yet questions have been rapidly mounting about the actions of law enforcement - in particular, why they waited outside the school for an hour while Salvador Ramos, 18, was free inside the building to murder 19 children and two teachers. Initially police said that Ramos was wearing body armor and was confronted by an armed guard: on Thursday, they admitted that neither of those facts were true. They said Ramos was barricaded in a classroom, but it emerged on Wednesday night that the authorities had to get a key to open the door - leading to urgent questions as to why they didn't break it down. And they said the delay in entering the school was because they were waiting for negotiators - an excuse that Tucker Carlson, the avowedly pro-law enforcement Fox News host, ridiculed on Thursday night. Officials admitted on Friday that nearly 20 officers stood in a hallway outside of the classrooms during the attack, believing any potential victims inside were already dead. 'Of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision,' Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said at a news conference. The on-site commander 'was convinced at the time that there was no more threat to the children and that the subject was barricaded and that they had time to organize' to get into the classroom, McCraw said. McCraw said there was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where they killed Ramos but that shots were 'sporadic' for much of the 48 minutes while officers waited outside the hallway. He said investigators do not know whether or how many children died during those 48 minutes. Ramos entered the classroom and locked the door at 11.34am. In the first few minutes, he fired more than 100 shots inside classrooms 111 and 112. He carried on shooting 'sporadically' until 12.21pm, and it wasn't until 12.50pm that police eventually gained access to the classrooms with a key from the janitor. Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including a girl who pleaded: 'Please send the police now,' McCraw said. 'With the benefit of hindsight, from where I am sitting now - of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision. There is no excuse,' McCraw said. Governor Greg Abbott is pictured on Wednesday holding a press conference to discuss the Uvalde shootings. On Friday, he admitted that much of the information he provided was wrong As the gunman unleashed terror inside the school, desperate parents were forced to wait outside and some were even put in handcuffs after they tried to enter the school to find their kids and rescue them A law enforcement official who spoke anonymously to The New York Times said that the border patrol agents who arrived on the scene had been puzzled as to why they were being told not to enter the school and engage the gunman. McCraw asserted that Pete Arredondo, the district chief, made a miscalculation in assuming the active shooter situation had become a barricade event. Arredondo, 50, become the focus of backlash from parents wondering if their children could have been saved. Arredondo, who was born in Uvalde and was elected to city council just days before the massacre, has had an unremarkable career as a cop. He started his law enforcement career as a 911 dispatcher for Uvalde's town police department in 1993, and over the course of the next 20 years, worked his way up to eventually assume the role of assistant police chief at the department in 2010. Uvalde's school district police chief Pete Arredondo is under fire for refusing to let his officers engage the active shooter at Robb Elementary, after the gunman barricaded himself in a classroom and continued to fire at cowering kids as they called 911 Experts have described the decision to wait for back up as 'outdated' and 'disgusting'. 'Waiting an hour is disgusting. If that turns out to be true, then it is a disgusting fact,' said Sean Burke, a retired school resource officer from Massachusetts who now is the president of the School Safety Advocacy Council. Texas police said on Thursday night that they didn't immediately rush in to find the shooter on Tuesday's attack after being shot at because they feared they might be killed, and even suggested that they deliberately locked the gunman in the classroom - where he murdered 21 people - in order to trap him. Department of Safety spokesman, Lt. Chris Olivarez, made the astonishing comments during an appearance on CNN on Thursday night. He was being challenged by Wolf Blitzer over why the first officers who responded to the shooting retreated after Ramos shot at them with his AR-15. They then waited an hour for tactical SWAT teams to take him out, leaving him alone in a classroom with the 19 fourth graders and two teachers who he murdered. 'Don't current best practices, Lieutenant, call for officers to disable a shooter as quickly as possible, regardless of how many officers are actually on site?' Blitzer asked. He replied: 'In the active shooter situation, you want to stop the killing, you want to preserve life. 'But also one thing that, of course, the American people need to understand is that officers are making entry into this building. They do not know where the gunman is. They are hearing gunshots. They are receiving gunshots.' He then appeared to try to take credit for the gunman being locked in the classroom with the kids for an hour - including some he shot at the start of the rampage who later died in the hospital - claiming it saved other lives. Police initially said that the gunman barricaded himself inside the classroom and that they had trouble gaining access to the room, and one unnamed law official anonymously spoke out to say SWAT teams had to wait for a different school staff member to bring them a key to the class. 'At that point, if they proceeded any further not knowing where the suspect was at, they could've been shot, they could've been killed, and at that point that gunman would have had an opportunity to kill other people inside that school. 'So they were able to contain that gunman inside that classroom so that he was not able to go to any other portions of the school to commit any other killings,' Lt. Olivarez said. TIMELINE OF UVALDE SHOOTING - COPS WAITED OUTSIDE THINKING EVERYONE IN CLASS WAS DEAD WHILE SHOOTER FIRED MORE ROUNDS SHOOTING TIMELINE 11.28: Gunman crashes truck then walks to the school parking lot where he hides behind a vehicle 11.31: Gunman is shooting from the vehicle. Multiple shots fired. 11.32: School resource officer who arrives in a patrol car after hearing 911 call about truck crash drives past the shooter 11.33: Gunman enters the school 11.33: Begins shooting into room 111/room 112. He shoots more than 100 rounds. 11.35: Three police officers enter the same door as the suspect from the Uvalde PD. They were later followed by another four. Seven officers on scene. Three initial officers went directly to the door and got grazing wounds from him while the door was closed. 11.37: Another 16 rounds fired 11.51: Police sergeant and USB agents arrive 12.03: Officers continue to arrive in the hallway. As many as 19 officers in that hallway at that time 12.15pm: BORTAC (SWAT) members arrive with shields 12.21pm: Gunman fires again 12.50pm: Breach the door using keys from the janitor and kill gunman 911 CALL TIMELINE 12.10pm: Same person called back and advised 'there are multiple dead' 12.13pm: Calls again 12.16pm: Calls back and says there are 8-9 students alive 12.19pm: Another person from room 111 calls. She hung up when another student told her to hang up 12.21pm: Hear on the 911 call that 3 shots were fired 12.26pm: 911 call lasting 21 seconds - initial caller called back, the child. They were told to stay on the line and stay quiet. She told 911 'he shot the door' 12.43pm: Student asks 'please send the police now' 12.46pm: She said she could hear the police next door 12.50pm: Shots fired 12.51pm: Very loud, officers are moving children out of the room Advertisement Surgeons at the hospital in Uvalde have also suggested that the delay in responding to the shooting may have cost lives. It remains unclear exactly how many children were in the classroom when the shooter opened fire, how many were killed immediately and how many were still alive but injured when police arrived. Uvalde Memorial Hospital received two kids who had died by the time they got to the hospital. Now, doctors are highlighting the importance of treating gunshot wounds as soon as they happen. 'You can't wait until patients go to a trauma center. 'You have to act quickly,' said Dr Ronald Stewart, the senior trauma surgeon at the University Hospital in Antonio. He added that uncontrolled bleeding was the top cause of deaths among gun shot wound victims and that it can happen in as little as five minutes. Since the Columbine shooting in 1999, officers across the nation have been advised not to wait for backup and to proceed into the school to find the shooter. Instructions from the Texas Police Chiefs Association says: 'The first two to five responding officers should form a single team and enter the structure.' Why that advice was ignored in Uvalde is among the many aspects of the slow response that are now under investigation. Another is why police falsely claimed at first that the shooter exchanged gunfire with a school resource officer before he even made it to the classroom. On Thursday night, Olivarez said that was the information police received. Carlson on Thursday night led the accusations, calling their conflicting and frequently changing explanations 'BS' and describing their handling of the tragedy as 'a scandal' and 'a moral crime'. The Fox News host night admitted that he was normally strongly supportive of police, and rarely criticized their conduct. But, he added: 'No matter how pro law-enforcement you are, we are, there's only so much B.S. you can take in the face of a tragedy like this.' Carlson said he was horrified by reports of an hour-long gap between the gunman entering the school and his being shot dead. He ridiculed Victor Escalon, regional director for Texas's department of public safety, for saying that the police were waiting for negotiators to arrive before storming the school. Tucker Carlson on Thursday night used his Fox News show to demand answers from Texas law enforcement Uvalde Massacre: we need to know exactly what happened. pic.twitter.com/MqGV44aoLs Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) May 27, 2022 Texas officials are seen standing outside the school, while parents begged them to enter Distraught relatives of the 19 children and two teachers are pictured at a vigil on Wednesday - the day after the shooting 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 He said that a mother's claim that she begged officers to go into the building, was pinned down by police, wrestled herself free and ran into the school herself to rescue her own children was 'a scandal' if true. And he demanded to know why the Texas authorities changed their story: why they initially said that an armed security guard shot at Ramos, and why they said he was barricaded inside, when it now emerges that the officers needed a key to get into the classroom. 'So two days after this massacre, authorities are slowly admitting that everything they told us was untrue,' Carlson said. 'So the second the shooting starts anywhere at any time, things get very confusing. They used to call it the fog of war, it's entirely real. It's hard to figure out exactly what happened when people start getting killed. 'But in the big questions it's very obvious immediately. 'Was there a school resource officer who exchanged fire with the gunmen? 'That's not something you would imagine. That either happened or it didn't and you would know right away if it happened or it didn't. 'It didn't happen, but they said it did happen. That's a lie. Why did they lie?' Carlson was angered by the police explanation that they were waiting for negotiators before entering the building One video at the scene appears to show Ramos approach the school while what sounds like gunfire is going off in the background Carlson said that full disclosure was essential, to learn from mistakes. He pointed to the thorough investigations that are carried out after plane crashes, to avoid a repeat of the disaster. 'So the point is not to point fingers or blame people,' Carlson said. 'Nobody wants a school shooting, everyone's heart is broken by it. 'But the authorities are not allowed to lie to us in the aftermath of an event like this.' Carlson accused Democrats of taking advantage of the confusion to win political concessions, such as gun control. 'Our federal officials are not allowed to take an event like this, ignore the facts, and then use it to take our constitutional rights away,' Carlson said, describing it 'as a race to see who can benefit politically.' Vehemently opposed to any form of gun control, Carlson mocked Mitch McConnell for being too open to a reassessment of unfettered access to firearms, and insisted owning guns was a fundamental right. 'Within hours of Tuesday's massacre, Democrats in congress announced they planned to clamp down on your ability to defend yourself with a firearm,' Carlson said. 'Why is that? Apparently the Uvalde shooting was your fault, so you are going to pay the price.' A woman is seen on Tuesday being turned back by law enforcement officers outside the school in Uvalde, Texas. Some were heard screaming at the police to get inside the building. It was unclear when the footage was taken, and if the crime scene was still active Cops hold down a parent outside the school, left, while others wait in anguish for news of if their kids were murdered, right Carlson said that there were important questions to be answered about failures in procedure, before anyone had the knee-jerk response of calling for gun control. 'In all there was a 16 minute gap until the police showed up and responded,' Carlson said. 'So why did that take so long? 'That is a fair question. In fact it's a critical question. 'Even at the Parkland school shooting, when police staged outside and students were being murdered, police wound up inside the building 11 minutes after the shooter. 'But in this case it was 16 minutes. 'Why was that? We have a right to know. 'But today police wouldn't say.' He showed multiple clips of Governor Greg Abbott praising law enforcement, and said he wanted to believe Abbott's version of events, but it did not appear to be true. He showed the strange explanation for the delay from Victor Escalon, Texas department of public safety south regional director, and said it was outrageous. 'Officers were there, the initial officers, they received gunfire,' Escalon said on Thursday. 'They don't make entry initially because of the gunfire they are receiving. 'We have officers calling for additional resources. 'Everybody that's in the area, tactical teams, we need equipment, we need specialty equipment, we need body armor, we need precision riflemen, negotiators.' Victor Escalon, Texas department of public safety south regional director, gives an update into the investigation following a mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas Angeli Gomez (above) jumped the school fence and ran inside the school where she rescued her children herself Carlson, incredulous, said: 'We are waiting for specialized equipment? 'You have an 18 year old with a firearm and little kids being killed. 'What kind of specialty of equipment do you need? 'Negotiators? Really? As children are being murdered?' And he broadcast social media footage, widely shared, of frenzied parents trying to get to their children. The timing of the clips remains unclear - they could have been filmed after the gunman was dead - but Carlson said they were devastating if filmed during the massacre. 'It seems apparent that when that video was shot, the gunmen was still alive with the firearm in the school with children in the school. 'A Texas official later suggested on camera that while all of this was happening, some members of law enforcement in Texas went into the school to get their own children out,' Carlson said. 'Is that true? If it is true it's a moral crime at the very least.' He noted the story of Angeli Rose Gomez, a mother of a second-grader and a third-grader, who told the Wall Street Journal she drove 40 miles to the Uvalde school and was stopped by police, but escaped them and entered the school. 'This mother was cuffed, freed, ran into the school and still had time to get her kids out as the police stood outside,' Carlson said. 'Now, if that's true it's a scandal.' Carlson concluded: 'We should demand the truth, we should demand to know what happened. 'The children who were murdered deserve at least that.' The Texas school shooter made two FaceTime calls - one of them while topless - with a German girl he met on social media, who was told of his warped plot to murder. Ramos, 18, was filmed posing with his shirt off in a call made to the girl, known only as CeCe, after meeting her on social media site Yubo. Other new images obtained by CNN, show Ramos filming himself while holding the phone under his chin, and while wearing a face mask. On the day of the massacre, Ramos messaged CeCe on Yubo to tell her he'd just shot his grandma Celia, and that 'Ima go shoot up a elementary school rn.' Ramos ultimately carried out the plan, killing 19 young children at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, as well as two female teachers, before being shot dead. Ramos threatened to rape girls he talked to on social media app Yubo and said that he would shoot up schools, just weeks before the massacre. The three teenage users, who revealed the messages to several news outlets, said that they didn't take Ramos' threats seriously until the news of Tuesday's shooting broke out. Ramos also sent creepy selfies to girls that he would meet on the app, and allegedly threatened to rape and murder them, as well as shoot up schools where they lived Another new image uncovered by CNN featured a short clip of Ramos filming himself while wearing a face mask They also reported Ramos' threats to the app's support team, which included a series of messages sent by the gunman, threatening to commit sexual violence and carry out school shootings. Yubo is a French social media app that was created in 2015 and that is designed to 'meet new people,' as well as create a sense of community. It was developed by TWELVE APP in 2015 and allows users to create video livestreams with up to 10 friends. The app currently has 50 million users around the world. Ramos was still able to keep his profile active on the platform despite reports made to safety teams about his disturbing behavior. CeCe his German Yubo friend says the shooter warned her on the app that he was going to shoot up Robb Elementary School just 15 minutes before he opened fire. 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 the massacre had started. 'Ima tell you [right now] hold on' he wrote at 11:08am. 'Waiting for this b****,' he then sent, referring to his grandmother, Cecilia Gonzalez. Further text messages that were sent revealed that Ramos had been annoyed by his grandmother, who called AT&T to discuss the teen's phone bill. 'I just shot my grandma in her head' he sent minutes later. 'Ima go shoot up a elementary school [right now],' his last sent text read. 'I just saw the news...' Cece responded exactly three hours later. In a series of text message exchanged with a girl from Germany that he met on social media app Yubo, Salvador Ramos, 18, revealed that he shot his grandmother after she complained to AT&T about her grandson's phone bill. The last text he sent the girl was right before Tuesday's massacre was: 'Ima go shoot up a elementary school rn' The girl later told CNN that she reported the chilling texts to US authorities but did not think Ramos would be capable of acting out the threats he made. 'I added everything up and it made sense now... I was just too dumb to notice all the signals he was giving,' Cece told CNN in the aftermath of the shooting. The girl, who lives in Frankfurt, said she began chatting with Ramos on May 9. Ramos reportedly sent the girl selfie videos, tried to FaceTime her and spoke of plans to eventually visit her in Europe in videos and text messages reviewed by CNN. The gunman reportedly sent a screenshot of a Google flight itinerary from San Antonio, 80 miles from where the teen lived with his grandmother. 'I'm 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. Ramos and the girl spoke one last time 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. Ramos shared photos on social media of guns. His account was taken down shortly after Governor Greg Abbott confirmed his name Salvador Ramos, 18, shot his grandmother before going to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; engaging border patrol agents nearby in a shootout; and then barricading himself inside the school, killing 19 students and two teachers Children run to safety after escaping from a window during Tuesday's mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where a Ramos killed nineteen children and two teachers In another direct message sent on the app, the shooter allegedly sent a $2,000 receipt to another user, referring to the online gun purchase he made from a firearm manufacturer based in Georgia, according to CNN. 'Guns are boring,' the Yubo user replied. 'No,' said Ramos in response. In a statement released on Wednesday, a Yubo spokesperson said: 'we are deeply saddened by this unspeakable loss and are fully cooperating with law enforcement on their investigation,' later adding that the app is 'investigating an account that has since been banned from the platform.' Yubo, however, has declined to release any details on Ramos' personal account. The number of new members on Yubo skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the app saw a dramatic increase of users, who are 25 and younger, sign up then. An exclusive feature that the app has is a 'second-by-second' monitoring of live video calls, using artificial intelligence and human moderators. However, Ramos still managed to make personal and graphic threats on calls, CNN reported. Another teen, Amanda Robbins, 19, said Ramos made verbal threats to her during a video call, including breaking down her door, raping and murdering her after she rebuffed his desire to have sex with her. She added that she previously witnessed Ramos making similar threats to other girls. Robbins, who lives in California and only interacted with Ramos online, told CNN that she made Yubo aware of the gunman's comments on several occasions, but that she would continue to watch him make the dark comments on livestreams on the app. '[Yubo] said if you see any behavior that's not okay, they said to report it. But they've done nothing," Robbins said. "That kid was allowed to be online and say this.' Another Yubo user, 18-year-old Hannah, of Ontario, Canada, said she sent reports to on Ramos' profile to Yubo in early April after he made threats to shoot students at her school. He also threatened to rape and kill the teen before suggesting that he would also rape her mother during one livestream session. Ramos was temporarily banned from the app at that point before being later being allowed back on the platform. Hannah, who only shared her first name with news outlets for privacy concerns, said Ramos became careless in the weeks and days before Tuesday's massacre. In a video call, she said, Ramos showed one of his guns laying on his bed. All three users said they didn't record any of Ramos' threats during video calls. Yubo's community guidelines says that it does not allow users to 'threaten or intimidate' others, and bans any content related to harassment or bullying. It further claims that any content promoting violence 'such as violent acts, guns, knives, or other weapons' is also banned. A week prior to one of America's deadliest shootings, the app tightened its age verification process, which involves new users submitting a selfie before artificial intelligence is used to determine their age. Only people 13 and older are allowed to sign up on the app. Users who are 18 or older are also not allowed to interact with users who are minors. The police department in Uvalde, Texas - who have been continuously under fire in the wake of the gun massacre that killed 21 at Robb Elementary School - did not follow their own guidelines in their handling of the shooting. The standard operating procedure - which had been gone over just two months earlier in training for a situation like this - says that Uvalde officers needed to prioritize the students and teachers. 'A first responder unwilling to place the lives of the innocent above their own safety should consider another career field,' the Uvalde PD guidelines say, as obtained by the New York Times. Since 2020, schools in the Texas town of about 16,000 have held at least two 'active-shooter training days.' The most recent occurred just two months ago, but mass-murder Salvador Ramos, 18, was still able to kill 19 children and two teachers Tuesday after police officers at the scene refused to engage him for 90 minutes. Those training sessions include classroom instruction as well as role-playing in the hallways of the school. Uvalde, Texas, Police Chief Pete Arredondo speaks following the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary school Law enforcement work during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where a gunman killed nineteen children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas 'A first responder unwilling to place the lives of the innocent above their own safety should consider another career field,' the Uvalde PD guidelines say There are several bluntly pointed instructions for officers within the instructions, one of the first being 'STOP THE KILLING': 'Officer's first priority is to move in and confront the attacker.' There are even instructions preparing for the scenario in which an officer is shot, that suggests their partner continue onward. That's a stunning difference from Thursday night, when officers revealed that they didn't immediately rush in to find the shooter on Tuesday's attack after being shot at because they feared they might be killed. They even suggested that they deliberately locked the gunman in the classroom where he slaughtered 21 people in order to trap him, as it was revealed how frantic children made repeated 911 calls begging for help while watching Ramos pick-off their friends. Department of Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez made the astonishing comments during an appearance on CNN last night. He was being challenged by Wolf Blitzer over why the first officers who responded to the shooting retreated after Salvador Ramos shot at them with his AR-15 and then waited an hour for tactical SWAT teams to take him out, leaving him alone in a classroom with the 19 fourth graders and two teachers who he slaughtered. 'Dont current best practices, Lieutenant, call for officers to disable a shooter as quickly as possible, regardless of how many officers are actually on site?' Blitzer asked. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw speaks during a press conference held outside Robb Elementary School on Friday, May 27, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas An officer is directed to go on solo should their partner become shot during an incident Immediately, officers are directed to 'STOP THE KILLING' and confront the attacker He replied: 'In the active shooter situation, you want to stop the killing, you want to preserve life. But also one thing that, of course, the American people need to understand is that officers are making entry into this building. They do not know where the gunman is. They are hearing gunshots. They are receiving gunshots.' He then appeared to try to take credit for the gunman being locked in the classroom with the kids for an hour - including some he shot at the start of the rampage who later died in the hospital - claiming it saved other lives. Police initially said that the gunman barricaded himself inside the classroom and that they had trouble gaining access to the room, and one unnamed law official anonymously spoke out to say SWAT teams had to wait for a different school staff member to bring them a key to the class. 'At that point, if they proceeded any further not knowing where the suspect was at, they couldve been shot, they could've been killed, and at that point that gunman would have had an opportunity to kill other people inside that school. 'So they were able to contain that gunman inside that classroom so that he was not able to go to any other portions of the school to commit any other killings,' Lt. Olivarez said. Scores of Border Patrol agents also rushed to the scene after hearing the incident unfold on scanners. When they arrived, the Uvalde Police Department also told them not to go inside, according to a law enforcement official who spoke anonymously to The New York Times. Eventually, the agents joined parents and a handful of local police officers in pulling kids through windows from other classrooms. Scroll down for video Department of Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez made the astonishing comments during an appearance on CNN last night. He said the 'American people need to understand' that the cops could have been shot so they retreated This is how the shooting played out over the course of nearly two hours from when Ramos killed his grandmother at home. He arrived at the school at 11.28am and the first 911 calls were made. He then walked unobstructed into the building with his AR-15 and headed towards the classroom. He fought off cops at 11.44am, then was left alone in the room with the victims until around 12.44pm - when SWAT arrived. The incident was declared over at 1.06pm As the gunman unleashed terror inside the school, desperate parents were forced to wait outside and some were even put in handcuffs after they tried to enter the school to find their kids and rescue them Preparing for mass shootings is a small part of what school police officers do, but local experts say the preparation for officers assigned to schools in Texas - including mandatory active shooter training - provides them with as solid a foundation as any. 'The tactical, conceptual mindset is definitely there in Texas,' said Joe McKenna, deputy superintendent for the Comal school district in Texas and a former assistant director at the state's school safety center. The district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided officers should wait to confront the gunman on the belief he was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and children were no longer at risk, officials said Friday. 'It was the wrong decision,' Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference Friday. In the guidelines, it is instructed that 'a single officer may need to confront the suspect on their own' one way or another given how little time to operate they have. The active shooter training was mandated by state lawmakers in 2019 in response to school shootings. Under state law, school districts also are required to have plans to respond to active shooters in their emergency response procedures. Across the country, police officers who work in schools are tasked with keeping tabs on who's coming and going, working on building trust so students feel comfortable coming to them with problems, teaching anti-substance abuse programs and, occasionally, making arrests. Texas Governor Greg Abbott claims he was lied to about Tuesday's school massacre after it emerged cops didn't enter a classroom where the bloodbath was unfolding for 90 minutes. 'I was misled,' Abbott said on Friday, addressing a press conference in Uvalde about Tuesday's shooting at Robb Elementary School which saw 19 students and two teachers murdered by Salvador Ramos, 18, who was eventually shot dead by cops. 'I am livid about what happened. I was on this very stage two days ago, and I was telling the public information that had been told to me in a room just a few yards from where we are write now. 'I wrote hand notes in sequential order. 'When I came out on that stage and told the public what happened, it was a recitation of what everyone told me. 'As everybody has learned, the information I was given turned out - in part - to be inaccurate. 'I am absolutely livid about that.' Abbott said that law enforcement leaders must 'get to the bottom of every fact, with absolute certainty.' He said it was 'inexcusable' that families may have suffered from inaccurate information, and ordered law enforcement to 'get down to every second what happened, and explain it to the public - but most importantly, to the victims.' Greg Abbott is seen on Friday in Uvalde, Texas, explaining why he got so much information wrong on Wednesday US Customs and Border Protection agents (left) are seen alongside local police (center) and sheriff's deputies (right) working to rescue kids from Robb Elementary on Tuesday. Questions are being asked as to why they did not enter the school New photos have emerged depicting part of the law enforcement response to the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, as questions mount about why police didn't engage the shooter more quickly Abbott on Wednesday had defended the actions of the police and other local officials, emphasizing their heroics and insisting they prevented the situation from being far worse. Yet questions have been rapidly mounting about the actions of law enforcement - in particular, why they waited outside the school for an hour while Salvador Ramos, 18, was free inside the building to murder 19 children and two teachers. A minute-by-minute break down of how cops waited outside class while kids called 911 after gunman walked through door that had been propped open by a teacher 11.28am: Gunman crashes truck, gets out of car with AR-15 He is seen by witnesses in a funeral home next to the school who tell 911 they see a man with a gun walking towards the school 11.31: Gunman is now in the parking lot of the school hiding in between vehicles, shooting at the building 11.32: School resource officer who arrives in a patrol car after hearing 911 call about truck crash drives past the shooter 11.33: Gunman enters the school and begins shooting into room 111/room 112. He shoots more than 100 rounds 11.35: Three police officers enter the same propped-open door as the suspect from the Uvalde PD. They were later followed by another four, making total of seven officers on scene Three initial officers went directly to the door and got grazing wounds from him while the door was closed. They hang back 11.37: Another 16 rounds fired inside the classroom by the gunman 11.51: Police sergeant and USB agents arrive 12.03: Officers continue to arrive in the hallway. As many as 19 officers in that hallway at that time At the same time, a girl from inside the classroom calls 911 and whispers that she is in room 112 The shooter's abandoned AR-15 next to his pick-up truck. He bought the gun two days after his 18th birthday 12.10pm: The same girl calls back and advises 'there are multiple dead' 12.13pm: The same girl calls again 12.16pm: The same girl calls 911 for the fourth time in 13 minutes asking for help 12.15pm: BORTAC (SWAT) members arrive with shields 12.16pm: The same unidentified girl calls 911 and says there are 8-9 students alive in classroom 112 12.19pm: A different child from classroom 111 calls. She hangs up when another student tells her to in order to be quiet 12.21pm: Gunman fires again 12.26pm: One of the girls who previously called 911 calls back again. She says the shooter has just shot at the door 12.43pm: The girl on that girl is still on the line. She says 'please send the police now' 12.50pm: Police finally breach the door using keys from the janitor and kill gunman 12.51pm Officers start moving children out of the room Two primary school students asked their classmate to choke them before one of them passed out for a viral TikTok challenge. The Year Six boys asked one of their peers to participate in the 'blackout challenge' at King's Christian College at Pimpama, on the Gold Coast. The trend is also known as the choking game, fainting game or pass-out challenge and is the latest in a series of dangerous dares being carried out by young people. In March, paramedics revealed they received four calls for help in the space of an hour with children requiring treatment for seizures and head injuries. Two primary school students asked their classmate to choke them before one of them passed out for a viral TikTok challenge In March, paramedics revealed they received four calls for help in the space of an hour with children requiring treatment for seizures and head injuries King's Christian community relations manager Stephen Ruck said the students involved in the latest stunt had been punished. 'There were two boys in Year 6 who asked a third boy to choke them so they could be a part of this game,' he said. 'We have a series of consequences that involve community service and the levels of community service depend upon what occurred and the individual's level of involvement. 'It is true that the boys who were the receivers were part of that community service. They initiated this and they admitted that. To say 'I want you to choke me' is not acceptable.' Five children have died worldwide from the dangerous TikTok trends including a 10-year-old girl in Italy, a 12-year-old boy in the US and a 14-year-old boy in rural NSW. Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman Jen Kinsela urged parents to talk to their children about the risks involved in the challenge. 'I don't think it's a matter of not using social media but it's really about informing them,' she said. One Australian mother said her 13-year-old son had been participating in the 'thumb blowing pass out challenge', which dared participants to hold their breath until they passed out. The trend is also known as the choking game, fainting game or pass-out challenge and is the latest in a series of dangerous dares being carried out by young people Parents are urged to speak to their teens about the dangers surrounding dangerous stunts such as the 'thumb blowing pass out' challenge (pictured) She said she only became aware of the stunt when she heard a loud thud come from her son's room. 'I ran up the stairs and as I got up the top of the stairs I could hear him like groaning,' she said. She discovered that her son had done the challenge while in his room alone and had narrowly avoided smacking his head on the desk. 'His bedroom window is only a metre-and-a-half away from his bed... If he had fallen through there... I wouldn't want to think about what would have happened,' she said. The Sydney mother said she was speaking out to raise awareness around the trend. The challenge works by causing hyperventilation then stopping the flow of oxygen to such an extent that someone passes out. This can lead to kids hitting their head when they fall, or suffering seizures or brain damage. Several children died as a result. A Year 7 student brought thousands of dollars to his school in cash and splurged on top dollar gifts for his school friends. The student from Epping Boys High School sent his school friends out on shopping sprees and bought computers and gaming vouchers for his cohort. The school has written to parents of students in the year warning them of the issue. A student from Epping Boys High School (pictured) sent his classmates on shopping sprees An anonymous insider said the boy had brought $27,000 to school in cash along with gifts for his friends 'Today we had occasion to talk to year 7 about amounts of cash that has (sic) been circulating around in the form of 'gifts', gaming vouchers, funded shopping trips and computer equipment,' principal Jessica Schadel wrote. 'The Youth Officer from Ryde Police also spoke to the year group regarding this matter.' 'We have asked the boys to spend some time reflecting on what they may know about this issue and to see a member of the year 7 wellbeing team should they have any information.' An anonymous parent told the Sydney Morning Herald the amount was $27,000 in cash and the boy had sprinkled it around 'like confetti'. Police say Ryde officers responded to information about the student and made inquiries with the school's administration. 'About 1pm on Tuesday, police received information that a student attended his school in Epping with a large sum of cash which he distributed to other students.' 'No further police action is anticipated.' A man remains on life support with a serious brain injury following an assault in Sydneys CBD. Police responded to a call for help at the corner of George and Liverpool Streets just after 2am on Monday morning. It's alleged a 25-year-old man became involved in a physical altercation with six other men not known to him. It's alleged a 25-year-old man became involved in a physical altercation with six other men (pictured) not known to him The men (pictured) then fled the scene in a blue Holden Commodore, driving north along Kent Street The men then fled the scene in a blue Holden Commodore, driving north along Kent Street. Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was taken to St Vincents Hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Police have released images of six males who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation. Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was taken to St Vincents Hospital with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain (Pictured: one of the men sought by police) Police have released images of six males who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation (Pictured: one of the men sought by police) All men are described as being of Indian subcontinental appearance. The first man is described as being 180cm to 185cm tall, of solid build, with facial hair and short black hair. He is depicted wearing a blue puffer jacket and a blue and red 'ellesse branded shirt and jeans. The second man is described as being 180cm to 185cm tall, of solid build, with facial hair and short black hair. He is depicted wearing a light-coloured hoodie jumper and dark track pants. The third man is described as being 170cm to 175cm tall, of medium build, with clean cut facial hair and short black hair. He has a rear neck tattoo. He is depicted wearing jeans, a light coloured shirt with a light coloured Puma branded puffer jacket. The first man is described as being 180cm to 185cm tall, of solid build, with facial hair and short black hair. He is depicted wearing a blue puffer jacket and a blue and red 'ellesse branded shirt and jeans (Pictured: one of the men sought by police) All the men sought by police in relation to the investigation are described as being of Indian subcontinental appearance (Pictured: one of the men sought by police) The fourth man is described as being 170cm to 175cm tall, of average build, with facial hair and short black hair combed to one side. He is depicted wearing track pants, black sandals, and a light coloured zip jumper. The fifth man is described as being 170cm to 175cm tall, of average build, with facial hair and short black hair. He is depicted wearing light coloured track pants, black thongs, and a hoodie. The sixth man is described as being 170cm to 175cm tall, of small build, with short black hair. He is depicted wearing a dark puffer jacket and light jeans. Strike Force Stockdale has been established to investigate the incident (Pictured: one of the men sought by police) Strike Force Stockdale has been established to investigate the incident. Anyone who may have details about the incident or dashcam footage, is urged to contact Sydney City Police Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The Greens appear set to win the federal seat of Brisbane, snatching the spot from the Liberal incumbent and gaining a fourth seat in the House of Representatives. Mr Bates held a press conference on Brisbane on Saturday afternoon to claim victory while the only other person who could win the seat, Labor candidate, Madonna Jarrett, conceded she could no longer win. He will join Greens leader Adam Bandt and newly elected MPs Max Chandler-Mather and Elizabeth Watson-Brown, who won Griffith and Ryan respectively, in the 47th parliament. ABC Election Analyst Antony Green called the seat for candidate Stephen Bates around 2.30pm on Saturday. 'We knew that people were liking what we were saying, and it has turned into a victory for us,' Stephen Bates (pictured) said Ousted Liberal MP Trevor Evans (pictured) conceded defeat last Saturday The result comes after a close race and a tense week of vote counting in the seat which covers the city of Brisbane. Mr Bates will claim the third Queensland seat for the Greens, the fourth in the country in a historically large number of lower house seats for the party. 'We knew that people were liking what we were saying, and it has turned into a victory for us,' Mr Bates said. 'I think it's a reflection of what the community is feeling. 'People are fed up with the status quo, they want change and they want it now.' Labor candidate Madonna Jarrett took to social media to concede the seat of Brisbane (pictured) congratulating Greens candidate Mr Bates on his campaign Mr Bates beat out Labor hopeful Madonna Jarrett in a tight contest. Ms Jarrett took to social media on Saturday afternoon to concede the seat and congratulate Mr Bates. 'It is clear that we won't get across the line in Brisbane,' she wrote. 'Earlier this afternoon, I called Stephen Bates to congratulate him on his successful campaign. I wish him all the best for the term ahead.' The former service industry said about his grassroots campaign: 'Being a politician should be seen as a customer service role: talking to locals, resolving conflict between stakeholders, and serving our community.' Outgoing Liberal MP Trevor Evans conceded defeat last Saturday when it became clear his primary vote was too low to claim the seat. The Australian Electoral Commission on Friday released new data showing an unusual three-candidate preferred status for Brisbane and Macnamara in Victoria, which still remains in doubt. In Macnamara, incumbent Labor MP Josh Burns has taken a slight lead over his Greens rival Steph Hodgins-May with Liberal candidate Colleen Harkin trailing. Liberal candidate Andrew Constance is 253 votes ahead of sitting Labor MP Fiona Phillips in the NSW electorate of Gilmore, with postal votes slightly favouring Mr Constance. With four seats still to call, the commission had Labor with 75 seats to the coalition's 59, the Greens with three seats, and 12 on the cross bench. Ukraine has admitted it may have to retreat from its last post in the Luhansk region as Russian forces continue their relentless march. Putin's forces - now into their fourth month of the invasion - have concentrated on the east of the country in recent weeks. Ukrainian soldiers leaving Luhansk will be a blow to the country, due to its symbolic significance in the war. This morning Boris Johnson offered fresh support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said they spoke on the phone about 'strengthening defence support for Ukraine, intensifying work on security guarantees and supplying fuel'. He added: 'We must work together to prevent a food crisis and unblock Ukrainian ports.' Putin wants both Luhansk and Donetsk regions in full and their capture was one of his earliest objectives in the deranged despot's so-called 'special military operation'. Damaged buildings and tanks on the road in Lyman, which Russian forces have captured most of Towed Russian artillery and self-propelled artillery batteries deployed along tree lines north of Lyman Russian howitzers in firing positions north of Lyman on Friday. Lyman is a railway hub west of Severodonetsk Ukraine has admitted it may have to retreat from its last post in the Luhansk region as Russian forces continue their relentless attacks in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Russian troops have entered Severodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days This morning Boris Johnson offered fresh support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Zelensky (pictured via video link at the World Economic Forum on May 23) said he spoke on the phone with the PM about 'strengthening defence support for Ukraine, intensifying work on security guarantees and supplying fuel' Luhansk's governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said Russian troops had entered Severodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days, though adding that Russian forces would not be able to capture the Luhansk region 'as analysts have predicted'. 'We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. However, it is possible that in order not to be surrounded we will have to retreat,' Gaidai said on Telegram. Gaidai said 90 per cent of buildings in Severodonetsk were damaged with 14 high-rises destroyed in the latest shelling. Russia's separatist proxies said they controlled Lyman, a railway hub west of Severodonetsk. Ukraine said Russia had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, to the southwest. Ukraine's military said it had repelled eight attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk on Friday, destroying tanks and armoured vehicles. President Zelensky said Ukraine was doing 'everything' to defend Donbas and protecting the country 'as much as our current defence resources allow'. Relatives, friends and comrades attend a funeral ceremony for Ukrainian serviceman Svyatoslav Khomenko in Kyiv, May 28 Ilona attends the funeral of her husband, Ukrainian serviceman Svyatoslav Khomenko, in Kyiv, May 28 'If the occupiers think that Lyman and Severodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian,' Zelensky said in his daily address. He said Russia had 'concentrated maximum artillery, maximum reserves in Donbas'. He told Dutch paper Nieuwsuur that Ukraine's military had been preparing a year in advance for the invasion. He said: 'The army was ready. It showed.' Although he could have evacuated the country a year ago, he said this would have decimated the economy and would have been the 'wrong' decision. He said: 'Our country was preparing. To dig trenches, take people out of the country it had to be done a year before the invasion. 'I think [would be] wrong because sowing panic in our society is not necessary, because it will hit on the financial situation, on the budget and the economy.' Ukrainian people inspecting and taking photos of destroyed tanks at the area between the villages of Dmitrivka, Zabuchia, which is 27 kilometers from the center of Kyiv, Ukraine on May 27 A building torn apart after heavy Russian shelling in Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, on May 27 Heavy machines work by a destroyed building in Mariupol, Ukraine on May 27 Burnt-out cars and truck littered the ground around buildings destroyed by Russian shells Mariupol has seen some of the heaviest and most intense fighting in Putin's war in Ukraine Alleged war criminal Vladimir Putin has besieged Mariupol since the start of the war on February 24 Russia has stepped up its attacks in the Donbas region in the east of of Ukraine, an area that is more pro-separatist than the rest of the country A view from damaged sites amid Russian attacks in Mariupol, Ukraine on May 27 Mangled machinery beside a wrecked building damaged in heavy fire from Russian artillery A destroyed tank in Mariupol, where Ukrainian officials say Russia aims to impose permanent rule Moscow has seized a swath of territory since the February 24 invasion The damaged Azovstal plant is seen in Mariupol, Ukraine on May 27 Civilians gather to receive pure water distributed by Russian Emergency Situations Ministry in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine, May 27 A local resident Nikolai Kononenko, 67, opens the door of a bomb shelter in the village of Mayaky, Donetsk region, Ukraine, May 27 The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said on Saturday Ukrainian forces had repelled eight assaults in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the previous 24 hours. Russia's attacks included artillery assaults in the Severodonetsk area 'with no success', it said. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said while Russian forces had begun direct assaults on built-up areas of Severodonetsk, they would likely struggle to take ground in the city itself. Russian military vehicles destroyed on a road near the village of Kutuzivka, Kharkiv, on May 27 Damage and debris in the classroom of a school in the village of Kutuzivka, Kharkiv, on May 27 A man walks outside a Gypsum Manufactory plant after shelling in the city of Bakhmut at the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on Friday Smoke and dirt rise from the city of Severodonetsk, during shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on Thursday A building heavily damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region yesterday 'Russian forces have performed poorly in operations in built-up urban terrain throughout the war,' they said. Russian troops advanced after piercing Ukrainian lines last week in the city of Popasna, south of Severodonetsk. Russian ground forces have captured several villages northwest of Popasna, Britain's defence ministry said. Natalia Kovalenko, 52, who lives in Popasna, had left the cellar where she was sheltering in the wreckage of her flat when a shell hit the courtyard, killing two people and wounding eight. She said: 'We are tired of being so scared.' Britain's defence ministry said Lyman, which has been mostly captured by Russia, was likely seen as a 'preliminary operation for the next stage of Russia's Donbas offensive'. The defence ministry added: 'Lyman is strategically important because it is the site of a major railway junction, and also gives access to important rail and road bridges over the Siverskyy Donets River. 'In the coming days, Russian units in the area are likely to prioritise forcing a crossing of the river. Natalia Kovalenko, 52, who lives in Popasna, had left the cellar where she was sheltering in the wreckage of her flat when a shell hit the courtyard, killing two people and wounding eight She said: 'We are tired of being so scared.' Pictured: Natalia stands inside her apartment damaged in Popasna, Luhansk, on May 26 'For now, Russia's main effort likely remains 40km to the east, around the Severodonetsk pocket but a bridgehead near Lyman would give Russia an advantage in the potential next phase of the Donbas offensive, when it will likely seek to advance on key Ukrainian-held cities deeper in Donetsk Oblast, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. 'On May 26, head of the self-declared, Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russian state-controlled media that a referendum would be held if Russia captured the entirety of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. 'If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion. 'However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to conduct a well-organised defence of the sector, and continue to impose a high level of casualties on Russia.' A video showed Russia today testing its new hypersonic Zircon - or Tsirkon - missile ahead of its imminent deployment. The 6,670mph was fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the Barents Sea, and hit a target at a range of 625miles in the White Sea. A statement from the Russian defence ministry said: 'According to objective control data, the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile successfully hit a sea target located at a distance of about 1,000km. 'The flight of the hypersonic missile corresponded to the specified parameters.' Vladimir Putin has poured money into developing new nuclear-capable missiles which - he claims - are 'unstoppable' by Western air defences. Deliveries of the Zircon are due within months and possibly weeks. A still image taken from a video released by Ukrainian military, which according to them shows Russian army position set up near private house being attacked, shows an explosion of a building, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Vojevodivka, Luhansk region. Smoke rises after an explosion of a Vojevodivka building in this still image taken from a video released by Ukrainian military on Thursday Apartment buildings damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region Russia's eastern gains follow the withdrawal of its forces from approaches to the capital, Kyiv, and a Ukrainian counter-offensive that pushed its forces back from Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv. Russian forces shelled parts of Kharkiv on Thursday for the first time in days killing nine people, authorities said. The Kremlin denies targeting civilians in what it calls its 'special military operation'. Ukraine's General Staff said on Saturday while there was no new attack on the city, there were multiple Russian strikes on nearby communities and infrastructure. In the south, where Moscow has seized a swath of territory since the February 24 invasion, including the port of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials say Russia aims to impose permanent rule. In the Kherson region in the south, Russian forces were fortifying defences and shelling Ukraine-controlled areas, the region's Ukrainian governor, Hennadiy Laguta, told media. He said the humanitarian situation was critical in some areas and people were finding it very difficult to leave. Police said 31 people had been evacuated on Friday from the Luhansk region, including 13 children. On the diplomatic front, European Union officials said a deal might be reached by Sunday to ban deliveries of Russian oil by sea, accounting for about 75 per cent of the bloc's supply, but not by pipeline, a compromise to win over Hungary and clear the way for new sanctions. However, Russian finance minister Anton Siluanov said he hopes to make one trillion rubles (12billion) from oil and gas in 2022. Moscow is likely to profit from high oil prices in part caused by its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian advance in the east has been backed by massive artillery bombardment across as many as 50 towns in Donetsk and Luhansk to force Ukrainian troops to retreat (destroyed residential building in Popasna, Luhansk, Ukraine, May 26) Having lost thousands of troops in scattered fighting along the eastern front in recent weeks, Russian forces yesterday launched a targeted assault from three sides to try to encircle Ukrainian forces in Severodonetsk and Lysychansk (Russian troops pictured May 26 in Luhansk) Service members of pro-Russian troops drive a tank along a street past a destroyed residential building during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk Region, Ukraine May 26 Zelensky has accused the EU of dithering over a ban on Russian energy, saying the bloc was funding Russia's war and delay 'merely means more Ukrainians being killed'. In a telephone call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Putin stuck to his line that a global food crisis caused by the conflict can be resolved only if the West lifts sanctions. Nehammer said Putin expressed readiness to discuss a prisoner swap with Ukraine but added: 'If he is really ready to negotiate is a complex question.' Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters, and Russia's blockade of ports has halted shipments, driving up global prices. Russia accuses Ukraine of mining the ports. Russia justified its assault in part on ensuring Ukraine does not join the US-led NATO military alliance. The war in Ukraine has pushed Sweden and Finland, both neutral throughout the Cold War, to apply to join NATO in one of the most significant changes in European security in decades. Meanwhile, a branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church that had remained loyal to Moscow said it will break with the Russian church over the country's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine was given permission by the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide to form a church independent of Moscow in 2019, largely ending centuries of religious ties between the two countries. Members of a branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church attend a council meeting at St Panteleimon Monastery, Kyiv, on May 27, as the branch decided to break its ties with the Russian church over Russia's invasion of Ukraine Following a meeting of its leadership the church announced it would declare its 'full independence' from Russia. It condemned Russia's invasion and how Russian Orthodox Christian leader Patriarch Kirill has supported Putin's war A 2020 survey by the Kyiv-based Razumkov Centre found that 34 per cent of Ukrainians identified as members of the main Orthodox Church of Ukraine, while 14 per cent were members of Ukraine's Moscow Patriarchate Church. Pictured: A woman lights a candle at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 28 However many parishes, especially in Ukraine's east, elected to remain loyal under the umbrella of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate. Following a meeting of its leadership the church announced it would declare its 'full independence' from Russia. It condemned Russia's invasion and how Russian Orthodox Christian leader Patriarch Kirill has supported Putin's war. A 2020 survey by the Kyiv-based Razumkov Centre found that 34 per cent of Ukrainians identified as members of the main Orthodox Church of Ukraine, while 14 per cent were members of Ukraine's Moscow Patriarchate Church. More than 400 parishes had already left the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate ahead of Friday's decision because of the invasion. The identity of the man who allegedly executed a 'kind and funny' young woman on a quiet street has been revealed as harrowing details of her personal life emerged. Feebie McIntosh, 25, from Currimundi, on the Sunshine Coast, was rushed by car to Caloundra Base Hospital after she was allegedly shot in the head about 9.30am on Friday. Hours later, Bradley Ian Cotten, 30, from Narangba, was arrested 22km away after police swooped on a suburban road in Sippy Downs to seize him. Police believe the tragedy happened during 'a disturbance' in Coolum Street in sleepy Dicky Beach at the home of a woman known to both of them. Feebie McIntosh was rushed by car to Caloundra Base Hospital on the Sunshine Coast after Bradley Cotten allegedly shot her in the head about 9.30am on Friday. She died at the hospital Feebie McIntosh, 25, from Currimundi, had a troubled love life after a previous partner died suddenly in 2020, but had found love again with Mitch White, 30 McIntosh was dropped off at the hospital door by a 58 year old man who police say was known to her, but died shortly afterwards. Queensland police charged Bradley Ian Cotten with the murder of Feebie McIntosh, 25, at sleepy Dicky Beach on Friday morning, arresting him at Sippy Downs yesterday afternoon Cotten is understood to have been known to Ms McIntosh prior to the tragedy. They were friends on social media but were not in a relationship. Ms McIntosh's death, coming just days after her boyfriend proposed to her in a touching love letter, prompted a flood of heartbroken tributes on social media from friends. It's the final tragic chapter in her short life after her previous boyfriend died suddenly just two years ago, on May 22, 2020, aged 22. Just before Christmas in 2018 Jack Thomsen posted a blissful photo with Ms McIntosh captioned 'forever my happiness'. Just before Christmas in 2018 Jack Thomsen posted a blissful photo with Feebie McIntosh captioned 'forever my happiness' In December last Feebie McIntosh (pictured right) sat by ex-lover Jack Thomsen's grave and later posted a tribute to him, 'I honestly would give the world just to be able to see you and hear your voice just one last time' In December last Ms McIntosh sat by his grave and later posted a tribute to him, 'I honestly would give the world just to be able to see you and hear your voice just one last time.' Less than a week ago, Mr Thomsen's mother posted a heart-breaking tribute to her son: 'You left this world without a good bye or a reason why. I miss you every day.' Ms McIntosh found love again when she began dating current boyfriend Mitch White in September 2021. White was serving a prison sentence when Ms McIntosh was shot and killed. Mitch White was incarcerated at the high security Borallon Training and Correctional Centre in Ipswich Feebie McIntosh's (right) death comes just three weeks after she shared her engagement to partner Mitch White (left) on Facebook Before he went to jail he posted a loving message to her describing how he liked the person he was becoming with her. 'I can't get enough of you and the person I've become being with you,' he wrote. She posted a photo of the heartfelt letter White, 31, wrote to her alongside a word search puzzle which spelled out the question 'Feebie will you marry me?' 'Youre the most sweetest man ever and the best part is, youre all mine!,' Ms McIntosh captioned the post. In a touching post Feebie McIntosh shared the heartfelt letter (above) and puzzle in which her partner Mitch White proposed to her White was incarcerated at the high security Borallon Training and Correctional Centre in Ipswich. His crime is unknown. Hundreds of gut-wrenching tributes to Ms McIntosh have continued throughout the weekend. On Saturday one of her girlfriends posted, 'Be free my girl. Your fight is over. You battle is won. Your war is done. Find your way home baby.' Ms McIntosh, remembered as a caring friend by many, was all too familiar with tragedy. Devastated loved ones began sharing tributes to Ms McIntosh who was 'taken way too young'. '20 years of memories, good times and constant laughter,' one friend shared. Feebie McIntosh (above) was dropped off at Caloundra Base Hospital at about 9.30am on Friday by a 58-year-old man known to her who is now voluntarily assisting police inquiries Hundreds of tributes poured onto social media for the 'kind and funny' Feebie McIntosh 'Your laughter and smile would light a room up. I have so much to say and I don't know how to put it all in words. 'I'm so beyond gutted that you grew wings early. I still remember sitting in class in Year One when we became friends. 'Dancing in the rain after school on our way home. Talking about our crushes and planning our weekends. 'You were one friend that always put a smile on my face. I'm going to miss you so much, this is so painful to write. Fly high babe, this isn't goodbye. But until next time. 'Love you always Feebs.' Police have established a forensic crime scene (above) at a Sunshine Coast home after 25-year-old Feebie McIntosh died from an alleged gunshot wound to her head 'I can't believe you're gone, you had such a good soul,' another person wrote. Police arrested Cotten, 30, at 3.30pm on Friday after intercepting his vehicle on Fitzwilliam Street at Sippy Downs. The Narangba man was denied bail in Maroochydore Magistrates Court and is due to appear again on July 29. David Davis said discontent was spreading through the Conservative party due to MPs fearing the controversy around the Downing Street lockdown parties as two more Tory MPs called for Boris Johnson to quit. The former cabinet minister, 73, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Nobody in the world could have made it plainer, I don't think, that I want the Prime Minister to go - I haven't changed my mind about that.' Asked whether discontent was spreading in the Tory party, Mr Davis said: 'There is no doubt about that, for two reasons. 'Number one, frankly they see their own seats disappearing in many cases, they see themselves losing the next election on the back of this. 'Also, it has a bad effect on the country ... it is a distraction on everything you do and it doesn't help the reputation of the country.' David Davis (pictured) said discontent was spreading through the Conservative party due to MPs fearing the controversy around the Downing Street lockdown parties The former Brexit secretary said party leadership trouble traditionally took a 'long time' to be sorted out, pointing to the length of time Sir John Major and Theresa May stayed in No 10 despite experiencing backbench revolt. He added: 'I fear we'll not resolve this until the latter part of the year.' Veteran Conservative Sir Bob Neill and 2019 entrant Alicia Kearns both voiced their dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister's insistence that he had not broken coronavirus rules by attending leaving-dos for departing officials. Sir Bob, a qualified barrister and chairman of the Commons Justice Committee, confirmed he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson's premiership following the publication of Sue Gray's report into Downing Street partying. Ms Kearns said the senior civil servant's inquiry demonstrated that Mr Johnson had been 'complicit in the holding of many goodbye parties for his staff' which the backbencher said 'displayed a complete disregard' for Covid restrictions in place at the time. The Rutland and Melton MP said she had reached the conclusion that the 'Prime Minister's account of events to Parliament was misleading'. Veteran Conservative Sir Bob Neill (above) and 2019 entrant Alicia Kearns both voiced their dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister's insistence that he had not broken coronavirus rules by attending leaving-dos for departing officials Ms Kearns (pictured during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons) said the senior civil servant's inquiry demonstrated that Mr Johnson had been 'complicit in the holding of many goodbye parties for his staff' If there was an election tomorrow, Tories would lose 85 out of 88 battleground seats including Boriss own Polling company YouGov produced new modelling which suggested the Conservatives would lose all but three of 88 'battleground' constituencies if a general election were held on Saturday, putting Mr Johnson's majority in jeopardy. The predicted outcome would see Mr Johnson's own Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat 'likely fall' into Labour hands and Red Wall seats such as Blyth Valley and Stoke-on-Trent North also revert back to Sir Keir Starmer's opposition outfit. Only Ashfield, Bassetlaw, and Dudley North would remain blue, according to YouGov. Source: YouGov Advertisement When reports of lockdown breaches at the top of Government first surfaced, Mr Johnson repeatedly told the Commons coronavirus rules had been adhered to in Downing Street. In her report, Ms Gray found the Prime Minister - who was slapped with a fine by police for attending his own birthday bash in June 2020 when indoor mixing was forbidden - attended a number of leaving-dos in No 10 during the lockdown months in England, often giving speeches about departing officials. But he has insisted these were work events - a conclusion he said was backed up by the Metropolitan Police opting not to fine him for being present at such gatherings - which only became raucous after he left, with Ms Gray detailing excessive drinking and altercations at one such gathering. According to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Kearns has also handed in a no-confidence letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, but she did not explicitly state that in her Facebook post. Her alleged involvement in January in a plan by a group of 2019 intake Tories to oust Mr Johnson saw the reported schemers given the nickname of the 'pork pie plot' due to Ms Kearns representing Melton Mowbray. In her social media post, Ms Kearns added: 'To say we just need to "move on" is to treat with contempt and disregard the sacrifices of ... our entire country. 'My position remains unchanged since January, and the Prime Minister continues not to hold my confidence.' In her report, Ms Gray (pictured) found the Prime Minister attended a number of leaving-dos in No 10 during the lockdown months in England, often giving speeches about departing officials The growing backbench pressure comes as polling company YouGov produced new modelling which suggested the Conservatives would lose all but three of 88 'battleground' constituencies if a general election were held on Saturday, putting Mr Johnson's majority in jeopardy. The predicted outcome would see Mr Johnson's own Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat 'likely fall' into Labour hands and Red Wall seats such as Blyth Valley and Stoke-on-Trent North also revert back to Sir Keir Starmer's opposition outfit. Only Ashfield, Bassetlaw, and Dudley North would remain blue, according to YouGov. A separate poll by Opinium found that Mr Johnson's net approval rating had dropped by two points to minus 30 since Ms Gray's report landed on Wednesday and more than half of the 2,000 UK adults surveyed thought he should resign. That opinion was backed by Sir Bob who said a 'change in leadership is required' if trust in the office of Prime Minister and the political process was to be restored following the so-called partygate saga. In a post on his website, the former minister declared that he did not think the Prime Minister's explanations were 'credible' for why he attended events in No 10 while the rest of the country was subject to rules that 'caused real pain'. Ms Gray released pictures of the PM and Chancellor at Mr Johnson's birthday party. The PM is shown with a beer in his hand The PM, his wife Carrie Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have all received fines for attending the event in June 2020 Pictures were also released from a leaving do for Lee Cain in December 2020, hours after Dominic Cummings was pictured walking out of No10 with a box of his belongings A vote on the Prime Minister's future will be held if 54 of his MPs write to Sir Graham demanding a confidence vote in their leader. At least 20 Tories have publicly called for his resignation so far, although more may have penned letters given it is a secret process. Friday also saw Home Secretary Priti Patel's parliamentary aide, Tory MP Paul Holmes, quit the role due to the 'toxic culture' in No 10 uncovered by Ms Gray. Despite facing criticism over his partygate defence, the Prime Minister chose to announce changes to the ministerial code on Friday in a move his rivals said watered down punishments for ministers. An update said ministers will not automatically lose their jobs if they breach the standards code, and can instead apologise or possibly have their salary suspended instead. Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, said the 'loosening' of the ministerial code by Boris Johnson showed why there should be an independent system in place for judging the conduct of ministers. Chris Bryant (above), chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, said the 'loosening' of the ministerial code by Boris Johnson showed why there should be an independent system in place for judging the conduct of ministers The Labour MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he disagreed with recommendations made by the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life and adopted by the Prime Minister which allow ministers to remain in their jobs for what could be deemed minor breaches of the code. 'Maybe this is what you would expect from people who have mostly been civil servants in the past - that's how they end up on the Committee on Standards in Public Life - that they would support a strong government that is, broadly speaking, able to do what it likes,' Mr Bryant said. 'But I think what the last couple of years have shown, whether it is Priti Patel instances of bullying when she was basically found guilty of bullying staff in her office by the so-called independent adviser on ministerial interests, but then the Prime Minister decided not even to publish the report because he didn't like it. 'I just think you have to end that process, you have to have a proper system whereby an independent figure, entirely without the Prime Minister's involvement, decides whether or not to launch an investigation into a minister, and decides whether it is a very serious case or a less serious case, and then suggests the sanction. 'That's not what the Prime Minister has got, it still all lies in the Prime Minister's hands and we know, don't we, that the Prime Minister always finds himself innocent in the court of his own opinion.' Children's book publishers are frightened of cancel culture according to author Anthony Horowitz, who claims to have been affected by the trend. Mr Horowitz, a television screenwriter and author of children's and adults novels, was left 'shocked' when he was told what he could not write in his latest book for his younger readers. The 67-year-old claims a 'culture of fear' is limiting literary expression, according to The Times. He is just one of a growing number of artists to speak out about and resist cancel culture which has seen the likes of Harry Potter author JK Rowling ostracised from parts of society for their views on subjects such as trans rights. Anthony Horowitz (pictured) has admitted to being concerned about writing characters from different backgrounds to his, and about the potential backlash that may come with it Anthony Horowitz: Who is the author and what books has he written? Anthony Horowitz is an English screenwriter and novelist for adult and younger audiences, specialising in mystery and suspense. He has written over 40 books in his career. The 67-year-old, from Middlesex, is perhaps best known for writing James Bond novels after the estate of late creator of the British spy, Ian Fleming, chose Horowitz to write Bond novels utilizing unpublished material. The subsequent works included Trigger Mortis in 2015, followed by Forever and a Day in 2018. A third novel entitled With a Mind to Kill was released this month. His other work includes Mindgame, The House of Silk, Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders and two Sherlock Holmes novels. His work for young adults includes the Diamond Brothers series, the Alex Rider series and the Power of Five series. He has also contributed to TV series, having created and written ITV's Foyle's War, Collision, Injustice and BBC series New Blood. Advertisement He admitted to being concerned about writing characters from different backgrounds to his, and about the potential backlash that may come with it. Speaking at the Hay Festival, he said: 'I'm very, very scared by what you're calling cancel culture. 'I think what is happening to writers is extremely dangerous, where certain words are hidden, where certain thoughts are not allowed anymore, where certain activities [are not allowed], obviously to do with gender or to with ethnicity or to do with trying to share the experiences of others.' He told the crowd at Hay that he had 'suffered' while writing his latest children's book called Where Seagulls Dare: A Diamond Brothers Case, which is due to be released next month. The book, about 'the world's worst detectives' is aimed at eight to 12 year olds. He said that an extensive rewrite was required, but declined to say what the changes were. 'I have just suffered from my last book notes from my publisher which absolutely shocked me about things which I could or couldn't say, which is a children's book, not an adult book,' he said. 'Children's book publishers are more scared than anybody. And it seems to me that the forces that are now active in the world everything to do with the divisiveness of what we've been through, plus the sort of stark contrast thrown up by social media whereby something is either very good or very bad but there's nothing in between this is leading to a culture of fear and that is the bigger problem. 'It's not about cancellation, it's not about anger, it is about the fear that all creative people must now feel if they're going to dare to write. 'I believe that writers should not be cowed, we should not be made to do things because we're so scared of starting a storm on Twitter. Because once you start with the writers entering that tunnel, the whole of society will follow them in and we're all going to be left nudging each other in the dark, too afraid to search for the light. That is sort of where we're heading.' He recommended watching Ricky Gervais 'pull back from all that' amid criticism the 60-year-old has received this week for joking about trans people and Aids in a new Netflix show called SuperNature. Mr Horowitz said he had 'suffered' while writing his latest children's book called Where Seagulls Dare: A Diamond Brothers Case Mr Horowitz advocates watching Ricky Gervais (pictured) and other 'daring' people In the show, he talks about 'old-fashioned women' and said: 'They're the ones with wombs. Those f***ing dinosaurs. I love the new women. They're great aren't they... the ones with beards and cocks.' During the show, Mr Gervais also said: '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 cock. That's all I'm saying.' He defended himself earlier this week, and said on BBC's The One Show that comedy is for 'getting over taboo subjects so they're not scary any more.' '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,' he said. 'Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target.' In the Netflix special, he explains that he takes whatever stance that makes his jokes funnier in the moment 'without prejudice' but that these do not represent his own views. At Hay, Mr Horowitz advocated watching Mr Gervais and other 'daring' people. He said that 'shrill voices are being amplified by social media but actually they have nothing to say.' A US woman 'saved lives' when she shot a man who opened fire on a crowd of people with a semi-automatic rifle. The woman, who has not been named, had been at a birthday party in the city of Charleston, West Virginia, when Dennis Butler began shooting at the group of around 40 people. Police say 37-year-old Butler, who has an extensive criminal history, used an AR-15-type rifle in the incident, and was killed when the woman fired back at him. Spokesman Tony Hazelett said the woman will not be charged, and that she most likely 'saved several lives' by firing back. He said: 'She's just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully. Emergency services were called to the apartment block in Charleston on Wednesday night, May 25 Dennis Butler, 37, pictured, was killed after being shot by a bystander when he opened fire on a crowd of people with an AR-15 style rifle 'And instead of running from the threat she engaged with the threat and saved several lives.' No one else was injured in the shooting, which took place late on Wednesday, May 25 near the Vista View Apartment Complex on the northeast side of Charleston. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Hazelett said the incident appeared to have stemmed from Butler being told to slow down while driving through an area where children were playing at the party. He said the felon left the complex, before coming back later with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle and began firing into the crowd. The woman, who was attending the party, drew her own weapon and shot back, killing him, WCHS Eyewitness News reports. The news site reports that Butler had frequently been arrested in West Virginia, with charges often dismissed when witnesses failed to appear. Police spokesman Tony Hazelett, pictured, said the woman had undoubtedly 'saved several lives' by shooting Butler He also faced unlawful and malicious wounding charges in 2016 after a woman was shot in Charleston. This incident happened only a day after 18-year-old Salvador Ramos killed two teachers and 19 children in a mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, during which he used an AR-15 style rifle - the same as was fired by Butler. Ramos was able to buy his weapon legally only a week before the shooting, while police are investigating how Butler, a convicted felon who is not legally allowed to carry a firearm, got his. There are renewed calls from Democrats and anti-gun activists to increase restrictions on the type of weapons that can be bought in the wake of the shooting. The party put forward a domestic terrorism bill which would have opened debate on difficult questions surrounding hate crimes and gun safety. Democrats said the bill could become the basis for negotiation on further gun legislation, but it failed when every Republican in the Senate voted against it, raising fresh doubts about the possibility of robust debate, let alone eventual compromise, on gun safety measures. Democrats argued domestic terrorism bill was best chance to a quick response to the recent mass shootings Children ran out of the school with scared looks on their faces after police helped pull them from a window at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, where Salvador Ramos, 18, killed 19 fourth-graders and two teachers Republicans have pushed back, with Senator Ted Cruz calling for police officers and ex-military members to be station at school doors. The Republican lawmaker said that despite visiting six shooting sites since 2016 he is not in favour of tighter restrictions or gun reform. Cruz went on to blame 'virtual life' as a fundamental reason shootings are happening, saying it creates an 'absence of community and faith and love,' Fox News reported. 'Tragedies like the events of this week are a mirror forcing us to ask hard questions, demanding that we see where our culture is failing.' Cruz suggested there only be one point on entry to schools, as well, so the shooter couldn't enter through a backdoor He cited 'broken families, absent fathers, declining church attendance, and social media bullying' as reasons young people psyches are being effected and could potential lead them to violent. He added that if Democrats succeeded in confiscating guns 'many more people would lose their lives'. He claimed - citing the Obama Administration - that 500,000 to 1million times a year, a gun is used defensively. 'That means, if the left disarms America, those crimes will no longer be stopped,' he said. Cruz did not provide the numbers on how many times guns are used in crimes yearly. He also said 'single moms in subways' would be raped or murdered more frequently and that home invasions would become more deadly 'because only the criminals would have guns,' and that 'far more children would be murdered.' David Littleproud and Darren Chester will now both run against Barnaby Joyce for leadership of the National Party. Mr Littleproud, the party's high-profile deputy leader, announced on Saturday he'd told Mr Joyce of his decision to nominate. 'I also took the opportunity to thank him for all his service to our party,' Mr Littleproud said. 'I feel this is the appropriate time to put myself forward for my party room's consideration as their leader. 'Ultimately, this is a decision on who will lead The Nationals to the 2025 election.' Barnaby Joyce (left) now faces a three way fight for control of the National Party - David Littleproud, the party's deputy leader, has told Mr Joyce of his decision to nominate and Darren Chester also intends to contest the position It is now a three-man race between Mr Littleproud, former deputy prime minister Mr Joyce and former veterans affairs minister Darren Chester. Mr Chester confirmed his nomination on Friday, pitching a fresh start for the party. 'Australians want a calmer, moderate and more respectful political debate which is focused on policies, not personalities,' he said in a statement on Facebook. The junior coalition partner will have its first post-election meeting on Monday where they will spill the leadership as per tradition. Outgoing and surviving Liberals have blamed Mr Joyce for part of the coalition's poor showing last Saturday, on top of the negativity surrounding Scott Morrison. Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack may also put his hat in the ring for the party's top job, having been critical of Mr Joyce's leadership since he lost in a leadership spill against him in 2021. Anne Webster will contest for the deputy leadership role, currently held by Mr Littleproud. Advertisement Johnny Depp was pictured smiling and waving to fans when he left the courthouse on Friday while Amber Heard was seen hugging her lawyer as jurors began deliberations in the bitter $100million libel six-week trial. The 58-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean actor looked in good spirits as he left and shook hands with police officers before appeasing the large crowd of fans outside who were armed with banners and cameras. As jurors retired on Friday, a defamation expert has suggested Amber Heard could be prosecuted over claims she 'edited injury photos' which were used as part of evidence in the blockbuster suit. Depp is suing his ex-wife Amber Heard in Virginia for $50million, arguing that she defamed him when she called herself a 'public figure representing domestic abuse' in an opinion piece she wrote. Fellow actor Heard, 36, countersued for $100 million, saying Depp smeared her when his lawyer called her accusations a 'hoax.' Defamation lawyer Aaron Minc told news outlet JOE that despite initially deciding there was 'zero or less than 1 per cent chance' Heard would face prosecution, he had since changed his mind. He told JOE: 'I think that, as this case goes on, and we start seeing more and more objective evidence that she is lying about things under oath, thats when it starts crossing the line into the possibility that she is fabricating evidence, fabricating photos, fabricating bruises, altering evidence and then submitting it.' Mr Minc described fabricating evidence as 'really serious' and 'really offensive' to the justice system, adding: 'I would hope that prosecutors would take a look at it because if there is very clear evidence that she did it, that should certainly be considered.' Jurors deliberating the dueling defamation trial adjourned yesterday without delivering verdicts, leaving the resolution in the widely watched six-week trial to next week. The seven-person jury deliberated for more than two hours on Friday and will resume discussions on Tuesday after the US Memorial Day holiday. Johnny Depp was pictured smiling and waving to fans as he left the courthouse on Friday while jurors began deliberations in the bitter $100million libel trial. Jurors deliberated for two hours before they were adjourned to return on Tuesday next week It was six years ago yesterday that Amber Heard filed a restraining order against Depp, which his lawyers 'ruined' his life Actor Johnny Depp gives a thumbs up toward fans as he departs the Fairfax County Courthouse on Friday afternoon Actor Johnny Depp shakes hands with a police officer as he departs the Fairfax County Courthouse on Friday afternoon People cheer as actor Johnny Depp arrives for trial at a Fairfax County Courthouse as jurors begin deliberations on Friday Depp gestures as he leaves the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse following his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard Before closing arguments began Judge Penney Azcarate told the jury that their names would be sealed for a year due to the 'high profile nature' of the trial. At the start of the trial she made no such ruling. Depp has denied hitting Heard or any woman and said she was the one who turned violent in their relationship. 'Mr. Depp experienced persistent verbal, physical and emotional abuse by Ms. Heard,' attorney Camille Vasquez said in closing arguments on Friday. She said Heard's allegations of abuse by Depp, including a sexual assault with a liquor bottle, were 'wild, over-the-top and implausible' and had ruined his reputation in Hollywood and among fans. 'We ask you to give Mr. Depp his life back by telling the world Mr. Depp is not the abuser Ms. Heard says he is,' Vasquez said. Pictured: Onlookers jeer and gesture as actress Amber Heard departs the Fairfax County Courthouse on May 27 Amber Heard leaves the courthouse on Friday after jurors began deliberations in the $100m libel suit between her and Depp Amber Heard hugs her attorney Elaine Bredehoft after closing arguments during her ex-husband Depp's defamation case Vasquez noted expert accounts that diagnosed Heard with Borderline Personality Disorder and called the actress a 'deeply, troubled person' who is 'desperate for attention and approval.' 'There is an abuser in this courtroom but it's not Mr. Depp. There's a victim of abuse in this court but it's not Miss Heard,' Vaquez said. 'Miss Heard is in fact the abuser and Mr. Depp is the abused.' Heard's lawyer Benjamin Rottenborn, in his closing argument, reminded jurors of explicit text messages from Depp to friends or associates. In one, Depp called Heard a 'filthy whore' and said he wanted her dead and 'would f**k her burnt corpse.' 'This is a window into the heart and mind of America's favourite pirate,' Rottenborn said. 'This is the real Johnny Depp.' At the centre of the legal case is the December 2018 opinion piece by Heard in the Washington Post, in which she made the statement about domestic abuse. The article never mentioned Depp by name, but his lawyer told jurors it was clear that Heard was referring to him. The case centres on an Op-ed by Heard, in which she made claims about domestic abuse but never mentions Depp by name Depp (pictured on Friday) said Heard threw a vodka bottle that cut off the top of his finger during an argument in 2015 Spectators wave to actor Johnny Depp after closing arguments during his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard Heard's attorneys argued that she had told the truth and that her comments were covered as free speech under the US Constitution's First Amendment. 'Your key question to answer is "does the First Amendment give Ms. Heard the right to write the words she wrote?"' Rottenborn told the jury. 'You cannot simultaneously uphold the First Amendment and find in favour of Johnny Depp.' Depp and Heard met in 2011 while filming 'The Rum Diary' and wed in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized about two years later. Over six weeks of proceedings, jurors have listened to recordings of the former couple's fights and seen graphic photos of Depp's bloody finger. Depp said Heard threw a vodka bottle that cut off the top of his finger during an argument in 2015. Heard denied injuring Depp's finger and said Depp sexually assaulted her that night with a liquor bottle. The testimony was livestreamed widely on social media, drawing large audiences to hear details about the couple's troubled relationship. Once among Hollywood's biggest stars, Depp 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. 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 U.S. case in Fairfax County, Virginia, because the Washington Post is printed there. The newspaper is not a defendant. A video shows Russia today testing its new hypersonic Zircon - or Tsirkon - missile ahead of its imminent deployment. The 6,670mph was fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the Barents Sea, and hit a target at a range of 625miles in the White Sea. A statement from the Russian defence ministry said: 'According to objective control data, the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile successfully hit a sea target located at a distance of about 1,000km. 'The flight of the hypersonic missile corresponded to the specified parameters.' Vladimir Putin has poured money into developing new nuclear-capable missiles which - he claims - are 'unstoppable' by Western air defences. Deliveries of the Zircon are due within months and possibly weeks. In December Putin announced a 'flawless' salvo launch involving the Zircon. A video shows Russia today testing its new hypersonic Zircon - or Tsirkon - missile ahead of its imminent deployment Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday) has poured money into developing new nuclear-capable missiles which - he claims - are 'unstoppable' by Western air defences In January, deputy defence minister Alexey Kryvoruchko said: 'The state tests of the Zircon sea-based hypersonic cruise missile are nearing completion. 'From 2022, serial deliveries will begin.' The Zircon will be deployed on Russian frigates and, later, on submarines. Earlier it was identified by Moscow's state-controlled TV as Putin's weapon of choice to wipe out American cities in the event of an atomic conflict. In December Putin hailed 'our newest [Zircon] missiles fired from the sea at sea targets, and land targets. 'The tests were carried out successfully, flawlessly. 'This is a big event for our country, a significant step in improving Russia's security, in increasing (our) defence capability.' It is now in 'serial production', he said, previously calling the weapon 'truly unparalleled in the world'. TV Zvezda - a channel owned by the Russian defence ministry - said of the footage: 'The Russian Zircon hypersonic missile's stealth features have been disclosed The 6,670 mph was fired from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate in the Barents Sea, and hit a target at a range of 625 miles in the White Sea 'The speed of the Zircon hypersonic missile is so high that it prevents the opponent's air defence system from detecting its impact in time. 'In fact, its launch will be known only after the target has been hit.' The missile also has a 'variable trajectory' to avoid detection, viewers were told. The frigate's captain Igor Krokhmal has said previously: 'No one will see the missile launch or its flight. 'They will only see when the missile hits the target,' said the frigate's commander, first rank captain Igor Krokhmal. 'A surface target, a coastal target. I don't think there will be anything to counter this in the next few years.' A young Australian mother tried to kill her infant son by hanging him by a dog leash from a backyard clothesline at her southeast Queensland home. Brisbane Supreme Court heard the Hervey Bay mum, who was then 18, tried to kill her 14 month old son as part of her failed murder-suicide bid. In the early hours of August 14, 2019 the woman gathered her sleeping child, before trying to kill him and then planned to take her own life. But she suddenly changed her mind when she saw her son struggling to breathe as he hung by the leash. The woman woke up her neighbours with 'blood curdling screams', shouting 'save my baby' and 'someone please help my baby'. After calling triple zero, a neighbour jumped the fence and grabbed the baby who had been suspended for about 30 seconds. A young Australian mother tried to kill her infant son by hanging him by a dog leash from a backyard clothesline at her southeast Queensland home He removed the leash from the 'pale' boy and attempted CPR until he heard the child 'make a noise', crown prosecutor Caroline Marco told the Supreme Court in Brisbane. The child was 'unresponsive' when paramedics arrived and he was placed on life support for 48 hours, spending 12 days overall in hospital. He has since made a full recovery. 'He is a regular three-year-old, curious, inquisitive, exceptionally smart - he is in good health,' the court was told. The mother was in a 'state of acute psychological distress' at the time of the incident and had been triggered by a social media post from her 'unsupportive' ex-partner, the boy's father, the court heard. The mother 'couldn't bear the thought of her child being raised by another woman in her absence' and messaged her current partner saying: 'Goodbye ... me and my son will be gone soon'. Justice Freeburn described the incident involving the 'defenceless and vulnerable' child as terrible. 'Without intervention, he would have died,' he said. The young woman cannot be named to protect the identity of her son, who has made a full recovery. The court heard the mother became overwhelmed and extremely distressed before she tried to kill the boy. The mother's defence lawyer said she was suffering with mental health issues and described it as a 'truly tragic case'. Brisbane Supreme Court heard that the Hervey Bay mum tried to kill her 14 month old son in her backyard in August 2019 when she was a teenager The case was referred to the Mental Health Court in 2020 where it was ruled the young mother was fit to stand trial on one charge of attempted murder (domestic violence offence). The court heard she was experiencing depression and PTSD symptoms and had taken alcohol and various medications before the attempted murder-suicide. Justice Freeburn sentenced the woman, now aged 21, to five years in jail but she will be eligible for parole in 12 months. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. A local council have caused outrage among residents by ordering that a memorial bench to a dead war hero be removed - because the family did not get permission for the tribute. The heartbroken family of former Royal Marine Corporal Tony Sutcliff designed a special Remembrance bench to be placed where his ashes had been scattered on Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire last year. But council bosses in Bradford are demanding the tribute to the 44-year-old, who took his own life after battling PTSD for years in 2019, be removed because his family did not have permission for it. The heartbroken family of former Royal Marine Corporal Tony Sutcliff designed a special Remembrance bench to be placed where his ashes had been scattered on Baildon Moor Nearly 4,000 people have signed on online petition calling for the bench to stay put at Tony's final resting place, for his widow, Kate, daughter Lyra, and other loved ones to visit. Tony's brother, David Sutcliffe, who arranged the tribute said the family asked the council for permission but 'never really got anywhere'. 'I put it up there for my brother,' the 43-year-old said. 'He was in the military for 12 years, and he made me promise that if anything ever happened to him I'd scatter his ashes there and put something there to remember him by. 'I asked for permission from the Council, but never really got anywhere so we took it into our own hands.' The Moor was a special place for Tony, a former Para cadet, who loved to keep fit by hiking in the area after joining the Marines at 40 Commando. His wife, Kate, said: 'Tony had been suffering with PTSD for many years since leaving the military but struggled to open up about it. Former Royal Marine Corporal Tony Sutcliff died in April 2019 after battling PTSD for years 'He had so much built-up anger from the tours he did and suffered severe survivor's guilt after a friend and colleague died in action whilst he was away in Dubai. 'The PTSD caused terrible night terrors which continually disturbed his sleep. In the end it all got too much and on the 12th April 2019 he took his own life at home. 'The pain we felt in the following months after Tony's passing was indescribable. Lyra was such a daddy's girl, so to imagine them never together again was absolutely heart breaking.' A spokesperson for Bradford Council said the authority had received 'several complaints' about the bench. 'The Council and its local partners very much support remembrance,' they said. 'But we have received several complaints about the bench as it never received approval before being put there.' The world's oldest man has celebrated his 113th birthday in Venezuela and has thanked drinking a glass of sugarcane hooch everyday as the reason for his long life. Juan Vicente Mora reached the milestone on Friday, May 27, less than two weeks after he was officially declared the oldest male in the world by Guinness World Records. Mora, who has an incredible 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren says the secret to his longevity is due to local alcoholic drink. He said he starts every day with a cup of coffee, while also drinking a glass of aguardiente, which is a liquor made from sugarcane. Juan Vicente Mora, pictured here on his 113th birthday with members of the Bolivarian National Guard, is the oldest man in the world He was officially declared the oldest living man on May 17. Mora credits his long life to drinking sugarcane hooch everyday The booze - which translates into English as firewater - has a minimum of 29 per cent alcohol and some brews go up to 60 per cent. Mora, who is the first known male supercentenarian from Venezuela, gave the advice to 'work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente every day, love God and always carry him in your heart'. The 113-year-old is completely 'lucid', according to a family friend, with doctors saying his only health problems are slightly elevated blood pressure and hearing problems due to his age. The supercentenarian has 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren He does not take medication, with local physician Henrique Bujan saying: 'He seems totally fine to me.' His daughter Nelida Perez said: 'The most beautiful thing is to see him full of health every day. 'He does not have any disease that requires medical attention, or medicine or anything.' He was born as the ninth of 10 siblings in El Cobre, in the western Venezuelan state of Tachira, on May 27, 1909. He moved with his family to the village of Los Pajuiles in San Jose de Bolivar in 1914. He only attended school for five months but fortunately learnt the basics of reading and writing thanks to a notebook given to him by his teacher. Hailing from a family of farmers who planted coffee and sugar cane, he enjoyed a long, successful career as a farmer himself and sold his last remaining plot of land aged 104. Alongside his career in agriculture, he started working as a sheriff aged 34 and would solve land or personal disputes within the community. Mora, photographed on the left in 1951, was married his wife for 60 years before she passed away in 1997 Friends of Mora say he is still completely 'lucid' with doctors saying his only health issues are slightly raised blood pressure and poor hearing due to age In his road to becoming the world's oldest man, Mora sadly outlived his wife Ediofina del Rosario Garcia, with the pair marrying in 1937 after meeting at weekly Catholic mass. They went onto have 11 children together before she died in 1997 - a year he says was one of the hardest in his life. Mora officially took over the title being the world's oldest man on May 17, although he became the oldest when previous holder, Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia from Spain, died in January. Garcia had been born on February 11, 1909 and died at the age of 112 years and 341 days. Despite his advanced age, he still has some way to go before becoming the oldest ever man. That title belongs to Jiroemon Kimura, a Japanese man who reached the age of 116 years and 54 days, living through the entire 20th Century in the process. Jiroemon Kimura, pictured here in 2012, is the oldest ever man. When he died in 2013 he was 116 years old Lucile Randon, pictured, is thought to be the world's oldest living person at the age of 118 years and 106 days The oldest living person is though to be French nun Lucile Randon, who is 118 years and 106 days old, while the oldest person ever is thought to be Jeanne Calment, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days. Recently officials in Brazil claimed to have found a 121-year-old woman living in a village in the municipality of Bom Jesus da Lapa. State officials say medics were left flabbergasted to find Maria Gomes de Reis was born on June 16, 200, when checking her birth certificate. To confirm Gomes dos Reis' spot on the list, she or her family would be required to pay 4,000 Brazilian reais, around $800, and provide legal documents proving her age to Guinness. Advertisement Prince William was up early this morning to rehearse the Queen's annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. The Duke of Cambridge, 39, looked incredibly smart in his red and blue military uniform, which he teamed with the traditional bearskin hat. On his chest he proudly displayed several gleaming medals as he went through the practice session, which is known as the Colonel's Review. The Queen's birthday on June 2 sees her Household Division troops march and ride on Horse Guards Parade, with Her Majesty usually attending and taking the salute. But this year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals. Only William was seen at the run-through today, which went without a hitch - unlike last week. Prince William rose early to take part in the important rehearsal of the important Queen's birthday parade in London The Duke of Cambridge, 39, looked incredibly smart in his red and blue military uniform and black bearskin hat The famous salute at the real Trooping the Colour is usually performed by the Queen but William has stepped in this year Prince William, Duke of Cambridge salutes as he rides a horse across the parade ground during the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade Prince William looked very serious at the rehearsal of the prestigious military birthday event in London for the Queen. Irish Guards wear a blue plume to the right of their bearskin The Colonel's Review is identical to Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, which she will not be at Soldiers are seen on parade during the Colonel's Review - the second rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour, which dates back to 1748 This year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals Members of the Household Division parade during the Colonel's Review ahead of the Trooping of the Colour next week The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the Queen's drum horses parade during the review today Two people had to be rushed to a major trauma hospital and three others needed treatment from paramedics after a stand collapsed at the Trooping the Colour rehearsal on May 21. The 'terrifying' incident took place in front of a crowd of 'shocked' onlookers who had gathered to watch the event in Horse Guard Parade, London, at around 11am. Witnesses reported part of the stand collapsed, causing at least one person to fall through into the area below. Part of the stand was evacuated following the incident, and two people have been taken to hospital by London Ambulance and St John Ambulance for treatment. Three other people who were hurt in the incident were treated at the scene and discharged without needing hospital treatment. Last week it was revealed the Queen would not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 70 years. The Irish Guards regiment was formed in 1900 by order of Queen Victoria in response to the numerous acts of bravery and gallantry shown by Irish soldiers during the Second Boer War The Irish Guards' regimental mascot - an Irish wolfhound - is taken through its paces during the parade review Above, the regimental mascot Turlough Mor - also known as Seamus. The canine is one of the biggest dog breeds in the world The Irish Guards display their regimental flag. Prince William has been Colonel of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards since 2011 During the event, only one colour can be carried ('trooped') at a time. The five Household Regiments - Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards each take their turn each year Prince William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, leads the Colonel's Review on Horse Guards Parade on May 28. The procession can be viewed along The Mall or along the edge of St James's Park in London Spectators watch the rehearsal. The 'colour' in Trooping the Colour refers to the regimental flags of the British Army which were historically described as such because they displayed the uniform colours and insignia worn by the soldiers of different units Irish Guards march across the parade ground on Saturday during the 90-minute rehearsal By sheer coincidence, William's brother Harry was on horseback yesterday playing a polo match for his team in America The Queen will not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 70 years as she continues to delegate responsibility to senior members of The Firm. She is pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Place during the ceremony in 2019 The news comes as the 96-year-old monarch continues to entrust members of the Royal Family with increased responsibilities as she faces 'episodic mobility problems' It came two years after the ceremony had to be scaled back due to coronavirus and took place in Windsor. This year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals. According to the Sunday Times, Her Majesty still hopes to attend some of the ceremony, which kicks off four days of celebration to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The news comes as the 96-year-old monarch continues to entrust members of the Royal Family with increased responsibilities as she faces 'episodic mobility problems'. Earlier this month, Her Majesty missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years, with Prince Charles and Prince William given power to jointly act at the event on the Queen's behalf. She has though made three recent public outings this month, including attending the Windsor Horse Show, star-studded Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Windsor and the opening of the Elizabeth Tube line, appearing in good spirits at all of them. Her Majesty has always been present at the Horse Guards Parade and has taken the royal salute at every Trooping the Colour ceremony during her reign. Traditionally during the ceremony following the Horse Guards Parade, the Queen is greeted by a royal salute before carrying out an inspection of the troops. From her first appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour to 1986, the monarch would attend the ceremony on horseback (Pictured during one of her early ceremonies) The monarch has limited the Trooping The Colour balcony appearance to working members of her family, with the Duke of York and Duke and Duchess of Sussex missing out According to the publication, one option being considered by Palace officials is Her Majesty travelling by carriage from Buckingham Palace to briefly inspect troops before making an appearance on the balcony. Alternatively, Her Majesty may only only appear on the balcony after the duration of the ceremony. Following Trooping the Colour, 18 family members will be on the balcony: The Queen; Charles and Camilla; William and Kate with George, Charlotte and Louis; Edward and Sophie and their children Louise and James; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Prince Andrew and Prince Andrew's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, will not join the royal family there. Harry, Meghan and their children will attend the celebrations, but it is not known at which elements of the four-day Jubilee weekend they could make an appearance. The balcony appearance, which is often seen as the centre-piece of major royal occasions, including Trooping the Colour and weddings, usually sees the Queen's extended family gather to watch a fly-past and is a rare chance for fans to see the entire extended family together. In paring the list down to just 16 people to avoid potential diplomatic pitfalls, the Queen has been forced to omit a number of well-liked family members including her much-loved grandchildren and their families. Labour MP Stella Creasy has said a woman can have a penis and that author JK Rowling is wrong as she recalled being threatened with gang rape at university. The MP for Walthamstow said she has been told she is a 'bad feminist' for disagreeing with the world-renowned Harry Potter author who has voiced concerns that biological women were being put at risk in favour of trans rights. In an interview with the Telegraph to discuss her revelation this month that she had been threatened with gang rape at university, the mother-of-two shared her views on how the word woman should be defined. She told the newspaper: 'Do I think some women were born with penises? Yes. But they are now women and I respect that.' Ms Creasy said she disagrees with the Harry Potter author, adding: 'JK Rowling doesn't support self-identification whereas I do. Of course biological sex is real - it's just not the end of the conversation. 'I am somebody who would say that a trans woman is an adult human female.' Ms Creasy went on to describe the current laws which require two doctors to decide whether someone is a woman as 'bonkers'. Labour MP Stella Creasy (pictured above) has said a woman can have a penis and that author JK Rowling is wrong as she recalled being threatened with gang rape at Cambridge University She added: 'Do I want to live in a world where we're policing everyone who goes into a toilet? No. 'Do I recognise that there are very real concerns about refuges and safe spaces? Yes. Do I think we've got it about right with the Equalities Act? Yeah, more or less.' Earlier this month, the Labour MP revealed she was threatened with gang rape during a two-year campaign of sexual harassment at Cambridge University. The Walthamstow MP said college authorities 'admonished' her instead of punishing the abusers when she made the complaint after running for a student council role at Magdalene College in the 1990s. She said a culture of 'privilege and entitlement' is behind the string of allegations of misconduct that politicians have been sharing, and warned it is not unique to Parliament. Ms Creasy, now 45, said she remains 'terrified' of seeing the men, who have gone on to become doctors, civil servants and 'high-fliers'. Pictured: Harry Potter author JK Rowling has voiced concerns that biological women were being put at risk in favour of trans rights and regularly tweets about the trans debate online The MP said her first experience of sexual harassment was during her first year at Magdalene College. She said it lasted from 1996 to 1998 and included a campaign of abusive posters when she ran for the role of president of the college's student council. Ms Creasy told GB News: 'I'll never forget the night that I was in a room with them all and they threatened to gang rape me, let alone the posters that they put up around the college when I had the temerity to stand for a position in the student union, telling people not to vote for me because of who I'd slept with, and that happened at a Cambridge college.' She said sexual harassment remains a major issue in universities, adding: 'I tell you that because I think that culture isn't unique to Parliament, where there's privilege and entitlement, and, frankly, it's always the men that people think are least likely to do it who are involved in it.' In the interview with broadcaster and former Labour MP Gloria De Piero, Ms Creasy said she was reprimanded by college authorities rather than them taking action against the individuals involved. 'I was held up and I was admonished by the college authorities at the time because they chose to believe the idea that I was probably 'a wronged woman',' Ms Creasy said. The MP said her first experience of sexual harassment was at Magdalene College, Cambridge 'I'm in my mid-40s now and it's the first time I've really felt even willing to talk about it. 'It was terrifying at the time, I'm terrified I'll ever run into those young men again. 'And I say that because, several years after I left university, I did exactly that - I walked into a bar and they were all sat there, and I collapsed inside and left as soon as I could.' Ms Creasy, a prominent campaigner for women's rights including fighting for maternity leave for MPs, who entered the Commons in 2010, has said the abuse will always affect her. 'But one of the things I want to say to women who have experienced those things in life and to the women in Parliament now, is that you will find allies, you will find those of us prepared to stand with you because we know what it's like, we know how hard it is and we know the impact it can have on you,' she added. Cambridge University apologised to Ms Creasy for her 'horrific ordeal', and was expected to be in contact with the MP personally. It comes after Attorney General Suella Braverman praised JK Rowling for her views on the transgender issue as she says schools should not have to pander to pupils who see themselves in a different birth gender. The Tory minister said the Harry Potter author was a 'heroine' for campaigning for female only spaces for those born women and added that schools should be able to treat all children by their birth gender. Attorney General Suella Braverman (above) praised JK Rowling for her views on the trans issue She said schools should not address trans pupils by their chosen pronouns or permit them to wear a school uniform of a different gender. And she added that since those aged under 18 cannot legally change their gender, schools are entitled to treat all children by their birth gender. The Attorney General also told The Times that Rowling, who has come under fierce criticism for her views on gender, is 'very brave, very courageous' and she is on 'her side' on the trans issue. Her support for the Harry Potter author comes in the wake of the news that an 18-year-old girl was forced out of her private school by a mob who attacked her for questioning the 'trans ideology' of a visiting speaker. The sixth form pupil in question thanked JK Rowling for her support after other pupils 'made me think I was mad'. The Most Rev Justin Welby also lent Rowling his support in the Times and said it was 'wrong' to hound the Harry Potter author. He added: 'Its fine to disagree vehemently but not abusively . . . The culture wars approach is where we end up in the greatest trouble.' Mr Welby said a female is 'someone who is sexually a woman, who is born and identifies as a woman or who has transitioned'. A fit and healthy 32-year-old woman thought her chronic cough was just a cold, but was given the terrifying diagnosis she had blood cancer. Anna Howard visited her doctor last December after battling the ongoing cough, which would wake her up at night, for about three months. But as well as the cough, Ms Howard's lymph nodes were also swollen, she had trouble swallowing, was experiencing night sweats, and was often dizzy. On top of that she was struggling with chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Anna Howard, 32, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a form of blood cancer - after struggling with a chronic cough, dizziness, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and night sweats THE LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION'S SIX KEY SYMPTOMS Recurring infections Increased fatigue Night sweats Bone pain Bruising Swollen lymph nodes Advertisement After two failed rounds of antibiotics, Ms Howard's doctor decided to get an X-ray of her chest which revealed a 14cm long tumour leaning on her oesophagus and trachea while touching her heart. Ms Howard told Seven News cancer wasn't something she'd even thought about while dealing with her cough. 'The last thing you think it is going to be is cancer. I just thought I had a cold or it was allergies or something like that,' she said. Within three weeks Ms Howard was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a form of blood cancer. By that time the tumour had grown and was putting pressure on the arteries and veins to her head and a blood clot had formed on her neck. She was almost immediately admitted to hospital and began her six-month-long chemotherapy treatment. Fortunately Ms Howard is now four months in and her treatment is effectively shrinking the tumour. 'It's been really tough. At the start what helped me was to have gratitude for the situation. It's an awful situation, but it could be so much worse,' she said. Ms Howard said that while she believes she's 'lucky' to have been diagnosed with a treatable form of blood cancer she wishes she'd taken her symptoms to a doctor sooner While Ms Howard said she's been 'lucky' to have been diagnosed with a treatable cancer, she wishes she'd taken the time to see a doctor before her symptoms got out of hand. Ms Howard had a simple message for World Blood Cancer Day this weekend: check your symptoms with your GP. 'The earlier you can get on top of these things, most likely the less treatment you're going to have. Do it for the people around you. It impacts them as much as it impacts you,' she said. Ms Howard suggests making a list of any worrying or new symptoms you develop to give doctors a clear picture of what you're struggling with. For World Blood Cancer Day Ms Howard has urged people experiencing odd symptoms to go get them checked because 'the earlier you can get on top of these things, most likely the less treatment you're going to have' The Leukaemia Foundation found that roughly 78 per cent of Australians aren't confident they know the symptoms of blood cancer despite about 50 people being diagnosed every day. Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said the symptoms of blood cancer are often subtle and similar to that of an infection. He urged people to look out for reoccurring infections, increased fatigue, night sweats, bone pain, bruising, or swollen lymph nodes. Iran has been accused of piracy after it seized two Greek oil tankers in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes in revenge for the capture of a Russian-flagged tanker loaded with Iranian oil last month. Using a helicopter and twin speedboats, Iranian forces boarded the Prudent Warrior in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday afternoon. The 24 Greeks and Filipinos on board found themselves in the Hollywood blockbuster-style scenes as their boat was commandeered. They also took the Delta Poseidon but insisted it was due to them 'violating' maritime rules. It signalled further disaster for the oil market when barrel prices have rocketed in the past few months. Prudent Warrioer had been carrying an oil cargo for the US, while Delta Poseidon's goods were for Agioi Theodoroi's Motor Oil refinery. The confirmation of the seizure comes as talks between Tehran and global powers over Iran's nuclear ambitions have stalled in recent months, raising tensions across the Middle East. George Vakirtzis, chief executive of Polembros Shipping, which operates the Prudent Warrior, said the ship was seized in international waters before being directed towards the Iranian coast by authorities. Iranian forces boarded the Prudent Warrior in the Strait of Hormuz by chopper and speedboats The Greek-flagged oil tanker Prudent Warrior was taken in the dramatic scenes on Friday Delta Poseidon was detained as Iran forces insisted it was due to it 'violating' maritime rules Vakirtzis said that his vessel was bound for the US with crude loaded at Basrah in Iraq. 'We lost all communication about 2 o'clock local time and tried to talk to the vessel repeatedly with no answer. We asked other vessels in the same area to give us the position of the vessel. They told us that a helicopter and two speedboats had reached our vessel,' he told the Financial Times. 'It's a seizure and a diplomatic situation and we're in the middle,' he added. Delta Tankers, the operator of the Delta Poseidon, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Greek foreign ministry described the seizure of the tankers as 'acts of piracy'. Last month Athens seized the Russian-flagged Pegas oil tanker subsequently renamed Lana for carrying sanctioned Iranian crude. US authorities are reported to have this week taken the Iranian crude from the tanker. Iran summoned the Greek charge d'affaires to Tehran on Wednesday condemning what it called 'piracy' by Athens. These are where the two boats were both seized by the Iranian forces last week in the move The British flagged Stena Impero was also seized by Iran back in 2019 but was later released On Friday Tehran also called on Switzerland which runs the US interests section in Iran to complain about the seizure of the Iranian tanker and to convey 'strong objections' to the Americans. In 2019 Iran seized a British-flagged oil tanker shortly after the UK stopped an Iranian vessel in Gibraltar that was carrying crude to Syria. The British-flagged Stena Impero was held in Iran for two months before its release. The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow strategic waterway separating Iran from the Gulf states, is one of the world's most important shipping lanes for crude. Approximately a third of all seaborne oil cargoes pass through each day, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Talks over the revival of the 2015 nuclear pact, which former US president Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, have stalled. Western powers want Iran to radically reverse its nuclear programme in return for the US rejoining the pact and lifting a swath of sanctions against its economy, including oil exports. Western diplomats say the main hurdle is the designation of the Revolutionary Guards and its Quds forces as terrorists. Iran wants the designation lifted. It has also made clear it will continue to support militias across the Middle East. A grieving mother forgave the Satan worshipper who stabbed both her daughters to death before police took selfies with their bodies. Sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were found intertwined in undergrowth at Fryent Country Park after suffering 30 stab wounds in a random attack during the early hours of June 6, 2020. Mina Smallman, the mother of Nicole and Bibaa and the first black female archdeacon in the Church of England, has been able to forgive her daughters' killer Danyal Hussein, 19, for the murders. Hussein was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years after being found guilty of their murders in October last year. Nicole and Bibaa's mother Mina Smallman (pictured with her husband Chris) forgave the man who murdered her daughters Mina (centre) pictured with her two daughters Bibaa (left) and Nicole (right) in the BBC documentary The sisters (pictured), who had been celebrating Ms Henry's birthday with friends, were found dead after being stabbed in an unprovoked attack Nicole Smallman (left) and Bibaa Henry (right) were last seen dancing to music with fairy lights around 1am on June 6, 2020, after celebrating Bibaa's birthday with friends in Fryent Country Park Danyal Hussein was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 35 years, in October after being found guilty of the women's murders 'It's about being able to hear beyond the evil of this world,' Ms Smallman told The Sun. 'You have to dig deep when the bad times come.' She added: 'Finding my faith has saved me on numerous occasions and at times like this you need it.' During his trial in July last year, the Old Bailey heard how Hussein had 'butchered' the sisters to death after making a blood pact with a demon to 'sacrifice women' in return for winning the lottery. Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, were found dead in bushes in Fryent Country Park, Wembley, north-west London, in June 2020 Officers guarding forensics tents at Fryent Country Park near Wembley, north London on June 8, 2020 The two sisters had met friends at the park to celebrate Bibaa's birthday, but stayed behind together taking selfies before they were attacked. Two Metropolitan Police officers, Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis, were also jailed for 33 months in December for taking selfies with the bodies as they guarded the crime scene. Ms Smallman previously told The Mirror: 'Something has gone wrong with the vetting and the police has become a safe haven for thugs.' A few weeks after their murder, she described the moment police returned to the home she shares with her husband Chris to inform them of the allegations against Jaffer and Lewis. Ms Smallman said: 'I was really anxious and Chris said: "Mina, what on earth could they possibly tell you that could be worse than what we are going through?" And I said: "No, you're right, the worst has already happened."' Jaffer, 48, and Lewis, 33, had been assigned to protect the scene, but moved from their posts to photograph the women's bodies, with the images shared with colleagues and friends on WhatsApp. Deniz Jaffer (left) and Jamie Lewis (right) were police constables assigned to guard the scene Mrs Smallman speaking outside the Old Bailey in London after Danyal Hussein was found guilty of murder last year The two officers were jailed for two years and nine months at a hearing at the Old Bailey in December 2020, after pleading guilty to misconduct in a public office. An Independent Office for Police Conduct report also previously said Jaffer's phone contained 'numerous incidences of race discrimination and racist language' over a period between June 8 and 22 of the same year. Jaffer and Lewis, neither of whom was wearing forensic protection, had arrived in the park at 3.30am. During the night, Jaffer took four pictures of the bodies in situ and Lewis took two, and superimposed his face on to one of them to create the 'selfie-style' image. She has shared her story as part of a BBC documentary to share the message that those grieving are not alone, but also as part of a determination to change the 'toxic' culture of police. Two Daughters, a documentary presented by Stacey Dooley, will air on BBC2 at 9pm on May 29. A stalker bombarded a former Miss England with nine months of social media messages and 'left her a shell of her former self', a court heard. Dhawal Chaudhary, 27, set up 50 accounts to send explicit sexual content along with pictures and diagrams to the 2017 Miss England winner Stephanie Hill. Ms Hill, who had never met Chaudhary, believes he became infatuated with her when she went to India in 2018 to carry out work for her social media channels. Miss Hill said she begged and pleaded with Chaudhary, who said he was moving to England from India, to leave her alone but the messages changed and became more aggressive. He also started messaging her partner Daniel Harper and set up an Instagram page called: 'We will kill Daniel Harper if he doesn't stay away from Stephanie Hill'. The 27-year-old also wrote in one of these messages shown to the court: 'It's not rape, it's love.' Chaudhary was given a hospital order and an unlimited restraining order at Derby Crown Court. Dhawal Chaudhary, 27, set up 50 accounts to send explicit sexual content along with pictures and diagrams to the 2017 Miss England winner Stephanie Hill (pictured as the crown was placed on her head) He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in July 2021 after arriving back in the UK on a flight from India. Chaudhary, of no fixed address, appeared via video link from the low-security Wells Road Centre in Nottingham. While members of Chaudhary's family were in attendance virtually from India. Addressing the court, Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said the months of abusive messages between October 2020 and June 2021 had left Miss Hill a 'shell of her former self'. Miss Slater said: 'The first contact she had with him was when she returned to the United Kingdom on October 12, 2020. 'She described that when he started contacting her it was all very normal, but then things developed from there and she started to receive strange messages from him because she wasn't replying fast enough.' Miss Slater continued that the messages began to contain explicit sexual content along with pictures and diagrams and contained talk about them having grandchildren. The court heard that when Miss Hill blocked Chaudhary's account he would simply make another one and continue to message her from the new account. Miss Slater read out a statement from Miss Hill from Derbyshire: 'It was relentless and took all the joy out of her job and helping people.' Miss Hill tried to change her name and act like she had left the company she was working for, but that only worked for a few days with Chaudhary telling her he was going to travel to the UK, study for an MBA and he would find her, they would get a flat together and live together. Ms Hill, who had never met Chaudhary, believes he became infatuated with her when she went to India in 2018 to carry out work for her social media channels Miss Slater said that during the course of the messages, Chaudhary set up '50 different accounts to message her, created fake pages on Instagram pretending to be other people and started to tag her in posts, which was the only way he could contact her by the end.' Miss Slater said: 'Mr Harper, her partner, received his first message on December 29, 2020, when Chaudhary created a group chat between the three of them telling them he was going to come to the United Kingdom.' Mr Harper didn't respond and Chaudhary then started to bombard him with messages. Chaudhary also set up a page entitled 'Justice for Sarah Everard', posting comments about that topic, but through that page other people would join in to bully and harass Miss Hill. Chaudhary sent Miss Hill messages saying she was a sex worker and that her partner, Mr Harper, was cheating on her. He also set up a Spotify playlist. As a result, Miss Hill completely removed herself from all forms of social media and reported it to the police. In a statement, Miss Hill said: 'I wouldn't want anyone to live like I have over the last nine months, I've been worn away into a shell of a person. 'I find no joy in doing anything as I feel I have to watch my every movement. I was a strong and confident person before but I've never had anyone treat me like this.' Chaudhary admitted stalking involving serious alarm or distress, and putting a person in fear of violence. Defending Rebecca Coleman told the hearing that the actions of her client have left his family devastated and in a state of shock. She said: 'The impact on Stephanie Hill and Daniel Harper is great but the impact on his family members is also quite significant.' Chaudhary also started messaging her partner Daniel Harper and set up an Instagram page called: 'We will kill Daniel Harper if he doesn't stay away from Stephanie Hill' Sentencing him at Derby Crown Court, Judge Shaun Smith told Chaudhary that he believed his crimes were a result of his mental illness. Dr Younis Saleem said he thought the condition was either erotomania or schizophrenia. Judge Smith handed the 27-year-old, of no fixed address, an unlimited restraining order to keep away from Stephanie Hill, Daniel Harper and Elaine Hill. He also issued a hospital order for Chaudhary to remain at the Wells Road Centre in Nottingham until he is deemed fit to be released. Judge Smith also issued a restriction order adding that he felt Chaudhary was a 'danger to the public.' An appeal was made by Mr Abid Adam, one of Chaudhary's friends, for him to be deported to India for treatment where he could be surrounded by his family. That request was referred to the Home Office by Judge Smith. Miss Hill, with a Master's degree in Translational Oncology, also competed in the Miss Universe Great Britain 2021. She placed in the top five but failed to win the title and said she would be focusing on her work on Urgent Public Health Studies. The PhD Candidate at Cancer Research UK won her 2017 Miss England title after telling them of her dreams of curing cancer. More than 1,000 flights across the United States have been canceled as approximately 39 million people prepare to travel over Memorial Day Weekend. Airlines reported 355 canceled flights within, into or out of the U.S. Saturday morning and nearly 900 delays, according to tracking service Flight Aware. Saturday's early morning cancellations seem to mirror that of Friday which saw more than 1,200 cancellations and over 7,000 delays nationwide. Globally, airlines reported over 2,300 cancellations and 17,500 delays. The majority of Friday's disruptions came out of New York City's three airports and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in DC. As of Saturday morning, the vast majority of delays and cancellations appear to be out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Meanwhile, 39.2 million people are expected to travel this weekend with 3.01 million planning to fly. Approximately 90 percent, or 34.9 million, will travel by car, according to AAA. Over 1.33 million plan to utilize trains and buses or take a cruise. More than 1,000 flights across the United States have been canceled as approximately 39 million people prepare to travel over Memorial Day Weekend The Federal Aviation Association claims staffing issues and traffic volumes caused many of the nation's largest airports to experience ground stops and delays, limiting takeoffs and landings. The staffing shortages, which have been occurring since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, caused many airlines to scrap certain routes and reduce summer flight plans, The Wall Street Journal reported. Simultaneously, the aviation industry is seeing an influx in demands and customers now that COVID restrictions have been lifted, meaning that airlines and flight staff cannot meet the travel demand. New York-area airports have been hardest hit by flight dropping with around 15 percent of flights scrubbed. Airlines reported 355 canceled flights within, into or out of the U.S. Saturday morning and nearly 900 delays, according to tracking service Flight Aware. Saturday's early morning cancellations seem to mirror that of Friday which saw more than 1,200 cancellations and over 7,000 delays nationwide 39.2 million people are expected to travel this weekend with 3.01 million planning to fly. Ninety percent of people will travel by car Delta Air Lines, one of America's 'Big Four' air carriers, canceled six percent of its mainline routes on Friday disrupting Memorial Day weekend travel. The airline has also scrubbed several of its summertime routes. 'In recent months, we've made a number of adjustments to minimize disruptions and bounce back faster when challenges occur. And that's why we'll be taking additional steps in the coming days and weeks to strategically decrease our flight schedule this summer,' Delta said in a press release Thursday. 'From July 1-Aug. 7, we'll reduce service by approximately 100 daily departures, primarily in markets in the U.S. and Latin America that Delta frequently serves.' The airline, on Saturday in a statement to Insider, added: 'For this Memorial Day weekend, we are looking to enact cancelations at least 24 hours in advance of departure time wherever possible. Our schedule today reflects heavy impact from adverse weather and air traffic control actions yesterday.' Delta did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Similarly, American and United are reducing flight capacity against their pre-pandemic levels. Several airlines also revealed they are cutting back on training requirements to get more pilots in the skies amid ongoing staffing shortages which the air carriers claim have 'exacerbated scheduling issues.' The majority of Friday's disruptions came out of New York City's three airports and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in DC. Travelers are pictured Friday at JFK Airport in NYC Approximately 1.33 million plan to utilize trains and buses over Memorial Day weekend. Travelers are pictured waiting to board trains at the Moynihan Train Hall in NYC on Friday Motorists can also expect significant delays this weekend as more than 34 million people hit the roads. Congested traffic patterns are seen along the New Jersey turnpike on Friday Motorists can also expect significant delays this weekend as more than 34 million people hit the roads, an increase of over one million compared to last Memorial Day. AAA traffic data partner INRIX predicts 'drivers in major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip' this weekend. The data service claims the worst of the delays should've taken place on Thursday and Friday afternoon, however roadway congested is expected throughout the entire weekend. The top three worst cities to drive in this weekend are Atlanta, Boston and Chicago, respectively. INRIX also advised that those who do choose travel this weekend should hit the road before 10am, noting that afternoon into early evening would see peak traffic jams and delays. The worst of the delays should've taken place on Thursday and Friday afternoon, however roadway congested is expected throughout the entire weekend. Travelers are pictured in NYC on Friday boarding a shuttle bus to JFK Airport Those who do choose travel this weekend should hit the road before 10am. Traffic will become more congested in the afternoon and early evenings. Motorists are pictured driving along the congested Capital Beltway surrounding DC on Friday Travelers and holiday celebrators alike should be prepared for the chance of severe weather Additionally, travelers and holiday celebrators alike should be prepared for the chance of severe weather, AccuWeather warned. Much of the northwest U.S. is expecting showers, rain and thunderstorms throughout the holiday weekend, with parts of Wyoming and Montana preparing for the possibility of snow. Floridians and those along the southern Atlantic coast, in Georgia and South Carolina, can also expect rainy weather to spoil their weekend fun. A swath of thunderstorms from the Carolinas to eastern New York brought powerful wind gusts, hail and at least one isolated tornado Friday evening. The same system of storms prompted multiple tornado watches in portions of Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland. However, the risk of gusty thunderstorms and flooding downpours, while still there, will shrink over the northeast on Saturday. The storm is forecasted to keep moving eastbound, allowing a zone of dry and warm air to build from then central U.S. Forecasters predict east coast residents will have better chances of enjoying outdoor festivities on Sunday and Monday. The first confirmed case of monkeypox has been identified in Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said. The infection was reported in the east of Ireland on Friday evening and the affected person was not kept in hospital. Health officials have said a second suspected case is also being investigated. A public health risk assessment has been carried out and those who have been in contact with the person are being advised on what to do if they become ill. In a statement, the HSE said: 'The Health Protection Surveillance Centre was notified last night of a confirmed case of monkeypox in Ireland, in the east of the country.' 'This was not unexpected following the presence of monkeypox cases in the UK and many European countries,' it added. Mateo Prochazka, head of the UK Health Security Agency, is urging worried Britons to use local sexual health services rather than 111 so its staff can focus more on handling other health queries. It comes as another 16 cases of monkeypox have been spotted in the UK, pushing the total above 100. Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash or scabby lesions (like above) 'Public Health is following up those who had close contact with the person with monkeypox while they were infectious. 'In order to maintain patient confidentiality, no further information about this person will be provided.' It comes after a further 16 cases of the virus were identified in England on Friday. The first cases in Wales and Northern Ireland were recorded on Thursday, while Scotland has confirmed three cases in total. The new cases bring the England total to 101 since May 7, and the UK total to 106. Almost 200 cases have been reported in over 20 countries which are not usually known to have outbreaks of the virus. It comes as the medical helpline NHS 111 is being swamped by callers with a rash who think they might have monkeypox, according to a health official. Mateo Prochazka, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigating the outbreak, is urging worried Britons to use local sexual health services rather than 111 so its staff can focus more on handling other health queries. Health chiefs are alarmed about the ever-growing cluster of cases, given that until now the smallpox-like infection was confined to a handful of people with travel links to Africa. The majority are among gay and bisexual men. 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 infections are 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 and Northern Ireland detect their first monkeypox case in the recent outbreak, while Scotland spots two more cases and England logs eight, bringing UK total to 90. MAY 27, 2022: England detects 16 more cases, meaning 106 people in Britain have confirmed infections. Advertisement Mr Prochazka told The Daily Telegraph: 'Sexual health clinics are not just for gay and bisexual men. Anyone can be seen in a sexual health clinic, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or identity. Everyone is welcome.' 'There are other potential routes of trying to get yourself into the system, maybe calling NHS 111, but this resource has been really overloaded with everyone calling who had a rash,' he added, during a webinar hosted by Prepster, a volunteer group of London-based HIV prevention campaigners. Meanwhile, a scientific group advising the UK Government has called for the pet hamsters, rabbits and other rodents owned by infected patients to be isolated for three weeks. The Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group said these animals were at the highest risk of catching the virus, and they could spread it into wild populations. Experts fear that if the virus is unleashed into wild animal populations then it will become endemic and be hard to eradicate, as is the case in parts of western and central Africa. In new guidance issued on Friday, the group said: 'Based on current evidence, for pet rodents in households where there are infected people, temporary removal from the household for a limited quarantine period (21 days) and testing to exclude infection is recommended, particularly where there are infected human contacts who have had close direct and prolonged contact with the animal or its bedding and/or litter.' The panel warned that hedgehogs, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits and hares could all harbour the virus if monkeypox was to spill into Britain's wildlife populations. In households already infected, dogs, cats and other pets will be allowed to stay in the home with their owner but must undergo 'regular vet checks' after their isolation period to make sure they do not have the virus. 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. 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. Officials are confident the monkeypox outbreak will not grow exponentially like Covid, saying the risk to the public remains low. However, they have urged Britons, especially men who have sex with men, to be on the lookout for any new rashes or lesions, which appear like spots, ulcers or blisters, on any part of their body. Anyone worried about a rash is advised to call their sexual health clinic immediately. Twenty countries across the world have now been affected by the current outbreak. Teams from the UKHSA are contacting high-risk contacts of confirmed cases and advising them to self-isolate at home for three weeks and avoid contact with children. Both confirmed cases and close contacts are being offered the Imvanex vaccine 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. Dr Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA's chief medical adviser, said: 'We are continuing to promptly identify further monkeypox cases in England through our extensive surveillance and contact tracing networks, our vigilant NHS services, and thanks to people coming forward with symptoms. 'We are asking people to look out for new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body. 'If anyone suspects they might have these, particularly if they have recently had a new sexual partner, they should limit their contact with others and contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service as soon as possible, though please phone ahead before attending in person.' The disease, first discovered in lab monkeys in the late 1950s, is usually mild but can cause severe illness in some cases. It can kill up to 10 per cent of people it infects. The milder strain causing the current outbreak kills one in 100 similar to when Covid first hit. Monkeypox has an incubation period of anywhere up to 21 days, meaning it can take three weeks for symptoms to appear. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. 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 A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, which then spreads to other parts of the body including the genitals. The rash can look like chickenpox or syphilis, and scabs can form which then fall off. The current outbreak, first detected in a traveller from Nigeria to the UK on May 6, has been linked to several super-spreader events, including a gay pride festival in Gran Canaria, a fetish festival in Belgium and a 'sauna' in Spain. Experts this week revealed sexual transmission at these events is the leading theory behind the origins of the current cluster of cases. There are already fears the global outbreak of monkeypox may mean it can never be eradicated in the UK and Europe forever. It comes after an ex-WHO official claimed monkeypox may have been spreading under the radar in Europe for four years. Dr Adam Kucharski, a UK Government scientist and epidemiologist, said that while new cases may slow down, the 'biggest risk' is that they will 'not be eliminated in some places'. 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 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. 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. 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. 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) Is it related to chickenpox? Despite causing a similar rash, chickenpox is not related to monkeypox. The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. For comparison, monkeypox like smallpox is an orthopoxvirus. Because of this link, smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox. Are young people more vulnerable? Britons aged under 50 may be more susceptible to monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization. This is because children in the UK were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1971. The WHO also warns that the fatality rate has been higher among young children. Does it spread as easily as Covid? Leading experts insist we won't be seeing Covid-style levels of transmission in the monkeypox outbreak. A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick is two. This is lower than the original Wuhan variant of Covid and about a third of the R rate of the Indian 'Delta' strain. But the real rate is likely much lower because 'distinctive symptoms greatly aid in its early detection and containment,' the team said, meaning it's easy to spot cases and isolate them. Covid is mainly spread through droplets an infected person releases whenever they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze. How is the UK managing the outbreak? MailOnline revealed close contacts of monkeypox cases, including NHS workers, are being offered the Imvanex smallpox vaccine. The strategy, known as ring vaccination, involves jabbing and monitoring anyone around an infected person to form a buffer of immune people to limit the spread of a disease. Additionally, close contacts of those with a confirmed monkeypox infection are being told to stay at home for 21 days and avoid contact under-12s, immunosuppressed people and pregnant women. The Government said unprotected direct contact or high risk environmental contact includes living in the same house as someone with monkeypox, having sexual contact with them or even just changing their bedding 'without appropriate PPE'. As with Covid, someone who has come within one metre of an infected person is classed as a monkeypox contact. This lower category of contact, which also includes sitting next to a person with monkeypox on a plane, means a tracer will call the person every day for three weeks and they will be advised to stay off work for 21 days if their job involves children or immuno-suppressed colleagues. The UK has stopped short of requiring people by law to quarantine if they develop monkeypox, but ministers are considering a public health campaign to alert gay and bisexual men, because of the number of cases in this group. What if it continues to spread? Experts told MailOnline they 'could see a role' for a targeted jab rollout to gay men in the UK 'if this isn't brought under control quickly'. Close contacts of the UK's known cases are already being offered the jab, which was originally designed for smallpox. The two rash-causing viruses are very similar. A health source told MailOnline 'there would be a number of strategies we'd look at' if cases continued to rise. Professor Kevin Fenton, London's public health regional director, said if the outbreak in the capital continues to grow then the rollout of vaccines and treatments could be broadened to more groups. He said there are 'plans in place' to have more antivirals if the outbreak keeps growing. What other countries have spotted cases? Around 20 countries including the US, Spain and Italy have detected cases of monkeypox. The most cases have been detected in Spain, Portugal, Canada and the UK. Within Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland have also confirmed cases. Australia, Israel and the Canary Islands also have monkeypox patients, while health chiefs in Argentina are investigating a possible case. There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox, including the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January Is there a vaccine for it? The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses behind the illnesses are closely related. Data shows it prevents around 85 per cent of cases, and has been used 'off-label' in the UK since 2018. The jab, thought to cost 20 per dose, contains a modified vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people. Because of its similarity to the pox viruses, antibodies produced against this virus offer cross protection. Are there any drugs to treat it? There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox. This includes the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January. Tecovirimat prevents the virus from leaving an infected cell, hindering the spread of the virus within the body. An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also works by stopping the growth of the virus. Advertisement Iran has revealed it has a massive underground military base brimming with missile-firing drones in a secret bunker beneath a mountain range. With concrete tunnels and military officials using buggies to get around, it looks like a James Bond supervillain's lair and it has its very own array of deadly weapons to fit the bill. The Iranian army gave some details, but not the exact location, of its secret underground base amid simmering tensions in the Gulf. State TV said 100 drones were being kept in the heart of the Zagros mountains, including Ababil-5, which it said were fitted with Qaem-9 missiles, an Iranian-made version of air-to-surface US Hellfire. The Iranian army gave some details, but not the exact location, of its secret underground base amid simmering tensions in the Gulf With concrete tunnels and military officials using buggies to get around, it looks like a James Bond supervillain's lair and it has its very own array of deadly weapons to fit the bill State TV said 100 drones were being kept in the heart of the Zagros mountains, including Ababil-5 Iran has revealed it has a massive underground military base brimming with missile-firing drones in a secret bunker beneath a mountain range TV footage showed rows of drones fitted with missiles in a tunnel, which it said was several hundred metres underground The Ababil-5 drones are fitted with Qaem-9 missiles, an Iranian-made version of air-to-surface US Hellfire, with deadly capabilities Each drone can be fitted with multiple missiles that can cause a huge amount of damage. Iran ha at least 100 missile-firing drones in the base One reason Iran might be keeping the drones hidden is to prevent the country's enemies from destroying its huge fleet An Iranian state TV correspondent said he was made to wear a blindfold on the 45-minute helicopter flight from Kermanshah in western Iran to a secret underground drone site The TV correspondent said he was only allowed to take his blindfolds off only upon arrival at the secret base One reason Iran might be keeping the drones hidden is to prevent the country's enemies from destroying its huge fleet. 'No doubt the drones of Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces are the region's most powerful,' army commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said. 'Our capability to upgrade drones is unstoppable.' An Iranian state TV correspondent said he was made to wear a blindfold on the 45-minute helicopter flight from Kermanshah in western Iran to a secret underground drone site. He was allowed to take blindfolds off only upon arrival at the base, he said. The TV report came a day after Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized two Greek tankers in the Gulf It was an apparent retaliation for the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States from a tanker held off the Greek coast Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, due to European Union sanctions The United States later confiscated the Iranian oil cargo held onboard and plans to send it to the United States on another vessel The Pegas was later released, but the seizure inflamed tensions at a delicate time for Iran and neighbouring countries Iran and world powers have been seeking to revive a nuclear deal that former US President Donald Trump abandoned, reimposing sanctions on Tehran Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi (right) and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri visiting an underground drone base 'No doubt the drones of Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces are the region's most powerful,' army commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said. 'Our capability to upgrade drones is unstoppable.' Iranian army commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi added: 'Our capability to upgrade drones is unstoppable' The two army chiefs looked over their large fleet of deadly drones from an ochre buggy used to drive them around the base Artificial lights showcased the drones lined up and ready to be deployed to help Iran's military if needed The drones are in a bunker underneath a mountain range but the exact location is unknown and a heavily guarded secret TV footage showed rows of drones fitted with missiles in a tunnel, which it said was several hundred metres underground. The TV report came a day after Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized two Greek tankers in the Gulf, in an apparent retaliation for the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States from a tanker held off the Greek coast. Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, due to European Union sanctions. The United States later confiscated the Iranian oil cargo held onboard and plans to send it to the United States on another vessel. The Pegas was later released, but the seizure inflamed tensions at a delicate time, with Iran and world powers seeking to revive a nuclear deal that former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned, reimposing sanctions on Tehran. Police are hunting for a convicted sex offender after he was released from prison and disappeared. Daniel Joslin, 40, who is a risk to young women and girls, was last seen in the vicinity of St Marie's Catholic Church, Oak Street, Rugby, at around 7.29am on Wednesday, May 25. He is wanted for failing to comply with a Registered Sex Offender notification after his release from prison in May. Joslin is a white male, 6ft 1ins tall, of slim build and is known to use a number of aliases. Police are hunting for Daniel Joslin (above), 40, a convicted sex offender, after he was released from prison and disappeared The Met said: 'He has previously targeted young women and girls and is considered to be a risk to both. 'If Joslin is seen do not approach him but call 999 immediately.' It is the second time police have appealed to find Joslin. He previously went missing in east London in February. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote EWMS 02RC/864258 or 02CW/864258 To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. Elon Musk is finally weighing in on the high-profile defamation trial of his ex-girlfriend Amber Heard and Johnny Depp after six weeks of testimony that has captivated the world. The Tesla CEO took to Twitter on Saturday just a day after the case was sent to the jury. A verdict is expected next week. 'I hope they both move on,' Musk tweeted. 'At their best, they are each incredible.' Musk and Heard began dating around the time of her split with Depp in May 2016 and by August the following year they had broken up. They got together again and dated briefly. Elon Musk, who briefly dated Amber Heard, spoke out Saturday on the high-profile defamation trial of Heard and Johnny Depp Musk says he hopes his ex Amber Heard and her former husband Johnny can 'both move on' after their highly publicized bitter defamation trial. They are pictured together in 2016 The Tesla CEO took to Twitter on Saturday just a day after the case was sent to the jury - and stated that he hopes both Depp and Heard are able to move on Musk's tweet on Saturday was in response to MIT research scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman who tweeted his takeaways from the trial. 'My takeaways from Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial: 1. Fame is one hell of a drug (for some). 2. Psychiatrists & lawyers come in drastically varying levels of skill. 3. Lying to millions of people is something humans are capable of. 4. Love can be messy. 5. Mega pint of wine.' For six weeks, bombshell testimony focused on details of alleged abuse that Heard says she suffered at the hands of Depp. Heard has outlined more than a dozen specific instances where she says she was assaulted by Depp. Depp has denied any physical or sexual abuse, and says Heard concocted the claims to destroy Depp's reputation. Depp's legions of online fans have focused on their belief that Heard has been untruthful, and that that will determine the outcome. But the case itself is a defamation claim. Depp, 58, sued his ex-wife Heard for $50 million for an op-ed piece she wrote for the Washington Post in 2018 in which she claimed to a 'public figure representing domestic abuse.' His team argues that she was the abuser and have provided evidence of recordings of the actress where she admits to hitting Depp. They also say she threw a bottle at him which cut off his finger, forcing him to have multiple surgeries to repair it. Musk's tweet on Saturday was in response to MIT research scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman who tweeted his takeaways from the trial Heard then filed a $100 million countersuit against the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' star, stating that the 2020 'Waldman statements' given to the media by Depp's former lawyer Adam Waldman claimed her allegations to be an 'abuse hoax.' The jury began deliberations at 2:57 p.m. and two hours later were sent home for the weekend by Judge Penney Azcarate. Jurors will reconvene at 9 a.m. Tuesday after the Memorial day holiday weekend. A verdict in the case is expected next week. Depp's lawyers tried to subpoena Musk to grill him over allegations he had an affair with Heard during her 18-month marriage to Depp. But Musk, a non-resident of Virginia where the trial is being held, cannot be forced to attend proceedings at the Fairfax County Circuit Court, either in person or via video-link. Musk has made no secret of the fact he dated Heard on and off for several years but he's always maintained the relationship only became romantic months after her split from Depp. Heard testified last week about meeting Musk on the Met Gala red carpet in 2016 after Depp 'stood her up'. She said: 'I didn't recognize him until we started talking. He'd reminded me we'd met once before. We spoke on the red carpet in the waiting line. He seemed like a real gentleman.' Heard said she became friends with Musk after that. She began dating the Tesla founder soon after and by August the following year they had broken up. Depp waves to his fans as he left the courthouse Friday to await a verdict in the $50M suit he filed against ex Amber Heard for the op-ed piece she wrote he claims ruined his career Heard (pictured leaving court Friday to await the verdict) filed a $100 million countersuit against Depp for statements given to the media that called her allegations a hoax Amber Heard testified about meeting ex-boyfriend Elon Musk at the Met Gala in 2016. She dated him around the time of her split from Johnny Depp. Musk walked the red carpet with his mother Maye at the 2022 Met Gala Last month Depp's former agent Christian Carino told the court about emails sent to him by Heard after she broke up with Elon Musk. Carino, a talent agent with mega agency CAA and Lady Gaga's ex-fiance, said that Heard began dating Musk 'immediately after Johnny Depp.' In an email on August 7, 2017, Heard told Carino: 'Dealing with breakup. I hate when things go public. See I'm so sad.' Carino replied to Heard: 'You weren't in love with him. You told me 1,000 times you were just feeling space.' Depp's team also sought in vain to question Musk over suggestions he paid $500,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union on Heard's behalf. In the wake of their 2016 divorce Heard famously vowed to give away her entire $7 million settlement, splitting it equally between the ACLU and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Depp's lawyers subpoenaed both organizations to ask how much they actually received and were provided with paperwork suggesting the hospital got $100,000, rather than the promised $3.5 million. Documents supplied by the ACLU suggested Heard donated $350,000 on top of $100,000 that came from Depp on her behalf. Another $500,000 came from someone named 'Elon', according to Depp's lawyers. In bombshell testimony last week, Heard admitted to failing to pay her pledged $3.5million donation to the ACLU after claiming to have made the contribution. Amber Heard testified that she failed to pay her pledged $3.5million donation to the ACLU because of Johnny Depp's $50million lawsuit against her However, Heard has claimed several times - including under oath in her 2020 libel case with Depp in the UK - that she had donated the entire settlement to charity Heard said it was Depp suing her that kept her from fulfilling her pledge to donate her entire $7million divorce settlement. However, Heard has claimed several times - including under oath in Depp's 2020 libel case in the UK - that she had donated the entire settlement to charity. Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez also argued yesterday that Heard had the money for months before the lawsuit, yet failed to donate the money as she promised. The disclosure led to accusations that Heard misled the public when talking about the donations on talk shows and may have lied under oath. Vasquez also alleged that Heard had purposely not donated the money to charity so she could keep as much as possible for herself - a claim vehemently denied by Heard. Heard's lawyer Elaine Bredehoft asked the star why she accepted a $7m settlement from Depp. She said: 'I didn't care about the money. I was told if I didn't agree to a number it could be overturned, we would never settle. I took far less than what they were offering and what I was entitled to.' Heard said she donated the money to charity because she was 'never interested in Johnny's money'. She added: 'I just wanted my safety and my future and he compromised that.I wanted him to leave me alone. I've been saying that since 2016.' While Musk refused to testify at this month's trial, he did have a brief cameo at London's High Court last year when Depp sued News Group Newspapers over a 2018 article in The Sun that described him as 'wife beater'. The court was read a text message from Depp to a friend that made an apparent reference to Musk, reading: 'Brother, I'm sorry to even ask but she sucked mollusk's crooked d*** and he gave her some sh**y lawyers. 'I have no mercy left of what I thought was love for this gold-digging, low level, dime-a-dozen mushy, pointless, flappy fish market.' The texts were read again for the court in Fairfax, Virginia this week at a trial that has become a circus with bizarre testimony and daily antics fueling an endless supply of memes and attracting massive crowds. As the trial entered its final days this week, devoted fans lined up outside the courthouse for some of their last chances to sit in on the legal drama. Most of the fans could be seen flaunting their support of the 58-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean' star, holding up signs calling for 'Justice for Johnny.' A handful of supporters showed up for Heard. All of them are hoping to get their hands on a wristband, which granted them entry into the courtroom spectacle that has blown up social media. Many were not afraid to show their allegiance to the Pirates of the Caribbean star, holding up signs saying 'Justice for Johnny' Throughout the six-week long 'circus' of a trial, Heard's attorneys have tried to paint Depp as an abuser and called in a psychiatrist on Monday to testify about his behavior. But online, many of Depp's supporters have vilified Heard, with some even taking to WebMD and Google Reviews to slam the psychiatrist, who claimed Depp has the 'behaviors of someone' who is abusive despite never examining the actor himself. On Thursday, Heard broke down on the stand as she told the courtroom how 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. 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.' 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. President Joe Biden told the University of Delaware graduates to be tolerant and see people who disagree with them as neighbors rather than enemies. Speaking to more than 6,000 graduates, and with the nation mourning victims of two mass shootings in as many weeks. Biden lamented the division and hatred in the country he governs. He bemoaned a 'crisis of faith' in US institutions and he pressed graduates to work to bind up the country's wounds. Biden told graduates to remember that 'democracy is a human enterprise.' 'We do many things well,' the president said. 'Sometimes we fall short. That's true in our own lives. It's true in the life of the nation. And yet democracy makes progress possible. And progress comes when we begin to see each other again not as enemies but as neighbors.' He spoke as dozens of universities across the United States have been roiled by woke scandals in recent years. Students have been accused of trying to hinder the free speech of those whose views they deem 'harmful' on hot button issues including race, transgenderism and COVID safety measures. 'Your generation, more than anyone else will have to answer the question: Who are we? What do we stand for? What do we believe? Who will we be?' Biden said. 'You can make the difference, you can lift the country up, you can meet the challenges of our time.' 'There's one message I hope you take from me today: This is no time to be on the sidelines,' he added. 'We need all of you to get engaged in public life and the life of this nation.' President Joe Biden, 79, told the University of Delaware graduates to be more tolerant and treat others like their neighbor He also said this generation makes him more 'optimistic' because they are the 'most generous, the most tolerant, the least prejudiced, the best-educated generation this nation has ever known and that's a simple fact' Biden spoke of the country's bitter division over Vietnam in the 1960s and the grief that followed the killings of 'heroes' - two Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr. But through those tumultuous times came progress on civil rights and voting rights, for example, the president said. 'Well, now it's your hour. The challenges are immense, foreign and domestic, but so are the possibilities...Everything is possible in America,' he said. 'This is a decisive decade for America at a time when we can choose the future we want, at a time when we must decide that darkness will not prevail over light.' Biden also said he had 'never been so optimistic in my entire life' than he was now because how the new generation behaves. 'Because of you, because this generation makes me more optimistic,' he said. 'Your generation is the most generous, the most tolerant, the least prejudiced, the best-educated generation this nation has ever known and that's a simple fact. 'It's your generation more than anyone else who will have to answer the questions: Who are we, what do we stand for, what do we believe, who will we be. 'Keep the faith and take it back,' he exhorted. 'Please. This is yours. Take it back. We need you. 'I really mean it, I really believe in you, thank you, thank you, thank you,' he closed his speech. In true politician style, the president brought up current affairs, such as the Texas school massacre and 'war' America is experiencing with itself. 'Progress in our country has always been met with ferocious pushback from the oldest and darkest forces in America, always. 'We should not be surprised that these same forces are fighting back again, preying on hopelessness and despair, demonizing people who don't look like them, doing everything no matter how desperate to hold on to power. 'This is never going to be an easy battle, and it never has been because it's occurred before in America, the oldest and darkest forces in the past may believe they'll determine America's future, but I promise you, remember I said this, if you remember nothing I said at this graduation [is that] they are wrong - wrong, wrong, wrong. 'We will not lose the right to vote, the right to self-determination, the right to choose, the right to marry the person you love. We must and will stand together to save the planet and preserve democracy when America is literally facing war with itself,' told the Delaware graduates. Biden also referred to the recent mass shootings: 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, and on May 14, a gunman espousing racist hatred killed 10 black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Biden took a selfie with the president of the school at commencement 'Too much violence. Too much fear. Too much grief,' Biden said in his graduation speech. 'Let's be clear: Evil came to that elementary school classroom in Texas, to that grocery store in New York, to far too many places where innocents have died.' The president said that 'we cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can make America safer.' He called on 'all Americans at this hour to join hands and make your voices heard, to work together to make this nation what it can and should be. ' 'It feels like coming home because this is home,' Biden said, reflecting that 'some of the best and most important years of my life were spent here.' Despite speaking to the newly minted graduates with plenty of college debt, the president didn't mention the status on his campaign promise to help alleviate student loans. The White House recently cautioned that the administration has not made a final decision regarding loans. 'No decisions have been made yet but as a reminder no one has been required to pay a single dime of student loans since the President took office,' Assistant Press Secretary Vedant Patel told DailyMail.com. Students cheer on the president during graduation on Saturday Graduates celebrate during the University of Delaware Class of 2022 commencement ceremony The loan forgiveness plan would apply to those who earned less than $150,000 in the previous year, or less than $300,000 for married couples filing jointly, the Washington Post reported. The executive order has been drafted and Biden is weighing whether or not to sign it, CNN reported. Prominent liberals in the Democratic Party - including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - have been pressuring Biden to forgive student loans. Ocasio-Cortez commented on the reports, saying $10,000 wasn't enough. '$10k means tested forgiveness is just enough to anger the people against it *and* the people who need forgiveness the most. $10k relieves most the people who owe the least. What relief is there for the most desperate? For them, interest will undo that 10k fast. We can do better,' she wrote on Twitter. Republicans have blasted the idea, saying it wastes federal dollars. Biden was presented with the university's medal of distinction before his remarks. He had previously received an honorary degree in 2004. Biden, who graduated from the university in 1965 with a double major in history and political science, served as a senator in Delaware for more than 30 years before becoming vice president. It was his fifth commencement address at the university, where the school of public policy and administration bears his name. He also spoke to graduates in 1978, 1987, 2004 and 2014. His sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, also graduated from the university. A former U.S. Army reservist described as a Nazi sympathizer found guilty on all counts for his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol on Friday. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, who wore a 'Hitler-style mustache', was also convicted of disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors. He was indicted on five counts: obstruction of an official proceeding, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or destructive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. The obstruction charge is a felony. The rest are misdemeanors. In his defense, Hale-Cussanelli claimed he didn't know that Congress met at the Capitol, saying, he 'didn't know there was an actual building that was called the 'Capitol,' WUSA-TV reported. Hale-Cusanelli's trial was the fifth before a jury and the seventh overall for a Capitol riot case. The first four juries unanimously convicted the riot defendants of all charges. Roughly 300 others have pleaded guilty to crimes stemming from the riot, including seditious conspiracy and assault. Prosecutors said Hale-Cusanelli, who also worked a security contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County, embraced white supremacist and anti-Semitic ideology and wore an Adolf Hitler-style mustache to work. On his cellphone, investigators found photos of him with the distinctive mustache and combed-over hairstyle associated with the Nazi leader. Hale-Cusanelli is seen here in his 'Hitler' style mustache, worked a security contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County when he joined the pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, was also convicted of disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors Prosecutors said Hale-Cusanelli embraced white supremacist and antisemitic ideology and wore an Adolf Hitler-style mustache to work. On his cellphone, investigators found photos of him with the distinctive mustache and combed-over hairstyle associated with the Nazi leader A photo of Hale-Cusanelli with an angry mob during the US Capitol riots on January 6 Hale-Cusanelli had a 'secret' security clearance for his job as a security contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. The alleged white supremacist, had lived on the base with a roommate. His roommate allegedly reported him to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and secretly recorded a conversation about the Capitol riot. During the trial's opening statements Tuesday, a Justice Department prosecutor said Hale-Cusanelli stormed the Capitol because he wanted to kick off a civil war and create 'a clean slate.' Defense attorney Jonathan Crisp told jurors that 'groupthink' and a desperate desire 'to be heard' drove Hale-Cusanelli to follow a mob into the Capitol. Crisp described Hale-Cusanelli as a bombastic agitator prone to making 'extreme statements to get attention.' In pretrial court filings, prosecutors framed Hale-Cusanelli's bigoted, anti-Semitic views as motivating factors for his participation in the Jan. 6 riot and his desire for a civil war. One Navy seaman said Hale-Cusanelli told him 'he would kill all the Jews and eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and he wouldn't need to season them because the salt from their tears would make it flavorful enough,' according to prosecutors. Other coworkers recalled the former US Army reservist making derogatory remarks about women, Black people and other minorities, prosecutors said. Before the trial, Crisp argued that any testimony about Hale-Cusanelli's alleged statements about Jewish people and their role in the U.S. government would be 'highly prejudicial in nature without substantive value.' Crisp acknowledged Hale-Cusanelli shouldn't have entered the Capitol building. 'But the question of why he was there is what is important,' he told jurors Tuesday. Crisp said Hale-Cusanelli believed then-President Donald Trump's false claims about a stolen election. But the defense attorney said Hale-Cusanelli went to Washington to peacefully protest, wearing a suit while many others wore tactical gear. A video captured Hale-Cusanelli yelling profanities at police officers and screaming, 'The revolution will be televised!' 'This was not a peaceful protest,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Fifield said. More than 800 people have been charged with Capitol crimes stemming from the riot. Many of then are military veterans. Hale-Cusanelli is among a few defendants who were on active duty on Jan. 6. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who presided over Hale-Cusanelli's trial, decided two other Capitol riot cases after hearing testimony without a jury. McFadden acquitted one of the defendants of all charges and partially acquitted the other after bench trials. Hale-Cusanelli was arrested less than two weeks after the attack and has remained jailed since February 2021. He was discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves and barred from the Navy base after his arrest. Hale-Cusanelli was seen in the Capitol building on January 6 The Department of Justice motion to oppose the conditional release of Timothy Hale-Cusanelli ahead of his trial In his defense, Hale-Cussanelli claimed he didn't know that Congress met at the Capitol building saying, he 'didn't know there was an actual building that was called the 'Capitol.' And, recognized that 'it's embarrassing and idiotic'. He is pictured flashing an OK sign which has ties to white supremacy On Friday, the former top leader of the Proud Boys, Henry 'Enrique' Tarrio will remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol and stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order late Friday. Tarrio, a South Florida resident, has been jailed since his arrest on March 8, a day after his indictment on charges including conspiracy. A federal magistrate in Miami previously ordered his pretrial detention. Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders used encrypted channels, social media and other electronic communications to plan and carry out a plot to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and interfere with the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote, according to the indictment. Tarrio asked Kelly to order his release on bond, but the judge rejected the request. Kelly said the evidence against Tarrio is 'very strong' despite Tarrio's argument that authorities essentially do not have 'a smoking gun' against him, 'perhaps in the form of direct evidence of an order from Tarrio to other Proud Boys to storm the Capitol.' Tarrio was not in Washington when the insurrection took place. Police had arrested Tarrio in the District of Columbia two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. A judge ordered Tarrio to stay out of the nation's capital. Proud Boys leader Henry 'Enrique' Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. Tarrio, the former top leader of the Proud Boys, will remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol and stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory, a federal judge has ruled Before he left Washington, Tarrio met with Oath Keepers founder and leader Elmer 'Stewart' Rhodes and others in an underground parking garage for approximately 30 minutes, authorities say. Rhodes and several other members or associates of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia group are charged with seditious conspiracy in the Capitol attack. A documentary filmmaker recorded part of the garage meeting. 'But not much about the substance of the meeting can be gleaned from the clips - at one point, Tarrio and others motion for the filmmaker to stop,' Kelly noted in his order. Tarrio claims to have stepped down as Proud Boys' national chairman. Five other men linked to the Proud Boys - Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Charles Donohoe and Dominic Pezzola - were charged in the same March 7 indictment as Tarrio. Donohoe, 34, of Kernersville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy and assault charges and has agreed to cooperate in the Justice Department's cases against other Proud Boys members. Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Pezzola also remain jailed while awaiting a trial scheduled for August. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president. Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, has described himself as a Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. The indictment describes Pezzola, of Rochester, New York, as a member of his local Proud Boys chapter. Tarrio tried to communicate with Nordean and Biggs by telephone while the two men were moving in and out of the Capitol, the indictment says. Wyoming residents at a diner in Casper are overwhelmingly in support of Representative Liz Cheney's GOP primary rival Harriet Hageman but there were at least two men who said they weren't turning on their current congresswoman. Robert Morris, 73, a local of Casper, told DailyMail.com on Saturday that 'Liz is a real Republican' and said he would be voting for her in the August primary elections in Wyoming. The former engineer said he is a 'registered Republican', but voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. 'Just everything he [Donald Trump] did turned me off. I mean, I didn't think much of Hillary Clinton either, but I voted for her rather than him,' Morris said while dining with a friend at the bar at Johnny J's Diner in Casper, Wyoming. Married couple Ed, 64, and Liz, 63, felt differently. 'I'm gonna support Hageman,' Ed told DailyMail.com on Saturday hours before Trump is set to appear on stage to rally for the candidate he is backing against Cheney. 'I'm pretty disappointed in Liz Cheney's whole just kind of everything that's going on,' Ed continued. 'She seems to have kind of lost her way. And I don't know if, I guess it's Trump loathing or something. I don't know. She just does not seem to me like she's American.' Thousands of Trump supporters arrived at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper on Saturday to rally for candidate Harriet Hageman, who is taking on anti-Trump GOP Representative Liz Cheney in the August primary election Several Wyoming residents at Johnny J's Diner on Saturday told DailyMail.com that they will vote for Hageman but not because of Trump's endorsement. Billboards around Casper urged voters to 'Ditch Liz!' The couple, who were dining with a third woman who is attending the rally Saturday, said that they voted for Cheney in all of her previous elections, but will not be recasting a ballot for her in the primaries on August 16, 2022. But Liz said their ballot for Hageman has nothing to do with Trump's endorsement of the trial lawyer. 'I'm voting for Hageman, not because of Trump though,' she said. 'I'm voting because I don't believe in Liz Cheney. 'So it's different, for me it isn't about coattails or anything like that.' While it's unclear where Republicans want Trump in the party, the former president has proven he has coattails. So far in the 2022 primary races, his success rate is at 68.4 percent with 13 wins, six loses and two heading to a runoff. Her husband agreed: 'It's not because of Trump versus Cheney. It's all the stuff that the disappointment that I have with Cheney. 'It wouldn't have mattered to me whether Trump endorsed her or not. I think Hageman is the strongest candidate to unseat Cheney.' Republican Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona, who is attending Trump's rally in Wyoming Saturday, accused Cheney of trying to 'destroy' the GOP and Congress itself in a conversation with DailyMail.com ahead of the former president's speech in Casper. Two men dining at Johnny J's on Saturday told DailyMail.com that they will still support Liz Cheney (pictured on May 22, 2022). Robert Morris, 73, a local of Casper, said 'Liz is a real Republican' 'Liz Cheney is the worst candidate for Wyoming,' the former House Freedom Caucus chair said. 'Harriet is going to be an America first-er. I mean, she gets the policies that I think the conservative populist movement is taking hold of. I really, really think she gets it, and she's going to carry it forward and advocate for it in Congress.' He added, 'And Liz Cheney, instead of trying to work with the Republican Party and build it up in Congress, is now trying to actively destroy - not just the party, but the institution itself.' Biggs is among several high-profile speakers the former president invited to Saturday's rally, Trump's first appearance in Wyoming for Hageman since recruiting her to run against Cheney in the August 16 Republican primary. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who also turned against Cheney to endorse Hageman, is expected to make a video address. Pro-Trump firebrand Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado, as well as Matt Gaetz and Kate Cammack of Florida are due to speak in-person. Cheney has become one of Trump's biggest sources of rage after the three-term congresswoman defected from MAGA Republicans and became one of the two GOP members to join the Democrat-led committee probing the January 6 Capitol riot. A poll released Friday the same day of the filing deadline for the Wyoming GOP primary shows that Trump-backed Harriet Hagemen is a whopping 30 points ahead of Representative Liz Cheney Trump's animus against the conservative lawmaker appears to be what drew him to pull Hageman into the race - a former ally of Cheney's who unsuccessfully ran for Wyoming governor in 2018. Ed said while Hageman is 'not a perfect candidate', he was 'impressed with how she seemed to know more about Wyoming than all the other candidates put together.' 'She's obviously traveled the state, she understands the state,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Trump is not a perfect guy either. I think he was the right leader for the day.' A poll released the day before Trump's visit to Wyoming shows Representative Cheney trailing Hageman by a whopping 30 points. The WPAi/Club for Growth PAC survey shows that 56 percent of Republican Wyoming primary voters would support Hageman if the election were held today. Trump endorsed Hageman to replace Cheney after the three-term congresswoman defected from MAGA Republicans and became one of the two GOP members to join the Democrat-led committee probing the January 6 Capitol riot. Cheney officially filed for the 2022 primary on Thursday, but only 26 percent said they would vote for her reelection of the 400 likely Republican primary voters polled in the deep red state on May 24 and 25. Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard is in third place with 12 percent, while another 6 percent are undecided on who they will vote for come primary election day on August 16, 2022. Recalling the stock's 2011 crash, the CEO of Netflix said the company's 75 percent stock drop was 'horrifying, disappointing and embarrassing,' CEO Ted Sarandos told The New York Times. 'We make decisions based on the best information we have at the time. They are not always going to be right, but how you help navigate the outcomes, and the urgency you bring to it, is what gets folks through the storm. And the storms will come.' The streaming platform has lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year and $54 billion in a single day in April after having seen booming success at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix is currently trading at $195 per share, as opposed to $348 per share in April. The executive, acknowledging how the company added 10 million subscribers in the first three months of lockdown, admitted there were likely 'a lot of underlying things' that helped business boom during the pandemic and that Netflix should have evaluated its success more carefully. 'We could have been much more questioning of the success and saying, 'Are you sure?' Sarandos, 57, said. He also addressed the controversy surrounding comedian Dave Chappelle whose show The Closer came under fire last fall after several woke activists claimed it contained transphobic and homophobic content and called for it to be canned. Sarandos rowed in behind Chappelle and continued to publish the show - triggering a mass exodus of woke workers. During his interview with the Times, Sarandos yet again defended the choice to support Chappelle saying: 'I always said if we censor in the U.S., how are we going to defend our content in the Middle East?' Netflix recently announced 150 layoffs and dropped several shows in development, including projects by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 'We're all optimistic when we go into these projects,' Sarandos said of the royals' project, 'and sometimes they do or don't materialize.' The CEO explained that Netflix, which has signed up several celebrities with no filmmaking experience including Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, tries to take a chance on new talent, but it doesn't always pan out. 'You have to bet early on storytellers,' Sarandos said. 'My experience with Barack and Michelle is they are phenomenal storytellers.' Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos (pictured Friday) said the company's 75 percent stock drop was a 'horrifying, disappointing and embarrassing' moment for the streaming platform The company lost $54 billion in a single day in April after having seen booming success at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Netflix is currently trading at $195 per share, as opposed to $348 per share in April While admitting he was 'taken by surprise' at the response to Netflix' backing of Chappelle, Sarandos noted he did not fret over the situation. The CEO argued the only way comedians can discover where boundaries lie is by 'crossing the line every once in a while.' 'I think it's very important to the American culture generally to have free expression,' he said. 'We're programming for a lot of diverse people who have different opinions and different tastes and different styles, and yet we're not making everything for everybody. We want something for everybody but everything's not going to be for everybody.' He added: 'It was an opportunity to take somebody, like in Dave's case, who is, by all measure, the comedian of our generation, the most popular comedian on Netflix for sure. Nobody would say that what he does isn't thoughtful or smart. You just don't agree with him.' During the controversial Netflix special Chappelle, 48, made a comment stating that 'gender is a fact' and joked about the anatomy of transwomen, joking that they lacked real female reproductive organs and they did not have blood but 'beet juice.' He also joked that women today view transwomen the same way black people might view white women wearing blackface, and remarked that women are entitled to feel anger toward transwomen, since Caitlyn Jenner won Glamour magazine's 2015 Woman of the Year award. Additionally, he stated he does not hate transgender people, and told a long anecdote about a trans woman comic, who he describes as a friend, who came to his defense in earlier entanglements with the community. The special, released in October, prompted hundreds of Netflix employees to walk out of work in protest, as well as public outrage from the LGBTQ+ community. Sarandos also addressed the controversy surrounding comedian Dave Chappelle (pictured in April 2018) whose show The Closer came under fire last fall after several woke activists claimed it contained transphobic and homophobic content and called for it to be canned Despite the special having prompted a walkout by Netflix employees, Sarandos defended the choice to support Chappelle saying: 'I always said if we censor in the U.S., how are we going to defend our content in the Middle East?' Protesters are pictured outside Netflix headquarters in Los Angeles in October 2021 In early May in which a man, 23, stormed on stage armed with a knife and tackling the comedian at his Hollywood Bowl show. Chappelle's accused attacker, who was hit with a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, claimed he was 'triggered' by the comedian's anti-trans jokes. A day after the alleged assault, Netflix issued a corporate memo to employees stating: 'Depending on your role, you may need to work on titles you perceive to be harmful. If you'd find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you.' The company's response was reportedly celebrated by several right-leaning media outlets who painted Sarandos as a 'conservative hero.' When asked this week how he felt about being hailed in such a light, Sarandos replied: 'It used to be a very liberal issue, so it's an interesting time that we live in.' The CEO also reiterated that standing by Chappelle 'wasn't hard' as the company is a proponent of free expression. 'And rarely do you get the opportunity to put your principles to the test,' he added. Netflix also faced criticisms after Ricky Gervais' comedy special released on the streaming platform on Tuesday. The show reportedly has similar anti-trans tones that were depicted in Chappelle's piece. Sarandos told the Times his comments about Chappelle's work also apply to Gervais. Dave Chappelle was attacked on stage while filming a Netflix special in Los Angeles on May 3 Despite the controversies and declining stock prices, Sarandos remains optimistic about Netflix's future. 'We're 90 years behind all of our current competitors in what we do today, and they're just entering into our space,' he said, referencing how HBO, Disney and several other major TV and movie producers are joining the digital space. 'We have to have content that people like better on Netflix than anywhere else. I know it seems like it should be more complicated than that, but it almost isn't.' He was also questioned about the company's choice in green-lighting shows like Emily in Paris - which has been heavily criticized for using 'outdated' stereotypes of French people - and whether or not Netflix was more concerned about quantity over quality. Sarandos defended the firm's production choices, saying: 'I don't think that we've done anything so willy-nilly that we should rethink it. 'While many competitors and pundits talk about volume being a negative, I think it is a tremendous positive for consumers who all have a different view of what 'quality' is. I think that, while they kick us around about it, they are starting on the same path HBO with Discovery programming on the same shelf, Disney broadening their brand with Fox content, and even FX's radical expansion of output to 22 shows.' 'I think it's the trade-off of simplicity and complexity,' he added. 'And to do what we did in the last 10 years, I think we benefited much more from simplicity.' Netflix recently announced 150 layoffs and dropped several shows in development, including projects by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured in April 2022). Sarandos said Netflix had been 'optimistic' about the canceled projects but noted 'sometimes they do or don't materialize' Sarandos defended the company's decision to back celebrities with new filmmaking experience, saying: 'You have to bet early on storytellers. My experience with Barack and Michelle is they are phenomenal storytellers.' Barack Obama is pictured in the trailer for his Netflix nature documentary Our Great National Parks He was also questioned about the company's choice in green-lighting shows like Emily in Paris, which has been heavily criticized for using 'outdated' stereotypes of French people. He said: 'I don't think that we've done anything so willy-nilly that we should rethink' In April, Netflix announced it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year - the first time in a decade their numbers have fallen, and a dramatic reversal of their aim of adding 2.5 million. Executives also said they expect to lose two million more in the second quarter, and the share price fell significantly, wiping away roughly $70 billion in the company's market capitalization. In response, Reed Hastings, Netflix's co-chief executive, said the company was considering introducing adverts on a cheaper subscription package, and would 'figure it out over the next year or two.' Sarandos, during his Times interview, spoke on the advertising option, which the company has so-far resisted. 'For us, it was all about simplicity of one product, one price point,' he said, adding: 'I think it can now withstand some complexity.' He also argued that while the company needs to reflect on its recent successes and failures, evaluating how it got to the place its in now, it is also not beneficial to spend to long reviewing the failures. Sarandos believes it is more important to take actions to improve the service. 'How much time do you spend licking your wounds?' he said. 'Let's have that burned into our memory, but we've got to move on and move fast.' Netflix announced it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year - the first time in a decade their numbers have fallen, and a dramatic reversal of their aim of adding 2.5 million. The company also faces a lawsuit from investors who claim Netflix misled them about subscriber growth in the six months before it reported the loss of subscribers Meantime, while the company looks to halt its trending declines and seek new growth opportunities, it is also being sued by investors who claim Netflix misled them about subscriber growth in the six months before it reported the loss of subscribers, leading to a plunge in stock price. The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, was filed in San Francisco federal court alleging that Netflix violated U.S. securities laws by making 'materially false and/or misleading statements' and because it 'failed to disclose material adverse facts about the company's business, operations and prospects.' The lead plaintiff 'Pirani v. Netflix Inc et al' is Fiyyaz Pirani, a trustee of Imperium Irrevocable Trust, which is a Netflix shareholder, is named in the lawsuit that seeks damages for declines in the company's share price this year after the company missed its subscriber growth estimates. The lawsuit was filed just days after Netflix dropped Markle's animated series as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by the streaming service's drop in subscribers. Filed by a Texas-based investment trust, the lawsuit accused Los Gatos, California-based Netflix and its top executives of failing to disclose that its growth was slowing amid increased competition and that it was losing subscribers on a net basis. The lawsuit seeks damages for investors who traded Netflix shares between October 19, 2021 and April 19, 2022 - which include 'compensatory damages' with an 'amount to be proven at trial.' This came during a statement, in response to the almost daily attacks on NE Syria, and the latest of which were on the areas of Zarghan and Tal Tamr yesterday, as well as the genocidal attacks on Basur (southern Kurdistan). The statement was read in the district council center, by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Conservative Party, Akram Mahshush, with the participation of a number of representatives of the citys clans. Al-Hasakah Notables Council condemned Turkish attacks on Syrian and Iraq, and said: "We, the Syrians, hope Iraq and Syrian states will stand by its peoples against the Turkish occupation that violates the morals of humanity under the pretext of ensuring Turkish national security." The Council called on "the United Nations, the Security Council, the Arab League and the honorable people in the world to assume their responsibilities towards the safe peoples and guarantee the peoples' freedom from Turkey's aggression and its hostile policies. A.K ANHA Advertisement The sister of a Brooklyn man who was gunned down in a random attack while he was riding the Q train through Manhattan on the way to brunch sobbed as she called for an end to the escalating violence plaguing the city. Daniel Enriquez, 48, was riding the Q train from his home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, to Manhattan on Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire as the train was crossing the Manhattan Bridge. Suspected gunman Andrew Abdullah, 25, who had been out on bail for previous violent offenses, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with second degree murder. Heartbroken family members mourned Enriquez at his wake at James Romanelli- Stephens Funeral Home in Queens on Friday as they call for an end to gun violence. Griselda Vile, who remembered her brother as a 'regular New Yorker' who 'gave his life' for the safety of others, is hoping there will be change because of him. 'My brother wasn't afraid to live in New York City and this is how he died, so I believe in the city I believe that there will be change because of him,' she said Friday. Enriquez, a researcher at Goldman Sachs who lived with his partner Adam Pollack in Park Slope, was the fourth subway homicide victim of 2022, the New York Post reported. 'I don't want him to be victim, victim, victim, victim. It's Daniel Enriquez,' Vile said through her tears. 'And, on that day Daniel Enriquez gave his life for every person in that [subway car] and for every New Yorker.' Griselda Vile, sister of Q train shooting victim Daniel Enriquez, sobbed at his wake on Friday as she called for an end to the escalating violence plaguing New York City Vile told reporters Friday that taking the subway to brunch is 'a common thing that every does, every weekend, all year long' and that her brother didn't deserve to die like this 'My brother wasn't afraid to live in New York City and this is how he died, so I believe in the city I believe that there will be change because of him,' his sister said Friday Daniel Enriquez, 48, was riding the Q train from his home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, to Manhattan on Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire killing him Enriquez' partner had previously said that he rarely took the subway on the weekends, but that day he was trying to avoid Uber's surging prices due to the 90-degree weather. Vile told reporters Friday that this was besides the point because taking the subway to brunch is 'a common thing that every does, every weekend, all year long.' 'We know that it was random, we know that it was senseless and that's the part that upset me because how many more senseless victims are there going to be?' she asked as she sobbed. Vile, and other family members, told reporters that they hope his death would bring about change and urge Mayor Eric Adams to take action and end gun violence. 'I pray that all the people who've out poured their support, their love continue to fight to make change in the city and make change in this nation,' she said. 'I don't want him to be victim, victim, victim, victim. It's Daniel Enriquez,' Vile said through her tears as she spoke to reporters at her brother's wake on Friday Vile, and other family members, told reporters that they hope his death would bring about change and urge Mayor Eric Adams to take action and end gun violence Adam Pollack, longtime partner of Daniel Enriquez enters the James Romanelli-Stephens funeral home for his partner's wake Enriquez' partner had previously said that he rarely took the subway on the weekends, but that day he was trying to avoid Uber's surging prices due to the 90-degree weather Vile, and other family members (pictured at his wake), told reporters that they hope his death would bring about change and urge Mayor Eric Adams to take action and end gun violence Abdullah, the suspected gunman, made his first appearance in court Wednesday, where he was ordered to be held without bail in the shooting death of Enriquez. Abdullah 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. 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. New York Subway shooting suspect Andrew Abdullah is escorted by New York City Police (NYPD) Detectives as he exits arrested from the Police Precinct in New York City on Tuesday Witnesses said he was pacing up and down the subway car muttering 'no phones' before walking up to stranger Daniel Enriquez, shooting him fatally in the chest. (Pictured: Abdullah is perp walked to car by NYPD on Tuesday) Abdullah was taken into custody on Tuesday after Bishop Lamor Whitehead of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Church showed up at the Fifth Precinct in lower Manhattan on his behalf to negotiate with cops. The man arrived in a Fendi blazer and a $350,000 Rolls Royce. Mayor Eric Adams revealed on Tuesday that he negotiated with Whitehead and told him to bring Abdullah in, after Abdullah turned up at a legal aid office in Tribeca. Abdullah then appeared at the station around an hour later. He was marched into the police station by two cops and was wearing a stained white t-shirt and cargo pants. Speaking afterwards, the bishop said Abdullah 'doesn't remember anything' about the shooting, but is 'standing in his innocence' and has mental health problems. Witnesses said he was pacing up and down the subway car muttering 'no phones' before walking up to Enriquez, 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.' Police had previously released photos from surveillance footage of the suspect Andrew Abdullah is accused of shooting dead Daniel Enriquez on the Manhattan-bound Q train on Sunday in an apparently unprovoked attack 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.' 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. The victim, Daniel Enriquez, 48, was traveling to meet his brother for brunch on Sunday at 11.42am when he was shot and killed Enriquez was on his way to brunch with his brother when he was shot in the torso in an unprovoked attack that is the latest in a spate of violent subway crimes. 'We have to go back to work every day. I still have to take the train,' his sister said. '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. '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.' Daniel's brother-in-law also slammed the suggestion that Abdullah was an out-of-control man overcome by mental illness. Enriquez was heading from his home in Park Slope, Brooklyn over the Manhattan Bridge when the gunman opened fire without warning at about 11:42 am NYC Mayor Eric Adams at the Balenciaga show on Saturday. He is yet to crackdown on subway crime 'This gentleman allegedly went to a pastor to negotiate his surrender. He was in control of his faculties, he knew what he was doing. 'He's an unhinged lunatic but there's still enough up there to do a risk calculation? I hope punishment is meted out to the full extent of the law,' he told DailyMail.com. At the time of the shooting, Abdullah was on bail for previous violent offenses. In 2017, the Times reports, Abdullah was arrested on an 83-count indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney for a slew of offenses along with other known members of the Harlem-based gangs Fast Money and Nine Block. He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy charges the following year in exchange for a maximum prison term of three years - but he was paroled by June 2019. Just six months later, in January 2020, Abdullah was again arrested for violating his parole by possessing a loaded gun outside of his Harlem apartment building - a case which is still pending - and was released after posting a $100,000 bail. By March 2021, the Manhattan District Attorney once again charged him with domestic assault and endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly punched a woman and slammed her against a wall while she was holding a baby. And in April, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office charged him with stolen property and the unauthorized use of a vehicle. Both of those cases are also ongoing, the Times reports, and he is due back in court on the gun charge on June 6. Police were on the scene of the Canal Street subway after the shooting occurred Transit Bureau Chief Jason Wilcox told the MTA board on Monday that a designated 'train force' of cops will be introduced to trains. 'In May we have created a new Train Patrol Force, or TPF, that will perform dedicated, targeted, and visible train patrols on the late evening and overnight hours. 'The TPF is not a new concept, it was a type of transit patrol done in years past, notably, by our mayor when he was a transit cop,' he said, according to AM New York. 'It was an idea that we felt we needed to return to,' he added. The TPF existed in New York City in the 1990s but was disbanded in 1995 when it folded in to the NYPD. Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona accused his fellow GOP lawmaker Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming of trying to 'destroy' the GOP and Congress itself in a conversation with DailyMail.com ahead of his speech at Donald Trump's rally in Casper, Wyoming. The former House Freedom Caucus chair tore into the Wyoming conservative, claiming that her Trump-backed rival Harriet Hageman is an 'America first-er' who better understands the Republican base. 'Liz Cheney is the worst candidate for Wyoming,' Biggs said. 'Harriet is going to be an America first-er. I mean, she gets the policies that I think the conservative populist movement is taking hold of. I really, really think she gets it, and she's going to carry it forward and advocate for it in Congress.' He added, 'And Liz Cheney, instead of trying to work with the Republican Party and build it up in Congress, is now trying to actively destroy - not just the party, but the institution itself.' Biggs is among several high-profile speakers the former president invited to Saturday's rally, Trump's first appearance in Wyoming for Hageman since recruiting her to run against Cheney in the August 16 Republican primary. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who also turned against Cheney to endorse Hageman, is expected to make a video address. Donald Trump is making his first appearance in Wyoming on Harriet Hageman's behalf on Saturday as she seeks to unseat Rep. Liz Cheney in the state's upcoming August 16 primary His supporters filed into the Ford Wyoming Center on Saturday afternoon, where a high-profile list of speakers are expected to address the crowd Pro-Trump firebrand Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, as well as Matt Gaetz and Kate Cammack of Florida are due to speak in-person. Cheney has become one of Trump's biggest sources of rage after the three-term congresswoman defected from MAGA Republicans and became one of the two GOP members to join the Democrat-led committee probing the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump's animus against the conservative lawmaker appears to be what drew him to pull Hageman into the race - a former ally of Cheney's who unsuccessfully ran for Wyoming governor in 2018. Cheney, the state's lone House representative, is facing an uphill battle ahead of the race. She was removed from her leadership role heading the House GOP Conference last year over her criticism of Trump and cooperation with Democrats' January 6 investigation. Rep. Andy Biggs, one of the speakers, told DailyMail.com that Rep. Cheney 'left' the Republican Party behind But Biggs told DailyMail.com on Saturday that he believes it was Cheney who abandoned Republicans rather than the party casting her out. 'She left the conference a year ago or more, and she basically said that she didn't want to be part of the conference - she didn't agree with the conference,' the Arizona Republican said. Biggs is among the five sitting lawmakers who has been subpoenaed by the House Capitol riot committee. The panel has accused him of being involved in 'plans to bring protestors to Washington for the counting of Electoral College votes' and said he 'was involved in efforts to persuade state officials that the 2020 was stolen.' He's formally objecting to the panel's subpoena, Biggs' spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who replaced Cheney in the No. 3 House leadership role, is also due to make a video address at the rally. The Cheney name has been a fixture in US politics since her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, held his daughter's seat for a decade throughout the 1980s. During that time he, like Rep. Liz Cheney, held the House GOP Conference Chair position. But a new poll released on Friday shows Cheney trailing Hageman by a whopping 30 points with less than three months until the race. The WPAi/Club for Growth PAC survey shows that 56 percent of Republican Wyoming primary voters would support Hageman if the election were held today. Cheney officially filed for the 2022 primary on Thursday, but only 26 percent said they would vote for her reelection of the 400 likely Republican primary voters polled in the deep red state on May 24 and 25. Hageman (right) is a former ally of Cheney's (left) and previously had an unsuccessful run for Wyoming governor in 2018 A poll released Friday the same day of the filing deadline for the Wyoming GOP primary shows that Trump-backed Harriet Hagemen is a whopping 30 points ahead of Representative Liz Cheney Several Wyoming residents at Johnny J's Diner on Saturday told DailyMail.com that they will vote for Hageman but not because of Trump's endorsement. Billboards around Casper urged voters to 'Ditch Liz!' Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard - who has been accused of 'a continued pattern of intimidating and disorderly conduct' - is in third place with 12 percent, while another 6 percent are undecided on who they will vote for. Voters on the ground appear split on whether they want to keep Cheney in office. 'I'm gonna support Hageman. I'm pretty disappointed in Liz Cheney's whole - just kind of everything that's going on,' said Ed, 64, a patron of Johnny J's Diner in Casper. But Ed's wife Liz, 63, said her ballot for Hageman has nothing to do with Trump's endorsement of the trial lawyer. 'I'm voting for Hageman, not because of Trump though,' she said. 'I'm voting because I don't believe in Liz Cheney. 'So it's different, for me it isn't about coattails or anything like that.' The couple, who were dining with a third woman who is attending the rally Saturday, said that they voted for Cheney in all of her previous elections, but will not be recasting a ballot for her in the primaries. Meanwhile Robert Morris, 73, a local of Casper, told DailyMail.com on Saturday that 'Liz is a real Republican' and said he would be voting for her in the August primary elections in Wyoming. The former engineer said he is a 'registered Republican', but voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. 'Just everything he [Donald Trump] did turned me off. I mean, I didn't think much of Hillary Clinton either, but I voted for her rather than him,' Morris said while dining with a friend at the diner's bar. Advertisement New footage shows Ted Cruz being confronted in a Houston restaurant by a gun reform activist over the Texas school shooting after the senator's appearance at the NRA convention. In the video shared by Indivisible Houston, Cruz can be seen posing for what he thinks is a photograph with the progressive activist group's board member Benjamin Hernandez at Uptown Sushi in Houston. With his arm still around Cruz, Hernandez begin to question him on gun control, including asking the senator why he was against why background checks. 'The background checks wouldn't have stopped the shooter,' Cruz tells him. 'You know what would have? The bill I introduced.' Hernandez questions Cruz on gun cntrol, including asking the senator why he was against background checks 'The background checks wouldn't have stopped the shooter,' Cruz tells Hernanzdez. 'You know what would have? The bill I introduced,' 'Nineteen children died! That's on your hands! Ted Cruz, that's on your hands!' he says as Cruz sits back down at his table Cruz then tells Hernandez to watch his earlier speech at the annual National Rifle Association conference which infuriates Hernandez. The conference - a first since 2019 - came three days after the Uvalde shooting, where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, originally of North Dakota, shot 19 students and two teachers around 11pm on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School. 'You can make it harder for people to get guns in this country. You know that. You know that. But you stand here, you stand at the NRA convention it is harder, it is harder when there are more guns to stop gun violence,' Hernandez tells Cruz. The two men are separated by Cruz' security and Cruz stands across from him with his hands on his hips as Hernandez asks him: 'Why did you come here to the convention?' Why? When 19 children died!' 'Nineteen children died! That's on your hands! Ted Cruz, that's on your hands!' he says as Cruz sits back down at his table. Hernandez told the Huffington Post he was in Houston because his digital advertising company was livestreaming the protests staged outside the NRA convention. He said he just happened to dine at the same restaurant as Cruz and when he saw him he thought: 'Oh, hell no.' Hernandez told the Huffington Post he was inspired to speak up by Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who ran and lost against Cruz for Senator and who is currently running to become Texas' next Governor. O'Rourke has been a vocal campaign for gun control. This week he interrupted a news conference by Republican officials, including his opponent Abbott, to demand immediate action after the worst school shooting in a decade. Hernandez (pictured) said was inspired to speak up by Democrat Beto O'Rourke who is currently running to become Texas' next Governor Hours earlier Cruz suggested at the NRA convention that schools should model security measures of courthouses, such as 'limiting the means of entry to one entrance' Democratic candidate for Texas governor Beto O'Rourke demanded immediate action on gun control in an impassioned speech to protesters in Houston days after 19 children were shot dead at a school in Uvalde, about 270 miles away 'A couple of days ago, I had caught that clip of Beto confronting Abbott, and I wrote something to the effect of, "Confront all these hypocritical assholes like Beto did." And it's really easy to tweet, right?' Hernandez said. 'But then two days later, Ted Cruz is walking in this space where I am, and it's like, "OK, I have to go talk to him now." Hours earlier Cruz suggested at convention that schools should model security measures of courthouses, such as 'limiting the means of entry to one entrance.' 'Schools, likewise, should have a single point of entry,' he lamented on Friday. 'At that single point of entry, we should have multiple armed police officers, or if need be, military veterans trained to provide security and keep our children safe. 'We need serious funding to upgrade our schools to install bulletproof doors, and locking classroom doors.' Cruz went on to blame 'virtual life' as a fundamental reason shootings are happening, saying it creates an 'absence of community and faith and love,' Fox News reported. 'Tragedies like the events of this week are a mirror forcing us to ask hard questions, demanding that we see where our culture is failing.' He cited 'broken families, absent fathers, declining church attendance, and social media bullying' as reasons young people psyches are being effected and could potential lead them to violent. Claudia Blakemore and Ira Dember protest against gun laws outside the NRA annual convention in Houston. The nation is again dealing with the aftermath of a mass shooting and the divisions between left and right about how to move forward Children run to safety following a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde on Tuesday Mourners on Thursday place flowers on crosses with the names of children killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas However, Cruz does not want citizens' rights to gun to be limited. 'Many would still tell us that the evil displayed in Uvalde or in Buffalo derives from the presence of guns in the hands of ordinary American citizens. 'It's rather easier to slander one's political adversaries and demand that responsible citizens forfeit their constitutional rights than it is to examine the cultural sickness giving births to unspeakable acts of evil. It's far less comfortable to ask why despair, isolation, and violent hatred is so prevalent in America,' he said on Friday. As Cruz defended gun rights, O'Rourke urged protesters outside the convention to break the opposition of Republicans to gun control by 'getting in their faces before another child is shot in face.' Thousands of protesters assembled across the street from a convention center, but O'Rourke delivered an impassioned plea for action days after 19 children and two teachers were shot dead about 270 miles away in Uvalde. 'So I ask you for those of you in power and who hold office right now and were in the way and refuse to act: Please promise me you will get in their faces before another child is shot in their face,' he told protesters. The NRA event comes as the nation once again asks why a troubled 18-year-old could so easily buy two military-style weapons. O'Rourke took issue with opponents who said the immediate aftermath of the bloodshed was a time for prayer and unity not politics. 'The time for us to stop Uvalde was right after Sandy Hook,' he said, in reference to the 'The time for us to stop Uvalde was right after Parkland. 'The time for us to stop the valley it was right after Santa Fe High School. 'The time for us to stop the next mass shooting in this country is right now right here today with every single one of us. Protesters outside the George R Brown Convention Center held crosses with photos of shooting victims and shouted, 'NRA go away,' and 'Shame, it could be your kids today.' One woman held a placard reading simply: 'F*** the NRA,' as thousands of members of the country's biggest gun lobby streamed into the convention center. Karen Pate, a high school teacher, was among the protesters. 'I think the NRA being in Houston is disgusting at any time - but to be here right now is just appalling,' she said. 'It shows they don't stand for anything other than making money.' Uniform rules have been relaxed at private girls' schools after years of banning hair and nail colours after students' mental health was called into question. Strict uniform policies have been part of British schools for hundreds of years, but now in an attempt to modernise and accommodate to the wellbeing of pupils, the attitudes towards nail polish, colourful socks and unnatural hair colour is being changing. The Girls' Day School Trust, which represents 23 private schools and two academies across the UK, has conducted the start of a more relaxed viewpoint on school uniforms. They have adopted The Halo Code which is an initiative promoting children wearing their hair as they wish within school. One of their promises is to let black pupils wear Afro hairstyles without any judgement or restriction on how it is worn. Bethany Dawson, Headteacher of Sutton High School, in Sutton, greater London, told the Telegraph of how before she arrived at the school three years ago, there was a strict uniform policy in place for girls which stopped them from coming into class with hair colours that were 'unnatural'. Uniform rules have been relaxed at private girls' schools after years of banning hair and nail colours after students' mental health was called into question (file photo) She said: 'I think there's so many studies about teenage girls and how self identity and a really robust sense of self and I guess authenticity to oneself, is beneficial to mental health. 'Why would we not allow them to have pink hair? Why would we not allow them to paint their nails green? Unless there's health and safety reasons, there's not really a reason. 'It was driven by mental health and really by a focus on individuality, that's what we're all about here and we want them to be able to express that.' Now, she says that girls have their hair coloured pink, green, worn long, shaved, and other girls with piercings too. The The Girls' Day School Trust's chief executive Cheryl Giovannoni said that this change was to let young people 'express their own identity' in a 'safe environment', and added it was 'part of our mission to place mental health and well-being at the centre of everything' that they do. 'By allowing girls to do this they feel more relaxed and confident at school, which in turn gives them greater agency and the ability to use their personal judgement more broadly in their lives,' she told the Telegraph. Another school as part of the Trust, Sheffield Girls' School, used to have uniform and appearance rules which stopped pupils even eating outside in their school wear. Headteacher Nina Gunson said that the new relaxed rules were to allow students to be themselves and let the school be as 'inclusive as possible'. Advertisement Kamala Harris said America is experiencing an 'epidemic of hate' during her moving speech at the funeral of Ruth Whitfield, 86, the oldest victim of the Buffalo supermarket shooting on Saturday. The vice president and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, traveled to Buffalo, New York, where ten people were murdered by white supremacist Payton S. Gendron, 18, at Tops Friendly Market on May 14. The visit came just one day before Joe Biden and First Lady Jill are set to fly to Uvalde, Texas, after the massacre of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school, as the US is rocked by a seemingly non-stop wave of horrifying mass shootings. On Saturday, hundreds of mourners gathered and embraced one another at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York, to pay tribute to Ruth E. Whitfield, who was remembered as a 'devoted and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. VP Harris, who was invited to speak at the memorial by the Reverend Sharpton, spoke of her grief for the community in yet another 'senseless and horrific attack.' 'I cannot even begin to express our collective pain as a nation for what you are feeling in such an extreme way to not only lose someone that you love, but through an act of extreme violence and hate,' she said. VP Kamala Harris speaking at the memorial service providing comfort to the Whitfield family and to those gathered to remember the loving 86-year-old mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and wife VP Kamala Harris appearing solemn arriving at the memorial service of Ruth E. Whitfield. One of 10 people killed by a white supremacist at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo on Mat 14, 2022 Ruth Whitfield daughter's Angela Crawley (seated at bottom left) and Robin Harris, (seated bottom right) are greeted by mourners at Mount Olive Baptist Church Harris addressed the mass shootings in Buffalo; Atlanta, Orlando, and the most recent that took place in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday when 18-year-old Salvador Ramos went on a killing spree gunning down 19 children, and two teachers, at Robb Elementary School. 'We will not allow small people to create fear in our community,' she said. 'We will not be afraid to stand up for what's right, to speak truth even when it may be difficult to hear and speak.' She told mourners that this 'is a moment that requires all good people, all God-loving people to stand up and say: 'We will not stand for this. Enough is enough! She added: We will come together based on what we all know we have in common, and we will not let those people who are motivated by hate separate us or make us feel fear.' Whitfield had been shopping at the supermarket after visiting her husband in the nursing home, her family has said, WIVB News reported. Authorities said the gunman targeted that store because it was in a predominately Black neighborhood, CNN reported. The Reverend Al Sharpton, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and New York City Governor Kathy Hochul, were also in attendance, a report said. The Buffalo Fire Department flew the American flag over Sheridan Avenue before the start of the service . U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greets U.S. Senator Kirsten Gellibrand (D-NY) (pictured center) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured right) at Andrews Air Force Base US Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive to attend the funeral service for Ruth Whitfield at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York Whitfield, was one of ten people killed by a white supremacist in the May 14 shooting at Tops Friendly Market. Authorities say the gunman targeted the that particular store because it was in a predominately Black neighborhood, according to reports President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden pay their respects at a makeshift memorial in Buffalo The gunman was identified as 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron. Authorities said the day of the shooting Gendron drove more than 200 miles to mount his attack, which he also live streamed, police said Days after the shooting Whitfield's son Garnell Whitfield, a former Buffalo Fire Commissioner, described losing his mother, the family patriarch as if 'somebody tore our heart outs,' CNN reported. 'Devastation, anger, hurt, disbelief, pain. She was the glue that held our family together,' he said. The gunman was identified as 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron of Conklin, a small town in New York's rural Southern Tier. Gendron had driven more than 200 miles to carry out his attack at Tops Family market, which he also livestreamed, police said, The New York Times reported. He is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail. His attorney has entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, Democrat & Chronicle reported. Advertisement Military veterans tonight claimed that Prince William's horse looked 'drugged' during today's rehearsal for the Queen's annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. The Duke of Cambridge, 39, rode a black Household Division charger, named George, as he went through the practice inspection - known as the Colonel's Review - in central London. One unnamed source told MailOnline: 'William's horse looks drugged. Its head is on the floor. It's a disgrace.' A Clarence House spokesman declined to comment. For the event, William wore his red and blue military uniform adorned with medals, which he teamed with the traditional bearskin hat as he sat on the charger, also festooned in ceremonial regalia. Horses of the Household Cavalry which feature in such parades undergo special training so that they are desensitised to noise and traffic. They also need to be comfortable standing still for long periods and become accustomed to the weight of extra kit. The Queen's birthday on June 2 sees her Household Division troops march and ride on Horse Guards Parade with Her Majesty usually attending and taking the salute. But this year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals. Only William was seen at the run-through today, which went without a hitch - unlike last week. Prince William rose early to take part in the rehearsal of the Queen's birthday parade in London on Saturday. A military veteran tonight claimed that the prince's horse appeared 'drugged' during the event. The unnamed source told MailOnline: 'William's horse looks drugged. Its head is on the floor. It's a disgrace' The Duke of Cambridge, 39, rode a black Household Division charger, named George, as he went through the practice inspection known as the Colonel's Review in central London William wore his red and blue military uniform adorned with medals, which he teamed with the traditional bearskin hat as he sat on the charger, also festooned in ceremonial regalia. Horses of the Household Cavalry which feature in such parades undergo special training so that they are desensitised to noise and traffic The famous salute at the real Trooping the Colour is usually performed by the Queen but William has stepped in this year Prince William salutes as he rides across the parade ground during the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade Prince William looked very serious at the rehearsal of the prestigious military birthday event in London for the Queen. Irish Guards wear a blue plume to the right of their bearskin Soldiers are seen on parade during the Colonel's Review - the second rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour, which dates back to 1748 The Colonel's Review is identical to Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, which she will not be at This year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals Members of the Household Division parade during the Colonel's Review ahead of the Trooping of the Colour next week The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the Queen's drum horses parade during the review today Two people had to be rushed to a major trauma hospital and three others needed treatment from paramedics after a stand collapsed at the Trooping the Colour rehearsal on May 21. The 'terrifying' incident took place in front of a crowd of 'shocked' onlookers who had gathered to watch the event in Horse Guard Parade, London, at around 11am. Witnesses reported part of the stand collapsed, causing at least one person to fall through into the area below. Part of the stand was evacuated following the incident, and two people have been taken to hospital by London Ambulance and St John Ambulance for treatment. Three other people who were hurt in the incident were treated at the scene and discharged without needing hospital treatment. Last week it was revealed the Queen would not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 70 years. The Irish Guards regiment was formed in 1900 by order of Queen Victoria in response to the numerous acts of bravery and gallantry shown by Irish soldiers during the Second Boer War The Irish Guards' regimental mascot - an Irish wolfhound - is taken through its paces during the parade review Above, the regimental mascot Turlough Mor - also known as Seamus. The canine is one of the biggest dog breeds in the world The Irish Guards display their regimental flag. Prince William has been Colonel of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards since 2011 During the event, only one colour can be carried ('trooped') at a time. The five Household Regiments - Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards each take their turn each year Prince William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, leads the Colonel's Review on Horse Guards Parade on May 28. The procession can be viewed along The Mall or along the edge of St James's Park in London Spectators watch the rehearsal. The 'colour' in Trooping the Colour refers to the regimental flags of the British Army which were historically described as such because they displayed the uniform colours and insignia worn by the soldiers of different units Irish Guards march across the parade ground on Saturday during the 90-minute rehearsal By sheer coincidence, William's brother Harry was on horseback yesterday playing a polo match for his team in America The Queen will not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 70 years as she continues to delegate responsibility to senior members of The Firm. She is pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Place during the ceremony in 2019 The news comes as the 96-year-old monarch continues to entrust members of the Royal Family with increased responsibilities as she faces 'episodic mobility problems' It came two years after the ceremony had to be scaled back due to coronavirus and took place in Windsor. This year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals. According to the Sunday Times, Her Majesty still hopes to attend some of the ceremony, which kicks off four days of celebration to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The news comes as the 96-year-old monarch continues to entrust members of the Royal Family with increased responsibilities as she faces 'episodic mobility problems'. Earlier this month, Her Majesty missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years, with Prince Charles and Prince William given power to jointly act at the event on the Queen's behalf. She has though made three recent public outings this month, including attending the Windsor Horse Show, star-studded Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Windsor and the opening of the Elizabeth Tube line, appearing in good spirits at all of them. Her Majesty has always been present at the Horse Guards Parade and has taken the royal salute at every Trooping the Colour ceremony during her reign. Traditionally during the ceremony following the Horse Guards Parade, the Queen is greeted by a royal salute before carrying out an inspection of the troops. From her first appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour to 1986, the monarch would attend the ceremony on horseback (Pictured during one of her early ceremonies) The monarch has limited the Trooping The Colour balcony appearance to working members of her family, with the Duke of York and Duke and Duchess of Sussex missing out According to the publication, one option being considered by Palace officials is Her Majesty travelling by carriage from Buckingham Palace to briefly inspect troops before making an appearance on the balcony. Alternatively, Her Majesty may only only appear on the balcony after the duration of the ceremony. Following Trooping the Colour, 18 family members will be on the balcony: The Queen; Charles and Camilla; William and Kate with George, Charlotte and Louis; Edward and Sophie and their children Louise and James; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Prince Andrew and Prince Andrew's daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, will not join the royal family there. Harry, Meghan and their children will attend the celebrations, but it is not known at which elements of the four-day Jubilee weekend they could make an appearance. The balcony appearance, which is often seen as the centre-piece of major royal occasions, including Trooping the Colour and weddings, usually sees the Queen's extended family gather to watch a fly-past and is a rare chance for fans to see the entire extended family together. In paring the list down to just 16 people to avoid potential diplomatic pitfalls, the Queen has been forced to omit a number of well-liked family members including her much-loved grandchildren and their families. With her hands clasped together, a slightly mischievous smile on her face and a string of pearls around her neck, it is a pose that many have come to expect from Britain's longest-serving Monarch. And today a newly revealed picture from a collection of rarely seen private family photographs recently sold at auction shows that Her Majesty even adopted the familiar stance as a two-year-old. Her maturity at that age impressed Winston Churchill, who met her at Balmoral in September 1928. Writing to his wife Clementine, he described the young 'Lilibet' as 'a character', adding that: 'She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant.' Princess Elizabeth circa 1929(L) and Queen Elizabeth ii this year preparing for her Platinum Jubilee It is understood that the photographs were taken by Elizabeth's father, Prince Albert, Duke of York a gifted amateur photographer who came to the Throne as King George VI when his brother Edward VIII abdicated. Like the Duchess of Cambridge, who takes portraits of her children to mark their birthdays, rather than using official photographers, the future King was able to capture his children at their most relaxed and happy. The images of Elizabeth as a young girl were given to Beryl Poignand, former governess and lifelong friend of Albert's wife, the Duchess of York known to later generations as the Queen Mother. Miss Poignand was also trusted to write the book The Story of Princess Elizabeth, under the pseudonym Anne Ring. It was published in 1930 when the future Queen was four. The Duchess of Sussexs father left hospital last night, five days after having a stroke and promptly sent his best wishes to the Queen for a happy Jubilee. Retired Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle, 77, who is estranged from Meghan, said: I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive. I want to thank everyone, especially the wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my life. They are angels. I have been deeply moved by loving messages Ive received from all over the world. People have been so kind. I cant speak right now, but I am working hard and will thank people properly when I can. It comes as reports suggested Mr Markle suffered a serious fall in the days leading up to his stroke. Thomas, who had been preparing to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the UK, told his friend Tom Bower he had 'fallen' but 'thankfully, some good people picked me up from the pavement', reports the Sun. Retired Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle, 77, who is estranged from Meghan, said: I feel hugely grateful and know how lucky I am to be alive' Mr Markle had been planning to fly to the UK this week to celebrate next weekends Platinum Jubilee, but the stroke on Monday night, which has left him with limited speech, scuppered the trip. Writing on a whiteboard with a felt-tip pen, he said: I wanted to come to pay my respects to the Queen. I wish her a happy Jubilee and many more years. The severe stroke was caused by a blood clot on the right side of Mr Markles brain. He was rushed to a hospital near his home in Rosarito, Mexico, before being transferred by ambulance to the US border where an ambulance was waiting to ferry him to a hospital in San Diego, California. He has been in a critical-care ward all week and has made what one doctor told him was remarkable progress. While he is now able to speak a few words, he faces what he calls an uphill battle to regain his power of speech. He has been estranged from his daughter ever since and has never met son-in-law Prince Harry or his grandchildren Archie, three, and 11-month-old Lilibet I have lots of hard work to do and will do it, he wrote. I want to get well. Im so lucky to have had amazing care and love. Thank you everyone. Mr Markle was forced to miss his daughters wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 after he had two heart attacks just days before. He blamed them on the stress he suffered after posing for paparazzi pictures to improve his image. He has been estranged from his daughter ever since and has never met son-in-law Prince Harry or his grandchildren Archie, three, and 11-month-old Lilibet. Mr Markle will be cared for by his 56-year-old son, Tom Jr, who drove 11 hours through the night to be with his stricken father. I was visiting my son and his family in Oregon when I got the call, said Tom Jr. I will be here for Dad and do whatever it takes to help him on his road to recovery. Its been a terrible shock for everyone but Dad is a strong man and he is determined to get well. Hes already started working with a speech therapist and is making great progress. Weve received hundreds of messages of support for him from people all over the world. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love for Dad. Im here for him for as long as it takes. Peter Andre cannot recall an alleged one-night stand with Rebekah Vardy and is talking to lawyers about how to stop her claim being repeated along with her jibe that he is hung like a chipolata. During the Wagatha Christie libel trial in the High Court this month, Mrs Vardy was asked about her kiss-and-tell interview in which she claimed she had a tryst with the former pop star in 2001. Mr Andre, 49, is upset that the claims, made in the News Of The World in 2004, have resurfaced and that he was given no warning they would be detailed in Mrs Vardys court battle with fellow Wag Coleen Rooney. Mr Andre, 49, is upset that the claims, made in the News Of The World in 2004, have resurfaced Sources say the father-of-four has consulted lawyers because he has no memory of a night of passion with Mrs Vardy, 40 Sources say the father-of-four has consulted lawyers because he has no memory of a night of passion with Mrs Vardy, 40, at a Buckinghamshire hotel. Pete doesnt remember meeting her, never mind anything else, said one insider. At the time of the article he was younger, he didnt have children and it didnt matter so much. He was ribbed by his friends, but they knew the chipolata slur was the opposite to the truth. But now he is a dad and has a wife and he just doesnt think its true. He is considering legal action against Rebekah. He has consulted lawyers and is yet to decide whether he will go through with it, but he is very upset. Mr Andre cannot sue News UK, which owned the now defunct News Of The World, because libel victims have only 12 months from the date of publication to start proceedings, and comments in court such as those made by Mrs Vardy are protected from legal action. Mrs Vardy was asked about her kiss-and-tell interview in which she claimed she had a tryst with the former pop star in 2001 However, Mr Andres lawyers could demand she never makes the claim again. The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy said Mr Andre had the smallest trouser equipment Ive ever seen. She now says she was coerced into the interview a claim rejected in last weeks Mail on Sunday by her ex-husband, Steve Clarke. High Court judge Mrs Justice Steyn is considering evidence from the libel trial in which Mrs Vardy is suing Mrs Rooney, wife of former England star Wayne, for alleging leaking stories about her. Mrs Vardy did not respond to a request for comment last night. Boris Johnson's Cabinet allies have accused supporters of former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt of mounting a secret pub plot to oust the Prime Minister. They suspect MPs who attended a dinner at an upmarket bar in West London called The Surprise last week were scheming to trigger a Tory leadership challenge. The event, held the night before Sue Grays report into Partygate was published, was hosted by Devon MP Mel Stride, a former campaign chief for Michael Gove who is seen by the Johnson camp as a rebel ringleader. Also in attendance was long-serving Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, a key ally of Mr Hunt. Boris Johnson loyalists have accused supporters of Jeremy Hunt of hosting a dinner in west London to plot against the PM Several MPs, including Chris Loder, pictured, were spotted at the dinner, including transport secretary Grant Shapps Of the 16 MPs known to have been there and who voted in the 2019 leadership election, just three backed Mr Johnson. Five backed Mr Hunt, who is widely expected to mount a leadership bid if a contest is called, while six supported Mr Gove, who is not expected to enter another contest. Chris Loder, one of the 2019 intake of Tory MPs who was accused of being one of the architects of the so-called pork pie plot to topple Mr Johnson earlier this year was also at the meal, thrown by the so-called Deep Blue group of centre-right MPs. Politicians at the dinner strongly denied they were scheming against Mr Johnson and accused his allies of paranoia. They pointed to the fact that Boris arch-loyalist Grant Shapps who has himself been tipped as an outside bet for the leadership addressed the meeting. But a Cabinet ally of Mr Johnson said: Mel Stride is a Goveite looking for a new horse to hitch his wagon to. Many of the people he invited to the pub backed Gove or Hunt last time including Dunne, who is running Hunts latest bid. Any MP considering backing Hunt must be a masochist yearning for the kind of thrashing we sustained in 2017 and longing for the humiliation of a very long spell on the Opposition benches. Mr Shapps, pictured, was believed to have addressed the gathering at The Surprise pub in Chelsea Without Boris, we will be handing the next Election to a Labour-SNP coalition. But then, some of our pro-Remain MPs and those who think they were naturally destined for high office, are too bitter to care. However, one source at the Deep Blue dinner insisted: That is just paranoia. It was a diverse range of people, both Brexiteers and Remainers. And Grant wouldnt get involved with anything which might undermine Boris. But another MP present said: It did feel very much like a softening-up exercise ahead of a contest. The row comes amid an increasingly febrile atmosphere in the party, with eight Conservative MPs having called for the Prime Minister to quit since Wednesdays publication of Sue Grays report into illegal lockdown parties in Downing Street. Yesterday Steve Brine became the latest Tory MP to confirm that he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady. Mr Brine said of Partygate: I have said throughout this sorry saga I cannot and will not defend the indefensible. Rule makers cannot be law-breakers. Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris was also confirmed as one of the letter writers after revealing she has had the Tory whip restored, four months after it was removed for her support of an Opposition move to cut VAT on energy bills. Former Minister Bob Neill has also called for Mr Johnson to quit saying: It is in the national interest that the Conservatives win the next Election, but it requires a change of leader for us to do so. Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt, considered a potential future Tory leadership contender, condemned behaviour at No 10 as shameful, telling the Portsmouth News she was angry that people blocking reasonable requests to relax [Covid] restrictions, were at the same time ignoring the rules Mr Johnsons allies suspect that the timing of the letters is being co-ordinated by supporters of Mr Hunt. Many rebels are waiting for the results of the crunch by-elections in Wakefield and in Tiverton and Honiton on June 23 before deciding whether to send letters of no confidence. Yesterday, a poll suggested that if an Election was held now, the Tories would lose all but three of the 88 battleground seats they hold by a slim majority over Labour. Even Mr Johnsons seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip would fall. One senior Tory MP, who backs Mr Hunt to succeed Mr Johnson, told The Mail on Sunday that the clan elders of the party were preparing to move against the Prime Minister, with sources claiming that former Chancellor George Osborne is playing a key role in the background by urging rebels to strike against Mr Johnson before the summer recess. Mr Osbornes friends deny that. One senior Tory MP, who backs Mr Hunt to succeed Mr Johnson, told The Mail on Sunday that the clan elders of the party were preparing to move against the Prime Minister, with sources claiming that former Chancellor George Osborne is playing a key role in the background by urging rebels to strike against Mr Johnson before the summer recess. Mr Osbornes friends deny that It takes 54 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs to trigger a vote against the Prime Minister. After that, 180 MPs would have to vote against Mr Johnson to lead to a full leadership race. Close allies of the PM are understood to be concerned that the threshold could be reached when Parliament returns from its one-week recess on June 6. Informed sources said last night that even if 54 letters were received before then, it would inappropriate for Sir Graham to announce the news before the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Speaking on Radio 4 on Friday, Treasury Minister John Glen a close ally of Chancellor Rishi Sunak conceded that the PM was now in yellow card territory but said he would continue to get on and deliver on policies. Mr Strides Deep Blue dining club, which he set up in 2011 as a vehicle for the moderate right of the party, has long been seen as a front for Mr Goves leadership ambitions. In the run-up to Mr Goves 2019 leadership campaign, which Mr Stride organised, the club was used to drum up support for his bid. One attendee of a 2019 event was quoted as saying: Everyone sees through it, but its always under the guise of lets have a policy discussion. A recent opinion poll predicted 88 Tory seats could fall at the next election, including that of the PM, Boris Johnson Mr Stride, who is also chairman of the Commons Treasury Select Committee, welcomed 30 MPs to his 8 million Chelsea townhouse on Tuesday evening for drinks and canapes, before walking with them to The Surprise. The politicians gathered in an upstairs private dining room for a meal of pan-fried Cornish cod, Mediterranean tagliatelle or chicken Schnitzel Holstein as they listened to Mr Shapps talk. Established in 1853, the pub takes its name from HMS Surprise, the captured French corvette used by the British Navy to sneak up on enemy vessels in the days of Admiral Nelson. The gathering included Mr Dunne who was a senior member of Mr Hunts campaign team in 2019 and has been canvassing support in the Commons for a second Hunt run for leaders. On Friday, it was revealed that Mr Dunne had written to a constituent in reference to Ms Grays report, declaring: I am sorry to say that any benefit of the doubt the PM enjoyed has now been eroded. While I have not called for his resignation, the PM has yet to prove to me that he is the right person to ensure the return of integrity and due decorum, that all our constituents expect from politicians. The 40 Tory MPs who were invited to the dinner were told to save the date a fortnight ago, and were told only that the venue was close to Sloane Square Tube. They were only messaged the precise address on the Deep Blue WhatsApp group a couple of hours before the gathering was due to start. The dinner included Dorset MP Chris Loder, part of a group from the 2019 intake named the pork pie plotters because they met to discuss ousting Mr Johnson in the office of Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who has Melton Mowbray, the home of the delicacy, in her constituency. One MP present on Tuesday said that Mr Shapps spoke pretty much about everything except Boris, adding: The only mention I can recall him making was a reference to the tough media interviews he has endured defending Partygate. A source close to Mr Shapps said he was completely bemused by claims the meeting was a plot. The insider insisted the meeting had been in Mr Shappss diary for nearly two months, adding that he was as always, supportive of the PM, a stance proven by action in recent months, not just words. This was a meeting of Mels Deep Blue discussion group that takes a strategic look at Tory policy. Grant was invited weeks ago and took as his theme what levelling up should mean. Mr Dunne declined to comment last night. But friends of the MP dismissed suggestions of a leadership plot as nonsense, adding: It was a routine gathering. It was addressed by Grant Shapps but it was not a leadership pitch. Allies of Mr Johnson who attended the event also played down talk that MPs had gathered to plot his downfall. One said: The issue of leadership wasnt mentioned. Anyway, there were people there from all wings of the party. A source close to Mr Stride also denied the meeting involved any plotting, saying: Grant ran Boriss leadership campaign and is about as loyal as anyone gets. To my knowledge, I dont think anybody at the event said anything disloyal at all. And there were [Boris] arch-loyalists there it would have mad if they had. He added that in any case, Deep Blue did not have any particular ideological locus within the Tory Party and that Mr Johnson himself had spoken at one of the groups events a few weeks ago. The source said that the timing of last weeks meeting might look interesting but insisted invitations were sent out many weeks before hand and added: No one could have known when the Sue Gray report was going to be published. Last night, Mr Loder also dismissed claims that the Deep Blue meeting involved any plotting. He told The Mail on Sunday: To suggest that a gathering, organised months ago, that Boris himself has attended previously, that had scores of MPs from across the party including his staunchest supporters and a guest speaker who ran his leadership campaign, is a plot, is simply nonsense. Utilizing DeepSqueak AI to sift through an ocean that reverberates sound; studying animal calls with this tool could revolutionize this kind of research. Studies of marine mammals will benefit from this AI could add new insight to learning the language of these aquatic creatures. Marine Mammals Sounds The ocean is awash in loud sounds, and a new artificial intelligence tool could be able to assist scientists in classifying it all in tracking and studying whales and dolphins, reported Science Alert. It is a new AI tool that measures dolphin calls in the ocean underworld, and it is based on a deep learning algorithm that was first used to categorize the different ultrasonic squeals of mice. Scientists are adding this tool to understand the calls of aquatic animals. Because so much of the ocean is beyond our physical reach, underwater sound might help us understand where marine mammals swim, including density, abundance, and interaction. Cataloging Sounds of Aquatic Creatures Whale songs have been recorded that help determines specific groups of blue whales located in the Indian Ocean, even that of the beaked whale. However, listening to ocean recordings and isolating animal noise from full days of waves, wind, and boat engines takes a lot of effort. Deepsqueak AI technology was recently presented at the Acoustical Society of America's 182nd Meeting, classifying underwater animal calls with better accuracy than any other method currently available. Read Also: Elon Musk Net Worth 2022: Tesla CEO's Value Grew from $2 Billion to $279 Billion in 10 Years! The technology sifts through ocean sound data and produces heat maps predicated on where particular acoustic signals are noticed and at what harmonic frequencies, noted Fooshya. After that, the signals are directed to a specific animal. New DeepSqueak AI According to Elizabeth Ferguson, CEO/founder of Ocean Science Analytics, this user-friendly, free software tool for sensing submerged sounds would be useful in a variety of terrestrial animals, mentioned EurekAlert. She went on to say that call detection's capabilities stretch further than ultrasonic sounds. It can recognize different call types for many species. The accumulation of marine acoustic noise was never easier, although as hours of ocean soundscapes accumulate in databases should be analyzed. Consider it a potential replacement for the human ear, enabling researchers to categorize and investigate sounds with great efficiency all over the globe. Never before could researchers be able to trace the confusing call to a particular species of marine mammals. They are humpback whales, delphinids, and fin whales, during tests. Capable of distinguishing calls of such animals from ambient noise, which is important given that anthropogenic sound is turning up the volume in the sea. Technology First Used on Rats The tech was first seen in 2019 to study the squeak of rats. This system analyzed rat-speak and how the sounds were used to examine how rodents react. Deepsqueak AI connects the reaction to animal calls and the differences in behavior. This applies to marine mammals, and little is known about where they go in the deep sea. Related Article: Ancient Maya Practice of Attaching Gemstones to Teeth Found To Be More Than a Cosmetic Concern @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A 'joy-filled' 18-year-old who was attacked on his way home from a school prom on Friday has today died. Kajetan Migdal received fatal injuries in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at around 11.20pm. He was taken to the Lister Hospital but died in the early hours of Saturday morning. An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Kajetan's aunt, Corrie Everett, from Texas, has now set up a GoFundMe page in his memory to raise money for funeral and travel costs. Nearly $13,000 (10,300) has so far been pledged. Kajetan Migdal (above) was on his way home from a school prom when he was attacked in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at around 11.20pm on Friday. He was taken to the Lister Hospital but died in the early hours of Saturday morning Police are pictured at the scene of the attack. An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder Ms Everett wrote: 'As a family, we are in complete shock and devastated at this huge loss. He had his whole life ahead of him and an exciting summer planned. 'He leaves behind his parents (my sister Gemma and her husband Janusz), along with his younger brother Fabian and our extended family across the globe.' She added, in a statement from their family: 'Kajetan was a loving, joy-filled young man with a bright future. He was known for his love of dance, animals, hard work and caring friendships. 'As a high achiever academically and in his hobbies, he was set for big things. He had just finished school and had his life to look forward to. The entire family is devastated at the loss of a much-loved family member, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 'Several people have reached out to ask how they can help, so I have set up this GoFundMe on my sister's behalf to help relieve some of the pressure at this difficult time. 'We have family dotted around the UK. Our uncle is based in Menorca and all of Kajetan's Polish family are based in Poland. Police forensics at the scene of the crime. Kajetan's aunt, Corrie Everett, from Texas, has now set up a GoFundMe page in his memory to raise money for funeral and travel costs 'We would like get everyone together to support my sister, her husband and younger son and give Kajetan the funeral he deserves. 'All money raised will go towards travel and funeral expenses for our family.' Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: 'Although an arrest has been made, we are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry and are still appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about what happened to contact us. 'I'd like to thank those who have come forward so far. 'Extensive enquiries are being carried out to help establish the sequence of events before and after the fatal incident. Specialist officers are supporting the victim's family and we ask that their privacy be respected at this time.' Anyone who believes they witnessed the incident, or believes they may have dashcam footage, is asked to contact police via the non-emergency number, 101 citing reference 948 of 27 May. A remarkable 86 per cent of the public are satisfied with the Queen, while her heir, Prince Charles, now enjoys the approval of almost two-thirds of Britons. A poll by Ipsos shows the Monarch remains the most popular member of the Royal Family, with satisfaction ratings higher than for her Golden Jubilee (82 per cent) and, despite recent controversies that have dogged the Windsors, not far below her score for the Diamond Jubilee (90 per cent). More than half of respondents said the characteristic they most admired in the Queen was that she was traditional. While their recent tour of the Caribbean was dogged with claims of tone-deaf colonialism, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are the next most popular royals with Kate beating William to second. The Duchess is considered by the public to be modern and a good representative of Great Britain on the world stage while a third of respondents said her husband gives them confidence in the future of Britain. The Queen was most popular during her Diamond Jubilee as 90 per cent of the public were satisfied Princess Anne emerges as the fourth most likeable member of the family but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who will return to Britain for the Platinum Jubilee this week, fare less well after stepping back from royal life. They represent the favourite member of the family for just 11 per cent and 6 per cent of the British public respectively. Prince Charles, whose popularity ratings slumped to 42 per cent after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, has apparently survived any damage from the cash for honours scandal at The Princes Foundation charity with a 65 per cent satisfaction rate. The survey of 1,000 Britons, aged between 16 and 75, earlier this month also found almost seven in ten want Britain to remain a monarchy and four-fifths think it will remain so in ten years. Kelly Beaver, chief executive at Ipsos in the UK, said: Considering the life she has committed to her country and her people for 70 years, it is no surprise that the Queen firmly remains the nations favourite Royal Family member, with her strongest characteristics associated with tradition and for being a positive symbol of Britain who can unite people. Pint glasses will be adorned with a Crown for the first time in nearly 20 years after Ministers axed EU rules banning the patriotic symbol. With the country gearing up for a long bank holiday weekend to mark the Queen's 70-year reign, the Government has launched a consultation on sweeping away the ban on imperial measures meaning shops could once again be allowed to sell products in pounds and ounces. Last night, the move to reintroduce the Crown which first appeared in 1699 during the reign of William III was hailed by Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg as 'a very fitting symbol of how the Queen's realm is being returned to her people now that they have been freed from the bureaucratic Suzerain of Brussels'. From Friday, pubs will be able to sell pints in glasses bearing the symbol for the first time since the 2004 EU Measuring Instruments Directive required the use of the EU-wide 'CE mark' to demonstrate conformity with EU rules. A Government source said last night that the legal requirement to use the CE mark led to the effective removal of the Crown symbol because the UK 'could not have two competing indications of conformity'. Boris Johnson is determined to demonstrate a 'Brexit dividend' for voters since leading us out of the EU and is equally keen to harness a political 'bunting bounce' after being battered by criticism over Partygate and leadership plotting against him by rebel MPs. In anticipation of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, pint glasses will be adorned with a Crown for the first time in nearly 20 years after Ministers axed EU rules banning the patriotic symbol How the EU stole the pint's Crown King William III of England (1650-1702): The mark was introduced during his reign The symbol of the Crown was introduced on pint measures more than 300 years ago during the reign of William III to stop publicans ripping off their customers by serving drinks in smaller glasses. The insignia shows that, when filled to the brim or to a line measure, 20 imperial fluid ounces or 568ml of beer has been served. When the rule was introduced in 1699, innkeepers faced a penalty of up to 40 shillings if they did not serve ale in a vessel marked with the Crown. Glasses were also required to display the initials of the reigning monarch, although this was scrapped in 1964. In 1824, The Weights and Measures Act, along with a later 1878 Act, created the British imperial system and the Crown stamp as it would be recognised today. More recently, a certification number was required to be added under the Crown so a glass could be traced back to the weights and measures inspector responsible for certifying it. Each inspector like a police officer had an identifying number and was responsible for a certain area or factory. In 2004, the EU Measuring Instruments Directive, which came into force in 2006, required the EU-wide CE mark to be added to pint glasses. Pubs and brewers pleaded unsuccessfully with the then prime minister Tony Blair to save the Crown and to allow it to be displayed next to the CE. However, following the directive, glasses could only be adorned with the symbol for decorative purposes, rather than as an indicator of measurement. Advertisement Reviving imperial measures could also help the Prime Minister to win support in pro-Brexit seats, which will be vital at the next General Election. In other Jubilee developments: The Mail on Sunday can reveal the Queen will make two appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony despite her ongoing mobility difficulties; Meghan Markle's father Thomas paid tribute to Her Majesty as he left hospital after treatment for a stroke; Prince William performed in a dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour while riding a horse named George; A new poll revealed that the Queen has an 86 per cent public approval rating, with more than two-thirds of Britons wanting the country to remain a monarchy. Pint glasses were first marked with a Crown more than 300 years ago to reassure suspicious customers that they were not being cheated by unscrupulous landlords trying to serve drinks in undersized glasses. The Government will this week publish guidance endorsing the use of the symbol by businesses and will also launch a consultation on removing the legal requirement for metric units to be used for all trade purposes with only limited exceptions. Currently, imperial units are only authorised for use on their own in a small number of cases, such sales of draught beer and cider. A Government source said: 'We Brits measure our walks in miles and our beer and milk by the pint. Nobody knows what a four-and-a-half kilo baby looks like, but we all know a ten-pounder is a whopper. 'It's time we held our heads high about our long history of traditional measures. 'And what better way to celebrate Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee than restoring the Crown emblem back on to the side of pint glasses so that we can toast her health and service to this country.' The move was welcomed by Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, the leader of the Common Sense Group. 'This is superb news. Now that we are free from the clutches of the European Union we can realise once again our proud history and our confident future,' he said. 'The symbols of identity are very important in that endeavour. So let's have Britannia and the Crown and the other symbols of our kingdom stamped all over the place. This is an entirely fitting tribute. It is just so uplifting and heart-warming. 'Let's make Britain again a flag-waving patriotic country and a tribute to Her Majesty's dedicated service to our nation. This is building from our glorious past to our even more glorious future.' Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith added last night: 'I look forward to raising a Crown of beer to toast Her Majesty's Jubilee.' Murderous Russian troops have launched hunt to kill missions to purge top Ukrainian officials in the east of the country. Regional leaders are said to be constantly on the move to avoid death squads reminiscent of the Red Terror carried out by Bolsheviks after FirstWorld War according to the police chief in the Luhansk region of the Donbas. As the Kremlin yesterday hailed fresh advances, including taking Lyman, a city in the neighbouring Donetsk region that gives Vladimir Putin a bridgehead deeper into the Donbas, chief Oleg Grigorov said: Heads of local administration, including myself, we are constantly on the move. The Russians are hunting for our heads, be it capture or outright liquidation. Putins forces are now in control of 95 per cent of Luhansk. In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation was difficult, but added: Donbas will be in Ukraine because this is us, this is our essence. And even if Russia brings destruction and suffering there, we will still restore every city and every community. Murderous Russian troops have launched 'hunt to kill' missions to purge top Ukrainian officials in the east of the country. This comes after the Kremlin yesterday hailed fresh advances on Ukraine. Vladimir Putin pictured on May 28 in Moscow With Russia now focused on encircling Severodonetsk, the regions most important city where street fighting was yesterday reported, Luhansks governor Serhiy Haidai admitted Ukrainian troops may have to withdraw to prevent a repeat of the brutal siege in Mariupol. It is possible that in order not to be surrounded, they will have to leave, he said. Mr Grigorov described the bodies of civilians, including children, being abandoned in the streets, but insisted those who had chosen to face the Russians were resolute. Peoples nerves are like steel, he said. Morale is high and there is no panic. But the bodies are just lying there, in the street. There are casualties among children. Russians are indiscriminate, they are shooting at residential areas, at the local population. The latest developments in eastern Ukraine came as: l Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an 80-minute phone call that he was ready to lift the blockade of ports preventing the export of Ukrainian grain, but that it would require the removal of the relevant sanctions; l Kyiv was warned that the Russian advance in the east could embolden the Russian President to launch another assault on the Ukrainian capital in the autumn. Meanwhile, in a bid to replenish his military, Putin signed a law allowing people over 40 to enlist; l Videos appeared to show Ukrainians seized in Luhansk and Donetsk being subjected to denazification re-education programmes and forced to record confessions on tape; l The first Russian ship reportedly docked in Mariupol, a symbolic propaganda boost to the Kremlin after the fall of the southern Ukrainian city earlier this month; l Speaking at the National Rifle Association conference in Houston, Texas, former US President Donald Trump said funds pledged to Ukraine by America should be diverted to improving security at US schools. America has so far pledged 43 billion to Ukraine. The scale of Russias invasion was last night laid bare by Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal who said Putins forces had destroyed more than 15,000 miles of roads, hundreds of bridges and 12 airports. That is in addition to 115,000 square miles of land that is mined or contaminated with bombs, at least 100 schools, colleges and universities and 500 medical facilities that have been ruined or damaged, he told the BBC. The fall of Lyman is a blow to Ukraine. While small, it provides access to important rail and road bridges over the Siverskyi Donets River and is only 12 miles from Slovyansk, a major transport and supply hub. Ukraine's celebrity sniffer dog Patron has been given an award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for his work digging up Russian mines. The Jack Russell, which has more than 270,000 Instagram followers, won the Palm Dog-manitarian prize which recognises the connection between humanity and dogs. Thanking the organisers, Patrons handler, Mykhailo Iliev, said: We would love Patron to visit Cannes, but he has a lot of work to do here. Ukraine's celebrity sniffer dog, two-year-old Patron (pictured), who has 270,000 Instagram followers, has been given an award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for his work digging up Russian mines Thanking the organisers, Patrons handler, Mykhailo Iliev, said: We would love Patron to visit Cannes, but he has a lot of work to do here The award was inaugurated in 2001 and picked up on Patrons behalf by Kateryna Tretyakova, a member of the Ukrainian National Pavilion, who said: This is dedicated to all defenders of Ukraine and defenders of a peaceful world. Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday spent a day with Patron, who weighs just 4kg, as he worked to clear Russian munitions near the war-torn northern city of Chernihiv. The two-year-old terrier has already received a medal for valour from Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and features as a symbol of defiance on billboards across the country. He was the archetypal no-nonsense prison warden, exerting his authority over inmates by brusquely barking out orders. But while Mr Mackay ruled the landings of HMP Slade with an iron rod in the 1970s sitcom Porridge, modern-day guards have been told not to shout at prisoners, lest they upset them. An official report into HMP Winchester has condemned the way officers both yelled at offenders, even at close quarters, and referred to them only by their surnames, as it did not show the requisite respect. An official report into HMP Winchester has condemned the way officers both yelled at offenders The study, carried out by Charlie Taylor, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: Staff continued to use surnames routinely when addressing prisoners. It was not uncommon to hear surnames bellowed from the ground floor to summon prisoners from around the wing. Additionally, staff would unnecessarily yell Exercise and other orders at the top of their voices when in the vicinity of those they were addressing. Not only was this unnecessary, but it also demonstrated a lack of insight into the impact of shouting on those who had suffered trauma in the past. The report added that it was expected that prisoners should be treated with respect by staff throughout their time in custody. Despite the watchdogs criticisms, the majority of inmates 57 per cent believed prison staff did treat them respectfully. The inspection, which also found some examples of friendly and supportive interactions between staff and prisoners, came five years after guards at the 700-capacity Hampshire jail were told to refer to inmates as men rather than prisoners or offenders. And it follows a briefing paper from HM Inspectorate of Prisons earlier this year which said officers could improve relations with female inmates by not shouting at them and avoiding the use of loudspeaker systems to call out their names. Despite his disciplinarian streak, Mr Mackay, as played by Fulton Mackay in the BBC1 sitcom, was usually outwitted by wily inmate Fletcher, played by Ronnie Barker, and his cellmate Godber (Richard Beckinsale). The first city mayor in Britain to declare a climate emergency has come under fire for flying nine hours to Canada to tell other local leaders how to cut emissions. Bristols Labour mayor Marvin Rees made the 9,000-mile round trip to give a 14-minute speech at a conference in Vancouver last month. Climate campaigners blasted Mr Rees over his long-haul flight, with one critic complaining on social media: Why didnt he do it virtually? Mr Rees told the audience in Canada that city mayors were stepping up and taking action and leading beyond their authority on cutting carbon emissions. He also said he wanted to show off about my own city, and boasted about the measures that had been taken in Bristol to reduce emissions. Declaring a climate emergency in 2018, he set a goal for the city to become carbon neutral by 2030, including cutting indirect emissions such as international travel. Bristols Labour mayor Marvin Rees made the 9,000-mile round trip to give a 14-minute speech at a conference in Vancouver last month But climate campaigners Flight Free UK worked out that his trip created two tons of carbon dioxide per passenger, rendering it at odds with the environmentally friendly message he delivered in his talk. Two tons is about the same amount of carbon dioxide an average car would generate if driven for 7,000 miles. The groups director Anna Hughes said: Bristol was the first place in the UK to declare a climate emergency, yet the mayor is acting completely at odds with this declaration. Faced with such a precarious climate situation, we need our leaders to demonstrate the kind of action we should all be taking, not flying to another continent to speak, ironically, about the climate emergency. Map showing the Bristol Mayor's trip to Vancouver, Canada Actions always speak louder than words, and in this post-pandemic age of online interactions it would have been a much more powerful and effective statement to appear on screen. Mr Rees speech was delivered just a month before Bristol residents voted in a referendum to abolish his job but he will remain in post until 2024. Mr Rees faced criticism earlier this year for failing to act quicker over the statue of slave trader Edward Colston before it was pulled down by a mob during a Black Lives Matter protest. The mayors office yesterday said that Mr Rees had a full agenda in Vancouver and that it was the duty of city leaders to come together, lobby for change and influence each other to make a collective impact. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says that he is 'sad' that he won't be able to face his former side Arsenal in next year's Champions League. The Gabonese forward was spotted in Monaco ahead of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix - where Charles Leclerc grabbed pole position after a red flag caused a stoppage just before the end of the session. In a brief interview with Sky Sports, the Barcelona striker showed respect to the Gunners and claimed that it's 'a good thing' that they are back in Europe. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was spotted at the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon Aubameyang revealed: 'Yeah [Arsenal were] really close and I think they did a lot of improvement and I'm a bit sad because I wanted to catch them in the Champions League. 'I have a lot of friends over there but I'm wishing them all the best for next season obviously. I think its going to be a good thing to get back to the Europa League as well and hopefully they can win it.' The Gunners narrowly missed out on a spot in the Champions League as they finished two points behind rivals Tottenham and therefore will be playing in the Europa League next season. Aubameyang said he is 'sad' that he won't be able to play against Arsenal next season Aubameyang sealed a move to Barcelona in January after falling out with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta - with the Spaniard citing disciplinary reasons for the 32-year-old's exclusion in the weeks leading up the transfer. Since then, Aubameyang has gone on to score 11 LaLiga goals for Xavi's side - including an impressive hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu during El Clasico. The Catalan giants secured a spot in the Champions League next season after finishing second in their league - 13 points behind champions Real Madrid. Former Neighbours star Olympia Valance is one of many actors returning to the long-running soap for its final episodes. And the 29-year-old was seen shooting some of the last scenes for the show in the Melbourne rain on Thursday. Joining her on set was actress Charlotte Chimes, 27, who looked jubilant despite the dreary weather. Nothing can rain on their parade! Olympia Valance smiled on set of Neighbours in rainy Melbourne on Thursday afternoon. Many former stars have returned to film the last episodes Olympia, who is the younger sister of fellow Neighbours alum Holly Candy (Nee Valance), looked chic in a brown blazer and black pants. She styled her long dark hair loosely, teamed her look with heeled boots, and carried her belongings in a black bag. The actress played Paige Smith on Neighbours for four years from 2014 to 2018. Olympia smiled on set with the cast and crew, and at one point was handed a puffer jacket to wear as the rain poured down. Thanks for that! Olympia, 29, smiled on set with the cast and crew, and at one point was handed a puffer jacket to wear as the rain poured down Final scenes: Olympia, who is the younger sister of fellow Neighbours alum Holly Candy (Nee Valance), looked chic in a brown blazer and black pants Back on set: She played Paige Smith on Neighbours for four years from 2014 to 2018 Thrilled: Charlotte Chimes couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she danced around in the rain Charlotte, meanwhile, couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she danced around in the rain in between takes. The bubbly redhead, who plays Nicolette Stone, wore black jeans, sneakers and a white crop top with a long green coat on top. After spotting the paparazzi, she pulled a friend over to dance with her in the rain. Fun: The redhead wore black jeans, sneakers and a white crop top with a long green coat Leading lady: Charlotte plays Nicolette Stone on Neighbours Having a blast: After spotting the paparazzi, she pulled a friend over to dance with her Having a ball on set: The two women danced in the rain Olympia confirmed earlier this month she would be returning to Ramsay Street for the Neighbours finale, after the soap was axed in February. She warmly remembered her time on the show in interview with Greek news outlet Neos Kosmos. 'Neighbours has always felt like home to me,' she said. 'There is a reason why everyone refers to Neighbours as the best training ground in the world.' One last take: Olympia confirmed earlier this month she would be returning to Ramsay Street for the Neighbours finale, after the soap was axed in February 'Neighbours has always felt like home to me': She warmly remembered her time on the show in interview with Greek news outlet Neos Kosmos She said news of the show's cancellation, following the loss of its British broadcast partner Channel 5, left her extremely sad. 'I feel like I grew up on Neighbours. It's incredibly special to step back into the shoes of Paige as Australia farewells its most iconic television program,' she added. Olympia did not say whether her half-sister Holly would be joining her in the finale. Saying goodbye: 'I feel like I grew up on Neighbours. It's incredibly special to step back into the shoes of Paige as Australia farewells its most iconic television program,' she said Rumours: Olympia did not say whether her half-sister Holly would be joining her in the finale It comes after footage surfaced on TikTok earlier this week of Neighbours icons Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell in the '80s, back on Ramsay Street filming a cameo. The pair, whose televised wedding 34 years ago was watched by 22 million viewers in Britain and Australia, were seen filming scenes for the highly anticipated finale. Kylie wore a denim jumpsuit, which suggests Charlene is still working as a mechanic three decades after she left Erinsborough. They're back! Footage surfaced this week of Neighbours icons Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell in the '80s, back on Ramsay Street Earlier this month, a leaked script revealed the fate of lovebirds Charlene and Scott. The couple will return to Erinsborough at the end of the episode and deliver the closing lines, according to the Popbitch newsletter. The '80s favourites, who are still together more than 30 years after tying the knot, pull up in their car on Ramsay Street and say: 'We're home.' Dean McDermott and his ex-wife Mary Jo Eustace are on much better terms these days amid rumors of marital woes in his current relationship. The Quarantine Bunch star, 55, and the Cell Candy skincare founder, 60 spent time together in San Francisco as they watched their son, Jack, 23, graduate from San Francisco State University this week. The comedian posted a picture of himself, Jack and his ex on Instagram, writing, 'So proud of this young man!! He graduated SFSU today!! So grateful to take part in this celebration and journey with @jackmonty and @maryjoeustace.' Graduation: Dean McDermott, 55, and his ex-wife, Mary Jo Eustace, 60, celebrated their son Jack's graduation from San Francisco State University this week While the trio were grabbing a drink in the Bottle Club Pub, the recent grad shot a quick video and shared it on his Instagram stories, writing ''LOOK WHOS HERE!!!!' The former spouses haven't always gotten along so well, as both admitted on the Toronto native's Daddy Issues podcast that they went years communicating via text, until about 2019, when they were able to establish a good co-parenting relationship. The cordial outing comes amid over a year of divorce rumors surrounding Dean's relationship with current wife Tori Spelling. Rumors: Jack, 23, shared pictures of time he spent with his parents at a local bar writing 'LOOK WHOS HERE!!!' in his Instagram stories which got the rumor mill rolling In March 2021, The BH90210 star was spotted without her wedding ring and in October of the same year, she was seen outside a lawyer's office, reportedly with a legal pad with the words 'custody,' 'support' and 'assets' written on the page. The Pretty Hard Cases actor was also seen without his ring, but has claimed he lost it. Then back in November a source close to Tori claimed there is no way back for the exes, who have been married since 2006, but she wants to make sure she is 'financially' stable before submitting divorce papers. Trouble in paradise: The cordial outing comes amid over a year of divorce rumors surrounding Dean's relationship with current wife Tori Spelling, the pair are seen in December 2018 They told E! News: 'The marriage is over and has been for a very long time now. 'Tori has met with her lawyers and is planning to file very soon. She's trying to work it all out and make sure she is financially OK first.' Both Dean and Tori were married to other people when they met in 2005. They tied the knot in 2006 in Fiji and renewed their vows in 2010. Since then, they've had five kids, Liam, 15, Stella, 13, Hattie, 10, Finn, 9 and Beau, 5. Dean was caught cheating on his wife in 2013, when US Weekly reported the infidelity. The media savvy couple decided to work through their relationship on camera in the Lifetime reality show True Tori. Divorce Sucks author Mary Jo also participated in the show. During the horrific shooting at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school on Tuesday, at least two children contacted 911, one of whom begged for assistance. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw stated at a Friday afternoon press conference that one girl dialed 911 more than five times. He did not identify the children, but claimed they both survived the Robb Elementary School attack. Survivors in Texas School Shooting Claim They Called 911 Mutiple Times The incident claimed the lives of 19 kids and two teachers. At 12:03 p.m. local time, the first 911 call was received. According to McCraw, the child indicated she was in room 112. One minute and 23 seconds passed during the call. He stated the girl called back and reported many people were dead, NBC News reported. At 12:16 p.m., she called again to tell that eight or nine pupils were still alive. According to McCraw, a second student dialed 911 from room 111. He claimed that the girl hung up after another student instructed her to. Three shots could be heard in the background during a 911 call, according to McCraw. At 12:36 p.m., another call came in although it was just for 21 seconds. The first girl contacted 911 again, according to the director, and "was advised to stay on the line and be extremely quiet." The girl urged a 911 operator to "please send the cops now" between 12:43 and 12:47 p.m., McCraw said. The girl stated she could hear the cops next door about the same time. Per USA Today, the intense press conference on Friday addressed several of the police's inconsistent statements in the days following the Tuesday shooting at Robb Elementary School. It also raised additional concerns about law enforcement's response to the incident, such as why cops stayed in a corridor outside a classroom where the gunman was holed up for more than 45 minutes while gunshots erupted irregularly and students dialed 911 for assistance. According to authorities, the shooter gained access to the school through a door forced open by a teacher minutes before the attack. Read Also: President Joe Biden Addresses the Nation After Deadly Texas Shooting That Kills 14 Students; VP, Officials Condemn the 'Horrific' Incident Inconsistent in Police Protocols Cause the Operation a 35-Minute Delay At 11:27 a.m., a teacher at the school propped open the entrance, according to video security evidence. The suspect slammed into a roadside ditch between the school and a funeral home across the street a minute later. When they discovered the driver was armed, two bystanders tried to help but fled. The teacher who pushed up the door dashed inside to retrieve a phone and contact 911 to report a gunman in a ditch. Investigators claimed that a school district police officer was not inside the school when the gunman arrived, and that, contrary to prior reports, the officer had not approached suspect Salvador Ramos outside the building, after two days of frequently contradictory information. When that officer did react to the initial 911 call at 11:30 a.m., h e drove right by the gunman, who was crouching behind a car parked outside the school, because he was worried about the crash and a man with a gun. According to McCraw, that's when the shooter began firing at the building. The Texas Department of Public Safety is reviewing law enforcement activities as part of its continuing investigation into Tuesday's shooting, ABC News has learned. That could include anything from why the Uvalde ISD officer drove past the gunman at first to whether 911 caller information was properly relayed to officers on the scene to why the incident commander incorrectly believed different protocols should apply, resulting in the tactical team breach's 35-minute delay. Related Article: Texas School Shooting: Suspect's Mom Says Son Wasn't 'Violent,' Grandpa Admits Shock Over 2 Rifles @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Her marriage with Kanye West may have come to an end. But a superfan made the commitment of a lifetime to Kim Kardashian. A passionate follower - with Instagram username @kimhattan - of the 41-year-old SKIMS mogul recently took to social media to show off a large 'Kim Kardashian' signature tattoo on her hand. Tribute: A passionate Kim Kardashian superfan - with Instagram username @kimhattan - of the 41-year-old SKIMS mogul recently took to social media to show off a large 'Kim Kardashian' signature tattoo on her hand The mother-of-fourcertainly seemed to enjoy the gesture as she shared the post on her Instagram Story with the caption: '@kimhattan I love you.' The superfan - who boasts that they have been supporting the Kardashian family since 2007 - captioned the image of her fresh ink: '@kimkardashian when i said 15 years ago that i'll love you forever, i really meant it '#newtattoo KARDASHIAN FOR LIFE BABY' The mother-of-four certainly seemed to enjoy the gesture as she shared the post on her Instagram Story with the caption: '@kimhattan I love you.' Having fun: Kim was busy on social media as she later posted an Instagram Story of herself with a 'light eyes' filter Pucker up: She proudly put her lips on display Query: She asked her followers if they liked her with light eyes and hair The Kim fan page is quite popular on the picture and video sharing social media as they boast 84.1K followers. Kim was busy on social media as she later posted an Instagram Story of herself with a 'light eyes' filter. She put on her best pucker as she asked her followers if they liked her with light eyes and hair. Meanwhile ex Kanye West lamented his status as a co-parent to his four children on his latest single, New Love, which dropped on Thursday night. Custody war: Meanwhile ex Kanye West lamented his status as a co-parent to his four children on his latest single, New Love, which dropped on Thursday night; Pictured in 2019 The song, with vocals from the late XXXTentacion, features Ye, 44, expressing his dissatisfaction with his custody schedule, as he raps: 'Wait, when you see the kids? I'll see y'all tomorrow/ Wait, when the sun set? I see y'all tomorrow.' The musician also appears to grieve the fact that his kids aren't with him permanently: 'When I pick 'em up, I feel like they borrowed/ When I gotta return them, scan 'em like a bar code.' West, who shares North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three with the reality star, 41, goes on to complain about the children's clothing. 'Wait, who got the kids in those "What are thos?"/ Wait, why they can't wear Yeezys with the cargos?' he asks, referring to his own brand. Sad: The song features Ye, 44, expressing his dissatisfaction with his custody schedule: 'When I pick 'em up, I feel like they borrowed/ When I gotta return them, scan 'em like a bar code'; Pictured 2020 'Y'all know Nik don't like me, y'all take it too far, though/ At least have 'em in some Mike's, he played for Chicago,' he went on, referencing his dispute with Nike over a financial disagreement. In the song, which discusses struggling to keep love alive in a relationship, West seems to complain that the kids can't see him even if they want to. 'I only see three kids, who watchin' Chicago?' he wonders about his youngest daughter. 'And you know all the nannies said, "Daddy in Nebraska"/ Let the kids dig a tunnel to my house like Chapo.' Towards the end of the song Kanye states that his kids can always reach him, as he leaves the light on for them. 'Only neighbor in the hood with a door they can knock on/ I leave the light on/ Daddy's not gone, you see the light on.' Olivia Jade Giannulli showed off her lean legs while walking her dog in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 26. The social media influencer, 22, stepped out in a white sweater and a pair of short green biker shorts. Her shorts didn't even reach the middle of her thighs, revealing quite a bit of her impressive legs. Leggy: Olivia Jade Giannulli showed off her lean legs while walking her dog in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 26 She walked in a pair of black shoes and accessorized with dark sunglasses to protect her eyes from the harsh California sun. She wore her hair back in a ponytail and parted her bangs in the middle. The daughter of Lori Loughlin - who was named in the college admissions scandal three years ago - held her pup's leash firmly in her right hand as she walked. Relaxed look: The social media influencer, 22, stepped out in a white sweater and a pair of short green shorts Holding tight: The daughter of Lori Loughlin - who was named in the college admissions scandal three years ago - held her pup's leash firmly in her right hand as she walked Giannulli's outing came just a few days after Us Weekly reported that she's currently in a relationship with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi. The two first sparked romance rumors back in December when they were spotted getting coffee together in Los Angeles. 'They both got out of relationships recently, so theyre not rushing into anything serious,' a source told Us Weekly at the time. Elordi had broken up with model Kaia Gerber in November while Giannulli broke things off with her beau Jackson Guthy a few moths prior. Confirmed? Giannulli's appearance out came just a couple days after Us Weekly reported that it had confirmation that she's in a relationship with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi Keeping thing casual: Although the YouTube star and actor have been keeping their relationship, 'casual,' an insider told Us Weekly that there is a strong connection between them (Elordi pictured April 2022) Although the YouTube star and the Australian actor have been keeping their relationship, 'casual,' an insider told Us Weekly that there is a strong connection between them. 'So far it's going well and there's sparks between them,' the source said. Jade had recently appeared on the hit competition show, Dancing with the Stars, where she made it all the way to the eighth week before she was eliminated. The influencer is the daughter of designer, Mossimo Giannulli and former Full House actress, Lori Loughlin. Jade's parents were caught in a college admissions scandal and spent time in prison after pleading guilty to the charges. The star kept her head high during the scandal, and continued to work hard. In an interview with E!, Jade discussed her time on Dancing with the Stars, and how much it meant to her. 'I think that was like the most special thing I took away from it, just knowing that some people watched it and got to know me for me.' David Walliams has revealed his grand plans for Simon Cowell's stag do ahead of his wedding to Lauren Silverman next month. The Britain's Got Talent judge, 50, told how he would want to organise a wild drag-themed night for the music mogul, 62, if he were in charge of the planning, remarking that his idea would be Simon's 'worst nightmare'. Meanwhile, despite the pair's close relationship, David admitted that he 'genuinely doesn't know' the date of Simon and Lauren's nuptials as he hasn't yet received his invitation. Grand plans: David Walliams has revealed his grand plans for Simon Cowell's stag do ahead of his wedding to Lauren Silverman next month Speaking to The Sun about his stag idea, David said: 'I would organise it but I don't think he will really want me to. I don't think our tastes would align on a stag night. I would do something like a drag stag, where I say all guys have to go in drag, and I don't think that is what Simon would actually like.' The star added that the idea would be Simon's 'worst nightmare' and that their ideas on what makes an 'entertaining' stag differ. David added that it would be a 'thrill' to get invited to Simon's pre-wedding celebrations, which was previously reported to be taking place in Las Vegas. Uh oh: The Britain's Got Talent judge, 50, told how he'd organise a wild drag-themed night for the music mogul, 62, if he were in charge of the planning, remarking that his idea would be Simon's 'worst nightmare' And while David shared his excitement about the stag, he also admitted he was in the dark about the main event, explaining he 'genuinely' didn't know when it was as he's yet to receive a formal invitation He explained: 'I genuinely don't know the date of the wedding. I certainly haven't received an invite and I think people have read that as I'm not invited, but I don't think anyone is yet. I think only they know when and where it is going to be.' Despite not knowing anything about the big day, David revealed he didn't think it was the music boss' 'style' to have a small wedding, adding that the pair should have a 'glitzy' party with bride-to-be Lauren, 44, in a 'big dress.' In the dark: Meanwhile, despite the pair's close relationship, David admitted that he 'genuinely doesn't know' the date of Simon and Lauren's nuptials as he hasn't yet received his invitation (Simon pictured with Lauren in 2019) He said: 'I don't think it would be in Simon's style to do a small wedding, as his 50th was a big do and I think if I was Lauren I would want to have a big dress and glitzy, exciting party. I'd be surprised if they just ran away to Gretna Green with two other people.' Despite his continuous ribbing and embarrassing jokes at Simon's expense on BGT, David shared his heartfelt joy for the couple, adding that he was 'really pleased for them' and that with their 'beautiful son' Eric, it 'feels like the time is right'. The author went on to add that the last time he saw Laure, she was 'absolutely blooming' while showing off her diamond ring, stating it was 'so lovely' to see the New York socialite happy. Simon proposed to girlfriend Lauren on Christmas Eve in Barbados after seven years together. Ladies night? 'I would do something like a drag stag, where I say all guys have to go in drag, and I don't think that is what Simon would actually like' [David pictured as Sandy from Grease] Awkward: 'I genuinely don't know the date of the wedding. I certainly haven't received an invite and I think people have read that as I'm not invited, but I don't think anyone is yet' According to The Sun, the Britain's Got Talent judge, 62, has set the date for June and their son Eric, eight, will be 'front and centre'. A source told the publication: 'Simon cannot wait to have Lauren as his wife and didn't see the point in delaying it. He has taken charge of the planning and the date has been set for June. 'The ceremony is going to take place in London, with their son Eric front and centre, naturally. 'It's been a long time coming and now Simon wants to get Lauren up the aisle as quickly as he can.' Thoughts: Despite not knowing anything about the big day, David revealed he didn't think it was the music boss' 'style' to have a small wedding, adding that the pair should have a 'glitzy' party with bride-to-be Lauren, 44, in a 'big dress.' Sweet: Despite his continuous ribbing and embarrassing jokes at Simon's expense on BGT, David shared his heartfelt joy for the couple, adding that he was 'really pleased for them' Despite his previous staunch vows to never walk up the aisle, an insider previously claimed the past two years - in which the global pandemic hit and the star broke his back - made Simon change his stance. The source told People: 'They have fun together, as well as being each other's rock. 'They are both passionate but really do bring out the very best in each other. As a family, they all have such an incredible bond. 'A lot of things have happened in the last few years and just like for everyone else in the world, these things have all been a reminder about what is precious to them.' Up the aisle: It looks like Simon Cowell will be saying I do very soon, as it has been reported that the music mogul will be marrying Lauren next month in London (pictured in November) Simon, who has never been married, previously admitted that he can't see himself ever dating again as he opened up on changing his mind about marriage after falling in love with Lauren. He said he decided to propose to his long-time girlfriend in January after feeling like they were already engaged while living together during lockdown. He described the Covid-19 pandemic as a 'make or break' moment for relationships and said lockdown helped him and Lauren to grow closer and realise how much they get on. He told The Sun: 'I also just couldn't see myself ever dating anyone again. The idea of going out on a first date now is too weird.' The Britain's Got Talent judge revealed another reason he decided to propose was because he felt it was the right thing to do for their son Eric, eight. She's known for her incredible figure. And on Friday, Victoria's Secret model Kelly Gale took to Instagram to flaunt her stunning physique as she went for a dip in the pool during a seaside vacation with fiance Joel Kinnamen. The 26-year-old showed off her ample cleavage in a tiny bikini with a bold floral print. Blooming beautiful! On Friday, Kelly Gale took to Instagram to flaunt her stunning physique as she went for a dip in the pool during her seaside vacation with fiance Joel Kinnamen Abs: The Victoria's Secret model took to Instagram to flaunt her stunning physique as she took a dip in the pool The supermodel donned a green satin shirt with a gold and cream print for a portion of the video as a modest coverup. The natural beauty had minimal makeup on for the clip. The Swedish-Australian included a few cheeky shots as she climbed in and out of the water showing off her derriere. Ensemble: The supermodel donned a green satin shirt with a gold and cream print for a portion of the video Cheeky: The Swedish-Australian model included a few cheeky shots as she climbed in and out of the pool showing off her derriere Kelly's gorgeous brunette hair was straight with a hint of a wave to frame her face or up in a neatly tucked in bun. The ensemble was completed with square framed sunglasses, gold earrings and perfectly manicured nails. Kelly captioned the post for her 1.6 million followers with a bikini and wave emoji. Picture perfect: Kelly's gorgeous brunette hair was straight with a hint of a wave to frame her face or up in a neatly tucked in bun The model's dedicated followers did not hesitate with flooding the post in compliments, such as 'beautiful', 'breathtaking' and 'spectacular'. A few curious fans commented speculating breast implant rumours, which Kelly has always denied. Back in 2019 she said: 'No [I haven't had breast implant surgery]. The answer right now is no. In the future, that answer's going to change I'm pretty sure'. Police were reportedly sent to the set of Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg's new action film, Our Man From Jersey after what was thought to be a shell casing was found. The actors, 55 and 50, have been filming in London for the new Netflix distributed action thriller, which was announced last year. But the workers on the grounds around the area reportedly found a crushed balloon gas canister there, which looked like a bullet casing. Scare: Police were reportedly sent to the set of Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg's new action film, Our Man From Jersey after what was thought to be a shell casing was found (pictured on set last month) According the The Mirror, a source explained the incident as 'quite alarming', noting that emergency reinforcements were brought onto the set. The source told the publication: 'It was quite alarming and there was no hesitation in phoning the police, who arrived quite promptly.' Scotland Yard also commented to the publication, saying: 'Police were called to reports of an item, described as a bullet casing. Mistaken: shooting was seemingly interrupted as members of the film crew reportedly found a crushed balloon gas canister which looked like a bullet casing Alarming: According the The Sun , a source explained the incident as 'quite alarming', noting that emergency reinforcements were brought onto the set 'It was found to be a crushed balloon gas canister and was disposed of by officers,' they explained. The canister was allegedly found in South East London at in Camberwell Green magistrates court. Representatives for Halle and Mark have been contacted by MailOnline for comment. Halle and Mark have been spotted filming in London numerous times over the past couple of weeks - with more details on the film yet to be released. Police enforcements: Scotland Yard also commented to the publication, saying: 'Police were called to reports of an item, described as a bullet casing Sorted: 'It was found to be a crushed balloon gas canister and was disposed of by officers,' they explained The stars were snapped recently as they shot a dramatic scene on Albert Bridge, which saw extras dressed as armed police on bikes while a helicopter hovered inches away from the bridge. While other images from last month showed Halle as she drove a vintage car with a red soft top, with Mark jumping in the passengers seat. The movie is set to air via Netflix, with Halle building ties with the streaming platform after recently working with them for the premiere of her 2021 directorial debut Bruised there. She is the trusted designer of the Duchess of Cambridge, renowned for her dazzling evening dresses. So it is no surprise that Jenny Packham has urged the nation to ditch loungewear, claiming that many of us dress poorly. The British fashion designer, 57, who is not a fan of Ugg boots or flip flops, said the pandemic had made us lazy when it comes to what to wear. Criticism: Jenny Packham, British fashion designer who has worked with the Duchess of Cambridge Speaking at the Hay Festival, she added: I think as a nation we dress quite poorly at the moment. My pet hate is people who tuck their jumpers into their leggings. I dont think the pandemic helped fashion. We all got into this loungewear and its really time to come out of it now. I see a lot of people walking along the road in the morning and its like Why did you think that top went with those trousers?. The designer, who was interviewed by her brother, presenter Chris Packham, said money was not an excuse for sloppy dressing. I look at people all the time and I am very understanding of what people can afford but there are amazing charity shops, she said. Everyone can look smart. It is laziness and there is a shame about that. My dad Id pop round, he wouldnt even know we were coming and hed have a tie on. I dont really understand this not caring about it. It just reflects maybe an inner feeling that worries me. Miss Packham is a favourite of the duchess who looked stunning in a gold gown at the No Time to Die premiere in 2021. She also wore custom designs during each photocall after the birth of her three children. Comedian Rebel Wilson was recently pictured in an embellished dress by Miss Packham, while cyclist Dame Laura Kenny wore a yellow chiffon tiered dress and a bespoke headpiece to collect her damehood. Sofia Vergara was 1970s chic when she was spotted filming a gas station scene in Los Angeles for her upcoming Netflix miniseries. The 49-year-old actress, who achieved international fame on Modern Family, is playing the notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco aka 'Cocaine Godmother.' True to period form, the sizzling sensation rocked a plunging canary yellow blouse which was tucked into a walnut brown wrap skirt. Hard at work: Sofia Vergara (left) was 1970s chic when she was spotted filming a gas station scene in Los Angeles for her upcoming Netflix miniseries as Griselda Blanco (right) Letting her luxurious hair flutter free, Sofia garnished her Griselda look with a gleaming medallion necklace and a pair of earrings. Between takes the sitcom bombshell, who like Griselda was born and raised in Colombia, threw a long anorak over her costume. The showrunner of her new series is Ingrid Escajeda, who has written on such TV programs as Sneaky Pete, Justified, Better Off Ted and Empire. Griselda was previously portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones in a 2018 Lifetime movie called Cocaine Godmother. The look: True to period form, the sizzling sensation rocked a plunging canary yellow blouse which was tucked into a walnut brown wrap skirt Extra warmth: Between takes the sitcom bombshell, who like Griselda was born and raised in Colombia, threw a long anorak over her costume Jennifer Lopez is now slated play her in a movie called The Godmother co-written by The Wolf Of Wall Street screenwriter Terence Winter. Griselda's son Michael spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com in 2020 and slammed the J-Lo film, saying: 'I just find it more than a tad offensive that they would try to do something without consulting me and my family, the remaining Blancos.' 'Cocaine Godmother' was one of Griselda's many nicknames - over the years she was also known as 'La Madrina' ('The Godmother') and 'The Black Widow.' Born in Colombia in 1943, Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who according to Maxim committed her first murder when she was 11 and her victim was 10. Origin story: Born in Colombia in 1943, Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who according to Maxim committed her first murder when she was only 11 and her victim was 10 In the 1970s she made her bones as a brutally vengeful, groundbreaking player in the Colombia-to-Miami drug trade that flowered during that decade and the one after. Griselda married multiple times and produced four children, the youngest of whom she named - in a flash of dark humor - Michael Corleone Blanco. In the mid-1980s Griselda was thrown in jail for three murders, two of drug dealers and one of a two-year-old boy. She was set loose in 2004 and deported to Colombia, and in 2012 a motorcyclist shot her dead outside a Medellin butcher shop. Throwback: Griselda married multiple times and produced four children, the youngest of whom she named - in a flash of dark humor - Michael Corleone Blanco Sofia is herself no stranger to crime in Colombia, as her elder brother Rafael was tragically murdered there in 1998 when an abduction attempt went south. 'We come from a successful family, and he knew he was a target for kidnapping,' explained Sofia, whose father was a cattle farmer. 'He always had bodyguards. Then one day he went out alone and was shot dead. I was devastated,' she added, according to the New York Post. Jessica Chastain dazzled in a 1960s era costume as she and Anne Hathaway continued to film their movie Mother's Instinct in New Jersey on Friday. The 45-year-old Molly's Game star walked around the set in a light blue robe that ruffled at the neck and tightened at the waist with a belt. It was styled with a pair of white slip on shoes. Retro: Jessica Chastain dazzled in a 1960s era costume as she and Anne Hathaway continued to film their movie Mother's Instinct in New Jersey on Friday Instead of her signature flaming red tresses, Chastain sported a bright blonde shoulder-length wig. She was caught staring down at her cellphone while walking out of her trailer towards set. While Chastain was dressed up and ready to film, Hathaway was seen rocking a button-down white shirt with the top couple buttons left undone and a pair of blue jeans. She added a pair of dark sunglasses to protect her eyes, and she wore her dark brown hair in a similar style to Chastain's. Dressed up: The 45-year-old Molly's Game star walked around the set in a light blue robe that ruffled at the neck and tightened at the waist with a belt. It was styled with a pair of white slip on shoes Blondie: Instead of her signature flaming red tresses, Chastain sported a bright blonde shoulder-length wig Getting ready: While Chastain was dressed up and ready to film, Anne Hathaway was seen rocking a button-down white shirt with the top couple buttons left undone and a pair of blue jeans Lots of time on-set: Chastain and Hathaway have spent quite a bit of time working in New Jersey this week Chastain and Hathaway have spent quite a bit of time working in New Jersey this week. They filmed on location in Union County on Thursday as well. The Oscar-winning actresses, who play best friends and neighbors Alice (Chastain) and Celine (Hathaway), appeared to be enjoying their first day of shooting the highly-anticipated psychological thriller. In one scene, the Locked Down star could be seen leaving her home in a blue dress and matching heels to drop off her onscreen sons at school. Meanwhile, Chastain wore a sleeveless, knee-length mint green dress, pearl earrings, a white purse and heels. The nuclear family: The film centers on Alice (Chastain) and Celine (Hathaway), who both live a traditional, idyllic lifestyle, each with successful husbands and sons the same age Thriller: However, both of their lives are turned upside down by tragedy as their sisterly bond fades and gives way to a psychological war of wits Upon seeing her famous friend, the Molly's Game star shot Hathaway a friendly wave. This project marks the first time Hathaway and Chastain will both be in the same film since they starred in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar back in 2014. The film is adapted from the 2012 novel Derriere la Haine (Behind the Hatred) by Barbara Abel, with the story set in the 1960s. The story centers on Alice (Chastain) and Celine (Hathaway), who both live a traditional, idyllic lifestyle, each with successful husbands and sons the same age. However, both of their lives are turned upside down by tragedy as their sisterly bond fades and gives way to a psychological war of wits. Masset-Depasse will direct from a script by Sarah Conradt (50 States of Fright), adapted from the Abel novel. Disney+ has added a succession of warning advisories to its new Obi-Wan Kenobi series, in wake of the horrific school shooting in Texas earlier in the week. The decision was made, in part, because of similarities between the deadly mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas and a Jedi school massacre that's in the new Star Wars show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Although this fictional series is a continuation of the story from Star Wars movies filmed many years ago, some scenes may be upsetting to viewers in light of the recent tragic events,' it read on some Disney+ accounts, beginning early Friday. 'Warning: Contains violence involving children.' Warning advisories: Disney+ has added a succession of warning advisories to its new Obi-Wan Kenobi series, starring Owen McGregor in the titular role, in the wake of the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday As first reported by Variety, that message appeared to have been shortened, later on Friday, and now reads: 'There are certain scenes in this fictional series that some viewers may find upsetting. ' The company added the first version of the current content warning early Friday, just hours after Obi-Wan Kenobi debuted. The much anticipated series dropped its first two episodes late Thursday, almost three days after 19 children and two adults were killed during that mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The accused gunman first shot his grandmother in the face, then sent cryptic online messages before he went on his deadly rampage at Robb Elementary School. Art imitating life or life imitating art: The decision to include new warning advisories was made, in part, because of the similarities between the deadly mass school shooting in Texas and a Jedi school massacre that's in the new Star Wars series Too close for comfort: Disney added an warning advisory to the opening scene of episode one of the Star Wars series One of the warning advisories Disney added was to the opening scene of episode one of the new Star Wars series. The storyline included a look back to 10 years prior, when Order 66, or the near eradication of the Jedi, is carried out. The scene opens with 'a group of Force-sensitive younglings being trained in the Jedi Temple just before Clone Troopers burst into the building, and began shooting at the Jedi and children.' While none of the children are hit by the blaster fire, the clips capture intense moments that may be too intense at this time, considering the tragedy at the Texas school was just days before the series made its premiere. Blast from past: Along with Ewan McGregor (right) returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Hayden Christensen is back as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader for the six-episode series The timeline: The series takes place between the Revenge Of The Sith and New Hope movies 'In light of recent tragic events, we recognize there are certain scenes in this fictional series that some viewers may find upsetting and a content warning has been added to the show page,' a Disney spokesperson told Deadline today, before adding, 'We are also working to add an advisory in front of the series as quickly as possible.' Ewan McGregor returns to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the series, which takes place between the Revenge Of The Sith and New Hope movies. The six-episode season follows Obi-Wan's life in exile on Tatooine. Star Wars prequel star Hayden Christensen is also back as Anakin Skywalker, otherwise known as Darth Vader. The cast also includes Rupert Friend, Sung Kang, Moses Ingram, Benny Safdie, Joel Edgerton, Bonnie Piesse, Simone Kessell, Vivien Lyra Blair, Flea, Jimmy Smits, Kumail Nanjiani, Marise Alvarez, Rya Kihlstedt and Indira Varma. More Star Wars: The new series, consisting of six episodes, had the first two episodes drop on Thursday, May 27 'Joel Edgerton's Owen Lars is seen in an intimate conversation with Moses Ingram, who plays Reva Sevander/the Third Sister Warning added: The scenes in question, from 10 years prior, open with a group of Force-sensitive younglings being trained in the Jedi Temple just before Clone Troopers burst into the building, and began shooting at the Jedi and children Disney's decision to add warning advisories to Obi-Wan-Kenobi came one day after Netflix announced it had added a warning card to the upcoming new season of Stranger Things The warning will appear before the prior season recap that auto-plays at the beginning of Stranger Things 4 Episode 1 for viewers in the U.S, only, Variety reports. It reads: 'We filmed this season of "Stranger Things" a year ago. But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.' Netflix also edited the description for the premiere to include: 'Warning: Contains graphic violence involving children.' One of the many facets of the mass school shooting that's being investigated includes why it took anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour before a U.S. Border Patrol team burst in and shot Ramos to death. He returned to Sydney in his $90million private jet on Thursday evening as he continues to fly back and forth between Australia and the US to manage his family's media empire. And Lachlan Murdoch, 50, was back in the arms of his beloved wife Sarah, 49, on Friday. The couple enjoyed a cruise around Sydney Harbour on their new $30million 68-year-old superyacht 'Istros' with some fashionable friends, including Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief, Edwina McCann. Lifestyles of the rich and famous! Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah looked as happier as ever as they cruised around Sydney Harbour on their new $30million superyacht on Friday Nice ride! Lachlan recently purchased his 68-year-old superyacht 'Istros' for $30million The pair, who have been married for 23 years, looked as happy as ever as they lapped up the sun on-board the vessel and enjoyed the stunning harbour views. A barefoot Sarah was incredibly chic in a pair of white linen trousers and a white T-shirt. She accessorised with designer sunglasses and expensive jewellery, including her rarely seen diamond engagement ring. Effortless: A barefoot Sarah was incredibly chic in a pair of white linen trousers and a white T-shirt Keeping warm: As the day got chilly she wrapped a colourful sweater around her shoulders Hydrating: The couple sipped on chilled water from the yacht's bar As the day got chilly she wrapped a colourful sweater around her shoulders. Meanwhile, Lachlan stood out in a bold blue shirt and grey trousers as he walked around the yacht with a beverage in his hand. The News Corp co-chairman last visited Sydney in April when he stopped by after a trip to French Polynesia with his family. Smiles: Sarah smiled at her husband of 23 years as they chatted on the deck But first... let me take a selfie! The blonde beauty was seen taking selfies aboard her new toy At your service! The couple enjoyed some potato chips they were served by a stewardess Fashionable friends: Sarah was spotted chatting and laughing with Vogue Australia Editor-in-Chief, Edwina McCann (far left) and her close friend and personal hairdresser/makeup artist, Shane Paish (far right) Stunning: Lachlan purchased their superyacht Istros earlier this year. The rebuilt 42-metre 1954 classic was once once by the Pappadakis shipping dynasty Before then, he had visited Australia in February with commentator Piers Morgan. During the Covid pandemic, it looked as though the Murdochs planned to settle Down Under permanently. Lachlan and Sarah are parents to sons Kalan Alexander, 17, and Aidan Patrick, 16, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 12. Catching up: The pair wasted no time in catching up with friends on-board the boat Natural beauty: Sarah wore her hair out in natural waves and barely any makeup In April last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported the Murdochs could be staying in Australia 'for years, not months, as initially believed'. The couple, who own a home in Bellevue Hill, known as Le Manoir, married in 1999. Lachlan purchased their superyacht Istros earlier this year. The vessel is likely to be moored where the family have moved and recently purchased a $38million 'boat shed' at Wunulla Road, Point Piper. Lot of laughs: The couple had a laugh as they watched their guests board the boat Splashing out! Their vessel is likely to be moored where the family have moved and recently purchased a $38million 'boat shed' at Wunulla Road, Point Piper Bold: Lachlan stood out in a bold blue shirt and grey trousers The rebuilt 42-metre 1954 classic Istros was once once by the Pappadakis shipping dynasty. It won the grand prize for the best restored vessel at the Monaco Yacht Club Prada Classic Yacht Show in 2001. But it fell into disrepair and was little more than a rusting hulk when it was rescued from a Maltese port in 2015, salvaged and rebuilt. The interiors were redesigned in 'chic Scandinavian style by Van Geest Design', the Robb Report said. Sophisticated shades: Both Lachlan and Sarah shielded their eyes with designer sunglasses Home: Lachlan returned to Sydney in his $90million private jet on Thursday evening as he continues to fly back and forth between Australia and the US to manage his family's media empire Relaxed: He carried a beverage as he walked around the superyacht and chatted to guests Budding photographer? Lachlan was spotted taking photos with a large camera During the finale of Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, Jennifer Aniston, 53, discussed her divorce from ex-husband Brad Pitt, 58. He was married to the Fight Club actor for five years before they divorced and he began dating Angelina Jolie, his now ex-wife. Jennifer Aniston told friend Ellen DeGeneres about the important year she had when 'Friends' ended its 10-season run at the same time her marriage to Brad Pitt was ending on Thursday's series finale of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Jennifer Aniston Makes Rare Comments About Brad Pitt Jennifer Aniston, who appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for the first time in 2003, was the perfect guest to end Ellen DeGeneres' 19-year run on daytime television. The talk show host asked Jennifer Aniston how she "dealt with" the closure of such a huge time in her life after playing a piece from her first-ever appearance in September 2003, from the start of the last season of 'Friends,' which concluded in 2004. Aniston has acknowledged that she has been a long-time supporter of treatment. She replied to claims that she was seeking treatment to recuperate following her divorce from Justin Theroux in 2018, stating to Extra, "I've been in counseling for years." She talked to InStyle in 2021 about how therapy has helped her grow as a person and in her relationships. When asked how she maintains "open to new things" after divorce and marriage, she said therapy has offered "a fantastic amount of trying to understand" things, as per Shape. The Office Space actress was Ellen's first ever guest, and it was evident that the 64-year-old host was moved to see her back on the couch for one more discussion. Jennifer Aniston made a rare mention to her ex-boyfriend Brad Pitt throughout their conversation, as the two reminisced about their first interview over two decades ago. Jennifer Aniston appeared in the hit NBC show 'Friends' from 1994 to 2004, starring Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. After nineteen years, nineteen seasons, and over three thousand episodes, the Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end yesterday. Billie Eilish and P!NK were among the celebrities who attended the sad send-off, according to Express. Read Also: Val Kilmer Overwhelmed by His Return for 'Top Gun: Maverick' After Long Cancer Battle; Show Could Be the Hollywood's Biggest Star's Last Role Brad Pitt's Astonishing Gift For Jennifer Aniston Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston received an incredible birthday gift from her ex-husband Brad Pitt in 2019. The extravagant present cost 60.57$76.76 million - we can only dream! Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston divorced in 2005, yet it's been said that the Troy star still has feelings for his ex. Rumors about their reconciliation are frequent. Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux divorced in March 2018, yet Brad Pitt showed up to her 50th birthday celebrations as a complete surprise. When it came to presents, though, few could have matched what Brad Pitt supposedly prepared for Jennifer Aniston. When they first brroke up, sources close to Jennifer Aniston stated that "losing their dream home intensified the sorrow of their divorce and it was one of her biggest regrets not buying Brad Pitt out." Jennifer Aniston was allegedly distraught when she learned of Brad Pitt's plans, which came after the couple purportedly reminisced about their years together in the marital home, and he decided to spend $79 million to purchase the property back simply so he could give it to her. Model Caprice Bourret is one of many who feels Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were made for one another. She's discussed her time with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The 47-year-old model stated that she had dinner with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt separately, and that her time with the Hollywood actress was "awkward" since she was unable to establish a relationship with her. Caprice also stated in an interview that Brad Pitt was more of a "Aniston man" than the 43-year-old Angelina Jolie, as per Mirror. Related Article: Judge Denies Johnny Depp's Request To Dismiss Amber Heard's Counterclaim; DC Boss Reveals Why Actress' Role Reduced in 'Aquaman 2' @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Joe Manganiello took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to the late actor Ray Liotta, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 67. The 45-year-old Magic Make actor posted a photo of Liotta in his iconic role as Henry Hill in the 1990 gangster film Goodfellas. Manganiello added a long sentimental caption to the photo, where he referred to Liotta as one his generation's 'heroes.' Tribute: Joe Manganiello took to Instagram on Friday to pay tribute to the late actor Ray Liotta, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 67; Joe pictured in March 'When I was a kid, we got a VCR before most other people due to the fact that my father worked for GE. He brought it home and would record everything on HBO,' Manganiello began. 'He created this incredible video library and one of the tapes in the stacks was Goodfellas. Once I found it, I watched it every day for a LONG time. 'I was obsessed with it and as a young kid of Italian descent, who wasnt full blooded like Henry Hill, I identified you know, to a certain degree. 'The other thing you need to understand is that at that time it seemed like almost all of the greatest actors and directors were Italian American like DeNiro, Pacino, Pesci, Nic Cage, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian DePalma, and Martin Scorsese, not to mention the actual Italians like Mastroianni and Felliniit seemed impossible that there was room for anyone else at that table or even in the restaurant to draw the metaphor out but then came Ray. Iconic role: The 45-year-old Magic Make actor posted a photo of Liotta in his iconic role as Henry Hill in the 1990 gangster film Goodfellas. Manganiello added a long sentimental caption to the photo, where he referred to Liotta as one his generation's 'heroes' Feeling camaraderie: Manganiello explained he identified with the main character in Goodfellas because they both weren't 'full blooded ' Italians (pictured March 2022) 'He was that godd**n good. His breakout performance in Goodfellas is a master class. I guess my generation is getting to that point where we are being forced to say goodby to our heroes and Ray Liotta was absolutely one of them. Rest In Peace,' he concluded. 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. Liotta was just 67 years old. So much praise: 'I guess my generation is getting to that point where we are being forced to say goodby to our heroes and Ray Liotta was absolutely one of them,' he wrote Gone too soon: 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 (pictured 2014) 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. His sudden death shocked fans as he was embarking on a huge career resurgence recent years, with him starring alongside Taron Egerton in the series Black Bird later this year. Survived by: Liotta leaves behind his fiancee Jacy Nittolo, 46, as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, who he had with ex-wife Michelle Grace (pictured with Nittolo 2020) 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. On top of Goodfellas, Liotta also starred in Field of Dreams, Blow, Shades of Blue and many more projects over a career that spanned nearly 45 years. He also guest starred on Modern Family, the show Manganiello's wife Sofia Vergara starred in from 2009 to 2020. Decades of movies: On top of Goodfellas, Liotta also starred in Field of Dreams, Blow, Shades of Blue and many more projects over a career that spanned nearly 45 years (pictured in Goodfellas) Weird connection: He also guest starred on Modern Family, the show Manganiello's wife Sofia Vergara starred in from 2009 to 2020 (pictured on the show with Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter, Jesse Tyler Ferguson) Manganiello is just the latest in a long string of celebrities who expressed their sadness at the news of Ray's passing. Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta's character's wife in Goodfellas 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.' 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, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Costner, Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Brolin and many more stars also tweeted out similar messages of grief. A sad farewell on social media: Bracco also shared an image with the actor at a Hollywood event in 2012 She is currently holidaying in Palm Springs, California with her best friend and fellow model Laura Dundovic. And Natalie Roser cooled off from the searing hot sun on Friday with a refreshing dip in the pool at their luxurious hotel. The blonde bombshell certainly made a splash, showing off her incredible figure in a skimpy G-string bikini. Hotter than the sun! Natalie Roser raised temperatures in Palm Springs on Friday as she took a dip in a blue G-string bikini during trip with fellow model Laura Dundovic The blue swimsuit showed off her pert derriere and rock-hard abs as she dove into the water. Natalie posted pictures from her holiday on Instagram, and told her followers that the temperature had climbed to 40 degrees. Meanwhile, Laura also modelled a brown strapless bikini in the grounds of their hotel. Bottoms up! The blue swimsuit showed off the 32-year-old model's pert derrier She looked sensational in the two-piece which she teamed with a striped shirt. The two blondes later travelled back to LA where they are believed to be staying for work Last week, Natalie's husband Harley Bonner paid tribute to wife in a sweet birthday Instagram post. The model had just turned 32 years old. Bikini babe: Meanwhile, Laura also modelled a brown strapless bikini in the grounds of their hotel Picture perfect: She looked sensational in the two-piece which she teamed with a striped shirt In his post, former Home and Away actor Bonner wrote, 'Happy Birthday to my darling wife.' 'This beautiful womans patience, love and support knows no bounds!! I am eternally grateful. Youve made this life a blessed one'. The statuesque stunner recently told Maxim Australia she was considering a career in film or TV after catching the 'acting bug' from her husband. Loved-up: Last week, Natalie's husband Harley Bonner paid tribute to wife in a sweet birthday Instagram post Their special day: Natalie and Harley, who began dating in 2017, married at Krinklewood Estate in the Hunter Valley, NSW, on February 18 'I've loved watching Harley do his thing and have been given an amazing insight into the world of acting,' she said. 'I'm terrified and excited by it at the same time. It's something I'd consider in the future.' Harley, 30, who is the son of actress Carla Bonner, played Josh Willis on Neighbours from 2013 to 2016. He also portrayed Dr Logan Bennett on Home and Away from 2021 until 2022. He quit Home and Away in January because he hadn't received the Covid-19 vaccine and Channel Seven required all cast and crew to be vaccinated. Natalie and Harley, who began dating in 2017, married at Krinklewood Estate in the Hunter Valley, NSW, on February 18. Hailey Bieber appeared downcast while driving through Beverly Hills on Friday. The model, 25, wore a gray sweatshirt and her golden blonde hair was tied back in a very tight bun. Fuzzy dice hung from her rearview as she stared off to her left, eyes seemingly focused on nothing. Lost in thought: Hailey Bieber appeared downcast while driving through Beverly Hills on Friday The wife of Justin Bieber's afternoon out came soon after she revealed to fans that her grandmother recently passed away at the age of 92. Hailey wrote a touching tribute to her grandmother on Instagram after the news was announced. 'Yesterday at 5:52pm my beautiful Grandma Carol Baldwin, the matriarch of the Baldwin family completed her journey here on earth,' she wrote in the caption of a black and white photo of her grandmother in her younger days. Relaxed look: The model, 25, wore a gray sweatshirt, and her hair was tied back in a very tight bun In mourning: The wife of Justin Bieber's afternoon out came soon after she revealed to fans that her grandmother recently passed away at the age of 92 'Today I celebrate her, the life she lived, and the legacy she leaves behind,' she wrote. 'We love you. [white heart emoji, dove emoji].' Carol was the mother of Hailey's father Stephen Baldwin, 56, and his five siblings Alec Baldwin, 64, William Baldwin, 59, Daniel Baldwin, 61, Elizabeth Keuchler, 66, and Jane Sasso, 57. The Arizona native also took to her Instagram Story to honor her grandmother. She reposted her uncle Alec's Instagram post in which he announced his mother's death and shared a photo of her as a young teen next to a more recent image. 'We love you Grandma,' Hailey wrote, adding emojis of a white heart and a dove. She also shared a throwback snap that her sister Alaia, 29, had posted earlier in which Carol was seen surrounded by all of her children. 'We love you Grandma': Hailey also reposted her uncle Alec's Instagram post in which he announced his mother's death and shared a photo of her as a young teen next to a more recent image Family: Carol was the mother of Hailey's father Stephen Baldwin, 56, and his five siblings Alec Baldwin, 64, William Baldwin, 59, Daniel Baldwin, Elizabeth Keuchler, 66, and Jane Sasso, 57 Stephen commemorated his mother on his Instagram page, sharing a photo in which she was seen being baptized in 2014. Underneath the image, he wrote, 'August 4, 2014, This was the day I knew for sure...I would never have to worry about my mom again! He continued, 'day before, mom requested from my wife to be baptized so we did, in the beautiful Skaneateles lake Syracuse New York...when my mom made this request, I told my wife no worries we'll do it on our next trip but Kennya said, "no my love we will baptize her tomorrow. 'thank God for the bold & courageous women in my life but most of all to my mom...who in our friendship we didnt have to say much as we are similar in our desire to love and serve others. 'thanks mom. i might not have found Jesus without your loving example of humility, grace & unconditional love!!! grateful to God that I will see you again. say hi to aunt Louise and dad for me. love you. Hallelujah.' Stephen was born a Roman Catholic but became a born-again Evangelical Christian after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Honoring her: Stephen commemorated his mother on his Instagram page, sharing a photo in which she was seen being baptized in 2014 Religious: Stephen was born a Roman Catholic but became a born-again Evangelical Christian after the September 11 attacks in 2001 (Hailey and Stephen pictured 2013) On Thursday, Alec revealed that his beloved mother Carol M. Baldwin has passed away in her hometown of Syracuse, New York on Thursday. The actor announced the devastating news on his Instagram account with a statement from his family as well as a short obituary. 'My mother taught me about second acts. And third ones, too. She spent the last 25 years of her life as a fighter and a champion for the cause to which she devoted her life,' he captioned a side-by-side photo of her as a young teen and a more recent photo. Sad news: Alec Baldwin revealed that his beloved mother Carol Baldwin has passed away at 92 in her hometown of Syracuse, New York on Thursday Proud son: Alec stated he and his family are all 'enormously proud of her accomplishments' (pictured with his mom in 2002) Family-oriented woman: Carol had one brother, Daniel, and five sisters, Patricia, Joan, Diane, Louise and Rebecca as well as six children, 25 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren (pictured with son Billy in 1997) He continued: 'We are all enormously proud of her accomplishments.' Carol had one brother, Daniel, and five sisters, Patricia, Joan, Diane, Louise and Rebecca as well as six children, 25 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She met her late husband Alexander R. Baldwin Jr., of Brooklyn, NY, while both attended Syracuse University. Hailey and Alec's wife Hilaria Baldwin both commented heart emojis within minutes of him posting. Hilaria also shared her own heartfelt tribute to her mother-in-law on Instagram, in which she addressed her grieving spouse directly. 'She lives on in you, her other babies, their babiesour babiesin all of those who loved her and knew her big heart. Rest In Peace, Carol M. Baldwin,' the mother-of-six, 38, captioned her latest post. The Kid Laroi brought Sydney hip hop group ONEFOUR out onto the stage at his Sydney show on Friday, for their first performance on a proper stage since 2019. OneFour performed their collaboration with Laroi called My City, at his End of the World show, before performing their hits Shanks and Shivs and Spot the Difference. The drill rap artists - a genre defined by themes of violence, killing, and death - made headlines in 2019 after their national tour was shutdown by police due to safety concerns. Controversial group: The Kid Laroi brought controversial Sydney hip hop group OneFour out on stage at his Sydney stadium show on Friday (pictured) - after police shut down their concerts back in 2019 due to safety concerns Laroi, 18, whose real name is Charlton Howard, posted to his Instagram Stories on Saturday to thank the group. '@onefour_official this was a very special moment for the city. Thank you for joining me,' the 18-year-old Australian-born rapper captioned video footage from the show. Earlier this year, OneFour rapper Pio Misa, 21, or 'YP' as fans know him, launched a solo single after being released from a two-year prison stint for bashing a man with a chair leg. Guest act: OneFour performed their collaboration with Laroi called My City, before performing their own hits, Shanks and Shivs and Spot the Difference Headlines: The drill rap artists - a genre defined by themes of violence, killing, and death - made headlines in 2019 after their national tour was shutdown by police due to safety concerns Misa was jailed following the mass brawl that erupted in the pokie room in a pub in Sydney's western suburbs in 2018. The notorious group has reunited to make new music which will no doubt cause a stir in the shadow of their high-profile careers. The drill rap artists - a genre defined by themes of violence, killing, and death - made headlines in 2019 after their national tour was shutdown by police due to safety concerns. Grateful: Laroi, real name Charlton Howard (pictured) posted to his Instagram Stories on Saturday to thank the group for joining him on stage Online: '@onefour_official this was a very special moment for the city. Thank you for joining me,' the 18-year-old Australian-born rapper captioned video footage from the show The controversial music style has come under fire across the globe, with authorities in the US and UK calling for it to be banned amid fears the street-life inspired music incites violence. Back in the recording studio, YP has used his time behind bars as a muse for his debut solo single 'Out Of Sight', which is a soft departure from the aggressive songs that marked the group's earlier work. The piece, backed by piano melodies, features emotional lyrics, including the lines: 'I don't understand why grown men don't cry, that's a damn lie' and '23 hours in a cell, one hour yard time, that s*** gave me plenty time to reflect'. New music: OneFour member Pio Misa, 21, or 'YP' (pictured), released a debut solo single earlier this year after being released from prison in December He also opens up about the hardships he faced navigating changes in his relationships once he was locked up. 'Phone calls home had me tripping on the phone, 'cause they says they got you but then leave you on your own,' he raps in another part of the song. 'I ain't given you my time. If you weren't back there when I was doing time, then I'm leaving you behind. 'I know how it gets with these snakes, saying it's a hunnid, then once you're out of sight, you're out of mind.' Rise to fame: OneFour (pictured) found fame on Youtube, racking up a cult-following and millions of views The convicted rapper, who was jailed along with fellow bandmates Lekks14 and Celly, said the work was very personal and he hoped to relay his life lessons to fans. 'My message is be real to yourself,' YP told NME. WHAT IS DRILL MUSIC? 'Drill' music, a hip-hop subgenre, is driving feuding gang wars in Britain, community leaders have warned. Hundreds of videos on YouTube feature UK rappers threatening and provoking people from rival areas in London. To 'drill' means to fight or scrap and the violent lyrics focus on gang life, drugs, guns and killing. In one video viewed nearly three million times, rapper Digga D boasts about having to bleach his knife after using it to attack someone. In another, entitled 'Mummy's Kitchen', rappers Loski and Mayski, who are thought to be Londoners, boast about taking a blade from the family home. In the videos, which are filmed across the city, performers take care to ensure their faces are covered. In Australia the genre has been adopted by rap group OneFour, from Sydney's west. Advertisement 'I'm sharing a part of my life with them, it's more than just a single to me. 'I know everyone can't relate, but I want them to understand my growth not just as an artist but as a person who didn't have it easy growing up. Learning life lessons and principles that weren't taught in school but in the streets and jail, like loyalty.' YP said the group is more than a bunch of kids that grew up in a disadvantaged area, with their fan base extending outside their home Mount Druitt, in Sydney's Western suburbs. 'We have kids from the [Northern] beaches throwing up OneFour, it's crazy,' he told Spanian podcast. 'So we run ourselves with standards and s***. We like to keep our head up high with our name and that.' Out of sight was produced by Sid Mallick, 99hurts, Shanks and Elaye, and directed by YP and Matt Wilson and is reportedly the first of a number of solo releases by members of OneFour scheduled to be brought out this year. While YP seeks to move on from his chequered past and focus on his career, drill rap continues to draw worldwide infamy, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams calling for the music to be 'dumped'. His statement came after the death of 18-year-old drill rapper Jayquan McKenley, or Chii Wvttz, who was gunned down outside a Brooklyn recording studio in February. 'We pulled Trump off Twitter, because of what he was spewing,' Mr Adams said at a press conference. 'Yet we're allowing music, displaying of guns, violence. We're allowing it to stay on these sites.' The move has already been undertaken in the UK, where west London 'drill' group 1011 was banned from making music in 2018 amid a worrying rise in stabbings across the city. More music coming: The drill rap group is set to release a number of solo singles this year after they were disbanded when several members were incarcerated in 2019 The following year, drill duo AM and Skengdo copped a nine-month suspended prison sentence for performing a song at a London show. While Australia is yet to prohibit the controversial genre, authorities have gone to painstaking efforts to cripple distribution of the music style on its shores. In November 2019, OneFour was forced to cancel its national tour through Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Sydney, with OneFour claiming police had urged venues not to host them. Disappointed: OneFour announced the cancellation over their social media channels, after their Melbourne and Adelaide shows were shut down days apart in November 2019 A subsequent ABC investigation found the NSW Police force had used unprecedented measures to shut down the concerts by using laws used to target outlaw motorcycle gangs. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (pictured), said that Twitter and Instagram should banish violent videos by drill rappers which he blamed for promoting the kind of violence that killed 18-year-old Jayquan McKenley Strike Force Imbara was launched to investigate the links between warring Western Sydney and inner-west groups and their links to the rap group, and joined forces with bikie-oriented operation Strike Force Raptor. Police reportedly made failed attempts to have streaming services remove the group's music from their sites. At the time, Strike Force Raptor's Sergeant Nathan Trueman admitted shutting down the shows to 'stop the violence' and claimed they had no longer witnessed any after they intervened. 'If the Comancheros started singing a song and trying to call out and provoke the Hells Angels, and they wanted a concert, the public would expect us to shut that down,' he reportedly said. NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia it could not comment on whether OneFour is still being actively monitored by the force as it 'doesn't comment on matters once they've gone through the court process.' However, the NSW Police spokesperson confirmed Strike Force Imbara, formed in 2019, 'is no longer active'. YP, who was initially sentenced to four years, was released on parole last December, with photos posted on Instagram showing him celebrating with a champagne tower. Pictured: American drill rapper Jayquan McKenley, or Chii Wvttz, who was gunned down outside a Brooklyn recording studio in February His sentencing hearing in 2019 heard the rapper pulled a chair leg from underneath his clothes and struck another man three times, including two blows to the head, at Rooty Hill's Carousel Inn in Sydney's west. For the same pub assault, Salec Sua, aka Lekks14, was handed four and a half years, while Dahcell Ramos was given a maximum 10 years - in conjunction with another sentence for a separate incident. Both remain behind bars, with Sua eligible for parole in December 2021 and Ramos in June 2023, after his sentence was reduced to a minimum of four years and nine months upon appeal. Remaining OneFour members J Emz and Spenny continued to run the band while the others were incarcerated, releasing debut EP 'Against All Odds' in 2020. Lucy Hale was caught taking care of errands in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon. The 32-year-old Pretty Little Liars star swung by a UPS store in the area, where she picked up several packages. She loaded the goods into her car while rocking a pair of form-fitting green leggings and a baggy white shirt. To-do list! Lucy Hale was caught taking care of errands in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon Hale completed her comfy athleisure look with some white trainers. Her brunette hair was tied back in a low messy bun and she shielded her eyes from the blazing Southern California sun with a pair of aviator shades. Hale appeared to be makeup free, which allowed her to showcase her seemingly flawless complexion. After carefully loading her packages, she slammed the trunk shut and hopped into the driver's seat of her car. Picking up: The 32-year-old Pretty Little Liars star swung by a UPS store in the area, where she picked up several packages. She loaded the goods into her car while rocking a pair of form-fitting green leggings and a baggy white shirt Though she was taking care of personal business on Friday, Hale has also been prepping for the release of her forthcoming feature The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. The upcoming movie is based on Gabrielle Zevin's novel of the same name, which was published in 2014. The film is centered on a bookstore-owning widower whose life takes a downturn after his precious collection of Edgar Allan Poe's poetry is stolen. Effortless: Her brunette hair was tied back in a low messy bun and she shielded her eyes from the blazing Southern California sun with a pair of aviator shades Natural beauty: Hale appeared to be makeup free, which allowed her to showcase her seemingly flawless complexion However, the character's life is drastically changed after he receives a mysterious package. Hale is currently set to portray a woman named Amelia in the upcoming feature, and her casting was announced last July. Other cast members include Christina Hendricks, David Arquette and Kunal Nayyar, who will portray the movie's titular character. In addition to penning the original novel, Zevin returned to write the forthcoming movie's screenplay. Trainers: Hale completed her comfy athleisure look with some white trainers Heading off: After carefully loading her packages, she slammed the trunk shut and hopped into the driver's seat of her car Hale, Nayyar and Hendricks will all serve as three of the movie's executive producers. Producer David Garrett previously spoke about the project during an interview with Variety, where he praised the book on which the future movie is based. 'The reason this is such a wonderful story with such great characters, is that the script is hewn from the most wonderful source material,' he said. Garrett went on to express that the film would showcase deep levels of drama in an ultimately positive manner. Latest project: Though she was taking care of personal business on Friday, Hale has also been prepping for the release of her forthcoming feature The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry. The upcoming movie is based on Gabrielle Zevin's novel of the same name, which was published in 2014 'It shines light on those connections which are at the heart of all human relationships in such a joyous and life-affirming fashion,' he stated. Physical production on the project began last year, with Cape Cod serving as a primary filming location. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry's prospective release date has not been publicly announced as of yet. Kim Kardashian suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction on Friday in a raunchy Instagram video. The reality TV star, 41, gave her 313 million followers a glimpse into her latest photoshoot for her brand SKIMS. But while posing up a storm in the video, her tiny sheer bra with spaghetti straps slipped down, exposing her nipple which she covered with an emoji. Oh no! Kim Kardashian suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction on Friday in a raunchy Instagram video In the selfie video, Kim flashed her toned tummy and styled her recently-dyed platinum blonde locks in loose waves while sporting a glam makeup look and using an Instagram filter. The mother-of-four suddenly said 'sh*t' and grabbed her boob as she realises her nipple was almost on show for her fans to see. In the previous video, Kim could be seen flaunting her ample assets as she had to hold on to her tiny pink crop top to avoid another revealing display. Revealing: The reality TV star, 41, gave her 313 million followers a glimpse into her latest photoshoot for her brand SKIMS Wardrobe malfunction: While posing up a storm in the video, her tiny sheer bra with spaghetti straps slipped down, exposing her nipple which she covered with an emoji Stunning: In the previous video, Kim could be seen flaunting her ample assets as she had to hold on to her tiny pink crop top to avoid another revealing display It comes after she was in a reminiscing mood and took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding. The star showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials, which took place last week. 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney, 43, and her drummer husband Travis Barker, 46. Looking back: Kim was in a reminiscing mood on Friday, as she took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding Kourtney married the musician in a splendid ceremony last Sunday, as the Kardashian/Jenner clan joined them in Portofino, Italy, to celebrate. Kim and North twinned in gothic looks for the occasion, and the star was seen giving her daughter a kiss in one of the adorable photographs. The platinum blonde bombshell paired her sensational gown with an ornate gold and jewel cross choker. She wore her recently-dyed tresses in a chic updo and sported a smoky palette of make-up for the special occasion. Mini-me: She showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials Sweet: In another adorable shot, the blonde bombshell was seen giving North a kiss Meanwhile North - who Kim shares with ex-husband Kanye West, 44, alongside younger daughter Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three - wore a flowing black robe. The next artistic black and white snap featured Kourtney and Travis walking hand-in-hand underneath a stone tunnel in their wedding garb, with Travis holding a bottle of champagne in his hand. Kim continued with the stunning family throwbacks, sharing a picture of her and younger sister Khloe, 37, all dressed up for the big ceremony. Long may it last: 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney, 43, and her drummer husband Travis Barker, 46 Memories: Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her son Reign's hand with the other Khloe looked regal in a chic sheer tiered black dress with lace detail and an eye-catching gold headpiece. Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her Dolce & Gabbana corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her youngest son Reign's, seven, hand with the other. The romantic ceremony was the third one for the couple, who previously tied the knot in Santa Barbara, as well as in a non-binding wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. TOWIE's Chloe, Demi and Frankie Sims looked sensational as they were spotted out at IT Club before heading to Bagatelle Dover Street in London on Friday. Reality star Chloe, 40, went braless in a sexy black leather bodysuit which she teamed with a satin wrap mini skirt while walking hand-in-hand with her sisters. The beauty looked chic in a pair of knee-high satin boots while accessorising with a small crossbody bag and quirky sunglasses. Family affair: TOWIE's Chloe, Demi and Frankie Sims looked sensational as they were spotted out at IT Club before heading to Bagatelle Dover Street in London on Friday Chloe put on a glamorous display as she sported a bronzed makeup palette with a nude lip while styling her blond locks in a high bun. Meanwhile Demi, 25, showcased her edgy style in a pair of khaki trousers and a white cut-out bodysuit, while looking effortlessly chic in long gloves. Frankie, 27, flaunted her incredible figure in a green clinging midi dress from Zara, while elevating her height in a pair of pink heels and matching her bag with the shoes. The trio were joined on the boozy night out by their rarely seen brother Charlie who looked loved-up with his girlfriend Georgia Schultz as they strolled hand-in-hand down the street. Stunning: Reality star Chloe, 40, went braless in a sexy black leather bodysuit which she teamed with a satin wrap mini skirt while walking hand-in-hand with her sisters Fashionista: The beauty looked chic in a pair of knee-high satin boots while accessorising with a small crossbody bag and quirky sunglasses Stylish: Demi, 25, showcased her edgy style in a pair of khaki trousers and a white cut-out bodysuit, while looking effortlessly chic in long gloves Wow! Frankie, 27, flaunted her incredible figure in a green clinging midi dress, while elevating her height in a pair of pink heels and matching her bag with the shoes Fun: The Sims family looked in high spirits as they stepped out to spend some quality time together It comes after Chloe was seen spending some quality time with her brother Charlie as they enjoyed an outing in London. The reality star showcased her incredible figure in a black leather midi dress which had a scoop round neckline. She looked chic as she hid half of her stunning shoulder length locks under a matching leather beret. Chloe seemed in high spirits as she clung onto her brothers arm as they walked around London before heading for lunch at ROKA Mayfair. Smitten: The trio were joined by their rarely seen brother Charlie who looked loved-up with his girlfriend Georgia Schultz as they strolled hand-in-hand down the street Sizzling: It comes after Chloe was seen enjoying a family outing recently as she was spotted with her rarely seen brother, sharing a glimpse of her look on Instagram She took to Instagram to document the siblings lavish day out to her 1.2 million followers. Sharing a video, the star seemed in high spirits in the back of car as she teased, 'guess who I'm with.' Before panning to Charlie, she said: 'It's Chloe and Charlies day of fun, woo woo!' The pair enjoyed sushi in Mayfair where the blonde beauty told fans 'I'm not being vegan today' as she enjoyed the luxurious food. He is known for his eclectic, bold and frequently questionable fashion displays. And Lewis Hamilton put on another outlandish display in a vibrant aquamarine ensemble as he stepped out at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo on Saturday. The racing driver, 37, sported a checkered blue vest top and wide leg teal trousers, which he styled with a pair of azure sneakers. Eccentric: Lewis Hamilton put on an edgy display in a vibrant aquamarine ensemble as he stepped out at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo on Saturday He carried his essentials in a blue bag slung across one shoulder and flaunted his intricate display of tattoos in his outfit. The Formula One star shielded his eyes from the sunshine with a pair of navy square sunglasses and styled his brunette locks in a braided style. He accessorised his stylish ensemble with a silver chain necklace, an array of chunky rings and a bracelet, while he also wore his signature nose ring and hoop earrings. Lewis was dripping in jewellery after he backed down over his promise to boycott the Miami Grand Prix over wearing piercings while racing. Edgy: The racing driver, 37, sported a checkered blue vest top and wide leg teal trousers Eclectic: He carried his essentials in a blue bag slung across one shoulder Earlier this month, he said he'd have to pull out of the race if FIA insisted he remove his piercings but in a swift U-turn, agreed to a medical examination at the track and whipped out all but two piercings. Lewis insisted his remaining studs could not be removed easily and was granted a two-race exemption to keep them in place while he looks into possible solutions. Now, Lewis is gearing up to compete in Monaco after a moratorium was taken on the jewellery crackdown to find a way to come to an agreement on the issue. Style: The Formula One star shielded his eyes from the sunshine with a pair of navy square sunglasses and styled his brunette locks in a braided style Jewels: He accessorised his stylish ensemble with a silver chain necklace, an array of chunky rings and a bracelet, while he also wore his signature nose ring and hoop earrings 'Honestly, I feel like there's just way too much time and energy being given to this,' he told The Guardian. 'I've said everything I feel I need to say on it in the last races and that's not what my focus is this weekend.' Lewis is hoping for success at Monaco after he was the fastest driver on the track in Barcelona and made an incredible comeback from 19th to 5th place after he took a puncture. Tatted: He showed off his intricate array of tattoos on each arm with the sleeveless ensemble Final piece: He paired the all-blue look with matching trainers to complete According to reports FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem was 'fixated' on cracking down on Lewis' flouting of the rules as he wears jewellery to race. During a press conference at the start of May, Lewis made a statement in three watches, eight rings, four necklaces, one bracelet and two earrings. When asked what was happening regarding his piercings, he said: 'I really don't know. As I said, I can't remove at least two of them. 'One I can't really explain where it is. But what I can say is it's platinum that I have, so it's not magnetic. It's never been a safety issue in the past.' Water bound: He arrived to the Grad Prix in style, pulling up from a speedboat as he joined a group of other men Superstar: And the sportsman even took a second to sign some autographs, as fans clambered to reach over a separating fence Muscular frame: He showed off his hunky physique while arriving, as he stepped off of the speedboat Backing down: Lewis was dripping in jewellery after he backed down over his promise to boycott the Miami Grand Prix over wearing piercings while racing Happy: He seemed in high spirits for the appearance, beaming to onlookers Adding that there's a possibility he may not race in Miami, Lewis said: 'So yeah, if they stop me then so be it. We've got a spare driver. So we're well prepped for the weekend. 'There's lots to do in the city anyway so it will be good either way. I couldn't get any more [jewellery] on today!' He said that he believes that the initiative is a 'step backwards' for sport and told how he has been wearing jewellery while racing for 16 years. However, his U-turn agreement to the medical test and two-race exemption to keep them in meant he could continue to drive for the time-being. Vibrant displays: Lewis has not shied away from flaunting his signature sense of style in his unique ensembles during the Grand Prix All smiles: Lewis appeared to be in good spirits as he stepped out covered in jewellery after a moratorium has been taken on the jewellery crackdown to find a way to come to an agreement Race director Niels Wittich had sent a letter to teams revealing his intention to clamp down on jewellery, because it may become 'lodged or snagged' while driving. Formula One drivers were served a reminder that they are banned from wearing jewellery while racing ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. The ruling was included in the Melbourne event notes that were issued by new F1 race director Wittich, who will share the position with Eduardo Freitas following the sacking of Michael Masi. It has been part of the sporting regulations since 2005, though drivers who have worn jewellery behind the wheel have not been penalised. Clashing: Earlier this month, Lewis said he'd have to pull out of the Miami race if FIA insisted he remove his piercings but in a swift U-turn, he whipped out all but two piercings Lewis was seen wearing a nose stud at both last year's season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and this year's opener in Bahrain, where it was clearly visible through his open visor. The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) confirmed a nose stud would fall foul of the ban, raising the prospect of Hamilton being forced to remove it. The rule prohibiting the wearing of jewellery is Article 5 of the third chapter of Appendix L of the governing body's International Sporting Code (ISC). The full wording of the rule states: 'The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition and may therefore be checked before the start.' Eddie McGuire stepped away from radio in 2020 after more than a decade on Melbourne's Triple M. And now the media personality is ready to return to the airwaves as a regular guest on Neil Mitchell's popular 3AW morning show. 'He is a free agent and a loose cannon, what else could you ask for,' Mitchell told the Herald Sun of McGuire. He's back! Eddie McGuire is ready to return to the airwaves as a regular guest on Neil Mitchell's popular 3AW morning show 'Eddie and I have been discussing, arguing, laughing together for probably 30 years, so why dont we put it on air,' he continued. Mitchell said that their fortnightly segment will be called the 'Ideas Factory'. 'It is about ideas,' he explained. 'Eddie is always good for an idea, I usually have a few, we can throw them around and agree or disagree or whatever.' Neil Mitchell's 3AW morning show is one of the highest rated shows on radio. Excited: 'Eddie and I have been discussing, arguing, laughing together for probably 30 years, so why dont we put it on air,' Neil Mitchell said Eddie wrapped up 11 years on Triple M Melbourne's The Hot Breakfast in November, 2020. Speaking to the Herald Sun at the time, the 57-year-old claimed he had been 'hurting for a while' with the weight of the decision to leave radio. Eddie joined Triple M in 1988 as a young journalist and had been on the Hot Breakfast show since 2009. 'Always in the build-up to any announcement like this you convince yourself five times over to keep going, to not go, to keep going, to not go, because you love doing the show, but it has been hurting for a while,' he admitted. Flashback: Eddie wrapped up 11 years on Triple M Melbourne's The Hot Breakfast in November, 2020 'To be honest the constant feeling of jet lag you have when you are doing breakfast radio, it compounds the longer you do it, and you also get a bit older,' he said. Eddie also added that his various other personal and professional commitments regularly kept 'massive slabs of [his] diary blocked out', which left him 'tired'. 'So that is where it is at. Im looking forward to being a bit more relaxed, to be perfectly honest,' he reasoned. She recently returned to the United States after attending her sister Kourtney's wedding to Travis Barker in Portofino. And Kim Kardashian showed off her sensational sense of style as she stepped out for a fun-filled night out in Los Angeles on Thursday. The reality TV star, 41, looked effortlessly chic in a pair of camouflage print fatigues and a black turtle-neck jumper. Stunning: Kim Kardashian showed off her sensational sense of style as she stepped out for a fun-filled night out in Los Angeles on Thursday She completed her attire with a pair of black boots and covered her eyes with a pair of black rectangular sunglasses for the outing. Kim accentuated her striking features with a full-coverage make-up palette and a touch of brown lipstick as she enjoyed a Slurpee while stepping out a supermarket. The Kardashians star wore her dyed platinum blonde locks in a straight fashion loosely cascading across her shoulders. She recently jetted back to LA with her daughter North, eight, after they celebrated Kourtney's marriage to Travis in a wedding ceremony in Portofino. Stylish: The reality TV star, 41, looked effortlessly chic in a pair of camouflage print trousers and a black turtle-neck jumper It was their third wedding after a 'practice run' following the Grammy's in Vegas and a legally binding ceremony in Santa Barbara last week. Kim was joined by her sisters Khloe, 37, Kendall, 26, and Kylie, 24, and their other family members and close pals to celebrate the union. Kourtney, 43, and Travis, 46, are currently enjoying an intimate honeymoon in Milan, while Kim and other family members jetted back home. Since arriving back in LA, Kim was left red-faced after suffering an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction in a raunchy Instagram video. Looking good: She completed her attire with a pair of black boots and covered her eyes with a pair of black rectangular sunglasses for the outing The socialite gave her 313million followers a glimpse into her latest photoshoot for her brand SKIMS. But while posing up a storm in the video, her tiny sheer bra with spaghetti straps slipped down, exposing her nipple which she covered with an emoji. In the selfie video, Kim flashed her toned tummy and styled her recently-dyed platinum blonde locks in loose waves while sporting a glam makeup look and using an Instagram filter. The mother-of-four suddenly said 'sh*t' and grabbed her boob as she realises her nipple was almost on show for her fans to see. Revealing: It comes after Kim was left red-faced after suffering an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction in a raunchy Instagram video Stunning: In a previous video, Kim could be seen flaunting her ample assets as she had to hold on to her tiny pink crop top to avoid another revealing display In the previous video, Kim could be seen flaunting her ample assets as she had to hold on to her tiny pink crop top to avoid another revealing display. She was earlier in a reminiscing mood as she took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding. The star showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials, which took place last week. 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney, 43, and her drummer husband Travis Barker, 46. Looking back: Kim was in a reminiscing mood on Friday, as she took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding Kourtney married the musician in a splendid ceremony last Sunday, as the Kardashian/Jenner clan joined them in Portofino, Italy, to celebrate. Kim and North twinned in gothic looks for the occasion, and the star was seen giving her daughter a kiss in one of the adorable photographs. The platinum blonde bombshell paired her sensational gown with an ornate gold and jewel cross choker. She wore her recently-dyed tresses in a chic updo and sported a smoky palette of make-up for the special occasion. Mini-me: She showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials Sweet: In another adorable shot, the blonde bombshell was seen giving North - who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West - a kiss Meanwhile North - who Kim shares with ex-husband Kanye West, 44, alongside younger daughter Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three - wore a flowing black robe. The next artistic black and white snap featured Kourtney and Travis walking hand-in-hand underneath a stone tunnel in their wedding garb, with Travis holding a bottle of champagne in his hand. Kim continued with the stunning family throwbacks, sharing a picture of her and younger sister Khloe, 37, all dressed up for the big ceremony. Long may it last: 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney, 43, and her drummer husband Travis Barker, 46 Memories: Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her son Reign's hand with the other Khloe looked regal in a chic sheer tiered black dress with lace detail and an eye-catching gold headpiece. Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her Dolce & Gabbana corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her youngest son Reign's, seven, hand with the other. The romantic ceremony was the third one for the couple, who previously tied the knot in Santa Barbara, as well as in a non-binding wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. Authorities think the 5-year-old boy discovered dead in a suitcase in New Pekin on April 16 died of an electrolyte imbalance, which happens when the body loses a considerable amount of fluids. Police are still trying to figure out who he is. Police describe the child as a 5-year-old Black boy with short hair and a slender build who stands around 4 feet tall. According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls, toxicology tests showed negative results, suggesting that the boy had no poisons in his system. He also did not sustain any serious injuries, as per WAVE 3. Case of Indiana Boy Found Dead in Suitcase Still Undisclosed People are calling the cops to advise them to check for brightly colored Las Vegas luggage like the one the boy was discovered in, as well as to give them tips on how to investigate the case, according to Huls. However, according to Huls, this does not help the inquiry because officials are looking for particular proof. To give direct information on the boy or the exact suitcase that has become so distinctive in this case, call the national tip line at (888) 437-6432. His funeral is set on June 1, and many people of the community are expected to attend. According to Chaplain Todd Murphy, the unnamed boy is now a Washington County son. Almost everything for the service has been provided by the community, according to MSN. The city of Salem has supplied a burial spot, and Marshall Monuments is working on the boy's headstone. Little information about the boy's background has been disclosed, but that hasn't prevented Washington County residents from caring for him. Murphy expects a big number of people to attend the service. More than a month ago, a mushroom hunter in Washington County, Indiana, discovered the deceased child in a hard-shell case with a Las Vegas image. However, weeks after the terrible discovery on April 16, detectives still had no idea who he was. The probe is still stalled because authorities have been unable to link the boy to missing children registries in the United States. Read Also: New York Subway Shooting Suspect Surrenders After Apparently Unprovoked Fatal Attack Pennsylvania Explosion Kills 4 Kids, 1 Adult Meanwhile, police have revealed that four of the five persons killed in a home explosion on Thursday night were children. After an explosion sent debris flying in a Pottstown neighborhood on Friday, Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller verified the news. Francine White, 67, Alana Wood, 13, Jeremiah White, 12, Nehemiah White, and Tristan White, 8, were the victims, according to Pottstown Police. Per The Sun, two persons are still in trauma centers in the area. Eugene White, 44, and Kristina Matuzsan, 32, were also the victims, according to police. On May 26, about 8.30 p.m., an explosion was reported at 453 Hale Street. That home's seven residents have all been identified. Officials confirmed on Friday that two homes were damaged and that many more are being assessed. Authorities are still investigating what caused the explosion, but it appears to be an isolated occurrence. Neighbors reported smelling natural gas in the area for months before the explosion, according to multiple accounts. Officials couldn't say how many complaints about the gas smell had been received from neighbors in recent months on Friday. Cops roping off areas around downed poles and wires in photos from the incident. According to local reporter Evan Brandt, cars in the vicinity have also been damaged. Neighbors in the area recall hearing a tremendous blast, according to several sources. Brandt issued a series of photographs and videos from the terrible sight on Twitter, claiming locals and first responders are "stunned." Other residents reported damaged windows, photographs falling off walls, and debris flying around the area. Related Article: Brittanee Drexel Case: Family Speaks Out After Man Was Falsely Accused in Death of New York Teenager Found After 13 Years @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elsa Pataky has revealed that she put aside her acting career to be the best mother than she can be. Speaking to this week's Stellar Magazine, the Spanish actress, 45, says that family ultimately came first. 'I was really dedicated to my kids,' she told the publication on Saturday. Star: Elsa Pataky has revealed that she put aside her acting career to be the best mother than she can be. Speaking to this week's Stellar Magazine , the Spanish actress, 45, says that family ultimately came first. Pictured in Stellar Magazine 'I took a couple of jobs when they were little and I was feeling really guilty and not feeling good about myself, because personally, I didn't spend much time with my parents when I was little. So it was really important for me to be there for my kids'. Elsa admits that it wasn't an easy decision - but it was the best choice for her young children. 'I knew what I was giving up and in that way it was a really difficult decision, but I thought at least my kids will be proud of me for the mother I am,' she said. All together: Elsa and her husband Chris Hemsworth, 38, have three children, daughter India , nine, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, both eight. All pictured Family: 'I took a couple of jobs when they were little and I was feeling really guilty and not feeling good about myself, because personally, I didn't spend much time with my parents when I was little. So it was really important for me to be there for my kids' she said Elsa and her husband Chris Hemsworth, 38, have three children, daughter India, nine, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, both eight. Out of retirement, Elsa returns to the big screen in her new Netflix movie, Interceptor. Elsa's role in the action film, 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. Fit: Elsa's role in the action film Interceptor (pictured), 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 'I knew what I was giving up and in that way it was a really difficult decision, but I thought at least my kids will be proud of me for the mother I am,' she said of quitting acting. Pictured in her new film Interceptor 'I was really hungry, in a way, to show them that the time away from them was worth it. That their mum could save the world, too!' she said of taking the role. The Fate of the Furious star and her Thor actor husband have been married since 2010. They reside in a $30million mansion in Broken Head, near the celebrity enclave of Byron Bay. The Kid Laroi is reportedly facing a lawsuit. The 18-year-old multimillionaire rapper, whose real name is Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, is being sued by a former manager, according to The Daily Telegraph. On Friday, Daniel 'Zig' Annor, who is the managing director of ART Management Group, filed Supreme Court lawsuits against the performer, alleging a 'breach of contract and loss of income' in court documents. Legal woes: The Kid Laroi is reportedly facing a lawsuit. The 18-year-old multimillionaire rapper, whose real name is Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, is being sued by a former manager, according to The Daily Telegraph. Pictured with girlfriend Katarina Deme Annor further claims his management of Laroi was terminated 'just days before Laroi signed a deal with global music giant Sony' according to court documents. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to The Kid Laroi for comment. The Kid Laroi courted controversy on Friday, when he brought Sydney hip hop group ONEFOUR out onto the stage at his Sydney show, for their first performance on a proper stage since 2019. Claims: On Friday, Daniel 'Zig' Annor, who is the managing director of ART Management Group, filed Supreme Court lawsuits against the performer, claiming 'breach of contract and loss of income' in court documents OneFour performed their collaboration with Laroi called My City, at his End of the World show, before performing their hits Shanks and Shivs and Spot the Difference. The drill rap artists - a genre defined by themes of violence, killing, and death - made headlines in 2019 after their national tour was shutdown by police due to safety concerns. Despite his star status, the performer, who has had a number one hit with his song Stay, a collaboration with Justin Bieber, mingled with the locals at a pub in Sydney's Newtown on Wednesday. Controversial group: The Kid Laroi courted controversy on Friday, when he brought Sydney hip hop group ONEFOUR out onto the stage at his Sydney show (pictured), for their first performance on a proper stage since 2019 Just like the locals! Despite his star status, the performer, who has had a number one hit with his song Stay, a collaboration with Justin Bieber, mingled with the locals at a pub in Sydney 's Newtown on Wednesday (pictured) The teen, who is in Australia for a stadium tour and to launch a collaboration with McDonald's, was pictured playing the pokies and drinking Corona beer. Laroi has brought his End of the World Tour to Australia and has partnered with McDonald's to launch a limited-edition meal. He took to the stage at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday, with a second show added on Friday due to overwhelming demand. James Martin became emotional on his weekend cookery show on Saturday as he celebrated 200 episodes of the programme airing on ITV. The celebrity chef, 49, fought back tears as his celebrity pals and past guests on the show congratulated him in a sweet video montage. He has been hosting James Martin's Saturday Morning since 2017 and the popular programme sees him recommending top recipes as he cooks from his home. Tearful: James Martin became emotional on his weekend cookery show on Saturday as he celebrated 200 episodes of the programme airing on ITV As he celebrated the show's milestone achievement, James was seen wiping tears from his eyes as he became overwhelmed while watching the montage. The video, which was aired during Saturday's show, saw fellow chefs Paul Ainsworth, Atul Kochhar, Jose Pizarro and Dipna Anand, among others, send James their well wishes. In one sweet tribute, Welsh chef Stephen Terry held up a board decorated with the number '200' on it and sparklers blazing out the sides to celebrate the achievement. While Brian Turner hilariously spoke in front of a huge portrait of himself, sweetly telling James: 'Son, we're very proud of ya. Keep it going.' Emotional: The celebrity chef, 49, fought back tears as his celebrity pals - including Brian Turner - and past guests on the show congratulated him in a sweet video montage In a separate clip, Italian chef Francesco Mazzei joked: 'You're pretty good at what you're doing! I think you could improve a bit on the pasta but you're great!' And Lisa Goodwin-Allen stepped away from the stove to gush over how much she enjoys being involved with his cookery show, as she often joins James in the kitchen. 'It's a great Saturday show and I love being part of it. Thank you,' she added. Throughout the video montage, James could be seen reacting to the tributes and wiping tears out of his eyes as he became emotional listening to their kind words. As the camera panned back to James in the studio, he thanked his friends for their congratulatory comments and raised a glass to them as he said it was 'unbelievable'. Milestone: James returned to Saturday morning television with his two-hour show James Martin's Saturday Morning in 2017 He then tried to lighten the mood, as he looked visibly emotional, quipping: 'Only Brian Turner could have an oil painting of himself behind his head in his house.' James returned to Saturday morning television with his two-hour show James Martin's Saturday Morning in 2017. It came a year after he quit Saturday Kitchen after a decade at the helm of the BBC cookery programme. Last October, he released his cookbook Butter and revealed to the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine that he had originally wanted to call the book Fat. 'Fat that's what I wanted to call it and they said, 'Mmm, maybe not...' But the next one will be called Fat,' he hilariously revealed at the time. Chef: It came a year after James (pictured in March 2019) quit Saturday Kitchen after a decade at the helm of the BBC cookery programme In the book, James shares some of his favourite new dishes and old classics everything from savoury delights like roast crab with lime and chilli butter, Barnsley chops with goat's cheese butter, to sweet treats including cinnamon bread with caramel butter dip, shortbread and baklava. James admitted the response to his cookbook was 'overwhelming' and had to temporarily come off social media because he was inundated with messages. 'The response has been overwhelming,' he said. 'Chefs treat butter like olive oil, and for me it's always been about the food delicious food. You can't produce good-quality food with margarine it's s***. Do we need to be lectured? Can we just enjoy it for what it is? 'Butter is a natural ingredient. I've spent my entire career using butter without compromise and without substitute, mainly because there isn't one. We shouldn't take butter for granted. 'It's such an essential part of our food lives right across the globe that it's a wonder many more haven't written books on it before. Butter is unique and natural, and we don't have to kill an animal to produce it.' James and his team wrote the book in 21 days during the Covid-19 lockdown and photographed the dishes on the floor of his Hampshire home. ITV bosses have confirmed the popular dating show will officially be back on June 6. And former Love Island contestants Faye Winter and Teddy Soars, both 26, stripped naked to reenact an iconic statue ahead of the launch of the new series. Meanwhile, host of the show Laura Whitmore, 36, got into the spirit as she played Cupid while the stars paid homage to famous romantic statues and sculptures across the UK. Love is in the air: Former Love Island contestants Faye Winter and Teddy Soars, both 26, stripped naked to reenact an iconic statue ahead of the launch of the new series Faye and Teddy mimicked the Rodins Kiss, famous for embracing the true sense of sensuality and romance. The couple only wore pants during the photoshoot and covered themselves in body paint as they shared a passionate kiss outside the Tate Modern (where the exhibition recently stood) in London. The 2021 finalists said: 'Now we've come out the other side of the show, we are still as strong as ever. Not to mention that we're super excited to see who's heading to the Villa this season and see what surprises ITV2 have in store! 'Helping Love Island claim back love just made sense - the show brought us together, so we can't wait to see more couples fall in love in this series.' Iconic: Host of the show Laura Whitmore, 36, got into the spirit as she played Cupid while the stars paid homage to famous romantic statues and sculptures across the UK Sweet: Faye and Teddy mimicked the Rodins Kiss, famous for embracing the true sense of sensuality and romance Laura looked sensational while providing onlookers with a stylish and modern take on the iconic Piccadilly Circus Eros Statue as a glowing golden cupid. Meanwhile, Paige Turley and Finley Tapp took a trip to Scotland and replicated the insta-worthy Winchers Stance statue in Glasgow, which is known for being named after the Glaswegian term for a relationship. 2020 winners Paige and Finley commented: 'We love reminiscing on our time in the Villa and the show will always have a special place in our heart as it brought us together as a couple. 'Since leaving the Villa, our relationship has only continued to grow and we're happier than ever! Love Island is a show that has love at its heart and it's great to help support the new series launch. Plus, it's right in my hometown Glasgow.' Loved-up: Paige Turley and Finley Tapp took a trip to Scotland and replicated the insta-worthy Winchers Stance statue in Glasgow, which is known for being named after the Glaswegian term for a relationship Laura's husband Iain, 34 - set to return to the show along with his wife - admitted he hasn't yet seen the villa but is certain this will be the 'sexiest' series yet.. The comedian told OK! magazine: 'I know it's got a fire pit because I talked about that in the trailer and I imagine if there's more working out space it'll be the sexiest series we've ever had.' The narrator added he's 'confident' the show will always have 'great moments'. 'Every season there have been some absolute blinders,' he said. 'Like after Casa Amor when Shaughna told Callum "congrats, hun" after he recoupled with Molly. Or with the "who kissed who?" debacle between Georgia and Jack.' Back soon: Love Island will officially be back on June 6 as show narrator Iain Stirling has forecasted for it to be the 'sexiest' season yet. Pictured in 2021 Lovely wife: Iain, 34 - set to return to the show along with his wife, presenter Laura Whitmore, 37 (Pictured in last year's series) has also admitted he hasn't yet seen the villa It comes as the brand new Love Island villa last weekend finally looked near completion with just two weeks left to go until the launch of the new series. The original Mallorcan Love Island villa was sold back in March for 3m, (2.57m) and the new location has been revealed. New images showed that a fire pit has been constructed inside the new six-bedroom mansion where contestants will gather for eliminations and recouplings. This year's islanders will have plenty of space in the villa's outdoor area which also features a 20m swimming pool with a stunning view of the Spanish island's countryside. Love Island airs on ITV2 at 9:00pm from Monday, June 6th. Baz Luhrmann was moved by Priscilla Presley's praise for his new biopic, Elvis. The 59-year-old filmmaker was emotional as he reflected on Priscilla's review of the film which features Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll in which she described the flick about her late former husband as 'outstanding'. At a press conference for the movie, Baz said: 'No critique, no review was ever going to mean more to us than the one from the woman who was married to him. Warm reception: Baz Luhrmann (right) was moved by Priscilla Presley's (left) praise for his new biopic, Elvis 'She said: "If my husband was here today, he'd say, 'Hot damn, you are me'"... it was the best review I've ever had.' Priscilla wed Elvis in 1967, later divorcing in 1973, when she was 27 - and just four years prior to his death. Elvis passed away from a heart attack in 1977, leaving behind daughter Lisa Marie Presley, now 54. What a movie: The 59-year-old filmmaker was emotional as he reflected on Priscilla's review of the film which features Austin Butler (pictured) as the King of Rock and Roll in which she described the flick about her late former husband as 'outstanding' The film stars Tom Hanks as Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker, who was infamous for cheating the music icon out of a fair share of royalties for his songs. But the actor believes that his alter ego should be recognised for his part in making Elvis a megastar. Hanks said: 'I've heard from many people that he was a delightful guy, lit up every room. Was he a cheap crook who played fast and loose with the money? Yeah, (but) he brought joy to everything he did. With just a little bit of larceny. At a press conference for the movie, Baz said: 'No critique, no review was ever going to mean more to us than the one from the woman who was married to him'. Pictured are Olivia DeJonge and Austin Butler as Priscilla and Elvis in the film Memories: Priscilla wed Elvis in 1967, later divorcing in 1973, when she was 27 - and just four years prior to his death. Pictured on their wedding day 'Baz said there was no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker, it was a completely symbiotic relationship. 'You have to give him credit and see the reality that the amount of ways Colonel Parker cheated people out of nickles and dimes was extraordinary.' Luhrmann's movie follows Elvis from his childhood poverty through his emergence as a global superstar before his untimely death at the age of just 42 in 1977 and the director wants audiences to have an immersive experience when watching the film. The Moulin Rouge! director said: 'I want the audience who don't care about Elvis to feel what it was like to be there (when he first performed). He was the original punk rocker.' Advertisement Elizabeth Olsen had some fun in the sun her husband Robbie Arnett during a getaway to Porto Ercole, Italy on Saturday. The 33-year-old performer and her spouse, 30, packed on the PDA during their time in the sun, as they shared several kisses before taking a closer look at their surroundings. The happy couple tied the knot at an unspecified date in the recent past, and the actress revealed that she had become married during an interview that took place last July. Quality time: Elizabeth Olsen was seen while spending time with her husband, Robbie Arnett, during a getaway in Porto Ercole, Italy, on Saturday Olsen showed off her sculpted form in a light brown bikini top and a matching bottom during the outing. The WandaVision star accessorized with a stylish pair of round-framed sunglasses during her outing. The performer's lovely blonde hair fell towards her shoulder while she made the most of the sunny Italian weather. Arnett opted to wear a pair of light blue-green trunks as he spent time with his wife. Hot stuff! Olsen showed off her sculpted form in a light brown bikini top and a matching bottom during the outing Accessorizing well: The WandaVision star accessorized with a stylish pair of round-framed sunglasses during her outing. The performer's lovely blonde hair fell towards her shoulder while she made the most of the sunny Italian weather Dressed for the weather: Arnett opted to wear a pair of light blue-green trunks as he spent time with his wife Olsen and her now-husband reportedly met while they were vacationing in Mexico in 2017. The pair later sparked rumors about a potential romance after being spotted together in New York City in March of that year. A source spoke to E! News at the time and described the Milo Greene band member as a 'great guy.' The insider went on to note that Olsen had already become very enthusiastic about spending time with her now-husband. Starting off strong: Olsen and her now-husband reportedly met while they were vacationing in Mexico in 2017 Stepping out: The pair later sparked rumors about a potential romance after being spotted together in New York City in March of that year Seal of approval: A source spoke to E! News at the time and described the Milo Greene band member as a 'great guy' 'They are in an exclusive relationship and Lizzie is excited about him. She deserves it. It's very new though, but they seem to like each other a lot already,' they said. The performer later confirmed that she was in a relationship with the musician in August. The happy couple later made their official public debut at the 2017 Gersh Emmy Party in Los Angeles, which took place that September. Olsen later revealed that she and Arnett had moved in with each other during a 2018 interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she noted that the decision was particularly easy. Making it known: The performer later confirmed that she was in a relationship with the musician in August Letting everyone see: The happy couple later made their official public debut at the 2017 Gersh Emmy Party in Los Angeles, which took place that September Sharing the space: Olsen later revealed that she and Arnett had moved in with each other during a 2018 interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden , where she noted that the decision was particularly easy She recalled: 'My boyfriend and I were just like "Why don't we just move the mattress from his old place into the house?"' The performer reiterated that she and her partner were now sharing a living space, although they did not bother with buying a new mattress. 'Yeah, we live together. It already happened, we just now have his old mattress with us,' she stated. When fellow guest David Tenant noted that there was 'no going back' for her after she moved in with her now-husband, she remarked: 'That's my plan.' Explaining the decision: She recalled that 'my boyfriend and I were just like "Why don't we just move the mattress from his old place into the house?"' No big deal: The performer reiterated that she and her partner were now sharing a living space, although they did not bother with buying a new mattress Committed: When fellow guest David Tenant noted that there was 'no going back' for her after she moved in with her now-husband, she remarked: 'That's my plan' A source confirmed to People that Olsen and Arnett had officially become engaged in July of 2019. The couple later decamped to the United Kingdom and spent time there while the actress worked on WandaVision. The performer spoke about making the move with her fiance during an interview on the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast, where she stated: 'I'm with my man partner and...we're living this British dream.' The actress added that she and her now-husband wanted 'to figure out how to stay here so now we want to write a romcom because we don't want to leave.' Putting a ring on it: A source confirmed to People that Olsen and Arnett had officially become engaged in July of 2019 Staying together: The couple later decamped to the United Kingdom and spent time there while the actress worked on WandaVision It's love! The performer spoke about making the move with her fiance during an interview on the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast, where she stated: 'I'm with my man partner and...we're living this British dream' Olsen confirmed that she had tied the knot with Arnett during a conversation with Kaley Cuoco for Variety that took place in June of last year. Although the performer did not give any specifics as to when she tied the knot with her spouse, she made a point of referring to him as her 'husband.' The happy couple has since collaborated on a children's book entitled Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective. The project is currently set to be made available to the public on June 28. Candice Swanepoel stunned in a daring red cut-out gown at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. On Saturday, the 33-year-old former Victoria's Secret Angel shared a series of snaps in which she modeled her sizzling BOSS dress while at the festival in Cannes, France. 'Merci Cannes @boss,' Candice wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. Wow: Candice Swanepoel stunned in a daring red cut-out gown as she attended the amfAR Gala at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Candice's gown featured a diagonal cut-out from her collarbone to her waist that showcased the supermodel's ample cleavage and taut midriff. The blonde beauty swept her long locks back into a stylish updo and rocked a bold red lipstick that matched her dress. The runway star accessorized with diamond statement rings and sported a light pink manicure. Trio: Candice was joined by model pals Stella Maxwell and Valentina Sampaio in the next photo in her slideshow In the first photo that she shared, the catwalk queen gave the camera a smoldering look as she posed next to a bouquet of white flowers on a table. Candice was joined by model pals Stella Maxwell and Valentina Sampaio in the next photo in her slideshow. Stella donned a chic all-black ensemble comprised of a crop top under a blazer with matching trousers. Stunning: Candice showed off her gown's sky-high slit as she posed on an embankment at the edge of a lawn with Isabeli Fontana in an image that was cropped beneath both models' necks Valentina bared a hint of cleavage in a sharp white blazer which she paired with white slacks and dangly diamond earrings. The trio of bombshells posed while sitting on a stone bench. Candice showed off her gown's sky-high slit as she posed on an embankment at the edge of a lawn with Isabeli Fontana in an image that was cropped beneath both models' necks. The South Africa native's endless legs and towering strappy red heels were on full display in the photo. Isabeli commanded attention in a black velvet crop top with long satin gloves and a long black that had a thigh-high slit. Beauty: Candice concluded her slideshow with a gorgeous selfie as she posed in front of the Bay of Cannes Candice concluded her slideshow with a gorgeous selfie as she posed in front of the Bay of Cannes. The Tropic of C founder had on the dazzling red gown as she walked the red carpet at the 28th amfAR Charity Gala on Friday night. Held at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the glizty charity gala is one of the most coveted invites of the Cannes Film Festival. Robert de Niro was the guest of honor and the event featured performances from Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin and Charli XCX. After saying 'I do' for a third time in Italy last weekend, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have returned to Los Angeles. The newlyweds were spotted arriving back in town with children Alabama, 16, and Landon, 18, on Friday. Kourtney, 43, and Travis, 46, held hands as they returned to reality, both clad wearing matching hoodies and sunglasses. Back to reality! After saying 'I do' for a third time in Italy last weekend, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have returned to Los Angeles As Kourtney scrolled through her phone, Travis flashed a smile and carried a grey shopping bag. The couple put comfort first for their arrival home. Travis wore baggy shorts which tumbled past his knees, socks and slippers, while Kourtney sported loose trousers. Landon also kept it casual in a white top, black sweatshirt, and pajama-style bottoms. Travis shares Landon and Alabama with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler. Hand in hand: As Kourtney scrolled through her phone, Travis flashed a smile and carried a grey shopping bag His sister Alabama posted a snap of the private jet they took home to their Instagram Stories. 'Back home,' she wrote in the photo. Kourtney and Travis tied the knot again in Portofino, Italy this past weekend in a glamorous ceremony attended by the Kardashians and a slew of other stars. They were then spotted in Milan on their honeymoon. The romantic ceremony was the third one for the couple, who previously tied the knot in Santa Barbara, as well as in a non-binding wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. Flying in style: His sister Alabama posted a snap of the private jet they took home to their Instagram Stories Kris Jenner posted snaps of the celebrations to her Instagram account on Saturday, including shots of her taking sips from her cocktail and posing with her new son-in-law. Kim Kardashian was in a reminiscing mood on Friday, as she took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding. The reality TV beauty, 41, showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials, which took place last week. 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney and her drummer husband. Looking back: Kim Kardashian was in a reminiscing mood on Friday, as she took to her Instagram to share a carousel of images from sister Kourtney's lavish Italian wedding Kim and North twinned in gothic looks for the occasion, and the star was seen giving her daughter a kiss in one of the adorable photographs. The platinum blonde bombshell paired her sensational gown with an ornate gold and jewel cross choker. She wore her recently-dyed tresses in a chic updo and sported a smoky palette of make-up for the special occasion. Meanwhile North - who Kim shares with ex-husband Kanye West, 44, alongside younger daughter Chicago, four, and sons Saint, six, and Psalm, three - wore a flowing black robe. Mini-me: The reality TV beauty, 41, showed off her dramatic sheer black lace gown, as she posed alongside her eldest daughter North, eight, ahead of her sister's nuptials Sweet: In another adorable shot, the blonde bombshell was seen giving North a kiss The next artistic black and white snap featured Kourtney and Travis walking hand-in-hand underneath a stone tunnel in their wedding garb, with Travis holding a bottle of champagne in his hand. Kim continued with the stunning family throwbacks, sharing a picture of her and younger sister Khloe, 37, all dressed up for the big ceremony. Khloe looked regal in a chic sheer tiered black dress with lace detail and an eye-catching gold headpiece. Long may it last: 'KRAVIS FOREVER,' the SKIMS co-founder captioned the stunning shots, using the social media nickname for Kourtney, 43, and her drummer husband Travis Barker, 46 Memories: Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her son Reign's hand with the other Tristan Thompson's, 31, ex-girlfriend was seen powdering her face ahead of the wedding, as she posed in the mirror with Kim and North. Another heartwarming photograph featured Kourtney in her Dolce & Gabbana corseted mini-dress squeezing North's face with one hand, and holding her youngest son Reign's, seven, hand with the other. Meanwhile behind Kourtney a group of assistants were seen carrying her embroidered veil, which featured a depiction of the Virgin Mary. It wasn't just Kourtney and Travis who sported the luxury label on their big day. The outfits worn by the entire Kardashian-Jenner family on the trip were designed by the iconic label, so it was no wonder that Kim also managed to get a snap with the famous fashion duo. Glamorous affair: Kim continued with the stunning family throwbacks, sharing a picture of her and younger sister Khloe, 37, all dressed up for the big ceremony Getting ready: Tristan Thompson's, 31, ex-girlfriend was seen powdering her face ahead of the wedding, as she posed in the mirror with Kim and North Kim and North proudly posed with designers Domenico Dolce, 63, and Stefano Gabbana, 59, who were both clad in all-black outfits. In another shot, the star and her daughter were seen posing with Dolce & Gabbanas ambassador and Domenico's partner Gui Siqueira, who looked chic in a white suit and pink silk shirt. The Italian fashion house 'made millions' from the grand European wedding, according to Page Six. Though they shut down reports that they 'sponsored' the event, the company reportedly earned '$25.4 million in media impact value' thanks to the wedding. Italian fashion: Kim and North proudly posed with designers Domenico Dolce, 63, and Stefano Gabbana, 59, who provided outfits for the entire Kardashian-Jenner family on the trip Kim Kardashian looked stunning in a direct from the runway look as she posted more photos from her trip to Italy for Kourtney and Travis Barker's wedding. The 41-year-old influencer showed off her curves in a black head to toe unitard, boots, a red velvet corset and coat in a series of sexy shots on Instagram. Her platinum hair was styled in an updo with tendrils surrounding her face. La Dolce Vita: Kim Kardashian, 41, showed off her curves in a series of sexy shots Saturday on social media The reality star's makeup featured smoky eyes and a neutral lip. The style maven was coy about her the location of the fashion shoot in her post, writing only 'La Dolce Vita.' She didn't tag the designer, but she did share a photo of a model wearing the same outfit from what looked like a fashion show. Kiss: The style maven blew a kiss to the camera as she posed in a black head to toe unitard and and boots, a red velvet corset and coat The post garnered more than 200 thousand likes in the first 20 minutes after it was released. The Kardashians star and her sister, Khloe, 37, returned via private jet from Italy earlier this week, after attending the wedding of their sister, Kourtney, 43, to rocker Travis Barker, 46 in an opulent ceremony in Portofino. The lifestyle guru and her beau, former Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, 28, were spotted Friday on the set of a Skims shoot. Who wore it better?: The reality star didn't tag the designer, but she did share a photo of a model wearing the same outfit from what looked like a fashion show The entrepreneur was recently signed to be the Chief Taste Consultant for plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat. 'I'm so inspired by @beyondmeat's mission,' she explained, 'and excited to share their delicious plant-based products with all of you as their Chief Taste Consultant.' However fans who criticized her after it appeared she didn't eat any of the products in the 30 second ad shared on social media. Dwayne Johnson shared a sweet video with his daughter Tiana to his Instagram account on Saturday morning. In the clip, the 50-year-old performer was seen having a tea party with his youngest child, who appeared to be enjoying the company of her father. The professional wrestler shares Tiana, aged four, as well as his older daughter Jasmine, aged six, with his wife of several years, Lauren Hashian. Loving dad: Dwayne Johnson shared a sweet video with his daughter Tiana to his Instagram account on Saturday morning Johnson kept it casual while wearing a short-sleeve hoodie on top of a white long-sleeve shirt during the tea party. The Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle star also wore a pair of tight-fitting black pants and matching socks. The performer wrote a short message in his post's captions to share his thoughts about spending time with his youngest child. 'Man these daddy/daughter/bunny tea parties have a special way of kinda putting life into real perspective,' he said. Hanging out: In the clip, the 50-year-old performer was seen having a tea party with his youngest child, who appeared to be enjoying the company of her father. Speaking his mind: The performer wrote a short message in his post's captions to share his thoughts about spending time with his youngest child Johnson then expressed that he considered his time with his children to be particularly important. 'My "why" becomes even more clear. She just turned 4 and probably won't remember this, but I sure will,' he said. The actor humorously added that Tiana was convinced that her father had not appeared in one of her favorite films. He wrote: 'She still refuses to believe that her daddy is actually MAUI from one of her favorite @disney movies, MOANA! She always says, "Daddy, you're not Maui, you're The Rock."' What really matters: Johnson then expressed that he considered his time with his children to be particularly important; he is seen with his daughter Jasmine in 2017 Johnson and Tiana's mother initially met in 2006, and they welcomed Jasmine into their lives nine years later. The happy couple brought Tiana into their family in 2018 before tying the knot the following year. The performer was previously married to Dany Garcia, with whom he shares a daughter named Simone, aged 20. The former couple divorced in 2008, although they still remain close friends and business partners. Starting a family: Johnson and Tiana's mother initially met in 2006, and they welcomed Jasmine into their lives nine years later Johnson spoke about how his children affected his life during an interview with Fatherly, where he noted that his daughters brought an element of normalcy to his life. He stated that his kids 'teach me so much, and continue to check me. They're the equalizer.' The professional wrestler went on to stated that he was completely devoted to keeping his children happy. 'I go above and beyond. I will do honestly anything to bring a smile to my babies' faces,' he said. On Thursday, a Russian court ordered the firing of over 100 National Guard officers who refused to be sent to Ukraine, the first formal verdict in a case that has shown internal discontent with the conflict. In what looks to be the largest number of officers to refuse to participate in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 115 members of the Russian National Guard, a domestic security agency distinct from the armed forces from the North Caucasus, were involved in the issue. Russia Confirms Sacking 115 Servicemen When the guardsmen declined to deploy in Russia's "special military operation," a military court in the Kabardino-Balkaria region declared on Thursday that they "arbitrarily refused to undertake an official duty." According to The Daily Telegraph, the guardsmen had filed an appeal, but the verdict, which was posted on the court's website, backed up their superiors, claiming the men had committed "flagrant violations." President Vladimir Putin has never declared war on Ukraine or instituted martial law, therefore Russia cannot lawfully send conscripts or force anybody to fight in Ukraine. Several groups of guardsmen and troops have decided to risk losing their positions rather than be transferred to Ukraine, where thousands of soldiers are thought to have been slaughtered, according to human rights activists. In the same week, an experienced Russian legislator added to Vladimir Putin's humiliation by demanding that the Russian president end his military assault in Ukraine. Leonid Vasyukevich, a 69-year-old Communist lawmaker, requested the immediate pullout of Russian soldiers from the nation, Express reported. Meanwhile, Boris Bondarev, Russia's highest-ranking diplomat, denounced the war on Wednesday. He claimed he was "ashamed" of his country in a public letter, calling the invasion a "disaster." This is happening as Russia looks to be losing ground in Ukraine. Read Also: China, Russia Join Force To Block US Efforts To Impose New Sanctions Against North Korea More Than 25,000 Russian Soldiers Died in Ukraine According to Ukrainian estimates, 25,100 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. The more conservative estimate from the UK Defense ministry estimates Russian deaths at roughly 15,000 - the same number of soldiers killed in the nine-year Afghan conflict. At least 199 Russian aircraft, 155 helicopters, 341 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,122 tanks, 2,713 armored vehicles, and 509 artillery systems have also been claimed by Ukrainian troops. Vladimir Putin's invaders are using a scorched-earth tactic to raze villages and cities to the ground before conquering them, according to Ukrainian commander Petro Kuzyk. As he prepared to be besieged in Severodonetsk, the embattled army leader asked for Western weapons to push back the tyrant's onslaught. Commander Kuzyk, who commands a National Guard battalion defending the city in eastern Luhansk, claimed his artillery rounds were running out. Per The Scottish Sun, he detailed the enormous effort facing troops after falling back from the neighboring devastated city of Rubizhne to hold the strategically critical pocket of territory. Russian rounds rained down on their positions at a rate of up to 500 per hour. His defenders continued to kill and drive back the Russians, whose commanders are reported to be acting on direct orders from Putin. Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Remains of Russian Soldiers Abandoned, Rot in Kyiv as Veterans Group Calls Vladimir Putin's Operation a "Failure" @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Diane Kruger certainly caught the eye in a glimmering ensemble as she led the red carpet alongside Andie Macdowell and Gemma Chan for the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony. The evening marks the final day of the 7th annual ceremony and will see the coveted Palme d'Or being awarded to the what the jurors have deemed the best film of the entire event. During the red carpet arrivals, actress Diane, 45, , who attended the event with beau Norman Reedus, dazzled in a metallic silver, sequin embellished dress. Gorgeous: Diane Kruger, 45, (pictured left) sparkled in an eye catching metallic dress as she led the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival Closing Ceremony on Saturday alongside 64-year-old Andie Macdowell (pictured centre) and Gemma Chan, 39 (pictured right) The strapless number featured a dramatic bow detailed back, which fell into a long train behind the ankle length hem of the dress. Diane added a pair of glitzy bow designed tie heels to match her dress, paired with a silver chain link choker. Her blonde locks were swept away in a sleek low bun for the evening, highlighting her naturally made up complexion. She and Norman put on a loved up display as they took on the red carpet hand-in-hand. The Walking Dead actor looked suave alongside her, donning an all-black velvet suit with a matching dress shirt underneath. Natural beauty: Diane's blonde locks were swept away in a sleek low bun for the evening, highlighting her naturally made up complexion Glitzy: Attending the event with beau Norman Reedus, she dazzled in a metallic silver, sequin embellished dress Statement: The strapless number featured a dramatic bow detailed back, which fell into a long train behind the ankle length hem of the dress Details: She added a silver chain link choker with an emerald gem and black details, alongside matching earrings Matching: Diane opted for a pair of glitzy bow designed tie heels to match her dress, as she and Norman put on a loved up display Suave: Norman looked dapper in an all-black suit for the evening, as he and Diane gleefully made their way up the stairs Flashing a smile and giving a wave to the cameras, Diane then placed her arm around Norman's, as the pair made their way up the lavish carpeted stairs. Andie Macdowell, 64, also brought her fashion A-game for the evening, sporting an emerald green satin gown which fell all the way to the floor. The gown featured a short sleeve and a panel chest design, as the neckline came high on Andie's chest. She paired the colourful number with open-toed black heels - keeping accessories to a minimum with just a simple gold bracelet. Emerald beauty: Andie also brought her fashion A-game for the evening, sporting an emerald green satin gown which fell all the way to the floor Form fitting: The gown featured a short sleeve and a panel chest design, as the neckline came high on Andie's chest - while the actress put on a cheerful display Details: She paired the colourful number with open-toed black heels - keeping accessories to a minimum with just a simple gold bracelet Andie's dark locks were left in her signature spiral curl, falling to her back as they were partly pulled into a half-ponytail. And to mark the closing ceremony, the actress went for a bold makeup look to match her dress - decorating her eyes with bright green face jewels. She blew a kiss to the onlooking cameras, before throwing her hands in the air gleefully and letting out a laugh on the red carpet. Jewelled: And to mark the closing ceremony, Andie went for a bold makeup look to match her dress - decorating her eyes with bright green face jewels Spreading the love: She blew a kiss to the onlooking cameras for the appearance, before flashing a smile Following closely was Gemma Chan, who looked effortlessly elegant in a strapless geometric number. The 39-year-old's dress was embellished with small silver jewels - creating a pattern all across the silver dress, which also featured a corset design and a small slit down her leg. The actress kept with a silver theme as she donned strappy stilettos of the same colour and silver painted toes. Dazzling: Gemma Chan looked effortlessly elegant in a strapless geometric number, was embellished with small silver jewels - creating a pattern all across the silver dress Tying the look together: She sported a subtle yet glowing makeup look with a metallic eyeshadow Final touches: She amped up the glamour ever so slightly with a statement jewel bangle, as her chestnut locks fell into a soft curl She amped up the glamour ever so slightly with a statement jewel bangle, while sporting a subtle yet glowing makeup look with a metallic eyeshadow. Gemma's chestnut brown hair was styled in a soft wave, as it fell freely to her shoulders. She appeared on the red carpet alongside American actress Aja Naomi King, who looked gorgeous in a strapless pink gown. The How to Get Away with Murder actress' dress featured a rhinestone embellished bodice, before coming out into a mesh colour splashed skirt. The two beauties wrapped an arm around one another, as they posed for snaps and waved to onlookers. Metallic: The actress kept with a silver theme as she donned strappy stilettos of the same colour and silver painted toes Pals: Gemma appeared on the red carpet alongside American actress Aja Naomi King (pictured), who looked gorgeous in a strapless pink gown After 11 days of the exhilarating festival, the closing ceremony hands out the festival's sought after awards - and awards one film The Palme d'Or. As the highest accolade of the film festival, 21 films are hoping to bag the prize, which will be decided by the nine men and women serving on the feature films jury, which is presided over by the French actor Vincent Lindon this year. Other actors such as No Country For Old Men star Javier Bardem graced the red carpet, as jury members such as Deepika Padukone, Jasmine Trinca and Noomi Rapace put on a show stopping display. Suave: Javier Bardem also made a stylish appearance in a cream tuxedo jacket, with a pair of black trousers The Palme d'Or award is selected by a nine-member jury headed by French actor Vincent Lindon. The award last year was given to French body thriller Titane directed by Julia Decournau ,who became the second female filmmaker ever to win the Palme. In 2019, Bong Joon Ho's Parasite took the win before also bagging the Best Film Oscar. This year Cannes has done its utmost to revive the annual France extravaganza which was canceled in 2020 and only managed to draw a modest crowd last year due to ongoing travel restrictions. Hollywood blockbusters Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick and Three Thousand Years of Longing missed out on the shortlist for the Palme. Frontrunners for the accolade include Lukas Dhont's coming-of-age drama Close, Park Chan-wooks Korean neo-noir Decision to Leave and Cristian Mungiu's Romanian drama R.M.N. Big night ahead: Some of the award ceremony's jury members also turned heads on the red carpet, as they prepared for a big night (L-R Deepika Padukone, Jasmine Trinca, Noomi Rapace) Simple yet effective: French model Camille Raza looked gorgeous in a thigh grazing black dress Work it: Jessica Michel (left) and Helena Gatsby looked stunning in summery dresses for the evening as they posed for snaps Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa was revealed as Doctor Who's brand new Time Lord earlier this month in a shock announcement. But the actor's Barbie co-star, Simu Liu, has revealed that the 29-year-old kept his casting a secret while filming the movie for two months. It seems his cast mates - which includes co-stars Margot Robbie, Emma Mackey, and director Greta Gerwig, found out at the same time as everyone else. Tight lipped: Ncuti Gatwa, 29, kept his Doctor Who casting a secret from friends and co-stars for two months, according to co-star Simu Liu (Ncuti pictured at the BAFTA TV Awards) While on tour for his new book We Are Dreamers, Simu shared that Ncuti 'didn't tell anyone a thing, explaining: 'All of a sudden over the weekend he was announced. 'We came to work on Monday we were like "Dude, how long have you been holding this in for?" Revealing that Ncuti replied 'two months', Simu jested that if it was him he 'would've combusted'. Detailing the extent of the publicity following the news, the actor added: 'Ncuti had to get security in and around not only his place of residence, but the places of residence of his entire family.' No clue: Simu shared that Ncuti 'didn't tell anyone a thing, explaining: 'All of a sudden over the weekend he was announced. We came to work on Monday we were like 'Dude, how long have you been holding this in for?' (Simu pictured earlier this month) Blockbuster: Ncuti has been filming for his new movie Barbie, recently sharing this sneak peek into the set to his Instagram Ncuti is set to take over the Doctor role following Jodie Whittaker's departure from the show at the end of 2022. Attending the BAFTA Television awards shortly after the announcement, the actor received some words of encouragement from previous doctors Jodie and David Tennant. Taking to Instagram, he shared: 'There are a lot of thank you's in this caption so please excuse the cringe. But mans feeling hella grateful at the moment. Star-studded: His co-stars, which include Margot Robbie (pictured), seemed to find out at the same time as everybody else History maker: The 29-year-old will become the 14th Doctor on the popular BBC show, after Whittaker announced last July she will be leaving the role after five years 'The Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker and Mr David Tennant for your beautiful words of support and encouragement on BAFTA day,' Ncuti wrote. 'I was absolutely cacking my pants and honestly speaking to you two was priceless.' He also thanked Doctor Who's returning showrunner Russell T Davies, adding: 'The Doctor Who fam: Russell, all the producers and the wonderful fans have been so gracious and welcoming. I am stunned and speechless at the support.' Ncuti is likely to be catapulted into global stardom following the new role, as he is making history as both the youngest and first black actor to play the role. Icon: Ncuti reflected on meeting David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2009, before reprising the role in 2013 for the 50th Anniversary Special Young Johnny Depp fans are targeting Amber Heard with thousands of abusive TikTok videos portraying the Hollywood actors ex-wife as a liar. The so-called Deppford wives some as young as ten have flooded the social media platform over the course of the six-week defamation trial, with the clips racking up billions of views between them. The videos, shared under the title #JusticeForJohnny, accuse Miss Heard of being a narcissist and in an attempt to undermine her domestic abuse allegations against the Pirates Of The Caribbean star claim that she is faking her distress in court. Amber Heard speaks to her legal team in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse The young cyber-bullies regularly refer to the 36-year-old as Miss Turd, while hundreds of accounts are dedicated to setting clips of her tearful testimony to the Cliff Richard song Devil Woman. Depp, 58, is portrayed in the clips as a loveable hero thanks to his appearances in childrens films such as Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Alice In Wonderland. He has also garnered a fresh generation of fans thanks to his model daughter Lily-Roses well-publicised relationship with up-and-coming actor Timothee Chalamet. Other videos collate favourite moments of Depp from the trial or show fans dressed in the actors iconic Captain Jack Sparrow costume from Pirates Of The Caribbean. Supporters of actor Johnny Depp rally outside of Fairfax County Courthouse as a jury is scheduled to hear closing arguments in Johnny Depp's high-profile libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard On Friday, Miss Heard told a court in Fairfax, Virginia, of her agonising suffering at the hands of internet abusers, including daily death threats against her and her child. She said one online troll had even threatened to put her one-year-old daughter in a microwave. Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million (40 million) over a column she wrote in the Washington Post describing herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse. She then counter-sued for $100 million, claiming smears from his lawyers had left her a pariah. Jurors will return on Tuesday to continue their deliberations. Incredible transformation of remote mountain village into tourism cradle Xinhua) 13:09, May 28, 2022 Photo taken on May 11, 2022 shows a view of Songjiahe Village in Mozitan Town of Huoshan County, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Chen Shangying) HEFEI, May 27 (Xinhua) -- How much can a mountain village change in about five years? The remarkable transformation of Songjiahe Village in east China's Anhui Province may provide an answer. From a remote backward village to a must-visit tourism destination, Songjiahe's transition trajectory is nothing short of astounding. Located at the old revolutionary base area of the Dabie Mountains, Songjiahe received nearly 100,000 tourists in 2021 despite the epidemic headwinds, raking in a revenue of over 1 million yuan (about 148,000 U.S. dollars) last year. The story was, however, completely different before 2016. The village was earlier marred by rugged mountain roads and dilapidated old houses, but today Songjiahe is connected with asphalt roads, making it a hidden treasure amid nature's pristine artistry. "Limited farmland in the mountainous area forced locals, especially the young people, to move out of their native village and seek employment in big cities," said Cheng Hao, a native of Songjiahe. Due to poor transportation in the deep mountains, locals were even reluctant to go to the county seat 40 km away, said the 33-year-old Cheng, who played a major role in Songjiahe's transformation. "I began working in the county seat in 2011 after graduating from university. But, in 2016, I made the decision to return to Songjiahe and work to improve my native village," he added. After his return, Cheng joined the family-run tea business and started to incorporate his own ideas. Thanks to the standardized tea production workshop that he set up, the income of local tea farmers increased by 15,000 yuan per household, and in 2021, the village's income from tea production exceeded 10 million yuan. However, in Cheng's view, tea alone is not enough to bring about fundamental changes in the village as tea cultivation is seasonal. So, he continued to explore more pragmatic and viable solutions. Cheng formed a team of more than 10 individuals, all under the age of 40, since new industries require youthful energy. Many of them are from Songjiahe, who have returned to their native village from big cities. Since 2018, Cheng has led his team to work concertedly with the local community, setting up a tourism company and exploring new ways to integrate the development of cultural tourism, rural tourism and ecotourism. Several "wandering cabin" homestays with great design have been set up to attract tourists. "I bought them from south China's Guangdong Province last year and these cabins feature a standard hotel room," Cheng said, adding that his team has also built a river rafting project spanning about 1 km in the village. With limited long-distance travel due to sporadic COVID-19 resurgences domestically, camping has become a popular holiday activity among Chinese people. Cheng jumped on the bandwagon and purchased tents, awnings and barbecue grills for rental purposes at the start of this year. During the Labor Day holiday in early May, Songjiahe Village held more than 20 camping activities. "We will continue to enrich our tourism sector to ensure Songjiahe attracts more visitors," Cheng said. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) One of the most talked about things on Twitter and on social media in general for the past few weeks is the ongoing defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. With closing arguments set for Friday, the two parties, who were once married to one another, took to the stand once more. What this means is that Amber Heard has been once more cross-examined by Depp's legal team, particularly by Camille Vasquez. And just like the first time she cross-examined her client's ex-wife, the lawyer has yet again trended on Twitter. Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Defamation Trial Before we get to that, let us first provide some context to the ongoing trial. Johnny Depp has sued Amber Heard, to whom he was married to from 2015 until their divorce was finalized in 2017, for $50 million, claiming that an op-ed piece she has written for The Washington Post in 2018 has damaged his career. In the op-ed post, Heard has said that she is a victim of domestic abuse, but made no blatant mention of her ex-husband's name. Heard has counter-sued Depp for $100 million. Related Article: Johnny Depp's Lawyer, Camille Vasquez, Trends as She Cross-Examines Amber Heard in Defamation Trial Johnny Depp's Lawyer, Camille Vasquez, Cross-Examines Amber Heard Once More With closing arguments set for Friday as mentioned, both Depp and Heard took the stand once more. Naturally, this means that Heard has once more been cross-examined by Depp's legal team, particularly by Camille Vasquez. According to the live updates provided by The Independent, one of the things Camille Vasquez brought up during the cross-examination is the photo of spilled wine taken after an incident that took place in 2016 in the former couple's penthouse. The lawyer then suggested that Heard's testimony regarding both the photo and the incident has not been consistent. "Heard said that she does not recall if that photo was specifically from the 2016 incident, prompting Ms, Vasquez to note that she had previously testified it was on two different dates," The Independent notes. After being told by Heard to check the metadata for the data, Vasquez merely replied, "If you were telling the truth, you'd know." At another point during the cross-examination, Depp's lawyer said to Heard "Your lies have been exposed to the world multiple times, haven't they?" Heard has said that she has been telling the truth and likewise denies that she is calling witnesses liars. Camille Vasquez Trends on Twitter for Her Cross-Examination Much like the first time she and Amber Heard faced off in the court room, Camille Vasquez has trended yet again on Twitter for her cross-examination. Here are some of the tweets that you will find when you click "Camille" on the trends list: Amber: "I could have leaked it and done more with it" Camille: "But earlier in this trial you stated that you didn't know how to leak things," Amber: "That's correct." #JohnnyDeppVsAmberHeard #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #DeppVsHeard spuddy (@tootiemalon) May 26, 2022 Camille Vasquez just got Amber heard to admit on the stand not once but TWICE thst she wrote the op-ed AND it was about Johnny. This is a defamation case about that op-ed. Heard failed the assignment.#DeppVsHeard Lena Garansi (@Discombobbedmom) May 26, 2022 "Your lies have been exposed to the world, right?!" Boom!!!! Camille hitting Amber Heard hard right out of the gate. ThatUmbrellaGuy (@ThatUmbrella) May 26, 2022 Camille: Another liar on the stand? Calling out Amber for accusing everyone who testified against her is lying. Every. Single. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe All eyes are on Skillibeng to become Jamaicas next top male model after a portrait photo of him, clad in Trapstar gear, with his hair covered, was reshared by a Twitter user, who expressed awe about his looks. He needs to hit somebodys runway. He has that interesting model face. Lowkey, lol, wrote @Internetfrauds on the image of Skilli, which was originally captured by UK-based photographer Amzino (@amzyobr), at Skillibengs London show at O2 Forum in early April. And, based on the responses to the photo, the women have suddenly found the Crocodile Teeth artist to be Hot. Nevertheless, most of the comments which followed, centered on his eyes as well as his usually uncombed or half-combed hair, which the women said has always drawn attention away from his face. Hes been an handsome young man. Look at those eyes , one woman remarked, while ebonyeuesc exclaimed: Whoa!! Hes absolutely beautiful. I literally didnt know this was what he looked like . He actually has really nice facial features. Eyebrows, nose lips bone structure yes he does, mekie observed while am_neisha noted: Yea, he just need to be looking this polish all the time. He be looking rough sometimes lol. In addressing Skillis crown, some women said that with his sometimes Don King-like hairstyle out of the way, they were now able to look at his face in detail, and were pleased with what they were seeing. He looks good here. No crazy hair sticking out so you can focus on his face and eyes, coco.goddess02 noted on Instagram. Been saying this. Just need fi comb the head man, Ashley said on Twitter. Some of the comments on IG were hilarious, with fans imagining the Jamaican star, on the catwalk pioneering doing out-of-the box antics. See Skilli a walk down runway wid him big spliff inna him mout, an amused shamelia said. Lol. Go see skill a magle Inna brief, was the wild comment from jamafricafairy. Others brought up the subject of the Jansport knapsack which Skilli carries everywhere, in which he supposedly carries his imaginary AK-47 rifle. That is if him willing fi tek off e bad off him back, one commenter quipped, while another added: Fi see skilli pan the run way wid him jansport pan him back . However, there were some who agreed that the St. Thomas native ought not to get involved in modelling, as that would spoil his badman image. Listen mi! Di man a bad man. Skilli just gwan hold it eno dont let dem freeze your brain and turn it fi dem way, one woman declared. On both Instagram and Twitter, there were also some women who compared the Whap Whap artists facial features to that of Rihannas beau A$AP Rocky, saying he looked like a rugged version of the rap star and model, who was declared by GQ magazine as the Prettiest Man Alive in June last year, and who, in June 2016, became the first black person to become the face of Dior Homme. However, there were some commenters who were of the view that Skilli as a runway model would not materialise, despite his height and looks being ideal, as the profession was highly stigmatized. Caribbean person, Africans are perfect for the model industry but because of the stigma attached to the industry and also the predators in the industry; most Caribbean men shy away from the industry, with fear of being labeled. Skilli wouldnt do that, it would also affect his career, one commenter said. Another, commenter gerbry, predicted that Skillis colleagues would also try to dissuade him from engaging in modelling contracts. But his crew will likely discourage him out of this easy money because badman nuh maggle , he stated, a prediction which seems to have manifested, as Skilli, since then, reposted an image of the original Tweet, with the words badman nuh maggle! superimposed on it, in his Instagram stories. After the death of his parents, Srinivas took over the business empire, which is mainly based out of Bengaluru. Though Srinivas is living in Sadashivnagar, he is in the process of taking over his parents political reins in Chittoor in 2024. Representational ilmage/AFP TIRUPATI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bengaluru, has reportedly taken D.A. Srinivas, a high-profile industrialist and son of former TTD chairman and liquor baron D.K. Adikesavulu Naidu, into custody in connection with a narcotics case. Srinivas heads a multi-crore business empire and has links with many politicians and film personalities. According to information, the NCB reportedly took Srinivas into custody late on Tuesday night. The sleuths took Srinivas to his residence at Sadashivnagar and carried out searches. The outcome of the searches is not known Sources said that the NCB also arrested a Kannada actor and shifted the duo to its regional office at Yelahanka for further questioning. It is learnt that the NCB was questioning Srinivas to find out any possible links with drug rackets and related supply links in AP and Telangana, particularly in the Telugu film industry. After the demise of Adikesavulu Naidu, his wife D.A. Satyaprabha was elected Chittoor MLA on a Telugu Desam ticket in 2014. She unsuccessfully contested against the YSR Congress candidate Peddireddy Mithun Reddy to the Rajampeta Lok Sabha seat in 2019. She died in November 2020. After the death of his parents, Srinivas took over the business empire, which is mainly based out of Bengaluru. Though Srinivas is living in Sadashivnagar, he is in the process of taking over his parents political reins in Chittoor in 2024. Easy availability of drugs, cannabis and lack of surveillance in secluded areas are cited are the main reasons for the spurt in criminal activities. (Representational image: DC) VISAKHAPATNAM: The easy availability of drugs, cannabis and lack of surveillance in secluded areas are cited are the main reasons for the spurt in criminal activities including murders in Vizag city. A young man was hacked to death by a gang of youths in the Waltair Railway Division's quarters in Marripalem on Friday. Another murder was reported from a secluded spot on the Andhra University campus a few days ago. While there was a lack of proper surveillance in such areas, the street lights were not functional. A drunk is suspected behind criminal acts like murders. Analysts say young people are more likely to commit heinous crimes under the influence of narcotic drugs like marijuana. It is impossible to attack someone even with a small knife when one is mentally stable. This happens when there is an abnormal mood under the influence of alcohol or ganja. However, the effect of marijuana use is worse than alcohol because the person hangs in a hyperactive mood, said an investigating officer. Police suspect that the gang led by Bangarraju who killed R. Saiteja (23) at Marripalem railway quarters on Friday were ganja addicts. They used to meet at secluded places in the railway quarters every night and smoke marijuana. Sources said all those involved in the murder were under the influence of alcohol. Vizag City Commissioner of Police Srikanth told Deccan Chronicle, Mrijuana use is also one of the reasons for clashes, sometimes leading to murders. We are filing cases against such gangs. It started with a case recently at the One Town police station. There are about 40 rowdy-sheeters in the city. We are now focusing on them. Waltair Railway Divisional Manager Anup Satpathy said, "We will keep track of railway areas and our security system will be more vigilant in such areas, including the quarters. We will demolish the abandoned railway quarters and take strong action against the railway staff who are silent spectators, without informing the railways about the criminal activities. China will be seeking a region-wide deal with 10 nations in the South Pacific. The country offers to help the Pacific Island countries improve their network infrastructure, cyber security, digital forensics, and other capabilities. The documents seen by newswire Reuters detailed China's ambition that will rollout as China's foreign minister Wang Yi starts a tour of Pacific nations this week and next. Assistance with data governance, training local police, and mapping the marine environment were among the proposed in the draft agreement. The deal also offer supply of customs management applications, possible funding of data links to island nations, and cyber-security assistance. China Accused of Debt Trap Diplomacy The reports were acknowledge by Australian foreign minister Penny Wong, who made another offer of financial and development assistance with what she says has fewer special demands. According to The Register, that's a nod to accusations that China practices what's been labelled "debt trap diplomacy." This is a practice where development assistance comes with repayment plans that small nations may not be able to afford. If a small nation failed to comply with the repayment, Chinese entities will take ownership of its assets. Citing worries that it could effectively see them lose control of key in their country, Pacific nations have pushed back on the plan. According to Reuters, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States is aware of Wang Yi's plans and was "concerned that these reported agreements may be negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process." According to Price, recent security agreements reached by China had been conducted with little regional consultation. This provoked concern in the United States and across the region. "We don't believe that importing security forces from the PRC and their methods will help any Pacific Island country," Price said. He said that importing security forces can only seek to fuel regional and international tension, which can also increase concerns over Beijing's expansion of its internal apparatus to the Pacific. Read Also: China Embarks on an Asteroid-Deflecting Mission - What About NASA? How Important Are the Nations in the South Pacific? The nations of the South Pacific do not have large populations, or economies but their location makes them strategically significant. The South Pacific nation's airstrips and harbors offer the chance to project force against trans-Pacific shipping. The recent volcanic eruption in Tonga demonstrated that severed submarine cables illustrated that Pacific nations are as dependent on internet connectivity and therefore a secure online environment. The problem is that the region's nations are far from wealthy. China has noticed of the region's challenges. Meanwhile, other nations are aware of the challenges posed by China's regional ambitions. Thus, to prevent Digicel from being acquired by a Chinese company, Australia funded the purchase of the regional mobile carrier. In addition, the U.S. operates a "clean networks" policy that tries to prevent any form of network that uses Chinese equipment or companies, from having the ability to influence stateside networks. Therefore, if the Pacific nations will accept Chinese assistance, it might give the impression that they alienating their allies. Related Article: China's 'Artificial Sun' Hotter Than the Sun; Nuclear Fusion Reactor Smashes Record SRINAGAR: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Jammu has issued summons to Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, to appear before it on July 15 as a witness in the case of her kidnapping by the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in December 1989. The incumbent chairman of the JKLF, Muhammad Yasin Malik, who was sentenced to life after his conviction in a terror funding case by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi earlier this week, is an accused in Rubaiyas kidnapping. Though the trial has been going on for the past many years, it is for the first time that Rubaiya, who is the younger sister of former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, has received witness summons in the case. She has been listed as a prosecution witness by the CBI that took over the investigation of the case in the early 1990s. Rubaiya, then 23 years old and doing her medical internship at Srinagars government-run Lala Dev Memorial Womens Hospital, was waylaid by the JKLF cadres while she was returning home in a minibus on December 8, 1989. Her father, Mr Sayeed, was serving as Indias first Muslim home minister in the Janata Dal government headed by V.P. Singh then. After days of negotiations between the captors and the Central governments official mediators and some family friends of the Muftis, Rubaiyas release was secured in exchange for five jailed members of the JKLF -- Sheikh Abdul Hameed, Ghulam Nabi Butt, Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Muhammed Altaf and Javed Ahmed Zargar on December 13, 1989 evening. She currently lives with her family in Tamil Nadu. The then J&K chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, who had strongly opposed releasing any militants to secure Rubaiyas release, had later said that setting five JKLF cadres only gave a fillip to militancy in Kashmir. He had alleged that his government was threatened with dismissal by the Centre if the militants were not exchanged for Rubaiya. Yasin Malik is among several JKLF members accused of conspiring or being actively involved in the sensational kidnapping, which proved a watershed for militancy in the Valley. In 1999, three JKLF activists -- Shoukat Ahmed Bakshi, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi and Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo -- arrested for kidnapping Rubaiya were granted bail by the court after nine years. A generation of Indians from all over the country from last 50 years have visited Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay their respect to fallen Indian soldiers and it has etched strongly in the emotional psyche of Indians. (Twitter) New Delhi: After eternal flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti was extinguished and symbolically merged with the flame at National War Memorial, the other part of the monument -- the iconic inverted Rifle and Helmet-- was on Friday also shifted from India Gate to the new war memorial. In a ceremony "Inverted Rifle and the Helmet", the symbol of Fallen Soldiers of 1971 India-Pakistan war, was shifted from India Gate, to Param Yodha Sthal at National War Memorial and installed in the midst of Busts of Param Vir Chakra Awardees. "With this ceremony, the integration of the Memorial of Fallen Soldiers of 1971 war with National War Memorial has been completed," said defence ministry in a statement. The ceremony was led by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal BR Krishna and attended by Adjutant General equivalents from the three Services. As part of the ceremony, a final salute was given and CISC offered a wreath at India Gate. "Thereafter the Inverted Rifle and Helmet was removed and carried in a ceremonial vehicle to the Param Yodha Sthal and installed at a newly created monument. CISC accompanied by the AGs equivalents from three Services presented a salute to the new monument," it said. In January the eternal flame at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate was extinguished and symbolically "merged" forever with the eternal flame at National War Memorial in a solemn ceremony. The monument Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate was formally inaugurated in January 1972 to honour the 3,843 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was symbolised by an inverted L1A1 self-loading rifle with a bayonet and soldier's helmet on its top with the eternal flames burning beside it. A generation of Indians from all over the country from last 50 years have visited Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay their respect to fallen Indian soldiers and it has etched strongly in the emotional psyche of Indians. National War Memorial built to honour Indian soldiers who fell while defending the country after Independence was dedicated to the nation in February 2019 by Prime minister Narendra Modi. After the inauguration of the National War memorial, all military ceremonial events were shifted to it from the India Gate memorial. It was in 2020 that for the first time, Prime Minister Modi had paid respects to the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial on a Republic Day and not at the Amar Jawan Jyoti which was the tradition till then. Names of all armed forces men from three services who died in the service of the nation after 15th August 1947 is inscribed on the walls of the Memorial in golden letters. India Gate was constructed by the British to honour the 83,000 British Indian Army soldiers who died during World War 1 and the third Anglo-Afghan War. TDP leader and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu addresses the gatherung on the opening day of Mahanadu in Ongole. (C.Narayana Rao/DC) Nellore: TDP leader and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday recalled how his all-out efforts helped bring the Indian School of Business (ISB) to Hyderabad in the united AP. "PM Modi addressed ISBs 20th annual day celebrations. It kindled many memories to me about how I brought it to Hyderabad. The PM did not mention my name. It doesn't matter. I did that for my Telugu race and it gives me satisfaction," stated Naidu. The TDP chief said when he sent an invitation to the ISB think-tank, they said they were considering Bangalore, Mumbai or Chennai, and that Hyderabad was not on their list. "I requested them over the phone to come in for breakfast and coffee. I sent my ministers to receive them at the airport. I served them meals personally. A lot of effort was made by me to get the ISB for AP." Naidu said the then prime minister Vajpayee came and laid the foundation stone for ISB in Hyderabad. The TDP brought hundreds of such jewels for the sake of the Telugu people, Naidu said. Genome Valley came to the rescue of the entire country at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The people from even the neighbouring states were reaping rich benefits from the institutions and projects brought by the TDP to AP, he said. Naidu added: When I was CM in united AP, a new direction was given to shift focus from physical labour to mind-based endeavours. This was why IT sector developed in Hyderabad in a big way. Now, Telugu girls are going abroad and earning more than their male counterparts. The TDP chief said the people of residual Andhra Pradesh suffered hugely because of the bifurcation. The TDP rule came out with a 2029 Vision to develop the newly formed AP on a par with its sister state, Telangana. It was as part of this endeavour that Amaravati Capital was visualised and it was developed into a ` 3 lakh crore asset. "What crime had Amaravati committed that Jagan Reddy had to destroy the capital, Naidu asked. He said Polavaram was a boon to farmers of the whole AP but it was also crushed in the name of reverse tenders. The TDP laid 20,000 kilometers of cement roads in villages in five years. The Jagan government did not lay even 2 kilometers of roads till now. Our nation is at the cusp of history. A journey of some 70 odd years as an independent country is miniscule against the canvas of history. But even nascent nations must forever bear in mind that there is a vital link between action and consequence. A wrong turn of events at the wrong time can change the future evolution of nations. India, too, must make choices, between righting the past and building the right future. The dispute over the Gyanvapi mosque is important in this context for it is at the crossroads of the past and the future. Gyan Vapi, meaning the well of wisdom, is situated at the very spot where the Kashi Vishvanath temple, the citys most famous shrine dedicated to Shiva, used to be. The Shivalinga at the temple was one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which have great religious sanctity for Hindus. It had a great antiquity, finding mention in the Skanda Purana, and other ancient Hindu texts. In 1194 CE, the temple was destroyed by Qutubuddin Aibak, but was rebuilt by a Gujarati merchant in the thirteenth century. It was again destroyed by either Hussain Shah or Sikander Lodhi in the 15th century, but rebuilt yet again by Raja Man Singh during Akbars reign. However, in 1669 CE, Aurangzeb definitively destroyed the temple and built the Gyan Vapi mosque on its ruins. An idea of the newly built mosque on the ruins of the temple can be gained through James Prinseps sketch of 1834. Finally, in 1830 CE, Ahilya Bai, the Holkar queen, built a new temple on an adjacent site. There is little doubt that the Islamic conquest of India in the eleventh century CE left Hindu India physically destroyed and psychologically traumatised. A.K. Warder, professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, University of Toronto, who is not party to any side in India, writes: The Turkish conquests of more than half India between 900 and 1300 CE were perhaps the most destructive in human history. Will Durant, the well-known chronicler of civilisations, is as categorical: The Mohammedan conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history Temples in their thousands were razed to the ground; deities were mutilated; exquisite sculptures were smashed; and knowledge centres were demolished. There is little point then of trying to whitewash history, as possibly well-intentioned historians, keen to not ignite Hindu-Muslim antagonisms, have sought to do in the past. The evidence is far too verifiable to ignore, and falsified histories create their own backlash. For instance, the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, built in Delhi at the Qutub Minar by Qutubuddin Aibak, still has a plaque that says: The debris of 27 idol templeswere used in the construction of the mosque. Some of the rampant destruction did take place on account of loot and plunder which was not uncommon in medieval (and later) conquests. But the Turkic invaders were also religious fanatics and proselytizers. However, a breed of writers and historians still persist in trying to portray the Islamic invasion as some kind of great syncretic carnival, where the invaders came and partook of the local sweetmeats, and the conquered had a happy morsel of biryani, while both sat down to work out the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb that we so value today. But that cherished tehzeeb came up and that is the miracle of India in spite of great destruction. This being said, should modern India be hijacked by the desire to correct the excesses of history? Should we blindly excavate the acrimonies of the past, at the cost of the future we must build? Even more importantly, is such a project even feasible? How many mosques will we demolish or excavate, across the length and breadth of this country, before we conclude that history has been righted? The march of history has mostly and not only in our country been ruthless. That must be acknowledged, but can what we do today enable us to recreate a new history? All nations must face up to the reality of closure, of moving on. For, how long can we go back in history? To the Aryans? To Hindus destroying Buddhist temples, or vice-versa? Should we deny visas to Britishers because they looted us in the past, or demonise Muslims today because of what Islamic invaders did centuries ago? Some nations have sought to constructively heal the wounds of the past. South Africa, which suffered the terrible discrimination of apartheid, set up the Truth and Reconciliation Mission in 1995 after it became a free nation. Mauritius set up the Truth and Justice Commission to calmly and truthfully evaluate the legacy of slavery and indentured servitude. Guatemala appointed a Historical Clarification Commission. The focus of all these bodies was restorative rather than retributive. The aim was to reconcile divided societies, not rupture them further. India, in 1991, sought to put closure too. This was in the form of the Places of Worship Act passed in Parliament. Section 4 declares that the religious character of a place of worship existing on August 15, 1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day, and any legal case pertaining to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship pending on August 15, 1947 shall abate. A five judge Bench of the Supreme Court endorsed the relevance of the Act while delivering its judgment on the Babri Masjid dispute, in November 2019. The learned judges pronounced that, Parliament has mandated in no uncertain terms that history and its wrongs shall not be used as instruments to oppress the present and the future. This decided policy of non-retrogression is, the apex court said, a foundational feature of the fundamental constitutional principles of which secularism is a core component. The past must be acknowledged but it should not hold our future to ransom. What are the priorities of an ordinary Indian: economic progress, jobs, social harmony and security, or religious strife, endemic instability, hate, violence and bigotry? If we live in the past, India will become a stagnant excavation ground. We need to put closure and move on. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also the biggest brand ambassador, icon and salesman for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, raised hopes amongst the diehard fans of the saffron party with a whirlwind tour of the two southern states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The South and East of India have proven elusive for the BJP, which won significantly in the Northeast in recent times, the other regions of India North, West and Centre being their dominant belt now. Without doubt, while opposition exists for the BJP across the country, the BJP has not been able to crack an easy route to power in eastern states like West Bengal or Odisha, and the southern slice of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala. For too long, the BJP has believed that after coming to Karnataka, it would be accepted easily over a period of time in the other states of the South too, but that has been a pipedream. The BJP has now decided to, and quite rightly perhaps, to treat each of these six elusive states on distinct merit, especially the South. And the saffron party has identified Telangana as the second best option for it to breach the southern wall. There are several reasons, some of them historic, on why Telangana is a good bet for the party; it was the first national party that espoused and supported the cause of a separate Telangana and had passed a resolution to strive to achieve it long before the Telangana Rashtra Samithi was even born. It was the need to create and successfully run a full-term non-Congress government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee, and their dependence on allies, especially the Telugu Desam led by Nara Chandrababu Naidu, that killed the partys explicit and hungry support for a separate Telangana, leaving any scope for strengthening itself there moot. The BJP has sensed that there is abundant anti-incumbency against the K. Chandrashekar Rao-led TRS government, into its second term, and their new leadership in the state, with Bandi Sanjay Kumar as its new face, getting adequate traction to go for broke. This led to the BJP ending an informal but cosy friendship with the TRS and pushing KCR into the anti-BJP firmament. In Tamil Nadu, the party has suffered and failed to grow because it is perceived as both a Hindu as well as a Hindi party. Mr Modi, on his recent visit, launched a slew of development projects, and projected a picture of perfect federalism at work, with chief minister M.K. Stalin on his side. Narendra Modi spoke of the eternal language that is Tamil, paying tribute to one of the oldest languages in the world and the cultural sovereignty and pride of its people. In Telangana, Mr Modi played to a more direct script, promising the party enthusiasts that people would soon elect a BJP state government, giving the party its second bastion in the South. There are several reasons why the BJP is weak in the South and finds the regional parties very hard to defeat, but the Prime Ministers quick tour of the two states of Tamil Nadu and Telangana has given the party much hope. After a tycoon bromance, Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is struggling to break up with Russia's Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war -- like many in his country, where ties with Moscow run deep. The billionaire former premier's unwillingness to speak ill of Putin is echoed by other leading Italian politicians, while in the media, there are concerns that pro-Russian sentiment has warped into propaganda. Prime Minister Mario Draghi is committed to NATO and the EU, strongly backing sanctions against Moscow, and at his urging a majority of Italy's MPs approved sending weapons to help Ukraine defend itself. But much of Draghi's coalition government -- Berlusconi's Forza Italia, Matteo Salvini's League and the once anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) -- has long pursued a "special relationship" with Moscow. Also Read | Ukraine says 'everything' being done to defend Donbas from Russian onslaught Italy used to have the largest Communist party in the West, and many businesses invested in the Soviet Union in the 1960s, while Russians in turn sought opportunities here. Barely a month before the February 24 invasion, Putin spent two hours addressing top Italian executives at a virtual meeting. Berlusconi, 85, has been out of office for more than a decade but remains influential both in politics and through his media interests, as founder of the Mediaset empire. He was an ardent admirer of the Russian leader, and a close chum -- they stayed in each other's holiday homes, skied together and were snapped sporting giant fur hats. "They were two autocrats who mutually reinforced their image: power, physical prowess, bravado, glitz," historian and Berlusconi author Antonio Gibelli told AFP. Putin gave Berlusconi a four-poster bed, in which the Italian had sex with an escort in 2008, according to her tell-all book. He in turn gave Putin, 69, a duvet cover featuring a life-sized image of the two men. In the months before the Ukraine war, Berlusconi continued to promote his close ties, including a "long and friendly" New Year's Eve phone call. Also Read | Ukraine says troops may retreat from eastern region as Russia advances It was not until April, two months after Russia's invasion, that he publicly criticised the conflict, saying he was "disappointed and saddened" by Putin. He has struggled to stay on message since then. Speaking off the cuff in Naples last week, he said he thought "Europe should... try to persuade Ukraine to accept Putin's demands", before backtracking and issuing a statement in Kyiv's support. "Breaking the twinning with Putin costs Berlusconi dearly: he has to give up a part of his image," Gibelli said. Meanwhile, the leader of the anti-immigration League, Salvini, who has proudly posed in Putin T-shirts in the past, has argued against sending weapons to aid Ukraine. The League did condemn Russia's military aggression, "no ifs and no buts", on February 24 when Russia invaded. But an investigation by the L'Espresso magazine earlier this week found that, in the over 600 messages posted by Salvini on social media since Russia invaded, he had not once mentioned Putin by name. He did so for the first time on Thursday, saying "dialogue" with Putin was good, and encouraging a diplomatic end to the war. Many pro-Russian figures are given significant airtime in the media, which itself is highly politicised. "Italy is a G7 country with an incredibly biased media landscape," Francesco Galietti, founder of risk consultancy Policy Sonar, told AFP. TV talk shows are hugely popular in Italy, and "one of the main formats of information" for much of the public, notes Roberta Carlini, a researcher at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom at the European University Institute. But she warns they often "obscure facts". Italy's state broadcaster RAI is being investigated by a parliamentary security committee for alleged "disinformation", amid complaints over the frequent presence of Russian guests on talks shows. Commercial giant Mediaset is also in hot water after airing an interview with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in which highly polemical claims went unchallenged. It defended the interview, saying good journalism meant listening to "even the most controversial and divisive" opinions. "RAI is a reflection of the political landscape, with its many pro-Russian parties. And Mediaset... well, Berlusconi is an old pal of Putin's, so what do you expect?" Galietti said. He also points to a decades-long culture in Italy of allowing conspiracy theories -- particularly on the interference of US spies in Italian politics -- to circulate in the media unchallenged. "You end up with a situation where Russia Today (RT) is considered as authoritative as the BBC," he said. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif testified on Saturday in a special court hearing in the PKR 16 billion money laundering case against him that he had refused to take any salary when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab province, and termed himself a majnoo for doing so. Shehbaz and his sons Hamza and Suleman were booked by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in November 2020 under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act. Hamza is currently the Chief Minister of Punjab province, while Suleman is absconding and residing in the UK. The FIA investigation has detected 28 benami accounts, allegedly of the Shehbaz family, through which an amount of PKR 14 billion (USD 75 million) was laundered from 2008 to 2018. Also Read: Pakistan court extends pre-arrest bail of PM Shehbaz Sharif, son in money laundering case The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions. The amount was kept in hidden accounts and given to Shehbaz in his personal capacity, according to the charges. I have not taken anything from the government in 12.5 years, and in this case, I am accused of laundering Rs 2.5 million, Shehbaz said during the hearing. God has made me the Prime Minister of this country. I am a majnoo (fool) and I did not take my legal right, my salary and benefits, the Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying. He recalled that the secretary had sent a note to him for sugar exports during his tenure as Punjab Chief Minister, when he had set an export limit and rejected the notes, the report said. Shehbaz first became Chief Minister of Punjab in 1997 when his brother Nawaz was the Prime Minister. Following General Pervez Musharrafs coup in 1999 toppling the Nawaz Sharif government, Shehbaz along with the family spent eight years in exile in Saudi Arabia before returning to Pakistan in 2007. He wore the hat of Punjab Chief Minister for the second term in 2008 and he grabbed the same slot for the third time in 2013. My family lost PKR 2 billion because of my decision. I am telling you the reality. When my son's ethanol production plant was being set up, I still decided to impose a duty on ethanol. My family lost PKR 800 million annually because of that decision. The previous government withdrew that notification stating that it was injustice with the sugar mills, he claimed. The Prime Ministers counsel argued that the laundering case was politically motivated and based on mala fide intentions by the erstwhile government headed by Imran Khan. During the previous hearing on May 21, the special court had issued arrest warrants against Suleman, in the case after extending the interim bails of Shehbaz and Hamza till May 28. A day after Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah questioned the nativity of the RSS, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday asked the Congress leader to specify if he was a Dravidian or Aryan. I want to ask Siddaramaiah, where did he come from? Is he a Dravidian or Aryan? Let him answer this first, Bommai told reporters. On Friday, Siddaramaiah wondered if the founding fathers of the RSS, the BJPs ideological parent, were native Indians, suggesting that they belonged to the Aryan race. Also read: Is RSS native to India? Are they Dravidians? Siddaramaiah asks Bommai also hit back at Siddaramaiah for saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot be compared with former PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Definitely, Modi can't be compared with Nehru, Bommai said. During Chinas invasion, Nehru did not take the right steps and ceded Indian soil. But Modi took strong steps against Chinese aggression and saved Indias soil. Also, Modi did not compromise with Pakistan. He has worked for Indias unity. There are several examples. It is Modi who made India strong, he said. Will talk to education minister Responding to demands for the sacking of textbook revision committee chairperson Rohith Chakratirtha, Bommai said he would discuss this with Primary & Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh. The education minister knows everything that has happened. We will make a decision, he said. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi Saturday charged that Congress and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddarmaiah reached the height of appeasement with the latter questioning the origin of the RSS, stating that people have already made him lose his own origin. "Before joining the Congress, Siddaramaiah used to blame Congress leader (Sonia Gandhi). Now he is questioning the origin of RSS. Is their (Congress') origin in Italy?" Joshi asked. "SDPI and PFI are the new forms of banned SIMI, and they speak against the nation. During Siddaramaiah's regime, cases against such people were withdrawn. Congress and Siddaramaiah made them grow. Therefore, people have defeated the Congress," he said. Regarding the possibility of a ban on SDPI, Joshi said, Union and state governments would discuss the issue together. Kerala government should take stern action against those who provoked a child to raise communally charged slogans during a PFI rally there, he added. The heat generated by the police sub-inspector (PSI) exam scam is refusing to die down. On Saturday, over 300 candidates who had cracked the exam held on October 3, 2021, staged a protest at Freedom Park in the heart of Bengaluru against the governments decision to cancel the exam results. The protest was so vociferous that it drew the attention of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, prompting him to rush to the venue. The government had cancelled the results and ordered a re-exam in April, after it emerged that many candidates had sneaked in through malpractice. Thirty-two of them have been arrested so far from Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and other parts of Karnataka. Whats more, a deputy superintendent of police and several staffers working in the recruitment wing of the state police have been arrested for manipulating the results in favour of candidates who bribed them. At Freedom Park, protesters described the governments decision as arbitrary and unfair. Why punish all for the misdeeds of a few, argued Rakesh C, an engineer who is among the successful candidates. The candidates were just days away from getting appointment letters when the scam blew up. Rakesh asked the government to weed out all dishonest candidates and issue appointment letters to the rest. In a statement, state police chief Praveen Sood had promised as much in April, but the government thought otherwise. The candidates submitted a memorandum to the chief minister, who promised to reconsider the decision of annulling the exam results, but only after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submits a final report. Candidates arent backing down. They have already challenged the governments decision before the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal and a hearing is scheduled for June 2. Cybercrime is becoming more rampant as U.S. college VPN credentials are now for sale in Russia's online forums. In today's report from the FBI, the agency is notifying college institutions in the U.S. of the persistent threat to students whose VPN credentials are exposed. Attacks are still being carried out by cyber actors against educational institutions in the United States, which often results in the disclosure of user information on public and cybercriminal forums. Russia's Cybercrime Breach in US Colleges Having their personal information sold and exposed illegally in public forums could impose huge risks for everyone affiliated with these academic institutions. The disclosure of sensitive credentials and network access information could eventually result in numerous hacks and breaches for the students or anyone affiliated with the organization. The prices listed on websites that offered user credentials for sale ranged from a few hundred to multiple thousands of U.S. dollars. Attacks are still being carried out by cyber actors against educational institutions in the United States, which often results in the disclosure of user information on public and cybercriminal forums. Threat actors use a variety of cyber ransomware, similar to phishing campaigns. In 2017, according to Ars Technica, threat actors launched an attack targeting universities to hack.edu accounts by cloning university login pages and embedding a credential harvester link in phishing emails. Following the successful harvesting of credentials, an automated email was then sent to the cybercriminals from their servers containing the stolen information. According to security researchers, as of December 2021, such strategies have continued to be successful and have even intensified with the use of COVID-themed phishing attacks to steal university login credentials. This recent exposure of U.S. college students' personal information and credentials is a current example of the continuous breach by Russia's malicious actors. This exposure may lead to serious trouble for people who do not know that Russian hackers now expose their credentials. It may lead to hackers draining a user's bank account, reselling their credit card number, and exploiting malicious activities. Read Also: Apple Raises Employees Salary Amid the Delayed Return To Office FBI's Recommendation After finding out about the illegal activities in these criminal marketplaces, the FBI has also issued recommendations for both institutions and individuals to prevent themselves from being compromised. According to the FBI, it suggests that all academic institutions, including colleges, universities, and other academic organizations, establish and continue to maintain strong liaison relationships with the FBI Field Office in their respective regions. Another recommendation the agency encourages is to establish lockout rules for incorrect password attempts and mandate that secure, one-of-a-kind passwords be used for all of the accounts that require password logins. They highly recommend individuals avoid using the same password for multiple accounts or storing it anywhere on the system where an attacker could potentially access it. Furthermore, the FBI also encourages multi-factor authentication (MFA), preferably using authenticators that are resistant to phishing. This is especially important for every account to manage backups, webmail, VPNs, and critical system access accounts. Lastly, users can lessen the risk of credential compromise and strengthen their protection by limiting the locations in which accounts and credentials can be used and by using the credential-protection features available on local devices. Related Article: VMware's CVE-2022-22972 and CVE-2022-22973 Are Now Being Exploited; CISA Orders To Expedite Fixes Minister Byrne Statement on Belarusian Political Prisoners Statement On this day, two years ago, Serhei Tikhanovsky was arrested by the Belarusian authorities. Two days earlier, he had announced his candidacy for the presidency of Belarus: a direct challenge to the generation-long rule of Alexander Lukashenko. Mr Tikhanovsky has languished in a jail cell since 29 May, 2020. He has been given an 18-year prison term and, if he serves it, will be 60 years old by the time he is released. This politicised sentence is an appalling violation of human rights, not to mention fundamental human decency. I deeply admire Mr Tikhanovskys courage of conviction, his willingness to speak truth to power, and his determination to forge a better future for the Belarusian people. In these qualities, Lukashenko saw only the threat posed to his own leadership. Under the rule of Lukashenko, we have seen the use of state violence against peaceful protesters, indiscriminate detentions, and curtailments on the freedom of assembly and media freedoms. Ireland continues to unreservedly condemn these violations; we call for their immediate cessation. Serhei Tikhanovsky is just one of 1,204 political prisoners in Belarus. The Belarusian authorities are persecuting people simply because they oppose Alexander Lukashenko. The regime is imprisoning its citizens in horrific conditions, subjecting them to ill-treatment and torture and condemning them to long prison sentences through politicised trials conducted behind closed doors. Ireland has repeatedly called for all political prisoners arbitrarily detained in Belarus to be immediately and unconditionally released. Belarus must adhere to its international commitments and obligations. Mr Tikhanovskys wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanovskaya, has carried on his work while he is imprisoned. I have met her on multiple occasions and have been deeply impressed by her work to build support for a democratic Belarus despite the personal tragedy inflicted on her family. I encourage all Irish people and democratically-elected representatives of Ireland to support the political prisoners of Belarus and the cause they support: a democratic, just and free Belarus. ENDS Press Office 29th May 2022 | The online public consultation on the Department of Transports Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy remains open for submissions and people in Louth are invited to have their say before the 31st of May. Stakeholders, interested parties and the public can give their opinions and ideas about electric vehicle (EV) charge point infrastructure such as where and how it should be delivered across the country. The Department of Transports draft Strategy for the development of EV infrastructure up to 2025, outlines how the EV charging network will support 194,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade. The Department will carefully consider the submissions to the consultation which will inform the strategy before it is finalised later this year. Speaking about the launch, Minister Ryan said: Take part in our consultation on electric vehicles (EV) charging infrastructure. Make sure you share your views, which will help shape the roll-out of EVs in Ireland across rural areas as well as in our towns and cities. "Even if you do not yet own an EV, take a few minutes to give your opinion. "We are listening and want to ensure that both EV drivers and drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles in Louth who may own an EV in the future, have their voices heard. "The Climate Action Plan has a target of 945,000 EVs on Irelands roads by 2030 and this is a key step in making that happen as we rapidly drive the development of our EV infrastructure. With EV ownership continuing to accelerate as more drivers realise the benefits of going electric, the aim of the strategy is to ensure that access to chargers stays ahead of rapidly rising demand. This is a key part of the Governments commitment to a Just Transition to a decarbonised transport system for Ireland. While around 80% of charging is expected to take place at drivers homes, the draft strategy also addresses the provision of infrastructure for EV owners where this is not an option, such as those living in apartments or in homes that do not have a driveway. The strategy outlines the way forward when it comes to charging at residential neighbourhoods, motorway service stations and at destinations such as tourist attractions, supermarkets and parks. It will be reviewed in the run-up to 2025 and revised at that point to lay out a pathway to the end of the decade. Members of the public in Louth can take part in the consultation by completing this short questionnaire which consists of both closed and open questions and takes approximately five minutes to complete. Interested members of the public can also read the draft strategy which is available for download. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope was able to capture a mind-blowing image of the Helix Nebula. The Helix Nebula can be seen in this infrared image captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The nebula is a member of the group of objects known as planetary nebulae. It can be found in the constellation Aquarius at a distance of approximately 700 light-years. The Helix Nebula might be a bit familiar to some. That's because astronomers love to photograph Helix's vibrant colors and eerie likeness to a giant eye. These colorful beauties were discovered in the 18th century, and they got their names because of the similarity they had to gas-giant planets like Jupiter. Helix Nebula's Image According to NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the dust surrounding the dead star is the result of rowdy comets crashing into and kicking up dust against one another. The incredible new view of the Helix Nebula provided by Spitzer reveals colors as they appear in the infrared spectrum. The dusty dead star is visible as a dot in the middle of the nebula and is surrounded by a thick circle of dust around it, which makes it look like a giant eye. According to Kate Su, a researcher at the University of Arizona and the lead author of a paper on the findings that was published in the March 1 issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters, "We were surprised to see so much dust around this star." Su added that it is likely that comets that have survived the death of their sun are the sources of the dust. The hot core of the dead star called a "white dwarf" sends out radiation that heats the material that is being thrown away, making the material glow in bright colors. The sight of the dust initially astonished Su and the rest of her team. After that, the group of researchers obtained additional data, all of which pointed in the direction of the existence of a dusty disk. They explained that the dust in the system ought to have been cleared out when the star died and shed its outer layers into space. Read Also: China Embarks on an Asteroid-Deflecting Mission - What About NASA? Helix Nebula Mysteries NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found evidence in the past for the existence of comets that have survived around dead stars. Way back in 2006, astronomers reported using the observatory to find a dusty disk surrounding a white dwarf. However, the disk was much closer, circling at a distance of only.005 to.03 astronomical units, making the disk appear much smaller. According to Astronomy, George Rieke of the University of Arizona, a co-author of the paper, "Finding evidence for planetary activity around a white dwarf is a surprise." Rieke added that it was a surprise to find it twice with such different characteristics. The data collected by Spitzer may also help explain a mystery concerning the white dwarf that is located in the Helix Nebula. Previous investigations using the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the German X-ray telescope Rontgensatellit suggested that the white dwarf was emitting X-rays with a very high energy level. Although the white dwarf has a temperature of approximately 110,000 Kelvin, this is not quite high enough to account for the energizing X-rays. Theoretically, researchers have assumed that the white dwarf could have been accumulating material from a hidden companion star, which is what astronomers thought was happening. However, the observations made by Spitzer point to a different conclusion. You-Hua Chu of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who is a member of Su's team, believes that material from the newly discovered disk that surrounds the white dwarf could be falling onto the star and causing it to emit X-rays. According to Chu, the high-energy X-rays were a mystery that had yet to be solved. Related Article: NASA Mars Rover Pictures: Perseverance Snaps Out-of-Place Photo of Drill Bit From 2021! Louth County Council spent 9,657.01 on sending a four person delegation to New York for St Patricks Day this year, the Dundalk Democrat can exclusively reveal. The 2022 delegation was made up of An Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Pio Smith as first citizen of Louth; Mr. Joe McGuinness, Director of Services for Corporate and Emergency Services; Cllr. Jim Tenanty, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District; and Mr. Thomas McEvoy, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office. The figures obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, show that 3,434 was spent on four return tickets to New York while 2,919.79 was claimed back in travel and subsistence expenses by the four delegates. 1,801.70 was spent on a combination of accommodation state taxes and facility/resort fees at the Benjamin Hotel, where both councillors stayed for five nights and the two council representatives stayed for four nights. A total of 1,506.33 was charged to the Councils Debit card with 1,057.78 of this spent at a Smith and Wollensky steakhouse on Third Avenue, hosting a dinner with the Louth Society. Other charges included taxis to JFK airport, visa fees and airport parking. In a statement to the Dundalk Democrat, a council spokesperson said: As previously stated a delegation from Louth County Council visited New York on St. Patricks Day at the invitation of the Louth New York Society. The overall cost of the trip was 9,657.01. The visit, which was four days, encompassed a number of economic events which included meeting with overseas executives of Irelands state agencies to promote County Louth as a key Irish destination for both foreign direct investment and tourism. The agencies were IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, as well as the Irish Consulate in New York. Louth County Council welcomed the opportunity of the invitation to engage with the Louth diaspora and to promote the county, and potentially to key decision-makers around foreign direct investment from the United States. "The Council firmly regards the cost of the visit as an investment on behalf of people of County Louth." By Yi Whan-woo The country's regional banks are shutting down their branches over the declining profitability of offline services, which in turn is casting doubts over the feasibility of President Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to relocate Seoul-headquartered financial institutions outside the nation's capital. Yoon has been singling out state-run policy lender Korea Development Bank (KDB) in his relocation plan but also hinted at pressuring other state-owned institutions to move their headquarters by saying, "Relocating only KDB will not be enough." Whether the relocation will contribute to Yoon's goal of balanced regional development is not certain, considering demand for face-to-face financial services is slowing in provincial areas due to population declines and greater reliance on digital banking. The Seoul-headquartered Korea Development Bank is targeted by President Yoon Suk-yeol in his plan to relocate state-owned financial institutions out of the nation's capital. Korea Times file Busan Bank headquarters in Busan / Korea Times file The unfavorable offline banking business environment is evident in the decreasing number of branches among five major regional lenders Busan Bank, Kyongnam Bank, Daegu Bank, Kwangju Bank and Jeonbuk Bank between 2020 and 2021. Busan Bank saw its number of branches falling from 232 to 212 during the cited period, according to data from the Financial Supervisory Service. The figure diminished from 146 to 132 for Kyongnam Bank, 235 to 232 for Daegu Bank, 146 to 143 for Kwangju Bank and 97 to 92 for Jeonbuk Bank. The situation is likely to get worse this year, with each of the five considering merging or shutting down more branches. "We tried to close branches as little as possible despite constant population decline and a fall in the number of offline customers. But such tactics are being drastically revised because otherwise we can't withstand falling profitability over rapid digitalization," a regional bank official said on condition of anonymity. Accordingly, experts urge the Yoon administration to be prudent in relocating the financial institutions. "I agree on a need for balanced regional development and capitalizing on the financial industry to fulfill that goal," said Jung Ho-chul, a program coordinator at the Economic Policy Department of Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, a civic activist group. "But the approach being made by the government does not appear to be based on a thorough understanding of the regional financial industry." He argued it is mostly state-run lenders, including Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) and Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), that are being mentioned as potential financial institutions for relocation. "It is believed the banks are targeted simply because the banking business is the most representative sector in finance. This idea is very sloppy and will lead to nowhere regarding the success of Yoon's plan," Jung said. Another activist shared a similar view. "The starting point for the relocation project should be understanding the unique roles of each financial institution and how their traits can harmonize with regions to which they can be relocated," said Lee Ji-woo, a coordinator at the Center of Economic and Financial Justice at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. As a possible solution for balanced regional development, Lee suggested "making sure consumers in rural areas will have more options to choose from in financial services." Jung suggested enhancing regional banks' roles and figuring out the specific financial sector that foreign financial companies are interested in by region. For instance, he noted the provincial governments select the banks to manage their primary and subsidiary coffers through a bid as stipulated by the law on provincial banking. The list of criteria for a successful bidder includes credit ratings and financial soundness, regarding which regional banks find it tough to outpace the five major commercial banks headquartered in Seoul KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NongHyup. As a result, it is the Seoul-headquartered banks that win the bids to manage massive amounts of money belonging to the provincial governments. "Although not intended, the bid works against the regional banks, not for them, given the fact that they have relatively weak competiveness against much bigger rivals from Seoul," Jung said. "A revision of the law therefore is urgently needed for regional banks to better contribute to their respective economies." Regarding foreign financial companies, he noted those from the United States and other Western countries are heavily concentrated in Seoul but it is not the case in Busan. He explained that Chinese, Singaporean and other Asian companies find derivatives, securities and other marine industry-related financial products worth investing and therefore come to Busan, Korea's largest port city. "You can see that it does not necessarily have to be banks to draw foreign investors to areas other than Seoul," Jung said. Meanwhile, the regional banks are pushing to develop customized services to cope with the changing banking environment. Busan Bank has launched a consulting service desk for senior citizens aged 65 or older, who still prefer offline banking services and have difficulty understanding a variety of financial terms. Kyongnam Bank is keeping the number of ATMs while planning to introduce an online consulting service. Jeonbuk Bank has formed a partnership with post offices so that the post offices can offer simple banking services, such as cash withdrawal and deposit and opening an account, for Jeonbuk Bank clients in addition to their customers. South Korean and U.S. missiles are displayed at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, May 26. AP-Yonhap The United States imposed sanctions on two Russian banks, a North Korean company and a person it accused of supporting North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program, Friday, increasing the pressure on Pyongyang for its renewed ballistic missile launches. The latest American move came a day after China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more United Nations sanctions on the North for its ballistic missile launches, publicly splitting the U.N. Security Council for the first time since it started punishing Pyongyang in 2006. The vetoes came despite what the United States says was the sixth test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by North Korea this year and amid signs that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its first nuclear weapon test since 2017. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it targeted Air Koryo Trading Corp as well as Russian financial institutions the Far Eastern Bank and Bank Sputnik for contributing to procurement and revenue generation for North Korean organizations. Washington also designated Jong Yong Nam, a Belarus-based representative of an organization subordinate to the North Korea Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), who Washington said has supported North Korean organizations linked to the development of ballistic missiles. A TAILORED approach is needed to tackle the completely unacceptable waiting times in hospital emergency departments (EDs), Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said during a visit to Cork yesterday. Mr Donnelly was speaking in the wake of new figures from the HSE, which showed that last month people over the age of 75 had to wait an average of 14 hours for admission to a bed from EDs. The data, provided in reply to a parliamentary question from Sinn Feins health spokesperson, David Cullinane, showed that the average delay in Cork University Hospital (CUH) was 28.8 hours for that age cohort, while in the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) it was 26.8 hours. Speaking to reporters after a visit to the Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Integrated Care Hub for older people, which is based at St Finbarrs Health Campus, Mr Donnelly said such delays are inappropriate. It is never acceptable that anyone would be waiting those times, Mr Donnelly said. The targets are about six hours. The Mercy and CUH are hitting that about half the time for about half the patients, he said. I met with the Mercy team yesterday to say, tell me what you need to make sure that the patients get seen, they get assessed, they get triaged, and then they get discharged or admitted. Im going from here to CUH. Were going to be having exactly the same conversation. Ive had the same conversations in Limerick, in Sligo, in Galway, in various places. Mr Donnelly said he is engaging with the HSE to develop bespoke action plans for different hospitals. We need to go hospital by hospital, emergency department by emergency department, identify what the gaps there are, because theyre different. The problems in the Mercy are different to the problems in CUH, are different to the problems in Limerick. We need to understand exactly what it is. In one place its workforce, in another place its beds, in another place its late discharge of care. Speaking about waiting lists for healthcare services more generally, Mr Donnelly said tackling delays is a top priority for the Government. Mr Donnelly said the new elective hospitals for Cork, Galway, and Dublin are going to be a game-changer and will take a huge amount of the pressure off the model 4 hospitals. He confirmed that these new hospitals will have inpatient beds and that a decision on their locations is expected soon. I know its something that clinicians in Cork and elected politicians in Cork were very, very keen that in the second phase it is built such that there is extra inpatient capacity as well. Thats already been agreed. The next step is that in the next few weeks, Ill be bringing a memo to government with a recommendation on sites. I cant speak about the sites yet, because its something that government is going to have to sign off on. Speaking to The Echo, Cork North Central TD and Fine Gaels health spokesperson, Colm Burke, said Corks new elective hospital will be critical in tackling healthcare waiting lists. If you look at the waiting lists in A&E both in the Mercy and in CUH, it was far longer waiting times in both of those facilities because theyre dealing with huge numbers. You can only deal with that kind of number by building additional facilities and we need to do it in the fastest possible time period, he said. Mr Burke reiterated his belief that Corks new elective hospital should be built at Sarsfield Court in Glanmire, the site recommended to the health minister as the preferred location for the hospital. CALLS for a purpose-built apprenticeship centre to be created on Corks northside to deal with the increased demand for workers in the construction sector have been raised by a Cork TD. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, raised the need for a purpose-built apprenticeship centre on the northside to deal with the increased demand for workforce in the construction sector especially. Deputy Gould said: World Skills Ireland have warned that we need urgent investment in apprenticeship infrastructure if the government are serious about addressing the severe skills shortages in areas like construction. The Cork TD continued: Myself and Donnchadh O Laoghaire met with MTU recently and heard about their ambitious plans for apprenticeships. "But we also heard that they are stuck teaching apprentices in old, dilapidated buildings and temporary accommodation. "Now I fully believe our universities need to expand but why not a purpose-built apprenticeship centre on Corks northside as well? We have huge numbers of young people going for apprenticeships from the northside. It would be hugely beneficial and could be a state-of-the-art facility that would send a real message of confidence into communities and into apprentices. Currently they are being housed on a college campus that is well beyond capacity, he added. Investment needed Deputy Gould said investment needs to be made in apprenticeships. We are short 27,000 workers to meet the governments housing targets and the only way we will see these be delivered is real investment in apprenticeships. "People need proper wages. The average rental in Cork city is now over 1,500. A first-year construction industry apprentice earns 246 a week. Who can afford to live on 246 a week and how is that sending a message that we value our apprentices? he added. Why is Pakistan reducing funding for higher education? After the recently announced budget, 141 public sector universities in Pakistan are facing a severe cash crunch, as per a report by ANI. The reduction in recurring grants has posed a threat to the survival of universities, not only in Pakistan but also in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), reported The Express Tribune. PoK Finance Ministry proposed a minimum amount of Rs 30 billion for higher education's recurring grant against the rationalised demand of Rs 104.983 billion, reported The Express Tribune. The allocation was even 45 per cent less than the current year's allocation of Rs 66.25 billion. The heads of these educational institutions have said that there is a risk of them shutting down operations. They have said that it might become difficult for them to pay salaries or pensions, and run overall expenditures of the universities, according to The Express Tribune. The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which funds all universities in the country, spoke about the importance of education in the country's defence and security, and that any adverse impact on education in PoK would lead to a security crisis in the area, according to ANI. He warned of the consequences of an unprecedented reduction in higher education. The 18th Amendment that turned Pakistan into a parliamentary republic also had an impact on the grants received by universities in PoK. After the 18th amendment, provincial governments provide grants to universities in their own sectors and PoK is left with meagre funds. China to allow Brazilian corn imports to replace Ukrainian shipments China's Ministry of Commerce said the country's customs authority has finalised an agreement to allow Brazilian corn imports to replace Ukrainian shipments, an alternative to US corn, Reuters reported. Similar agreements covering imports of soy protein and soymeal from Brazil are anticipated to be reached during discussions next month, according to a source familiar with the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Currently, nearly all of China's corn imports originate from the US and Ukraine. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has hindered grain exports from the Black Sea, causing importers and food corporations to scramble for other sources. China's corn imports hit a new high in 2021, as supply shortages pushed up local prices. The trader said the US accounted for about 70% of China's corn imports last year, and its proportion was projected to rise owing to the need to find alternatives to Ukraine. As a result of Beijing's agreement with Brazil, US exports to China may be reduced. According to industry experts, China might become a competitor for European Union purchasers seeking corn imports from Brazil. Terry Reilly, senior commodity analyst for Futures International said this is a shift in global trade flows. Traders said the China-Brazil agreement pushed down Chicago Board of Trade corn futures by 1.8%. An agreement for exporting Brazilian corn to China was signed in 2014 but little trade had happened because of complex inspection requirements. According to an official participating in the discussions, the amended deal reached during high-level talks on Monday is anticipated to be inked in the coming weeks, paving the door for more substantial commerce. According to dealers, imported Brazilian corn is presently priced at roughly CNY 3,000 (~US$449.82; CNY 1 = US$0.15) per tonne, somewhat more than local corn pricing. Despite unfavourable weather in certain parts of the country, Brazil is anticipated to produce a record corn harvest in 2021/2022. According to Sergio Mendes, director general of Anec, a Brazilian organisation that represents grain exporters, it will take roughly three months for Brazil's government to adjust phytosanitary rules for exporting maize to China so that shipments may begin. According to the government, the two countries also reached an agreement on a protocol for the export of thermo-processed beef to China, as well as work on future accords on soy protein and soymeal. - Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a ruling party politburo meeting in Pyongyang, May 21, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap The top diplomats of South Korea, Japan and the United States pledged Friday to make efforts to end North Korea's destabilizing activities and bring the country back to negotiations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also expressed deep regret over the failed attempt to pass a new U.N. Security Council resolution on North Korea. The U.N. Security Council voted on the U.S.-proposed resolution but failed to pass it due to opposition from China and Russia, both veto-wielding permanent members of the council and close allies of Pyongyang. "In spite of 13 Security Council members' support, we deeply regret that the UNSC failed to adopt a resolution in response to the DPRK's blatant and repeated violations of UNSC resolutions," the foreign ministers said in a joint statement released by the State Department. Home On-Air | TT+ Watch the TT LIVE & On-Demand TT+ Watch the TT LIVE & On-Demand LISTEN LIVE As well as listening via the Official TT Website, Energy FM is pleased to offer you the official Radio TT live feed from the Grandstand here. This year the TT Commentary has been produced by the TT Races with a brand new commentary team. Former MotoGP and current Bennetts BSB commentator Steve Day will take the reigns as TT Radio anchor with chief -analyst Chris Boyd next to him. There will also be two expert pundits in the form of Jenny Tinmouth, the fastest lady around the TT course and Maria Costello, the second fastest lady, will join them to offer the racers insight to the listeners. Down in pit-lane will be the familiar voice of Chris Kinley, a man who will need no introduction to TT Radio fans. Joining Chris will be local radio presenter Beth Espey. WATCH LIVE AND ON-DEMAND TT 2022 will mark a significant moment in the 115-year history of the Isle of Man TT Races with the introduction of live coverage available via the TT+ Live Pass. Live coverage will transform the way thousands of fans follow the races with all the action and reaction delivered straight to your smart TV or device. The TT+ Live Pass will be available for a one-off payment of 14.99*, which will give you access to every qualifying session and race at TT 2022, as well as all the insight and analysis that goes with it. Delivering the live broadcast will be a 200-strong production team capturing all the action via various locations trackside. All-new kerb-cams will also bring a different angle and the addition of a second heli-cam will capture all the drama and speed across the 37.73-mile course. You can purchase your TT+ Live Pass here. In addition to the Live Pass, TT+ gives you free access to a vault load of exclusive content to whet your appetite for the return of the TT, featuring in-depth interviews with the biggest stars of the TT including Michael Dunlop, Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness, Michael Rutter, Connor Cummins and Davey Todd. Plus, watch View From Down Under, an insightful interview with Davo Johnson, who is now confirmed to be joining this years stellar broadcasting team as pundit for the TT+ coverage due to being unable to race. RACE HIGHLIGHTS - UK & IRELAND As well as the full live coverage you can get more of the action with the usual ITV4 race highlight shows that will broadcast in the UK and Ireland each night at 9pm. Plus, ITV4 will be showing three feature episodes, kicking off the series on Monday 30th May is a look at the story of the Honda Fireblade, celebrating the 30th anniversary of this iconic machine. RACE HIGHLIGHT COVERAGE Monday 30th May, 9pm Honda: Team of Champions, The Fireblade Story Tuesday 31st May, 9pm Legend on 3 Wheels: The Dave Molyneux Story Wednesday 1st June, 9pm Ladies of Mann: The Story of Women at the TT Thursday 2nd June, 9pm TT 2022 Preview Show Friday 3rd June, 9pm Qualifying Highlights Saturday 4th June, 9pm RST Superbike TT Race Highlights Sunday 5th June, 9pm 3Wheeling.Media Sidecar TT Race Highlights Monday 6th June, 9pm Monster Energy Supersport TT Race Highlights Tuesday 7th June, 9pm RL360 Superstock TT Race Highlights Wednesday 8th June, 9pm Bennetts Supertwin TT Race Highlights Saturday 11th June, 9pm Monster Energy Supersport TT Race Highlights (2) Friday 10th June, 9pm Milwaukee Senior TT Race Highlights Saturday 11th June, 9pm 3Wheeling.Media Sidecar TT Race (2) RACE HIGHLIGHTS - REST OF WORLD The Race highlight shows will also be available in a number of countries. Please check local television listings for confirmed dates and times of broadcast. COUNTRY CHANNEL LISTINGS FOR RACE HIGHLIGHTS USA MayTV Australia Fox Poland Motowizja New Zealand Sky Brazil ESPN Canada REV TV Spain RTVE Czech Republic 02 TV Sport Germany Motorvision France* Automoto La Chaine South Africa and Sub-Saharan & Islands adjacent SuperSport More On-Air this Week A voter casts his ballot in early voting for the June 1 local elections at a polling station in Seoul, May 27. Yonhap Koreans headed to the polls Saturday on the second and last day of early voting for next week's nationwide local elections and National Assembly by-elections as the ruling and main opposition parties made last-minute pitches for support. The first-day turnout reached 10.18 percent, which was higher than 8.77 percent in the 2018 local elections. Of the 44.3 million eligible voters, 4.5 million cast their ballots Friday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The total turnout came to 13.65 percent as of 11 a.m. on the second day. COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine can participate in early voting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, after the regular voting hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Up for grabs are 17 metropolitan mayor and provincial governor posts, 226 lower-level council heads, as well as 779 seats in provincial and metropolitan councils and 2,602 in lower-level local councils. People wait in line to cast their ballots in early voting for the June 1 local elections at a polling station in Seoul, May 27. Yonhap The Sri Lankan peoples calls for change cannot be set aside with quick economic fixes. Ahilan Kadirgamar and Devaka Gunawardena write: Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the regime of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was on the ropes. On 9 May, the supporters of his brother and the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, attacked protestors, especially at the famous Galle Face occupy site in Colombo. The wave of reprisals that night included the torching of several ruling party politicians houses and vehicles. As the Prime Minister resigned, the country seemed to be on the brink of open revolt. These developments were quickly followed by a deft manoeuvre by President Rajapaksa, backed by powerful international actors, particularly the United States. This was the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. Wickremesinghe had suffered a crushing defeat in the most recent elections. He represents the United National Party (UNP) through its sole seat in parliament gained through proportional representation. However, Wickremesinghe, because of his neo-liberal bent, has for decades been the darling of the international donor community. The central questions now are: Did President Rajapaksa appoint Wickremesinghe mainly as part of a political deal to ensure the safety of the regime, like the way in which Wickremesinghe quietly protected the Rajapaksas after regime change in 2015, including from prosecution for various abuses during their rule? How can a Prime Minister with little legitimacy and without a social base be held accountable, and can he lead the country out of the economic crisis? And will Wickremesinghe merely serve the interests of the elite and the international powers behind his appointment? The protests demanding the resignation of the President appear to have confronted a tactical obstacle with the appointment of Wickremesinghe. However, the political causes behind the protests are far from abating. The Rajapaksa regime has long attempted to consolidate authoritarian power through militarisation and by heaping greater powers on to the executive presidency. The latter was created in 1978 by J R Jayewardene, and it was further strengthened through a constitutional amendment in 2020. With the recent mounting protests, however, the demand for the resignation of President Rajapaksa has been combined with the general call to abolish the executive presidency. Meanwhile, for those who see the current economic crisis as the only one caused by the mismanagement and corruption of the Rajapaksa regime and not the neo-liberal economic trajectory of the past several decades, Wickremesinghe and his technocratic approach are considered the solution. In fact, he is seen as the most capable actor to bring in international support. In this context, the 15 May statement of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA), the umbrella union of all academics in Sri Lanka, condemning the appointment of Wickremesinghe is poignant: FUTA appeals to all international actors to ensure that engagement with Sri Lanka heeds the peoples demands which have been clearly articulated by the tremendous democratic struggle that is being led by the vibrant and dynamic youth movement termed the Aragalaya [the struggle]. While international support to address the extreme economic hardships borne by the people is welcome, we urge that the peoples sovereign will not be undermined by legitimizing the present undemocratic political deal and the machinations that will inevitably follow. In addition, Wickremesinghes proposed economic solutions to tackle the immediate crisis only deal with the shortages of imports, which he aims to resolve by obtaining cash from donors and privatising state assets. In the medium term, these and other reforms will dispossess working people and increase inequality in the country. Worryingly, he has not proposed a solution to the ongoing tremendous price hikes that make essential goods unaffordable to the working people. Furthermore, there is no plan to address the disruption of the food system through rural mobilisation and agricultural production. The coming months will likely continue to see the ongoing threat of food shortages, which could threaten to turn into famine, unless these issues are confronted head on. Considering the above, the international fix appears incredibly short-sighted. It is predicated on the belief that bridging funds and an International Monetary Fund agreement can reincorporate Sri Lanka into a global order based on free trade and global capital flows. In an attempt to overcome these difficulties, Wickremesinghe may offer cash transfers to some people in order to try and contain the coalescing of opposition from the working people. But he lacks the popular support base from which to mobilise people for the necessary, more far-reaching transformation of the economy. That means his political fortunes are tied to the disgraced Rajapaksas. Commentators have already argued that rather than bringing stability to the country, Wickremesinghe may only bring stability to the Rajapaksa regime. But even this gambit is destined to fail, as the Rajapaksas social base has crumbled and their hold on parliament is splintering. Any realistic solution to this economic crisis of unprecedented proportions requires redistribution on a national scale, including a wealth tax with a credible leadership that is capable of inspiring social mobilisation. A short-term international fix that avoids guaranteeing working peoples ability to reproduce their livelihoods, and which focuses instead narrowly on relieving balance of payments problems, will not address the crisis and the attendant struggles shaking the political and economic foundations of the country. The calls for the President to resign and to abolish the executive presidency are intrinsic to that struggle and the process of democratisation underway. These great democratic strivings of the people deserve better and will continue to demand more than the appointment of a Prime Minister without a mandate by a delegitimised President. Natural birth centres promise comfortable and respectful pregnancy and childbirth services to well-to-do women who have suffered trauma, discomfort, and humiliation in hospitals. I didnt want to have another caesarean section (C-section) unless absolutely necessary, Neethu explained when I asked why she chose to give birth to her second child in a natural birth centre. As a major surgical procedure, the C-section carries the risk of intraoperative problems (such as anaesthesia, uterocervical, and bladder lacerations) and postoperative complications (such as pelvic infections, sepsis, and urinary infections). I had met Neethu during my PhD fieldwork at one of the three birth centres where I conducted ethnographic data collection. Like most of my respondents, Neethu had had a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) at a natural birth centre in Hyderabad. The birth centre, one of the very few in India, is notable for its collaborative care approach to childbirth where, in case of an emergency, obstetric care is provided. A birth at a natural birth centre, relatively uncommon and recent phenomenon in India, and only a handful of births take place in such centres. In India, the norm for childbirth is in an institutionalised hospital-based birth under the care of an obstetrician. The government supports and encourages hospital-based births because of reduced risks. But pregnant women like Neethu choose the natural birth centre to try for a normal delivery after a C-section, as there is a common belief that once a C-section, always a C-section. Some upper-class, well-to-do women prefer to give birth at a natural birth centre to escape the negative experiences they have had giving birth in hospitals. These experiences vary from not having their questions answered, to labour inductions being performed without their consent, and unjustifiable and unnecessary C-section deliveries. The increasing number of C-section deliveries in India is adequate evidence of this. During her first pregnancy, Neethu was induced. Recalling the experience, she said, When I was induced, the pain was intense and continuous. But in the natural birth, it was like one-minute contraction, one-minute pain, then a three-minute gap. If induced, there is no rest. Neethu had travelled from Chennai with her daughter and parents. She had rented a studio apartment nearby. Neethu explained that she had a tough experience with the first birth, They gave me a lot of antibiotics and pain killers which I ended up being allergic to. Also, the pain from the surgery stayed for very long. I was not able to get up and feed my baby. So much so that my mom or someone had to lift me up. It was very kashtam [difficult]. I had back pain for three months because of the C-section. Natural birth centres in India are usually owned and run by certified professional midwives who have been trained abroad. This place [birth centre] doesnt feel or smell like a hospital, a few of my respondents commented. The birth centres corridor was tastefully decoratedthe floor was covered with mats with symmetrically placed flowers, the walls were painted brilliant yellow, and lights that looked like old lanterns hung from the walls. The morning of the birth, I could hear Neethu scream and groan in discomfort. Suniti, the nurse-midwife, returned to the birthing room, papers in hand. Neethus cervix had dilated six centimetres. There was mucus flow, but her water did not break. One of the midwives recommended taking her to the water tubwater helps in pain management and progressing the labour. I entered the birthing room to find Neethu lying down on the bed and her first child, a daughter, sitting by her side. The room had a big bed; there was a tub in one corner of the room for water births, a couch-like chair, gentle lighting, and an attached private shower. Neethus next contraction began, coming in much stronger than the previous one. She cried out in pain. After a slow minute, the contraction faded. Drenched in sweat, she rested her head on the pillow waiting for the next one. The professional midwife Divya came into the room to check on Neethu and discussed her concerns. Neethu experienced a few more contractions as she spoke. Divya held her hand and stroked her head. Neethus baby was born later that day. She had given birth to her son in a squatting position. As I entered Neethus birthing room, I saw her holding the baby as he calmly suckled. Seeing me, she said, I feel very good now. The pain brought me my baby. The pain was very intense. After more than 10 hours of being in labour, the baby came out. Pushing was easier for me than the pain. Chaitra, another pregnant woman mentioned that the people of the birth centre were like her friends, with whom she discussed how most of her family is sceptical of her giving birth at a birth centre. She chose the birth centre as she could do prenatal aerobics, attend childbirth education classes, and get most of her doubts clarified. Divya, the midwife, says that the objective of midwifery-led care is to provide birthing women with respectful maternity care where the women themselves are able to make choices about their pregnancy and labour. Recognising the importance of respectful maternity care, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares Midwifery Guidelines, released in 2018, introduced the Nurse Practitioner Midwifery (NPM) course in the maternal health delivery service structure. Although midwives have assisted in births for thousands of years, pregnancy began to be treated as a medical condition with the medicalisation of childbirth. Birthing women were left with no choice but to give birth in a hospital with the assistance of obstetriciansno choice in the care provider or the type of care they want. In India, birth centres are independent birthing facilities only accessible to women from an upper socio-economic class owing to the high prices and most womens limited awareness about midwifery-led care. But pregnancy and childbirth are expensive, as it is, across socio-economic backgrounds. While obstetrician-led deliveries in hospitals have their advantages, many women undergo ill-treatment during pregnancy and delivery at hospitals, including vaginal examination without the womans consent, inducing labour, and administering epidural anaesthesia. These are issues that all women face whether in a public or private hospital and irrespective of their social background. Women who chose to give birth in a natural birth centre mention that in regular hospitals, they were not given enough time or information, their doubts arent clarified, and their husbands are not allowed to be present during the birth. These practices have become normalised over time, making them appear as an urgent medical requirement with no opportunity for consideration or consentespecially for women from a lower socio-economic background. Of course, this undermining of womens consent is an extension of the position that women occupy in the household, within the family and across classes, where their agency is curtailed, and their views and concerns (even regarding their own bodies) are neither sought nor respected. Therefore, at both societal and policy levels, it is important to recognise that the birthing woman has the right to choose how she wants to give birth and have the healthcare system support her on her journey. [Note: All the names of the respondents have been changed.] The belief that English is a foreign language, throttling Indias native languages, is dated and parochial. Attending conferences on the preservation of indigenous languages in India always brings about ambivalent feelings in me. I often find a speaker charging at English-speaking Indians as traitors to their mother tongue. In the dark recesses of my mind, there is a lurking guilt in response to such speeches which imply that service to the mother tongue can only be done by abjuring the use of English. It appears as if English is a redundant colonial leftover, the only villain throttling native languages one after another. As an English teacher in India, I have often felt as if I too have betrayed my mother tongue. I could have bypassed the guilt by convincing myself that I am professionally bound to teach English. But theres more to it. I feel passionate while teaching the works of authors prescribed in my English syllabi. I am reminded of Calibana character in William Shakespeares play The Tempestwho was taught English by his colonial master Prospero. Am I a Caliban who continues to speak English even after Prospero is gone? I was born and raised in Rourkela, a small and cosy industrial city in Odisha. Odisha is named after the Odra tribe, and the current territory of Odisha was assimilated by the regions sharing a common tongue, Odiamy mother tongue. For the last two decades, Odisha has been governed by a chief minister who is more comfortable in English than Odia. He occasionally speaks in Odia in public events, albeit with a thick English accent. The people of Odisha, proud of their language, do not seem to mind a chief minister who does not speak fluent Odia. Rourkela is home to people from across India, boasting of a moderate multicultural vibe. But it is not devoid of its share of language politics. It has witnessed several campaigns led by fervent linguistic warriors who claim Sambalpuri (also known as Kosali) to be a separate language from Odia. The name Sambalpuri derives its origin from the town of Sambalpur (a town in western Odisha) while the name Kosali is associated with the ancient kingdom of Kosala. While some consider Kosali to be a distinct language, others consider it to be a regional dialect of Odia. By speaking a somewhat standardised Odia (as opposed to Sambalpuri) in Rourkela, am I acting as a linguistically privileged person? Can my mother tongue be a threat to someone elses mother tongue? I cant speak about my mother tongue without talking about my mother. Fortunately, she has absolutely no objection to me speaking in any language I fancy. She knows only one language, Odia. But her Odia is different from mine. My schooling, and proclivity towards Odia literature, has given me a standardised Odia. I dont share her accent. She sounds more authentic than me, her speech peppered with bits and pieces of Odia scriptures, stinging one-liners and acute satire, mostly at my expense. I know that there is a world of literature in Odia she is blithely unaware of. But I am also not the complete possessor of her entire linguistic and literary heritage. Strictly speaking, I dont speak my mothers language. But guess what? She doesnt speak her mothers language either. So, which language should I be faithful to? There is no single variety of Odia that is spoken all over Odisha. Nor is there a uniform dialect that all my family members speak. I am talking from the perspective of one who knows only one mother tongue. What about those families where each parent has a different mother tongue and the only common language they have is English? What about those who stay in border areas like Balasore or Medinipur? Theirs is a mixture of Odia and Bengali. A 15th-century poet Kabikarna from Medinipur wrote a beautiful syncretic text named Shola Pala in a language that was a mixture of Parsi, Hindi, Bengali, and Odia. When I tell myself that my mother tonguea particular variety of Odiais getting poorer by my use of another tongue, it is egoistic. Odia enjoys the status of a classical language. This mighty language has been on this planet for a long time before my arrival and will survive me too. Why should this mighty language feel threatened by those of us who speak in other languages as well? Let me pose this question to the father of our nation. M K Gandhi, who studied law in the United Kingdom, led an anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, and returned to India as a middle-aged man. He wrote extensively in English and his mother tongue Gujarati. I wonder if he ever felt guilty of speaking in English. Let me ask this question to the curator of our Constitution, a mighty hefty linguistic monument. Every word in its preamble is held sacred by the people of India. The chairman of the drafting committee B R Ambedkar was eloquent in both Marathi and English. He never perceived one language as infringing upon the territory of the other. Rather, he understood the emancipatory potential of English, especially for the marginalised communities. The rise of Dalit literature, first in regional languages and then in English, provided Dalits everywhere a common literary heritage depicting their shared history. For many communities in India, theres no weapon stronger than English to fight historical, systemic oppression. Let me put this question to the polymath whose poems became the national anthem of not only my motherland but also of the neighbouring Bangladesh. Rabindranath Tagore became the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his maiden anthology of English verses, Gitanjali. Every Bengali I have come across has vouched that Tagore was matchless in Bangla, his mother tongue. What he wrote in English, many believe, captures but a glimpse of his genius that flourished in full bloom in Bangla. If these people, who exhorted the masses to fight for the righteous cause, composed poems that could soothe a baby to sleep or spark a debate among philosophers, authored voluminous works of prose regarded as classics, competently expressed themselves in languages more than one, and felt confined by none, why should I feel guilty at all? English is not my mother tongue, but at the same time, it is no more the other tongue. I know what the intentions of Thomas Babington Macaulay were. Many Indians under the British rule were forced to learn the language. But many learnt the language on their own. That brings me to the question: What would Caliban do after Prospero left? This immortal Shakespearean character presaged the angry and righteous colonised. He said, You taught me language, and my profit ont is I know how to curse. At the end of the play, Prospero returned to his native place, setting Caliban free from bondage. Now that there was no one to be cursed in English, would Caliban have abjured the language? Shakespeare left that to the imagination of the readers. A language is not a tenant one can force out of ones consciousness. It is a part of ones being. Did Caliban use English only to curse Prospero? No, he was most poetic in describing the beauty of his motherland in English. When he described the illusions of the isle, its sounds and sweet airs to Stephan and Trinculo, he was eloquent. It was this very language in which he conspired with them to overthrow Prospero. I believe Caliban would continue to speak merrily in his own version of English. He might even write poems in remembrance of his mother Sycorax and tales asserting his story of resistance during the long period of colonisation. Umesh Patra (umesh.mla@gmail.com) teaches English at the Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari. This paper considers the dance and activist labour of a group of cis- and transgendered performers who lobby for the decrimininalisation of sex work in India. Known as Komal Gandhar, the group operate out of Sonagachi, Kolkata and are the cultural wing of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a collective of over 65,000 sex workers. Based on in-depth interviews with Komal Gandhar members and an analysis of their choreographic work, this paper proposes corpo-activismthe activation of human rights through embodied aesthetic labouras a crucial phenomenon that mobilises the agency of minoritised groups. The song Lets Talk About Sex exploded into the global music scene in 1991. Written and performed by Salt-N-Pepa, a hip-hop trio of African-American women, the songs catchy tune and refrain was everything that a Bengali teenager like myself, growing up in a predominantly middle-class suburb of Kolkata and governed by its strict codes of bhadralok (or gentlefolk) respectability, was not supposed to sing: Lets talk about sex, baby Lets talk about you and me Lets talk about all the good things And the bad things that may be Lets talk about sex Lets talk about sex Lets talk about sex Lets talk about sex As the song played on a not-so-modest volume through the cassette player at my home, I would censor the word sex while singing it, but would continue to bounce, arm wave, pop, jump, and groove to the lyrics. At age 13, I was already several years into my serious dance training under Ranjabati Sircar (196399), an internationally acclaimed feminist dancerchoreographer. Her dance studio at Dancers Guild, co-created with her mother Manjusri Chaki Sircar (19342000), was a five-minute walk from home. It was a space of creative freedom, experimentation, movement exploration and a deep critical engagement with the dancing body and its capacity for feminist action. Yet, this was worlds apart from another place of growing feminist solidarity among women, a mere 7 kilometres away, which we were forbidden to enterSonagachi. The very name was uttered only in whispered code by my teenage classmatesThe Golden Tree. The largest red-light district in South Asia, Sonagachi was an illicit zone, the antithesis of a class and caste privileged Salt Lake where I grew up in, carefully censored and excised from our lives. Yet, unknown to me at the time, this so-called shady underbelly of Kolkata was steadily growing its own feminist collective of subaltern sex workers, embodying a lot of what Salt-N-Pepas song called for. Sonagachi was getting ready to talk about sex, to dance about sex, and to vocalise all the good things and the bad things that (sex) may be. In 1992, a medical doctor and field epidemiologist from the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health in Kolkata, Smarajit Jana (19522021), became the director of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)/HIV Intervention Programme (SHIP) in Sonagachi. The SHIP would lay the foundations for Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC). Established in 1995, it was a forum of sex workers and their children to fight for the labour rights and dignity of women in sex work. Today, the DMSC is composed of approximately 65,000 sex workers from across West Bengal. Despite losing Jana to COVID-19 in 2021, the DMSC continues with its mission of collectivising women in sex work to promote their dignity of life, end trafficking of women and under-age children through its Self-Regulatory Board (SRB), and decriminalise sex work in India. In December 2019, a little short of three decades since Lets Talk About Sex rocked my respectable Bengali boat, I met and interviewed Jana in Kolkata, who then introduced me to the members of Komal Gandhar, the cultural wing of the DMSC (formed in 1998). As a dance and performance studies scholar interested in the history of nautch and its afterlife in Kolkata, I was interested in mapping spaces in which former courtesans from Bengal worked or lived.1 I wanted to locate traces of the Bengali nautch dancers feminist world-making in repertoires that may have survived decades-long legal prohibitions and bans in India. When I met Komal Gandhar, the groups members were rehearsing for a show they were to perform in later that evening, at a Rajasthani Mela in a Kolkata suburb. The conversations with Komal Gandhars dancers, both cis- and transgendered artists and activists, and the subsequent witnessing of their performance that day, dispelled any possibility of finding a recuperable courtesan heritage held within a verifiable embodied practice. Komal Gandhars dancing did not evidence sustained training in thumri or any other gharana-based music/dance repertoire that Bengals courtesans were renowned for. Yet, Komal Gandhars onstage and offstage work that evening revealed startling parallels between solidarities created by the late 19th and early 20th century Bengali courtesans in the red-light district, such as Rajbala and her daughter Indubala Dasi (Bhattacharya 2018; Purkayastha 2021), and those fostered by dancers and activists in Sonagachi today.2 This was a genealogy of feminist activism that was not handed down in an easily legible hereditary tradition of high art dancing, as many Indian dance forms are often known for. Rather these were practices of worldmaking emerging from the same neighbourhoods and communities, a century apart. Despite very different dissemination methods, they were tethered together by a common purposeto give women in sex work the dignity of life they deserved. This paper draws on the foundational research of dance scholars, such as Ananya Chatterjea (2009), Urmimala Sarkar Munsi (2016), and Aishika Chakraborty (2022) on subaltern/stigmatised dancers and their erotic labour in Bengal, to focus more specifically on dance as a form of activist labour through the work of Komal Gandhar.3 Based on in-person interviews and an analysis of choreographic work,4 the paper tracks the ways in which Komal Gandhars dancers engage with questions of social justice and mobilise the labour and human rights of minoritised and stigmatised communities such as sex workers and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I propose the word corpo-activism (corpo meaning body) and define it as any rights-based activism that is contingent on the aesthetic labour of performing bodies for its efficacy. In the case of Komal Gandhars members and their movement practices, corpo-activism shows how an alternative vision of sex as labour can be crafted using the dancing body as a call for change. While Komal Gandhars dance repertoire is diverse, ranging from short street performances to concert length dance dramas, I specifically focus on a short choreography and performance that they staged for reality television audiences in the popular primetime show Indias Got Talent (2018). The paper therefore views Komal Gandhars dances as products of the labouring corpo and also as aesthetic forms that (at times) subscribe to corporate forms of media consumption. In so doing, it draws attention to a politics of visibility as minoritised bodies negotiate and mark the capitalist ground on which mainstream television dances thrive. The intention here is to critically examine the rather complex duet ensuing between activism and consumer capitalism when the labour of marginalised practitioners such as Komal Gandhars dancers enter the popular television commercial space and are turned into a spectacular narrative of tragedy and triumph. Ultimately, the aim is to understand the place and function of dance as a form of corporeal and aesthetic labour in the collective movement of sex workers and trans communities, and in their call for human and labour rights in India. Corpo-activism and Sexual Labour Arguably, any form of activismwhether it takes place live on the streets or public squares, outside parliaments or civic buildings, in the open seas or in busy cities, on mediated platforms such as television and radio or online/social media sitesis embodied, the result of human corporeal labour, or the actions of a corpo. Historically, durational- and endurance-based bodily labour has been deployed regularly as a protest tactic by constituencies as wide-ranging as the suffragettes in Britain, the Gandhian salt march participants during Indias independence movement and by civil rights activists in the United States (US) protesting racial segregation. What, then, is particular about corpo-activism, if all activist events are the result of some form of human bodily action? In envisioning corpo-activism as a specific ideation, I mean to signal those activist practices that are contingent on corporeal aesthetic labour to promote social justice, to rally for equitable action, and to mobilise the rights of under-represented constituencies. In other words, corpo-activism refers to forms of activism that rely on the labour of the performing body to raise civic consciousness of right-based movements. Studying the links between the power of gesture or movement- and protest-based activism is not new in dance and performance studies. Dance scholars Susan Leigh Foster (2003) and Anusha Kedhar (2020) have drawn our attention to how public protests have often deployed carefully considered strategies where the body and its gestures realise their transformative potential. Foster (2003: 396) argues for the body to be an articulate signifying agent in the event of a non-violent protest, drawing examples from the lunch counter sit-ins during the civil rights movement, and actions of HIV/AIDS and world trade activists in the US. Foster (2003: 412) notices how (i)n achieving this sense of agency, protestors are not enacting a script, where the body would function as mere instrument of expression, the meat that carries around the subject. Nor is agency the product of the heightened sense of physicality that results when the body steps outside the quotidian routines of daily life and into non-normative action. Agency does not manifest as the product of a transcendent state. Instead, the process of creating political interference calls forth a perceptive and responsive physicality that, everywhere along the way, deciphers the social and then choreographs an imagined alternative. This study of the body as not merely a tool of protest but as a signifying, charged and volatile site of change becomes crucial for the corpo-activism that this paper envisions. The body is not just an aesthetic instrument in service of the activists protest event but is the vibrating, pulsating event itself. Kedhar (2020) notes how the hands up, dont shoot gesture in Ferguson, Missouris 2014 public protests brought attention to institutional violence against the Black US citizens, and how Fergusons protestors became quintessential dancers whose defiant gestures could transform a space of policed control to a space of liberation. In both Foster and Kedhars readings, the happening of a protest is examined through the lens of choreography.5 I build on these crucial studies to propose that in corpo-activism, a performance or choreography is the only activist event possible. The stamping, turning, bending, reaching, spinning, and gesturing body is not merely a tool or medium through which important activist messages are conveyed. Rather, the dancing body actively becomes or is the change that audiences experience. Dance has been a capacious site and an invaluable prism not only for the analyses of various forms of human protest against oppressive systems of power but also of systemic sociocultural conditions governing human experiences of gender and sexuality. In recent years, several noteworthy studies on Indian dance and performance have revealed asymmetrical power structures that operate on human bodies. These projects have shown how dancingnot just the kind we see on the formal concert stage but also those that we view on film or television screens, in nightclubs or dance classes, in village festivals or local neighbourhood eventsexposes the complex dynamics of human interpersonal gendered relationships in particular communities. Brahma Prakashs (2019) important study on the cultural labour of folk performers refuses the bourgeois division between aesthetic practice as art/leisure and the work of marginalised labourers. Significant to this imbrication of culture and labour is Prakashs analyses of performances by bidesia migrant labourers, for instance. Prakash throws light on how social power operates and organises particular communities of caste- and class-oppressed individuals, and how questions of gender and sexuality become crucial in the ways in which such power manifests itself. Kareem Khubchandanis (2020) remarkable ethnographic research of nightlife economies shows how the dancing body becomes a powerful site for analysing ways in which queer, drag and camp identities are motioned into being. Khubchandani also shows how the labour of racialised and desexualised queer South Asian men offers unique insights into how social hierarchies operate in the global world. Both Prakash and Khubchandani have laid the foundations upon which this papers study of labour and performance rests. Dance, Sex Work, and Labour Dance labour and sexual labour may seem far apart but there are some adjacencies or contiguities between these realms. While various aspects of gender and sexuality are now firmly lodged as foci within the domain of dance studies, sex work as bodily labour remains relatively under-examined. Perhaps this has something to do with feminisms conflicting or diverse attitudes to sex work in general as I explain below, which has undoubtedly had an impact on dance studiesa disciplinary field that owes much to feminist theories and scholarship. Sex work and those engaged in the sexual labour sector are viewed by many renowned and celebrated radical feminists as subjected to systemic patriarchal oppression (Barry 1979/1995; Jeffreys 1997), whereas pro-sex work feminists consider consensual sex as paid work to be a womans fundamental human right, an extension and outcome of her autonomous choice as a free agent (Kempadoo and Doezema 1998). The contentious issue of womens sexual labour or service has also long troubled and divided feminists when it comes to decriminalisation and legalisation of sex work. To some feminists, decriminalisation is a neo-liberal capitalist approach to a systemic problem of gendered violence, where responsibility to enter the sex trade or not is placed on already oppressed constituencies of women who do not have much choice. For pro-sex work feminists, decriminalisation is the only way towards improving the living and working conditions of sex workers (Bateman 2021). For dance scholars, the issue of autonomy or agency of the body that does the work or labours to produce aesthetic experiences are often quite fundamental to philosophical or analytical discourses on movement. Yet, such ideations of the dancing body are usually reliant on the human bodys capacity for free movement. But what happens when the body is not free but instead coerced to dance, or when the act of dancing produces not feelings of pride and joy but those of abject shame and humiliation (Prakash 2019). Or what happens when we see dancing not as a product of well-meaning progressive liberal practices of emancipation or liberation, but as the outcome of systemic violence unleashed by those very progressive institutions (Stanger 2021)? If we accept that such affective and material conditions do exist for some dances to work, then conversations about the bodys autonomy, sovereignty and ability to express its choices that haunt feminist debates on sex work are not that far away from those that haunt some dancers and dance scholars today. When I met the DMSC and Komal Gandhars dancers in Kolkata, I encountered a fierce, proud, confident collective of dancers and activists who unhesitatingly lobby for the decriminalisation of sex work in India and firmly believe in the labour rights of sex workers. Sex Work is Work is their call for change in public rallies and demonstrations. The DMSC and Komal Gandhar are firmly opposed to the Nordic or Swedish model that criminalises clients and buyers of sexual services rather than punishing sex workers.6 This, according to them, harms an already vulnerable economic sector by freezing up the only income stream that is viable for underprivileged women. Instead, they focus their efforts on educating and empowering women in sex work, and believe that consensual sex work, like the freedom to dance or move, should be recognised as paid labour. Under the current legal frameworks governing sex work in India, such calls for the recognition of sex work as work becomes impossible to realise: the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act (SITA), 1956 and the 1986 amendment, known as the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) states, among other things, that while sex work is legal in private, soliciting in public is a crime. Owning a brothel is illegal, but a woman can sell sex as an individual. Moreover, a sex worker is forbidden to work within 200 metres of a public place. These conditions make women in sex work more vulnerable to violence as they cannot under law benefit from the support of colleagues in their workplace, operate in well-lit, open or busy public places where they might feel safer, and are subject to arrests and further violence by the police when they seek work. With this legal backdrop of sex work in India, the paper will now turn its attention to how the DMSC and Komal Gandhar rely on dance as a mobilising aesthetic force to signal to audiences the sex workers need for volition, self-determination and labour rights. Komal Gandhar: Dancing Solidarities My interactions with Komal Gandhar in December 2019 led me to further interview two of its corpo-activists in February 2022: Lona Saha Bhattacharya, a transgender female and the child of a sex worker, who grew up in Sonagachi and trained at Komal Gandhar since its inception; and Rajkumar Das, a transgender female who has been associated with Komal Gandhar since 2014. Both Lona and Rajkumar, apart from their performance/workshop/activist commitments at Komal Gandhar, draw some financial sustenance from their independent business ventures and their professional work as hijras (third sex/gender individuals). The conversations with Lona and Rajkumar took place online in Zoom meeting rooms and focused on two key areastheir lived experiences and their choreographic work/activism.7 Queer shame is turned into a sustaining network of queer attachments (Munt 2007) as pride and self-belief inform almost every facet of Lona and Rajkumars lives, with both emphatically stating that it was dance that facilitated their individual journeys into self-determination. Lona was born male as Loknath Bhattacharya in a Sonagachi brothel. Her mother lived in rural poverty as a young girl and first worked as a domestic help in the city before entering sex work. After marrying one of her clients,8 she gave birth to what Lona describes as a cherubic, moon-faced boy. Lonas earliest memories of Sonagachi was of a life completely unperturbed by daily events happening around her. Her aunties would change partners every day and women dressing up and looking glamorous was a daily occurrence in her environment. It was only around the age of 13 or 14, when her peers at school (which she attended outside Sonagachi) questioned her about her neighbourhood, that the reality of Sonagachi dawned on Lona. Her schoolteacher would call her a lotus in the marsh, and suggested that she acquire proper educational qualifications to get herself and her mother out of Sonagachi. While Lona started dancing at Durbars Komal Gandhar since the age of seven or eight, it was only in her late teens that she realised that Sonagachi was not a marsh but a place of work for many women like her mother, and that instead of spending her efforts in getting women out of Sonagachi, she had to actively work to get their sexual labour recognised as a formal, paid labour. Today, Lona is a proud transgender woman, who has been married for the past seven years to Akash Saha, her gay husband who left his family and even suffered the loss of employment to be with her. She uses both surnames after her namethat of her husbands and her savarna fathers (Bhattacharya is a Bengali Brahmin surname)even though she reminds me that children of women in sex work are often not identified by their fathers surname. Unlike Lona, Rajkumar (a name which translates as prince) has chosen not to change her given first name. While princess would suit her transgender female identity and personality more, Rajkumar says that her fight is to retain her gendered (male) name while inhabiting a trans body to show how language often masks reality, and how plural ways of being and living in this world can coexist in the same body. Rajkumars mother was born into poverty into a Brahmin family and married a bus driver from a lower caste, working hard sewing uniforms for railway staff to help raise her three children in Kolkata. From a young age, Rajkumar loved studying, and states that her mother (who herself was educated up to matriculation level) was a big influence on her life, world view, and work ethic. When Rajkumar realised that dancing would allow her to wear make-up and jewellery, she began to train and perform as a dancer and found within her dancing body the ability to access her femininity. Rajkumar was also a keen social worker, and at age 16 was already working as a counsellor for the state governments Department of Health and Family Welfare (Swasthya Bhawan). Before joining Komal Gandhar in 2014, Rajkumar had worked across India as an evaluator for National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and in 2012 became a team leader for the National Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) to help individuals struggling with drug abuse. After working as Secretary for Prothoma, Asias first short-term shelter for homeless transgender individuals, Rajkumar decided to follow a path in dance-based activism with Komal Gandhar in order to explore her combined passions for dancing and social work. Rajkumar has an undergraduate degree in Accountancy from the University of Calcutta and a masters degree in social work from Rabindra Bharati University, both of which have helped her stay on top of her independent business ventures and her social welfare projects. Dance has been at once refuge, home, and a profession for Lona and Rajkumar, allowing for their arrival at a true understanding of their sexuality and enabling them both to fight for the rights of stigmatised women and transgender individuals like themselves. Both Lona and Rajkumar have trained for a period of time in the Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam and other creative dance processes in Kolkata. While Rajkumar trained under Arunava Burman, a disciple of Mamata Shankar (who herself has been continuing her father Uday Shankars modern dance legacy), Lona has trained and performed with established Bengali dance artists and choreographers such as Kohinoor Sen Barat (Kohinoor Dance Academy), choreographer and social activist Alokananda Roy and Sujoy Thakur (Shinjan Institute of Bharatanatyam and Creative Dance). Choreographing Legal Activism Komal Gandhars training in movement techniques and choreographic composition closely parallel their activism work as well as their professional contribution to legal justice processesboth Rajkumar and Lona joined the Lok Adalat (Peoples Court) in 2016 as Indias first and second transgender judges for the system. The law and legal rights of women in sex work and LGBT individuals more generally are frequently a topic of the dance dramas that they stage. The dancing body, rather than a lecturing sermon, communicates to Komal Gandhars audiences important knowledge of their civil rights. For example, Rajkumar notes that under Section 46(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, no woman can be arrested after sunset and before sunrise save in exceptional circumstances. This legal knowledge becomes useful arsenal in empowering women in sex work who are often subjected to police arrests and raids (even though they can still be disadvantaged by the polices interpretation of the phrase exceptional circumstances). Komal Gandhars members dance the law into focus for their audiences, to educate sex worker communities of their fundamental rights as civilians even though they are constantly criminalised under Indian jurisprudence. These aesthetic methods of dancing legal knowledge into public platforms can be said to fall into a category or form of dance that has been described by Pallabi Chakravorty (2017) as remix. As Chakravorty notes, remix choreographies are distinct from the Indian modern dance forms that were crafted by early-to-mid-20th century figures like Rabindranath Tagore or Uday Shankar. Instead, remix dances are products of a new dance field in India that have destabilised previously ossified Indian dance hierarchies of classical, folk, tribal and filmy, and call into being a new era of participatory democracy (Chakravorty 2017: 2). Here, a new constituency of dancers hailing largely from lower, middle and working classes and occupying a broad spectrum of caste and religious identity markers are now both cultural producers and consumers of dance (Chakravorty 2017: 3). Komal Gandhars choreographic works that I have witnessed, both live at the Rajasthani Mela in Kolkata in 2019, and via a video recording of their televised performance in 2018, certainly speak to such post-1992 economic liberalisation scenarios for Indian dance that Chakravorty notices proliferating across media channels, Bollywood films, and reality television programmes. Chakravorty (2017) suggests that this energetic transmission of embodied knowledge and kinaesthetic information across mediated visual media has resulted in a breakdown of previously held cultural values ascribed to the singular authenticity of a particular Indian dance form, be it classical or folk, or even the largely class-privileged contemporary Indian dances. Komal Gandhars dances can therefore be defined as belonging to this new world of remix choreographies, combining Indian folk, classical, filmy, and even contact-based Euro-American kinaesthetic techniques, at once Indian and yet fluid in their refusal to subscribe to one particular regional style or form of dance. When Komal Gandhar dance in solidarity with sex workers and LGBTQIA+ communities on makeshift stages in rural regions, in fairground podiums, on international platforms or on television screens, they rely on the idea of a participatory democracy as Chakravorty defines it. Komal Gandhar assemble audiences through their unclassified yet fabulous motions, where as Madison Moore (2018) shows, fabulousness is not merely a style choice but often a powerful political gesture of defiance and creativity embodied by the marginalised. Tragedy and Triumph on Indias Got Talent (2018) The camera moves across the dance floor weaving its way in-between the bodies of dancers, who are dressed in white and standing in a semi-dark stage with iridescent blue lighting. As it closes in on each body, the camera picks up the dancers faces and bodies while they switch on, one after another, standing lamps that shine brightly on them as they appear to walk out from the gloom. These opening moments end with the camera arriving at a dancer standing with her back to the lens. She turns and starts lip syncing as she directly confronts and walks towards the camera, which retreats as she speaks: manawa mein mere aandhi hai uthi, bas stabdh khadi hu main sanson mein paar apani hi sans, nishabd khadi hu main duniya se jiti jiti, khud se haari bas dhwast khadi hu mein aaina main aur aks main, madmast khadi hu main (There is a storm in my mind, I stand still My breathing is ragged, I stand wordless I win in this world and lose to myself, I stand destroyed I am mirror and I am shadow, I stand intoxicated.) Komal Gandhar (2018) The lyrics are from the title track of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (translated my veil is stained), a 2007 Hindi-language Bollywood film that charts the trials and tribulations of a sex workers life. In 2018, the song is given a new danced interpretation by Komal Gandhars members, who have reached the semi-finals of the popular reality television show, Indias Got Talent. Part of the global Got Talent franchise, this competitive show placed Komal Gandhar on a national platform, streaming their dance to millions of homes. Judging their performance on this competitive show are Mumbai film industry heavyweights Karan Johar (producer), Kirron Kher (theatre, television, and film actress and producer) and Malaika Arora Khan (actress and model), along with other celebrity guest judges. The dancers take turns to lip-sync to the lyrics as they walk across the stage and enact scenes of violencetheir mouths are covered, objects are hurled at them, but they keep confronting the camera with their rage. As the first line of the title track, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, floats in, the choreography begins to pick up pace. The standing lamps disappear and a frantic choreography of jumps, floor lunges and formation work spill out on the dance floor as nine Komal Gandhar members perform under the studio lights. At one point, a duet occurs upstage, where a female dancer performs a backward roll on to her male partners shoulder. In another moment, a dancer is flung in the air and falls into another dancers arms. Contact work, some Bharatanatyam, and a dramatic enactment of scenes combine to create this furious remix choreography. Here, the paper explores if corpo-activist labour, when co-opted by commercial mainstream television programming and the capitalist frameworks governing these, remains efficacious or even vital to the political movement of sex workers in India. Can Komal Gandhars remix dancing succeed as activism on a competitive reality television show? A few possibilities emerge when we closely analyse the ways in which the collectives dances were presented by the shows producers to television audiences. One possible reading is that the show manages to keep the collectives identity firmly ensconced within the narratives of sex worker tragedy and victimry. In one short interview sequence, a member of Komal Gandhar, Tanjila Khatoun, is filmed recounting her story of being molested and how her molesters mark her as the sexually available child of a sex worker. Tanjila breaks down as she covers her face with both hands and sobs loudly. Komal Gandhar members have revealed during our interviews how every word in the show was carefully scripted, so this scene would have been crafted by the producers to produce a particular affect. We as the audience are meant to feel empathy for a young woman who is traumatised because of her mothers profession, and to view the child of a sex worker as one who is disempowered. This completely contradicts the pride with which Komal Gandhars members, many of whom are children of sex workers, claim their public and activist identities in the real world. In another sequence, the judges invite the mothers of some of the groups members on stage, and what follows is a series of close-ups of weeping faces and hugs exchanged between Komal Gandhars dancers and their mothers, as sentimental uplifting music plays in the background. The show constantly vacillates between a seemingly progressive pronouncement of the dignity of sex workers and their children while yet showing them as women who are leaky. In my view, this attempt to ramp up TRPs by displaying the tragic lives of sex workers is indicative of a neo-liberal capitalist medias refusal to centre Komal Gandhars goal of decriminalising sex work. Catering to the respectability politics of a primetime national audience, the show attempts to submerge DMSC and Komal Gandhars assertion of the labour rights of sex workers under a narrative of victimhood. This is more evident when contrasted, for example, with Shohini Ghoshs remarkable and thoughtful documentary on DMSCs sex workers, Tales of the Night Fairies (2002) which centres the sex workers collective resistance and organising and in which the pride, dignity, joy, and humour of Sonagachis women shines through. It is ironic, too, that the song that Komal Gandhars members danced to in the semi-finals is from a conservative rescue rehabilitation film with a narrative arc that begins at societal rejection/stigma faced by the principal protagonist who falls into sex work, and ends in societal acceptance of this sex worker as long as she subscribes to the heteronormative institution of marriage. In Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, the character of Badki, the protagonist, is saved from sex work by marriage to a man who loves and accepts her despite her professionBadki must be made decent again by the dignity offered to her by her heterosexual husband. It is unfortunate that the song, chosen by the producers of the show, and to which Komal Gandhar danced so powerfully and with such pride and ferocity, are filled with phrases such as I stand still, I stand wordless, or I stand destroyedqualities that Komal Gandhars members consciously distance from in their daily activist work. So, the lyrics that Komal Gandhar are made to dance in Indias Got Talent and the film from which the song is extracted ultimately misrepresent the DMSC and Komal Gandhars rallying call of Sex Work is Work. Yet, Komal Gandhars Indias Got Talent stint is anything but a failure of corpo-activism when faced with the pressures of media capitalism. One way to view Komal Gandhars participation in the show is to see it as activism co-opting neo-liberal agendas. Yet, we must also recognise Komal Gandhars success in inserting sex work rights into prime-time television programmingan act that boldly disrupts the expectations of a respectable audience. I would argue that despite the cop-out, tears, tightly scripted lines, and sentimental scenes that the producers imposed on the group, it is the corporeality of the dancers that ultimately allow Komal Gandhar to present themselves as agents to be reckoned with. Their choreographic work never allows for a display of bodily weakness. Despite dramatising scenes of violence and terror through their bodies, the dancers appear as well-trained, taut, strong, energetic and flexible bodies, displaying remarkable feats of dance technique during the choreographed sequences. Perhaps, as Kedhar (2020) suggests, we should be wary of flexibility as a neo-liberal demand placed on labouring bodies, which ultimately curbs the labourers rights. However, as Kedhar (2020: 4) astutely notices, flexibility is not just a tool of labour exploitation but also a bodily tactic that dancers themselves exploit to navigate vexed and volatile economic and political conditions. Following Kedhar, I would argue that Komal Gandhar, too, use their dance labour to take advantage of mainstream media platforms so that, ultimately, they can accumulate their own cultural capital to lobby for change. Therefore, sex work as work does triumph even on commercial media, and it is the labour of Komal Gandhars dancing bodies that facilitates the sharing of this collective call. Conclusions In her book Dancing Communities, Judith Hamera (2007: 4) notes how dancers use aesthetics, and particularly technique, to build diverse and compelling communities within the larger global city. Hamera (2007: 4) writes that for all dancers, relationships to aesthetics, learned and demonstrated through relationships to technique, are crafted through daily labours, with the physical often being the least of these. There are labours of employment and recreation, certainly, but more foundationally, the labours demanded by technique are affective and relational. They are social, political, spiritual [] This paper, through an analysis of Komal Gandhars performance labour, notices how the group engages in the formation of a particular community through their aesthetic practices to reach towards a social and political goal, a community that dreams of ending the stigma attached to sex workers and hopes to infuse their life with dignity. Even if Komal Gandhars dance practices do not squarely fit the accepted classifications of Indian concert dance forms, they exhibit through their dancing bodies the capacity for sustained physical investment in honing various movement techniques. These are labours of the body that help minoritised groups to assemble and agitate, to reflect and resist, and to clamour and call to action a future that is yet to begin. Of significance is that komal in Indian classical music means a flattened or lowered note, while gandhar is the third full note on the scale. Komal Gandhars activism is the insistent hum of the minoritised that sharply brings into view practices of subaltern solidarity and collective resistance. This paper has attempted to show how Komal Gandhars techniques of assimilating various dance knowledges ultimately work to display the corporealities of their minoritised activist lives. By proposing to view Komal Gandhars work as corpo-activism, this paper reveals that without the techniques acquired through years of dance practice and rehearsals, the affective and relational activist labour that produces the Komal Gandhar community would remain incomplete and unmaterialised. Notes 1 Nautch (derived from the word naach meaning dance in Hindi, Bengali and several other Indian languages) was a colonial and anglicised word which became an umbrella term used to denote a vast range of dance practices from across the Indian subcontinent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The word nautch became associated with practices of female dedication in temples and with prostitution. An anti-nautch movement was launched in the 1890s under British colonial administration in collaboration with largely class and caste privileged Indian cultural reformists and revivalists. This directly disenfranchised hereditary dancing communities in several regions of South India (Srinivasan 1985; Parker 1998). Anti-nautch legal regulation and its lasting after-effects extended to a diversity of dance practices across several other regions of India, including Bengal. 2 Indubala Dasi (18991984) was the only disciple of the legendary courtesan Gauhar Jan (18731930), and the first Bengali artist to record for the Gramophone Company of India. She fought for the rights of sex workers in Kolkatas red-light district where she lived throughout her life. Indubala first performed on stage for the Rambagan Female Kali Theatre, an all-female ensemble theatre company founded by her mother Rajbala in 1922. In the 1950s, Indubala was involved with the Sammilita Nari Samiti (United Womens Society), which lobbied for the central and state governments of India to launch anti-oppression and anti-corruption programmes in red-light zones and which also pushed for the representation of sex workers on government committees on social welfare. 3 Both Ananya Chatterjea (2009) and Urmimala Sarkar Munsi (2016) discuss the precarious lives of nachni dancers in Bengal, while Aishika Chakraborty (2022) explores the work of popular yet stigmatised cabaret dancers of Calcutta. For more on illicit/erotic labour and performance, see Sameena Dalwai (2020) and Anna Morcom (2013). 4 I first interviewed Komal Gandhars members in December 2019 in Kolkata when I met the group, but materials used for this essay are mainly based on interviews with Lona Saha Bhattacharya and Rajkumar Das conducted on Zoom and analysis of dance videos shared by both of them in February 2022. 5 Another important study is Susanne Foellmer (2016), in which the author sees choreographic movements in particular scenarios (such as the Standing Man in Istanbuls Taksim Square) as an embodied medium of political protest (Foellmer 2016: 68). Arguing that in such scenarios, the political potential of each act therefore become evident when the boundaries of dance and choreography as (embodied and structure giving) media become uncertain []. In my discussion of Komal Gandhars choreography, instead, it is precisely the clearly demarcated space of dance that makes political activism possible. 6 See Nordic Model Now!, https://nordicmodelnow.org/what-is-the-nordic-model/. 7 Lona and Rajkumars names have not been anonymised; permissions were received to use their real names in this publication. Both Lona and Rajkumar lead public lives as activists and artists. Some confidential details from their narratives have been left out of this publication, as these were shared as a result of an already established and deep mutual trust between us. The final draft of this paper was shared with them and received their consent prior to its publication. 8 It is important to note that marriage in Sonagachi does not always follow the heteronormative and legal structures governing relations outside the red-light district. A wide range of conjugal relations can exist in the domestic sphere between sex workers, their clients and their families. References Barry, Kathleen (1979/1995): The Prostitution of Sexuality: The Global Exploitation of Women, New York: NYU Press. Bateman, Victoria (2021): How Decriminalisation Reduces Harm Within and Beyond Sex Work: Sex Work Abolitiionism as the Cult of Female Modesty in Feminist Form, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, Vol 18, No 4, pp 81936. Bhattacharya, Rimli (2018): Public Women in British India: Icons and the Urban Stage, New Delhi: Routledge. Chakraborty, Aishika (2022): Calcutta Cabaret: Dance of Pleasure or Perversion? South Asian History and Culture, pp 119. Chakravorty, Pallabi (2017): This is How We Dance Now! Performance in the Age of Bollywood and Reality Shows, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Chatterjea, Ananya (2009): Red-Stained Feet: Probing the Ground on which Women Dance in Contemporary Bengal, Worlding Dance, Susan Foster (ed), Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp 11943. Dalwai, Sameena (2020): Bans and Bar Girls: Performing Caste in Mumbais Dance Bars, New Delhi: Women Unlimited. Foellmer, Susanne (2016): Choreography as a Medium of Protest, Dance Research Journal, Vol 48, No 3, pp 5869. Foster, Susan Leigh (2003): Choreographies of Protest, Theatre Journal, Vol 55, No 3, pp 395412. Ghosh, Shohini (2002): Tales of the Night Fairies, Documentary Film, Produced with Support from the Centre for Feminist Legal Research (Delhi) and MAMACASH (Amsterdam). Hamera, Judith (2007): Dancing Communities: Performance, Difference and Connection in the Global City, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Jeffreys, Sheila (1997): The Idea of Prostitution, Melbourne: Spinifex Press. Kedhar, Anusha (2020): Flexible Bodies: British South Asian Dancers in an Age of Neoliberalism, New York: Oxford University Press. Kempadoo, Kamala and Jo Doezema (eds) (1998): Global Sex Workers: Rights, Resistance, and Redefinition, New York and London: Routledge. Khubchandani, Kareem (2020): Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. Komal Gandhar (2018): Video excerpts of Indias Got Talent Semi-Finals. Moore, Madison (2018): Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric, New Haven: Yale University Press. Morcom, Anna (2013): Illicit Worlds of Indian Dance: Cultures of Exclusion, New York: Oxford University Press. Munsi, Urmimala Sarkar (2016): Precarious Citizenship: Social Absence Versus Performative Presence of Nachni, Samyukta: A Journal of Gender and Culture, Vol XVI, No 2, pp 15776. Munt, Sally R (2007): Queer Attachments: The Cultural Politics of Shame, London and New York: Routledge. Parker, Kunal M (1998): A Corporation of Superior Prostitutes: Anglo-Indian Legal Conceptions of Temple Dancing Girls, 18001914, Modern Asian Studies, Vol 32, No 3, pp 559633. Prakash, Brahma (2019): Cultural Labour: Conceptualising the Folk Performance in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Purkayastha, Prarthana (2021): Outing Pleasure and Indulgence: Indubalas Scrapbook and the Red-Light Dances of Calcutta, Contemporary Theatre Review, Special Issue on Outing Archives, Archives Outing, Vol 31, Nos 1 and 2, pp 1433. Srinivasan, Amrit (1985): Reform and Revival: The Devadasi and Her Dance, Economic & Political Weekly, Vol 20, No 44, pp 186976. Stanger, Arabella (2021): Dancing on Violent Ground: Utopia as Dispossession in Euro-American Theater Dance, Evanston: Northwestern University Press. Election officials clad in protective gear await COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine at a polling station in Seoul, May 28, the final day of two days of early voting for the June 1 local elections. Yonhap Two days of early voting for next week's local elections ended with a turnout of 20.62 percent, Saturday, the highest for any local elections, the election watchdog said. More than 9.13 million of the country's 44.3 million eligible voters cast their ballots during early voting for the June 1 elections, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The turnout was the highest early voting for any local elections, and the fourth-highest for any nationwide election. Early voting turnout for the June 13 local elections in 2018 was 20.1 percent. But the recent turnout was far lower than a record 36.93 percent in early voting turnout for the March 9 presidential election. Up for grabs are 17 metropolitan mayoralties and provincial governorships, 226 lower-level council leadership positions, as well as 779 seats in provincial and metropolitan councils and 2,602 in lower-level local councils. As for early voting for National Assembly by-elections that will be simultaneously held with the local elections, the turnout came to 21.76 percent, the watchdog said. COVID-19 patients and those in quarantine were allowed to participate in early voting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, after the regular voting hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year's elections have drawn greater attention as seven National Assembly seats are also at stake, with political heavyweights, such as former presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Ahn Cheol-soo, throwing their hats into the ring. Both the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) encouraged people to participate in early voting, claiming that high early voting turnout can ensure victory in the June 1 elections. Many candidates had already voted Friday, with President Yoon Suk-yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also casting their ballots early. The results of the elections are expected to significantly boost or weaken the mandate of the new government of President Yoon less than a month after he took office. Recent polls showed the PPP taking leads in most big races, except those in the liberal Honam region, the home turf of the DPK. The conservative PPP hopes it can extend the momentum of the presidential election victory and win more than half of 17 gubernatorial and mayor posts. The DPK, which controls a majority in the National Assembly, is looking to recover from the March 9 presidential election defeat and expand its power across the nation to keep the Yoon government in check. The liberal party, which scored a landslide victory in the 2018 local elections, has been promoting that most incumbent local government heads are from the party and that they should be allowed to continue their jobs. Both parties view the capital area, where half of the country's 52 million population resides, as a key battleground. The Seoul mayoral election has been mainly a two-horse race between current Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the PPP and former DPK Chairman Song Young-gil. Recent polls showed Oh leading Song by a wide margin. The race for Gyeonggi governor has been largely between former lawmaker Kim Eun-hye of the PPP and former Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon of the DPK. Recent polls show that the two are running neck and neck. (Yonhap) Saturday, May 28, 2022 Below is an announcement from the VA about funds available to reduce veteran suicides. A few facts might help in crafting a submission. * Before you finish reading this, another veteran will have attempted suicide. Today, more than 60 Veterans will attempt to kill themselves; 20 will succeed. * This ongoing catastrophe is decimating Veterans and their families. Since post 9/11, 877,450 warfighters were brain wounded. Most of these injuries went unreported, undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed. The hallmarks of wounded brains are PTSD, sleeplessness, brain fog, headaches, pain, anger, frustration, depression, and suicidal ideation. * The suicide epidemic afflicting service members has not subsided since 2005, with over 109,500 deaths attributed to suicide, twice the amount of combat deaths in Vietnam and over fifteen times the number of deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Opioid Epidemic has claimed another 109,206 of lives through drug overdoses. * The VA mental health budget from 2008 to 2020 has spent $86.1 billion on suicide prevention plans and programs and conferences and strategies. Another $7.7 billion has been spent on research and drugs and interventions, none of which are approved by the FDA for treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury. Slogans like If you see something, say something and Suicide is Everbodys Job do not heal brain wounds that can lead to suicidal ideation. * Continuing with the same failed treatment protocol continues to fuel the suicide and opioid epidemics while costing the US taxpayer an estimated $118.1 billion per year in societal costs. That amounts to a projected cost of $4.7 trillion over 40-year life span for over 877,450 brain wounded Veterans. * A scientifically validated FDA-approved treatment is being used worldwide to treat brain wounds. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for decades has produced provable, measurable success in treating both Veterans and active-duty warfighters with invisible brain wounds. 9,500 successes and over 20 scientific studies attest that HBOT heals brain wounds and reduces or eliminates suicidal ideation. During HBOT treatment, Veterans average a 50 percent reduction in drug intake while greatly reducing symptoms associated with PTSD and TBI: headaches, anxiety levels, suicidal ideation, depression, pain, sleeplessness, brain fog, lack of self-control, and violent outbursts. HBOT helps heal the brain. * * * * The US Dept. of Veterans Affairs has launched open submissions for Mission Daybreak, a $20 million grand challenge to reduce Veteran suicides. Phase 1 calls on innovators to develop suicide prevention solutions that meet the diverse needs of Veterans. Were getting the word out to experts across a broad range of sectors such as health technology, community resilience, and clinical research, and wanted to make sure you were aware of this opportunity. Will you help us spread the word? Phase 1 submissions are due by July 8. If you are interested in participating in the challenge, we encourage you to pull your team together immediately and register for the June 7 virtual information session to learn more and ask questions. Mission Daybreak quick facts This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate At a press conference Friday, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety provided a minute-by-minute breakdown of what happened between the time Salvador Ramos arrived at Robb Elementary School and when he was taken down by officers. Ramos shot and killed 21 people, including 19 children. The following is a close transcription of Director Steven McCraw's comments, edited for order and clarity. 11:27 a.m. Video evidence shows a teacher at Robb Elementary School prop open the exterior door that Salvador Ramos would later use to enter the school. 11:28 a.m. Ramos crashes his vehicle in a ditch next to the school. At the same time the teacher runs to room 132 to retrieve her cell phone and walks back to the exit door. The door remains propped open. 11:28 a.m. Two people at a funeral home across the street hear the crash and walk over to the scene. When they get close, they see a man with a gun exit from the passenger side of the truck with a backpack and they immediately begin running. Ramos starts shooting at them but does not hit them. 11:30 a.m. The teacher reemerges inside the school and appears to call 911 to report that there was a crash and a man with a gun. 11:31 a.m. Ramos reaches the last row of vehicles in the school parking lot. A school resource officer who was off campus and rushed to the school after hearing the 911 call mistakes the teacher for the shooter, driving past Ramos who was hidden behind a vehicle. 11:31 a.m. Ramos begins shooting at the school while Uvalde police patrol vehicles arrive at the funeral home. Multiple shots are fired outside the school. 11:32 a.m. Ramos fires more shots. 11:33 a.m. Ramos enters Robb Elementary via the propped door. 11:33 a.m. Ramos begins shooting into Room 111 or Room 112. Officials said Ramos shot at least 100 rounds at that time based on audio evidence. 11:35 a.m. Three Uvalde police officers enter the same door as Ramos, soon followed by another three Uvalde police officers and a county sheriff. Two officers received grazing wounds as Ramos shot through a closed classroom door. 11:37 a.m. More gunfire erupts and 16 rounds are fired. 11:38 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:40 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:44 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:51 a.m. Police sergeant arrives on scene. 12:03 p.m. Officers continue to arrive in the hallway. As many as 19 officers are on scene. 12:03 p.m. A child in Room 112 calls 911 and whispers Hes in Room 112. The call lasted 1 minute 23 seconds. 12:10 p.m. The same child calls 911 again and says multiple people are dead. 12:13 p.m. The same child calls 911 again. 12:15 p.m. Border Patrol Tactical Unit members begin to arrive. 12:16 p.m. The same child calls 911 again and says there are 8-9 students alive. 12:19 p.m. A 911 call is made from a child in Room 111. She hangs up when another student told her to hang up. 12:21 p.m. The child from room 111 calls again and 911 dispatchers can hear three shots fired. Police believe Ramos was shooting at the door. 12:21 p.m. Police move down the hallway. 12:36 p.m. The initial caller from Room 112 calls 911 again and is told to stay on the line and be very quiet. She tells the dispatcher that He shot the door. The call lasted 21 seconds. 12:43 p.m. The child in Room 112 asks dispatchers to Please send the police now. 12:46 p.m. The child says she can hear the police next door. 12:50 p.m. Police breach the door using keys obtained from the janitor because both doors are locked. Officers kill the suspect. 911 dispatchers can hear police moving children outside of the room. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A San Antonio man accused of fatally shooting a woman with whom he had a relationship has been indicted on a murder charge. Enrique Lara, 54, is charged with murder in the death of Maria Virginia Hernandez, 51, on Feb. 28. San Antonio police called to a North Side business park for a shooting in progress that afternoon found her body. She had been shot numerous times. On ExpressNews.com: Man arrested in fatal shooting of woman at North Side business park According to an affidavit supporting Laras arrest, witnesses told police that Hernandez had received flowers at work from Lara sometime before the incident and that she had thrown them in the trash. In a check of her cellphone, authorities found texts that indicated the pair had been romantically involved, the affidavit stated. The day Hernandez died, witnesses saw her get into a dark-colored Chevrolet Silverado pickup similar to Laras. About an hour later, the pickup dropped Hernandez off near the entrance of the building at 121 Interpark Blvd., and as she began to walk away, the driver began firing at her through the passenger window, the document states. Surveillance video from the scene captured the pickup as it sped off. Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox The affidavit stated that about 2 p.m. the same day, Lara went to see relatives at their house and was crying, telling them tht he had done something bad, and that he would not be seeing his family anymore. Investigators have not cited a motive for the shooting. Lara is being held at the Bexar County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. The case is being prosecuted by the Bexar County District Attorneys Office Family Violence Division in the 175th District Court. The case is one of three murder charges among the 279 felony indictments returned this week by two Bexar County grand juries, the DAs Office said in a statement released Friday. In another, Michael Juan Montoya, 20, has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Paul Butler, 57. San Antonio police called to a home around 11:30 p.m. March 13 in the 900 block of Lamar Street in the Dignowity Hill neighborhood found Butler, who died at the scene, and arrested Montoya. Witnesses told officers they had heard shots fired from inside the home. Montoya is being held in the Bexar County jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. He is being prosecuted by the DAs Offices Criminal Trial Division in the 187th District Court. In a separate case, Juan Antonio Trevino was indicted on charges of murder and unlawfully carrying a weapon in connection with the fatal shooting of Eric Cuellar, 32, on March 6. Trevinos case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 175th District Court. If convicted, Lara, Montoya and Trevino each face up to life in prison. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Uvalde school district Police Chief Pedro Pete Arredondo, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, had earned praise from at least one supervisor as an excellent employee and officer. Soon, Arredondo is moving on from being chief. He was elected May 7 to Uvaldes City Council. Arredondo got 126 votes, nearly 70 percent of the vote for District 3 of council, in the low-turnout municipal races, city election results show. Arredondo beat his nearest challenger in the four-person race, Beco Diaz, who garnered nearly 20 percent of the vote. Arredondo will replace current District 3 council member Rogelio M. Munoz, city records show. But Arredondo now stands at a crossroads as he faces increasing criticism from members of the community he grew up in over his agencys response to one of the countrys worst mass shootings. Arredondo, 50, was the incident commander at the chaotic scene Tuesday after a gunman entered open doors of Robb Elementary School, locked himself in two adjoining classrooms with students and their two teachers and sprayed them with gunfire from an assault-style rifle. As commander, Arredondo was in charge of 19 officers who assembled in the hallway as Salvador Ramos was terrorizing and shooting the teachers and fourth-grade students. The flurry of gunfire subsided to sporadic shots, and Arredondo assumed the active shooting was over and decided not to break into the rooms until specialized SWAT officers showed up, Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw said Friday. Vital minutes elapsed as Ramos was inside the school for up to an hour. The gunman was eventually killed by a Border Patrol tactical team, but not before fatally shooting 19 children and the two teachers and wounding 17 more people. Arredondo was not unfamiliar to active-shooter scenarios. He trained with at least one previous department in such situations. UCISD Before taking the job at the Uvalde school district in early 2020, Arredondo was a police captain at Laredos United Independent School District for about three years. United ISD Police Chief Ray Garner said that before Arredondo came to work for him, Arredondo had worked for Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar and was the No. 3 person at that office. Cuellar and Arredono could not be reached for comment for this story. Garner said Arredondo had a great work ethic and was eager to learn. Arredondo was responsible for the Laredo districts north side schools. He was easy to talk to and he was real concerned about his kids in the schools, Garner said. He was an excellent officer down here. Down here, we do a lot of training on active-shooter scenarios, and he was involved in those, Garner said.We train (officers) to go straight for the shooters and neutralize them. Arredondo was not married and did not have his own kids when he left United for the job in Uvalde. Arredondo was born in Uvalde, a town of 16,000 that serves as a transition point for recreation along the Frio River, Garner State Park and the South Texas shale. He went to the same district he now oversees and graduated from Uvalde High School in 1990. And he has family there. When I heard about the opening at UCISD, I didnt even have to think twice about applying, Arredondo told the Uvalde News-Leader in an interview in April 2020. He recalled that many educators in the Uvalde district had made a good impact on his life. I made sure to mention them in my interview, Arredondo told the News-Leader. After high school, he went on to graduate from Southwest Texas Junior College, and Texas A&M Commerce with a degree in organizational management. His first job after graduating from the SWTJC law enforcement academy in 1993 was as a 911 dispatcher for the Uvalde Police Department. He served 16 years with the Uvalde PD and had multiple roles. I worked patrol, worked as detective, and received assignment as assistant chief, Arredondo told the News-Leader. When he joined Uvalde CISD in early 2020, the school district had doubled its security budget since 2017, rising from about $200,000 to about $450,000 for the current school year, according to NBC News, which cited the school districts budget documents. The beefed-up security was done, in part, to comply with state legislation passed in the wake of the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting near Houston in which eight students and two teachers were killed. The Uvalde district adopted several security measures that included its own police force, threat assessment teams at each school, a threat reporting system, social media monitoring software, fences around schools and a requirement that teachers lock their classroom doors, NBC News reported. Shortly after Arredondo arrived to his job in Uvalde, the pandemic hit and emptied the schools. We might not have students, but we have some employees working if there is one working, we are working, Arredondo said. During the closure, he said officers still maintained a schedule, patrolled campuses, and made sure they are available to the staff while they are on campus. On food distribution days, the officers aided in traffic control. We want to make sure we are available wherever we are needed, Arredondo said. He was doing this with 4 to 5 officers much smaller than the school police force in Laredo. Laredo United has 62 campuses, more than 40,000 students and nearly 7,000 employees. The police department has 88 peace officers and 127 security guards, and a yearly budget of $10 million, Garner said. Arredondo said assimilation into his new role benefited from the good communication within the department, and he wanted his small force to continue to be proactive, visible, and help educate. Im a big advocate of education and training, Arredondo said. We can never have enough training. He added that he was looking forward to fostering positive relationships, being out in the community and working with his staff and students. Of course, my title is important, but having a good group is also important, Arredondo said. If not, you can surely fail. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland In an ad released last year, Blake Masters, a leading candidate in Arizonas Republican Senate primary, cradles a semi-automatic weapon. This is a short-barreled rifle, he said, ominous music playing in the background. It wasnt designed for hunting. This is designed to kill people. For Masters, this isnt an argument against allowing such guns to proliferate. Rather, its an acknowledgment of why access to these weapons is, for the right, a matter of existential importance. The Second Amendment is not about duck hunting, Masters said. Its about protecting your family and your country. Whats the first thing the Taliban did when Joe Biden handed them Afghanistan? They took away peoples guns. Guns, in this worldview, are a guarantor against government overreach. And government overreach includes attempts to regulate guns. These days, its barely remarkable when Republicans issue what sound like threats against those whod dare curtail their private arsenals. I have news for the embarrassment that claims to be our president try to take our guns and youll learn why the Second Amendment was written in the first place, Randy Fine, a state representative in Florida, tweeted Wednesday. It will be impossible to do anything about guns in this country, at least at a national level, as long as Democrats depend on the cooperation of a party that holds in reserve the possibility of insurrection. The slaughter of children in Texas has done little to alter this dynamic. Republicans have no intention of letting Democrats pass even modest measures like strengthened background checks, and as long as Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema refuse to amend the filibuster, Republicans retain a veto over national policy. Victims of our increasingly frequent mass shootings are collateral damage in a cold civil war, though some Democrats refuse to acknowledge it, let alone fight it. Fines words echoed Donald Trumps during the 2016 election, when he said that Second Amendment people might be able to stop a President Hillary Clinton from appointing Supreme Court justices. What was once a barely concealed insinuation of violence has morphed, especially after Jan. 6, into an even more forthright menace. As ProPublica has reported, dozens of members of the Oath Keepers militia were arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol, but that hasnt stopped the organization from evolving into a force within the Republican Party. In Shasta County, a conservative part of rural Northern California, a militia-aligned faction has secured a majority on the board of supervisors, in what members of the movement see as a blueprint that can be deployed nationally. Throughout the country, reported the New York Times, right-wing Republicans are talking more openly and frequently about the use of force as justifiable in opposition to those who dislodged him meaning Trump from power. Expecting those same Republicans to collaborate with Democrats on public safety is madness. The horrifying irony, the hideous ratchet, is that the more America is besieged by senseless violence, the more the paramilitary wing of the American right is strengthened. Gun sales tend to rise after mass shootings. Republicans responded to the massacre in Uvalde by doubling down on calls to arm teachers and harden schools. An article in The Federalist argued that parents must home-school so that kids can learn in a controlled environment where guns can be safely carried for self-defense or locked away when not in use. Its a vision of a society if you can call it that where every family is a fortress. Guns are now the leading cause of death for American children. Many conservatives consider this a price worth paying for their version of freedom. Our institutions give these conservatives disproportionate power whether or not they win elections. The filibuster renders the Senate largely impotent. Trump, a president who lost the popular vote, was able to appoint Supreme Court justices who are poised to help overturn a New York state law restricting the carrying of concealed weapons. Its increasingly hard to see a path to small-d democratic reform. And so among liberals, theres an overwhelming feeling of despair. Even as people learn the names of all those murdered children, the most common sentiment is not never again but a bitter acknowledgment that nothing is going to change. America is too sick, too broken. It is perhaps beyond repair. Two years ago, David French, an anti-Trump conservative, published a book, Divided We Fall, warning of the possible crackup of the United States. It included two chapters imagining scenarios for how the dissolution of the country might happen. One involved a mass shooting at a school in California, to which the states people reacted with white-hot rage. French envisioned furious state politicians defying the Second Amendment, leading to a nullification crisis and blue-state secession. He meant it as a cautionary tale, but rereading the chapter after Uvalde, it feels less bleak than our reality. In Frenchs scenario, atrocity has the effect of energizing people rather than immobilizing them. They are determined to fight, not resigned to defeat. They have audacity and hope. The real nightmare is not that the repetition of nihilist terrorism brings American politics to an inflection point, but that it doesnt. The nightmare is that we simply stumble on, helpless as things keep getting worse. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Its an excruciating scene to watch and hear on video, and beyond horrific for those who lived it. Gut-wrenching wailing from Uvalde parents, frantic to get to their children inside Robb Elementary School, pleading and cursing at officers. On Tuesday morning, parents demanded police enter the school to save their children from the gunman or let them do it themselves. Officers held them back. And then officers stood by. On ExpressNews.com: 40 horrific minutes: 5 things to know about the Uvalde school shooting timeline Now we have learned that officers made a fateful and terrible decision to declare a barricade situation when children and teachers in the classroom were calling 911, begging police to intervene. It was the wrong decision, very wrong. Theres no excuse for that, Texas DPS Chief Steven C. McCraw said at a news conference Friday. When theres an active shooter, the rules change. There is no longer a barricaded subject. You dont have time. He said there were sporadic shots over 48 minutes while 19 officers waited in the hallway. At the same time, students were repeatedly calling 911. As late as 12:47 p.m., a student begged 911, Please send the police now. And yet McCraw said the on-site commander, later identified as Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo, thought children were not at risk despite the periodic shooting. We dont have adequate words. It is the latest revelation in an infuriating timeline that has been rife with conflicting and damning accounts about the immediate police response to the second-deadliest mass shooting in the nations history a response that is, at this moment, utterly inexplicable. We will need the FBIs investigation to ensure a full and accurate account of what happened between 11:28 a.m. and 1 p.m. as children called for police who were right outside the door. At Wednesday news conference, Gov. Greg Abbott described courageous law enforcement officers who ran toward gunfire and saved lives during the rampage that killed 19 students and two teachers, and injured 17 others. Flanked by law enforcement officials, Abbott and McCraw said a Uvalde school officer first engaged the gunman. But that was refuted Thursday by Victor Escalon, a Texas Department of Public Safety regional director, who said no officer was at the school when the shooter entered through an unlocked back door. On Friday, Abbott said he was livid and had been misled. If only he were as livid about our lax gun laws, which contribute to these repeated massacres. The failure to move quickly goes against tactical response protocol learned from the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 that killed 13: Dont hold back. Dont wait for SWAT. Immediately enter because the more time that goes by, the more carnage. We realize officers fell back after taking fire, but its beyond infuriating that a lone shooter was inside two adjoined classrooms for about an hour as police waited in a hallway for a U.S. Border Patrol tactical team to enter the classroom and kill the gunman. Were they not trained appropriately? Is this not the very job they signed up for? Over and over, Uvalde officials and community members say they never expected this to happen in their community. But we all must realize it could happen in any community, which is why we so urgently need reforms to prevent gun violence. So now we must know why local police made the wrong decision and whether, and how, that compounded this tragedy. The frantic screams of parents haunt us, and so does the law enforcement response. Shootings like this should never happen, but law enforcement must always be prepared. We demand a full accounting. As a growing number of Texas lawmakers call for a special legislative session to address gun violence after the Uvalde school shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that all options are on the table. Since Tuesdays massacre left 21 dead, Democrats have been urging Abbott to call legislators back to Austin and pass new laws that would prevent, or at least mitigate, future school shootings. And on Friday, some Republicans who hold the majority in both chambers of the Texas Legislature joined their pleas. If this isnt the catalyst for the Legislature to do something, I dont think anything will happen, said state Rep. Lyle Larson, a San Antonio Republican who is not seeking re-election. Every day that passes, it will be like Santa Fe and El Paso there will be less energy in trying to fix this, and well start going back, complacency will set in and we wont meaningfully address this. A year after the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, Texas leaders reconvened for regular session in Austin and passed a slew of new school safety policies. The bills extended mental health services in schools, established threat assessment teams to identify potentially dangerous students and expanded the number of school employees who could carry guns. READ MORE: Uvalde police acted too slowly as terrified children made 911 calls, Texas DPS official says But none of them restricted firearm access, and none were enough to stop the Uvalde gunman, who entered an elementary school late Tuesday morning without resistance. He killed 19 children and two teachers. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat who represents Uvalde, interrupted Abbotts Friday press conference to push for a special session. Senate Democrats will send Abbott a letter on Saturday formally requesting a special session and advocating for gun restrictions, he said. Im asking you now to bring us back in three weeks, Gutierrez said, before reiterating the grief the Uvalde community is experiencing this week. You have to do something, man. ... Just call us back. Abbott, a Republican, said new laws would absolutely result from Tuesdays tragedy, and he expects lawmakers to revisit every policy passed after the Santa Fe shooting. First, we need to gain the information about exactly what happened at the school to find out the extent to which those laws were complied with, to the extent that they were not complied with, to find out what shortcomings allowed this travesty to occur, the governor said. Earlier this week, Abbott ruled out any gun control policies, saying the restrictions wouldnt stop gun violence and large, Democrat-led cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City were proof. Public policy experts and widely available data refute those claims; Texas had a higher firearm death rate in 2020 than Illinois, California and New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, Abbott said mental health was the problem, and state lawmakers needed to expand resources for Texans in rural areas. House Speaker Dade Phelan endorsed the idea, as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called to fortify schools and other top Republicans asked for more armed teachers. But state Rep. Steve Allison, a San Antonio Republican, said lawmakers should evaluate all possible solutions including potentially banning or raising the age to purchase assault-style rifles. Hes open to a special session, though hed encourage the creation of a bipartisan special committee to guide the Legislatures work. No law would have prevented what happened in Uvalde, but I think we can put the guardrails around it to make it very, very difficult for it to happen again, Allison said. We just owe it to the children. LATEST UPDATES: Gov. Abbott cancels NRA trip, will travel to Uvalde instead Its unclear which proposals the states GOP leaders would pursue in the wake of the Uvalde shooting, in part because the facts of the case have changed greatly since the incident occurred. State law enforcement officials revised a number of key details, including whether the shooter was confronted outside the school before entering. We just changed the fact record almost 180 degrees within the last 24 hours, and bad facts make bad law, said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican. We have to slow down and make sure that we really understand what happened here because, quite frankly, to honor the people that died, we have to do this right. Bettencourt said he doesnt see any rush to have a special session, and he is waiting to ensure that Uvalde officials fully enacted the school safety changes approved by the Legislature in 2019. And if funding is an issue, he added, the Texas Education Agency and the Legislative Budget Board could authorize additional spending immediately. But others say the urgency of the moment could help define Texas legislative response. State Sen. Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican who is not seeking re-election this year, said lawmakers should hope and pray but, more than anything, they should do something. After the Midland-Odessa shooting in August 2019, the governor said, Were not going to let this happen again, Seliger recalled. But I sat there in the 87th session, and we did nothing. I havent been able to sleep since then. We have to do something because its going to happen again. Staff writers Sig Christenson and Jasper Scherer contributed reporting. cayla.harris@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Former President Donald Trump decried the heinous massacre in Uvalde during a speech at the National Rifle Associations annual meetings in Houston on Friday and blasted those trying to advance gun control in the wake of it. Trump said the attack was a savage and barbaric atrocity that shocks the conscience of every single American. He then read the names of each of the victims and asked for a moment of silence. Each precious young soul that was taken is an incomprehensible loss literally incomprehensible stolen from us by a malice that no words describe, Trump told a partially filled conference room at the George R. Brown Convention Center. But Trump was quick to warn against a repulsive political effort by some to exploit the tragedy for more gun control laws and to blame law-abiding gun owners of the NRA. As always in the wake of these tragedies, the various gun control policies being pushed by the left would have done nothing to prevent the horror that took place, he said. Trumps words added support to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, who used his speech before Trump to make clear he wont accept any gun control regulations as an answer to the school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead in Uvalde. Restricting the fundamental human right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is not the answer, LaPierre said. It never has been. IN-DEPTH: Trumps shift from threat to keynote speaker illustrates the influence of the NRA LaPierre said there are common-sense things that can be done, such as better protecting schools, fully funding the police and improving the nations broken mental health system. If we as a nation were capable of legislating evil out of the hearts and minds of criminals who commit these heinous acts, we would have done it a long time ago, he said. Outside the NRA event, Democrats including gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke were blasting the NRA leadership and politicians who accept their money: If you have done anything good, it is the fact that you have brought us here together and were committing ourselves. We will defeat you and we will overcome this. The United States has more mass shootings than any country in the world, but Congress has not passed any wide-ranging rewrite of gun laws or universal background checks in recent years. Though public polling shows a vast majority of Americans back universal background checks for gun purchases, the polling is much less conclusive when Americans are asked whether the background checks would decrease the number of mass shootings or when they answer questions about specific legislation. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also spoke before Trump, blasting Democrats and the media for advocating for universal background checks or banning so-called assault rifles. Heres the problem: Their so-called solutions wouldnt have stopped these mass murders, and they know it, Cruz said. Cruz said the 18-year-old who killed the children in Uvalde passed a background check. CRUZ APPEARANCE: Ted Cruz addresses NRA convention the day after refusing to discuss politics of Uvalde shooting He said the problem America faces with mass murderers is complicated and multifaceted and needs a more comprehensive approach. He said many want to just moralize about guns. Its never been about guns, he said of places such as Chicago that have tougher gun laws but are far more dangerous than Texas. Trump, Cruz and LaPierre were some of the notable speakers who made the meeting, as a number of others canceled appearances in Houston out of respect for the families in Uvalde. While a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all those suffering in Uvalde, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said earlier Friday, canceling his planned appearance. Gov. Greg Abbott also canceled his speech in Houston and opted to send a video message expressing his pain for the grieving families. But Trump made clear days earlier that he would not back out of the speech, and he took a jab at those who did. And unlike some, I didnt disappoint you by not showing up, Trump said with a smile. For Trump, it was the continuation of a stream of appearances in Houston and Texas since December. Trump has made five trips since then, including three just since the start of May, as he teases about running for president again. Trump has spoken at more NRA conventions and meetings than any other president. He hasnt always been publicly against gun control measures that the NRA opposes. In 2018, after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., Trump suggested raising the age for some gun purchases and calling for improving background checks, though the NRA lobbied against both, helping prevent any political momentum for either. And before he was president, he would express support for the assault weapons ban that was in effect from 1994 to 2004 and longer waiting periods for people to buy guns. But despite those views, political experts said the NRA knew how to get access to Trump even after emotional meetings with gun violence victims, from which hed often emerge declaring his openness to more background checks. jeremy.wallace@chron.com The day after a shooter gunned down 19 students and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school, Gov. Greg Abbott praised law enforcement officers who responded to the grisly scene, describing a heroic effort to contain a shooting spree that he said could have been worse. The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do, Abbott said. They showed amazing courage by running toward gunfire for the singular purpose of trying to save lives. And it is a fact that, because of their quick response, getting on the scene, being able to respond to the gunman and eliminate the gunman, they were able to save lives. Two days later, Texas top law enforcement officer painted a much different picture, revealing that 19 officers waited in a hallway outside adjoining classrooms, where panicked children were repeatedly calling 911 to plead for help. It was the wrong decision, period, for authorities to wait more than 45 minutes before breaching the door, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said Friday. That revelation sparked a fresh round of criticism toward Abbott, who was already under fire for attending a political fundraiser hours after the shooting and late Thursday announced that he had backed out of his appearance at the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Houston this weekend. It was yet another example of how Tuesdays mass shooting at Robb Elementary School has put Abbott in a politically tenuous position, as he faces intensifying calls for gun restrictions aimed at preventing future grade school massacres, while a large portion of his Republican base is urging him to resist those calls. Abbotts critics, including his Democratic opponent, former congressman Beto ORourke, have sought to capitalize on the moment, arguing that the governor has done little to respond to the numerous mass shootings that have taken place in Texas during his tenure. This is on you, ORourke said as he confronted Abbott at the news conference this week. The time to stop the next shooting is right now, and you are doing nothing. SHOOTING DETAILS EMERGE : Uvalde police acted too slowly as terrified children made 911 calls, Texas DPS official says Abbott and other Texas Republican leaders have defended their response to the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School, which left 10 dead and prompted the GOP-controlled Legislature to pass several school safety measures the next year. The package of reforms which did not include anything to restrict firearms access 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. 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. Still, none of the changes helped prevent the carnage that unfolded Tuesday in Uvalde. At a news conference Friday, Abbott said he expects state lawmakers to revisit each law passed after the Santa Fe shooting, after first learning the extent to which those laws were complied with in Uvalde. Abbott also said he was misled about how law enforcement responded to the shooting, calling the inaccuracies inexcusable. The information that I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate, and Im absolutely livid about that, Abbott said, urging investigators to get down to the very second of exactly what happened with 100 percent accuracy. And for the first time since Tuesdays shooting, he suggested a possible special legislative session on gun violence. Five months is a lifetime The political discourse surrounding this weeks shooting marks a departure from the way gun policy had played into the governors race up to this point. Since ORourke announced his candidacy, Abbotts campaign team has hammered the Democrat for famously saying, Hell yes, were going to take your AR-15, your AK-47, as a presidential candidate in 2019, touting a mandatory buyback program for assault-style weapons. While running for governor, ORourke has emphasized less aggressive measures, such as requiring background checks for private gun sales and passing a red flag law allowing judges to temporarily confiscate firearms from people deemed potentially dangerous. Abbotts team has accused ORourke of flip-flopping on gun policy, particularly after he said in February that he was not interested in taking anything from anyone. This is yet another example of Beto ORourke lying to the public about his extreme liberal views that align him more with President Biden than the people of Texas, Mark Miner, Abbotts campaign spokesman, said earlier this year. Nevertheless, its not clear how much political blowback Abbott may face from this weeks developments even as polling suggests his blanket rejection of gun restrictions is out of step with the majority of Texas voters, said Joshua Blank, research director for the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. As raw as emotions are in the present moment, politically, five months is a lifetime, Blank said, referring to the time left until the November election. And this issue is going to be competing with the economy, with immigration, with abortion, certainly, for peoples attention. On HoustonChronicle.com: ORourkes standoff with Gov. Abbott over Uvalde mass shooting marks the new era in Texas politics Despite Texas reputation as a mecca for gun-toting conservatives, a majority or plurality of voters has supported stricter gun laws in statewide polls conducted by Blanks group over the last several years. In a 2019 survey, 81 percent of Texas voters said they supported background checks on all gun purchases, 68 percent supported red flag laws and 59 percent backed the idea of a nationwide ban on semi-automatic weapons. On the other hand, national polling has been much less conclusive when Americans are asked whether the background checks would decrease the number of mass shootings or when they answer questions about specific legislation. At the very least, the Uvalde shooting may have created an opening for ORourke to combat Abbotts blanket portrayal of him as a gun-grabbing liberal and refocus some voters attention on Abbotts positions, Blank said. Absent a tragedy that really recontextualizes the states relationship with guns, ORourke was not going to make guns the centerpiece of his campaign. He may still not make guns the centerpiece of his campaign, Blank said. But given this opportunity to have the discussion about it, its clearly an advantage to ORourke to point to the fact the state has been moving away from public opinion on gun laws for about a decade. jasper.scherer@chron.com Firefighters were fighting a fast-spreading wildfire in the northeastern county of Uljin Saturday, with the blaze prompting the authorities there to issue an evacuation order for nearby residents. No people were reported injured. The fire started on a mountain in Uljin, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at around 12:06 p.m. and has been spreading rapidly due to high winds of up to 20 meters per second, according to officials. Local forest and fire authorities sent 30 helicopters and some 200 firefighters to contain the blaze. There have been no casualties, but some facilities and a temple in the vicinity caught on fire, according to the emergency authorities. The county office ordered residents of nearby villages to evacuate. The authorities issued a Level 2 wildfire alert, the third highest in the four-tier system, which allows for the mobilization of firefighters from several nearby areas. On March 4, a massive wildfire started in Uljin and spread to nearby areas in the eastern Gangwon Province. The blaze became the country's second-biggest on record, wiping out 20,523 hectares of woodland and causing financial damage worth 226.1 billion won. ($180 million). (Yonhap) HELENA Police have cited State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen for a May 19 incident in which Arnzten allegedly illegally passed a school bus that had its flashing lights on while schoolchildren were loading. An emailed statement from Helena police Lt. Jayson Zander sent late Friday morning stated that an investigating officer met with Arntzen Thursday evening to speak to her about the incident. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined there was probable cause to charge Mrs. Arntzen with violating Montana Code Annotated 61-8-351 (meeting or passing a school bus). She was issued a citation and referred to City of Helena Municipal Court. Violation of the law carries a fine of up to $500. The initial news of the citation was delivered Friday morning via email from Arntzen spokesperson Brian OLeary. We were informed that a citation would be issued, even though we have not been able to view the video in question, OLeary stated in the email. We were also informed that the video does not show the license plate of the vehicle involved. That being said Superintendent Arntzen would like to thank the bus driver for his vigilance. This is a good reminder for all of us to slow down from lifes daily distractions, and to pay extra careful attention, especially as we enter the busy summer season. Montana Free Press first reported the allegation Wednesday that around 7:30 a.m. on May 19, Arntzen illegally passed a school bus at a bus stop near her home in the Mountain View Meadows subdivision on Helenas southeast side. According to a report the bus driver filed with police, a red Chevy Colorado pickup drove around the bus fully extended crossing arm. The bus driver said he recognized Arntzen behind the wheel and wrote down the license plate number of the vehicle she was driving. Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division records indicate the license plate number belongs to a red Chevy Colorado truck registered to Arntzens husband, Steven W. Arntzen, of Billings. On Thursday evening, Zander sent an email to members of the media stating that officers had been unable to make contact with the driver of the vehicle and that the investigation was ongoing. The following morning, OLeary sent an email indicating that contact had been made and that Arntzen had been informed she would receive a citation. Requests for additional information from Arntzens office did not receive an immediate response. Braxton Mitchell State lawmaker Braxton Mitchell said it was not his intention to spread misinformation when he shared a post to his Instagram story late Thursday night calling the Uvalde school shooter a deranged trans 18 yr old. The 22-year-old Columbia Falls Republican shared a since-deleted post by conservative author David J. Harris Jr. that falsely claimed the Uvalde shooter was transgender. Authorities have identified the shooter as Salvador Ramos, an 18-year-old male. There is no evidence that the Uvalde shooter was transgender. On Tuesday, Ramos entered Robb Elementary in the small rural town of Uvalde, Texas, with an AR-15 and opened fire, killing 19 children and two teachers. A Border Patrol officer fatally shot Ramos when law enforcement responded. Harris Jr. had quoted a tweet from former President Barack Obama: 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. Obama made the post on Thursday, two days after the Uvalde massacre and one day after the anniversary of the killing of Floyd, whose death sparked sustained protests across the country. In his post, Harris Jr. criticized Obamas tweet: A deranged trans 18 yr old that murdered innocent children has ZERO to do with George Floyd! But thanks for exposing your ugly race-baiting, divisive heart once again @BarackObama. (wonder how many fake followers you have.) The post from Harris Jr. garnered 83,122 likes on Instagram before being taken down. Mitchell told the Daily Montanan that his intention in sharing the post to his Instagram story was to call out Obama for entangling the Uvalde school shooting with George Floyds murder and not to spread misinformation about the shooter. I posted the thing because the former president was trying to link George Floyd to a school shooting, and I think thats messed up. And that was the whole reason that I posted that, he said. Mitchell said he did not realize the post contained misinformation about the school shooter when he added it to his Instagram story. I didnt know at the time; that was not my intention, he said. Multiple congressmen, people in the former administration, senators, state representatives shared the same thing if theyre posting something, then obviously there must be some credence to it. Mitchell, a Whitefish native, was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2020 and is up for reelection this year. He stopped short of apologizing to the transgender community for spreading the misinformation. I never spread any information, he said. I never specifically said anything. It was just a post directed at the former president, so thats what it is. Shawn Reagor, director of equality at the Montana Human Rights Network, said Mitchells post is a dangerous example of misinformation. This is a clear example of how attacking trans people to score political points then puts targets on us for unfounded conspiracies and misinformation. It keeps us from being safe, Reagor said in a text message to the Daily Montanan. As an elected official, Representative Mitchell has a responsibility to promote public safety for all Montanans rather than spreading misinformation about an already targeted and misunderstood community. Misinformation after mass shootings is not uncommon and can often be traced to fringe far-right message boards. In this case, hours after the attack, a post circulated on the online message board 4chan claiming the gunman was transgender. According to the New York Times, the false claims eventually made their way to Telegram chats of far-right militia groups such as the Proud Boys. After the shooting, the false claims about the shooter were shared by high-profile conservatives like Paul Gosar of Arizona, author and personality Candance Owens and far-right conspiracist and talk show host Alex Jones. NBC News reported that in a since-deleted tweet, Gosar wrote, Its a transsexual leftist illegal alien named Salvatore Ramos. In a statement, the Trans Safety Network, a U.K.-based group that monitors online threats against the transgender community, said viral tweets falsely linked at least three different trans people to the incident. Sam, a transgender woman who lives in Georgia, was one of the women whose photo was used to accuse her of being the shooter, according to NBC. Sam, 20, told NBC News that she has been harassed as people spread her image online. This isnt the first time I was harassed, but it is the first time Ive been accused of murder, she told NBC News. The post State lawmaker perpetuated falsity Uvalde shooter was transgender, says he was unaware appeared first on Daily Montanan. With people having to largely stay indoors for close to two years now due to the pandemic, they have finally started to realise the importance of staying at home and the safety it provides. Weve also realised that doing almost everything remotely, be it studying or work, is possible, and it comes as no surprise that a large number of people have started preferring this lifestyle over the normal that once was. But whether you want to spend all your time at home or just a few hours, home is what it should be a safe space for you and your loved ones with aesthetics that add to the safety and peace of mind, all the while making your abode look beautiful. So, the question really is how safe is your home? Speaking of safety and health, proofing yourself against the elements, germs, physical hazards, etc. tops the list when you think of undertaking any renovation project or buying new appliances or decor pieces. What most people dont think of or give due consideration to, is indoor pollution. Indoor air pollution is as dangerous as outdoor pollution and demands all our attention. Paints, furnishings, electrical appliances are all known to be sources of toxic indoor pollutants, and even short-term exposure to these can cause allergies and headache, with long-term exposure known to cause asthma, COPD and even lung cancer in worst cases. Surprisingly, even interiors, especially furniture made of plywood, are a source of indoor pollutants. Thats because plywood is bonded using an adhesive that contains formaldehyde, which on exposure to the atmosphere, leads to toxic formaldehyde emission. With plywood being widely used for making furniture, in wall panelling and other interior work, it becomes even more imperative to choose a product that is health safe. So when Bollywood actor, activist and new mom Dia Mirza was looking to refurbish her homes interior, along with her husband Vaibhav, she researched for just the right brand to suit their needs. Given that they were in-between a raging pandemic with a toddler stuck indoors, they had to ensure their home was the safest place to be. Which is why they chose Greenply, Indias leading interior infrastructure brand that identified the problem and introduced zero emission plywood for the very first time in India. To top this, Greenply is FSC FM certified for its sustainable business practices. Its little wonder then that Greenply was the obvious choice for Dia Mirza, also the UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and United Nations Secretary-General Advocate for Sustainable Development! To know more about Greenply E-0 and explore options on making your home safe, Head to https://www.greenply.com/zero-emission Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Joyland, a Pakistani film directed by Saim Sadiq has made history at the Cannes Film Festival. The film which is a transgender love story has won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category that spotlights new directors and films revolving around the marginalised. This is reportedly the first time a film from the subcontinent has won the award.Winners of the Un Certain Regard category have been announced ahead of the festival's main jury awards. And Joyland has emerged as the winner of the Jury Prize which is one of the top honours at the gala. The film also received a standing ovation at its Cannes premiere. Joyland is Saim Sadiq's debut directorial. The Urdu language film revolves around a family in Lahore where the disabled patriarch wishes his sons to bring grandsons into the family. However, his youngest son Haider falls in love with a transgender woman while working as a background dancer.Joyland features Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Salmaan Peerzada, Ali Junejo, Sania Saeed, and Sohail Sameer among others. The film also won the Queer Palm award as the trans character in the film is played by trans actress Alina Khan. Meanwhile, the top award in the Un Certain Regard category went to the French-language film The Worst Ones.As the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival which kickstarted on May 17 this year comes to a close, the winners of the main awards will soon be announced. The film event this year also had an impressive showing from India which is the country of honour. I don't have my photo device at hand right now to upload photos, I will try to do that later. I did cut the felt panel to access the vent without removing it. My first observation is that the felt is reinforced, and damned tough. A very sharp, full-handled utility knife managed it, but just. If you try to cut this, don't use any lesser tool. Second observation is spacing, in the event that it might prove useful to someone else attempting this access. The panel in my F250 has a horizontal rectangular section outcropping about 8" from the floor. The vents are aligned pretty closely with this, top and bottom. The outside edges of my vents were 10-1/2 to 11" from the edge of the plastic interior side trim where it ends at the rear of the cab. I tried measuring from the side of the bed to the vent edge outside, and making allowance for the width of the body at rear of cab in transposing the measurement to mark the cut line on the felt panel. That didn't work so wellI was about 3 - 4" off. The vents themselves are roughly 5 - 6" wide. I managed to get cuts that would have worked, if I didn't get hosed by fate. After stringing the coax signal and power cable from the camera on the license plate frame to the existing oval, rubber-plugged holes (I had drilled a 1-1/2" hole in the plugs for a previous wiring project) in the front of the bed and snaking up using 14 ga wire fed through the vent from inside and taped to the coax connector, I found that the connector was about 1/16" too large in diameter to pass between the outside lip of the vent and the bedI'm doing this install in my driveway, so detaching the bed is not an option. I ended up running the cable through my rear slider window. I plan to make some kind of narrow gap filler with a notch (actually two notches: this system came with split screen capability, a second cam, and an additional, longer cable that I plan to use on my backhoe trailer when I tow) for the cable to reduce the leak risk and better protect the cable. The slider latch has been broken for a long time, and I'm not concerned about that. Camera is working fine for now. I need to improve my interior cable routing, I currently have hung it using the passenger side grab handles, front, center, and rear, but it need more support points to reduce sagging. I may use some flexible plastic conduit for this, and under the bed rail as well. I'm also not real happy about the cable traversing the gap between the tailgate and the bottom of the bed: there is sufficient width, open or closed, but it seems very vulnerable there. I will try to fabricate some kind of guard for it as I polish up the install. Xi calls for advancing study of Chinese civilization Xinhua) 14:13, May 28, 2022 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- On Friday afternoon, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the 39th group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to further a national research project on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, and has a long history stretching back to antiquity. It is the cultural identity of the Chinese nation, the foundation of the contemporary Chinese culture, the cultural bond holding all Chinese around the globe together, and it is the treasure trove inspiring cultural innovation, Xi stressed. Over the long course of history, the Chinese nation, with perseverance and determination, has endured hardships and traveled extensively and has ventured a course of development different from other civilizations. We should gain an in-depth knowledge of Chinese civilization's development over more than 5,000 years and extend research into its history, so that all members of the Party and society at large will develop a keener awareness of our history, build up cultural confidence, adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and work together to build a socialist modern country in all respects and realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi noted. Wang Wei, director and researcher with Academic Division of History under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gave a lecture on this issue and proposed suggestions. After the lecture, members of the Political Bureau conducted a discussion. Xi made a speech while chairing the study session. He stressed that our Party has always viewed the history of the Chinese nation from the standpoint of historical materialism and has inherited and carried forward fine traditional Chinese culture. Through the continuous efforts of several generations of scholars, the research results of major projects, such as the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, proved that China's history includes million years of humanity, 10,000 years of culture, and more than 5,000 years of civilization. The project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization has made marked achievements, but there is still a long way to go. It should be continued and furthered. Xi stressed that the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization has provided a clear knowledge of the origins and formation of Chinese civilization, the history of its development, the process of the formation and development of its pluralistic and integrated pattern, and its characteristics and why it was formed in such a way. At the same time, he added, the results that have been achieved so far are still preliminary and phased, and that there are still many historical mysteries to be unraveled and a number of major issues, on which consensus is yet to be reached through evidence and further study. Xi noted that the latest technologies of such frontier subjects as biology, molecular biology, chemistry, geoscience, and physics have been used on the analysis of our country's ancient historical remains, which has provided the origin-tracing of Chinese civilization with solid scientific base, and broadened our knowledge of the country's 5,000-plus-year history. Tracing the origins of a civilization and research on its formation is a complex, time-consuming, and systematic project. Archaeological exploration and literature research should be combined with tools and methods of natural sciences. Factors including material and cultural conditions and forms of social relations should be comprehensively studied, so as to gradually restore the development path of a civilization from its birth to prosperity. Overall planning and sound arrangements should be strengthened so that experts in archaeology, history, humanity studies, and natural sciences can make joint efforts to make breakthroughs. Endeavor jointly made by different disciplines, from different angles, on different levels, and with different approaches will expand the coverage and range of such studies. As a result, questions will be answered concerning the origins and formation of Chinese civilization, the path of its development, its internal mechanisms, and the evolution paths of all regional civilizations. Xi stressed that the project has put forward its own definition of civilization and its solution to develop a more civilized world, which has made creative contributions to the research on tracing the origins of the world civilization. A good job must be done as far as the promotion, publicity, and transformation of the research results of China's theory on ancient civilizations and the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization are concerned. Research, interpretation, display, and dissemination of unearthed cultural relics and sites should be strengthened to advance the influence and appeal of Chinese civilization. Xi noted that over the past more than 5,000 years, the Chinese people have created a splendid civilization and made significant contributions to the progress of human civilization. We should link the study on the origins of Chinese civilization with that on other major issues including the features and forms of Chinese civilization and, through the interpretation on the origins of Chinese civilization, we will explore and explain how a sense of community among the Chinese people has been developed and how the Chinese people of all ethnic groups are united in diversity. We should carry out researches on the essential characteristics and the development pattern of Chinese civilization, which features benevolence, emphasis on people's lives, respect for justice and integrity, righteousness, and universal harmony, and elaborate on the profound cultural resources on which the Chinese path is based. With regard to traditional Chinese culture, Xi noted that we should make the past serve the present, break new ground from the old, and carry forward its fine elements. We should establish discipline, academic, and discourse systems with Chinese characteristics, style, and flair for the study of civilizations, so as to provide strong theoretical support for new forms of human civilization practice. Xi stressed that China's fine traditional culture represents the wisdom and essence of Chinese civilization, is the root and soul of the Chinese nation, and serves as the foundation for China to gain a firm footing amidst global cultural interaction. We have integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with China's actual conditions and with China's fine traditional culture, constantly adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times and promoting the creative transformation and development of our fine traditional Chinese culture. We should continue innovating on the basis of past experience, adapting China's fine traditional culture to socialist society and displaying the unique symbol of the Chinese nation so as to bolster the Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength. We should adhere to Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology, carry forward our revolutionary culture, develop advanced socialist culture, and extract vitality from China's fine traditional culture. We should make full use of achievements from studies such as the ones on the origins of Chinese civilization to develop a more complete and accurate historiography of ancient China and make history a book for people to learn from. Since ancient times, Chinese civilization has been known for its openness and inclusiveness, and it has gained new vitality through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. We will uphold and promote civilization concepts that emphasize equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness and understand different civilizations' recognitions of their own value connotations with an open mind, Xi said. We should respect different countries' and peoples' exploration of their own development paths. We should remove civilization misunderstandings through cultural exchanges, avoid civilization clashes by learning from each other, and replace civilization supremacy with coexistence of civilizations. We should carry forward the common values of humanity that Chinese civilization epitomizes and promote the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said. We should keep a foothold on the ground of China, tell stories of Chinese civilization well, and present a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China to the world. We should state clearly what kind of civilization and country China is, and tell clearly about Chinese people's outlook on the universe, the world, society, and their morality. We need to do whatever we can to exhibit the long history and cultural heritage of Chinese civilization, and encourage the world to better understand China, the Chinese people, the CPC, and the Chinese nation, Xi said. Xi stressed that cultural relics and cultural heritage carry the genes and blood of the Chinese nation, and they are China's nonrenewable and irreplaceable cultural resources. We need to make cultural relics and heritage play their own role in cultural development and create a social atmosphere that facilitates efforts to carry on our fine traditional culture. We should actively promote the protection and utilization of cultural relics and the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, explore the multiple values of cultural relics and heritage, and promote cultural products and value symbols that embody Chinese culture and spirit. Xi pointed out that officials at all levels should attach importance to the protection of cultural relics and inheritance of cultural heritage, and provide more policy support for historical and archaeological researchers to conduct research, study, and exchanges. We should foster an atmosphere for imparting and inheriting China's fine traditional culture and widely publicize research results of those projects that aim to explore the origins of Chinese civilization. We should also educate and guide people, especially young people, to better understand and identify with Chinese civilization, and enhance Chinese people's aspiration, moral integrity, and self-confidence. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Liang Jun) Artwork by Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) at the ARKO Art Center / Courtesy of ARKO Art Center The following article presents an art project of Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide), an internationally acclaimed Dutch Korean artist, who is exhibiting her artwork for the first time in Seoul. ED. By Lee Kyung-eun Lee Kyung-eun Korean adoptee artists have garnered attention in the western countries where they live, but their works remain relatively unfamiliar to people in their country of origin. This obscurity isn't due to a lack of effort on the part of the adoptees. Despite their attempts to engage with Korean society, Koreans have yet to reciprocate in kind. Therefore, the artistic endeavors brought to Korea represent more than the creative expressions of the individual artist's experience. They additionally serve as part of the collective discourse of adoptees and their attempts to cultivate a dialogue with Korean society. Whether through performances, paintings, or written words, these artists raise questions that often confront and challenge the dominant adoption narratives in Korea. One such prevalent belief among people in Korea insists that if a person enjoys comfortable conditions in the present, then there's little need to broach questions about the past, including inquiries about one's roots. This notion remains prominent in adoption representation, having been historically constructed first by adoption agencies and now reproduced by overly sentimental media portrayals of adoptees. However, the recent work of Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) counters such accounts by employing art that unravels persistent untruths that adoptees are orphans, and she critically examines the colonial narratives around adoption. Her long-term project, "The Mother Mountain Institute," centers on the mothers who have been dehumanized and silenced by the lucrative transnational and transracial adoption industry. Sara Sejin Chang (Sara van der Heide) / Courtesy of POCStories Members of Galvestons chapter of the League on United Latin American Citizens gathered with other community members for a vigil along the Seawall in Galveston on Friday for the victims of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde that claimed the lives two teachers, 19 students and wounded 17 others. The event, organized by Galveston LULAC Council 151, included messages from local faith leaders, prayer and music. Stuart Villanueva Close Stuart Villanueva Photojournalist Stuart joined The Daily News in 2014. Follow Stuart Villanueva 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 Civilians walk amid destroyed buildings in Mariupol near the Illich Iron & Steel Works Metallurgical Plant in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine, May 27. AP-Yonhap Russia-backed separatists claimed they captured a railway hub in eastern Ukraine as Moscow's forces pushed to gain more ground Friday by pounding another Ukrainian-held area where authorities say 1,500 people have died since the war's start. With Russia's offensive in Ukraine's industrial Donbas region showing incremental progress, Ukrainian officials characterized the battle as grave and renewed their appeals for more sophisticated Western-supplied weaponry. Without that, the foreign minister warned, Ukrainian forces won't be able to stop Russia's advance in the east. Some European leaders sought dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin toward ending the war now in its 93rd day with global economic repercussions, while Britain's foreign minister worked to rally the West's continued support for Ukraine. ''There should be no talk of ceasefires, or appeasing Putin. We need to make sure that Ukraine wins. And that Russia withdraws and that we never see this type of Russian aggression again,'' U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said. But in Ukraine's east, Russia does have the upper hand. The fighting Friday focused on two key cities: Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk. They are the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, one of two provinces that make up Donbas and where Moscow-backed separatists have controlled some territory for eight years. ''Massive artillery shelling does not stop, day and night,'' Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk told The Associated Press. ''The city is being systematically destroyed 90% of the buildings in the city are damaged.'' At least 1,500 people have died in Sievierodonetsk because of the war since Russia invaded Ukraine, Feb. 24, he said. About 12,000 to 13,000 people remain in the city down from a pre-war population of about 100,000, he said. Those remaining are huddled in shelters, largely cut off from the rest of Ukraine. Volunteers hoped to evacuate about 100 people Friday from a smaller city just to Sievierodonetsk's south. It was a painstaking process: Many of the evacuees from Bakhmut were elderly or infirm and needed to be carried out of apartment buildings in soft stretchers and wheelchairs. Minibuses and vans zipped through the city, picking up dozens for the first leg of a long journey west by car or train. ''Bakhmut is a high-risk area right now,'' said Mark Poppert, an American volunteer working with British charity RefugEase. ''We're trying to get as many people out as we can.'' In Donetsk, the other Donbas province, the Russia-backed rebels said Friday they took over Lyman, a large railway hub north of two more key cities still under Ukrainian control. ''We lost Lyman,'' Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich acknowledged Thursday night. However, a Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesperson reported Friday that its soldiers countered Russian attempts to push them completely out of the city. RENO, Nev., May 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SYNLawn, the largest manufacturer and unrivaled innovator of artificial grass in North America, announced that SYNLawn Southern Nevada will now service both the Las Vegas and Reno areas. This expansion comes after years of success in the southern region in installing impressive synthetic grass projects. "For over a decade, SYNLawn has proudly serviced communities in Southern Nevada with the best quality artificial grass products and services," said George Neagle, executive vice president at SYNLawn. "When we had the opportunity to expand the Las Vegas region to include Reno, we jumped on the opportunity. Reno is an excellent location for our bio-based synthetic grass, which is made in the USA. " SYNLawn Southern Nevada has been dedicated to installing superior projects across the Las Vegas area, including completing projects for The City of Las Vegas, luxury casino courtyards, rooftops, playgrounds, and more. Projects completed in recent years include The Bellagio, Anthem Country Club, the Elysian at Tivoli, Golden Nugget Casino, Nevada State College, and more. The expansion gives SYNLawn Southern Nevada even more opportunities to complete impressive installations for residential, commercial, recreational projects, and more. "After years of successful installations in the Las Vegas area, we were excited for the opportunity to expand our reach to include Reno," said Ken Jackson, owner of SYNLawn Southern Nevada. "We are looking forward to servicing the area with premium SYNLawn synthetic grass." For more information about SYNLawn Reno, visit https://synlawnreno.com/ or call 877-369-8873. Product showroom tours are available at 5470 Kietzke Lane, Suite 300, Reno, NV 89511. ABOUT SYNLawn SYNLawn is the largest manufacturer and unrivaled innovator of artificial grass in North America and offers the Greenest Turf on Earth. As part of the Sport Group Holding family of companies, SYNLawn, along with sister surfacing brands - AstroTurf , Rekortan , APT and Laykold - delivers the best products available on the market. SYNLawn's product offerings also include Calico Greens, an upscale line of artificial wall displays. SYNLawn's turnkey network of over 100 distributors seamlessly combines environmental stewardship with industry-leading innovations. Manufactured in Dalton, GA, SYNLawn uses bio-based ingredients, such as soy and sugarcane, and consumer-conscious additives, such as antimicrobials, to meet customers' wide range of needs. With more than 200,000 residential and commercial installations, the company is raising the bar for global synthetic turf standards and transforming the idea of grass. We have a proprietary system with a large percentage of renewable content. From rooftops to road medians and rocket-launch viewing sites, SYNLawn has installed over 82 million square feet of U.S. soy-backed grass across 200,000 installations in the United States and 19 other countries since 2008. SYNLawn added more soy than ever to its products in 2021, which increased its use of U.S. soy by 10%. For more information, visit www.SYNLawn.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube. # # # Media Contact: Caitlyn Moser 614-506-5051 cmoser@syntheticturfresources.com Related Images Image 1: Icon SYNLawn Icon This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Falls Church, VA, May 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community Associations Institute (CAI), the international leading advocate for condominiums, homeowners associations, and housing cooperatives, applauds the Florida legislature for unanimously passing comprehensive and meaningful condominium safety measures to support the 9 million Floridians living and working in community associations. This week, the Senate voted 38-0, and the House voted 110-0, to support the legislation after a powerful and heartfelt standing ovation for state Rep. Daniel Perez (R-Miami-Dade County), the bills sponsor in the House. Governor DeSantis signed the bill last night. CAI representatives were in Tallahassee this week during the legislatures special session and were the only ones to speak on behalf of the new bill. The legislation includes a framework largely based on CAI public policy recommendations for: Building inspections as structures reach 30 years old and every 10 years thereafter. Mandatory reserve study and funding for structural integrity components (building, floors, windows, plumbing, electrical, etc.). Removal of opt-out funding of reserves for structural integrity components. Mandatory transparencyproviding all owners and residents access to building safety information. Clear developer requirements for building inspections, structural integrity reserve study, and funding requirements prior to transition to the residents. Engagement of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and local municipalities to track condominium buildings and the inspection reporting. Associations will have two years to comply with these requirements. Since the June 24, 2021, partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium Association in Surfside, where 98 people perished and many others lost their homes, CAI has been committed to creating solutions to make sure similar tragedies never happen again. Following the collapse, CAI members and volunteers worked closely with Florida Sens. Jason Pizzo (D-Miami-Dade County), Jennifer Bradley (R-Orange Park), and Rep. Daniel Perez to lead the efforts to pass this important legislation. We are very pleased that Florida policymakers passed this comprehensive legislation that will make certain that no matter where a condominium or cooperative is located in the state, they will be periodically inspected with information shared with unit owners, local building officials, and prospective buyers, says Dawn M. Bauman, CAE, CAIs senior vice president for government and public affairs. CAI will continue working with policymakers to support condominium communities as they navigate these new requirements. In addition, CAI will use the Florida legislation as model language for other states in the U.S. as they consider adopting similar measures. This week, Florida lawmakers made a remarkable step toward supporting the millions of Floridians who call a condominium home, says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAIs chief executive officer. After the Surfside tragedy, CAI vowed to lead the conversation and dedicate our industry knowledge and resources to lawmakers and policymakers with the goal of creating common sense legislation that would positively impact these communities. We commend the Florida legislature on their action to address condo safety, and we look forward to the work ahead. For more information, visit CAIs condo safety resources at www.condosafety.com. ### About Community Associations Institute Since 1973, Community Associations Institute (CAI) has been the leading provider of resources and information for homeowners, volunteer board leaders, professional managers, and business professionals in the more than 355,000 homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives in the United States and millions of communities worldwide. With more than 43,000 members, CAI works in partnership with 36 legislative action committees and 63 affiliated chapters within the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates as well as with housing leaders in several other countries, including Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. A global nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, CAI is the foremost authority in community association management, governance, education, and advocacy. Our mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership, and responsible citizenshipideals reflected in community associations that are preferred places to call home. Visit us at www.caionline.org, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @CAISocial. Brampton, Ontario, May 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeLabs recently hosted the grand opening of its newest Patient Service Centre at 8315 Financial Drive in Southwest Brampton. The Honourable Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, Progressive Conservative Candidate for Brampton South, joined LifeLabs to celebrate this important step to expanding access for diagnostic testing and bringing care closer to home in the growing community. The Patient Service Centre will build on our commitment to delivering high-quality, trusted community lab testing in Brampton and the Peel Region. With the opening of this new location, there are now eight Patient Service Centres across Brampton. We serve over 820 health care providers, supporting in total almost 750,000 patient visits annually in Brampton alone. Bramptons team of medical professionals have been essential to our fight against the pandemic and for better healthcare outcomes for our community, said Prabmeet Sarkaria, MPP candidate for Brampton South. LifeLabs has been a critical part of our healthcare infrastructure, and this new location opening will mean more access to testing, diagnostics, and care for Brampton families. This celebration is an exciting milestone for Brampton, Region of Peel and Ontario patients who rely on timely, accurate and accessible testing within their communities, said Erica Zarkovich, Senior Vice President, Government Markets at LifeLabs. The new Patient Service Centre in Brampton exemplifies LifeLabs commitment to expand services to meet the demand for health system delivery in Ontario. LifeLabs serves all corners of Ontario through our growing network of clinics and lab services delivering critical services to communities throughout the province. LifeLabs commitment to healthcare delivery extends beyond new Patient Service Centre locations. During the pandemic, LifeLabs established 28 assessment centres to provide expanded public sector COVID-19 testing capacity, which enabled hospitals to return focus on patient care. By keeping over 80% of collection sites open and 100% of testing facilities operational, LifeLabs was also able to maintain province-wide access to laboratory services, despite the challenges faced by COVID. To book an appointment or to learn more about our Patient Service Centres in your community please, visit www.locations.lifelabs.com/locationfinder. About LifeLabs LifeLabs is Canadas leader in laboratory diagnostic information and health connectivity solutions, leveraging innovative and personalized digital tools that empower customers to live their best life. Our dedicated and talented team of 6,000 employees supports 20 million lab visits and conducts over 100 million laboratory tests annually. LifeLabs is 100% Canadian owned by OMERS Infrastructure, the infrastructure investment manager of one of Canadas largest defined benefit pension plans. Learn more at www.lifelabs.com Attachments SAN DIEGO, May 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder Rights Law Firm Johnson Fistel, LLP, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC). Specifically, Johnson Fistel's investigation seeks to determine whether the Company issued false or misleading statements or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. What is Johnson Fistel investigating? On April 27, 2022, Teladoc reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Additionally, Teladoc lowered revenue guidance for the balance of the year. The Company had previously had told the market at their analyst day that in November 2021 that its revenues would grow by 28% year over year in 2022. Then, in February 2022, Teladoc again revised guidance upwards. Following this news, shares of Teladoc fell sharply. What actions may I take at this time? If you purchased Teledoc securities and suffered significant losses on your investment, contact Johnson Fistel, LLP to submit your losses: Contact Lead Securities Analyst Jim Baker at jimb@johnsonfistel.com or (619) 814-4471 Click or paste the following web address into your browser to join the investigation: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/tdoc-alert-did-you-lose-money-on-your-teladoc-investment For more information, visit our website at https://www.johnsonfistel.com/faq There is no cost or obligation to you. What if I have information relevant to the investigation? Individuals with nonpublic information regarding Teledoc should consider whether to assist our investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the SEC program, whistleblowers who provide original information may, under certain circumstances, receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, contact Jim Baker at (619) 814-4471 or jimb@johnsonfistel.com . About Johnson Fistel, LLP: Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. Johnson Fistel seeks to recover losses incurred due to violations of federal securities laws. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RAYL Innovations Inc. ("RAYL" or the "Company"), provides an update on the Companys planned Initial Public Offering (the "IPO"); and announces changes to management team and Board of Directors. IPO Planning Upon completion of materially all broker due diligence mid-December 2021, the Company and its broker determined that equity markets were not conducive to a FinTech IPO due to a sharp decline in capital markets (see Figures 1 and 2 below). Subsequent to December 2021 the markets have continued to decline, and while the Company desires a public listing of its securities, investor support for growth stage companies is limited. At the point where capital markets are conducive to new IPOs the company will reengage with its Broker and reinitiate the IPO process. Figure 1 and 2: As at May 19, 2022 Figure 1 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0866d187-f8a7-4de4-aa7a-64b979ccfcd4 Figure 2 is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1f0c018-3161-4174-bc71-4ba34d5e2650 Nicholas Jeffery, the Companys CEO and Director commented: The FinTech market, and broader stock markets globally, are riding a tumultuous downtrend causing most IPOs and equity offerings to be postponed. Weve been listening to commentary that benchmark stocks in our sector have had more than 50% of their market capitalization (market cap) wiped out, while small cap technology issuers, have in many cases, lost more than 70 80% of their respective market caps. As weve all experienced on a personal level, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and ongoing supply chain issues have further exacerbated the problem. For RAYL, we have kept our head down, focused on the product development cycle and feel that our multi-pronged strategy has been validated not only by McKinsey & Companys publication of Global Payments 2021: Transformation Amid Turbulent Undercurrents, but also by the market-leading player, Block. On March 19, 2022, Block held their first Investor Day since 2017 with Jack Dorsey, Blocks CEO, outlining their companys future, stating we are no longer just a payments company. Interesting to note we knew from the outset that payments only was the wrong strategy. Against some initial doubts, RAYL did get it right two years ago - our interconnected portfolio strategy adds real actionable insights for the merchant and SME businesses through RAYL.Apptive and being able to integrate RAYL.Pay (our merchant payment platform) shortly, the value will only increase. So RAYL is on plan to deliver the product, and we will be issuing further updates on RAYL.Pay in the coming weeks. As for the IPO, honestly, I am pleased we decided to delay the process given global dynamics and FinTech market conditions. This might have been a very different communication if we had progressed with the IPO without due consideration Q4-2021. On a separate note, hopefully most of you have seen the new website (www.rayl.com), which has been injected with new content, dramatically improving the customer journey from initial interest to sign-up for all parts of our Web3.0 upgrade. For ongoing updates on the Companys activities, the following links will be useful: RAYL Innovations News RAYL Innovations SEDAR Profile If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me, I am delighted to take your calls and share your thoughts and ideas. My contact details are noted below: njeffery@rayl.com +36204263179 (Direct) I would love to hear from you; if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. I am excited to say you will continue to receive exciting corporate and product announcements regularly. We truly thank you for your continued support of RAYLs vision to forever change the merchant payment market. Leadership Changes Pursuant to the IPO delay noted above, the Company has reduced overhead costs significantly, focusing budget on continued IT development and RAYL.Apptive sales strategy implementation. As a result, the Company has on-shored the IT leadership to Canada, and Mr. Nicholas Jeffery and Mr. Jeremy Wright will continue as the sole remaining Directors and Officers of the Company. When the Company reinitiates the IPO process, the resigned Directors have expressed interest to be reappointed as Directors. About RAYL Innovations Inc. RAYL Innovations Inc. (RAYL) is a Canadian, Vancouver-based, FinTech company founded in 2020, offering business application solutions for SME business owners and merchants through RAYL.Apptive and RAYL.ApptivePro; and will be positioned in the short-term to provide integrated payment processing and other financial solutions. While our direct competitors only offer payment services, RAYL has the potential to add tremendous value to businesses by integrating key business solutions, financial services, and data analytics, with a unique pricing strategy all on one integrated and interoperable platform. For further information on the Company, its management team, RAYL.Apptive and ApptivePro, and our plans for RAYL.Pay, and RAYL.Financial, please visit our website at www.rayl.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jeremy Wright, CPA, CMA Director & CFO For Further Information Contact: Jeremy Wright, CPA, CMA, Director (604)837-7990 jwright@rayl.com Unless otherwise denoted, all currencies in Canadian Dollars. This news release may contain 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", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information concerning RAYL Innovations Inc. (the Company); and includes its wholly owned subsidiaries; RAYL Business Solutions Inc., and Post Socratic Ventures Inc. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the success of new product development, the Companys ability to integrate acquired businesses and complete strategic acquisitions of additional business and other factors that affect demand for the Companys products. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Companys actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to expenditures and other factors that affect demand for the Companys products, industry competition, the need to effectively integrate acquired businesses, uncertainties as to the Companys ability to implement its business strategy effectively in Canada and the United States, labor, equipment and material costs, access to capital markets, interest and currency exchange rates, technological developments, political and economic conditions and the Companys ability to attract and retain key personnel. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Lewis Hamilton will start from P8 for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Briton doesn't think he could have set a better lap, so the driver is hoping Sunday's weather can help him get through the field. Like the rest of the field, Hamilton was also hampered by the red flag after Sergio Perez's crash. However, the seven-time world champion does not think he could have improved his time. "The red flags cost me my last lap, but I don't think it would have ended differently. In hindsight, I started my first lap in the wrong engine mode, but Monaco is just like that and it was an unfortunate session," he told Mercedes' press release. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton was still praising his W13, but in Monaco, the team seems to be underperforming again. "The car feels very poor and we have to take big risks to get close to the times of the cars in front of us. Even with a perfect lap, I think we would still be six tenths behind, which is quite a gap," continued the seven-time world champion. Rain could provide opportunities Rain is predicted for Sunday's race, which could provide opportunities. In Monaco, overtaking is already difficult, but with the rain, safety cars and red flags could play a role. "Now we have to wait and see what the weather does on Sunday and try to make some progress," he said. NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) The growing offshore wind industry is often touted as a boon for job creation, but who will do the work? The U.S. energy secretary and Danish wind developer Orsted say they want American union workers to build offshore wind farms to dot the U.S. coastlines the building trades workers who could otherwise be left out of a transition to renewable resources. A majority of onshore wind and solar farms have been built either with non-union workers or without collective bargaining agreements, except for in California where unions are more involved in the industry, according to North Americas Building Trades Unions. Orsted signed a project labor agreement this month with the national union representing 3 million people in the building trades to construct the companys U.S. offshore wind farms with an American union workforce. Our recent experience in the last two decades with onshore wind and solar has been that the majority of those projects are not built with us, NABTU Secretary-Treasurer Brent Booker said this week. So this is groundbreaking in setting the standard for an emerging industry here. The Biden administration wants to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, generating enough electricity to power more than 10 million homes. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm visited the New London State Pier facility last week to see how Orsted, energy provider Eversource and the state of Connecticut are transforming it into a hub for the offshore wind industry. At a press conference after, the Democratic governor and Democratic congressmen spoke about creating American jobs messaging that will surely play into their reelection campaigns. Gov. Ned Lamont said there are hundreds of good paying jobs right here and we're just getting started. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal thanked the unions, saying this is the future of energy in the United States of America right here. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney said they're maximizing every opportunity for the state to grow in a sustainable way. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, the only one not up for reelection, echoed the same message, saying offshore wind is the holy grail of public policy because it creates jobs, helps the local economy, makes the country more secure and helps save the planet. Flanked by building trades members, Granholm said the administration is committed to creating union jobs in America in this clean energy economy. She said she wants predominantly American union workers to build U.S. offshore wind farms and would like to see project labor agreements in all aspects of the energy transition, drawing cheers from workers at the pier. Thats what wed like, all union, she told The Associated Press. Allison Ziogas, Orsted's U.S. labor relations manager, said one of the reasons they sought the agreement with NABTU was to assure workers, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, that they can have good-paying jobs in offshore wind. There is not the same level or quality of jobs with the solar industry, so its kind of created a false narrative that you can have good jobs or a healthy climate but not both, she said. And we really recognized that if we didn't have everyone on board, we knew how things would wind up. It would wind up in gridlock. Orsted currently has six projects in five states. The National Offshore Wind Agreement covers contractors working on those projects and future ones, with no termination date on the project labor agreement. It sets the terms and conditions for union workers to build offshore wind farms, with targets to ensure a diverse workforce. It contains provisions for training to ensure they can construct the complex infrastructure. Ziogas said nearly all of the total work hours on each project will be done with union labor, with a team from abroad with experience installing turbines supporting the offshore work. She said Orsted is committed to creating an American industry, and hopes the agreement sets the bar for it. Keith Brothers, head of the building trades in Connecticut, said he briefly spoke with Granholm at the pier about the project labor agreement. Brothers said it's about creating opportunities, not only for a longtime tradesman but also for a new apprentice looking for a career in the emerging U.S. offshore wind industry. Thats whats exciting about it, its new. We really dont know what its going to bring or how many jobs. But we know its a lot, he said. We know its new and theres a lot coming. The first U.S. offshore wind farm began operating off Block Island, Rhode Island, in late 2016. Orsted acquired the developer and now operates that five-turbine wind farm. The first commercial-scale project is off the coast of Massachusetts. The Biden administration has also approved the construction and operations for South Fork Wind, a joint venture between Orsted and Eversource. Its transmission system will connect to the electric grid on Long Island, New York, making it the states first offshore wind farm and jumpstarting the offshore wind industry there. The onshore construction started in February. UNITED NATIONS (AP) China and Russia blocked the U.N. Security Council from issuing a statement Friday expressing concern at the violence and serious humanitarian situation in Myanmar and the limited progress on implementing a regional plan to restore peace to the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation, diplomats said Friday evening. The council was briefed virtually behind closed doors Friday afternoon by Cambodias Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the special envoy for Myanmar for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and U.N. envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer on efforts to resolve the crisis in the country since the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup. When the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, it claimed with scant evidence that the general election her party won in November 2020 in a landslide was marred by widespread fraud. The coup almost immediately sparked widespread street protests that security forces tried to crush, and continuing widespread resistance to the armys takeover has resulted in what some U.N. experts have characterized as a civil war that is challenging the militarys ability to govern. The proposed British-drafted press statement, obtained by The Associated Press, stressed the central role of ASEAN in facilitating a peaceful solution to the crisis and reiterated council members calls to pursue dialogue with all parties concerned in the interests of the people of Myanmar. However, they expressed concern at the limited progress against the Five Point Consensus over a year since it was agreed, and called for concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the consensus, the proposed statement said. Council diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were private, said China and Russia objected to parts of the text. Chinas U.N. Mission said it proposed slow progress rather than limited progress on the Five Point Consensus, saying in a statement that this wording is factual but less condescending. China said it also offered other formulations that werent accepted, and the penholder -- Britain -- simply gave up negotiating, which it called very unfortunate, saying there was only a slight difference that was not impossible to overcome. The 10-nation ASEAN group issued the Five Point Consensus on Myanmars crisis in late April 2021. It called for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation of the dialogue process by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, but has not been willing to implement the plan. Violence continues, there has been no dialogue with the opposition, and while Cambodias Sokhonn visited Myanmar in March he did not meet Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and faces more charges that her supporters and human rights groups say are an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys seizure of power. ASEAN officials met in Cambodias capital, Phnom Penh, earlier this month in a new effort to organize humanitarian assistance for Myanmar, a goal that critics feel falls short of addressing the causes of the crisis in the military-run nation. The proposed Security Council statement would have underlined the important role of U.N. envoy Heyzer and encouraged close coordination with ASEANs envoy. In the blocked statement, the Security Council would also have reiterated the need to address the root causes of the crisis in Myanmars northern Rakhine state and create conditions for the return of Rohingya refugees. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, when the military launched an operation aimed at clearing them from the country following attacks by a rebel group. Pulitzer-winning multimedia journalist Manny Crisostomo chronicles the journeys of the CHamoru diaspora in "Manaotao Sanlagu," an ongoing visual documentary featured weekly in the Pacific Daily News. PRIVATE SCHOOLS Guahan Academy Charter School May and June schedule: Tuesday: Last day of classes. Wednesday: Teacher work day. June 10: Class of 2022 graduation ceremony 10 a.m. at RIHGA Royal Laguna Guam Resort. June 13-July 22: Summer school. Registration forms are due June 3. PUBLIC SCHOOLS Faneyakan Sinipok program The CHamoru Immersion Program is open to all kindergarten students who are living in Guam and will be 5 years old by July 31, 2022. The program will be held from 8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. at P.C. Lujan Elementary School. Students must be enrolled for face-to-face learning and transportation must be provided by the parent or guardian. To apply, families can fill out an application and provide all necessary documents at rb.gy/8uubxk, followed by an interview. Families will need to commit to the following: Active participation in the program. Parents and family members must take CHamoru immersion classes. Provide eight hours of in-kind service to the program per month. For more information, contact the GDOE CHamoru Studies division at 671-300-2498 or 671-300-1367 or email jsteria@gdoe.net. COLLEGES Guam Community College Guam Community College is seeking a mascot design that will be used to define the colleges brand. GCC students, former students, alumni who attended GCC for at least 1 year and employees can join the contest. Submissions will be accepted until June 24, 2022. Multiple designs are accepted if submitted individually. Designs must be submitted at guamcc.edu/gccmascot. The winner will receive $500 and an official print of the GCC mascot. For more information, contact gcc.mascot@guamcc.edu or visit www.guamcc.edu/gccmascot. SCHOLARSHIPS STEM Education Scholarship Program The National Lieutenant Governors Association and the ACT is hosting a STEM Scholarship Program that awards up to $1,000 to 12 schools nationally to support STEM-related activities. Public, private and tribal schools in the 50 states and five U.S. territories can submit an application at nlga.awardsplatform.com until May 31. Awardees will be announced and funded in summer 2022. For more information go to nlga.us/strategies/nlga-state-strategies-in-stem/. WORKSHOPS Place-based Environmental Education workshop The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Center for Learning with Nature and other partners are hosting a Fanihi & Friends: Place-based Environmental Education workshop for upper elementary to secondary science teachers from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on June 29-July 2. Participants will have the opportunity to: Learn new ways and tools to connect Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math subjects to Guams natural environment. Attend formal instructional days and two field visits to explore place-based learning opportunities on Guam. Network with other educators to grow STEAM education among students. Register for one graduate credit at a fee of $20. For more information or to register, contact Marybelle Quinata at 671-355-5096 or email marybelle_quinata@fws.gov. Unless more apartments are built on island in the next two years, housing experts are expecting another spike in rental prices when the construction of Camp Blaz is completed. Siska Hutapea, president of Cornerstone Valuation Guam, said if the supply of rental units in the market remains the same as it is now, but theres a higher demand from people with an overseas housing allowance, prices will go up. Anyone not living on base will end up in the pool of people looking for somewhere off base. If the housing shortage continues that will impact people looking for places to live even more since the rental market has gotten so competitive, said Francis Guerrero, a realtor with RE/MAX Diamond Realty. Renters on Guam have seen a spike in prices over the past two years, but that has mostly been a result of higher prices for construction and maintenance materials. Construction resources have mainly been diverted to Camp Blaz, making it harder to build more rental units. About 5,000 Marines will be transferred to Camp Blaz from Okinawa, Japan, with the first large group expected to arrive on island in 2025. The current plan for Camp Blaz, according to information from Joint Region Marianas, is to have all single and accompanied rank E-5 personnel and below live on base. Unaccompanied personnel rank E-6 and above will live on base on a space available basis, with the remainder living off base. While Guerrero and Hutapea have heard that a large number of single and family units are going to be built on base, there will still be those renting in Guams housing market. The overseas housing allowance, given to active duty military personnel monthly to pay for rent off base, remains a factor in high rent prices for local residents but is not the driving force behind skyrocketing prices in the last several years, according to Hutapea. It is a factor but its not the only sole factor in the cost of rent increase. The main cause is the increase in construction costs. When people acquire a property, either to build or to renovate, it now costs more, so to make the investment make sense the rent has to be increased, said Hutapea. She said the overseas housing allowance was a leading cause of rental price increases when it was raised above the market price 10 years ago. The military housing allowance can vary based on rank, but the starting rate for a single military person is $2,205 a month. Someone who is married or has children starts at $2,450. The starting rates are consistent across the branches of military. According to data provided by Joint Region Marianas as of April there are more than 8,700 active duty service members with approximately 11,000 family members currently stationed on Guam. Military members spend roughly $110 million per year in rental payments to Guam landlords, and others choose to purchase homes to be part of the community said Catherine Cruz Norton acting public affairs officer for Joint Region Marianas. The military population has grown by roughly 1,000 military personnel over the past eight years because of emerging homeland defense requirements as well as additional U.S. Navy submarines and U.S. Coast Guard cutters. Recent issue Guerrero said that while the increase in the overseas housing allowance had a greater effect a decade ago, renovation and repairs to older units to stay up to date with building and safety codes to rent is the recent issue. Landlords are raising rent to keep up with the renovations, which are more expensive because of the increase in the cost of construction he said. The high cost to build has also led to few new units being built. More people are looking for units, but the number of rentals in the market remains the same. We have a Marine Corps base that is being built for about $8.6 billion and that takes up all of the capacity of construction companies, said Hutapea. Landlords continue to prefer renting to military personnel, said Guerrero, because despite the increase in renovation costs, the rent each month is guaranteed and the landlord can go to the housing office at Naval Base Guam or Andersen Air Force Base if there is a problem. The Section 8 housing program is also close to the level of the military housing allowance, so landlords are starting to accept more tenets from that program also. Payment is ensured through federal funds, said Hutapea. As graduation season for Guam Department of Education public schools draws near, fewer students are expected to graduate than in previous years, according to Guam DOE Deputy Superintendent Joe Sanchez. It tends to fluctuate so we dont know yet this year around until the schools turn in their final numbers of graduates. But we are projecting smaller numbers than previous years, he said. That had to do with the increase in the number of Eskuelan Puengi students and the increased number of summer school students who have been identified as one or two years behind the schedule. During the course of the pandemic, the education department fluctuated between different modes of learning, while juggling teachers shortages during the omicron breakout in January. As a result, learning loss became one of the biggest side effects and issues the department is currently addressing, according to Sanchez. Schools have really done a lot to try to get these students to attend the after-school and the summer school program. We also offer credit recovery courses through Asmuyao Community School if they need to make up credits, but unfortunately, we still suspect that there are going to be a number of students that just didnt catch up, Sanchez said. If youre missing five, six credits which is an entire year itll take you a little bit more time to catch up. Sanchez said despite the assistance and tools that the education department tried to provide, there were a number of issues outside of the agencys control that made it difficult for some students to maintain their studies. Youre looking at students who, unfortunately, even when laptops and internet connectivity are provided, there had to be different levels of engagement from different groups of students, Sanchez said. Sometimes its motivation, access, transportation or sometimes its just whatever their social circumstances are that make it difficult for them to engage with the school on a regular basis. Its just not that simple. However, even with a decreased number of graduates and a high number of summer school attendance, Sanchez is optimistic that students will eventually be able to catch up. Teachers have reported to Sanchez that with the full return of face-to-face instruction, student grades have continuously improved. Attendance is a huge factor in that when students come to school on a consistent basis, their teachers are able to see that progress that they are making, even if theyre really far behind the challenges come, Sanchez explained. The key is being able to identify what prerequisite skills, what are the skills or pieces of knowledge that they may be missing from last year that are necessary now and balance that throughout the school year. The Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay celebrated their collaboration to expand one of Tumons popular areas. The organizations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate their completed joint sidewalk project at Ypao Beach Park. The project started with both organizations signing the Adopt-A-Park (Ponding Basin) Joint Agreement with the Department of Parks and Recreation in May 2021. The Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise acted on their mission statement to support the environment as it made long-term plans and improvements to the southwest corner entrance of the park. Members of both organizations spent weekends weeding, bush cutting, trimming and clearing debris around the park, under the islands heat to clear the path for the construction of the parks sidewalks extension. The efforts to clear the existing sidewalk started summer of last year. The project was funded by both organizations with each contributing $10K to construct the sidewalks extension. Other projects Future improvements would include introducing berms and coral boulders around the entrance of Ypao Beach Park. Similar to the parks sidewalk extension, further projects will involve coordination between the Department of Park and Recreation and the Guam Visitors Bureau. Today Brand Africa unveiled the 12th annual Brand Africa 100: Africas Best Brands 2022 rankings of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa at a live event hosted by Brand Africa, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Nigeria. Against a backdrop of internal focus as a consequence of an urgent rebuilding of economies devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the acceleration of AfCFTAs goal of driving greater intra-African trade, after a 5-year decline, African brands have surged 4% to 17% from an all-time low of 13% in 2020 and 2021 in the 2022 Brand Africa 100 | Africas Best Brands survey and ranking of the best brand in Africa. Challenger brands such as South Africas lifestyle footwear brands, Bathu (#52) and Drip (#65), despite being primarily available in South African but accessible everywhere through e-commerce, massive growth in retail footprint in the middle of the pandemic and unmatched marketing and PR dollars, rocketed into the Top 100 as 17 brands exited, and heralded a notable return of African brands which once dominated the rankings as high as 34% when the rankings started in 2011. MTN, the perennially leading African brand has returned to the Top 10 as the highest ranking African brand and switched places with Dangote as the #1 African brand recalled when prompted to consolidate its status as the #1 African brand. Dangote, the pre-eminent African brand founded in 1981 by Nigerian Aliko Dangote, emerged as the #1 brand that symbolises African pride in a question where Brand Africa sought to establish which brand in Africa is a flag carrier and embodiment of rising optimism and pride in Africa. South Africa, led by MTN, leads the African list, with Nigeria, led by Dangote, the overall #1 brand, at 28%, and Kenya with flag carrier, Kenya Airways, at 8% and Ethiopia, with its flag carrier brand, Ethiopian Airline at 4%. Non-African brands, led by overall pace-setter Nike for the 5th consecutive year, continue to dominate with a share of 83% of the most admired brands in Africa. In a separate list of the Top 25 most admired financial services brands, African brands dominate with 68% of the share to 32% for non-African brands. DStv, through its brands across the continent, has consolidated its position as the #1 African media brand for the second year running, in a category that is fast going digital and mobile. Recognising that while the rebound in African brands is notable, the results will not be sustainable without committed and inspirational leadership, in 2022, Brand Africa recognised those leaders who are the catalyst for growth for Made in Africa brands both in corporate and in those who have championed and supported the development of great local brands in supporting industries. GT Banks Group CEO, Segun Agbaje and Nigerian doyenne of marketing, founder and chairman of Troyka Group were awarded the inaugural Africa Brand Leadership Excellence awards for inspiring brand-led excellence that drives the growth of made in Africa brands. As we emerge out of the pandemic and Africa seeks to assert itself, the results are very inspiring and bode well of an African renaissance led by competitive world class African brands, says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership. With increased number of countries and greater sample size this year, more than ever, and especially so during the pandemic, mobile proved to be the effective tool for us to reach and access respondents across the continent, said , Bernard Okasi, Director of Research, GeoPoll, which has been the lead data collection partner since 2015. Karin Du Chenne, Chief Growth Officer Africa Middle East for Kantar, which has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010 says, despite volumes of brands analysed as a results of increased sample size in terms of respondents and countries, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of brands and trends that are transforming the continent. Now in its 12th year, every year on or around Africa Day, 25 May, Brand Africa releases the results of the survey on the most admired brands in Africa based on a survey across 29 countries that represent as much as 85% of the continents GDP and population. The 2022 survey was conducted between March and April 2022 and yielded over 80,000 brand mentions and over 3,500 unique brands. The Brand Africa 100 results will be published in the June issue African Business magazine which on sale globally in June 2022 and will be available online to subscribers on www.africanbusinessmagazine.com. The 2022 Brand Africa 100: Africas Best Brands were organised by Brand Africa partners in Nigeria, AT3 Resources and Open Squares Africa, and supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria, South African Tourism and NQR, Africa Media Agency and BCW Africa. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Haiti - News : Zapping... PM Ariel Henry spoke with Carlos Felipe Jaramillo This week the Head of Government Ariel Henry met with the Vice President of the World Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo. The discussions focused on the technical and financial partnership, and the financing of the Government's development projects, in particular the Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment Plan for the Southern Peninsula (PDNA). Two suspected bandits arrested and a firearm seized Two alleged bandits were fatally injured in exchanges of fire with the Police, yesterday Friday May 27, 2022 and a pistol was also confiscated. These two thugs were trying to hijack a truck on National #1 at Canaan. The Police decreed the permanence at the level of this section in order to defeat the bandits who attack, hijack or loot, all day long, the trucks transporting goods. Civil prison in Les Cayes, the situation is worrying The situation of the civil prison in Les Cayes is particularly worrying. Affected like all the zone of the great South by the earthquake of August and its humanitarian consequences, partially destroyed following a fire, it aligns "like sardines in boxes" 733 detainees, mixing men and women, adults and children, sick and healthy, with a constant lack of food and hygiene products. Since the closure of the Coteaux prison, the prison has concentrated inmates from the south coast, and has posted scandalous rates of "prolonged" preventive detention. Closure of the Embassy in Washington D.C. The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington D.C. announces that it will close its doors on May 30, 2022, on the occasion of the federal holiday "Memorial Day", the regular activities of the Embassy will resume on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Taiwan Donation for Women On the eve of Mother's Day, Wen-jiann KU, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Haiti presented, on behalf of SimplyHelp, a batch of materials consisting of shoes, clothes, kits sanitary facilities etc... to the Director of Cabinet Joseph Domingue ORGELLA, representative of the Minister of the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, for the benefit of women and their families. This testifies to the excellent relationship of solidarity between the two peoples. HL/ HaitiLibre As Covid cases rise, Health Department urges residents to be prepared As Covid-19 trends increase again its important to be prepared by knowing available testing options and staying up to date with vaccinations. Henderson County has seen an uptick in Covid-19 cases. Currently, there are about 30 positive cases per 100,000 residents in Henderson County compared to 10 per 100,000 people a month ago. Hospitalizations too have ticked up in North Carolina. Henderson County and much of North Carolina are still considered low risk in the CDCs Community Risk Levels Map. But other parts of the country, such as the Northeastern United States, are listed as high-impact areas. Waves of Covid-19 will continue and while metrics are currently increasing, the rates are not as steep as they have been in the past. Like preparing for inclement weather, its important to be prepared for when these waves come, by, notably, having Covid-19 at-home tests on hand or knowing where to get tested when needed. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services offers some options to seek testing: Order free at-home tests through the U.S. Postal Service The federal government recently made a third round of at-home tests available by mail atwww.COVIDtests.gov. Every U.S. household is eligible for up to three orders of four free at-home tests (eight tests total). No ID, credit card or health insurance is required. Tests typically ship within 7-12 days of order through the Postal Service. Buy tests online or at a local pharmacy using health insurance Rapid at-home tests are available to buy at online and local pharmacies. Check beforehand for availability. Most health plans allow for up to eight at-home tests per month per person, according to NCDHHS. The test will either be free at the time of sale or reimbursed through your insurance. If paid upfront, be sure to keep the receipt and submit a claim. North Carolina Medicaid program guidelines allow individuals to get free at-home COVID rapid tests at no cost, according to NCDHHS. Beneficiaries can select at-home tests at their preferred pharmacy and show their NC Medicaid ID card for no out-of-pocket cost. The pharmacist will bill Medicaid on the patients behalf. Currently, original Medicare does not pay for at-home tests for individuals purchases. However, Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage and payment for at-home Covid-19 tests. NCDHHS recommends consumers covered by Medicare Advantage to check their plan. Request a home PCR collection kit from Labcorp OnDemand NCDHHS has partnered with NC-based Labcorp to provide no-cost, at-home Covid-19 collection kits. Unlike a rapid test, collected samples must be mailed back to a lab for results. Results are typically available 1-2 days after the sample arrives at the lab. Request a kit atwww.ondemand.labcorp.com/nc. Go to a testing site Local pharmacies, urgent cares and other sites are still offering testing at their locations. Some locations may charge a fee. To find locations, visit www.covid19.ncdhhs.gov/FindTests. Stay up to date with vaccinations Vaccines remain the best tool against severe illness, death as well as long-term impacts of Covid-19. Everyone should stay up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters, including children as Covid-19 boosters are now available for ages 5-11. Find a vaccine location at www.vaccines.gov. Remember to stay up to date on vaccinations, test and stay home when feeling sick and seek treatment options when needed. A TELEVISION presenter visited a dog care centre in Sonning Common as a surprise for the owner, writes Marianna Casal. Graeme Hall, of Channel 5s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, went to Charlies Dog Place in Kennylands Road, which is named after owner Toni Ilsleys 13-year-son, who died of cancer in December 2020. The visit was organised by Mike Woods, 76, who has been a customer of the business since it opened last year. Mrs Ilsley already owned Charlies Place at the familys home in Buckingham Drive, Emmer Green, when she took over the former Doggy Dips in Kidbys Yard. Mr Hall said: I heard about Charlies story and I just wanted to help out because Im in a position these days where I can just come and say hi to somebody and have a few pictures taken and help them out so why not? Its really nice that I can make peoples day by just being me what a privilege. Its a great set-up here its well organised, the dogs seem lovely and Toni has really thrown herself into it and done everything right. What a great place. Mrs Ilsley said Charlie would have loved to have met the TV personality. Hes a really lovely man, she said. He made my day. This is one of the loveliest things thats happened since weve been here. Mr Woods, who has lived in Sonning Common for 54 years, contacted Mr Halls secretary to see if he would visit as a surprise for Mrs Ilsley. He said: She really deserves it. Its fantastic here. One happy dog comes home every night and everyone who works here is so lovely. The business offers day care, dog walking and overnight stays and accommodates dogs with different needs. Mrs Ilsley gives work experience to students and young people with learning disabilities. Charlie, a pupil at Highdown School in Emmer Green, had fought cancer since 2015 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was twice given the all-clear after treatment. He had two dogs, Ernie, a shih tzu bichon frise cross, and Eric, a lhasa apso. While he was in Mexico for treatment in the week before he died, he and his family stayed at a ranch that had rescued a dog and Charlie told his family that he wanted to work with dogs when he was older. Mrs Ilsley left her job at Prospect Park Hospital in Tilehurst to run both dog centres full time. She is a qualified dog trainer and is now taking an online degree course in dog behaviour. For more information, visit charliesdogplace.co.uk More China-donated COVID-19 vaccine syringes arrive in Myanmar Xinhua) 16:00, May 28, 2022 YANGON, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A new batch of 5.42 million China-donated COVID-19 vaccine syringes arrived in Myanmar's Yangon on Saturday, said a statement from the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar. China's latest donation of 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and 13 million COVID-19 vaccine syringes to Myanmar have arrived in Yangon in separate batches, the embassy said. Of them, the final batch of 5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses will arrive in Yangon on May 29, the embassy's statement said. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) : GBMend (), : Military : : BBS (Fri May 27 17:27:42 2022, ) CHINA-RELATED CASES EXAMPLES November 5, 2021 Jury Convicts Chinese Intelligence Officer of Espionage Crimes, Attempting to Steal Trade Secrets A federal jury today convicted Yanjun Xu, a Chinese national and Deputy Division Director of the Sixth Bureau of the Jiangsu Province Ministry of State Security, of conspiring to and attempting to commit economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The defendant is the first Chinese intelligence officer to be extradited to the United States to stand trial. September 24, 2021 Huawei CFO Wanzhou Meng Admits to Misleading Global Financial Institution The Chief Financial Officer of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Wanzhou Meng, 49, of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), appeared in federal district court in Brooklyn, to enter into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) and was arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and wire fraud. July 19, 2021 Four Chinese Nationals Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including Infectious Disease Research The Department unsealed an indictment which charged four PRC nationals, three of whom were officers in the PRCs Ministry of State Security (MSS), with participating in a wide-ranging global computer intrusion campaign targeting infectious disease research, among other things. The unsealing was followed by a global condemnation of malicious PRC cyber activities by the European Union and other countries. May 14, 2021 University Researcher Sentenced to Prison for Lying on Grant Applications to Develop Scientific Expertise for China Following his November 2020 guilty plea, an Ohio man and rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China was sentenced to 37 months in prison for making false statements to federal authorities as part of an immunology research fraud scheme. As part of his sentence, Zheng was also ordered to pay more than $3.4 million in restitution to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and approximately $413,000 to The Ohio State University. April 28, 2021 Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Exports to Northwestern Polytechnical University A Chinese national pleaded guilty to charges in connection with causing the illegal export of $100,000 worth of U.S. origin goods to Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), a Chinese military university that is heavily involved in military research. He was sentenced on Sept. 9 to two years in prison. April 22, 2021 Ph.D. Chemist Convicted of Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets, Economic Espionage, Theft of Trade Secrets and Wire Fraud Following her February 2019 indictment and a twelve-day trial, Dr. Xiaorong You, aka Shannon You, 59, of Lansing, Michigan, was convicted of conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, conspiracy to commit economic espionage, possession of stolen trade secrets, economic espionage, and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced in April 2022. April 21, 2021 Mathematics Professor and University Researcher Indicted for Grant Fraud A federal grand jury in Carbondale, Ill. returned an indictment charging a mathematics professor and researcher at Southern Illinois University C Carbondale (SIUC) with two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement. A status report is due to the court by March 29, 2022. April 20, 2021 Hospital Researcher Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Steal Trade Secrets and Sell to China Following his December 2020 guilty plea, an Ohio man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiring to steal exosome-related trade secrets concerning the research, identification and treatment of a range of pediatric medical conditions. April 13, 2021 Justice Department Announces Court-Authorized Effort to Disrupt Exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server Vulnerabilities The Department announced it had conducted a court-authorized operation to remove malicious web shells from hundreds of vulnerable computers in the United States running on-premises versions of MS Exchange software. These web shells had been placed on victim servers by cyber actors employed by or associated with the PRC government, which could have used the web shells to maintain and escalate persistent, unauthorized access to U.S. networks. March 5, 2021 California Man Sentenced for Illegally Exporting Cesium Atomic Clocks to Hong Kong A California man was sentenced in federal court for illegally exporting cesium atomic clocks to Hong Kong. A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced the individual to time served and three years of supervised release. February 26, 2021 Chinese Businessman Charged With Conspiring To Steal Trade Secrets A Chinese businessman was indicted for conspiring to steal General Electric s (GE) trade secrets involving the companys silicon carbide MOSFET technology worth millions of dollars. February 3, 2021 Former University of Florida Researcher Indicted for Scheme to Defraud National Institutes of Health and University of Florida A former University of Florida (UF) professor, researcher and resident of China has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining $1.75 million in federal grant money from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The former UF professor is accused of concealing support he received from the Chinese government and a company that he founded in China to profit from that research. Yang traveled to China in August of 2019 and has yet to return to the United States. February 1, 2021 Hospital Researcher Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Steal Trade Secrets, Sell Them in China A former hospital researcher, Li Chen, was sentenced to 30 months in prison following her July 2020 guilty plea, for conspiring to steal American research concerning the identification and treatment of a range of pediatric medical conditions. The convicted received benefits from the Chinese government in exchange for trade secrets, and will forfeit approximately $1. 25 million in punitive fees, 500,000 shares of stock, and $2.6 million in restitution as part of her sentence. Co-defendant and husband Yu Zhou pleaded guilty in December 2020 and was sentenced in April 2021 to 33 months ' imprisonment, $10,000 fine, and restitution in the amount of $2,616,087.00 to be paid jointly with co-defendant, Li Chen. January 29, 2021 Chinese National Charged with Criminal Conspiracy to Export U.S. Power Amplifiers to China An indictment was unsealed against a 45-year-old national of the Peoples Republic of China, charging the man with participating in a criminal conspiracy to violate U.S. export laws by shipping U.S. power amplifiers to China. January 20, 2021 MIT Professor Indicted on Charges Relating to Grant Fraud A professor and researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with failing to disclose contracts, appointments and awards from various entities in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to the U.S. Department of Energy. December 18, 2020 China-Based Executive At U.S. Telecommunications Company Charged With Disrupting Video Meetings Commemorating Tiananmen Square Massacre A telecommunications employee allegedly participated in a scheme to disrupt a series of meetings in May and June 2020 held to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre in the Peoples Republic of China. A federal court in Brooklyn charged with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer a means of identification. October 29, 2020 Chinese Energy Company, U.S. Oil & Gas Affiliate and Chinese National Indicted for Theft of Trade Secrets A federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging corporate entities conspired to steal technology from a Houston-area oil & gas manufacturer. The defendant remains wanted by the FBI for purported theft of trade secrets. October 28, 2020 Taiwan Company Pleads Guilty to Trade Secret Theft in Criminal Case Involving PRC State-Owned Company Pursuant to a 2018 indictment. United Microelectronics Corporation, Inc. ( UMC), a Taiwan semiconductor foundry, pleaded guilty to criminal trade secret theft and was sentenced to pay a $60 million fine, in exchange for its agreement to cooperate with the government in the investigation and prosecution of its co-defendant, a Chinese state-owned-enterprise. October 28, 2020 Eight Individuals Charged With Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agents of the Peoples Republic of China A complaint and arrest warrants were unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging eight defendants with conspiring to act in the United States as illegal agents of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The defendants, allegedly acting at the direction and under the control of PRC government officials, conducted surveillance of and engaged in a campaign to harass, stalk, and coerce certain residents of the United States to return to the PRC as part of a global,l repatriation effort known as Operation Fox Hunt. A superseding indictment filed in July 2021 added charges and another defendant. October 9, 2020 Singaporean National Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Acting in the United States As an Illegal Agent of Chinese Intelligence Jun Wei Yeo, aka Dickson Yeo, was sentenced in federal court to 14 months in prison. Yeo pleaded guilty on July 24, 2020 to acting within the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign power without first notifying the Attorney General. September 21, 2020 New York City Police Department Officer Charged with Acting As an Illegal Agent of the Peoples Republic of China A criminal complaint charged Baimadajie Angwang, 33, a New York City Police Department officer and U.S. Army reservist, with acting as an illegal agent of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) as well as committing wire fraud, making false statements and obstructing an official proceeding. September 16, 2020 Seven International Cyber Defendants, Including Apt41 Actors, Charged In Connection With Computer Intrusion Campaigns Against More Than 100 Victims Globally In August 2019 and August 2020, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned two separate indictments charging five computer hackers, all of whom were residents and nationals of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), with computer intrusions affecting over 100 victim companies in the United States and abroad, including software development companies, computer hardware manufacturers, telecommunications providers, social media companies , video game companies, non-profit organizations, universities, think tanks, and foreign governments, as well as pro-democracy politicians and activists in Hong Kong. September 16, 2020 Jacksonville Woman Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Illegally Exporting Maritime Raiding Craft and Engines to China Yang Yang, 34, of Jacksonville, one of four defendants indicted in November 2019, pleaded guilty to conspiring to submit false export information; to fraudulently export to China maritime raiding craft and engines; and to attempting to fraudulently export that equipment. On Sept. 15, 2020, Yang Yang was sentenced to time-served, or the equivalent of 14 months imprisonment. Co-defendant Ge Songtao was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in July 2021. In November 2021, co-defendant Fan Yang was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy and lying during security clearance background investigations. Fan Yang is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2022. September 15, 2020 Former Employee At Los Alamos National Laboratory Sentenced To Probation For Making False Statements About Being Employed By China Turab Lookman, 68, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was sentenced on Sept. 11 to five years of probation and a $75,000 fine for providing a false statement to the Department of Energy. Lookman is not allowed to leave New Mexico for the term of his probation. August 24, 2020 NASA Researcher Arrested for False Statements and Wire Fraud in Relation to Chinas Talents Program A criminal complaint has been unsealed today, charging Zhengdong Cheng, 53, of College Station, Texas, for conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud. He was subsequently charged by indictment on Sept. 17, 2020 and is scheduled to go to trial on April 4, 2022. August 17, 2020 Former CIA Officer Arrested and Charged with Espionage Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was arrested on Aug. 14, 2020, on a charge that he conspired with a relative of his who also was a former CIA officer to communicate classified information up to the Top-Secret level to intelligence officials of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The Criminal complaint containing the charge was unsealed this morning. August 6, 2020 Company President and Employee Arrested in Alleged Scheme to Violate the Export Control Reform Act Chong Sik Yu, aka Chris Yu, and Yunseo Lee were arrested and charged with conspiring to unlawfully export dual-use electronics components, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act, and to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. July 21, 2020 Two Chinese Hackers Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including COVID-19 Research A federal grand jury in Spokane, Washington, returned an indictment charging two hackers, both nationals and residents of the Peoples Republic of China, with hacking into the computer systems of hundreds of victim companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individual dissidents, clergy, and democratic and human rights activists in the United States and abroad.The defendants in some instances acted for their own personal financial gain, and in others for the benefit of the MSS or other Chinese government agencies. The defendants remain wanted by the FBI. June 26, 2020 Chinese Citizen Convicted of Economic Espionage, Theft of Trade Secrets, and Conspiracy Hao Zhang, 41, of China, was found guilty of economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, and conspiring to commit both offenses today, announced the Department of Justice. The ruling was handed down by the Honorable Edward J . Davila, U.S. District Judge, following a four-day bench trial. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in September 2020. June 17, 2020 Team Telecom Recommends that the FCC Deny Pacific Light Cable Network System s Hong Kong Undersea Cable Connection to the United States Team Telecom recommended to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), based on national security concerns, that the FCC partially deny the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) subsea cable system application, to the extent it seeks a direct connection between the United States and Hong Kong. June 9, 2020 Harvard University Professor Indicted on False Statement Charges The former Chair of Harvard Universitys Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department was indicted on charges of making false statements to federal authorities regarding his participation in Chinas Thousand Talents Program . Dr. Charles Lieber, 61, was arrested on Jan. 28, 2020 and charged by criminal complaint. A superseding indictment, returned in July 2020, further charged Lieber with tax offenses for allegedly failing to report income he received from Wuhan University of Technology (WUT). May 11, 2020 University of Arkansas Professor Arrested for Wire Fraud Simon Saw-Teong Ang, 63, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, was arrested on Friday, May 8, 2020, on charges related to wire fraud. The complaint charges that Ang had close ties with the Chinese government and Chinese companies and failed to disclose those ties when required to do so in order to receive grant money from NASA. In July 2020, he was additionally charged via indictment with multiple counts of wire fraud and passport fraud. May 11, 2020 Former Emory University Professor and Chinese Thousand Talents Participant Convicted and Sentenced for Filing a False Tax Return On May 8, 2020, Dr. Xiao-Jiang Li, 63, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with filing a false tax return. Dr. Li, a former Emory University professor and Chinese Thousand Talents Program participant, worked overseas at Chinese universities and did not report any of his foreign income on his federal tax returns. April 9, 2020 Executive Branch Agencies Recommend the FCC Revoke and Terminate China Telecoms Authorizations to Provide International Telecommunications Services in the United States Executive Branch agencies unanimously recommended the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoke and terminate China Telecom (Americas) Corp.s authorizations to provide international telecommunications services to and from the United States. China Telecom is the U.S. subsidiary of a Peoples Republic of China (PRC) state-owned telecommunications company. March 17, 2020 Hayward Resident Sentenced to Four Years for Acting as an Agent of the Peoples Republic of China Charged in September 2019, Xuehua (Edward) Peng, aka Edward Peng, was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in prison and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine for acting as an agent of the Peoples Republic of Chinas Ministry of State Security (MSS) in connection with a scheme to conduct pickups known as dead drops and transport Secure Digital (SD) cards from a source in the United States to the MSS operatives in China. March 10, 2020 Former West Virginia University Professor Pleads Guilty to Fraud That Enabled Him to Participate in the Peoples Republic of Chinas Thousand Talents Plan Dr. James Patrick Lewis, of Fairview, West Virginia, admitted to a fraud charge involving West Virginia University. Lewis, 54, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with Federal Program Fraud. In July 2017, Lewis entered a contract of employment with the Peoples Republic of China through its Global Experts 1000 Talents Plan. These talent programs seek to lure overseas talent and foreign experts to bring their knowledge and experience to China and reward individuals for stealing proprietary information. February 27, 2020 Chinese National Sentenced for Stealing Trade Secrets Worth $1 Billion A former associate scientist was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison in federal court for stealing proprietary information worth more than $1 billion from his employer, a U.S. petroleum company. February 13, 2020 Chinese Telecommunications Conglomerate Huawei and Subsidiaries Charged in Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets A superseding indictment was returned in Brooklyn, New York, charging Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., the worlds largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and two U.S. subsidiaries with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The original indictment against Huawei for financial fraud was filed in January 2019. February 11, 2020 American Businessman Who Ran Houston-Based Subsidiary of Chinese Company Sentenced To Prison for Theft of Trade Secrets The head of a Houston-based company that was the subsidiary of a Chinese company that developed stolen trade secrets was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $330,000 in the District of Columbia. February 10, 2020 Chinese Military Personnel Charged with Computer Fraud, Economic Espionage and Wire Fraud for Hacking into Credit Reporting Agency Equifax A federal grand jury in Atlanta returned an indictment charging four members of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) with hacking into the computer systems of the credit reporting agency Equifax and stealing Americans personal data and Equifaxs valuable trade secrets. January 28, 2020 Harvard University Professor and Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Three Separate China Related Cases The Department announced charges against three individuals in connection with aiding the Peoples Republic of China. For more information on these individuals, see entries on Dr. Charles Lieber, Yanqing Ye and Zaosong Zheng. January 28, 2020 Cancer Researcher from China Charged with Smuggling and False Statements After Being Caught at the Airport with Twenty-one Vials of Stolen Biological Research Material Zaosong Zheng, 30, a Chinese national, was arrested at Bostons Logan International Airport, and charged by criminal complaint with attempting to smuggle twenty-one vials of biological research to China. Zheng was later indicted on one count of smuggling goods from the United States and one count of making false, fictitious or fraudulent statements. He pleaded guilty to making false statements in December 2020 and was sentenced to time served in January 2021. December 19, 2019 Department of Justice Reaches $5.5 Million Settlement with Van Andel Research Institute to Resolve Allegations of Undisclosed Chinese Grants to Two Researchers The Department of Justice announced today that Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) has agreed to pay $5,500,000.00 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting federal grant applications and progress reports to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in which VARI failed to disclose Chinese government grants that funded two VARI researchers. The settlement further resolves allegations that, in a December 2018 letter, VARI made certain factual representations to NIH with deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard for the truth regarding the Chinese grants. November 22, 2019 Former CIA Officer Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Espionage A former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) case officer was sentenced to 19 years in prison for conspiring to communicate, deliver and transmit national defense information to the Peoples Republic of China. November 21, 2019 Chinese National Who Worked at Monsanto Indicted on Economic Espionage Charges Haitao Xiang, 42, formerly of Chesterfield, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit economic espionage, three counts of economic espionage, one count of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets, and three counts of theft of trade secrets. According to the indictment, Xiang was selected to be a member of a Chinese government Talent Plan, and, within a year, quit his job, and sought to take proprietary farming software to China. November 14, 2019 Two Former Executives of the China Subsidiary of a Multi-Level Marketing Company Charged for Scheme to Pay Foreign Bribes and Circumvent Internal Accounting Controls The former head of the Chinese subsidiary of a publicly traded international multi-level marketing company and the former head of the external affairs department of the Chinese subsidiary of the same company were charged for their roles in a scheme to violate the anti-bribery and the internal control provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). October 18, 2019 Chinese National Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Illegally Export Military- and Space-Grade Technology from the United States to China Tao Li, a 39-year-old Chinese national, was sentenced to 40 months in prison , followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to export military and space-grade technology to the Peoples Republic of China without a license, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which makes certain unauthorized exports illegal. September 24, 2019 Former Intelligence Officer Convicted of Attempted Espionage Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison Ron Rockwell Hansen, 60, of Utah, a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, who pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate, deliver, or transmit information involving the national defense of the United States to the Peoples Republic of China, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. August 21, 2019 University of Kansas Researcher Indicted for Fraud for Failing to Disclose Conflict of Interest with Chinese University Feng Franklin Tao, an associate professor at Kansas University, was indicted on federal charges for concealing the fact he was a full-time employee for Fuzhou University, in China, while doing research at KU that was funded by the U.S. government. Jury trial continued from December 2021, with a new date to be determined. July 11, 2019 Newly Unsealed Federal Indictment Charges Software Engineer with Taking Stolen Trade Secrets to China Xudong Yao, aka William Yao, a software engineer at a suburban Chicago locomotive manufacturer, was charged with nine counts of theft of trade secrets for allegedly stealing proprietary information from the company and taking it to China. July 9, 2019 Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Conspiring with Chinese Agents Candace Marie Clairborne, a former employee of the U.S. Department of State, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $40,000. Clairborne was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States by lying to law enforcement and background investigators, and hiding her extensive contacts with, and gifts from, agents of the People s Republic of China, which were provided in exchange for internal documents from the U.S. State Department. July 2, 2019 Electrical Engineer Convicted of Conspiring to Illegally Export to China Semiconductor Chips with Missile Guidance Applications Yi-Chi Shih, an electrical engineer, was found guilty of multiple criminal charges, including a scheme to illegally obtain integrated circuits with military applications that were later exported to China without the required export license. After a six-week trial, Shih was found guilty of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a federal law that makes certain unauthorized exports illegal. He was sentenced to over five years in prison in July 2021. May 17, 2019 Former CIA Officer Sentenced to Prison for Espionage Former U.S. Intelligence officer Kevin Patrick Mallory was convicted under the Espionage Act for conspiracy to transmit national defense information to an agent of the Peoples Republic of China. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. May 9, 2019 Member of Sophisticated China-Based Hacking Group Indicted for Series of Computer Intrusions, Including 2015 Data Breach of Health Insurer Anthem Inc . Affecting Over 78 Million People A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Chinese national as part of an extremely sophisticated hacking group operating in China and targeting large businesses in the United States, including a computer intrusion and data breach of Indianapolis-based health insurer Anthem Inc. April 23, 2019 Former GE Engineer and Chinese Businessman Charged with Economic Espionage and Theft of GEs Trade Secrets An indictment charged Xiaoqing Zheng and Zhaoxi Zhang with economic espionage and conspiring to steal General Electrics (GE) trade secrets relating to its turbine technology, knowing and intending that the stolen trade secrets would be used to benefit the Peoples Republic of China. The 14-count indictment alleged Zheng, while employed at GE Power & Water, exploited his access by stealing multiple electronic files and transferring them to Zhang, his business partner in China. Jury trial is set to begin in March 2022. April 17, 2019 Former Manager for International Airline Pleads Guilty to Acting as an Agent of the Chinese Government Ying Lin, a former manager with an international air carrier headquartered in the Peoples Republic of China, pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the PRC, without prior notification to the Attorney General. Lin transported packages from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the PRC at the orders of the Chinese military officers, in violation of Transportation Security Administration regulations. Lin was subsequently sentenced to probation in December 2019. January 28, 2019 Chinese Telecommunications Device Manufacturer and its U.S. Affiliate Indicted for Theft of Trade Secrets, Wire Fraud, and Obstruction of Justice A 10-count indictment, unsealed in the Western District of Washington, charged Huawei Device Co., Ltd. and Huawei Device Co. USA with theft of trade secrets conspiracy, attempted theft of trade secrets, seven counts of wire fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice. The indictment details Huaweis alleged efforts to steal trade secrets from T-Mobile USA and then obstruct justice when T-Mobile threatened to sue Huawei in U.S. District Court. December 20, 2018 Two Chinese Hackers Associated with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaigns Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information The Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging Chinese nationals Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As alleged, the defendants, through their involvement in a hacking group associated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security, from 2006 to in or about 2018, conducted global campaigns of computer intrusions targeting, among other data, intellectual property and confidential business and technological information at managed service providers, which are companies that remotely manage the information technology infrastructure of businesses and governments around the world, including in the United States. -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 108.] Energy supplies are flying out of the Port of Corpus Christi as exporters scramble to fill holes in the global market, helping the port shatter its previous record for tonnage shipped. Companies moved 59 million tons of goods through the port during the first four months of the year, up 10 percent from the previous record set in 2020, when companies caught with a glut of oil headed to the port in droves to move product offshore for storage. The record set this year was driven by a boost in exports of liquefied natural gas as Russias war with Ukraine creates a global energy crunch. LNG exports from the terminal were already running hot last year, 80 percent higher in 2021 over the previous year. Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, demand for LNG was rising as more countries transitioned from coal to gas, but demand soared as Russia previously Europes primary supplier of natural gas was hit with sanctions and much of the world stopped buying its oil and gas. American LNG companies jumped in to fill the market void, surpassing Russia as Europes largest supplier of natural gas. Yet LNG production still isnt meeting demand even as existing facilities are operating at maximum capacity. FEELING BLUE: Enbridge, Humble partner in planned billion dollar blue hydrogen facility outside Corpus Christi Thats created a real opportunity for American producers, said Port of Corpus Christi CEO Sean Strawbridge, which is something that we should be taking full advantage of. The port also said revenue reached a record $57.4 million, up 19 percent compared with the same period last year. Strawbridge said the port will continue to receive increasing volumes of crude, LNG, and gasoline and diesel fuels bound for overseas. We think weve got another 6-7 hundred thousand (barrels) per day of upside, he said. Thats certainly within reach. Strawbridge said he was surprised to see how much additional capacity Cheniere has been able to squeeze from its facilities in Corpus Christi. While the leading U.S. LNG company has a reported capacity of about 13.5 million metric tons per year, he said, they are on track to do probably 16 million. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox Cheniere has done a fantastic job of squeezing every possible molecule through that facility, he said. Cheniere plans to expand its LNG operations in Corpus Christi, adding about 100 cargoes a year to the 200 it already moves, Strawbridge said. One cargo of LNG is enough to power all the homes in Corpus for six months. Looking ahead, Strawbridge said the port is working to lay a foundation for the hydrogen economy. He said that while the port adapts to the energy industrys shifting trends, it has to be on the cutting edge of any curve so it can support companies forging ahead on sources such as hydrogen. All of our work comes in the front end, he said, building the base infrastructure that they can build off of. The growing global population is moving into a phase when all forms of energy will have to be on the table, he said. Renewables cant serve the need alone, he said, but perhaps neither can hydrocarbons. Weve got to look at everything. An earlier version of this story misstated the projected potential upside in tons per day. amanda.drane@chron.com prayers as an elephant attacked him in a bush last year in Mabale, Hwange District. MR Hanganani Dube (76) of Simukululwe Village under Chief Dingani-Nelukoba said his last He thought he was going to die. Luckily, he survived but suffered permanent injuries. The old man becomes emotional as he narrates how it took him eight hours to reach the main road after the elephant kicked and trampled him on May 5 last year. He got help at 10pm following the attack at 2pm. He is living testimony of the war between wild animals and humans and is one of many survivors of the human-wildlife conflict. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) recently reported that 35 people were killed by different animals nationally while others were injured between January and May this year. Two Victoria Falls residents were killed in a space of a week recently, and one of them, Obert Sigola, is Mr Dubes neighbour in Mabale. Mr Dube attended the African Elephant Conference which ended in Hwange on Thursday with ministers from countries that have jumbo populations resolving to sell their ivory stockpiles and continue lobbying for liberalisation of trade in elephants and their products. The villager was invited to give testimony on human-wildlife conflict together with Chief Dingane Nelukoba who appealed to CITES to allow culling of elephants to reduce their population. Mr Dube said he is now a hopeless man who cant work for his family. I am now useless and my children are suffering as I cant work or do anything productive, said Mr Dube, addressing delegates at the conference. A father of eight, Mr Dube is originally from Gwambe in Plumtree and relocated to Mabale after getting a job at Hwange Colliery Company in 1969. He lives with wife Ms Fumani Shoko (40) and two minor children as the others have moved to join some relatives in Bulawayo. Ms Shoko herds cattle while children are at school as villagers herd their livestock all year round because of prevalence of predators. A news crew visited Mr Dube at his homestead to appreciate how the injury had affected his familys livelihood. His wife now does virtually everything from household duties to working in the fields and herding cattle, putting her in danger of being attacked by wild animals, said Mr Dube. I was herding cattle and was standing behind an anthill which has dense bushes when suddenly I saw an elephant standing hardly two metres away from me. It didnt move and I tiptoed round the anthill but encountered another one which raised both front legs as it charged at me, said Mr Dube. He said he tried to flee but because of his age and proximity to the jumbo, he could not outpace it. He fell down and hit on the ground with his forehead. I was helpless. I closed my eyes so that I wouldnt see it killing me and started praying asking God to forgive my sins before I die. It kicked and trampled me. It blew its trumpet and stopped attacking me, narrated Mr Dube. He said after a while and seeing that the elephants were now a distance away, he rolled on the ground for about 50 metres and only realised he had fractured a leg when he tried to rise to flee. He said he reached for a phone in the pocket to check time and it was just after 2pm. I started feeling pain and I was scared. I had to move away and I started dragging myself on buttocks while pushing the injured leg upfront. I reached the main road at 10pm, he said. It is about 2km from the scene of attack to the road. Mr Dube said he used his torch phone to signal vehicles to stop for him but they passed by without stopping. Mr Dube said after some time a driver from Hwange Safari Lodge stopped a distance away and after inquiring, discovered that he needed help. The driver took Mr Dube to the hotel where management rushed him to an in-house clinic where he was treated while waiting for an ambulance which took him to St Marys Hospital in Hwange. He said he is grateful to Hwange Safari Lodge for picking him up and Hwange Rural District Council which paid for the ambulance to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was transferred to for a special operation. Chronicle Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer New York-based New Fortress Energy has chosen Houston as the hub for a plan to deploy modular liquefied natural gas units more quickly, the company said. Global demand for LNG was already high before Russias war with Ukraine and has since soared as Russian supplies slide from the market, sending energy companies scrambling to get new LNG production online faster. Virginia-based Venture Global was among the first to use modular units to build LNG plants more quickly at Calcasieu Pass in Louisiana, sparking new interest in the strategy. AMANA, Iowa (AP) Linda Grabau finds odd moments throughout her day to prepare the material that she will later weave into a rug. Shes made rugs from pantyhose and shirts. She was recently tearing into a pair of blue jeans ... while also cooking dinner on her outdoors grill. Grabau purchased her first loom in 1993. In the nearly three decades since, she has become a bit of a carpet-weaving mentor. Shes been teaching classes for about four years in Amana, and her former students stay in touch as they journey through the art of carpet-weaving, which is a central part of Amana history. People like Grabau are keeping it alive. In March, the nonprofit Amana Heritage Society was announced as one of four recipients of a folk art apprenticeship grant provided by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The goal of the new program is to sustain artistic traditions and cultural heritage in Iowa by encouraging master artists and culture bearers to pass on their skills and knowledge to emerging or apprentice artists, according to the Iowa Arts Councils website. The Amana Heritage Society received $3,820, which is being used toward Grabaus classes to preserve carpet-weaving. I love the hands-on experience (of carpet-weaving), Grabau told the Iowa City Press-Citizen. I was in 4-H, and so I try to learn something new all the time. I just love showing other people how easy something is. Grabau teaches carpet-weaving inside the Amana Arts Guild Center. The woolen mill in Amana donates excess material, so people who take Grabaus classes do not have to concern themselves with bringing and preparing their own. Her classes host no more than five people. That way, everyone can work on their own loom. I will show them as much as they want to learn, Grabau said. Grabau also helps people by finding affordable looms of their own. They could otherwise cost a few thousand dollars. That makes Grabau one of a long line of influential Amana weavers. Dorothy Trumpold was another. She was a 2001 National Heritage Fellow, which recognizes a master folk and traditional artist for their contributions to the arts. Trumpold watched her grandfather prepare his loom when she was 8 years old in 1920, according to the National Endowment for the Arts. She weaved for decades on a loom that was brought to America in the 1840s. Trumpold died in 2016. Before 1932, the year of the Great Change when Amana no longer operated as a communal society, the work of carpet-weavers was considered a duty to the community, not something that was to be compensated, said Jon Childers, executive director of the Amana Heritage Society. Back then, carpet-weaving was something men did, providing community members carpets that spanned an entire room. All Amana homes would have had carpet, according to Childers. These carpets were largely similar in appearance, using material from the woolen mill. The most common colors used in Amana carpets included brown, blue and black, according to the Amana Heritage Museum. Those that were moving into a new home would get their carpet and rugs done by a carpet-weaver. Those handmade carpets would stay in the home often until the people living there died. Its only in the last 20-30 years that carpet-weaving was no longer being passed down to the next generation, Childers said. In South Amana, there is one resident that has been carpet-weaving since the 1950s. George Berger, 89, descends from a family that knew how to weave. Bergers grandfather wove. So did two of his aunts. His mother learned it from her father and offered custom weaving, he said. Once, while she was fulfilling an order for a family, her back went out. She told Berger he would have to finish the order. I said, Ive never done it. And she said, Ill sit right here, and Ill tell you exactly what to do, Berger recalled. Berger, then 20 years old, said he fell in love with it right away. He hasnt stopped carpet-weaving. Berger spent 39 years as a fourth-grade teacher in Amana. After supper on weekends when he didnt have to mow the lawn and during the summer, Berger would be working on his looms in the workshop adjacent to his home, where his father had done carpentry. When people found out Berger was carpet-weaving, theyd drop off any material they thought he could use, such as bedsheets, blankets, curtains and clothing. As boxes of material piled up, Berger decided to work out of his fathers shop. The space now holds two looms, boxes of material and balls of fabric ready to be woven, carefully wrapped so that the material is unraveled from the center of the ball without the ball moving around. Berger has sold carpets to someone in every state in America. He kept track by coloring in a state on printed maps, the sheets tacked to a wall inside his workshop. His carpets have been in Herbert Hoovers birthplace cottage, the Hotel Pattee in Perry and in the Amana Churches. Bergers home is a former Amana schoolhouse. He was born in a room upstairs and would go on to raise his family there. His two sons and daughter all learned how to carpet-weave. There used to be a weaver in every village (in Amana), and I think Im about the only one, only original ones, thats still here doing it, Berger said. Rhonda VanNostrand raises six alpacas on her land outside Amana, but did not know what to with the fiber from the animals. VanNostrand began looking for classes on carpet-weaving. Thats how she connected with Grabau. Now, VanNostrand has her own loom. You dont have to take up a whole room just to do (carpet-weaving). Its pretty self-contained and you can do it at your leisure, she said. For VanNostrand, using the alpacas fibers make her final, finished rugs all the more meaningful. I can see each animal in the rug. Each color is a different animal, she said. VanNostrand said she has a different perspective on woven products because she knows how much work, knowledge and time goes in to make something like a rug, assuming it wasnt made by a manufacturer. How fast through the generations things can be lost, she said, adding that handmade doilies are a lost art. Sarah Kelley of Linn County is another one of Grabaus many students. She owns her own loom, uses wool from the sheep she owns and had been doing carpet-weaving for about a year before coming across Grabaus classes. I just liked the fact that its something that you can use, that you can take something that is maybe not useful and make it into something that you can use and enjoy, she said. The work of Amana carpet-weavers can be spotted inside the Amana Heritage Museum. Elise Heitmann, executive director at the Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau, grew up in Amana. Her family is close to Bergers, who gifted Heitmann a handwoven rug for her graduation. She had never considered doing carpet-weaving until her mom wanted to take one of Grabaus classes in 2020, she said. When Heitmann learned about the grant, she decided that she would take a loom, practice and carry this art forward. Its a craft that never died, and so me keeping on doing it, that just feels normal, she said. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Carla Pool arrived at Second Baptist Church on Broad Rock Boulevard and followed the purple arrows down the hallway to the Multi-Purpose Room. She and her mother were among the first to arrive for their Tuesday night class is South Richmond. Pool and about 20 other Richmond-area residents were gathered for the Chesapeake Bay Foundations Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards course on environmental advocacy. The participants hailed from all corners of the metro area, including Varina, the Museum District, Chesterfield County and the citys East End and West End. CBFs Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards is their longest running adult education program, with free courses held in the spring and fall for clean water advocates who want to take a more active role in saving the Bay. I was impressed that the demographics of the class seemed to match the Richmond demographics as a whole, Pool said. And I was impressed at the level of community involvement of all of the participants. The remainder of the classes will cover climate equity, agriculture and environmental justice. Well start with the basics and by the end have you on the path to becoming a community leader and advocate in South Richmond and beyond, CBFs Virginia Grassroots Coordinator Gabby Troutman said in a news release. This is an amazing opportunity to gain experience working on the most pressing issues facing Richmond while networking with key players in our region. The course is being funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Forest Service through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundations Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, according to the release. In addition to the learning sessions, participants get to take a boat trip on the James River and partake in a discussion with Virginia Sen. Jennifer McClellan. I think its really important to teach people about the impacts that the history of Richmond is having on todays society, Troutman said. I think a lot of people go about their lives and may notice things like, Wow, it seems really hot today. But they may not make the connection between that and the fact that they are living in an area of the city that maybe doesnt have much tree coverage. Tree coverage and heat islands were among the topics discussed during Tuesdays session about climate equity. Unlike courses held in other parts of the state, participants were able to learn more about topics that impact an urban environment. David Sale, who works in Richmonds Office of Sustainability, did a presentation on RVAgreen 2050, Richmonds climate action plan. It was sort of born on the fact that we know that climate change is already happening, Sale said. Maybe decades ago, we thought of climate change as this far-out concept that we wouldnt have to address for 50 or 100 years, and now, you know, its already happening. RVAgreen 2050 is an equity-centered initiative to increase climate action and resilience. The initiative outlines 49 different strategies for the city to manage climate change. For many of the attendees, tree coverage and heat islands were an important issue. The class also covered the history of racial segregation and redlining. In Richmond, lower-income populations and communities of color, for example, are more likely to live in areas with less green space, Sale explained, which means when it gets hot out, theres less shade and its more dangerous to be outside in the heat and respiratory issues can become more likely. Pool, a Varina resident, said she was surprised about the things shed learned that she wasnt aware of, like the increased flooding threatening the Chesapeake Bay. She also said many people had come with projects in mind that they wanted to implement to help those issues. I thought that it was really cool that people came prepared with agendas, she said, and this class, hopefully, will help them to be empowered to implement them. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has signed into law a $100 million fund to settle sexual and physical abuse claims at a state-run youth detention center. The Legislature had approved creating a fund to compensate those who were abused as children at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly the Youth Development Center. The Manchester center has been the target of a criminal investigation since 2019, and 11 former workers were arrested last year. Nearly 450 former residents have sued the state, with allegations involving more than 150 staffers from 1963 to 2018. Victims of sexual abuse would be eligible for payments of up to $1.5 million each, while payments to victims of physical abuse would be capped at $150,000. The center is named for former Gov. John H. Sununu, the governor's father. This new law creates a claims resolution process that provides a trauma informed and victim centered alternative to traditional litigation, state Attorney General John Formella said in a news release on Friday. No victim is required to use this process, but it is my hope that this bill will provide an avenue for much needed healing and compensation for many of these victims. The settlement fund legislation was opposed by attorneys for the victims, as well as state and national organizations that advocate for sexual assault survivors. The victims know this bill is not victim-friendly and is intended to benefit the state more than them, the attorneys said in a statement Saturday. We will continue to fight every day to change the way the state treats its vulnerable children, and for true justice for the many hundreds of kids grievously harmed by sexual, physical, and emotional abuse over decades at the hands of the state. The state currently spends $13 million a year to operate the 144-bed facility, though the typical population now is about a dozen teens. The two-year budget signed last June included a mandate to close it by March 2023, but its fate remains unclear after lawmakers were unable to agree this year on a process for closing it. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) There's nothing to indicate the Florida Department of Health told an employee to falsify COVID-19 data and she wasn't fired out of retaliation, according to a state investigator's report released this month. Former department employee Rebekah Jones received national attention when she raised questions about the state's COVID-19 dashboard and claimed she was fired for exposing problems. The state said she was fired for insubordination after being reprimanded several times. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) A jury found a Virginia man guilty on Friday of murdering his ex-girlfriend almost four years in front of the couples young toddlers. Lamont Johnson, 45, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Bellamy Gamboa, 39, in July 2018, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reported. The 10-man, two-woman jury deliberated for about 90 minutes. The jury also convicted Johnson of two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for leaving the couples 20-month-old toddlers home alone while he disposed of Gamboa's body. Metro A man died after being shot multiple times outside of a west Houston hotel, according to police. Houston police officers responded just after 10 p.m. at the Red Roof Inn on the 2900 block of West Sam Houston Parkway near Westheimer and found a man in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, HPD Lt. Ronnie Willkens said. He died at the scene. Houston Chronicle One person is dead and three others were injured late Friday after a driver headed the wrong way crashed into another car on the Pasadena Freeway, according to police. Officers responded to reports of the wrong-way driver around 10:45 p.m. on Highway 225 near Scarborough Lane, authorities said. One person believed to be one of the drivers was pronounced dead at the scene. A national Latino organization is calling on the Census Bureau to provide data on under-counted Hispanics after the agencys latest report failed to do so at the state level, asserting that the miscount of Latinos hurts everybody. We have urged the Bureau to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the undercount on the Latino community and the options to ameliorate it, said Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, better known as NALEO. Vargas criticizes the absence of data by race and ethnicity released last week in the Census report of undercounts and overcounts from the 2020 decennial tally by state. It followed a survey published in March that looked at the national level, showing Hispanic or Latinos were the most under counted group with a miss of 4.99 percent of its population, except for residents on reservations or who identify as American Indian or Alaska Natives, at 5.64 percent. The other groups with significant national undercounts were 3.3 percent of Blacks and 2.79 percent of very young children. The census is conducted once a decade and helps determine political maps and the disbursement of a millions in federal funds. The new report from the state-level said Texas is among seven states where the population was undercounted, together with Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee. The Bureau estimates that 1.92 percent of Texas residentsan equivalent of around 560,000 peoplewere not counted. On HoustonChronicle.com: Data shows Texas saw significant undercount during 2020 U.S. Census The agency said they did not provide data by race or ethnicity, as it did in the national report, because sample sizes within most states do not support such estimates. We cannot say if Hispanics were affected, we do not have that data at the state level or below, said Kristina Barrett, a Census Bureau spokesperson. We will not speculate on possible reasons or effects related to a post enumeration survey. Vargas and other experts have no doubt Hispanics were significantly affected, particularly in Texas. He said that with a national undercount rate of almost 5 percent for Latinos, you have to assume that in a heavily Hispanic state like Texas, a great deal of the number of Latinos missed are in that state. The Texas Demographic Center, which is part of the U.S. Bureau of the Census State Data Center Program, reaches a similar conclusion. As Texas has the second largest number of Hispanics of all the states, we can assume theres likely an undercount for this race-ethnic group, said Janine Geppert, a Research Scientist Associate at the Texas Demographic Center, located at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Geppert said a public dashboard created by the Center can provide an idea of potential under-counts among Latinos and other populations in Texas. The tool features a map that combines data on hard-to-count populations from the Census Bureau with self-response rates, which are an important predictor of the (census) count accuracy, according to previous analyses. The tool shows that the majority of the population in most Texas census tracts with self-response rates of 50 percent or below is Hispanic. The same applies in the Houston metro area, where majority Black populations follow Latinos in low self-response rates. The undercount of Hispanics hurts everyone in the communities where Hispanics live that are not going to get their fair share of federal funds, said Vargas. The undercount of Latinos and other communities in Texas has economic and political implications, some of which are irreversible, said Renee Cross, senior director of the Center for Public Policy at the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs. They represent 39 percent of the Texas population and more than half of the state population growth since the 2010 census. On HoustonChronicle.com: 10 Latino extraordinarios making a difference in Houston First of all, the census count determines how much (federal) funding states get for schools, for hospitals, for infrastructure, and many programs that are vital for communities, said Cross. The census undercount of 1 percent of the population means an estimated loss of approximately $300 million in federal funding per year for programs in Texas, said the nonprofit Every Texan, a social justice advocacy organization, based on the Counting for Dollars 2020 Program from the George Washington University. But Cross noted that the census count is also a principal metric used to draw the lines for U.S. congressional districts, state legislatures, and government at city and county levels. As such, Political representation is very tied to the results of the census. On HoustonChronicle.com: Latino leaders plan lawsuit to change 'gross' underrepresentation in Houston City Council Vargas said the Census Bureau should take action to analyze and mitigate the impact of the undercount, (because) these flawed data will now guide the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in annual federal funding to states and localities based on an incorrect snapshot of our population. The irony, he said, is that many of these federal funds are for programs that are designed to help people who live in poverty, children, people who need extra assistance, and those are the very same people more likely to have been missed.The same applies to the Houston metro area, where majority Black populations follow Latinos in census tracks with low self-response rates. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter.com/oliviaptallet This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Katherine Chen should have been in school today. Instead, the high school student was on stage at a protest directly across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center, wondering why kids like her had to live in fear of dying in class. I have to choose to fight for my life in a classroom rather than learn in one. Im here today, yet again, because people, children, the young and the old, keep getting stolen from us as a direct result of gun violence, said Chen, the co-executive director of March For Our Lives Houston. Chen was one of thousands of people who came to Discovery Green on Friday to protest the NRA convention, where former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz and other high-ranking Republicans took to the stage to publicly defend gun owners rights. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered remarks by video after canceling his in-person address. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Protestors engage in a demonstration at Discovery Green against the presence of the NRA in Houston, Friday, May 27, 2022, days after the a school mass shooting in Uvalde. The convention, which boasts 14 acres of guns and gear, comes just three days after an 18-year-old in Uvalde shot his grandmother in the face, marched into a fourth grade classroom with a military-grade assault rifle and killed 19 children and two adults. Mayor Sylvester Turner resisted calls to cancel the convention in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, saying that the city could face lawsuits if it broke its contractual obligation to the NRA. The gun group expressed its deepest sympathies for the families and victims of the shooting, but pressed on with the event. 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 said in a statement before the convention. Protesters outside the convention hall Friday seemed unconvinced and expressed disgust with the elected officials who chose to speak at the conventions Annual Leadership Forum, hosted by the NRAs prominent lobbying arm. A Houston Chronicle analysis found that Cruz has taken $176,284 from the gun lobby and Abbott has collected $16,750. Sen. John Cornyn, who canceled his appearance at the forum due to an unexpected change in his schedule, has taken $583,816. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Several people participating in the rally said they were gun owners or pro-gun themselves but could no longer abide the gun lobbys stranglehold over national politics. I cant support the NRAs absolutist standards, said Ken Council, 65, of Montrose. Kids rights are being subordinated to gun rights. Texas Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke, addressed the thousands who came out bearing signs and chanting vote them out. ORourke began by discussing how he was welcomed into the home of the parents of Alithia Ramirez in Uvalde, where balloons from the her 10th birthday still clung to the ceiling and her bed was unmade. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer I want (her parents) Jess and Ryan and that family to know that their child will always live with us for as long as we live. We'll pass her story and her name down to the generations that follow us, ORourke said. He addressed the people attending the NRA convention, saying We welcome you to join us to make sure that this no longer happens in this country, but the time to join us in support is now. We cannot wait for you any longer, he said. ORourke also addressed NRA leadership and politicians who accept their money.If you have done anything good, it is the fact that you have brought us here together and were committing ourselves. We will defeat you and we will overcome this, he said. Others took to the stage to denounce gun violence in all its forms, not just mass shootings. Tiffany Lee, a friend of 29-year-old Jalen Randle, who was fatally shot in the neck by a Houston police officer in April, said there should be similar outrage about her friends death. She asked protesters to attend a planned June 6 protest outside District Attorney Kim Oggs office. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Protestors engage in a demonstration at Discovery Green against the presence of the NRA in Houston, Friday, May 27, 2022, days after the a school mass shooting in Uvalde. We need to have a Jalen Randle Law that will protect us citizens from the police, meaning that if they shoot someone and its not justified, they automatically go to jail just like us, Lee said. On the other end of Discovery Green, dozens of protesters lined barricades across the street from the convention center and jeered at attendees. Harper Young, 15, asked the convention participants if they cared that kids like him were dying every day. I shouldnt have to be afraid to go to school. These shootings happen over and over again and absolutely nothing is changing, said Young, who attends the Post Oak School. Im just asking that they please just stop and think about these innocent people who are dying. Some NRA attendees hurried past the rally. Others just laughed and waved. Have you no decency? What is wrong with you? shouted Zaykeese Riley, a 22-year-old anti-NRA rallier from Houston. The crowd chanted on. sam.kelly@chron.com A 10-year-old girl who survived the tragic shooting at a Uvalde elementary school has been discharged from University Hospital in San Antonio. She was one of seven critically injured victims transported Tuesday to local hospitals. Meanwhile, the gunmans first victim his grandmother, Celia Gonzales, who goes by Sally is in serious condition at University Hospital, a Level 1 trauma facility, one of two in the region providing the highest level of trauma care. Salvador Ramos shot his 66-year-old grandmother in the face Tuesday morning before taking off in her truck and driving a couple of blocks to Robb Elementary School. Authorities say he crashed the vehicle and shot at two people across the street before entering the school, where he killed 19 students and two teachers. Additionally, 17 others were injured. LIVE UPDATES: Follow along for the latest news and analysis on the Uvalde school shooting More Information Hospitals use standard language to describe patient conditions to the public. Good - Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent. Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent. Fair - Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable. Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable. Serious - Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable. Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Indicators are questionable. Critical - Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators are unfavorable. SOURCE: American Hospital Association See More Collapse University Hospital is treating another 10-year-old girl, who remains in serious condition, and a 9-year-old girl in good condition. A 10-year-old boy is being treated at a Methodist Healthcare hospital in San Antonio. A hospital official said he is in good condition. Two adult patients are in fair condition and being treated at Brook Army Medical Center, which is the regions other Level 1 trauma facility. University Health Foundation established a Uvalde Victims Relief Fund to support the four patients at University Hospital, including unpaid medical expenses and other needs identified by the systems social workers. Bexar County Hospital Districts injury prevention team is distributing free gun locks to encourage safe firearm storage at an Express-News health fair on Saturday. The free community event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1406 Fitch St. on San Antonios South Side. The gun lock giveaway is part of the GunSafety4Bexar program with the county, Bexar County Sheriffs Office, Be SMART for Kids, Safe Kids San Antonio, VIA and University Health. laura.garcia@express-news.net At a press conference Friday, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety provided a detailed breakdown of what happened between the time Salvador Ramos arrived at Robb Elementary School and when he was taken down by officers. Ramos shot and killed 21 people, including 19 children. The following is minute-by-minute summary of Director Steven McCraw's comments. 11:27 a.m. Video evidence shows a teacher at Robb Elementary School prop open the exterior door that Salvador Ramos would later use to enter the school. 11:28 a.m. Ramos crashes his vehicle in a ditch next to the school. At the same time the teacher runs to room 132 to retrieve her cell phone and walks back to the exit door. The door remains propped open. 11:28 a.m. Two people at a funeral home across the street hear the crash and walk over to the scene. When they get close, they see a man with a gun exit from the passenger side of the truck with a backpack and they immediately begin running. Ramos starts shooting at them but does not hit them. 11:30 a.m. The teacher reemerges inside the school and appears to call 911 to report that there was a crash and a man with a gun. 11:31 a.m. Ramos reaches the last row of vehicles in the school parking lot. A school resource officer who was off campus and rushed to the school after hearing the 911 call mistakes the teacher for the shooter, driving past Ramos who was hidden behind a vehicle. 11:31 a.m. Ramos begins shooting at the school while Uvalde police patrol vehicles arrive at the funeral home. Multiple shots are fired outside the school. 11:32 a.m. Ramos fires more shots. 11:33 a.m. Ramos enters Robb Elementary via the propped door. 11:33 a.m. Ramos begins shooting into Room 111 or Room 112. Officials said Ramos shot at least 100 rounds at that time based on audio evidence. 11:35 a.m. Three Uvalde police officers enter the same door as Ramos, soon followed by another three Uvalde police officers and a county sheriff. Two officers received grazing wounds as Ramos shot through a closed classroom door. 11:37 a.m. More gunfire erupts and 16 rounds are fired. 11:38 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:40 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:44 a.m. More gunfire is heard. 11:51 a.m. Police sergeant arrives on scene. 12:03 p.m. Officers continue to arrive in the hallway. As many as 19 officers are on scene. 12:03 p.m. A child in Room 112 calls 911 and whispers Hes in Room 112. The call lasted 1 minute 23 seconds. 12:10 p.m. The same child calls 911 again and says multiple people are dead. 12:13 p.m. The same child calls 911 again. 12:15 p.m. Border Patrol Tactical Unit members begin to arrive. 12:16 p.m. The same child calls 911 again and says there are 8-9 students alive. 12:19 p.m. A 911 call is made from a child in Room 111. She hangs up when another student told her to hang up. 12:21 p.m. The child from room 111 calls again and 911 dispatchers can hear three shots fired. Police believe Ramos was shooting at the door. 12:21 p.m. Police move down the hallway. 12:36 p.m. The initial caller from Room 112 calls 911 again and is told to stay on the line and be very quiet. She tells the dispatcher that He shot the door. The call lasted 21 seconds. 12:43 p.m. The child in Room 112 asks dispatchers to Please send the police now. 12:46 p.m. The child says she can hear the police next door. 12:50 p.m. Police breach the door using keys obtained from the janitor because both doors are locked. Officers kill the suspect. 911 dispatchers can hear police moving children outside of the room. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Days after the horrific massacre in Uvalde that left 21 dead, including 19 children, follow along below for the latest news and analysis on the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. 9:20 p.m. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick walked back comments he made during a Fox News interview Saturday morning. In a tweet Saturday night, he said he meant to say he thought police's decision to not go into Robb Elementary sooner "may have" cost lives. Earlier, he said it did cost lives. "Talking back & forth with the host I didnt realize it until later," he wrote. "The investigation of that time period is still ongoing." 5 p.m. Robb Elementary was jubilant Tuesday morning until Salvador Ramos,18, walked through the campus parking lot firing his assault rifle randomly. Soon, 19 children and two teachers would lie dead, and the nation would recoil in horror at the latest massacre of innocents in a school. With this interactive timeline, see a minute-by-minute reconstruction of the morning chaos and how the tragic school shooting in Uvalde unfolded. Houston Chronicle 4:57 p.m. As many NRA attendees started filing for the exits, a diminished but dedicated group of protesters continued chants against gun culture, and the members headed across the street. Houston Police stayed in force, allowing all the noise but keeping a close guard on separating the groups. 1:57 p.m. Alex Mounir walked across a graduation stage at the Toyota Center, and right across the street to protest outside the NRA annual convention. Now Playing: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee makes statement outside NRA Convention Video: Yi Chin Lee, Laura Duclos How could I not. Mounir said, holding a sign someone gave to him. Of course I would be out here, sick of being under a desk. Mounir said he is for protecting the Second Amendment and schools by arming guards but also making sure guns aren't a constant of American life. Mostly he's sick, he said, of living in a world where it's necessary as a student to practice shooter drills. People don't understand what it is like, Mounir said. Youre cowering under a desk and they don't tell you if it's real. His days at Ridge Point High School in Missouri City might be over, but other students shouldn't have to endure the stress, he said. What's less clear, at least for now, is how to bridge the gap between the decidedly different perspectives on display in downtown Houston. Mounir said he didn't have all the answers. I'm just 18, he said. I just graduated. 1:20 p.m. About 20 black and yellow clad Proud Boys are being kept divided from the 200 or so protesters outside the George R. Brown Convention Center. After Houston Police created a hard line between them, the small gathering is talking amongst themselves. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer 12:45 p.m. The CISD school police chief who has been criticized for delaying the police response at Robb Elementary School was "overwhelmingly" elected to a city council position in Uvalde earlier this month, according to a report from the Uvalde Leader News. Now Playing: Scenes from outside NRA Convention in Houston Video: Yi Chin Lee, Laura Duclos Pete Arredondo who was identified by Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw Friday as the commander on scene for the mass shooting received almost 70 percent of the vote on May 7 for District 3's seat, elections records show. Arredondo is set to be sworn into his new position on May 31 exactly a week after the massacre. 11:20 a.m. It's not as common as one might think, but the question comes up at the Kalashnikov USA booth. They'll says, Are yall a Russian company, said Dave Garretson, manning the booth. It's not often, but it happens.. Convention floors are a volume business, and business was booming Saturday morning in Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center. After the spectacle of Fridays politics-driven day, attendees were settling in more to browsing and grabbing free bags and ballcaps. Even the Kalashnikov booth, Russian name and origins and all, was bustling. They know the AK-47, but not Kalashnikov, Garretson said. The Florida company, an importer prior to 2008, started manufacturing after the Russian company was kept out of the market. With Ukraine and Russias aggression on many peoples minds, and guns front and center, it certainly has not dented their demand on the convention floor. 10:55 a.m. A Houston progressive group member confronted Ted Cruz at a restaurant about the Uvalde shooter's age and gun access before being escorted out by the senator's security. "What about background checks, can you talk about background checks?" Benjamin Hernandez of Indivisible Houston pleaded with senator just after posing with him to take a picture at Uptown Sushi. "So, if you look at the laws the Democrats are passing they wouldn't stop a mass murderer," Cruz responded. "This shooter waited till the day he turned 18, why is it so hard to support stronger gun laws in this country?" Hernandez said. "You need to make it harder to get guns in this country." "My bill would have stopped the violence," Cruz can be heard saying as Hernandez was escorted out of the restaurant. 8:36 a.m. A growing number of state lawmakers are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call them back to Austin for a special legislative session after the mass shooting in Uvalde. The calls have mostly come from Democrats, who have made similar pleas after past tragedies. The entire Senate Democratic Caucus is expected to send Abbott a letter on Saturday pushing for a special session to address gun violence and implement new gun restrictions. But the GOP controls both chambers of the Legislature, and now some of them have also asked to come back to Austin. State Sen. Kel Seliger and Rep. Lyle Larson, both moderate Republicans who are not seeking re-election, demanded on Friday that lawmakers do something. By the end of the day, a handful of other Republicans, including state Reps. Steve Allison of San Antonio and Jeff Leach of Plano, joined their calls. Texas Lawmakers have work to do, Leach tweeted. Conversations to engage in. Deliberations & debates to have. Important decisions to make. And the best way to do our jobs openly, publicly & transparently is in a #txlege special session. Texans expect & deserve this & the time demands it. At a Friday press conference, Abbott said all options are on the table. He made similar remarks after a pair of mass shootings in 2019, but nothing materialized. Frantic, wailing parents confined by yellow crime scene tape plead with police officers outside Robb Elementary, pushing and pacing with the desperation of pent-up animals headed to slaughter. Except it isnt their own slaughter theyre trying to stop; its their childrens. In cellphone footage thats emerged from the chaotic scene that unfolded Tuesday as a teen gunman rampaged inside with an AR-15-style rifle, mothers and fathers are seen pleading, screaming for officers to do something to save their children, or at the very least, to let parents without guns, without armor, with bare hands, if need be charge into the school and give their babies a fighting chance. You know that they are kids, right? a man yells in one video. Theyre little kids and they dont know how to defend themselves! The officers refuse. Instead, as children faced an imminent threat inside, officers busied themselves corralling parents, patrolling the barrier with Tasers and even handcuffing and subduing parents on the ground if they didnt comply, according to video and witness accounts. For nearly an hour, as gunshots rang out through Robb Elementary, as bullets fatally pierced the little bodies of captive fourth-graders in two adjoining classrooms, as some children clung to hope by repeatedly calling 911 for help Please send the police now, one girl begged more than an hour into the siege no help came. Earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott drew harsh criticism for saying the massacre of 19 elementary school children and their two teachers could have been worse. Nothing, many of us thought, could be worse. We were wrong. Revelations that Abbotts initial heroic law enforcement narrative was a complete fabrication, and that many other details he relayed were false, only deepen the pain and rage. The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials do what they do, Abbott said solemnly at a news conference Wednesday. They showed amazing courage, by running toward gunfire, for the singular purpose of trying to save lives. In reality, newly emerging timelines from officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety depict excruciating delays, tragic false assumptions and a clumsy if not cowardly response by officers or their commanders sworn to protect the vulnerable children who needed them. They should have moved in, Jesse Rodriguez, who lost a daughter and a niece in the shooting, told CNN. I dont think they had a right to sit there on their ass waiting. The governor, who says he merely relayed the information given to him, at first told us the gunman had engaged with a school resource officer. Never happened, law enforcement officials now say. Apparently, after shooting his grandmother in the face, the gunman crashed a truck by the school, opened fire on people at a funeral home nearby, then roamed around outside the school building for 10 to 12 minutes. Having drawn two 911 calls by then, and by some accounts more, he entered the school, completely unobstructed through an unlocked door. We were initially told officers couldnt enter during an agonizing period of time because the gunman had barricaded the door. In fact, there was no barricade, DPS said Friday, and it didnt appear anyone even tried to open the classroom door. Law enforcement officers appear to have attempted to enter the school early but retreated after taking fire. As numbers of officers grew, they converged in the hallways outside the classrooms where children lay dead, dying or injured, and merely waited until the massacre was over. Law enforcement officials have been consistent in crediting a special tactical unit led by U.S. Border Patrol agents with ultimately confronting the gunman and killing him. But in one of the most maddening, most enraging revelations, media reports now indicate that the Border Patrol unit actually arrived much earlier than previously thought, shortly after the shooting began, and were ordered by the local commanding officer to wait nearly an hour before intervening. But why? The on-scene commander considered it a barricaded subject and that no more children were at risk, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said. Obviously, based upon the information we have, there were more children at risk and not a barricaded subject. The commander was identified as the Uvalde Consolidated ISD chief of police, listed on the districts website as Pete Arredondo. It was a wrong decision. Period. There was no excuse for that, McCraw said. Uvaldes police department is small, of course, but its not without equipment and training its Facebook page even boasts of its own SWAT team designed to prepare it for just such a horror as unfolded at Robb Elementary this week. But whats so deeply shocking is that police officers, any police officers who are sworn to protect, would fail to respond at all. After the Columbine massacre, general guidance is for officers to immediately pursue and try to neutralize active shooters rather than waiting for back-up or to secure the scene. We may never know how many lives could have been saved if the first law enforcement on the scene had done their jobs and acted with the courage we admire and sometimes take for granted in our first responders. We are reminded in this moment how precious it is. But there are things we can know, and things the parents of murdered, injured or traumatized children in Uvalde deserve to know, about what happened on the darkest day of their lives. Chief among them: What on earth made the commanding officer assume the shooter was barricaded and not an active threat to students? The governor has some explaining to do as well. He said Friday he was given bad information: I was misled, he said. I am livid about what happened. He should be. But his administration only exacerbated the confusion at times, with DPS officials giving incomplete and inaccurate information even as they tried to clarify the timeline of events. Abbott has assured Texans that the truth will emerge through a thorough investigation overseen by the Texas Rangers and now the FBI. Well hope so. But dont ask us to trust. We hope the false narratives in this case dont make suffering Uvalde families any more vulnerable to the kind of online harassment and outrageous hoax accusations that Sandy Hook parents have endured for years. The families of Robb Elementary were failed in every conceivable way. Their sorrow and grief has been compounded by incompetence and apparently faltering courage.. Truth is the very least we owe them. Regarding Beto O'Rourke confronts Abbott during news conference on Uvalde mass shooting: 'This is on you', (May 25):The criticism of Beto ORourke by Uvalde Republican Mayor Don McLaughlin is more than a little bit disingenuous. A party whose leaders try to disenfranchise voters, overthrow the federal government and prevent the CDC from collecting data on gun violence, has no moral high ground to stake out. What was happening in Uvalde Wednesday was a political circus. ORourke would have been in order if he had thrown a pie, but instead he said the thing that most of us are thinking: the responsibility for this terrible tragedy lies with Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Sen. Cruz and the rest of their party that has been bought and paid for by the NRA. Doubling down on a failed strategy of putting armed guards at the sole entrance to a school hasn't worked, giving lip service to expanding mental health resources hasnt worked and relying on a good guy with a gun hasnt worked. As theologian Miroslav Volf once remarked, There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve. I couldn't agree more. Susan Miller Jackson, Houston Regarding Abbott appeared at East Texas fundraiser hours after Uvalde mass shooting, (May 25): So what? Abbott gave the parents and their dead schoolchildren proper and sufficient public respect at his press conference with Ted Cruz and others, a respect which is more than can be said of the fool Beto ORourke who simply couldnt hold back his political agenda for even a few hours, or the other fool, Biden, who in his quick attack response speech all but ignored the grieving parents and relatives and focused on gun advocates. And just how long was it before the Democrats were mailing out fundraising letters or on TV spouting their vitriol against gun advocates? J. Jones, La Porte Several weeks ago, you were kind enough to publish a letter in which I expressed the opinion that Democrats were not being as aggressive as they needed to be in positioning themselves against the lies and misinformation being used by Republicans in their effort to turn our democracy into an authoritarian oligarchy. I suggested that Democrats needed to go to the mattresses to save our democracy. Beto ORourke just gave the perfect example of what I was suggesting. In response to an avoidable tragedy, all of the privileged princes of Texas Republican leadership sashayed onto a platform with local leaders who were to be their background for a purely political attempt to depoliticize and divert blame and accountability for their policies enabling of mass murders. ORourke ruined their soundbite moment by showing up and screaming the truth at Abbott and his entourage of sycophants. The local mayor accused ORourke of doing exactly what Abbott and the Republicans were doing, which was trying to put themselves in the best possible political light. He accused ORourke of being a sick son of a (expletive) for, evidently, having the courage to speak the truth to power and disrupting Abbotts little smoke and mirror show, ruining their standard display of contrived empathy. Ray Pickens, Pearland So the governor and Legislature bear no responsibility for the mass shooting in Uvalde and they just dont understand how it could happen? Open carry and few restrictions on gun purchases comes to mind. The 18-year-old who apparently legally bought an assault gun and ammunition and then used it to shoot his grandmother and kill students and teachers at an elementary school was just evil or mentally ill or demented. Take your pick. Abbott said them all. But he took no responsibility for making it so easy to purchase and carry assault weapons. I have lived 81 years. At this point I think I can identify a con artist when I see one and Texas government is full of them. Sammye Larson, Houston Beto ORourke is right. The deaths of the children in Uvalde are on the Republicans who have refused to enact sensible gun control legislation, but have instead made it easy for anyone to get a gun in Texas by passing House Bill 1927 in the last legislative session. The National Rifle Association is also responsible for these deaths and Houston officials should never have signed a contract to allow that organization to hold its conference in Houston. Our politicians have to exercise greater moral clarity and courage if we are ever to reduce this epidemic of gun violence. David Atwood, Houston Pleading to politicians Regarding Live updates: Uvalde gunman shared violent plan shortly before reaching school, (May 24): I respectfully ask Congressman Dan Crenshaw to support bills that would put into law common-sense regulation of gun purchases including background checks, a waiting period between purchase and taking possession of guns, and permits; also a bill that would extend a red flag law throughout the country which would allow judges to remove guns from those deemed irrational and violence-prone. Finally, it is time to restore the ban on assault rifles. My late father, a career Army officer and hunter, kept his pistols holstered and locked up, and his rifles unloaded and stored in a safe place when not in use. He would be appalled at how carelessly guns are treated today. I cannot imagine what he would say about the easy access to assault rifles and the gun-happy people shooting them at targets for thrills. So while these thrill-seekers get their highs squeezing off barrages of bullets, one lone 18-year-old barricades himself in a classroom of fourth graders and uses his assault rifle to murder students and their teachers. As a former military man, I know Crenshaw must share the same sense of responsibility in gun ownership as my father did. Please speak up now. Alice Lively, Kingwood I used to think the only way for politicians to finally do something about the prevalence of guns would be for one of their own to be shot. However, even after Gabby Giffords was shot, nothing changed. Its a horrible thought but if one of these do-nothing politicians children was shot there would be a stampede to get new gun laws passed. Let's face it today's politicians think only of themselves. Every time I hear my thoughts and prayers are with you I nearly throw up. Lets go to the polls and oust this bunch of lobbyist suck-ups. Americans should be totally embarrassed by the people they have elected and continue to elect (case in point, Ken Paxton who is under federal indictment and still won his primary). Pat Reagin, Montgomery To the grieving families of the 21 people killed in the school massacre in Uvalde, and to heartbroken Texans, Gov. Abbott remarked that It could have been worse and praised the courage of law enforcement officers. How cruel and thoughtless. And how painful to hear those words. How empty his admonishment to love and uplift these families. Abbott placed blame for gun deaths on the mental health problems in the state. And the only solution he offered was expanded mental health services. No mention of the proliferation of guns and the easy access to guns in Texas. No mention of dealing with these problems head on or acknowledging that they could be the cause of these deaths. This Memorial Day weekend, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are scheduled to speak at the annual convention of the NRA, upholding the sanctity of the Second Amendment. No doubt, there will be sanctimonious thoughts and prayers for the victims of violence at the hands of evil people. We are paying dearly in Texas for inept and callous leadership. Patricia L. Day, Houston I am tired of all the politicians asking us to keep the families affected by mass shootings in our prayers and to support the communities. Not once have I heard a single politician give a valid and legitimate reason for any citizen to possess an assault rifle. Assault rifles are intended for war. Who are we at war with, ourselves? The American people? Bill Moore, Houston MassRMV Announces New Medal of Liberty License Plate BOSTON The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced it is now accepting applications for a new Medal of Liberty license plate which will be issued at no cost to approved family members of service men and women from Massachusetts who were killed in action, died in service while in a designated combat area in the line of duty, or died as a result of wounds received in action. Each qualifying applicant can register one private passenger motor vehicle owned and principally used by him/her at https://www.mass.gov/doc/application-for-medal-of-liberty-plates . The Medal of Liberty Plate is a passenger plate which needs to be renewed every two years and is not available for motorcycles. "The Registry of Motor Vehicles is pleased to offer the new Medal of Liberty license plate to honor service men and women who lost their lives while working to protect and serve our country," said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. "The specialty plates, which are available at no cost to eligible customers through an application process, will help family members continue to pay tribute and memorialize the service of their fallen loved ones." Applicants must first be approved for the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty by the Office of the Adjutant General before submitting an application for this special plate. Once approved for the medal, the applicants can apply for the plates either online at https://www.mass.gov/doc/application-for-medal-of-liberty-plates or by mail. All of the documents listed below need to be submitted at the time of the request. Required application materials A completed Application for Medal of Liberty Plates. A Recommendation for the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty form (TAGMA form 3367) approved by the Office of the Adjutant General. The service member's DD-214, DD Form 1300, Deployment Orders, or NGB 22. A completed Registration and Title Application stamped by an insurance company. The RMV will mail the requested plates to eligible customers approximately 20 days after the application has been approved. In addition, eligible customers can also request a KIA decal if the service member's DD Form 1300 indicates "Killed in Action" in category box 4C. K.I.A. Decals must be affixed to the shaded area of the plate below the Medal of Liberty on the left of the plate. The RMV also offers a variety of special license plates that are specifically designed for veterans and military personnel to honor and recognize their service. Veteran and military passenger and motorcycle plates include Veteran, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Congressional Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Ex-POW. The National Guard, Disabled Veteran, and Gold Star Family passenger plates are also available. Eligibility requirements differ based on plate type and can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/veteran-and-military-license-plates. Information on the Medal of Liberty, which is governed under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 33, Section 67A, can be found on the website for the Massachusetts National Guard at https://www.massnationalguard.org/images/Docs/Medal-of-Liberty-2019.pdf All RMV customers are encouraged to visit the RMV Online Service Center or www.Mass.Gov/RMV to renew their license or ID card, and complete one of over 40 other transactions available online, by mail, or by phone. iciHaiti - West : Resupplying of canteens located in areas in difficulty The National School Canteens Program (PNCS) has resupplied certain schools in the West department located in areas in difficulty, including the National School of Cite Soleil, the Lycee de Cite Soleil, the National School of Varreux, the National School, Republic of Guatemala, the National High School of La Saline, the National School of Application, of Martissant, the National School Republic of Peru. Priority has been given to these schools because of the prevailing insecurity and precariousness. Some of them have been forced to close their doors for months to find refuge in neighboring schools. Thanks to the efforts made by the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, Mr. Nesmy Manigat, these schools were able to return to their old building, and suddenly, allow students to return home. In order to meet their nutritional needs and contribute to their continued presence in the classrooms, the PNCS took charge of the canteen of these schools, attended by thousands of schoolchildren. This action undertaken by the PNCS follows the operation to restock food for school canteens in the departments of Centre, Artibonite, North, North-East and North-West carried out with the assistance of the Cooperation Service and Cultural Action of the French Embassy (SCAC), which donated 88.75 tons of rice and 5.5 tons of beans during the month of May. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Security : The interpreter and translator of the gang leader Lanmo San Jou arrested by the PNH Pierre Dieumedor Peter, an influential member of the "400 Mawozo" criminal organization, actively sought by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) was arrested by the police on Thursday May 26, 2022, in Mirebalais. He was apprehended during a checkpoint carried out by a patrol of the Departmental Unit for Maintaining Order (UDMO) of the Center, as he was preparing to go to the Dominican Republic. Let's recall that Pierre Dieumedor Peter was deported from the United States of America to Haiti, and that according to information that investigators from the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) have, he would have played the role of interpreter and translator of the chief gang "Lanmo San Jou" and his acolytes to facilitate communication with the group of American Missionaries who have been kidnapped on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Croix-des-Bouquets. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35012-haiti-flash-at-least-fifteen-american-missionaries-kidnapped-in-port-au-prince.html He is currently transferred to the DCPJ for the necessary legal action. IH/ iciHaiti Before he died, beloved MIT professor Patrick Winston regularly gave a fascinating and deeply compelling lecture to university students about the value of good communication. In his introduction, he drew attention to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which calls for court martial for any officer who sends a soldier into battle without a weapon. Winston says there ought to be a similar protection for students--and I might add, that protection should be provided for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners, too. Namely, that no one should go through life without being armed with the ability to properly communicate. Because, as Winston puts it: "Your success in life will be determined largely by your ability to speak, your ability to write, and the quality of your ideas, in that order." The ability to speak. The ability to write. The quality of your ideas. Winston, a brilliant professor who taught thousands of students and was himself a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence, also knew the power of emotional intelligence. While he recognized the value of brilliant ideas, he placed even higher importance on the ability to communicate those ideas in an impactful manner. Let's break down each of Winston's keys to success, along with how you can hone your abilities. The ability to speak The best speakers know how to inform, persuade, and direct their listeners. They speak with confidence and conviction. In turn, they motivate their audience to take action. (Just imagine how less successful Apple may have been if Steve Jobs didn't know how to give an effective presentation.) So, how do you improve your ability to speak? Here are three quick tips that can get you started: 1. Ask: How much does my audience know? If you know a lot about a subject, it's easy to talk over your audience's heads. In contrast, if your audience is well-informed, it's easy to bore them. So, ask yourself: How much does my audience already know about my topic? If you can tailor what you say specifically to your listeners, you'll maximize your impact. 2. Get excited. No one will get passionate about what you have to say unless you're passionate about it, first. So get to know your subject well. Clarify for yourself how it's helped you in your work or life, and what value it holds for others. Practice speaking about it out loud, to anyone who will listen. And if you're the type to get anxious when speaking to others, try to channel that nervous energy into enthusiasm. 3. Slow down. The problem with passion and enthusiasm is it causes you to speak faster. But again, you have to remember your audience: That means slowing down to a pace they can absorb. (If you watch Professor Winston's lecture, you'll see that he speaks at a very slow, very deliberate pace--yet the audience hangs on every word.) Deliberately practice slowing down when you speak. Record yourself in meetings or when presenting; then, listen to it later. If you find you're speaking too fast, try taking more pauses when you speak. For example, if you ask a rhetorical question, you can pause and count silently to three before continuing. Or, if you're asking a direct question, force yourself to wait until the person gives you an answer. Finally, use phrases like "in other words" and "to put it simply" to repeat main points in a way that's easy to grasp. The ability to write Jeff Bezos runs executive meetings based on written, narrative-style memos that take several collaborators a week or more to write. Jason Fried, the founder and CEO at Basecamp, says that they make all hiring decisions--from programmers and designers to marketers and receptionists--based on the applicant's writing ability. Why? Because clear writing indicates clear thinking. The written word has special power. It can be done at one's own pace. It can be continually refined and improved. It influences and motivates. And as more and more work gravitates to remote, it becomes even more important to be able to communicate via writing in a concise, easy-to-understand manner. So, how do you improve your writing skills? You have to write. Many experienced copywriters got started by transcribing writing from other great copywriters, as an exercise. This works because when you write, you can't help but slow down and think. Doing so helps you to internalize what you've written, while simultaneously increasing your own skill. In time, you create your own style while borrowing from the best practices of others. You can do same thing. Do you see a website or landing page that you really love? Transcribe it, word for word. Then, try doing it again--this time with your own product or service in mind, but using the same writing style. (You can do the same thing when trying to emulate any types of writing, from emails to reports.) Another tip: If you have a question you want to ask someone, write it down first. Think about the person you want to ask, and what questions they might have; then, incorporate the answers for these in your writing. The quality of your ideas The ability to generate high-quality ideas begins with consuming high quality ideas, first. Start by studying great thinkers and pondering their findings. Make connections between what they've discovered and what you've learned in your own life. Next, focus on ideas that solve real-world problems. Rather than waiting for inspiration to strike, strike when the iron is hot: When you have a problem that you've just solved (or are trying to solve), write down your process, and your progress. Doing so will help you to build on previous foundations of thought and increase the quality of your ideas. Now you need to set aside time for deep work. That means regular, dedicated time for creative thinking and brainstorming, as well as fleshing out those brainstorms. (Deep work also means you need to stop multitasking, so turn your notifications off and put your phone away.) Focus on one task or idea at a time until it's complete, or until you've made significant progress. Finally, don't underestimate the power of going for a walk, which can boost your brain's dopamine levels as well as your creative thinking abilities. So, if you want to increase your chances at success, remember the advice of the late Patrick Winston: Don't go into battle without your weapon. Practice speaking, writing, and thinking, and use the process above to help you do so. The world economy is in a "crucible moment"--and businesses need to adapt for more change to come. That's according to a leaked, 52-page memo that the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital presented to its portfolio companies on May 16, The Information first reported. In the presentation--titled "Adapting to Endure"--the VC firm explains that it's not yet time to panic, but businesses should think critically about how they can prepare for a economic downturn. Planning for the worst will help companies "avoid the death spiral." This isn't the first time that a Sequoia Capital memo predicted economic hardship. In 2008, its R.I.P. Good Times memo foretold the Great Recession, and in early March 2020, its Black Swan letter told businesses what to anticipate at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, it's worth paying attention to Sequoia's predictions for months ahead. Here are the three biggest pieces of advice to take away from the latest presentation. 1. Simplify your strategy. Now is not the time for rapid growth--it's time for deliberate scaling and cost-cutting. The only strategies businesses should focus on in the current moment are those that drive revenue growth, save money (for a strong return on investment), and reduce risk, the memo says. Companies should look at cuts as a way of conserving cash and making business more efficient. 2. Find opportunity. "We believe the best, most ambitious, most determined of you will use this moment to rise to the occasion and build something truly remarkable," reads Sequoia's memo. Businesses will need to make hard choices to stay solvent, but those choices can position them for success even after economic recovery. This echoes the sentiments of Jorge A. Guzman, associate professor of business management at Columbia Business School, who recently told Inc. that recessions can bring unexpected business opportunities, like the chance for a successful company to acquire one that may not be faring as well. 3. Lead with optimism and realism. Eight episodes of Panchayat 2 were packed with humor, a few middle-class jokes, and heartwarming dialogues. After giggling and laughing their hearts out with the first six episodes, what the fans didn't see coming was a tragic climax, which made them shed tears. Panchayat 2, a wholesome series about a village, had a lot to offer to the fans. Panchayat 2/Amazon Prime Video But what makes Panchayat 2 a hit among fans? Amazon Prime Video Fans have been lauding the series for giving them several moments of laughter. Apart from comedy, the show's makers did an incredible job of breaking the 'Mard ko dard nhi hota' stereotype. @malikfeb Faisal Bhai has been one of the critical Embodiment of the story we wanted to tell with Panchayat and No One could have played Prahlad better than him Love You Faisal Bhai https://t.co/CuyXWUqeuL Arunabh Kumar (@ArunabhKumar) May 25, 2022 Panchayat 2 didn't just live up to fans' expectations, but they successfully delivered much more. The series ends on a tragic note as Prahlad receives a phone call that breaks his heart and changes his life in a second. The heartbreaking scene is being touted as one of the most powerful scenes of the series. Amazon Prime Video Fans took to social media to share their feelings after the last scene. Praising the entire cast for displaying the right emotions while portraying grief, fans wrote their honest feelings. Panchayat 2 - Amazon Prime No one could hold their tears in this last scene MASTERPIECE! pic.twitter.com/DuQ3nRW6Cv La Cinephile (@TheCineprism) May 23, 2022 Reacting to the end scene and how it managed to prove that funeral scenes can be mastered without overpowering music or theatrics, fans wrote: Watched Panchayat S2 today. What a brilliant series, especially the last episode 'Pariwar'!! Marvelously displayed the grief of a soldier's family soaked deeply in soul. Do watch. _Tej_ (@Tej_Intel) May 21, 2022 Panchayat 2 finale is just From pre climax where the TV reporter talks about how prahlad Pandey will have to live the rest of his life To the climax where prahlad weeps saying God has always been unfair to him just wrecks our hearts .. Kudos to @TheViralFever pic.twitter.com/0Rga5cAC1P kashinath (@TheNTRmaniac) May 24, 2022 Panchayat S2, Ep.8. Ending definitely gonna make you cry and to have an empathetic feelings towards Prahlad. This episode is a craft of highest order. AMITESH (@yoursAmitesh2) May 24, 2022 Just watched panchayat season 2 and can't really stop crying rn. Tvf shows are just so beautiful please. Why did they make it so emotional oh lord Deva (@jooniiwithlove) May 25, 2022 No one prepared me for the final episode of #PanchayatSeason2 Faisal Malik as Prahlad Pandey has my heart ANMOL JAMWAL (@jammypants4) May 23, 2022 There may be many others but these are some of the iconic scenes that come to my mind. But the one scene that shook me recently was this climax scene of Panchayat 2. Havent experienced such numbness in recent years. pic.twitter.com/czmjimMcgS Murphy (@radiowalakid) May 25, 2022 Panchayat 2 finale is just From pre climax where the TV reporter talks about how prahlad Pandey will have to live the rest of his life To the climax where prahlad weeps saying God has always been unfair to him just wrecks our hearts .. Kudos to @TheViralFever pic.twitter.com/0Rga5cAC1P kashinath (@TheNTRmaniac) May 24, 2022 panchayat season 2 is so good, last episode got me chills man especially the climax rasleen (@rasleen_grover) May 21, 2022 Panchayat Season 2 brings out every single emotion in you. Still can't sink in the climax imagining how difficult it could be in the real life. @TheViralFever @PrimeVideo Shubham Agrawal (@shubh_vachan) May 20, 2022 Panchayat 2 final episode is the best episode of not only this series but of all the series I watched... U just cannot stop ur self from crying.. just cannot...#panchayat2 @jitendrajk06 Puneet Bhawnani (@capuneetkumar) May 26, 2022 After watching panchayat season 2. 1. Crying for Pralahd ji urf upsachiv. 2. Appreciating the whole crew and team. 3. And the acting level of all actors in the end is just amazing u can't describe the emotion in words.#PanchayatSeason2 #Panchayat Anshu Roast (@Anshu_Rajput90) May 20, 2022 Some series are literally complete package and i must say that #Panchayat is one of those..After watching its season 2...it's dialogues, funny scenes, emotional scenes.. everything will tell you about life of common people And it's last episode..uff#PanchayatSeason2 Aarushi (@aarushi_sr) May 27, 2022 Incredible work :- Panchayat S 2 again showcased the soul of India...the village life..the characters,how people live,feel & share their happiness & sorrow among themselves..a simple story yet so powerful. No one could hold their tears in this last scene.#PanchayatSeason2 pic.twitter.com/joTxR87MaH || || (@RealAjayT) May 24, 2022 Really amazing series Panchayat part 2 just finished, really so aligned and touching series I have watched really great job done by @ArunabhKumar and team really great. The last scene made me cry. #PanchayatSeason2 pic.twitter.com/l3DPo4bCtM Rohitash puri (@rohitash_puri) May 24, 2022 Panchayat 2 has been receiving rave reviews as fans rarely enjoy the show's second season as much as they enjoyed the first one. Season two of the Amazon Original Series Panchayat was released on Prime Video on May 20. Panchayat 2 The popular comedy-drama series, directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, will feature actors Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, and Neena Gupta, who also starred in season one. Amazon Prime Video Panchayat, which was released in 2020, followed the life of Abhishek (played by Kumar), an engineering graduate who joins as a Panchayat secretary in a remote village Phulera of Uttar Pradesh, due to a lack of better job options. (To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.) The mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Texas on Tuesday was one of the worst incidents of gun violence in the US in recent history. A total of 21 people including 19 students and two adults were indiscriminately shot down by an 18-year-old gunman. Even as the grief and anger continue, it has now emerged that the carnage could have been avoided, if the cops had acted on time. AP According to Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, students who were trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911, including one who pleaded, Please send the police now, as officers waited more than an hour before going in. Children are not in danger, the commander felt The commander at the scene believed that the gunman Salvador Ramos was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that children were no longer at risk, McCraw said during a news conference. It was the wrong decision, he said. Reuters According to new information emerging, three police officers had followed Ramos into the building within two minutes and in the next half hour, as many as 19 officers piled into the hallway outside. But it took another 47 minutes before the Border Patrol tactical team breached the door. Let us go in, other agencies tell police As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger. Reuters But the commander inside the building the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo decided the group should wait to confront the gunman, on the belief that the scene was no longer an active attack, McCraw said. The crisis came to an end at 12:50 p.m., after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and fatally shot Ramos. The motive of the Ramos who had also shot his grandmother before laving the family home is unclear. Children pretended to be dead Young survivors of the attack said they pretended to be dead while waiting for help. AP Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she covered herself with a friend's blood to look dead. After the shooter moved into an adjacent room, she could hear screams, more gunfire and music being blared by the gunman. Samuel Salinas, 10, who also played dead, told ABC's Good Morning America that the assailant shot teacher Irma Garcia before firing on the kids. (With agency inputs) For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. More than 40% of students in the Northeast region of India were devoid of any digital tool to attend online classes during COVID-19, revealing a National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 report published on Wednesday. The survey was conducted in Northeast India to observe the mode of education and the reading outcomes during COVID-19. Unsplash Availability of digital Devices: Unsplash The students involved in the case study belonged to Classes III, V, VIII, and X. After the research, it was observed that the digital divide had been the worst in Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya, where 48% of the students had no digital devices at home. In Arunachal Pradesh, 43% of the students barely had any digital devices at home to attend their online classes. The figures for Mizoram and Nagaland were 39% and 37%, respectively. In Tripura, the percentage rose to 46%. Unsplash In Assam, 58% of the surveyed students shared that they went through anxiety and fear during the pandemic. 61% experienced similar moods in Arunachal Pradesh. About 59% of students in Manipur and Meghalaya revealed struggling with similar issues. The figures were 54% in Mizoram, 62% in Nagaland, and 59% in Tripura. Availability of instruction material and audio-visual resources for Teachers: Unsplash The survey revealed that only 16% of teachers in Assam had access to adequate instructional materials and supplies, and 16% of schools had sufficient audio-visual resources. Manipur was 16% in both categories. The figures for other states were: 10% and 12% respectively in Meghalaya, 14% and 11% for Mizoram, 13% and 15% for Nagaland, and 19% and 28% for Tripura. In Arunachal Pradesh, only 17% of the teachers surveyed had adequate instructional materials and supplies, and only 23% of schools had sufficient audio-visual resources. (For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.) The renowned Shanghai University in China has become the subject of mockery after asking students to take the practical swimming test 'online'. On May 15, the university announced that students who are finishing their bachelors degrees and are due to take a 50-metre swimming test could do so online. Representational Image/iStock In China, many top-level universities require their students to learn to swim before they graduate because swimming is considered a survival skill and a way to improve fitness and conditioning, The South China Morning Post reported. The university's special arrangement was revealed in a now-deleted notice which has been screengrabbed and widely shared across social media. "For students who have not completed the 50-meter swimming test, the school will use the method of "submitting theoretical homework online" for the assessment," the notice said. Representational Image/iStock According to the new method, students had to log in to the campus network and answer an online questionnaire. The classes and facilities including the swimming pool at the university are suspended under the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown. To ensure the students can graduate, we decided to conduct the swimming test online, an unnamed staff member from the deans office told Chinese news outlet Jimu, as per SCMP. This move, however, was instantly ridiculed by social media users, who had a hard time finding the logic in assessing swimming skills by way of a theoretical quiz. Wikipedia "Are the students supposed to swim in their bathtubs?" one user commented. Is it a reality version of surfing the internet? another user commented. Hahaha, go let the swimming sport completely and detach from the water. What a brilliant idea!, another said. "This is just embarrassing, coming from a reputable university. How can a theory test be the same as an actual lap in the pool?" a fourth user quipped. It is not clear if the university pushed ahead with its bizarre initiative, but it would be interesting to see what this 'online' swimming test would look like. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. News Global Cerium Nitride CeN, Cerium Nitride CeN Overview, Cerium Nitride CeN Application, Cerium Nitride CeN Supplier, Cerium Nitride CeN Price market trend 2023-2029 Cerium nitride synthesis method by Newsintegra927 Recently, covid 19 outbreak spreads in Shanghai, China. There are more than 25,000 new asymptomatic domestic infections every day. China is implementing a dynamic zero-out policy. A leading respiratory expert said the key to COVID-19 prevention and control is to minimize transmission and fatality rate. Omicron has a low case fatality rate but is highly transmissible and can still claim many lives in large outbreaks. "Total openness is not applicable in China. For China, we should keep to the dynamic zero-out and gradually open up." However, "dynamic zero clearance" is not the pursuit of complete "zero infection". As the Novel Coronavirus has its own uniqueness and strong concealment, there may be no way to prevent the detection of cases at present, but rapid detection and prompt treatment must be carried out, as soon as one case is found, one case will be dealt with. The situation in Shanghai is serious. As the financial center of China, Shanghai is a very important city, and the outbreak of the epidemic in Shanghai will put a great impact on China's economy. The current task is to contain the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible, to achieve social zero so that Shanghai's life and economy quickly return to normal. As China plays an important role in the global supply chain, the outbreak will have a significant impact on the supply and prices of many Cerium Nitride CeN, Cerium Nitride CeN Overview, Cerium Nitride CeN Application, Cerium Nitride CeN Supplier, Cerium Nitride CeN Price. Cerium nitride CeN powder overview Cerium nitride is a brown powder with the chemical formula CeN and a molecular weight of 154.11 g/mol. Cerium nitride synthesis method 1. Metal cerium flakes undergo an exothermic reaction with N2 at the melting temperature to form a cubic nitride. 2. Metal cerium reacts with NH3 at 500 for 1h to obtain nitride. Cerium nitride physical data .Properties: bronze color, NaCl type structure, a=0.501nm. 2. Density (g/cm3): 7.89. 3. Melting point (C): 2557. Cerium Nitride CeN Powder Application Cerium nitride powder is a semiconductor material, optoelectronic material, refractory material and ceramic material. Widely used in petroleum, chemical, metallurgy, textile, ceramics, glass, permanent magnet materials and other fields. Cerium Nitride CeN Powder Price The price of cerium nitride CeN powder will change randomly with the production cost of cerium nitride CeN powder, transportation cost, international situation, market supply and demand of cerium nitride CeN powder and other factors. Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd. aims to reduce the cost of nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full range of customized services, helping industries and chemical wholesalers to find high-quality and affordable products. If you are looking for cerium nitride CeN powder products, please feel free to send an inquiry to get the latest cerium nitride CeN powder prices. Cerium Nitride CeN Powder Supplier As a global cerium nitride CeN powder supplier, Tanki New Materials Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced and engineered materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (molybdenum disilicide, lanthanum nitride (LaN powder, calcium silicide, iron boride), high-purity targets, functional ceramics and structural devices, and provides OEM services. Technical Data of Cerium Nitride CeN powder Part Name High Purity Cerium Nitride Powder MF CeN Purity 99.5% Particle Size -100 mesh Application Cerium nitride CeN powder is used in high-end ceramics, luminescent materials, special metallurgy, etc. Specification of Cerium Nitride CeN powder Part Name Cerium Nitride CeN Powder Appearance Brown Powder Purity 99.5% Ca (wt%) 0.0026 Fe (wt%) 0.0032 Si (wt%) 0.0013 C (wt%) 0.001 Al (wt%) 0.0021 Mg (wt%) 0.0007 Twitter recently announced that it had reached an agreement with Musk to take full ownership of the company for $54.20 per share, or about $44 billion in cash. After the deal, Twitter will become a privately held company. The deal, which has been unanimously approved by Twitter's board but still requires shareholder and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in 2022. After Tesla CEO Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter was finalized, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey sent out a series of six tweets expressing his expectations for Musk. Dorsey called Twitter his biggest regret, saying, The idea and service is all that matters to me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect both. Twitter as a company has always been my sole issue and my biggest regret. It has been owned by Wall Street and the ad model. Taking it back from Wall Street is the correct first step. "In principle, I don't believe anyone should own or run Twitter," Dorsey goes on. He thinks the service is a public good. He called Musk a "singular solution" to Twitter's problems, "Elon's goal of creating a platform that is" Maximally trusted and inclusive "is the right one." He wrote, "Thank you both for getting the company out of an impossible situation. This is the right path... I believe it with all my heart." Besides, because of the ever-changing international situation, the supply and prices of international bulk Cerium Nitride CeN, Cerium Nitride CeN Overview, Cerium Nitride CeN Application, Cerium Nitride CeN Supplier, Cerium Nitride CeN Price are still very uncertain. Inquery us News Global fumed silica market trend 2023-2030 Use Fumed Silica as Anti-sedimentation Agents by Newsintegra927 A wave of layoffs that has swept the entire Internet industry has intensified. China's Internet industry has experienced several crises and major changes in the past development process. There is also a "brief history of layoffs by major Internet companies". Hot search, JD.com has a wide range of layoffs in this round of layoffs, and all its subsidiaries are involved. Most of the layoffs are between 10% and 20%. Among them, Jingxi Guangdong and other theaters have all laid off staff. Tencent also reported the news of downsizing and layoffs. Among them, Tencent PCG (Platform User Content Business Group) laid off 30% of its staff, iQiyi laid off 12% of its staff, Kuaishou was reported to have laid off 30% of its staff, and the e-sports department of Station B laid off 90% of its staff. Mass layoffs on the internet have created a host of socioeconomic issues, including fumed silica. Fumed silica is a kind of inorganic nanomaterial with a small particle size, large specific surface area, and high surface activity. It is mainly used as a rheological auxiliary agent in paint and coating, which can effectively prevent flow hanging and thick edges in the construction process and improve construction efficiency. In addition, silica in the coating is also used as an anti-sedimentation and dispersant aid, can effectively prevent the sedimentation of the pigment delamination, improve the coating weather resistance, scratch resistance, and the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate. Fumed silica is an ideal anti-sedimentation agent, its hydrogen bond structure is very stable and uniform, and it is a three-dimensional network structure, which is very effective to prevent the precipitation of pigment in the coating system. Especially for the color paste system, the appropriate amount will greatly improve the stability of color paste, and can reduce the amount of wetting dispersant, to improve the applicability of color paste and reduce the influence of color paste on the coating system. At the same time, the anti-sedimentation effect of fumed silica is very beneficial to the storage of coatings, especially some pigments such as metal powder and thin sections, which are easy to precipitate and cannot be completely suspended, the use of fumed silica can ensure that its dispersion does not precipitate. The precipitation of fumed silica is very beneficial for coating storage and transportation. For some pigments, such as metal powder and thin film, it is easy to precipitate and cannot be effectively suspended. The use of fumed silica can ensure that the mixture is uniform and does not cause sedimentation. In absolute non-polar liquid phase, such as hydrocarbons (hydrocarbons) without hydrogen bond (chemical structure such as R-H) bonding ability, halogenated hydrocarbon (halogen and hydrocarbon electrophilic addition or substitution reaction) solvent, the viscosity recovery time is only a fraction of a second; Thixotropic recovery in polar liquids, such as hydrogen-bonded amines (R-NH3), alcohols (R-OH), carboxylic acids (R-COOH), aldehydes (R-CHO), and dialcohols (such as Ho-Rh2-OH, where R- is a saturated alkyl group), can take up to several months, depending on the amount of fumed silica added and the uniformity of mixing. The fumed silica is pre-dispersed and added to the finished paint. Usually, a high-speed dispersing machine or three-roller machine is used to improve the dispersion effect. If the dispersion is not good, the paint film will have particles, affecting gloss and aesthetics. In addition, as an anti-sedimentation agent, fumed silica is added to coppery acrylic resin conductive coating. The test proves that it can make the thermoplastic acrylic resin thixotropic and prevent the deposition of filler particles, but if the addition amount is too much, the coating becomes a gel state, the conductivity of the coating would be reduced. In the powder system, because of the small particle size and high surface energy, silica can be adsorbed on the surface of the coating powder, and form a surface layer on the surface of the powder to improve the dispersion of the powder. In the same coating system, the addition of fumed silica can obviously shorten the dispersion time and improve the production efficiency. The addition of fumed silica in wall coating can effectively prevent coating from hanging, improve the flatness of the construction surface, and also greatly improve the washing resistance and aging time of exterior wall coating. The bonding strength of coating film and the wall is also greatly improved, the hardness of coating film is significantly increased, and the surface self-cleaning ability is also improved. The adsorption of fumed silica on the surface of powder coating can form a movable layer and produce a "ball bearing" effect, which can prevent the powder coating from absorbing moisture and agglomerating and improve the fluidity of powder coating. The main function of floor paint is the rheological control, improving the weatherability and scratch-resistance of floor paint, and improving the leveling performance of the coating. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials, including silicon powder, nitride powder, graphite powder, zinc sulfide, calcium nitride, 3D printing powder, etc. If you are looking for high-quality chemicals, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. ([email protected]) Russia is a major supplier of industrial metals such as nickel, aluminium and palladium. Russia and Ukraine are both major wheat exporters, and Russia and Belarus produce large amounts of potash, an input to fertiliser. The price and market of the fumed silica will fluctuate under its influence. Prices of these goods have been rising since 2022 and are now likely to rise further because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia is a major supplier of industrial metals such as nickel, aluminium and palladium. Russia and Ukraine are both major wheat exporters, and Russia and Belarus produce large amounts of potash, an input to fertiliser. The price and market of the fumed silica will fluctuate under its influence. Prices of these goods have been rising since 2022 and are now likely to rise further because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Inquery us Products Global fumed silica market trend 2025-2027 What is Fumed Silica? by Newsintegra927 Wholesale gas prices in the Netherlands and the UK have risen 20 percent recently amid concerns about Russian supplies. The EU plans to cut its dependence on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and stop importing Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Russia exported about 155 billion cubic meters of gas to the EU in 2021. The US recently said it would try to supply 15bn cubic meters of LNG to the EU this year. U.S. LNG plants are running at full capacity, and analysts say much of the extra gas the U.S. sends to Europe comes from what should have been exported elsewhere. The German government called Russia "an unreliable energy supplier". Even though the German government claimed that they have been preparing for the situation for a long time that Russia may stop sending gas one day, experts say it is hard for the EU to replace all of Russia's gas exports any time soon. The supply and prices of many fumed silica will continue to be influenced by international situations. Fumed silica is a nanometer white powder produced by the hydrolysis of silicon halide at high temperature in an oxyhydrogen flame. It is a kind of amorphous silicon dioxide product, the primary particle size is between 7~40nm, the aggregate particle size is about 200-500 nm, the specific surface area is 100~400m2/g, high purity, and SiO2 content is not less than 99.8%. The vapor phase silica aggregates with untreated surfaces contain a variety of silica hydroxyl groups. One is an isolated, undisturbed free hydroxyl group; The other is bonded silyl groups that are linked and form hydrogen bonds to each other. The vapor phase silica aggregates with the untreated surface are aggregates containing multiple -Oh compounds, which can easily form a uniform three-dimensional network structure (hydrogen bond) in the liquid system. This three-dimensional network structure (hydrogen bond) with external force (shear force, electric force, etc.) will be destroyed, the medium becomes thin, the viscosity drops, and once the external force disappears, the three-dimensional structure (hydrogen bond) will restore itself, the viscosity rises, that is, this thixotropy is reversible. Fumed silica is one of the most important new inorganic materials. It has a small particle size, large specific surface area, strong surface adsorption, large surface energy, high chemical purity, good dispersion performance, thermal resistance, resistance, and other aspects of specific performance. In addition, its high stability, its reinforcing effect, thickening, and thixotropy, in many fields of unique characteristics make it irreplaceable. It is widely used in various industries as additives, catalyst carriers, petrochemical, decolorizing agent, matting agent, rubber reinforcing agent, plastic filling agents, ink thickening agents, metal soft polishing agents, insulation and adiabatic filler, advanced daily cosmetic filler, and spraying materials, medicine, environmental protection, and other fields. Fumed silica mainly has two "sex: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. People can use physical, chemical, and mechanical methods to deal with the fumed silica surface or interface, in order to change its chemical and physical properties of the fumed silica surface, such as surface energy, surface wettability, electrical, adsorption, and reaction characteristics, surface structure and functional groups, etc. Therefore, it can meet the modern new material, new technology, and the needs of the development of new technology. Hydrophobic fumed silica applications Thickening of polar liquids, such as epoxy resins; Silicone elastomer reinforcement; High addition, as in molded products; Good hydrophobicity, improving anticorrosion; Improved dielectric properties, as in cable composites; Powder flow AIDS, such as powder coatings and fire extinguishing agents; Improve scratch resistance in coatings and plastics. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials, including silicon powder, nitride powder, graphite powder, zinc sulfide, calcium nitride, 3D printing powder, etc. If you are looking for high-quality fumed silica at a very good price, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. ([email protected]) Chile's government has decided to create a state-owned lithium enterprise and hopes to establish a model for the company by the end of the year, Mining Minister Marcela Hernando said in an interview. Chile is the world's second largest lithium producer and has the largest reserves of lithium in the world. The domestic lithium industry is currently dominated by two private companies, Albemarle and SQM. Chile wants to participate more closely in the booming lithium market after leftist President Gabriel Boric took office in March. The accelerating electrification of the global auto industry has helped push prices of lithium, a key raw material for electric car batteries, to record highs over the past year, lapping up more players, including Mexico and Argentina, who want a piece of the market. According to Hernando, the government is setting up a task force to determine the best way to run state-owned lithium enterprises. She said the government hopes to establish plans by the end of the year for how the company will develop and what business model it will operate under. Hernando stressed that while the state would be a major shareholder in the proposed company, it was open to private investment. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology (TRUNNANO) is a global chemical material supplier providing high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials including graphite powder, 3D printing powder, the fumed silica. Inquery us Just over 33,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war have arrived into Ireland so far, with the highest percentage of arrivals being children accompanied by one parent, new figures have shown. Statistics released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show about 3,000 of those who have arrived and have been given PPS numbers are living in Cork, with large numbers also living in Clare, Kerry, Galway and Dublin. In all, 33,151 PPS numbers have been issued to Ukrainians under the temporary protection directive, put in place after the Russian invasion in February. Under that directive, citizens of Ukraine or those who had refugee status in the country before the war could access services and benefits without making an application for international protection in Ireland. Karola Graupner, statistician with the CSO, said: This Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland release is based on administrative data up to 22 May 2022. It is the first publication by the Central Statistics Office providing insights into Irelands response to the Ukrainian crisis. Just under half (48%) of the arrivals to Ireland have been women over the age of 20, with children and teenagers accounting for 38% of the people who have arrived. The highest percentage of those arriving (43%) were categorised as one parent with children. From the onset of the war, the majority of those fleeing over the border have been women and children as men were ordered to stay in the country. The CSO used the local post office address, through which it was seeking assistance from the Department of Social Protection for the likes of collecting social protection payments, as a proxy for where people are living. The local electoral area which has the highest number of arrivals from Ukraine was the north inner city of Dublin, with 1,156. This was closely followed by Ennistymon in Clare, with 1,118 Ukrainians living in that area. Co Kerry has had higher numbers of Ukrainian arrivals than most other parts of the country, with 736 in Kenmare, 865 in Killarney, and 596 in Tralee. In Cork, the south-central area of the city has had 457 arrivals, while Midleton has had 597. Macroom has welcomed 328 individuals from Ukraine while Bandon-Kinsale has had 266 arrivals. The CSO said this geographic breakdown was based on data from 29,718 individuals, or 90% of those who have arrived so far. To date, many Ukrainians have been housed in serviced and emergency accommodation, as well as with families in Ireland who have opened up their homes to provide help. The Government recently signed off on a 400 monthly payment to households who are accommodating Ukrainian refugees. Of the 33,151 Ukrainian arrivals to Ireland given PPS numbers, 5% had come in the week up to May 22, the CSO said. One-quarter of arrivals have come in the last four weeks. The total number of children associated with child benefit payments was 9,624 in the week ending May 22. Last week, the Irish Red Cross said 33m had been raised in donations in response to the war in Ukraine. Its secretary-general Liam ODwyer said 3m would be used to support Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. More than 25,500 offers of accommodation have been received by the organisation, however, up to a fifth of pledges made had been withdrawn. Mr O'Dwyer said it was "normal" and that in many cases people realise that an initial offer of accommodation may not be practical. The CSO stressed since its data is based on those who have received a PPS number, it should be treated as estimates of the numbers arriving from Ukraine. For example, the number of persons who have arrived from Ukraine may not have received a PPSN yet, while the figures may also include those who received a PPSN earlier in the crisis but who are no longer resident in the State, it added. The deputy chair of An Bord Pleanala voted to override his own planning inspectors in the vast majority of applications for telecommunications masts over the past two years. Paul Hyde, who has stepped aside from his role at the planning body pending the outcome of two investigations into his voting record, voted to overturn refusal recommendations by planning inspectors in 31 of 36 mast applications since September 2020. Mr Hyde provided the final planning authorisation for 30 of them. In contrast, other members of the nine-strong board voted to overturn the recommendation of planning inspectors on three out of nine occasions over the same timeframe. While it is not unusual for An Bord Pleanala to overrule its own inspectors, sources familiar with the process have indicated that such overrulings occur in roughly 10% of cases, which would make Mr Hydes rate of overturning his own inspectors roughly eight times the average. Investigation At least 100 applications to build telecommunications masts or antennae were lodged in the 20-month period under investigation, with 88 approved, 34 of them against the recommendation of An Bord Pleanala's own inspectors. Of those 100 applications, Mr Hyde voted on 75, second only to fellow board member Michelle Fagan, who voted on at least 78 of them, and some distance ahead of any other members of the board. Mr Hyde made 71 of those decisions in collaboration with Ms Fagan. Just one of those 71 decisions involved a third board member. Many of the masts in question have been built close to residential areas and amenities, contrary to ministerial guidelines In one application by Eir for a 15m high communications pole in Kells, Co Kilkenny the planning inspector stated that the applicant has not provided a sufficient examination of alternative sites, adding that the build would be contrary... to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. Overruling the inspector, Mr Hyde said: The proposed development would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area. Paul Hyde, An Bord Pleanala deputy chair: He voted to grant permission for 70 out of 75 of the decisions he was involved in, a pass rate of over 93%. Mr Hyde granted permission for five communications structures in Cork against the opinions of his own inspectors. In one of those, an application by Vodafone for an 18m monopole in Innishannon, the inspector recommended refusal, stating the build would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area an opinion flatly contradicted by Mr Hyde in his decision. All told, Mr Hyde voted to grant permission for 70 out of 75 of the decisions he was involved in, a pass rate of over 93%. He voted on 42 of the 49 applications made by communications firm Eir over the same period, all bar one were granted. Of the 20 applications made by Eir across the country for which a recommendation of refusal was made by the planning inspector, Mr Hyde was involved in 19, every one of which was approved. In fact, the only application made by Eir that wasnt granted during that time was one of just seven in which Mr Hyde had no involvement. Mast applications The 100 applications predominantly involve micropoles, or masts designed to boost blackspots for mobile phone coverage around the country and to aid in large-scale data downloading. Neither Eir nor Mr Hyde had commented on this matter at the time of publication. A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said it was conscious of the need to maintain public confidence and an internal audit of certain files is expected to conclude within the next four weeks. Meanwhile, Ian Lumley, head of advocacy with heritage body An Taisce, said the trends for mast applications raise further major questions that need to be added to the investigation of An Bord Pleanala decisions commissioned by the Department of Housing. Fusako Shigenobu, who co-founded the terrorist group Japanese Red Army, has apologised for hurting innocent people upon her released from prison after serving a 20-year sentence. Speaking in Tokyo alongside her daughter Mei, she said: I feel strongly that I have finally come out alive. I have hurt innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first. Although those were different times, I would like to take this opportunity to apologise deeply. Shigenobu was convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands. Fusako Shigenobu was convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy in the Hague (Kyodo via AP) She was arrested in 2000 in Osaka in central Japan, where she had been in hiding. The Japanese Red Army, formed in 1971 and linked with Palestinian militants, took responsibility for several attacks including the takeover of the US Consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1975. The group is also believed to have been behind a 1972 machine-gun and grenade attack on the international airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, that killed 28 people, including two terrorists, and injured dozens more. Shigenobu was not physically present in the attacks. Fusako Shigenobu, centre, co-founded the terrorist group Japanese Red Army (Kyodo via AP) A year after her arrest, she declared the group dissolved. Japanese media reports said Shigenobu had undergone surgery for cancer during her incarceration. Kozo Okamoto, who was injured and arrested in the Israeli airport attack, was released in 1985 in a prisoner exchange between Israeli and Palestinian forces. He is reportedly in Lebanon. Okamoto and several other members of the group are still wanted by Japanese authorities. Guest Column ASEAN Must Not Allow Myanmar Junta to Control Humanitarian Aid Effort US President Joe Biden participates in the US-ASEAN Special Summit at the US State Department in Washington on May 13, 2022. / AFP As the dust settles on the US-ASEAN Summit in Washington, a clear path forward is emerging for ASEAN on Myanmar. The 10-member regional bloc finally took steps towards resolving Myanmars junta-made crisis when Malaysias foreign minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, held an informal meeting with his counterpart from Myanmars National Unity Government (NUG), and proposed to ASEAN that it do the same. But with the situation inside Myanmar now a massive humanitarian emergency, its people cannot wait any longer for ASEAN to act. ASEAN must call for a massive global humanitarian response to the crisis if it has any hope of saving its credibility. The timing is critical for ASEAN and the people of Myanmar. Their country has been under siege from the military junta for more than 15 months and is now a humanitarian catastrophe. The military has caused the total number of people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Myanmar to reach an estimated 14 million, almost three times the number of those who have fled the war in Ukraine. The intensity of violence outstrips that of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen and has forced more than half a million people to flee their homes. Most are seeking refuge from the juntas attacks in the vast territories along Myanmars borders held by Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and newly formed Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) allied to the NUG. The crisis threatens the stability of the entire region. Yet ASEANs response has been farcical and plunged to new lows when, a week before the Washington summit, Cambodia, ASEANs current chair, convened a meeting to announce a plan for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Myanmar. The plan was developed in sole consultation with the military junta, granting it complete control over the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Myanmar people. This outrageous agreement is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to advance his own military objectives at a time when he is increasingly desperate. It is no coincidence that the areas he has identified for the delivery of aid are the very areas outside of his control that for months his forces have been mercilessly bombing, burning and cutting off access to food and medical supplies in a failed attempt to break resistance to his attempted coup. He demands that Myanmars neighbors keep their borders shut to restrict the flow of aid to those fleeing from his attacks. Min Aung Hlaing wants to be able to weaponize aid for his own purposes. If ASEAN proceeds on the basis of its current plan alone, then it will be complicit and disregarding the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. The plan is also reflective of Cambodias increasing desperation as ASEAN chair. During its tenure, the equally ill-advised efforts of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to engage the junta have been repeatedly flouted by Min Aung Hlaing. This was Cambodias last-ditch attempt to have something to show before the Washington summit. Cambodia then suffered further humiliation when it emerged that its foreign minister had lied about the attendance at the meeting of the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer. She was disinvited at the behest of the junta. It is abundantly clear now that ASEAN needs to chart a new course on Myanmar. ASEANs first step should be to immediately begin talks with the NUG on how to deliver humanitarian aid to the people in the border areas under the control of the NUG and its allies. With dwindling resources and the threat of constant attack from junta forces, Myanmars democratic actors cannot be left to shoulder the humanitarian response on their own. ASEAN must declare a general state of humanitarian emergency in Myanmar and call on the UN Security Council to mandate a humanitarian intervention that includes the presence of aid and healthcare personnel on the ground. This is the only way to get life-saving humanitarian aid to the millions inside Myanmar in dire need, including those in the countrys populous central lowlands, its remote northwest and the tens of thousands who languish inside junta jails. Since the crisis began, civil society organizations, community and faith-based groups and other local actors with long-established humanitarian networks have been delivering lifesaving cross-border aid to those in desperate need. But they are severely under-resourced and heavily restricted in their activities by the neighboring national authorities, including in Thailand. It is unconscionable that ASEAN member states continue to prevent these groups from delivering aid by keeping their borders with Myanmar shut at the behest of the junta. International donors including ASEAN and UN agencies must secure the opening of vital cross-border supply lines and direct aid through existing community networks in coordination with the NUG. ASEANs next move in response to Myanmars spiraling humanitarian crisis will have lasting ramifications. If it continues with current plans to put the junta in control of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, ASEAN will be choosing to side with Min Aung Hlaing over the Myanmar people. But if ASEAN is genuine about alleviating the suffering of the Myanmar people, resolving the crisis and restoring its own credibility, it must engage with the NUG and call for urgent global action on Myanmar. Marzuki Darusman is a founding member of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar. He is also former chair of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar. This article first appeared in The Bangkok Post. ABC news presenter Fauziah Ibrahim has surfaced on the 24-hour channel's Saturday morning show, her regular slot before she was taken off after having found to have hosted public Twitter lists on her personal account of those she categorised as Labor Trolls and Lobotomised Shitheads. iTWire had predicted this would happen, writing on 5 May, two weekends after Ibrahim disappeared from the show, that she was unlikely to be reinstated before the federal election was over. Ibrahim's Twitter account has been deleted as is evident from the screenshot below. The ABC has made no public comment about Ibrahim's reappearance on the Saturday morning program. John Barron and Jeremy Fernandes had taken her place since her faux pas was noticed on 17 April. In predicting Ibrahim's reappearance after the election was over, iTWire also wrote: "There are indications, however, that no action will be taken against Ibrahim, apart from possibly a warning that any future indiscretions of a similar nature would be met with sterner action. "This can be inferred both from the ABC keeping silent on the issue and ensuring it does not earn headlines until the election is over, and also the appearance of other articles that seek to divert blame from Ibrahim." Fauziah Ibrahim and Johanna Nicholson on the ABC News 24 channel on Saturday. Photo: Sam Varghese A number of Twitter users commented on Ibrahim's reappearance, with one saying, "A slap in the face for us all - abcnews has had the absolute nerve to bring back Fauziah Ibrahim to co host ABC breakfast and she is currently interviewing . How dare they -this is an insult to long suffering viewers in this fashion.Her conduct was inexcusable #auspol." A slap in the face for us all -abcnews has had the absolute nerve to bring back Fauziah Ibrahim to co host ABC breakfast and she is currently interviewing . How dare they -this is an insult to long suffering viewers in this fashion.Her conduct was inexcusable #auspol pic.twitter.com/yR7KLZ5Aly Chio Kelly (@chiokell) May 27, 2022 Another said: "Not one word from @abc re complaints I have made.This morning @fauziah_ibrahim is back without a word of apology for her behaviour. Do they think we forget? I will once again resubmit my complaints.They are many. Time consuming but I will not stop!" The new Government need to boycott interviews with #WeekendBreakfast until Fauziah Ibrahim is gone. Her being back on the air is a big f#k you by @abcnews and Ita Buttrose to ABC Australian viewers. This is completely unacceptable! Liam O'Neill; Satisfaction (@shootin4love) May 27, 2022 Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. Subscribe or contribute Carson Hot Shots Henry Hornberger (left) and Tyler Freeman cut up a hollow tree that was burning on the inside on May 23 as they and their co-workers work on hot spots from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire in the Carson National Forest west of Chacon, N.M. the albuquerque journal via ap Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 63F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. The UN rights envoy on Saturday defended her contentious visit to China, but urged authorities to avoid arbitrary and indiscriminate measures in Xinjiang, a region where Beijing is accused of widespread human rights abuses. Michelle Bachelets remarks were swiftly criticised by activists and NGOs, who accused her of providing Beijing with a major propaganda win. Bachelets long-planned trip this week has taken her to the far-western Xinjiang region, where China is alleged to have detained over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, as well as carried out forced sterilisation of women and coerced labour. But she insisted on Saturday that her visit was not an investigation, while Chinas vice foreign minister boasted that it had achieved positive concrete results. The United States has labelled Chinas actions in Xinjiang a genocide and crimes against humanity, allegations vehemently denied by Beijing which says its security crackdown was a necessary response to extremism. Certain Western countries went to great lengths to disrupt and undercut the High Commissioners visit, their plot didnt succeed, Chinese vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu said in an online statement after Bachelets briefing ended. Speaking at the end of her trip while still inside China, Bachelet framed her visit as a chance for her to speak with candour to Chinese authorities as well as civil society groups and academics. The trip was the first to China by the UNs top rights envoy in 17 years and comes after painstaking negotiations over the conditions of her visit. Pretty transparent In her strongest comments aimed at Beijing, Bachelet urged China to avoid arbitrary and indiscriminate measures in its crackdown in Xinjiang but also said she recognised the damage caused by violent acts of extremism. This visit was not an investigation, she told reporters, later insisting she had unsupervised access to sources the UN had arranged to meet in Xinjiang. She said she had met the provincial Communist Party boss as well as security chiefs in one of the most tightly surveilled places on earth. Rights groups accuse Beijing of mass detentions of entire communities of mainly Uyghurs, many of whom have had no chance to communicate with their families outside for several years. We are aware of the number of people seeking news on the fate of loved ones This and other issues were raised with authorities, Bachelet said, declining to add detail given the sensitivity of the issue to Chinas security apparatus. Bachelet stopped in the Xinjiang cities of Urumqi and Kashgar, where she visited a prison and a former re-education camp, as well as the touristic Kashgar Old Town, a counter-terrorism exhibition and cotton fields. Ma said these visits allowed her to experience progress in preserving and promoting ethnic minority traditions, adding that Xinjiang is not at all a human rights issue. Bachelet said she saw prisoners and an internal court of appeal in Kashgar Prison, describing her access as pretty open, pretty transparent. The Xinjiang government had assured her that a network of vocational training centres which rights groups say are forced re-education camps have been dismantled, she said, adding she was unable to assess the full scale. Beijing announced in 2019 that all trainees had graduated from vocational training centres, but rights groups allege that many detainees were transferred to factories as forced labour, or instead moved to Xinjiangs ballooning network of prisons. Bachelet did not address the long-stalled release of her report into alleged Xinjiang abuses, and pledged to maintain further contact with Chinese authorities on human rights issues. Total betrayal Bachelet had already come under fire from rights groups and Uyghurs overseas, but her press conference sparked a new round of criticism. Resignation is the only meaningful thing she can do for the Human Rights Council, said Dilxat Raxit, spokesperson for the World Uyghur Congress advocacy group, while US-based Uyghur activist Rayhan Asat called it a total betrayal on Twitter. Human Rights Watchs Executive Director Kenneth Roth dismissed Bachelets argument that the trip had been valuable in allowing her to speak frankly to Chinese officials. Such quiet backroom conversation is just what Beijing wants no public reporting, no pressure to end its intense repression of Uyghurs and others, Roth tweeted. The High Commissioners visit has been characterized by photo opportunities with senior government officials and manipulation of her statements by Chinese state media, leaving an impression that she has walked straight into a highly predictable propaganda exercise for the Chinese government, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Agnes Callamard said in a statement. Bachelets trip included a virtual meeting with President Xi Jinping in which state media suggested she supported Chinas vision of human rights. Her office later clarified that her remarks did not contain a direct endorsement of Chinas rights record. Seo Ye Ji is hit by another controversy ahead of her K-drama comeback "Eve." The actress is reportedly facing legal battle due to the damages caused by the 2021 controversy. Seo Ye Ji Sued By Advertisers Due to Her Previous Issue As noted by outlets, Busan Ilbo reported that the 32-year-old actress is dealing with a legal battle against the company where she serves as their endorser. Unfortunately, at the height of Seo Ye Ji's controversy, the company was included in the list of brands boycotted by the consumers because of Ye Ji's manipulation and gaslighting issues. Due to this, they reportedly demand to pay compensation in re-filming the advertisement. In addition, the advertising company also pointed out that if the rumors were untrue, the actress' side should have addressed or cleared the rumors, but Seo Ye Ji and her team "did not give a clear statement; therefore, the brand image depleted." Seo Ye Ji's Agency Responds to Legal Issue However, Seo Ye Ji's agency, Gold Medalist, had different sentiments and disagreed with the company's claims for additional costs for the damages, hence the legal battle. As cited by Maeil Business Star Today, her agency raised that the issue cannot be the subject to terminate the contract and obligate the actress to pay for the damages since the "suspicions she received last year were not true." "There was a difference of opinion between the advertiser and the advertiser as to the reason for the contract termination and the amount of compensation," the company noted, adding, "We tried to settle the matter amicably with the advertiser, but the litigation is in progress due to the huge difference of opinion." Furthermore, Gold Medalist also states that they managed to end the contract "amicably" after seeking with six other advertisers. A Look Back at Seo Ye Ji's Controversy In 2021, the "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" actress was embroiled in a massive issue after being criticized for manipulating then-boyfriend Kim Jung Hyung. She was under fire for ordering the actor to get the script for his K-drama "Time", revised and removed any skinship with co-star Girls' Generation's Seohyun. In addition, the "Save Me" actress was also involved in allegations of school violence, faking her academic records, and abusing her staff. At the time, the actress went on hiatus and even dropped out of her upcoming K-drama "Island" and was then replaced by Lee Da Hee. She issued an apology statement ten months later, saying that she "has been taking time to reflect" on herself. As obtained by an outlet, she expressed a sincere apology "for making many people uncomfortable" due to her shortcomings and disappointed everyone greatly. Seo Ye Ji's apology letter concluded by acknowledging that the issue stemmed from her "immaturity" and promised to "work hard to behave more carefully in the future." Seo Ye Ji New Drama, 'Eve' Following this, the actress returned with a bang as her K-drama comeback "Eve" is slated to air on June 1. The revenge romance series also includes Park Byung Eun, Yoo Sun and Lee Sang Yeob as the lead stars. "Eve" will be the newest Wednesday and Thursday K-drama airing via tvN. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Queen is Back! Seo Ye Ji's New Drama 'Eve' Unveils Official Poster KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Two visitors take photos of a bronze mask discovered at the Sanxingdui Ruins site, in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, China, February 15, 2022. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed the strengthening of awareness and confidence in Chinese culture by inheriting and carrying forward its fine traditions and unswervingly following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during the 39th group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on a national research program dedicated to tracing the origins of the Chinese civilization. Chinese civilization has a long history, is extensive and profound and is the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation, he said. It is also the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, he said, as well as the spiritual bond that binds Chinese people around the world and the treasure of Chinese cultural innovation. The project to explore the origins of the Chinese civilization has made remarkable achievements, Xi said, but there is still a long way ahead as the successes are still preliminary and phased. The project to explore the origins of Chinese civilization has made an original contribution to the study of the origin of world civilizations, he said, but more efforts are needed in conducting research, interpretation, and display of unearthed cultural relics and sites to enhance the influence and appeal of Chinese civilization. He pointed out that exploring its origins helps to show the development of the sense of community in the Chinese nation. In promoting the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture, he underlined carrying forward revolutionary culture, developing advanced socialist culture and seeking the source of vitality from China's fine traditional culture. He stressed upholding the values of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, saying that people should understand the values of different civilizations with an open mind and respect people of different countries in exploring their own development paths. In handling relations among civilizations, let us replace estrangement with exchange, clashes with mutual learning, and superiority with coexistence, he said. He also stressed the importance of cultural relic preservation and historical heritage protection. With 13 miles of public access along the shoreline, Lake Michigan is among the most attractive recreational assets in Kenosha. However, the lake also can be dangerous if people are not aware of its strong currents or dont follow water safety practices. As we head into the warmer months, people are reminded to enjoy the water in a safe manner. Kenosha Fire Chief Chris Bigley said people should stay away from dangerous areas in the water, including the Pike River and the North Pier. Kenoshas iconic pier and Pike River mouth have the unfortunate distinction of leading the area in drowning deaths. While the drowning rate nationally is highest for children under 5 years old, it is also a leading cause of accidental death for people of all ages. The City has installed signs warning about the dangers of jumping off the pier and swimming in the Pike River, where there are strong currents. There is a city ordinance that prohibits swimming within 50 feet of the North pier that carries a $1,000 fine. It is also illegal to swim more than 50 yards from shore or swim within 150 feet of the mouth of the Pike River, which empties into Lake Michigan near Pennoyer Park. The Kenosha Fire Department includes a message about safety around water with their fireprevention presentations to school groups. Students are encouraged to take a pledge they will not jump off the lighthouse pier into Lake Michigan or swim in the Pike Creek and will discourage friends from taking those risks. Kenoshas police and fire departments have joined with other local businesses and agencies to form a Safety Around Water Coalition to educate the public and reinforce the potential dangers of Lake Michigan, in response to a number of drownings in Kenosha in past years. The coalition has developed school programs and public safety talks, as well as messages on social media and traditional media to educate all members of the community on enjoying the water in a safe manner. The City has installed life rings in several key locations (near the mouth of the Pike River, on the South Pier, and on the North pier). It is safer to throw the life ring to a person struggling in the water, rather than attempting to jump in the water to save the person, Bigley said. In case of a person in trouble, bystanders should first call 911, he said. They should continue watching the person and note where they are last seen, so they can notify the emergency responders. Common Council President Ald. Rocco La Macchia Sr. said: We consider Memorial Day the start of summer. I hope we have a safe Memorial Day and a safe summer. Please be careful when swimming in Lake Michigan. And please do not jump off the pier, its very dangerous. Chief Boatswains Mate Bill Pullins with the U.S. Coast Guard station in Kenosha reminded citizens to be prepared for emergencies while boating this summer. Make sure you have all of your safety equipment in order and some form of communication, such as a marine radio or a charged cell phone, he advised. Also make sure someone knows your plans. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1 Shares Share Medicine as art appealed to me as a child. Working with families to achieve a state of health was an admirable goalif naive. I only went to the physician for immunizations and obligatory school physicals during childhood. My mom employed home remedies and time if I became ill, which fortunately worked. I had no concept of what a career in medicine involved. Over twenty-five years, I explored every avenue available to a clinician. Private practice, urgent care, community health center, HMO, and multispecialty groups. Only private practice and urgent care provided the creative opportunities I desired to deliver medical care on my terms. Conscripted medicine dolled out according to reimbursement requirements, and analytics stifles imagination. As a pediatrician, I understand the limitations of treatment protocols. Flexibility and ingenuity are more valuable when counseling a parent on breastfeeding or toilet training. Time constraints choke individuality. There are general concepts in caring for patients, but we must individualize treatment to the specific patient and circumstances to be effective. After a few years with a large HMO, I abandoned clinical medicine for medical consulting. Do I miss clinical medicine? Every day. If I could practice patient-centered care like I was taught in medical school, I would return to clinical medicine tomorrow. I am no longer that immature young child dreaming of becoming a doctor, though. Medicine today is a computer-generated algorithm where physicians click boxes and scale hurdles of paperwork and bureaucracy. However, society cannot blame corporate America for all the ills in our medical system. Patients, consumers, share a large part of that responsibility. Before the Affordable Care Act, even when I still maintained a private practice, the symptoms of an ailing medical system were apparent. Patients insisted on health care delivered as if they were ordering a book off Amazon, on-demand 24-7, at rock-bottom prices. As a pediatrician in private practice, I realized I could never fund my sons college tuition and my retirement on the meager receipts from patient co-pays and insurance reimbursements. Despite treating patients in the ER, hospital, and office on weekends and evenings, it was never enough. Patients expected me to be available whenever and wherever they wanted. It was unsustainable. Arguing with a parent over a twenty-dollar co-pay that was fifty percent of what I would earn after speaking with them for an hour about their colicky baby. It sounds strange, but I loved it. However, I wasama pragmatist. The end of my private medical practice closed the most passionate chapter in my medical career. For the almost three years I worked for an HMO, my writing languished. Non-clinical medicine gave me a clear, unencumbered mind, allowing creativity to flourish. Within the first year of leaving corporate medicine, I wrote four stories. One of those became a mystery novel I recently self-published. Life involves regrets, but I have now found peace in my medical career. I miss caring for children and working with families. But I hope my writing will bring happiness, maybe laughter, to someone needing a little piece of joy in this difficult world. Michelle Corbier is a pediatrician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Michelle Corbier. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Mainly clear. Low around 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. At the close of this year's Cannes Film Festival, Saturday, (local time), South Korean movies had collected two titles Best Director for Park Chan-wook for "Decision to Leave" and Best Actor for Song Kang-ho in "Broker." Song Kang-ho poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Broker' at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 27. AP-Yonhap This is Park's third prize at Cannes out of his four competition entries, while Song received his first Cannes' honor after visiting the festival seven times. The two simultaneous prizes at Cannes this year gave Korean cinema a strong presence on the global film scene again following Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" awarded the highest Palme d'Or honor in 2019. From left, Chinese actress Tang Wei, Korean director Park Chan-Wook and Korean actor Park Hae-Il attend a press conference for the film "Decision to Leave" ("Heojil Kyolshim" in Korean) during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 24. AFP-Yonhap The country's filmmakers started to knock on the door of the French film festival in 1984, when Lee Doo-yong's historical drama "Spinning Wheel" was played in the Un Certain Regard side event. In 2002, renowned director Im Kwon-taek took the best director award with "Chihwaseon," a film about a 19th-century Korean painter who changed the direction of Korean art, bringing home the nation's first Cannes' official trophy. Song Kang-ho accepts the award for best actor for 'Broker' during the awards ceremony at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 28. AP-Yonhap Director Park Chan-wook says films made for big screen should be watched in theaters Song Kang-ho named Best Actor at Cannes for 'Broker' Park Chan-wook wins Best Director at Cannes for 'Decision to Leave' Two years later, Cannes' second-highest honor the Grand Prix went to Park's "Oldboy," helping the director rise to worldwide stardom. He also collected the Jury Prize, the third-highest honor at the French festival, for his 2009 horror movie "Thirst," becoming one of the most beloved directors at Cannes. In 2007, Cannes granted Jeon Do-yeon the best actress award for her performance in "Secret Sunshine," while director Lee Chang-dong took home the best screenplay award in 2010 for his drama "Poetry." Director Park Chan-Wook, left, and actor Park Hae-Il arrive for the closing ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 28. AFP-Yonhap Apart from their success in Cannes, meanwhile, South Korean films have fared even better at the Venice International Film Festival. Back in 1987, the best actress award was given to Kang Soo-youn for her leading role in "The Surrogate Woman," directed by Im Kwon-taek. From left, director Hirokazu Kore-eda, Song Kang-ho, and Lee Ji-eun pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Broker at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 26. AP-Yonhap Lee Chang-dong's "Oasis" and Kim Ki-duk's "3-Iron" won the Silver Lion for best direction in 2002 and 2004, respectively. From left, Tang Wei, director Park Chan-wook and Park Hae-il attend the photocall for 'Decision To Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)' during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 24. EPA-Yonhap Finally, Kim made history when his drama "Pieta" won the Golden Lion for best movie at the 69th Venice Film Festival in 2012, becoming the first Korean film to attain a top prize from any of the world's three largest film festivals. Korean flicks have also made their presence felt at the Berlin International Film Festival. From left, Actor Park Hae-Il, director Park Chan-Wook and Chinese actress Tang Wei attend a photocall for the film "Decision to Leave" ("Heojil Kyolshim" in Korean) during the 75th Cannes Film Festival in southern France, May 24. AFP-Yonhap Kim Ki-duk's "Samaritan Girl" earned the Silver Bear prize for best director at the 2004 festival, while Park Chan-wook won the Alfred Bauer Prize for his 2007 romantic comedy "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK." No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit SEVENTEEN revealed the real meaning behind their "I'm NOT SEVENTEEN anymore" teasers, as well as their secret to popularity. Continue reading to the truth behind the teasers. SEVENTEEN Clarifies "I'm NOT SEVENTEEN anymore" Teasers, Shares Secret to Popularity On the morning of May 27, SEVENTEEN held a press conference at the Conrad Seoul Grand Ballroom in Yeouido-dong, Seoul for the release of their fourth studio album "Face the Sun." At some point at the conference, the boy group explained the meaning behind their "I'm NOT SEVENTEEN anymore" teaser videos for their new full-length album. Each clip features one member of the band saying "I'm not Seventeen anymore." At the time they were released, the teasers drew a lot of attention and caused a misunderstanding that all members would leave the group. Now, SEVENTEEN revealed what those "I'm NOT SEVENTEEN anymore" teasers really mean. In particular, band member Hoshi explained, "Regarding the teasers, they contain the meaning of 'removing our former image and showing off a more mature one.'" Mingyu chimed in, "Since it's our first album after our contract renewal, it's a new journey - a new leap." Seungkwan then jokingly said that he feels proud to the fans who used the word "withdrawal" regarding their "I'm NOT SEVENTEEN anymore" teasers. He explained, "That word may be a sensitive topic to some idol groups, but we have strong trust in each other, so we can talk about it comfortably." When asked about the secret to their popularity, S.Coups responded, "The secret to our global popularity? Seventeen is just great." He continued, "I think SEVENTEEN is doing well with confidence. When I look at the members and the team as a whole, I think we do great without any member falling behind in any aspect." The group's leader further said that he thinks the love for their fans, which is bigger than anything else, is another secret to their popularity. S.Coups also said that he believes the members' honesty and sincerity help them become more well-known in the world. Meanwhile, Mingyu said that SEVENTEENs secret to their fame is their consistency. He elaborated that they are the group who continues to repay the fans for the love they receive. SEVENTEEN Releases "HOT" MV for Highly-Awaited Comeback In related news, SEVENTEEN's "Face the Sun" is officially out, along with the music video for the title track "HOT." Written and composed by Woozi, SEVENTEEN's "HOT" is a hip hop song that spotlights the boy group's desire to confidently advance on their own path while facing the scorching sun head-on. Through this track, SEVENTEEN powerfully conveys their determination to eventually become the sun. At 2 p.m. KST on May 27, SEVENTEEN's "HOT" debuted on several real-time charts in South Korea. It entered at No. 1 on Bugs, No. 9 on MelOn, and No. 26 on Genie. It also landed at No. 33 on MelOn's Top 100 chart. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Maria Scott RTHK: Russia says it's taken key Donbas town Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that the eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman had fallen under the full control of Russian and Russian-backed forces in the region. Pro-Russian separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic had said on Friday that they had fully captured the town, a railway hub west of Sievierodonetsk. Ukraine said on Friday that Russia had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, a city 20 kilometres southwest. Ukrainian and Russian forces have been fighting for Lyman for several days. In a daily update, Russia said it had used missile strikes to destroy Ukrainian command posts in Bakhmut and Soledar. Both towns lie on a strategically important road running southwest from Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk, where the main Russian offensive is now concentrated. The ministry also said it had destroyed five command and observation posts, hit areas where Ukrainian soldiers and equipment were located and destroyed four ammunition depots near the towns of Nyrkove, Bakhmut and Myronivka. Reuters could not independently confirm the Russian claims. Russia forces turned their focus to the Donbas region after running into fierce Ukrainian resistance in other parts of the country and abandoning an assault on Kyiv. Russia says it is waging a "special military operation" to demilitarise the country and rid it of nationalists threatening Russian-speakers there. Kyiv and Western countries say Russia's claims are a false pretext to attack the country. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-05-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers a speech on the Biden administration's policy toward China during an event hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute. [Photo/Agencies] United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken finally delivered his widely anticipated address on the Joe Biden administration's China policy. And while his speech was an outline of the Biden administration's approach to China, there was nothing in it that hasn't been heard before in one form or another. Particularly when placed in the context of US President Joe Biden's just concluded Asia trip. The diplomatic deployments Biden made personally in Seoul and Tokyo revealed the White House's fixation on containing China, which since the Donald Trump days has been identified as the US' foremost rival. During his four-day visit to East Asia, Biden reaffirmed alliances with "like-minded partners" the Republic of Korea and Japan, and sought to solidify a trilateral alliance. He also launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, and participated in a Quad summit, all with the aim of pressuring China, as was obvious from Blinken's speech. From Biden's remarks in Asia to Blinken's speech, it is increasingly clear that the current administration has by and large inherited the entire package of Trump's China policy, the difference being it has shifted the focus from Trump's infamous "America first" attacks on Chinese trade and technology to put greater emphasis and reliance on building a coalition of "values". While Biden generated a frisson of excitement when he said that the US would "intervene" militarily for Taiwan's defense in the event of an armed "invasion", that too is nothing new. It was a repeat of what has been said before. Although the 1979 "Taiwan Relations Act" was less explicit on the matter as a result of intentional ambiguity, Article b, Section 2 of the law had similar wording. And George W. Bush made an analogous statement during his presidency. Yet there is a difference this time. Despite Biden's later clarification that US policy of "strategic ambiguity" over Taiwan has not changed, nor has its overall Taiwan policy, his latest statement further squeezed the space for any ambiguity. While removing the ambiguity over whether the US will intervene as had been done before, his words effectively removed any ambiguity as to how it would intervene. Beijing has made it explicit that it takes Taiwan to be the most important and sensitive part of China-US relations. The clarity Washington just added to the matter may be meant to enhance deterrence against Beijing, but it also means higher risks of the two parties getting involved directly in an unwanted conflict. Because no matter how well Beijing and Washington manage themselves in order to prevent that least desirable scenario, there is no guarantee "independence" seekers in Taiwan won't drag them into it. After all, the latest developments will inevitably embolden the latter into provoking the mainland. It is dangerous to make a matter like Taiwan the focus of China-US relations. But that is where we are. The representative of the estates of Dr. Beth Potter and her husband, Robin Carre, who were murdered in 2020 by their daughter's then-boyfriend, has filed a petition in probate court seeking to bar the daughter from inheriting from her parents' estates, alleging she was "complicit" in their murders. The petition, filed on Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court, seeks to revoke any provision in the couple's wills benefiting their daughter, Miriam Carre, and asks for a declaration finding her accountable for her parents' killings. Miriam Carre, 20, was not charged criminally for any alleged involvement in her parents' deaths but testified for the prosecution last week at the trial of her former boyfriend, Khari Sanford, who was convicted Monday of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. "Although Miriam may have not been physically present during the murders of her parents, that does not absolve Miriam from accountability," according to the petition, filed by attorney David Reinecke on behalf of James Stanger, the personal representative for the estates of Beth Potter and Robin Carre. "Miriam was a co-conspirator to rob her parents' home, knew that Sanford would use a dangerous weapon to carry out the robbery, and was involved in the plan to do so." The petition cites Wisconsin's "slayer statute" -- a law that bars a person involved in the intentional killing of another person, who might otherwise stand to inherit, from profiting from the death. The law does not require that a person be convicted of a crime. The person's involvement need only be proven based on a "preponderance of the evidence," not "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is required for a criminal conviction. A jury found that Sanford, 20, of Madison, abducted the couple from their West Side home at gunpoint on March 30, 2020, and took them to the UW Arboretum where he shot them both in the head. Carre died at the scene. After the couple was found by joggers, Potter, who initially survived, was taken to UW Hospital but died a short time later. Miriam Carre testified for the prosecution last week under a grant of immunity, after first invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. She told a jury that she did not know Sanford was going to kill her parents and didn't know he had until well after the fact. She denied having anything to do with her parents' deaths. "Miriam Carre's concern about potential self-incrimination was well-founded," the petition argues. "The evidence indicates that Miriam was complicit and participated in a plan with Sanford to rob her parents which led to the senseless and tragic murders. Simply put, but for Miriam's relationship with Sanford and participation in a plan to rob her own parents, the decedents would be alive today." Attorney Marcus Berghahn, who represented Miriam Carre during her testimony at Sanford's trial, said Friday that he could not comment. Reinecke has asked for a jury trial in the matter. In addition to Miriam, adopted by Potter and Carre from Guatemala, the couple had two adult sons. According to testimony at Sanford's trial, there had been friction between Miriam Carre and her parents over her behavior, and it was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As medical director of employee health at UW Health and an immunocompromised person, Potter set rules at home aimed at keeping COVID out of the household, which were broken by her daughter and Sanford. Initially, the couple allowed Sanford to live at their home to keep Miriam Carre from sneaking out to see him. But even that arrangement became untenable, and the parents got the younger couple an Airbnb apartment on Madison's South Side until they could find a permanent place to live. The petition, citing the criminal complaint against Sanford and co-defendant Ali'jah Larrue, states that in March 2020, just weeks before the murders, a classmate of Miriam Carre and Sanford at West High School heard a conversation between the pair in which they discussed how they could get money. "The witness told police that they overheard Miriam tell Sanford that her parents had 'bands' of money and that they were rich," the petition states. "Additional witnesses have overheard Sanford discuss the existence of the decedents' life insurance policies, implying an additional financial motivation to kill the decedents." The petition also states that around the same time, Miriam Carre texted Sanford a photo of Sanford pointing a handgun at the camera. A few months earlier, the petition states, Miriam Carre told Sanford in a text message, "(I) feel like (my parents) got this white (savior) act going on and like, they feel like they can't do any wrong. and that's why my whole life I've been trying to show them but nooooooooooo they don't see (expletive) else but what they wanna see." Sanford texted back, "It's cool because they gon die." Miriam Carre also lied to the police about Sanford's whereabouts on the night of the murders, the petition alleges, claiming they both stayed home at the Airbnb. Instead, text messages show they were in different places, with Miriam Carre asking Sanford where he was and telling him she did not feel safe. She also knew Sanford had what the petition called a "dangerous criminal history" that included armed robbery. There was also evidence, the petition states, which suggested that Miriam Carre knew Sanford intended to harm her parents, that she wanted to cover up Sanford's involvement in the crime and that she lied about Sanford's whereabouts. "As such, Miriam was party to a conspiracy with Sanford and is responsible for the 'natural and probable consequence' of the intended robbery -- including the murders of her parents," the petition states. Larrue, who also testified during the prosecution's case at Sanford's trial, faces sentencing on Sept. 7 after pleading guilty last year to two counts of felony murder. Sanford will be sentenced the same day and faces two mandatory life sentences. RACINE Amid rising crime and violence, Mayor Cory Mason is hoping to ask voters in August to allow a cumulative $2 million increase in taxes to fund additional positions in the Racine Police Department as well as to support violence prevention initiatives. A similar referendum, for $2.5 million, will be in front of voters in the City of Kenosha later this year as well. But the last time the City of Racine attempted a referendum, the public shot it down by an almost 2-to-1 margin. That was in November 2020, and the referendum failed by a vote of 19,106 to 10,198. On Friday, May 20, The Journal Times asked Mason during an interview for a not-yet published report if he was considering pursuing such a referendum. He indicated at the time that he was open to the idea but was wary, in part because of how badly the 2020 election had failed. Now, a week later, Mason has announced an effort to quickly get a referendum on the ballot. The deadline to get a referendum on the Aug. 9 ballot, as Mason announced Friday he hopes to do, is tight. According to a release, the deadline to propose a referendum is May 31. As such, Mason said he is calling a special City Council meeting at 7 p.m. May 31 in order to vote on a proposal to place a referendum on the August ballot to support public safety. Masons announcement came one day after a new Violent Crime Task Force was announced, a collaboration between the City of Racine, Racine County, Racine Police Department, the Racine County Sheriffs Office and the Racine County District Attorneys Office. On Thursday, Racines assistant police chief, Alex Ramirez, said that non-fatal shootings in 2022 are up 90% compared to the same time last year and reports of shots fired are up 42%. The existing Aug. 9 election is a primary election headlined by a four-way race for the Republican gubernatorial election and two-way race for Republican attorney general nomination. In a statement Friday, Mason said Recent events have underscored the need for resources to address the challenges posed by crime in our community. Ongoing restraints from state officials on local spending authority coupled with flat or declining state aid have required us to reduce spending across City government. As of May 15, there had been six homicides so far in 2022 in the City of Racine, all of them committed by firearm; at the same time the year prior, there had only been three homicides. Then, on May 20, a Racine Police officer, Zachary B. Brenner, shot and killed a fleeing suspect, DaShontay Day Day King. According to police, Brenner was pursuing King because King was wanted as a felon in possession of a firearm, and the Racine Police Department is aiming to crack down on illegally possessed guns. According to investigators, King was seen with a gun before being shot. The city cannot raise taxes at will due to state controls implemented when Scott Walker was governor. Primarily, what are known as levy limits disallow communities from raising taxes without new construction within municipal boundaries. Our ability to spend beyond the limits imposed by the Legislature can only be overcome by going to referendum to exceed the spending limits, Mason stated. Because the needs of law enforcement and crime prevention are so acute right now, I am proposing that we ask voters to allow the city to levy up to an additional $2 million a year to fund an additional 11 police officers and invest for the long term in crime prevention. This referendum would be placed on the ballot in the August election. He continued: I have heard loud and clear from the community that they want more resources for law enforcement and crime prevention. This referendum will give the voters the opportunity to allow us to invest in making our community safer. 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. Angul/Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 28 (ANI): Over 60 delegates of the National Mineral Congress, organised by the Indian National Committee World Mining Congress and supported by the Union Ministry of Coal, visited the Coal Gasification Plant (CGP) set up by Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) at Angul, Odisha on the second day of the Mining Congress on Saturday. The visiting team, comprised of senior mining professionals from various metal, mining and mining technology organisations across India, had an overview of all the units of the CGP to have first-hand knowledge about its functioning and advantages. Also Read | UCL 2021-22 Final: A Look At Key Stats Ahead of Liverpool vs Real Madrid Clash in Champions League. JSP's Managing Director VR Sharma and other senior officials explained to the visiting delegates various features of the CGP and the process for the production of the synthesis gas. JSP is the first steelmaker in the world to produce steel through the CGP - DRI route. Addressing the first session of the National Mineral Congress held at Bhubaneswar yesterday, JSP's Chairman Naveen Jindal said that Coal Gasification is the future of Coal. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. Jindal highlighted the benefits of coal gas technology for producing clean energy. "Coal Gasification uses the chemical energy of coal and offers the cleanest and most efficient means to produce sponge steel and chemicals like methanol, ethanol, and blue hydrogen," he said. Jindal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Coal for encouraging Coal Gasification technology. "We are committed to take care of the environment and simultaneously ensure economic development for becoming the 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' through the application of green technologies like coal gasification. The industry needs to collaborate with each other and work together to make this technology more efficient," he added. Participating in this session MD, JSP VR Sharma also highlighted various advantages of coal gas technology. "The synthesis gas produced from the CGP contains 60 percent hydrogen. We can make the cheapest blue hydrogen from this. The Government needs to ensure the availability of coal to the CGP from a single coal mine; so that it can get coal of consistent quality and achieve better efficiency," Sharma said. VR Sharma suggested that more Coal Gasification Plants needs to be promoted in and around coal-bearing areas so that the logistics expenses are minimized. Sharma also said that India should install Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants based on Syn. Gas or Coal gas. This will help Govt. in reducing coal transportation. "Instead of coal transportation we should transport power through transmission lines" Sharma added. The visiting delegation appreciated JSP for pioneering the technology to make steel, using synthesis gas. JSP commissioned the Coal Gasification Plant of 225,000 Normal Meter Cubed per Hour capacity in 2014, which is a milestone for global steel the company. The CGP uses high ash coal which is predominantly available in the vicinity of the Project site. The Coal-Gasification Plant set up by Jindal Steel & Power at Angul has become a 'Technology Demonstrator' and is frequently visited by national and international dignitaries and organizations. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 28 (ANI): As many as 25 passengers were injured after a bus coming from Jammu en route to Doda district overturned in the Battal Ballian area in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, said police on Saturday. All the injured have been shifted to a district hospital in Udhampur while six were referred to a government hospital in Jammu. Also Read | Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2022: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on His Birth Anniversary. Further details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 28 (ANI): Following the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) clean chit to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Saturday sought action against former NCB official Sameer Wankhede. "The decision of the judiciary has come. There was no truth in the allegation against Aryan Khan and that is why his name has been removed from the chargesheet. I think that the Center has also taken cognizance of this whole matter," said Patil. Also Read | Champawat Assembly Bypoll 2022: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath To Campaign for Pushkar Singh Dhami. "There is also information about action against the concerned officer. If anyone is falsely implicating an innocent person, then action should be taken against them. I think the action will be taken against Sameer Wankhede," added the Minister. The Central Government on Friday directed the competent authority to take appropriate action against the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official Sameer Wankhede for his shoddy investigation into the cruise drug bust case involving Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Elephant Tramples 40-Year-Old Woman to Death Near Gudalur, 2nd Incident in Two Days. The Centre's action came soon after the NCB gave a clean chit to Aryan Khan and five others and has not filed any chargesheet against them citing the lack of evidence. "It is learnt that the government has asked the competent authority to take appropriate action against former NCB official Sameer Wankhede for his shoddy investigation into the Aryan Khan drugs haul case. The government has already taken action in the case of Sameer Wankhede's fake caste certificate case," said sources. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday filed a 6,000-page chargesheet against 14 accused in the cruise drug bust case which excludes the name of five others, including Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, who was earlier arrested in the case. The NCB had dropped drugs charges against Aryan Khan in the drugs case citing a lack of evidence against him. NCB chief, SN Pradhan said that WhatsApp chats without physical evidence hold "no value". Meanwhile, former NCB official Sameer Wankhede refuted to comment on the latest development in the case, saying that he is not a part of this drugs law enforcement agency anymore and will only give a written reply if asked about the matter. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. Eight persons were arrested 20 people, including Aryan Khan, along with other accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha the case. Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were granted bail by the Bombay High Court on 28 October 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) By Shalini Bhardwaj New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The World Health Organisation official said that countries should take the right measures to contain Monkeypox cases easily and also share data about their vaccine stockpiles. Also Read | Mumbai: College Professor Reunites Runaway Minor Girl Found Alone in Local Train With Mother. "We don't know the extent of the disease. But as I said, we as a country should be more vigilant, so that we detect more cases. We think that if we put in place the right measure now, we probably can contain this easily. So that's why, we are making this briefing today and we are trying to raise the awareness because we are at the very, very beginning and it's we have a good window of opportunity to stop the transmission now," said Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness. On the risk to the community spread, she said, "We are afraid that it will be spread in the community but currently it is very hard to assess this risk." Also Read | Navneet Ranas Harassment Complaint: Privilege Committee Summons Maharashtra Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Srivastava, DGP Rajnish Seth. "We have a number of cases in many countries more than 20 in a few days and we have also many unknowns about this disease because we don't know if this unusual situation is due to a virus change. It doesn't seem so because of first sequencing of the virus shows that the strain is not different from the strain we can find in endemic countries and it's probably more due to a change in human behaviour. But we are also investigating this and trying to understand the origin of this sudden outbreak of monkeypox in non-endemic countries," said Sylvie Briand on the spread of monkeypox in non-endemic countries. "There is also much uncertainty about the future and this disease because we don't know if this transmission will stop. What we have seen in endemic countries as usually we have self-limiting outbreaks, and so we hope it will be exactly the same with the current one," she added. According to WHO, Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease and typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. It may be severe in children, pregnant women or persons with immune suppression due to other conditions. The incubation period is usually 6 to 13 days but it can be longer from 5 to 21 days. Typical symptoms include fever headache, muscle ache backache and fatigue and swollen lymph nodes and then it's followed by skin rashes and or lesions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 28 (ANI): After the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) gave a clean chit to Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Saturday suggested action against ex-Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official Sameer Wankhede. Addressing the media, he said that there was no truth in the allegations against Aryan Khan and action should be taken against people spreading false implications. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. "There was no truth in allegations against Aryan Khan. I think action should be taken against ex-NCB official Sameer Wankhede on the way he handled this matter," said Patil. He also highlighted that Khan's name was removed from the chargesheet and the Centre also took cognizance of this matter and gave information about action against the concerned officer. Also Read | COVID-19 in Maharashtra: Four Cases of BA.4, Three of BA.5 Omicron Sub-Variants Detected For First Time. "If anyone is falsely implicating an innocent person, then action should be taken against them. I think Centre has also taken cognizance of this matter & given info about action against the concerned officer," he added. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. Eight persons were arrested 20 people including Aryan Khan, along with other accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were named in the case. Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were granted bail by the Bombay High Court on 28 October 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 28 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday arrested one Gurupada Maji in connection with its money laundering case investigation linked to an alleged coal mining scam in West Bengal, stated the ED on Friday. He was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi and has been granted seven days of ED custody. Also Read | Mumbai: College Professor Reunites Runaway Minor Girl Found Alone in Local Train With Mother. According to ED, Gurupada Maji is one of the partners of Anup Majee, the kingpin of illegal coal mining business activities in West Bengal. He has also received more than Rs 66 crore from the Proceed of Crime (PoC) generated through illegal coal mining business from Anup Majee alias Lala and his associates, stated the ED release. Further, he had provided Rs 26 Crore (Approx.) in cash to a Kolkata based CA for arranging shell companies for the purpose of taking accommodation entries. Also Read | Navneet Ranas Harassment Complaint: Privilege Committee Summons Maharashtra Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Srivastava, DGP Rajnish Seth. In this process, Gurupada Maji had acquired 13 shell companies with the help of the said Kolkata based CA. The net worth of these 13 shell companies is more than Rs 28 crore but he acquired these companies after paying only Rs 88 Lakh on paper to respective shareholders, thereby managing to bring the huge illegally generated cash into the financial system. This is the third arrest in this case. Earlier two accused persons namely Shri Vikas Mishra and Shri Ashok Kumar Mishra (Inspector-in-Charge of West Bengal Police) were arrested on March 16, 2021 and April 3, 2021 respectively. In this matter one Prosecution Complaint has also been filed on May 13, 2021 against Vikas Mishra and Ashok Kumar Mishra and the Court was pleased to take the cognizance of the said Prosecution Complaint on July 28, 2021. Abhishek Banerjee, TMC MP and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been questioned in this case by the ED even as his wife Rujira was also summoned. This case was initiated by ED on the basis of an FIR dated November 27, 2020 of CBI against Amit Kumar Dhar, the then GM, Kunustoria Area, ECL (Eastern Coalfield Ltd), Jayesh Chandra Rai, General Manager, ECL, Kajora Area, Tanmay Das, Chief of Security, ECL, Asansol, Dhananjay Rai, Area Security Inspector, Kunustoris, ECL, Debashish Mukherjee, Security In-charge, Kajora Area, ECL, Anup Majee alias Lala and unknown officials of ECL, CISF, Railway, other department and unknown private persons. The ED said that the total proceeds of crime in the case stand at Rs 1,352 crore and it has attached assets of Rs 180 crore till now. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, May 28 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said the government has not yet thought about further cut in fuel tax, following the Centre's recent decision to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Made India Strong, Cannot Be Compared with Nehru: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. Bowing to public pressure, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on May 21 had announced a Rs 8 per litre cut in excise duty on petrol and Rs 6 a litre on diesel to avoid increase in fuel prices that were necessitated due to surge in international oil prices. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Elections 2022: Balbir Singh Seechewal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney Are AAP Nominees for RS Polls. Also, the Central government had decided to give Rs 200 per cylinder subsidy to Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries for 12 cylinders in a year to help ease some of the burden arising from cooking gas rates rising to record levels. "No we have not yet thought about it...," Bommai said in response to a question on whether the state government has thought about any cut in fuel prices, following the Centre's decision. Ahead of leaving for the Swiss ski resort town of Davos, to take part in the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, Bommai on May 22 had said, his government will consider a further cut in fuel tax, following the Centre's decision. He had earlier maintained that any decision in this regard will be taken after looking at the economy of the state. The Chief Minister returned from Davos on Friday. In November 2021, the state government had cut sales tax on petrol from 35 per cent to 25.9 per cent and on diesel from 24 per cent to 14.34 per cent, which resulted in petrol price reducing by Rs 13.30 per litre and diesel by Rs 19.47 per litre. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Manfi, Friday pleaded for more coordination and efforts for cooperation with Chad on security, surveillance of common borders, the fight against terrorism and organized crime Ahmedabad, May 28 (PTI) Gujarat on Saturday reported 37 COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 12,25,095, while the death toll remained unchanged at 10,944, a health department official said. Also Read | How Can Ordinary Citizen Be Blamed for Wilful Inaction of Police, Asks #DelhiHighCourt Latest Tweet by IANS India. The recovery count increased by 31 to touch 12,13,951, leaving the active tally at 200, he added. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. Ahmedabad led with 21 cases, followed by nine in Vadodara, two in Gandhinagar, and one each in Anand, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Mehsana and Surat, the official informed. A government release said 75,610 people were given vaccine shots during the day, which took the total number of doses administered in the state to 10.98 crore. The neighbouring Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu continued to remain coronavirus-free, a local official said. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,25,095, new cases 37, death toll 10,944, discharged 12,13,951, active cases 200, people tested so far - figures not released. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 28 (ANI): Maharashtra reported the first cases of the subvariants of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, said an official on Saturday. As many as seven people were detected to be infected from the subvariants in Pune, four of which were infected by the B.A. 4 variant while the other three were found to be infected by B.A. 5 variant. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. The cases were confirmed after the latest report of the Whole Genomic Sequencing conducted in coordination with the B.J. Medical College Pune. All of the patients have mild symptoms with no need of hospitalisation. They have been kept in home isolation, according to the officials. Also Read | COVID-19 in Maharashtra: Four Cases of BA.4, Three of BA.5 Omicron Sub-Variants Detected For First Time. The earlier first cases of BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 were found in Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad respectively, confirmed the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) on Sunday. All these patients are from Pune city. Of these, 4 are males and 3 are females, of whom, four people are in the age group of more than 50 years and two are in the age group of 20 to 40 years while one is below 10 years of age. Two of these patients have a history of travelling to South Africa, and Belgium, while three have travelled to the Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka. The two patients have no travel history, said the officials. Notably, all of them except for the minor have received both doses of the COVID vaccines while one is said to have also been jabbed with the precaution dose. "All of them had mild symptoms of covid. No one needs to be hospitalized & treated successfully in-home isolation. B. A. 4 and 5 are of the Omicron sub-lineage, which increases the rate of transmission of the virus to a certain extent according to international experience," said the officials. BA.4 and BA.5 are subvariants of the Omicron variant circulating globally. These were reported first from South Africa earlier this year and are now reported from several other countries. These variants have not been associated with disease severity or increased hospitalization. (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 28 (ANI): A Delhi Court on Saturday granted permission to Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, who is being investigated by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, to travel abroad. The Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh on Saturday while allowing her plea said, "Considering the facts and circumstances, the application at hand is allowed. The applicant is granted permission to travel to Abu Dhabi, UAE from 31.05.2022 till 06.06.2022 and for this given period, the LOC against the applicant issued in this case shall stand suspended." Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Government Employees Skipping Election Duty Will Be Retired, Says Rewa DM. "The applicant shall submit an FDR to the tune of Rs.50 lacs along with an undertaking that in case of her non-return, the FDR shall stand suspended and shall also provide a surety of Rs.50 lacs, The applicant shall submit her itinerary, place of stay and the number at which she can be contacted. On her return, the applicant shall inform the investigating agency abouther return," the court said while imposing the conditions. Appearing for Jacqueline Fernandez, Advocate Ajit K Singh submitted, "The applicant is a film actress and holds a good name in the Bollywood industry. The Enforcement Directorate has filed the charge sheet and has not named the applicant as an accused in the present matter. However, without citing any reason to the applicant, the Enforcement Directorate has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against the applicant." Also Read | Jammu & Kashmir Encounter: Two Hizbul Mujahideen Terrorists Killed in Anantnag. It was further submitted that the applicant being a renowned film actress has been invited to events, press conferences, rehearsals and participation in the event. Replying to the application, ED counsel Advocate Atul Tripathi submitted that all the averments, contentions and submissions in the application are frivolous and baseless and are hence denied except those which have been specifically been admitted hereunder. ED further submitted, "The applicant is in receipt of proceeds of crime, which has partly been provisionally attached and the remaining is yet to be identified. Thus, it is averred that disposing off the proceeds of crime yet to be attached by the applicant cannot be ruled out. It is further submitted that the applicant is admittedly a Sri Lankan National and is thus a flight risk and the applicant may flee from India thereby hampering the pending investigation." Fernandez is being investigated by the ED in Rs 200 crore extortion case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. She had earlier appeared before the probe agency for questioning in a money-laundering investigation against Sukesh Chandrashekhar and others. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar, May 28 (PTI) Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Centre and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will soon undertake an ambitious project to computerise around 65,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the country. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Made India Strong, Cannot Be Compared with Nehru: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. Speaking at the 'Sahkar Se Samruddhi' conclave of cooperative entities here at Mahatma Mandir auditorium, he also said the Union government was planning to bring in several amendments to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Elections 2022: Balbir Singh Seechewal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney Are AAP Nominees for RS Polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the event. "There are nearly 65,000 PACS in the country. We have decided to computerise all these PACS with the help of NABARD. This will prove to be a revolutionary step for our agricultural finance credit system. There will be common software for all PACS, and NABARD will get details on a daily basis, such as daily business and recovery of these PACS," said Shah. The system will bring transparency and stop cooperative societies from going bankrupt, he said, adding that the government was working to make the PACS "multipurpose". "We are also bringing in a lot of amendments to Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act. Work is also on to prepare a national database of cooperative entities, as there is no such database at present in the country. We are also in talks with state governments to change the audit system for cooperative societies," said Shah. "All these changes will bring in more transparency in purchase and recruitment processes and eventually make cooperatives more trustworthy among the masses. I am confident the cooperative sector will rise again to contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making India a USD 5 trillion economy," he added. On the occasion, Shah announced that Amul -- the brand owned by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation -- will soon set up a laboratory in its AmulFed dairy unit in Gandhinagar to certify organic products which will be sold through a cooperative network across the country. Shah thanked prime minister Modi for the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation last year, adding that it was a long-pending demand of the cooperative sector. "This is a revolutionary step by PM Modi and crores of farmers and others associated with cooperatives know that the formation of a separate ministry will give a new lease of life to this sector for another 100 years," said Shah. He also listed various steps the Modi government has taken for the benefit of the cooperative sector, such as reduction in surcharge and minimum alternate tax on cooperatives and abolition of income tax on additional income of cooperative sugar mills. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rajkot (Gujarat) [India], May 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Atkot, Rajkot. PM Modi also inspected the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Shocker: Two Minor Sisters Drown in Village Pond in Surguja. Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital, which is being visited by the Prime Minister, is managed by Shree Patel Seva Samaj. It will make available high-end medical equipment and provide world-class healthcare facilities to the people of the region. Also Read | Tesla in India: Elon Musk Says 'No Plant Where Sell of Imported Cars Not Allowed'. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will the Seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, where he will also inaugurate the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol at a cost of around Rs 175 crores. The ultramodern Nano Fertilizer Plant has been established keeping in mind the increase in crop yield through the use of Nano Urea. The Plant will produce about 1.5 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. (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 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to the Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Respectful tribute to Veer Savarkar, the hardworking son of Mother Bharti, on his birth anniversary." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary and said his "sacrifices will continue to give us inspiration and strength". Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh And Other Political Leaders Pay Tribute to Veer Savarkar on His Death Anniversary. PM Narendra Modi's Tweet "Tributes to the symbol of nationalism, freedom fighter Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary. Savarkar ji's life is a classic example of how one can live for the country. His sacrificing life will continue to give us inspiration and strength," he tweeted. Shah further said that his unparalleled contribution to the freedom movement and his efforts to remove untouchability from society can never be forgotten. "Veer Savarkar ji received two life imprisonment in one life and the inhuman tortures of the dungeon could not deter his resolve to take Mother Bharati to the ultimate glory," Shah added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to Veer Savarkar and said that the effective role he played in India's freedom struggle is inspiring. "Veer Savarkar was the epitome of courage, determination and sacrifice. The effective role he played in India's freedom struggle is inspiring. His entire life was devoted to the service of the country and society. I bow down to such a brave Savarkar on his birth anniversary," Singh said in a tweet. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, was born on 28 May 1883 in Nashik. He was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, and writer. Savarkar is known for coining the term 'Hindutva'. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], May 28 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a revolutionary step by creating a separate Ministry of Cooperation and this will give the cooperative movement a new life for the next 100 years. Amit Shah, who is also the Union Minister of Cooperation, said that the cooperative sector has a lot of capacity to change lives of people associated with agriculture. Also Read | SpiceJet Plane Headed For Gorakhpur Returns to Mumbai After Windshield Crack Observed. Ministry of Cooperation was created last year by transferring the existing entries related to cooperation and cooperative in the business of the erstwhile Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare Addressing the 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' programme in Gandhinagar, Shah said there was a long-standing demand of the people associated with the cooperative sector that a separate ministry for cooperatives should be created in the central government, but no one paid attention to it. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. "The Prime Minister has created a separate ministry of cooperation to strengthen the cooperative movement and taken a revolutionary step which will give new life to the movement for the next 100 years," he said. He said today the Gujarat cooperative movement is considered a successful model across the country. Among all the states across the country, Gujarat is one of the states where cooperatives run with complete transparency, the minister said. There are more than 84,000 societies in Gujarat in the cooperative sector and about 231 lakh members are associated with these societies. Amit Shah listed the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation whose activities include streamlining processes for 'ease of doing business' for cooperatives and enabling development of multi-state cooperative societies. Shah also spoke about the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant at Kalol which was virtually inaugurated by PM Modi at 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' programme. He said the plant will help in environment conservation and save in terms of transportation costs. The ultramodern Nano Fertilizer Plant has been established keeping in mind the increase in crop yield through the use of Nano Urea. The plant will produce about 1.5 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, May 28 (PTI) The purchase of land after it is converted from agricultural to residential use does not contravene the provisions of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, the Karnataka High Court has said. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates World's First Nano Urea Liquid Plant in Gandhinagar. It upheld as valid the purchase of three acres of land by the Tibetan Children's Village in Sheshagirihalli village in Ramangara, which was originally a grant land, after the land had been converted for residential use. Also Read | Foreign Minister S Jaishankar Says, 'Connectivity With Myanmar, Bangladesh To Lead Huge Change'. Agricultural land granted to SC/ST cannot be transferred as per the said Act. Giriyappa was granted the land in 1978. He transferred the land to T Prasanna Gowda in 1996. The latter converted the land use under Karnataka Land Reforms Act (KLR Act) and then transferred it to the Tibetan Children's Village, a registered Society. The heirs of Giriyappa challenged the transfer of land in 2006. The Assistant Commissioner ruled in favour of the Society, but the Deputy Commissioner set aside the AC's order and allowed the restoration of the land in favour of the heirs of Giriyappa. This was challenged in the High Court by the Society. The High Court bench of Justice B M Shyam Prasad in its order on May 23, allowed the petition and ruled in favour of the Society. The HC noted that a full bench had earlier ruled (Sri Munnaiah vs Deputy Commissioner) in 2021, once the permission for conversion is granted under Section 95(2) of the KLR Act, the land loses its nature of being an agricultural land and therefore restriction under Section 4(2) of the PTCL Act would no longer be applicable. The HC said that in view of the observation made by its full bench in the earlier case, the petitioner must succeed on this ground. Further, the court noted that a similar challenge to the Tibetan Children's Village's purchase of the adjacent lands on similar grounds had also failed. Delay in filing the case also came to the aid of Tibetan Children's Village. The first sale deed is in the year 1996 and the proceedings are initiated 10 years later which would be an unreasonable delay in the absence of necessary explanation and in the circumstances of the case. The petitioner must succeed even on this ground, the HC said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati, May 28 (PTI) Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen on Saturday said repatriation of displaced Myanmar nationals sheltering in his country is necessary for security and stability in Southeast Asia. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. Also Read | COVID-19 in Maharashtra: Four Cases of BA.4, Three of BA.5 Omicron Sub-Variants Detected For First Time. Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million "forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals" (of Rohingya ethnicity) in Cox's Bazar and they want to return to their country, the minister said in his address at the inaugural session of the Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence (NADI) conclave in Assam's Guwahati. "Since repatriation has not started, the displaced persons are frustrated. Many may get involved in criminal activities such as drug and human trafficking, violence and these areas may become pockets of extremism and radicalism, leading to uncertainty and instability in the whole region," Momen said. "Their repatriation must be done at the earliest and I solicit the help of our neighbouring countries to work together to maintain security and stability in the region," he added. Bangladesh is providing them with food and shelter on humanitarian grounds but this is a temporary measure and most of the displaced persons want to return to their country, he added. ''This has posed a threat to the on-going development trajectory in Bangladesh ... for a stable region, all countries should act responsibly so that regional stability is not hampered, Momen said. Countries in the region should come forward in resolving this issue, keeping in mind that development of any region is interdependent, he added. Referring to Indo-Bangla relations, Momen said that both the countries have a ''rock-solid relation'' and are linked by history, culture, language and shared sacrifice, just as much they are connected by shared waters, the fifth-longest border in the world and kinship. ''Over the years, the relationship has seen transformative changes reaching new heights and the existing friendship between the people are a mark of trust and mutual respect. The emotional bonds stemming from the invaluable contribution of the government and the people of India in the Liberation War of Bangladesh remain a dominant factor in the relationship between the two countries'', he said. Later on the sidelines of the conclave, the foreign minister, in reply to questions on Bangladesh's relations with Beijing, said ''we are not moving towards China''. ''We are constructing the longest bridge over Padma with our money and the contractors are from China. We hired them after floating tenders but a section of the media made a noise. China is not funding the project'', he said. China, however, is ''our development partner and as the largest emerging economy, we buy a lot of things from them'', Maomen added. Asked about the arrest of 16 members of Ansar ul Bangla, a terrorist outfit with links to Al Qaeda based out of Bangladesh, in Assam recently, the minister said, ''Good that they have been put inside. There is no place for terrorism in the region''. Referring to Bangladesh's relations with India's North Eastern states, Momen said it is widely accepted that there are huge prospects and potentials for promoting trade and investment and economic activities between Bangladesh and North East India. He said that there are intractable challenges like, climate change, lack of consensus on principles of fair distribution of river water between upper and lower riparian states, geopolitical tensions caused by the absence of such consensus, socio-environmental impact of big dams and hydroelectric power projects of upper riparian countries, river pollution and so on but experts will surely pave the way for effective collaboration beyond politics and boundaries. Bangladesh has been bestowed by a favourable geographical location to serve as a connectivity link between the seven north-eastern states of India as well as with the land-locked Bhutan and Nepal, he said. ''We are thriving to develop useful multi-modal connectivity with our neighbours and also with the other nations of the region. A number of mega projects are being implemented and on completion, we expect to enter into a new horizon of socio-economic development of the country'', Momen said. (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 28 (PTI) TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday lashed out at "1 per cent of the judiciary" for ordering CBI investigation in "every case" in the state. Addressing a rally in Haldia in Purba Medinipur district, Banerjee said he has avenged the "harassment" by central agencies by inducting two BJP MPs into the TMC. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Made India Strong, Cannot Be Compared with Nehru: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. "I feel ashamed to say that in the judiciary, there are one or two people who are in hand in gloves and have a tacit understanding, and are ordering CBI investigation in every case. This is just 1 per cent of the judiciary," he said, without clarifying his allegations. "If you think you will take action against me for speaking the truth, then I will speak the truth a thousand times," he added. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Elections 2022: Balbir Singh Seechewal, Vikramjit Singh Sahney Are AAP Nominees for RS Polls. The Calcutta High Court has ordered CBI investigations in a slew of cases in the last few months, including the recruitment drives by the School Service Commission (SSC). "The CBI and ED are being misused to threaten us. To insult the state, they had summoned me twice to Delhi in cases related to West Bengal. They were trying to harass me. I decided to give them a befitting reply by inducting two BJP MPs into the party," he said. Barrackpore BJP MP Arjun Singh joined the TMC last week, while Babul Supriyo who was the MP from Asansol switched over in September last year. "If we open our doors, the BJP would cease to exist in Bengal," claimed Banerjee, the MP of Diamond Harbour. In an apparent dig at Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, he claimed that he had traded the legacy of Medinipur to save himself from the CBI and ED. "There was a person who acted as a barrier between the government and the party. I have come here to break that barrier. The person has sold his soul, the legacy and the emotion of Medinipur to protect himself from the ED and CBI. He is an ungrateful person," Banerjee said. He also cautioned party workers from getting involved in corruption. "We won't allow contractors to run the show here and sacrifice the interests of the workers. We will stop this contractor rule in the area in hundred days. We are very well aware of those who backstabbed the party and worked for the BJP here," he said. He said the TMC would prefer to give nominations to old-timers, referring to the civic polls in the industrial town that are likely to be held later this year. Hitting back at Banerjee, BJP claimed that his comments on the judiciary showed the panic in the ruling party. "The comments show that the TMC leaders have no respect for the judiciary. It also show that the TMC fears that truth might come out due to CBI investigations," BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian news agency AMAP reported here Saturday that a member of the Tenenkou peace watch committee in the central Mopti region was shot dead by unidentified gunmen early last Friday evening, citing local sources Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 28 (ANI): Two people died on Friday midnight after a matador vehicle fell from Jammu's Tawi Bridge, the Jammu and Kashmir police informed on Saturday. "Around midnight a matador vehicle fell from the Tawi Bridge (in Jammu), and a rescue operation was carried out," said the J-K Police. Also Read | Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2022: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on His Birth Anniversary. According to the police, the driver lost control of the vehicle while returning from Vikram Chowk and broke the fence around it, after which it fell into the river. Both the persons injured were taken to a government medical hospital, where they both succumbed to their injuries. Also Read | RBI To Adopt Graded Approach To Introduce 'Central Bank Digital Currency' To Ensure Conformity With Objectives. More details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, May 28 (PTI) Two people were killed when a minibus fell into the Tawi river after the driver lost control of the vehicle while crossing a bridge here, police said on Saturday. The accident occurred near Bikram Chowk late Friday night, they said. Also Read | Tesla in India: Elon Musk Says 'No Plant Where Sell of Imported Cars Not Allowed'. The bus driver, who was speeding, lost control of the vehicle while crossing the Tawi bridge. The bus smashed the concrete fence of the bridge before landing on the river bed, resulting in the death of two occupants whose identities are being ascertained, the police said. In a separate incident, 27 passengers were injured after a speeding bus overturned on the Battal Ballain bridge in Udhampur district along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in the early hours of Saturday, according to the police. Also Read | Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2022: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on His Birth Anniversary. The bus was on its way to Doda district from Jammu, the police said. They said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. Later, six of them were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) here for specialised treatment. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], May 28 (ANI): The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Saturday launched a search and rescue operation after 7 trackers reportedly went missing on the Pandav Shera track in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district. "SDRF team received information from District Control Room Rudraprayag that 7 trackers have gone missing while trekking on Pandav Shera track. SDRF's High Altitude Rescue Team has been sent for rescue work," said DIG SDRF Riddhim Agarwal. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Temperature to Rise in Northwest And Central India in Next Few Days, Moderate Rainfall Likely Over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. In view of the sensitivity of the said incident, a chopper was arranged by the Civil Aviation Department for quick rescue by Deputy Inspector General of Police, SDRF, Riddhim Agarwal and ordered for a quick rescue. Under the direction of Commander SDRF, Manikant Mishra, the High Altitude Rescue Team (High Altitude Rescue Team) of SDRF has been dispatched to Pandav Shera track through a chopper from Sahastradhara helipad with necessary rescue equipment and satellite phones for a quick rescue. Also Read | COVID-19 in Maharashtra: Four Cases of BA.4, Three of BA.5 Omicron Sub-Variants Detected For First Time. The team has reached the Agastyamuni helipad and the search and rescue operation has been started on the track route. (ANI) (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 28 (PTI) The West Bengal government is planning to amend the law to remove Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as 'visitor' of private universities in the state and appoint the education minister in his place, a senior official said on Saturday. A discussion in this regard was held during Thursday's state cabinet meeting and the process has already been started, he said. Also Read | Western Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2022: Apply for 3612 Fitter, Electrician And Other Posts At rrc-wr.com; Check Details Here. The development comes amid the state cabinet's decision to make Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the chancellor of state-run varsities, replacing the governor. "There is a proposal for altering the law so that the governor can be replaced by the education minister as the 'visitor' of private varsities. In Thursday's Cabinet meeting, there was a discussion on this and the proposal was supported by the members," the official told PTI. Also Read | West Bengal Shocker: Poverty Leads Mother To Give Poison to Three Children, Attempts Suicide in Kolkata. "Hopefully, the next meeting will give its approval," he said, adding that the government will explore the legal options in this regard soon. As per the West Bengal government's policy and guidelines for setting up private universities, the governor has to be appointed the 'visitor' and he can preside over the convocations. The 'visitor' also has the power to call for any paper or information relating to the affairs of the universities. The official said that the government was open to take an ordinance route if the governor does not clear the proposed bill for making the chief minister the chancellor of state-run varsities. The governor, by virtue of his position, is the chancellor of all state-run universities. The decisions of the TMC government come amid a bitter turf war with the governor over several issues, including some relating to the running of universities. Dhankhar earlier alleged that vice-chancellors of 24 universities have been "appointed illegally without the chancellor's approval". After the vice-chancellors of the private universities skipped a meeting called by him in Raj Bhavan in December last year, he had hit out at the ruling dispensation in the state. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) The government on Saturday said it will develop a framework to keep a check on fake reviews posted on e-commerce websites to protect consumer interest. The consumer affairs ministry along with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) held a virtual meeting on Friday with stakeholders, including e-commerce entities, to discuss the magnitude of fake reviews on their platforms. Also Read | Manchester United Transfer News: Red Devils Keen on Signing Christopher Nkuku From RB Leipzig. Fake reviews mislead consumers into buying online products and services. According to an official statement, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) will develop these frameworks after studying the present mechanism being followed by the e-commerce entities in India and best practices available globally. Also Read | Oppo A57, Oppo A57s Tipped To Launch in India Soon; Specifications Leaked Online. Consumer forums, law universities, lawyers, FICCI, CII and consumer rights activists, among others, participated in the meeting to discuss the magnitude of the problem and roadmap ahead for fake reviews on websites. Since e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on platforms to see the opinion and experience of users who have already purchased the good or service. "Traceability by ensuring the authenticity of the reviewer and the associated liability of the platform are the two key issues here. Also e-commerce players must disclose as to how they choose the 'most relevant reviews' for display in a fair and transparent manner," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said. All stakeholders agreed that the issue deserves to be monitored closely and appropriate framework governing the fake reviews should be developed for protection of consumer interest, the statement said. Stakeholders from e-commerce companies claimed they have frameworks in place by which they monitor fake reviews and would be pleased to take part in developing a legal framework on the issue, it added. Nidhi Khare, additional secretary and Anupam Mishra, joint secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs also attended the meeting. Manisha Kapoor, CEO, ASCI highlighted the categories of fake and misleading reviews and their impact on consumer interest. The issues discussed in the meeting included how paid reviews, unverifiable reviews and absence of disclosure in case of incentivised reviews make it challenging for consumers to recognise genuine reviews. (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 28 (PTI) Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday visited bp's Global Business Services Centre in Pune as he looked to get the first-hand experience of digitisation efforts by the UK oil major. Also Read | IPL 2022: Matthew Wade, Gujarat Titans' Keeper Admits, Personally It's Been a Frustrating IPL. During his visit, Pradhan interacted with leadership and employees at the centre, bp said in a statement. Also Read | CGPSC Recruitment 2022: Apply for 33 Casualty Medical Officer, General Duty Medical Officer Posts on psc.cg.gov.in; Check Details Here. Varsha Singh, Vice-President and Head, bp India Pune centre, said, "It was a privilege to host Minister Pradhan at our Pune centre today. We are delighted that he interacted with our employees and was present with us to see the centre we set up in the middle of the pandemic. "The centre draws upon digital talent and skills which are critical in solving complex business problems for bp globally as it pivots itself from an international oil company to an international energy company." Launched in 2021, the bp-owned and operated centre aims to provide business processing and advanced analytics capabilities in support of bp businesses worldwide and is expected to employ around 2,000 staff. The centre in India seeks to further extend its work with analytics and data science capabilities to pursue better business outcomes. Co-located within bp's major global business services (GBS) operations centre in Pune is also a Digital Hub that aims to create, grow and deliver a range of digital solutions to help transform bp's core operations, extend its customer interfaces and support new and emerging business models. Operational since July 2021, with an initial headcount of up to 100 digital engineering, data, information security and design specialists, its teams have the technical depth and capability to explore, experiment, develop and execute digital solutions. The centre has been conferred with the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) Gold certification, reinforcing bp's commitment towards sustainability, right from water and energy conservation to sustainable material and resources used, ensuring an optimal indoor environment quality for its people, the statement said. "Make digitisation simple so that people at the bottom of the pyramid can gain. Energy transition should lead to new pathways of convenience," the statement quoted Pradhan as saying. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Addis Ababa, May 28 (ANI/Xinhua): Humanitarian emergencies in Africa are a permanent source of concern for the continent, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has said. Mahamat, while addressing the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference on Friday, said humanitarian emergencies in Africa are numerous, diverse and geographically dispersed, and have become a permanent source of concern. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Says, 'Clear Passage for Ships, Remove 'Illegitimate' Sanctions To Overcome Global Food Crisis'. He said across the 15 most-affected AU member countries, 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022. East and Horn of Africa are currently hosting 4.5 million refugees, more than 75 per cent of whom have been affected by the reduction in food rations in 2021, Mahamat said. Also Read | Russia Ukraine War: Russian Forces Likely Captured Most of Lyman in the Donetsk Region. Over the past two years, food requirements have increased by 70 per cent in the East and Horn of Africa, and more than 25 million people are in a situation of food insecurity, Mahamat said. Mahamat said in West and Central Africa, there are 58 million people in a state of food insecurity, which is the highest level of food insecurity since 2016. There are two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Central Africa. This figure represents a 30 per cent increase compared to 2020 and does not comprise the five million displaced persons in the Lake Chad Basin, he said. In North Africa, more than 14 million people need humanitarian assistance, he added. "The picture is not bright. Far from it," he said, as he emphasized that Africa's humanitarian condition is further affected by the annihilation of refugee empowerment efforts by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The paradox of humanitarianism lies in the discrepancy between the urgent nature of the situations of human distress to be taken care of and the poignant need to defer this care because of the lack of or insufficient financial resources," Mahamat told African leaders attending the high-level humanitarian summit. African leaders on Friday met in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea to find durable solutions to address the continent's current humanitarian challenges as part of the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference. (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) Beijing [China], May 28 (ANI): China seems to be trapped in its own web that it had spun around countries to catch them in a debt trap through its inherently exploitative Belt and Road Initiative. People in countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are indebted to China have now started hitting back against Chinese nationals. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Says, 'Clear Passage for Ships, Remove 'Illegitimate' Sanctions To Overcome Global Food Crisis'. Last month in April, three Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan in an alleged suicide attack. In Sri Lanka, after the resignation of pro-China Prime Minister Mahendra Rajapaksa, Beijing has asked its citizens working in the island nation to be on the alert and guard against attacks, according to Islam Khabar, Also Read | Russia Ukraine War: Russian Forces Likely Captured Most of Lyman in the Donetsk Region. On April 26, a burqa- clad woman suicide bomber of Baloch Liberation Army triggered an explosion in a shuttle passenger bus of the Confucius Institute of the University of Karachi, leaving three Chinese teachers dead and one injured. The Baloch Liberation Army has been vocal against the building of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. In 2021, nine Chinese engineers were killed in a bomb attack on a bus at Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan. Islamabad had to pay USD 11.6 billion as compensation for the incident, as per Islam Khabar. The CPEC, which ends at Gwadar Port in Balochistan, has burdened Pakistan with mountains of debt, allowing China to use "debt trap diplomacy" to gain access to strategic assets in Pakistan. Towards the end of 2021, there were massive protests in Gwadar against the CPEC, a movement called 'Gwadar Ko Haq Do' (Give Gwadar its rights), demanding removal of unnecessary check-posts and in protest against giving Chinese fishing trawlers the right to fish in the area to the detriment of the interest of local small fishermen. In other areas where CPEC projects like roads, railway and oil pipeline links are coming up, there have been protests against forcible occupation of land and displacement of people. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented foreign exchange crisis, Colombo's request to Beijing to restructure Lanka's debt to China have gone in vain. China's Belt and Road Initiative has mired Sri Lanka in a debt trap. At the end of February 2022, Colombo was left with a forex reserve of only USD 2.32 billion, while it was faced with a debt repayment burden of USD 4 billion in 2021-22, Islam Khabar reported. The bulk of the debt was owed to China, nearly USD 8 billion, with USD 2 billion payable to Beijing in 2021-22. On May 10, Beijing issued an advisory to Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka saying it was closely monitoring the violent turn of events in the island where it had substantial investments and asked Chinese nationals working in Sri Lanka to be alert and on guard against risks. China's gaining access to the Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease has not gone down well with the patriotic Lankans, as per the media reports. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], May 28 (ANI/Sputnik): US President Joe Biden said on Friday that North Korea has supported the United States' sanctions against Russia. "Did anybody think, I callEd for sanctions against Russia. In addition to NATO, that Australia, Japan, North Korea, some of the ASEAN countries, would stand up and support those sanctions," Biden said. Also Read | Monkeypox May Slow Down But Not be Eliminated, Says Report. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk republics requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The United States and its allies responded by imposing comprehensive sanctions against Russia. The sanctions have exacerbated the disruption of supply chains and led to a spike in food and energy prices worldwide. (ANI/Sputnik) (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 28 (ANI): China's aim to address its food security challenges could put the US, as the world's leading producer in agriculture, in Beijing's way, according to an independent agency of the US government. The report released by US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), reviews China's food security challenges and how these vulnerabilities drive interest in US-China agricultural relations. Also Read | Monkeypox Cases Rise to 200 Globally, WHO Urges Countries to Increase Surveillance. According to the USCC, China's efforts to strengthen its agriculture sector and food security, sometimes through illicit means, could prove to be a risk to US economic and national security. In 2021, China imported more than 30 million metric tons of corn, used mainly for feed, from the United States, a substantial increase from the less than 5 million metric tons of corn in 2019. Also Read | Monkeypox in Argentina: Latin America Reports First Virus Case; Man Travelled From Spain. But as demands grow on its agricultural production, China will address this challenge through policy, technology, and economic activities. "For example, Chinese companies' acquisition of hog herds in the United States may save China money and enhance its domestic capacity; however, this could also reduce China's need for U.S.-sourced production and redistribute the environmental effects ofhog waste to US communities," the USCC report said. "If further consolidations and Chinese investments in U.S. agricultural assets take place, China may have undue leverage over US supply chains. China's access to US agricultural IP may also erode U.S. competitiveness in agriculture technology that supports food production," it added. According to the report, China's illicit acquisitions of GM seeds provide a jumpstart to China's own development of such seeds, deprive US companies of revenue, and offer an opportunity to discover vulnerabilities in US crops. This report also reviews China's food security challenges and how these vulnerabilities drive interest in US-China agricultural relations. "Specifically, it evaluates the motivations behind China's agricultural investments, including challenges to food production and relevant CCP efforts to reduce import reliance, conserve farmland, and modernize agricultural technologies. It then examines the main areas of Chinese investment in the United States, including land, livestock, grains, and relevant infrastructure, like agricultural equipment and technology," the report said. Finally, the report presents considerations for lawmakers regarding further Chinese integration in the US agriculturesector. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Kathmandu [Nepal], May 28 (ANI): On the occasion of 75 years of US-Nepal diplomatic ties, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to visit Washington in mid-July, in the first official visit by a Nepali prime minister in two decades. The Prime Ministers of Nepal have been regularly visiting the US, but mostly to New York. However, these visits were not part of bilateral visits and therefore this is the first official high-level trip from Nepal. Also Read | Monkeypox Cases Rise to 200 Globally, WHO Urges Countries to Increase Surveillance. PM Deuba is expected to visit Washington from July 14 to 16, said diplomatic and government sources. Given the tight schedule of US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and senior American officials, two windows are kept for PM Deuba's visit, the Kathmandu post reported. The Nepalese PM could either visit US in early July or in mid-June. Also Read | Monkeypox in Argentina: Latin America Reports First Virus Case; Man Travelled From Spain. Govinda Pariyar, press chief to Prime Minister Deuba, said, "The Prime Minister will be visiting the United States this year. Both sides are working on dates," He added, "He will be participating in the second Summit for Democracy. Anyway, the PM will be attending the coming session of the United Nations General Assembly." US Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal's Foreign Ministry will decide on the dates after which it will be made public. Pariyar while speaking with Nepalese media outlet the Kathmandu Post said, "Once his meetings and other engagements in the US are fixed, the visit will be announced." Despite sharing such longstanding ties, there have not been many high-level exchanges between the two countries. Lately, Washington seems to be showing a renewed interest in sending high-level officials to Kathmandu. Just last week, US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya concluded her three-day Nepal visit, the highest-level visit since 2012. The recent highest-level official visit from Nepal to the United States took place in December 2018 when then foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali flew to Washington, marking the first visit by a Nepali foreign minister in 17 years. In the wake of Nepali communist leaders' continued opposition to the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact (MCC), its ratification got delayed, which vexed Washington to the extent that it even warned of reviewing its Nepal policy should Kathmandu fail to ratify the grant. Prime Minister Deuba, who also leads the five-party coalition, however, played an instrumental role in getting the grant ratified. The US Government's MCC signed the pact with the Government of Nepal in September 2017 aimed at maintaining road quality, increasing the availability and reliability of electricity, and facilitating cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India--helping to spur investments, accelerate economic growth, and reduce poverty. "The recent passage of the MCC compact, Nepal's successful local elections and 75 years of bilateral ties just simply make a visit to Washington at the prime ministerial level imperative," said Suresh Chailse, Nepal's former ambassador to the United States. "The visit will certainly help further strengthen Nepal-US ties." (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 28 (ANI): An Islamabad district court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of a Pakistani TikToker who posted a TikTok video of the forest fire. The application was heard by Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti who after the hearing adjourned the court till June 1, saying that the court would await the government's response. Also Read | After Massacre, Some in Gun-friendly Uvalde Favor Tougher Gun Laws Latest Tweet by Reuters. Prior to the hearing, the female star's lawyer, Mian Tariq, filed an application to transfer the bail case from Judge Abida Sajjad. He told the court that he had submitted the bail bonds as well as a surety from his friend but Judge Sajjad rejected bail, saying that the court could not accept surety from a lawyer, the Dawn newspaper reported. Also Read | Monkeypox Cases Rise to 200 Globally, WHO Urges Countries to Increase Surveillance. The counsel said the TikToker was unable to arrange surety from a local and the judge had made up her mind before listening to the facts of the case. Thus, requested that the case be transferred to another judge "on merit." He also claimed that the fire was started in Haripur but the complainant had not yet identified the area. Later in the day, Judge Abida Sajjad resumed the hearing on the pre-arrest bail application and asked where the suspect was, the Dawn newspaper reported. The court clerk then asked the suspect, TikToker Saeed to come to the courtroom thrice but she did not appear. Instead, she stayed in her lawyer's chamber. Her lawyer, Manzoor, informed the court that the hearing on the transfer application had been adjourned till June 1 and requested the court to grant his client time till then. For his part, the government's lawyer Hasnain Haider argued that the district court was not authorised to hear matters related to forest fires. Judge Sajjad then dismissed the pre-arrest bail application. Subsequently, Saeed's lawyer submitted a fresh application for pre-arrest bail which was heard by Judge Abida Sajjad but it was again dismissed. Subsequently, her lawyer submitted a fresh application for pre-arrest bail which was heard by Judge Sajjad but it was again dismissed, the Dawn newspaper reported. Following the hearings, Saeed left the courtroom with her lawyer but is yet to be arrested. The TikToker Nosheen Saeed alias Dolly had applied for pre-arrest bail after registration of a first information report (FIR) against her for setting the forest ablaze to shoot a video. She was granted an interim bail from the court till May 27, the Dawn reported. Saeed has more than 11 million followers on TikTok, and had posted a clip of herself walking playfully in a silver ball gown in front of a burning hillside, presumably the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, with the caption: "Fire erupts wherever I am," the Dawn newspaper reported. Her video went viral on social media recently, bringing her severe criticism as people initially assumed that she had started the blaze herself at a time when a devastating heatwave was underway in Pakistan causing forest fires. In 15 seconds video that has gone viral on the internet, she was seen walking playfully in a gown in front of a burning hillside with the caption: "Fire erupts wherever I am." He also claimed that the fire was started in Haripur but the complainant had not yet identified the area. However, the short clip which received backlash has since been taken down. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow [Russia], May 28 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday told the leaders of France and Germany that Moscow was willing to discuss ways to make it possible for Ukraine to resume shipments of grain from Black Sea ports, according to a Kremlin statement. Putin held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue peace talks with Kyiv. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin Says, 'Clear Passage for Ships, Remove 'Illegitimate' Sanctions To Overcome Global Food Crisis'. "Russia is ready to help find options for unhampered exports of grain, including exports of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports," the Kremlin said as quoted by TASS news agency. "Increasing supplies of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products will also help reduce tension on the global food market, which, of course, would require removing the relevant restrictions," the statement added. Also Read | Russia Ukraine War: Russian Forces Likely Captured Most of Lyman in the Donetsk Region. Russian President also said that problems with food supplies were caused by anti-Russian sanctions and other mistakes of the West, the news agency reported. "Based on specific data, Vladimir Putin explained the real reasons for the difficulties with food supplies, which were the result of the misguided economic and financial policies of Western countries, as well as the anti-Russian sanctions they imposed," the statement said. "Special attention was given to the state of affairs on the negotiating track, which is frozen because of Kyiv. Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia is open to resuming the dialogue," it added. Putin stressed the danger of pumping Ukraine with Western weapons, the Kremlin quoted by TASS said. "The Russian President also highlighted the issue of dangerous ongoing pumping of Ukraine with Western weapons, warning of the risks of further destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis," the statement 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) Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 28 (ANI): As Sri Lanka faces a severe economic crisis, the people of the island nation continue to protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face Green in Colombo for the 50th consecutive day on May 28. The protests demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa started off on April 9. Since then it has been continuing 24/7 irrespective of the adverse weather and attacks by the government supporters on May 9, reported Colombo Page. Also Read | Monkeypox May Slow Down But Not be Eliminated, Says Report. People from all walks of life -- doctors, lawyers among others -- have since gathered at Galle Face vowing their support to the protests. In the latest update, a protest march from Liberty Junction in Kollupitiya to Gota Go Gama in Galle Face started at 2.00 pm on Saturday to mark the 50th day of protest. Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces New Relief Package for Low-Income Segment. During a press briefing held on Friday, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said they will hold a protest march to mark the 50th day of the Gota Go Gama. According to the protesters, a number of other events will also take place at Gota Go Gama. Meanwhile, the Police have obtained a court order over the protest march scheduled to be held today to mark the 50th day of Gota Go Gama. As per the Police statement, Court has banned protesters from entering several roads and State institutions in the Fort area. (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, May 28: The call of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift the Taliban's strict measures on Afghan women has been dismissed by the Taliban forces who have termed it as "unfounded." Reaffirming the Taliban's commitment to Afghan women's rights, the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the concerns of the UNSC on Friday regarding the restriction of human and fundamental rights imposed upon Afghan women, reported Khaaama Press. UN Establishes Formal Ties With Taliban-Governed Afghanistan. "Since the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society," stated Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson of the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Ministry. Earlier on Tuesday, the Security Council called on the Taliban to "swiftly reverse" the policies restricting the human rights and fundamental rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. UNSC, in a joint statement, expressed deep concerns over the situation of Afghan women and girls following the Taliban's restrictions on education, employment, freedom of movement, and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in public life. The UN Security Council also called on the Taliban to reopen the schools for all female students without further delay, reported Khaama Press. The Taliban's statement comes at a time when the United Nations(UN) Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennet recently commented that the measures such as the suspension of girls' secondary education, enforcing a strict form of Hijab, and no opportunities to participate in political and public life, among others, fit the pattern of absolute gender segregation and are aimed at making women invisible in society. Concluding his 11-day visit to Afghanistan to assess the condition of human rights in Afghanistan, Bennet said, "I expressed serious concern about the deterioration of human rights across the country, and the erasure of women from public life is especially concerning," Unrecognized by most of the international community, the Taliban-led government has committed to disrespecting the human rights of women. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Barcelona [Spain], May 28 (ANI): Tibetan Groups from across the world have gathered in Barcelona for the first-ever Cross-Regional Meeting convened by the International Tibet Network. The attendants are participating in a series of talks and workshops led by prominent activists, experts, and scholars of the Tibetan movement, as well as regional and cross-regional planning and networking. Also Read | Tunisian Judge Issues Travel Ban Against Ennahda Party Leader Latest Tweet by Reuters. The event is being held from May 27-29 at the Casa del Tibet at the invitation of Ven. Thubten Wangchen. Since its inception in 2000, the International Tibet Network has held annual Regional Meetings which were disrupted due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Also Read | Monkeypox May Slow Down But Not be Eliminated, Says Report. This year's Cross-Regional Meeting is the first of its kind and has an attendance of around 70 representatives from Tibet Groups across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Sophie Richardson, China Director at Human Rights Watch; Lhadon Tethong, director of the Tibet Action Institute; and Kunsang Kelden, Organiser of Tibet Film Festival London, are among the line-up of presenters for the Cross-Regional Meeting. "It is a great pleasure to host the Cross-Regional Meeting at Casa del Tibet Foundation in Barcelona. The meeting provides a platform for meaningful discussions and the finding of practical solutions and I am very happy to see so many young Tibetan activists and Tibet supporters collaborating for the Tibetan cause. Tashi Delek to all," Thubten Wangchen, Director of Casa del Tibet said. "This has been our first ever Cross-Regional Meeting, and we went in with the hopes of bringing Tibet Groups and supporters together in person to share their experiences with the movement in their own countries and regional contexts," said Mandie McKeown, Executive Director of the International Tibet Network. He added, "It has been incredibly inspiring to see people from all around the world come together in support of the Tibetan cause." The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. The Network works to increase the capacity of individual member organisations, develops coordinated strategic campaigns, and encourages increased cooperation among organisations, thereby strengthening the Tibet movement as a whole. (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 28 (ANI): Alarmed by continued terror attacks in Afghanistan, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has called for a thorough and independent investigation of these attacks that have resulted in the killing of dozens of people. "Alarmed by continuing terror attacks on civilians, including 16 child casualties. Deepest condolences to victims and families of latest attacks #Kabul #Mazar. Flagging as @SR_Afghanistan need for a thorough, independent and resourced investigation of these & other attacks," Richard Bennett tweeted. Also Read | Monkeypox Cases Rise to 200 Globally, WHO Urges Countries to Increase Surveillance. Afghanistan had been hit by a series of bomb attacks 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. Also Read | Monkeypox in Argentina: Latin America Reports First Virus Case; Man Travelled From Spain. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the recent attacks and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. "Attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including mosques, are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said in a statement. UN chief reiterated his call on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, as well as their right to freely practice their religion. Afghanistan is at a crossroads and the de facto authorities, the Taliban, must pursue a path toward stability and freedom for all citizens, especially women, said UN independent expert Bennett, who recently concluded an 11-day visit to the ravaged country. Bennett had 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. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) On the occasion of NTR Jayanthi, actor Jr NTR visited NTR Ghat in Hyderabad to pay his respects to his late grandfather, ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and film icon N.T. Rama Rao. RRR: Actor-Comedian Patton Oswalt Calls Ram Charan, Jr NTRs Film F**ken Insane. Jr NTR arrived early in the morning to avoid fans and paparazzi. Nonetheless, a sizable crowd gathered at the venue, so as to catch up with the 'RRR' actor. The security guards tried to keep them from approaching the hero. NTR 31 First Look: Jr NTR Looks Raw and Rough in His Upcoming Film With Prashanth Neel (View Pic). Meanwhile, N.T. Rama Rao's centenary is being celebrated in grand style across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In terms of work, Jr NTR will soon begin 'NTR30' with Koratala Siva. He has also announced 'NTR31', a collaboration with Prashanth Neel. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2022 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). After the Madras High Court restricted Internet Service Providers (ISP) and over 1000 websites from unauthorised screening or copying of the Kamal Haasan starrer Vikram, releasing on June 3, the superstar's production house Raaj Kamal Films International is on high alert. The production house has communicated to all the Internet Service Providers and sites that stringent legal action would be taken if the movie is copied or transmitted. Vikram: Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahadh Faasils Film To Release on 400 Screens in Telugu States. Madras High Court judge, Justice Saravanan had on a petition filed by R. Murali Krishnan of Raaj Kamal Films International, restrained 29 ISPs including BSNL, Vodafone idea, Airtel, and Reliance Jio and 1308 websites from unauthorised copying or transmission of "Vikram", the complete movie or in parts. The movie produced by Raaj Kamal Films International and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj with Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi and Fahad Fazil playing major characters is all set for a worldwide release on 1000 screens on June 3. Vikram: Kamal Haasan To Promote His Upcoming Action-Thriller in Hyderabad. The advocate of the petitioner, Vijayan Subramanian submitted to the court that when the film is released on June 3, the websites would illegally copy, record, download, reproduce, transmit, and communicate the copyright-protected movie. The applicant also said that the 1308 websites have the potential to upload and enable third parties to copy, reproduce, distribute and display the film through 29 ISPs which amounts to infringement of the applicant's copyright. "Vikram" is one of the most awaited movies of 2022 and Raaj Kamal Films International is worried that if the movie is copied or reproduced, it would amount to major financial losses including to those with whom the producers had entered into agreements for the purpose of marketing, promotion, communication, etc. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2022 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Guwahati, May 28: Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen on Saturday said that the next phase of relations between India and Bangladesh would be based on shared rivers. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers and the two countries have a 2,979 km land border and 1,116 km of riverine boundary. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar Says, Connectivity With Myanmar, Bangladesh To Lead Huge Change Addressing the "NADI (River) Conclave 2022" in Guwahati, Momen said that Bangladesh believes in the expansion and extension of the waterway movement between India and Bangladesh. "We need to develop a win-win river and water sharing regime." One of the biggest challenges in Bangladeshi rivers is siltation, he said. India's External Minister S. Jaishankar and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also spoke in the "NADI Convlave-2022" organised by Shillong-based think-tank and research group 'Asian Confluence'. "Historically, India and Bangladesh bondings are rock-solid while China is a development partner of Bangladesh. Further, we want to develop a strong relationship with all the states of India," Momen observed. Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Foreign Minister said that India-Bangladesh relation is going through a golden age. "We are looking forward to better relations in the coming decades." "Noting that India and Bangladesh shared common challenges of climate change, the visiting Minister said that only last week, Assam, Bihar and Bangladesh faced flood at the same time." "It's time for India and Bangladesh to work together in flood management. It is time to replace competition with cooperation," the Bangladeshi Minister said. Momen said that Bangladesh is known as the "land of the rivers" as there are about 700 rivers including tributaries, which have a total length of about 24,140 km, one of the largest in the world. "Rivers are the basic life lines of Bangladesh and are accessible to the remotest areas of the country whereas roads and railways do not have such accessibilities. In Bangladesh, rivers have huge impact on our tradition, culture, music, life style and livelihood. It can influence politics too. So, you understand how important the river is for Bangladesh," he said. The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister said that at the historic juncture of completing 50 years of its bilateral ties, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Bangladesh-India relationship is now passing its 'Golden Chapter'. He said that with regard to Bangladesh's relations with India's northeastern states, factors like geographical proximity, close cultural and historical ties, and economic factors are hugely contributing to the ever-growing bond between Bangladesh and the northeastern region of India. Bangladesh's robust engagements with India's northeastern states are intertwined and have always been at the heart of overall India-Bangladesh relationship. It is widely accepted that there are huge prospects and potentials for promoting trade and investment and other economic activities between Bangladesh and the northeast region of India. Momen said that Bangladesh solicits India's support to push the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. "Many of them (Rohingya refugees) are getting involved in drug trafficking and numerous criminal activities and these might become a threat for both India and Bangladesh," he said. Since 2016, over 860,000 Rohingyas fled from Myanmar to evade violence, sheltered in various camps Cox's Bazar in southeast Bangladesh. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2022 07:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to the Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Respectful tribute to Veer Savarkar, the hardworking son of Mother Bharti, on his birth anniversary." Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday asked leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah that he must clarify whether he is an Aryan or Dravidian. Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended 4 Bangladeshi nationals crossing International Boundary illegally in North 24-Parganas district in West Bengal, yesterday. All of them were later handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh as a goodwill gesture: BSF ANI (@ANI) May 28, 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.) (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.) My first time at a Carnitas El Momo food truck, parked in the lot of a Mobil gas station in Boyle Heights, I ask for each of the four tacos listed on the sidewalk placard menu: maciza (chopped pork shoulder), cuerito (plush, translucent slivers of pork skin), buche (tender, wishbone-shaped slices of pork stomach) and carnitas mixtas, a combination of all three. Our tacos are big, warns the woman taking the order. This is too much food for one person. I hear her repeat the words to almost every customer after me. No one much heeds the advice. Individually, the cuts of meat are all impressive. Mixed together on the fourth taco, the trinity merges into something far greater. The Acosta family, which runs El Momo, sometimes brands its carnitas mixtas as the Aporkalypse. Its more of a wonder than a calamity, though the different textures lacy, hunky, slippery, soft-crisp do tumble around the taste buds like clothes in a dryer. Food Sign up for the Tasting Notes newsletter The pork braises in copper cauldrons called cazos for hours in lard and a secret mix of other ingredients: a homemade brown sugar syrup lurks in there. Whatever the wizardry, the pig parts emerge caramelized and herbaceous and generously salted but not overly so. Id studied El Momos Instagram account enough to know the family suggests trying at least one taco dressed with only pickled vegetables. I split open a whole jalapeno with my thumb and squeeze its vinegary juices over the meat. That addition sets off pinwheels and sparklers, a light show of acid and sugar and richness. In the quiet center is the freshest, purest flavor of pork. Anyone who lives in Los Angeles and partakes of pig should know the splendor of El Momos mixta at least once. Certainly many regional and wonderful versions of carnitas are available throughout the city, but the superiority of these meats youll know it when you taste it distinguishes them as one of our lifeblood foods. Advertisement Romulo Momo Acosta learned the art of exceptional carnitas from his father, a farmer and carnitero from Salamanca, a town about 200 miles northwest of Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato. Acosta moved to Southern California and began selling carnitas on weekends in the mid-1970s as a side gig from his job as a welder. His porcine mastery didnt become a citywide phenomenon until his children, including his daughter, Adriana Acosta, and son, Juan Billy Acosta, mobilized the family business with a food truck, and occasionally street stands, beginning in 2013. The Carnitas El Momo truck frequently parks in Boyle Heights. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) El Momo has popped up across far-flung stretches of the metro area over the years; lately the Acostas have been setting up closer to home in Boyle Heights. They post their daily locations faithfully on Instagram, frequently appearing at one spot during the day and another at night. In the evenings, lines typically form and the carnitas sell out. I find the truck often in the afternoon near the intersection of North Soto and Fairmount streets, with only a few souls gathered around a shaded table. Im amazed there arent larger crowds, but I gladly relish a transcendent lunch that takes 15 minutes start to finish. If Im feeling like a purist, Ill stick to the mixta zapped only with pickled jalapeno and carrots. Plenty of others around me ask for their tacos with onion and cilantro, painting the meats in red or green salsa from squeeze bottles. When hedonistic urges strike, I go for a mulita, with the carnitas sandwiched between two tortillas and sealed with queso blanco that oozes and seizes on the griddle; the orangey streaks of cheese look like bursts of energy blazing from a bad guys fingertips in a TV superhero cartoon. Im a goner. Once you grasp the El Momo basics, it pays to speak up and ask what else the kitchen has on hand: Perhaps itll be bronzed pork rib or a taco de surtido compiled from other offal cuts (the tradition of carnitas is one of snout-to-tail economy; little goes to waste). Were here for the pork, but occasionally the Acostas meander into other culinary territories as rotating specials: beef barbacoa, braised oxtails, more lately a riff on carnitas made with salmon. These are pleasant enough divertissements. Carnitas El Momos mulita is oozy, crunchy goodness. (Bill Addison / Los Angeles Times) One essential dish beyond carnitas does stand out: birria, stewed goat meat, electric with chile, that stains tortillas a shade somewhere between the colors of Bing cherries and stop signs. Its a recipe honed by the familys matriarch, Inocencia Acosta. Ask for a cup of the birria broth alongside. It warms you in a way that has nothing to do with the temperature outside. The Acostas serve this specialty along with carnitas, of course on mornings and early afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays at the address where they usually park the food truck on weekdays. You can smell the pork rendering a block away; follow the scents and the neighbors walking up the driveway to the semi-enclosed space with the menu written on the wall and tables covered in mismatched oilcloths. Family members might be standing at stoves or weighing out carnitas by the pound before wrapping them in aluminum foil. Spanish is the default language, though younger Acostas will switch to English in a blink. Adriana Acosta makes a birria taco at Carnitas El Momo. (Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times) Its a heartening scene, always, this multigenerational gathering of customers, with perhaps a hung-over reveler or two wearing shades in the corner, eyes fixed on whatever futbol game is blaring from the television. Sadly, the setting has lately been missing its figurehead. Romulo Acosta suffered a heart attack in March while vacationing in Jerusalem and is recovering. His relatives have been turning out food as consistently and poetically as ever. Nonetheless, its a moment to be extra thankful for the pickly, lush, salty-sweet Salamanca-style carnitas Acosta gave Los Angeles and to maybe swing by, for the first or 50th time, to experience how truly incredible they are. One of each taco at Carnitas El Momo. (Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times) Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ramped up Dogecoin after he mentioned in a tweet that Tesla merchandise could now be bought with Dogecoin. Coin Gape reported that aside from Tesla merchandise, people can also purchase SpaceX merchandise with the currency soon. Customers need to look for the Dogecoin symbol next to the order button for Dogecoin-eligible products on the Tesla website as not all Tesla products are eligible for purchase. Customers will need a Dogecoin wallet to purchase using the currency. The payment page will display the Tesla Dogecoin wallet address in both an alphanumeric and a QR code form. It will then allow for connecting to the customer's Dogecoin wallet to transfer the Dogecoin. Tesla clarified that it is the responsibility of the customers to ensure that Dogecoin is transferred to Tesla's wallet accurately. In addition, they are responsible for the fees associated with the Dogecoin transactions. READ NEXT: Starlink in Brazil: Elon Musk Announces Major Move to Help 19,000 Schools, Protect Amazon Dogecoin The Dogecoin price is $0.08, a change of 3.98 percent over the past 24 hours as of 7:49 a.m. Coin Desk noted that Doge is the native cryptocurrency of dogecoin, which is a parody cryptocurrency based on a viral internet meme of a Shiba Inu dog. It was first created purely as a mockery of other cryptocurrency projects that were being launched at the time. The founders of dogecoin did not launch a public sale or "premine" coins before the token's launch. It has a total supply limit of 100 billion coins and anyone with a laptop or smartphone could start mining doge immediately. It was not until November 2017 when doge's price found support again from huge investors. Dogecoin blockchain operates using a proof-of-work consensus mechanism, which is the same system that Bitcoin uses for network participants to reach an agreement on the data being added to the blockchain. Dogecoin's technology development is maintained by a team of voluntary developers who had submitted relatively few code updates and releases. Elon Musk on Dogecoin Elon Musk has finally acknowledged Dogecoin co-founder Jackson Palmer in a recent tweet, claiming that the Dogecoin founder tends to be "a bit negative" at times, according to a U Today report. Palmer responded to Musk's remark, saying "achievement unlocked." The Australian native co-founded Dogecoin together with American software engineer Billy Markus as a joke in 2013. Palmer left the cryptocurrency community in 2015 due to its "toxic culture." He was critical of anarcho-libertarian beliefs prompted by crypto proponents. Palmer said that he tried his best to educate people for a while. However, he realized that nobody really cared about it. Palmer dubbed Musk, the most powerful promoter of Dogecoin, as a self-absorbed grifter in a now-deleted tweet. He remains critical of Musk. He criticized the billionaire last month for launching a hostile takeover of Twitter. The Dogecoin co-founder added that Musk tweets about crypto to "expand his cult of personality and boost his ego." Palmer said that there are a lot of people who are on the "Elon train" now purely because "he pumped their crypto." READ MORE: Twitter Net Worth 2022: How Much Is Twitter Valued After Elon Musk Made $43 Billion Offer? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Elon Musk Says Dogecoin Could Be the Future of Cryptocurrency - from TMZ Argentina on Friday reported two individuals who tested positive for the monkeypox virus, becoming the first country in Latin America to report the presence of the disease. According to Associated Press, the monkeypox virus was found in men who had recently arrived from Spain. Reuters reported that Argentina's Health Ministry confirmed that the first individual tested positive for the monkeypox virus through PCR testing. The ministry said the first case was a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had traveled to Spain from April 28 through May 16. On Sunday, the man reportedly had symptoms of monkeypox, including lesions and fever. People in close contact with the man were under clinical and epidemiological control, and none have shown symptoms so far. The second case was a resident of Spain who has no connection to the first case. The Spanish citizen reportedly arrived in Argentina on Wednesday and developed ulcerous lesions the following day. The ministry said both patients are in good health and are being isolated while receiving treatment. Authorities have revealed little about the individuals who tested positive for the disease. READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden Says Monkeypox Virus Outbreaks Should 'Concern' Americans Not Only in Argentina: WHO Says Nearly 200 Cases of Monkeypox Recorded Worldwide The announcement that two men in Argentina were infected with the monkeypox virus came on the same day the World Health Organization (WHO) said nearly 200 cases of the disease had been reported in at least 20 countries. These countries were not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease. However, according to reports, the number seemed to be an "undercount" of the actual number of cases. On Friday, Spanish authorities reported that the number of cases in their country rose to 98, including a woman whose infection was "directly related" to a chain of transmission previously limited to men. Officials from the U.K. added 16 more new cases, making Britain's total 106. Portugal confirmed that its monkeypox cases were now 74. In a public hearing held on Friday, WHO's director of pandemic and epidemic diseases, Dr. Sylvie Briand, said the first sequencing of the monkeypox virus showed that the strain is not different from those strains found in endemic countries. According to Briand, the current situation appeared to be "containable" based on how past outbreaks of the disease in Africa have evolved. "[But] we don't know if we are just seeing the peak of the iceberg [or] if there are many more cases that are undetected in communities," she added. WHO Urges Countries to Act Now to Contain the Spread of Monkeypox Virus WHO urged countries to take action now to contain the spread of the monkeypox virus. "We think that if we put in place the right measures now we probably can contain this easily," Briand said. Measures needed against the disease include early detection, isolation of cases, and contact tracing. Brian noted that member states should also share information about first-generation stockpiles of smallpox vaccines which can also be effective against the monkeypox. WHO then advised countries to take targeted vaccination for close contact with people infected instead of mass vaccinations. READ MORE: Johnny Depp's Lawyer, Camille Vasquez, Labels Amber Heard an 'Abuser' and 'Troubled Person' as Defamation Trial Ends This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Monkeypox Outbreak: What to Know About Virus Symptoms and More - From Bloomberg Quicktake: Now Authorities admitted that the Texas school shooting had a series of failures, including the delay in breaching the classroom and how the police drove past the gunman. In a news conference Friday, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said the delay in breaching the classroom where the shooter stayed "was the wrong decision" and "there's no excuse for that." He added that "there were children in that classroom that were still at risk," NBC reported. McCraw said as many as 19 police officers stood in a hallway outside of the classrooms during the shooting at Robb Elementary School for more than 45 minutes before agents used a master key to open a door and confront the gunman. He noted that the on-site commander, who the Associated Press identified as the school district's police chief, believed at the time that there "was no more threat to the children" and they "had time to organize" since Salvador Ramos was barricaded in a classroom. "Of course, it was not the right decision. But I wasn't there... I'm just telling you from what we know, we believe there should have been an entry at that... as soon as you can," McCraw said. CBS News reported that authorities spent three days providing often conflicting and incomplete information about the 90 minutes that elapsed between the time the gunman entered the school and when U.S. Border Patrol agents unlocked the classroom door and killed the 18-year-old suspect. McCraw also revealed that the gunman entered the school through the back door he found propped open at 11:33 a.m. and started shooting in classrooms 111 and 112. He noted that at least 100 shots were fired "based on the audio evidence at that time." Two minutes later, three police officers entered the same door Ramos did. By 12:03 p.m., there were nearly 20 officers in the hallway, McCraw said. However, it was not until 12:50 p.m. that the classroom the gunman was shooting in was breached using a janitor's key. McGraw further noted that an officer actually drove right past the shooter, who was hiding behind a vehicle before entering the building, and after a teacher called police to report that the gunman had crashed his vehicle in a ditch at around 11:30 a.m. READ NEXT: Texas School Shooter Sends Warning on Facebook Before Horrific Act: "I'm Going To Shoot An Elementary School" Texas School Shooting McCraw noted that the chief of police of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District wrongly believed that the incident had changed from an active shooting to a situation where the suspect stopped firing and no longer posed a threat to children. McCraw said the police chief thought there was time to retrieve the keys and wait for a tactical team with the equipment to go ahead and breach the door to take on the suspect. According to ABC News, the Customs and Border Protection's tactical team arrived on the scene at 12:15 p.m. but did not breach the classroom until 35 minutes later at 12:50 p.m. McCraw said there may have been a belief that the incident commander thought there was no one alive inside the classrooms. However, 911 calls from students and teachers revealed they were still in grave danger. It seemed that the information did not reach the officers on the ground. McCraw noted that active shooter protocols dictate that officers find and target the shooter immediately, adding that one does not wait on tactical gear. The Texas Department of Public Safety is doing a review of law enforcement actions as part of its ongoing investigation of Tuesday's massacre. Texas School Shooter An 11-year-old survivor of the Robb Elementary School shooting feared the gunman would come back for her, so she covered herself in her friend's blood and played dead. Miah Cerillo told CNN that she and her classmates were watching the movie "Lilo and Stitch" in a classroom shared by two teachers. The teachers got word that a shooter was in the building, with one of them locking the door. Miah said the gunman was already right there and shot out the window in the door. Ramos was reportedly a resident of the Latino community about 85 miles west of San Antonio. Officials said the gunman had lived with his 66-year-old grandmother since March. Ramos' grandmother survived the shooting and sought help from neighbors. Nineteen young children and two adults were killed in the attack. 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: 'Forgive Me. Forgive My Son', Asks Texas School Shooter's Mother - From Guardian News Welcome Guest! You Are Here: The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has welcomed the appointment of a Inspector of Prisons and has called on him to prioritise the frequency of prison inspections when he takes up his new role. The call was made following the announcement by Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee of Mark Kelly as the new Inspector. The Executive Director of IPRT is Saoirse Brady. IPRT welcomes the appointment of Mr. Kelly, who has vast human rights expertise, as the Inspector of Prisons. His previous membership of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture will undoubtedly bring a unique perspective to the role, given that Mark has visited, monitored, and has intricate knowledge of prison systems and other places of detention throughout Europe," she said. However, Ms. Brady continued commented on claimed current gaps in inspection and monitoring of prisons in Portlaoise and other parts of Ireland. While COVID-19 Thematic Inspections of all prisons in Ireland were conducted during 2021 and were published recently, we have not seen the publication of a general prison inspection report of an operational prison since 2014. This should be a matter of concern for us all. We know how important these inspections are for shining a light on what goes on behind locked walls, on ensuring compliance with human rights standards, and in driving necessary improvements. However, in the absence of published reports, we remain in the dark about what is happening to people in prison. MORE BELOW LINK. We particularly look forward to working with Mr. Kelly during the imminent ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). The Office of the Inspector of Prisons will require adequate resources to complete its work, especially in relation to its anticipated future enhanced remit. Almost 15 years have passed since Ireland signed up to the OPCAT. If the State is committed to upholding the rights of all people deprived of their liberty, it must ratify OPCAT without further delay, she said. Ms. Brady acknowledged the work of Mark Toland in leading the Office on an interim basis and the significant role in the expansion of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons Patricia Gilheaney, the previous Chief Inspector who left in February of this year. The Trust describes itslef is Ireland's leading non-governmental organisation campaigning for the rights of everyone in prison and the progressive reform of Irish penal policy, with prison as a last resort. A man who repeatedly punched a fast food worker and then punched another man who tried to intervene, was told to come back to court with more compensation. Aleksandrs Fadejevs, 24, of The Hermitage, Portlaoise admitted attacking the chip shop worker along with another man but claimed he had no recollection of the incident. Sgt JJ Kirby said the defendant had entered Malicks Takeaway on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise at 9.30pm on February 12 and lashed out at the worker. He went behind the counter and the worker was punched several times in the face and around the head. When another man intervened, he too was pushed in the face and fell injuring his right knee. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had no recollection of attending the chipper. I think it is an example of how people dont understand the adverse impacts of drinking spirits, she remarked. She said her client was a construction worker who had been drinking whiskey on the evening in question. She said he has a young daughter and his family live in Latvia. He brought two letters of apology and 350 in court today which he has gathered up, Ms Fitzpatrick said. Judge Patricia Cronin said the court does not consider that to be adequate to compensate them for the event on the evening in question. She described the assaults as serious matters and suggested the defendant bring a further 650 along on the next date. Judge Cronin said the man should bring 1,000 to court on the next occasion and she would consider fines of 150 for each of the assaults given that the man has no previous convictions. She remanded the case back to July 7 for further compensation. As the summer days get longer, temperatures (hopefully) begin to rise, and children are on their school holidays, John Fitzpatrick, Laois IFA County Chair describes how this time of year presents its own particular risks on farms. He outlines the steps we should all take to ensure the entire family stays safe on the farm this summer. Keeping Children Safe on the Farm While children look forward to being home on the farm for the summer, now is an important time to have conversations about safety. Tell them about the dangers and set the rules. But don't expect a child to take on the responsibility of keeping themselves safe. Children do not understand risk. Farms can be family homes as well as workplaces, with children often present. Tragically, between 2011 and 2020, in Ireland, 21 children lost their lives due to farm accidents. Summer is a hazardous time for children on farms as they're off school and are about more when work activity is running at a very high level - often with contractors on-site operating potentially dangerous vehicles and machinery. A farm can be a magical place for children, where independence and responsibility are fostered and family relationships are strengthened. Still, it can also be a dangerous place where the unthinkable can happen in a matter of seconds. Growing up on a farm brings both challenges and blessings. It builds character and a solid work ethic and creates an attitude of optimism, but it also has its dangers, so it is vital to educate children on safety and risks from an early age. Every possible step must be taken to reduce the number of fatalities each year on Irish farms. The first step is educating people, especially children. If we can instil in their minds, from an early age, an awareness of the dangers on the farm and help them form good farm safety habits, that lesson will be with them for a lifetime. The chairman of Laois IFA John Fitzpatrick also insists that there is an onus on machinery and tractor drivers to take a safe approach while working these heavy machines and also an onus on cyclists and walkers to be vigilant while using rural roads and be seen using a hi vis jacket. Top tips to keep children safe on farms this summer: Farmyards are not playgrounds. Keep children out of work areas and have a fenced-off safe play area in view of the home. Children must not drive or operate tractors or other farm machinery Children must not ride as passengers on ATVs. Children between the ages of 7 and 16 may ride on a tractor provided the tractor is fitted with a properly designed and fitted passenger seat (with seat belts) Practice what you preach be a good role model and teach children about the possible dangers. Have fencing with mesh right down to the ground - so that children cannot slip through gates and fences or climb over them Have easy to read danger signs and tell children what they mean NEVER allow children to play, climb or have access to stacks of bales. People who are overweight in early to mid-adulthood have a poorer chance of surviving some cancers, according to new European analysis. Researchers examined the impact of BMI (body mass index) scores among 20 to 50-year-olds on survival rates for breast and bowel cancer in later life. They used data from a study which has been tracking data on more than half a million people across Europe since 1992. The team, led by academics in Germany, examined data on 159,000 people aged 35 to 65 across Denmark, Germany, Spain and Italy who had provided at least two BMI measurements during the study. The participants were tracked for an average of nine years to see whether they died from breast or bowel cancer. The study included 1,620 people diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,045 colorectal (bowel) cancer patients. During the follow-up period, 377 breast cancer patients and 509 bowel cancer patients died. Statistical analysis showed that people with higher levels of BMI during early to mid-adulthood were more likely to die from breast or bowel cancer compared with cancer patients who had lower BMI scores. The researchers found that for every additional point on a persons BMI score, there was a 6% increased risk of death from bowel cancer. And for every additional BMI point among breast cancer patients there was a 4% increased risk of death. There are loads of different ways to feel fitter and healthier and now is a great time to make a change. Visit https://t.co/gnFVaFXxqU for support and tools to help with losing weight and getting active. pic.twitter.com/Gub1IW87EN St George's NHS FT (@StGeorgesTrust) May 23, 2022 The authors of the paper, published in the journal BMC Cancer, wrote: Cumulative exposure to higher levels of BMI during early to mid-adulthood (ages 20 to 50 years) was associated with poorer survival in patients with breast and colorectal cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund, which part-funded the study, said that the importance of maintaining a healthy weight cannot be overstated. Dr Panagiota Mitrou, director of research and innovation at the World Cancer Research Fund, said: Adding to the wealth of research on two common forms of cancer, this study shows that exposure to higher body weight in early to mid-adulthood plays a major part in cancer prognosis. We know that maintaining a healthy weight throughout your lifetime isnt always easy, yet the importance of doing this cannot be overstated. As part of national Volunteer Week Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Paddy ORourke hosted an event to acknowledge the contribution of volunteers in Leitrim during the Covid Pandemic. The event took place in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday evening last and was part of a national evening of events to acknowledge the enormous contribution made by volunteers across the country during Covid. The main event was held in Dublin Castle and Minister Joe OBrien was livestreamed to all the events around the country at 7.45. Speaking from Dublin Castle Minister OBrien said: The event I am hosting today, in collaboration with Volunteer Ireland, is in recognition of the vital role played by volunteers during the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, volunteers around the country ensured that the most vulnerable and hard to reach members of our community were supported. Their contribution, no matter how small, was absolutely crucial when so many of our population were isolating. Community groups and sporting clubs from around the county attended the event in The Dock. They were presented with a certificate of appreciation and a letter of appreciation from the Taoiseach, Michael Martin. Cllr ORourke commended the role volunteers have always played in Leitrim, but especially during Covid they stepped up to the challenges of the time. He said through the Leitrim Community Response Forum, the community and voluntary sector came together to ensure no member of our community was left without access to help. Cllr ORourke also commended younger people who he said have often been accused of not getting involved with voluntary work but this was not the case during Covid, as across the county I witnessed the younger people providing help an support in any way they could to those who needed it. The Cathaoirleach also acknowledged the recently formed Leitrim Volunteer Unit and welcomed the launch of the Community Car Scheme which would provide much needed transport for those in isolated areas John Gorman from the Community & Voluntary Supports Unit in the Department of Rural & Community Development attended the event with his wife who hails from Dowra. Mr Gorman also praised volunteers around the country for their efforts during Covid. But not only during pandemic, as it is estimated over one million people in Ireland volunteer each year (according to the CSO 2013) and annually, this adds up to an economic contribution of 5 billion per year. Mr Gorman also spoke about the significant benefits to the health and well-being of those who volunteer and in turn how this benefits their communities. He finished off by showing off a commemorative badge designed by school children as part of a competition ran in primary schools. This introduced the idea of volunteering to young people and their enthusiasm for wanting to help was very evident. The Community & Voluntary Supports Unit are committed to working further with young people to ensure a sustainable future for volunteering. For more on the launch of the Community Car Scheme see page 6. Irelands freight and distribution sector has reinforced its commitment to the next generation of employees with the launch in Atlantic TU Sligo on Thursday of a new Transport Operations and Commercial Driving apprenticeship, the first on the national framework of qualifications linked with the profession of Heavy Goods Vehicle Driving. Launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, and Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics, Hildegarde Naughton TD, the new two-year programme will provide the opportunity for employees to earn as they learn to gain a Higher Education qualification as well as their professional driving qualification. Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, and Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics, Hildegarde Naughton TD, launch the new two-year apprenticeship programme at ATU Sligo to tackle shortage of HGV drivers. The apprenticeship is backed by a range of key stakeholders, including lead proposer Freight Transport Association Ireland, Co-ordinating provider Atlantic Technological University, the Health and Safety Authority, Insurance Ireland and CILT Ireland. Launching the new apprenticeship, Minister Harris said; Twelve months ago, Aidan and colleagues came to meet Minister Naughton and I to discuss this new Transport Operations and Commercial Driver Apprenticeship. And a year later, we are here announcing it has finally commenced. That is what we need- industry and education working together to address the skills shortages we have. Under this programme, apprentices are employed by a Business for the duration of the two year Programme and will earn as they learn. But in addition to this, apprentices will participate in Lectures in ATU Sligo. This is good news for our economy, good news for businesses and good news for education. Minister Naughton said she hoped the apprenticeship programme will help tackle the shortage of HGV drivers and attract more women drivers; This apprenticeship will be a key step forward in tackling our current shortage of HGV drivers. I hope this apprenticeship programme will serve as a springboard for the diversification of the workforce in the haulage and freight sector and to attract more women into the industry. Just 2% of HGV drivers licences are held by women, so the only way is up! Aidan Flynn, Chief Executive at FTA Ireland, added; Road transport is critical to the continued success of Irelands supply chain, since it accounts for almost 99% of inland freight movements across the country. Yet the pressures on talent to join other careers is placing increasing pressure on recruitment for the sector, which is now struggling to recruit a diverse workforce and has suffered long standing skills shortages as a result. First apprentices on Transport Operations and Commercial Driving programme at Atlantic Technological University, Meghan Rispin and Teresa Dunne from BWG Foods. Apprenticeships are a proven means for new recruits to join a sector while still learning during their workplace training, and we are confident that this new apprenticeship the 65th launched nationwide will attract new employees to our vibrant industry and ensure that they can take up one of the many jobs currently on offer once qualified. Speaking at todays launch in ATU Sligo of the new apprenticeship, President of Atlantic Technological University, Dr Orla Flynn said: Atlantic TU is committed to providing accessible Higher Education opportunities across all levels of the NFQ. This new apprenticeship is an example of a strong partnership with industry, that builds on our experience of programme design incorporating work based learning and online teaching. We are confident that this unique programme will address a national skills shortage, by ensuring that our graduates will be equipped with the technical and business skills that are needed to excel in a dynamic and progressive industry sector. Over the past few decades, the industry has become one of the most regulated, leading to better working conditions for employees. Currently the average age of commercial vehicle drivers is over 50 with only 2% of those holding a commercial vehicle license being women. The launch of this new apprenticeship hopes to attract a new generation to the industry with more women HGV drivers. To find out more, and apply to become and apprentice please visit: www.cdap.ie ONE OF THE highlights of former superintendent, Gerry Higgins career was playing a key role in organising the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Greenpark Racecourse in 1979. Fast forward to 2022 and Mr Higgins has got another papal honour. He is a recipient of the Benemerenti Medal which is awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Fr Des McAuliffe, parish priest of Holy Rosary Church, Ennis Road, Limerick, presented the medal to Mr Higgins in recognition of the outstanding voluntary work he has done in the parish over many years. Coincidentally, the date of the presentation this month was also his 89th birthday. Over the years he has been a Eucharistic Minister, Mass reader, envelope distributor, visitor to the sick and much more done quietly in the background. He has completed St Patricks purgatory pilgrimage on Lough Derg, Co Donegal, 59 times. Mr Higgins strong Catholic faith and work ethic was imbued in him as a boy growing up in Leitrim in the 1940s by his mother Ellen. Following his father John Joes death at a young age, Mr Higgins had to grow up fast and took on the responsibility of many farm and household tasks. After he joined the guards his first posting was to Pallasgreen. He met his future wife Mary Alice Lambe while he was on border duty in Monaghan. Last August, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a Mass in the presence of family and parish friends. The couple had two sons Declan and Gerald. Mr Higgins returned to Limerick from Monaghan and was stationed in Adare, Askeaton and the old William Street garda barracks. As his career progressed he served mostly in Henry Street, interspersed with postings in Phoneix Park and Templemore. After 37 years service mainly to the people of Limerick city and county Mr Higgins retired in 1993 at the rank of superintendent. IRELAND South MEP Grace OSullivan recently visited Limerick city to meet constituents and Green Party colleagues for the first time since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. Speaking following the visit, she noted how inspiring and motivating it has been to be able to get out and about in the constituency in recent months. "For the past two years my work has primarily focused on legislating in Brussels and Strasbourg, as we were not allowed to physically meet with people across the 12-county Ireland south constituency," she said. Im quite proud of the work myself and my team have carried out during this time, including being the Lead Rapporteur on the incoming 8th Environmental Action Programme legislation, but I personally get a lot of energy and inspiration from meeting with people, and Im very excited to get this constituency tour started in Limerick, she added. The former senator secured the fourth seat in the Ireland South constituency in the European elections in 2019 and took up her seat last year after the UK formally left the European Union. During her visit to Limerick, Ms OSullivan met with various community groups including Castleconnell Tidy Towns and Maigue Rivers Trust. She also toured the city via boat, led by skipper Pat Lysaght. An ecologist, the Green Party MEP is a member of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries and is currently working to legislate for larger Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). A TRUCK driver who was 12 times over the drink driving limit has been disqualified for three years. Tomasz Pastuszka, aged 36, who has an address at Cois Rioga, Caherconlish pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred at Ballycarrane, Patrickswell on March 16, 2022. Sergeant Noel Barry told Newcastle West Court that gardai received a report of a truck driving erratically on the Croom bypass at 12.05am. It was swerving all over the road. Gardai intercepted the vehicle and spoke to the driver, said Sgt Barry. The reading was 109mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath. Sgt Barry said the legal limit, for professional drivers, is 9mgs of alcohol. Michael ODonnell, solicitor for Mr Pastuszka, said his client has been living in Ireland for 15 years. He has lost his employment because of this. He is currently working in a warehouse. He has always worked and stayed off social welfare, said Mr ODonnell. Judge Carol Anne Coolican disqualified Mr Pastuszka from driving for three years and fined him 500. 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. THE CROOM tractor run, inspired by the memory of Lucy Bourke, takes place this Sunday, May 29 in Ballygrennan, Croom (formerly Buttercup Farm). Registration is 20 with light breakfast refreshments and snacks from 11am. The run will leave at 12pm sharp. Midway through the run there will be a refreshment and snack break followed by traditional dinner on return to Ballygrennan. For more information or sponsor cards you can contact Carrie on 087-2461517 or Margaret on 087-6829762 or see the Facebook page. Monies raised go to Jack & Jill Childrens Foundation and Milford Hospice. Carrie said it is fantastic to have the run back to normality. "We were very fortunate to be able to continue to raise funds through the two year pandemic with people's unbelievable donation. Last year we were able to have the run when restrictions were lifted. But this year we are back and able to offer the full experience," said Carrie. She said the Croom tractor run was organised initially by family and very close friends and has been running for 13 years. "We chose The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation as the main charity initially as they were a major part of our family helping to look after my daughter Lucy Bourke who was born on January 6, 2019, with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and Arnold Chiari malformation decompression. "After a series of operations and hospital stays we were able to bring Lucy home and care for her with the amazing help of our Jack and Jill nurse and support team for which we will be forever grateful. Lucy went to heaven on June 4, 2010, and ever since we have continued the tractor run in her memory," said Carrie. Over the following few years they lost some very dear friends. These including Pat, who was involved in the set-up of the tractor run, to cancer and they received care from Milford Hospice. "We then decided to raise funds for both charities in their honour also. As so many people know, facilities like Jack & Jill and Milford Hospice are invaluable at a time when life is so fragile. There is no amount of thank yous or funds that can show how grateful we are for when our family and friends needed these facilities and services. Therefore in Lucy and all our dear friends' memories we continue to raise funds each year for these two charities," said Carrie. She said it would not be possible without the continuous support and help from family, friends, local businesses and groups and "most of all Aidan O'Gorman from the Vintage Association who year on year puts everything into organising and planning the route and distributing numerous sponsorships cards". Each year they have been able to increase the funds they raise - 2017 9,100; 2018 10,440; 2019 14,000; 2020 13,500; 2021 18,000. "We would like to thank each and every person who attends each year on their tractors, vintage and new and everyone who has and continues to make this possible," said Carrie. Daniel Defense - the arms company that produced the AR-15 gun used in the Texas school shooting tragedy - put out an advertisement around a week before the incident, and the ad that came on May 16 featured a toddler. The ad shows the toddler holding an automated rifle. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." the ad said. The Texas school shooting incident killed 19 children and two teachers while an 18-year-old gunman fired more than 100 rounds. View Full Image Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. the Daniel Defense gun ad said. The automatic rifle used in the Texas school shooting is a similar one made by the same company. Multiple 911 calls had been made while the teenager went on a rampage. Officers said they had delayed entering the Texas school because they did not believe it was still an "active shooter" situation. Now, the slow reaction by the police is being widely criticised. Daniel Defense, a family-owned and privately-held firearms manufacturer in Georgia, has its tweets protected as only its followers can see the tweets. A follow request is granted only when it is approved by the Twitter user. However, the screenshot of the controversial ad is not out in the open on social media. Thr Instagram profile is, however, open. But, the said ad was not seen when last checked. Daniel Defense, however, has a message on the Texas school Shooting. The official website welcomes its viewers with a pop-up message. 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. As reported in Governor Abbotts press conference, it is our understanding that the firearm used in the attack was manufactured by Daniel Defense. We will cooperate with all federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities in their investigations," it says. View Full Image Daniel Defense's official website has a message for Texas school shooting victims. We will keep the families of the victims and the entire Uvalde community in our thoughts and our prayers," the statement by Daniel Defense adds. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Even as Monkeypox cases are surging globally, with Argentina adding up to the list of countries, scientists and health experts have suggested that early sign sof Monkeypox virus symptoms had been ignored and that resulted in this unprecedented outbreak of the same. Mostly Monkeypox cases are being reported from endemic countries like Europe and US. Read below to know how the Monkeypox outbreak could have been a result of ignorance. Warnings of Monkeypox virus ignored Former director of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, told STAT News that Nigeria sought global help beginning in 2017 for an unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox virus. The outbreak continues to this day, with the country detecting 558 suspected cases, according to WHO. From September 2017 to 30 April 2022, a total of 558 suspected cases have been reported from 32 states in the country. Of these, 241 were confirmed cases, and among these, there were eight deaths recorded," says WHO. The outbreak in Nigeria has a lot of parallels to those seen in other countries. The infectious cases began out of the blue in multiple parts of the country and spread person-to-person, a transmission pattern that is unusual for the virus. Scientists commence Gene Sequencing Scientists globally are beginning to uncover clues about the origin of the current outbreak by conducting gene sequencing. By sequencing a skin lesion sample from a patient in Portugal, researchers from the National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge in Lisbon said that the recent strain of the circulating virus likely belongs to the West African clade. Additionally, the researchers determined that the virus is most closely related to cases that spread from Nigeria to the UK, Israel and Singapore in 2018 and 2019. The World Health Organization has reported that there is no evidence that the virus has mutated. The draft genome was published online last week and provides helpful information, but questions about the true origin and spread of the virus remain unanswered. Roche develops PCR Tests to track Monkeypox Roche announced on Wednesday that it has developed three virus kits in response to the developing Monkeypox concerns. The three kits offer unique approaches to tracking the virus. One kit detects orthopoxviruses, including all monkeypox viruses from both West African and Central African clades while a second kit is more specific, detecting monkeypox viruses only. A third kit offers a combination of both tests, detecting orthopoxviruses and providing information on if the monkeypox virus is present or not. The tests rely on quantitative PCR technology and are currently available for research use in the majority of countries worldwide. Monkeypox vs Covid-19 Experts are saying the Monkeypox virus does not pose the same threat as Covid-19. Head of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Richard Hatchett, told CNBC that while the epidemic and spread of monkeypox is concerning, it is a very different disease than Covid-19. Namely, the disease is not spread through respiratory transmission the same way as Covid-19. However, even though the disease is likely not to become a worldwide pandemic, experts still warn and caution citizens to take steps to prevent themselves from becoming infected. Click here to read the full article. Ahsoka star Rosario Dawson popped up at Star Wars Celebration on Saturday to bring anxious fans a special surprise some first look footage from the upcoming Disney+ series, which played exclusively for attendees. After missing Thursdays Lucasfilm Studio Showcase presentation due to filming Ahsoka, Dawson appeared at the end of The Mandalorian panel, which featured creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, director and newly-promoted executive producer Rick Famuyiwa, stars Pedro Pascal (the titular Mandalorian), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon), Emily Swallow (The Armorer), Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze), Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett) and Carl Weathers (Greef Karga). Im here because of people like you, Dawson told the ecstatic crowd as she sat down with the panelists. Its just such a thrill and honor to bring her to life and feel the energy of everyone wanting to see her come to life. The live-action series just finished its third week of filming, so Dawson was able to make the panel. Luckily we dont shoot on Saturdays, she quipped. And Dawson came armed with more surprises. First, she introduced a very special guest: the trusty droid Chopper, who makes his live-action debut alongside Ahsoka in the series. Then, she cued up a less-than-30-second clip, which featured Dawson in her full Ahsoka regalia, along with quick glimpses at Star Wars Rebels characters Hera and Sabine Wren. The footage ends with Ahsoka looking at art of the cast of Star Wars Rebels, which implies other characters from the show will make their live-action debuts. The final surprise came after the lights in the arena came back up, just in time for Natasha Liu Bordizzo to make her official debut as the actor who will bring Sabine to life. JUST ANNOUNCED: Natasha Liu Bordizzo joins the cast of #Ahsoka as Sabine Wren! pic.twitter.com/ks5xp1VaxH The Mandalorian (@themandalorian) May 28, 2022 I feel like Ive just been adopted into a new family, Bordizzo said after taking the stage. I know how much Sabine means to you, and after watching Star Wars Rebels, she means so much to me as well. In an interview with Variety senior culture and events editor Marc Malkin that followed the panel, Bordizzo and Dawson discussed joining the Star Wars universe, revealing how secretive the process of joining the storied franchise is. The audition process is as confidential as everything else, so I had no idea what I was reading for at first, Bordizzo told Variety. I was reading from another film, that had nothing to do with Star Wars, and I was trying to analyze the material with no information, but I was like, I feel like this is almost like a young Han Solo vibe to this character, not knowing it was Star Wars, mind you. Dawson, meanwhile, spoke on the red carpet about how much playing Ahsoka means to her, and the process of working on the show, which includes learning martial arts. Embodying a character, literally, physically, every single day, has brought on a whole other level of experience to working on a project, and bringing a character to life, Dawson said. Its changing me. She explained: So often, I take pieces from a character, and then I inject so much of myself in to things of my own experience and what I have to draw from. But this is absolutely going in the other direction and she is so influencing me. Its just been so powerful to be on that journey, to be taken along with it; its not something I could have hoped for, or dreamed of, so its really out of this world. The Disney+ series follows Ahsoka Tano, an exiled Jedi who was once Anakin Skywalkers apprentice before Anakin turned to the dark side and became Dark Vader. Their time together was chronicled in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and by the time the series concluded, Ahsoka had become a fan-favorite and one of the few examples in Star Wars of a major female Jedi. Bringing Ahsoka into live-action has been a dream of Clone Wars writer and director Filoni, who co-created the character for the show. Dawson who was fan-cast as the character first played Ahsoka on Season 2 of The Mandalorian in an episode written and directed by Filoni, and she appeared again in the sixth episode of The Book of Boba Fest again, directed by Filoni. Naturally, Filoni created Ahsoka as well, along with The Mandalorian impresario Jon Favreau, and the show started production earlier in May. A social media post by Dawson appeared to confirm rumors that Hayden Christensen is co-starring as Anakin (aka Darth Vader), but Lucasfilm has yet to officially confirm it. Given that the events of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett take place after Vaders death in Return of the Jedi, any appearance by Christensen would almost certainly be either as a Force ghost, or in flashback. Other co-stars include Bordizzo (The Society) as Sabine Wren and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Birds of Prey), Ray Stevenson (Vikings) and Ivanna Sakhno (Pacific Rim: Uprising) in undisclosed roles. The surprise footage was part of the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, Calif. the first time Star Wars fans have gathered in person since the pandemic. Saturdays event marks Day 3 of the convention, which kicked off Thursday with the Lucasfilm Studio Showcase, and featured news about Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and more, plus other Lucasfilm properties including Indiana Jones 5 and Willow. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Indian filmmaker Shaunak Sens All That Breathes has won the Cannes Film Festivals top documentary award, the Golden Eye. The film won the documentary grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and was acquired by HBO Documentary Films during Cannes, where it played as a special screening. Set in Indian capital Delhi, where, in an unbreathable atmosphere, the threat of inter-religious massacres floats in the air, the film follows two brothers, Nadeem and Saud, who along with their assistant, dedicate their lives to save the migratory black kites that are destroyed by human madness. The Golden Eye jury, composed of Agnieszka Holland, Iryna Tsilyk, Pierre Deladonchamps, Alex Vicente and Hicham Falah, said: The Golden Eye goes to a film that, in a world of destruction, reminds us that every life matters, and every small action matters. You can grab your camera, you can save a bird, you can hunt for some moments of stealing beauty, it matters. Its an inspirational journey in observation of three Don Quixotes who may not save the whole world but do save their world. The jurys Special Award went to late Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius Mariupolis 2, a follow up to his 2016 film Mariupolis. An examination of a society living under the threat of war, Mariupolis 2 was completed by Kvedaravicius Ukrainian partner Hanna Bilobrova after he was killed by the Russian army. The jury said: Our special prize goes to the film impossible to compare with any other from the competition. To the very radical, courageous, artistic and existential statement Mariupolis 2. The director Matras Kvedaravicius is among the thousands of civilians killed by the Russian army since the start of the full-scale Putin invasion. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Actor and comedian Andy Dick was arrested in Orange County, California, for felony sexual battery on Wednesday, May 11, the Orange County Sheriffs Department confirmed to Rolling Stone. Dick was booked into Orange County jail. The incident was reported around 9 a.m. on May 11. A male told authorities that he was an alleged victim of assault, and he was later taken to a hospital for an assault exam, per the Sheriffs department. The name of the alleged victim has not been released. The arrest appeared to be livestreamed via a YouTube account that broadcasts from the RV campground where Dick was reportedly living, as TMZ first reported. In the video, Dick is seen being escorted by officers towards their cars from the RV that he was in, as well as handcuffed and searched. Officers were also filmed entering an RV with gloves. In April, Dick had a separate visit from officers in Las Vegas when they made a welfare check on Dick after a man who also lived in the home where he was staying pulled out a gun in a livestream, according to TMZ. Dick has previously been accused of inappropriate behavior. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, in 2018, Dick was charged with one count sexual battery and one count simple battery after a woman alleged he had squeezed her buttocks while he walked past her on a sidewalk. Dick was also nixed from independent film Raising Buchanan in 2017 due to accusations of sexual harassment. In late May, authorities announced that the investigation into Dicks alleged actions have been suspended because the alleged victim refused to cooperate with police, according to a spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriffs Department. The case is not proceeding forward due to the fact that the victim is being uncooperative, Orange County Sheriffs Sgt. Scott Steinle told NBC news. Rolling Stone has reached out to the Orange Country Sheriffs Department and will continue to update this story as details become available. This story was updated on May 28, 2022. Click here to read the full article. MK2 Films has locked major territory deals on Leonor Serrailles drama Mother and Son which world premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and garnered strong reviews. Mother and Son charts the lives of a young African woman, Rose, and two of her four children, Jean and Ernest, who come to France from the Ivory Coast in the 1980s with high ideals. Juggling her parenting responsibilities and low-paying jobs, Rose still aspires to find true love and to fulfill her own desires, but she ultimately struggles to reach a balance between her roles as a mother and a woman. Jean and Ernest, meanwhile, will take different paths to fitting into French society while coping with their identity conflicts and their mothers life choices. MK2 Films has sold the movie to the U.K. (Picture House), Spain (Vertigo), Italy (Teodora), Sweden (Triart), Benelux (Cherry Pickers), Greece (One From the Heart), Portugal (Leopardo), Norway (Arthaus), Denmark (Angel), Switzerland (Cineworx), Australia/New Zealand (Hi Gloss) and Taiwan (Andrews). More deals are in negotiations. Varietys Guy Lodge described the film as a softly shattering story of immigrants finding themselves and losing each other; and said it was an emotionally acute, elegantly trisected second feature. Mother and Son marks the sophomore outing of Serraille who won the Camera dOr prize with her feature debut Jeune Femme five years ago. Serraille is one of the five female directors competing for this years Palme dOr. On the surface, Mother and Son marks a departure from Jeune Femme, whose tragicomic plot revolved around a young single woman going through a painful breakup. But in fact, both movies deliver multi-faceted portraits of women faced with adversity. Rose and Paula [the protagonist of Jeune Femme] have things in common, theyre both complex and singular female characters, said Serraille, who praised Annabelle Lengronne for her performance, spanning different ages and mixing lightheartedness, fantasy and tragedy, Serraille told Variety. Mother and Son was produced by Blue Monday Productions, in co-production with France 3 Cinema, in association with Palatine Etoile 18 and Cofinova 17. The movie showcases stellar performances by Annabelle Lengronne, Stephane Bak, Ahmed Sylla, Kenzo Sambin and Sidi Fofana. The cast is completed by Audrey Kouakou, Etienne Minoungou, Thibaut Evrard, Jean-Christophe Folly, Laetitia Dosch. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has offered further defense for the streamers curation of stand-up comedy specials from Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle, both of which have been criticized for including language that is considered transphobic. In an interview with Maureen Dowd at The New York Times, Sarandos reaffirmed his stance on airing the specials, saying that the way comedians figure out where the line is is by crossing the line every once in a while. I think its very important to the American culture generally to have free expression, Sarandos told the Times. Were programming for a lot of diverse people who have different opinions and different tastes and different styles, and yet were not making everything for everybody. We want something for everybody but everythings not going to be for everybody. Nobody would say that what he does isnt thoughtful or smart. You just dont agree with him, he continued. Last fall, Netflix faced criticism for programming a new special from Chappelle which featured language that many interpreted as transphobic. Sarandos penned a statement that was circulated through the company stating that the streamer held a strong belief that content on screen doesnt directly translate to real-world harm, an approach that he later considered as a screw up. The subsequent response led to a walk-out by Netflix employees who identified as members or allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this month, Netflix released another memo after Chappelle was attacked onstage during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, stating that if youd find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you. The statement was commended by some conservative media publications, such as The Daily Caller. It used to be a very liberal issue, so its an interesting time that we live in, Sarandos said, explaining his thoughts on becoming a conservative hero. I always said if we censor in the U.S., how are we going to defend our content in the Middle East? While his conversation with The New York Times mostly focused on Dave Chappelle, the interview also introduced the topic of Gervais new special, which debuted earlier this week and has drawn similar criticism for transphobic language. When asked, Sarandos clarified that his comments regarding Chappelle also applied to Gervais. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. In Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuks Cannes title Pamfir, marking his feature debut, the carnival is fast approaching. His protagonist (Oleksandr Yatsentyuk) finally returns home, ready to do better this time. But when his child runs into trouble and there is no money, as always, there is no way but back. With Indie Sales on board and produced by Bosonfilm, Pamfir is a co-production between Les Films dIci (France), Madants (Poland), Quijote Films (Chile), Mainstream Pictures (Ukraine), Wady Films (Luxembourg), Moderator Inwestycje (Poland), Studio Orlando (France) and Soilfilms (Germany). This carnival, malanka, is specific to western Ukraine. Its like a game there are rules, says Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk. While people sing, dance and fight, they also stage plays, returning to the concept of holy sacrifice. When it comes to this celebration, there is a sense of loss. You lose something and then later, it rises again. A bit like in Christianity or a bit like with our character. You dont really know him. He is gone and then he comes back. He wanted the viewers to feel like tourists in his film, he says. All we can do is follow. Everywhere he goes, it feels like hes inside of a tunnel. Even in his house, he doesnt have a lot of space. He goes through all these obstacles and then he has to make a deal with his conscience. Pamfirs willingness to risk his life and perhaps sacrifice himself for his family hits differently now, says Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All of a sudden, there is this connection to what is happening now, making it seem like some kind of premonition. When I was making the film, we didnt expect this huge escalation. The festival has shown interest in the film long before the invasion started, however, with Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk especially grateful to Paolo Moretti, Directors Fortnight artistic director who will step down after this years edition. We are glad that nobody was doing us any favors. Its an honor to be here, especially with a film thats not directly speaking about war, he says. Also commenting on the inclusion of Tchaikovskys Wife in the main competition, a decision that has been ruffling feathers within the Ukrainian film industry for a while now, especially those gathered in Cannes. Cannes doesnt realize that by selecting this film they are providing a service: to Russia and to their propaganda. And make no mistake, they will use it. His own cinema might also change now, he says. Like many other Ukrainian filmmakers, Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk has been devoting his time to capturing the conflict, currently developing multiple documentaries, including a collaboration with The New Yorker. Our economic situation wont provide us with many opportunities for making fiction films, at least not anytime soon. But we need to figure out how to make them, he says. Over the course of the next few years, we will start to reflect on what has happened to us. There will be stories coming from all generations, also from people who are now experiencing it all as small kids. While its crucial to talk about injustice and tragic consequences of the war, Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk is wary of its sanitized depictions, he adds. All you need to do is take a look at Soviet cinema and how it was approaching World War II. There were great movies made at that time, masterpieces, but how many of them were really critical?, he wonders. They would beatify Soviet soldiers, like in [Larisa Shepitkos 1977 film] The Ascent. That protagonist, he was almost a saint. It created this myth of an innocent Russian soldier. But how many of them have raped and killed? Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk worries that Russian cinema will try to tackle the current invasion next, he says. Russia is already trying to invoke the ghost of Nazism in Ukraine. They are calling it a holy war, and they certainly know how to use cinema as a part of their propaganda machine. I am sure they will start releasing films showing a deformed version of these events as soon as they can, featuring some heroic characters again, he adds. When they came to Ukraine, Russian soldiers were stealing peoples washing machines. How heroic was that?! Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Millions of people have watched Penney Azcarate, the chief judge of the Fairfax County (Va.) Circuit Court, as she has presided over the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard for the last six weeks. Azcarate has maintained a low-key presence, accepting or rejecting evidence and occasionally admonishing witnesses to focus on the question. But the most consequential decision Azcarate made may have come weeks before the trial, when she allowed Court TV to operate two pool cameras in the courtroom. Viewership increased exponentially as the trial went on, according to Law & Crime, which livestreamed the entire thing. When Depp took the stand on Wednesday, live viewership on its channel peaked at 1,247,163 more than twice the peak during his initial testimony in April. And over the last several weeks, trial clips have become inescapable on social media, as mashups of Depps reaction shots have spread around the world. Viewers have seen gruesome and often harrowing testimony, especially from Heard, who alleged that Depp had sexually assaulted her and attacked her to the point that she feared she would be killed. In her final appearance on the stand on Thursday, Heard said it was humiliating to relive those moments in front of cameras. Depp has denied Heards allegations and accused her of fabricating an elaborate hoax that destroyed his career. Heards team tried unsuccessfully to exclude the cameras from the trial. At a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 25, attorney Elaine Bredehoft noted that there was already tremendous media attention as well as interest from fearful anti-Amber networks. What theyll do is take anything thats unfavorable a look, Bredehoft said. Theyll take out of context a statement, and play it over and over and over and over again. Depps lawyer, Ben Chew, welcomed the cameras. He said that Heard had already trashed Depp in the media, and should not be allowed to hide at trial. Mr. Depp believes in transparency, Chew said. In weighing the issue, Azcarate noted that she was getting a lot of media requests, and she had a responsibility to keep the proceedings open to observers. If cameras were not allowed, she worried that reporters would come to the courthouse, potentially creating a hazardous condition there. I dont see any good cause not to do it, Azcarate said. Allowing gavel-to-gavel coverage has given viewers the chance to see all the evidence, assess the credibility of the witnesses, and make up their own minds without having anything filtered out by news outlets. But some observers worry that Azcarates decision will also have a chilling effect on victims of domestic violence. Allowing this trial to be televised is the single worst decision I can think of in the context of intimate partner violence and sexual violence in recent history, said Michele Dauber, a professor at Stanford Law School. It has ramifications way beyond this case. Michelle Simpson Tuegel, an attorney who has represented victims of sex offenses in high-profile cases, said that her clients often dont even want their real names used in public court filings. Now, she worries that they will have to fear appearing on a livestream broadcast. They see someone who is not only being televised, but is being taken apart in such a hateful way, she said. Livestreaming it is really just a way to magnify what survivors are going through. Im saddened and disgusted by how it is going to create a discourse of scaring people from seeking justice and speaking out about what theyve been through. Under Virginia law, the trial judge has almost total discretion over whether to allow cameras in the courtroom. The statute lists a few instances where cameras are forbidden, however, including the testimony of victims and families of victims of sexual offenses. At the Feb. 25 hearing, Bredehoft argued that Heard is a victim of sexual assault, and that therefore cameras should be disallowed. Azcarate did not accept that reading of the statute, finding the rule does not apply to civil cases. Cameras are a rarity in Virginia courts, according to several attorneys who practice there. A Fairfax County judge did allow them in the 2013 trial of Julio Blanco Garcia, who was convicted of murdering a 19-year-old woman. But that was an outlier, said Joe King, a criminal defense lawyer based in Alexandria. King represented Charles Severance, a man who was tried in Fairfax County and convicted of three murders in 2015. The case was locally notorious, but the judge denied broadcast requests, instead allowing only still cameras. King said the judge also denied a media request to broadcast another murder trial that he handled in Alexandria. Its very exceptional in Virginia, he said. Weve always objected to that. There is so much going on in a big trial. I dont think lawyers need that distraction. In 2012, a judge in Charlottesville refused to allow cameras at the trial and sentencing of George Huguely, a UVA lacrosse player who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend. The judge held that the cameras would have a harmful effect on witnesses and potential jurors in a future civil case. Media organizations appealed the ruling, but the Virginia Supreme Court upheld the judges decision. Attorney Rhonda Quagliana, who represented Huguely, said she was worried that cameras would have made it harder for him to get a fair trial. But she is not opposed to cameras in all cases. Its a tough balance, she said, noting that she had watched the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd. Thats an example of cameras in the courtroom fulfilling a vital purpose. People needed to see that trial. They needed to see the orderly administration of justice. Lawrence McClafferty, an attorney based in Fairfax, has been trying a case down the hall from the Depp-Heard trial, and has seen Depps supporters waiting outside every day for a glimpse of the actor. He said the commonwealth is not likely to see a similar situation anytime soon. Virginia is a conservative place, he said. Were not used to cameras, and it can be intrusive and distracting, and one more thing for a judge to have to worry about. I dont think were going to see a lot more of it. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Courtesy/U.S. Department of Homeland Security A man wanted to smuggle 110 migrants through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint for $5,000, according to an arrest affidavit. Martin Rueda Alcorta was arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrants. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Graduation week is coming to an end, and Laredo ISD said goodbye to its Class of 2022. The end of the school year is full of bittersweet farewells for everyone. LISD students and faculty parted from the halls that saw them throughout the last years, but for them, more is yet to come. In the Class of 2022, total students graduated included 493 for Martin, 570 for Nixon, 338 for Cigarroa and 88 for Garcia Early College. Martin High School graduate Kendall Michelle Gallegos embodied the true definition of resilience and showing that everything is possible. Gallegos received her high School diploma and an associate's degree with Laredo College while undergoing treatment for cancer. "The most challenging part about high school was two things: getting through the pandemic in general and being diagnosed with cancer right before my senior year and having to finish my classes while I'm going through those rigorous treatments," Gallegos said. "It wasn't easy, but I did it. I got through it." Thanks to the pandemic changing the way classes were held, Gallegos was able to adapt easier to continuing her classes while undergoing treatment. Administration and teachers helped her to continue her senior year of high school while she traveled to Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi for her treatment. The great support system of family and friends of Gallegos has given her strength and support throughout this journey. "My plans now after graduating are to finish my treatments, so I'm going to take a gap year," Gallegos said. "I want to travel, I want to see places and do things that I didn't get to experience in my senior year before I go off to college." After a gap year, Gallegos plans to attend Baylor University and is considering a Bachelor's of Science in Biology or Pre-Med, and then to attend medical school. Gallegos wishes to be a motivation for other students to see there shouldn't be excuses to accomplish things and do anything they wish. "I'm a prime example to see that it can be done," Gallegos said. "I'm graduating No. 10 in my class with everything that I had to go through. That is something that I'll forever be proud of, and I hope that it's something that influences a lot of people. "I would tell my past self: good luck, it's going to be very hard. It's going to be a lot of work, but it's going to be worth it in the end." While students said goodbye at these events, a major LISD staffer did the same. During the Hector J. Garcia Early College High School graduation, LISD Board of Trustees President Hector J. Garcia announced that this would be his last ceremony as he is retiring from his position with the Board of Trustees. "This is my last graduating class," Garcia said. "I, with Dr. (Maria 'Minita') Ramirez, will be stepping down. She will be going to Laredo College (as president) and I'm retiring from the board after three terms. "It's time for new ideas. We brought change to the district. We went from a D-rated District to A rated. We built brand new facilities all throughout Laredo because it's what we needed to do for all. We're building Cigarroa High School, we're building a brand new Cigarroa Middle School, we're doing work at Heights Elementary, and we're doing work in Nixon and Martin also." Garcia credited all of this work to the people and taxpayers who chose and trusted in him to his position at LISD. He was previously elected to serve a third term as Board President on Nov. 12, 2020, LISD said. As the District VI representative, Garcia represented D.D. Hachar Elementary School, Milton Elementary School, Ryan Elementary School and Lamar Middle School. CNN, May 19, 2022 Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani speaks during a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Mujahideen, the 8th of Saur 1371 (28 April 1992) victory over the government of communist regime, in Kabul on April 28, 2022. Sirajudin Haqqani, a secretive Taliban leader, spoke to CNN in an on-camera interview aired Tuesday. He said "good news" is in store for Afghan girls who want to attend secondary school. At the same time, he joked that the Taliban wants to "keep naughty women at home." The Taliban's acting interior minister told CNN on Tuesday that "good news" was in store for Afghan girls waiting to return to school while also joking that "naughty women" ought to stay home. "We keep naughty women at home," Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani Network terror organization, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive on-camera interview. When asked to clarify his comment, Haqqani said: "By saying naughty women, it was a joke referring to those naughty women who are controlled by some other sides to bring the current government into question." Soft-spoken and measured, he reiterated the Taliban's past pledge to protect women's rights in work and education as long as they fall within the organization's interpretation of the Islamic law. However, these promises have fallen short so far, and the Taliban has faced international condemnation for barring girls from attending secondary school or university. Haqqani, who is also on the FBI's most-wanted list, said girls in Afghanistan are allowed to attend school up to the sixth grade. "Above that grade, the work is continuing on a mechanism. Very soon, you will hear very good news about this issue, God willing," he said. Haqqani's interview with CNN's Amanpour represents a stark change from the once-secretive leader's reclusive nature. It was only in March that he first allowed his face to be photographed in public. His remarks to Amanpour may help answer why Haqqani is now willing to come out in the open. "In the future, we would like to have good relations with the United States and the international community," he said, per CNN. "Currently, we do not look at them as enemies." Karen Valdez from Nixon High School and the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts and Antonio Sangerman-Gutierrez from Cigarroa High School and the Sabas Perez Early College Academy have the prestigious honor of being named 2022 Terry Scholars by the Terry Foundation. The two LISD seniors earned admission to two of the biggest universities in Texas and will be attending college on a full-ride scholarship for up to eight semesters from the Terry Foundation. Valdez and Sangerman-Gutierrez are among 225 cohorts selected of the 420 seniors interviewed statewide. As part of the application process, students had to submit a brief essay, two recommendation letters, and go through an interview where they are asked questions from a panel of current and former Terry Scholars. All scholars are chosen using three criteria: academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and financial need. Karen and Antonio emotions got the best of them when they received their congratulatory email from the Terry Foundation. When I first heard I had been selected as a recipient, I felt a rush of emotions take over me. It was a joy like no other, Valdez said. In a matter of seconds, my life changed forever. The first thing I did was thank God. Then as soon as I got home, I told the news to my mom, and we both broke out in tears. This memory will forever be in my heart as one of the greatest days of my life. I was riled up with emotions. I was awestruck and could not contain my excitement. I was filled with joy and relief, Sangerman-Gutierrez said. This scholarship means everything to me as it lifts the heavy burden and will allow me to pursue my dreams without having to worry about the financial burden that comes with attaining a higher education. The two students will also be a part of a n ever-expanding network, comprised of over 6,000 Terry Scholars in various fields of study and industries across the globe. As recipients of the Terry Scholarship, Valdez and Sangerman-Gutierrez are one step closer to their dreams becoming reality as they were chosen for admission to Texas State and Texas A&M Universities, respectively. I fell in love with Texas State University because of the faculty. They made me feel so welcomed that it felt like if I was home. It will give me the opportunity to study under an amazing music faculty and alongside a wonderful cello professor, Dr. Karla Hamelin, Valdez said. Getting this scholarship means that I get to live out my dreams. It is also a huge blessing to me and my family as it gives us peace of mind that I will not be in debt and will be able to focus on being the best student I can be. It will allow me to become the best teacher I can be. I chose to attend Texas A&M because of the schools values and they have one of the best aerospace programs in the nation, Sangerman-Gutierrez said. This scholarship means everything to me, as it lifts the heavy burden off my fathers back of having to worry about the financial aspect of attending a university. He no longer must worry about my financial means to help me attain a post-secondary education and dreams of one day being able to become a NASA astronaut. Both students expressed their gratitude to their parents and teachers. First, I would like to give thanks to God. He has been a huge support for me throughout all this process. Next, I would like to thank my mom and my aunt. They are amazing woman that have shown me that hard work and determination can take you anywhere, Valdez said. I would also like to thank all the teachers that I have ever had. Each one of them has inspired me in different ways, and because of them I have developed a love for teaching. I want to thank my sister, Dayana; my father, Juan Antonio; and lastly my girlfriend, Tiffany Gutierrez; as they truly are the reasons that I am where I am today, Sangerman-Gutierrez said. If it weren't for my father's sacrifices; my sister's help with preparing for interviews, revise essays or simply taking me to school; to my girlfriend's constant pushing and reminders to complete my work; I would not be anywhere near where I am today. Valdez will be majoring in Music Education and will earn an all-level teacher certification. She also plans on being a part of the Honor College at Texas State. She plans on pursuing a career as a music teacher and someday become a Music Therapist. Valdez is graduating with a GPA of 105.18 and with 27 college hours. She has been named a LISD Science Fair third-place winner, Border Patrol Youth of the Month, National Honor Society Inductee and Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica Inductee. Her extra-curricular activities include being a cellist in the J.W. Nixon Orchestra and the Vidal M. Trevino Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also involved in Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, National Honors Society, Science UIL, Communities in Schools, School Newspaper and Young Women`s Church Organization. Sangerman-Gutierrez plans on attaining a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering at A&M, and if all goes well, he plans to attend MIT to get his masters. Sangerman-Gutierrez graduates as Cigarroa High Schools valedictorian with an overall GPA of 104.18. He was also a student at Laredo College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an Associates of Science having earned over 60 college credit hours. Sangerman-Gutierrezs academic accomplishments include A Honor Roll, Foundation High School Program, Distinguished Level of Achievement in Public Service, Advanced Placement Program, Dual Enrollment Program, Laredo Sector Border Patrol Youth of the Month for April and Border Patrol Youth of the Year. He was also a semi-finalist for the Bill Gates Scholars Program and nominated for Award of Congress of Future Medical Larders Award of Excellence. His extra-curricular activities include National Honor Society President, Superintendents Student Advisory Council and Orchestra. Sangerman-Gutierrez completed 400 hours of community service through different organizations on campus, including the Family Reading Night events, National Honor Society and the CHS Counseling Center, National Honor Society Toy Drive and Food Drive, and Superintendent Student Advisory Literacy Project Reader. Sangerman-Gutierrezs computer skills include Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Slide, Docs, and Sheets, SolidWorks and AutoCAD. UVALDE, Texas (AP) Days after a local man burst into an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers before officers managed to kill him, the signs of grief, solidarity and local pride are everywhere in Uvalde. Many are wearing maroon, the color for Uvalde's school district. And light blue ribbons adorn the giant oaks that shade the city's central square, where mourners come to lay flowers around a fountain and write messages on wooden crosses that bear the victims' names. In front of a day care center on one of the city's main streets, 21 wooden chairs sit empty. Everyone in the predominantly Latino city of roughly 16,000 people seems to know someone whose life has been turned upside down by losing a family member or close friend in the attack at Robb Elementary School, which was one of the deadliest of its kind. Joe Ruiz, pastor of Templo Cristiano, said a teacher who is friends with his wife herself a former Uvalde teacher summed up the community's mood best by saying people have cried out everything they could and are now just tired and needing rest. Police have come under heavy criticism for waiting more than 45 minutes to confront the 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, inside the adjoining classrooms where he unleased carnage. As the investigation into the attack continues, including Ramos' reasons for carrying it out, some residents have expressed anger toward the police. Among them is 24-year-old carpenter Juan Carranza, who said he watched the attack unfold from across the street from the school. The next day, he called the officers cowards. Steven McCraw, who heads the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Friday that the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, made the wrong decision to wait so long before sending officers into the locked classrooms. He said Arredondo, who was in charge of the law enforcement response during the siege, believed Ramos was barricaded inside the two adjoining classrooms and that children were no longer at risk. Arredondo, who graduated from Uvalde High School and was recently elected to the City Council, hasn't spoken publicly since McCraw criticized his decision-making, and his house now has a police guard. Oasis Outback, where Ramos bought his guns, has stayed open and its barbecue restaurant did its usual brisk Friday night business. The gun shop at the back of its sporting goods section was temporarily closed out of respect to victims' families, according to a posted sign. An Oasis employee who declined to give her full name said the store has been getting angry calls blaming it for the attack, but the callers' phone numbers were not from the area. Support for gun rights is strong in Uvalde, which is roughly halfway between San Antonio and the border city of Del Rio. But some parents and relatives of victims are calling for change. I just don't know how people can sell that type of gun to a kid 18 years old. What is he going to use it for but for that purpose? said Siria Arizmendi, a fifth grade teacher whose niece, Eliahna Garcia, was killed. She spoke in her dining room shortly before Eliahna's great-grandparents, also Uvalde residents, arrived. Javier Carranza, a 43-year-old gun owner and Army veteran whose daughter, Jacklyn, was killed, said it was kind of ridiculous to sell such firepower to an 18-year-old and that better background checks are needed. Uvalde sits amid flat fields of cabbages, onions, carrots, corn and peppers, but mechanized farming replaced many jobs. Construction material companies are among its most coveted employers. The city is home to a Border Patrol station that operates a highway checkpoint and monitors freight trains in what has suddenly become one of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. A massive camp of Haitian migrants that sprang up under a bridge in Del Rio last year made headlines around the world. Many residents can trace their family's presence in Uvalde through three or four generations, creating a cherished sense of community. On one Friday night each month, stores stay open late and food vendors occupy the central square outside a neoclassical courthouse. Uvalde Strong messages adorn store windows, T-shirts and lawn signs. Curbs and sidewalks are less common the farther one gets from the central square, with roosters walking on cracked pavement near Robb Elementary School. Ruiz, the Templo Crisitano pastor whose children and grandchildren live in Uvalde, asks new parishioners about their ancestry to get to know them better. Before Tuesday, occasional traffic deaths were the biggest tragedies to befall Uvalde. We've had individuals murdered, but not on a mass scale like this," said Tony Gruber, pastor at Baptist Temple Church. ___ For more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting The Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System is partnering with police departments across the state to make sure suspects dealing with a mental health crisis get the help they need. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 8Subh, May 27, 2022 A dozen of women launched a demonstration against the closure of education doors to girls and obstructing the right to work for women in Kabul, Afghanistan. According to sources, while women protestors were chanting the slogans, the Taliban fighters scattered the march by shooting. Women protesters have stated that after the shooting, the protestors scattered and left the demonstration spot. This is not the first time the Taliban responded to such movements violently. They have always reacted the same against such movements using weapons and force. It has been more than 200 days since the Taliban banned female students above the sixth grade from attending back secondary school. 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. The United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan "strongly condemn" recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the top diplomats of the three countries said in a joint statement on Friday. In the statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said the DPRK had "significantly increased the pace and scale of its ballistic missile launches since September 2021." They also urged Pyongyang to "return to negotiations." Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Air Koryo Trading Corp, a DPRK company, Russia's Far Eastern Bank and Bank Sputnik for contributing to procurement and revenue generation for DPRK organizations, as well as a person it accused of supporting the country's "weapons of mass destruction program." A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Hello everyone and welcome along to this Wednesday's live blog for the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial, with the jury potentially announcing their Depp vs Heard verdict this Wednesday. The six-week trial came to a close last week, with the closing arguments made by each side on Friday, and the jury has spent the start of this new week deliberating and answering a verdict sheet full of questions. Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Verdict: Our June 1 live blog Update narration See full narration There were some doubts from the jury that the judge had to clear up on Tuesday, but now they are back to discussing all the evidence this Wednesday and their verdict could even be announced today. If not, the verdict should come at some point this week and we'll bring you all the fallout and reaction as soon as it does. Depp vs Heard Verdict update This whole trial has been televised live, so we've been providing readers with streams to follow the drama from the courtroom on our daily Depp vs Heard live blogs. In today's live blog, we'll be explaining the verdict and how this process works for the seven-person jury. There are various conclusions that they could reach, as they could rule in favour of Depp or of Heard, but they might not agree that the full amount of compensation should be paid. Remember, Depp is suing Heard for defamation and for 50 million dollars, after she wrote an article in the Washington Post that suggested the actor domestically abused her, while she then countersued Depp for 100m dollars. There is, therefore, a lot of money on the line, so the announcement will be a huge deal no matter which way the verdict goes. As soon as it is revealed, you'll know all about it by staying right here on this Depp vs Heard live blog. Alec Baldwin is experiencing another difficult personal moment in a turbulent year for the famous actor, as his mother has died aged 92. The family released a statement on social media to communicate the death of Carol M. Baldwin, who had six children, 25 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. "It is with the deepest regret that my family posts the following statement," read the family's post on Instagram. "Carol M. Baldwin, mother of actors Alec, Daniel, William and Stephen Baldwin and two daughters, Elizabeth and Jane, died today in Syracuse, New York. She was 92. "Born Carol Newcomb Martineau, in Syracuse on December 15, 1929, she was the child of Roy and Marion Martineau and had one brother, Daniel, and five sisters, Patricia, Joan, Diane, Louise and Rebecca." "In 1991, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After she survived, she joined with a number of Long Island-wide breast cancer support groups to launch an effort with SUNY Stony Brook. With the support of the university's then president, Shirley Strum Kenny, the Carol M Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund was opened on the campus at Stony Brook. "Another chapter was started some years later in cooperation with SUNY Upstate University. The combined efforts have raised millions of dollars for the cause." While commenting on the resurfacing of the hijab issue in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka Education Minister B.C. Nagesh on Saturday categorically stated that only uniforms are allowed in school and college campuses across the state. He further said that the order of the Karnataka High Court must be followed regarding the issue. The Minister's remark comes after hundreds of students from Mangaluru's University College staged a protest on Thursday against wearing hijab in classrooms. The students expressed anger at the authorities for allowing this despite the court and government orders. In his statement on Saturday, the Education Minister also said that textbooks were already being printed, adding that "there is history and nationalism in the syllabus". He blamed the opposition Congress of creating confusion among students and also in the state regarding the textbook revision row. Top Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and RMallikarjun Kharge have launched fierce attacks on the state's ruling BJP in connection with row. Kharge slammed the state government for the inclusion of RSS founder K.B. Hedgewar's speech in the syllabus. Billionaires and the politicians who enable their wealth gathered for several days at a luxury resort in Switzerland to offer their puzzled concerns about why they keep getting richer at everyone elses expense. by Sonali Kolhatkar The World Economic Forum (WEF), which took place this year from May 22 through 26 in Davos, Switzerland, brought together elected officials and corporate executives from all over the world to tackle global problems. The annual meeting was delayed, first by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then by five more months due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The forum calls itself an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world. WEF attendees are representative of global elites who wield both political and economic power, and, in superhero fashion, seem to have adopted a do-gooder attitude of, with great power comes great responsibility. The last time the group of elites met was in January 2020, at the very start of the pandemic, when Professor Klaus Schwab, WEFs founder and executive chairman, said, The pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world. Like most of the words emerging from WEF speakers, such a sentiment, reflecting the deep concerns of civil society, was worn as a cloak to disguise the source of many of the worlds problems: profiteering and obscene wealth redistribution from the bottom of society toward the top. The advocacy organization Oxfam, which every year is allowed to send representatives to the annual WEF meetings, releases reports regularly highlighting these obscenities and reflecting back to attendees the culpability that politicians and CEOs bear for inequality as they routinely conspire to fleece the world. Irit Tamir, director of the private sector department at Oxfam America, shared with me in an interview the results of this years WEF-related report, which proved that rather than using the pandemic as a way to reset prioritiesas Schwab had in 2020 claimed was his intentionwealthy elites used it as a springboard to accumulate heretofore-unimaginable levels of riches. Inequality, said Tamir, is one of the top problems that theyre looking to solve at Davos, which of course is rather ironic because many of the reasons we have inequality today is because of the influence of these very people. Still, media outlets have portrayed the sentiment at Davos as one of deep concern over the current situation. Davos gathering overshadowed by global economic worries, said one Associated Press headline, while the Washington Post labeled its coverage with the words, Economic uncertainty and ongoing war cast a cloud over Davos. But, according to Tamir, Those that are gathering in Davos this week have so much to celebrate because they are doing very, very well. According to Oxfams report, entitled Profiting from Pain, a million people around the globe are being pushed into extreme poverty every 33 hours during the pandemic. And, in roughly that same time period, a new billionaire has been minted. The pandemic has been very good to the billionaire class, said Tamir. Oxfam concluded in its report that the worlds 10 richest men owned more wealth than the worlds poorest 40 percent of humanity. Such an absurd global arrangement of wealth ought to be the nail in the coffin of our current economic system. The key areas of pandemic profiteering that Oxfam highlights in its report are food, medicine, energy, and technologyall basic human necessities. For example, take James Cargill II and his family, who are majority stakeholders in a global food trading business that bears their family name and made nearly $5 billion in pure income last year alone. Food prices around the world have sharply risen, contributing to the Cargill family wealth. Moderna, the pharmaceutical company whose CEO Stephane Bancel was on the speakers list at this years WEF, has, according to Oxfam, been immensely successful at converting public funding into private wealth. Additionally, The company has created four new vaccine billionaires who are worth a combined $10bn. In the energy sector, we see a similar level of unbridled greed as the costs of energy have gone up, which in turn has meant that, as per Oxfam, Big oils profit margins have doubled during the pandemic. And, lastly, the technology sector has been a boon to billionaires. Oxfam reports that Seven of the 10 richest people in the world made their money from technology, including Elon Musk, who surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the worlds richest man. If market capitalism has reorganized wealth so that it flows from the bottom half of humanity into the hands of increasingly richer individuals, there is either a critical design flaw in a system that was supposed to be fair, or the system is working precisely as it was designed to work. WEF attendees have convinced themselves its the former. Others, like Vermont Senator Bernie Sandersfamous for his claim that the economy is rigged in favor of the richbelieve the latter. Either way, the undeniable conclusion is that its time for a new system. There is no need for the sort of deep introspective panels that WEF convenes as elites pretend to scratch their heads, asking questions like, How can leaders make ethical decisions in times of crisis to maintain social cohesion and the trust of citizens? or How can we include everyone in the conversation for gender equality? Oxfam points out that the no-brainer solution to obscene global inequality, one that requires no complex analysis or discussions between thought leaders, is this: If theres too much money at the top, its time to redistribute that money to the bottom. Thats it. In the United States, home to many of the worlds wealthiest individuals and corporations, there are already well-crafted pieces of legislation like President Bidens billionaire minimum tax, or tax provisions in the Build Back Better billboth of which have failed to pass Congress. This is not a new concept, said Tamir of a tax on rich people in times of crisis. Weve done this before in wartime. Other countries have also done it with great success. It is time that we get revenue from the excess profits that are being made from crises. WEF attendees did not convene any panels to discuss how political leaderswith whom they rubbed shoulders all week in Davoscould make tax legislation a reality. While most agree that inequality is bad for the world, their solution, according to Tamir, is philanthropy, not taxation. Philanthropy is at the whim of the individuals will. Its whatever they choose to donate to, and when they choose to donate, and how they choose to donate. In other words, billionaire philanthropists have not only more money than the rest of us can imagine having, but they also have the power to decide what should or should not receive funding. We need to change the rules, said Tamir. We need governments to step in, and we need them to do it immediately. This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute. Those who have departed from the orthodox line on Ukraine are regularly excluded from or marginalized certainly rarely seen on big corporate media. The result is that alternative and countervailing views and voices seem nonexistent. by Katrina vanden Heuvel Its time to challenge the orthodox view on the war in Ukraine. As Russias illegal and brutal assault enters its fourth month, the impact on Europe, the Global South and the world is already profound. We are witnessing the emergence of a new political/military world order. Climate action is being sidelined as reliance on fossil fuels increases; food scarcity and other resource demands are pushing prices upward and causing widespread global hunger; and the worldwide refugee crisis with more international refugees and internally displaced people than at any time since the end of World War II poses a massive challenge. Furthermore, the more protracted the war in Ukraine, the greater the risk of a nuclear accident or incident. And with the Biden administrations strategy to weaken Russia with the scale of weapons shipments, including anti-ship missiles, and revelations of U.S. intelligence assistance to Ukraine, it is clear that the United States and NATO are in a proxy war with Russia. Shouldnt the ramifications, perils and multifaceted costs of this proxy war be a central topic of media coverage as well as informed analysis, discussion and debate? Yet what we have in the media and political establishment is, for the most part, a one-sided, even nonexistent, public discussion and debate. Its as if we live with what journalist Matt Taibbi has dubbed an intellectual no-fly zone. Those who have departed from the orthodox line on Ukraine are regularly excluded from or marginalized certainly rarely seen on big corporate media. The result is that alternative and countervailing views and voices seem nonexistent. Wouldnt it be healthy to have more diversity of views, history and context rather than confirmation bias? Those who speak of history and offer context about the Wests precipitating role in the Ukraine tragedy are not excusing Russias criminal attack. It is a measure of such thinking, and the rhetorical or intellectual no-fly zone, that prominent figures such as Noam Chomsky, University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer and former U.S. ambassador Chas Freeman, among others, have been demonized or slurred for raising cogent arguments and providing much-needed context and history to explain the background of this war. In our fragile democracy, the cost of dissent is comparatively low. Why, then, arent more individuals at think tanks or in academia, media or politics challenging the orthodox U.S. political-media narrative? Is it not worth asking whether sending ever-more weapons to the Ukrainians is the wisest course? Is it too much to ask for more questioning and discussion about how best to diminish the danger of nuclear conflict? Why are nonconformists smeared for noting, even bolstered with reputable facts and history, the role of nationalist, far-right and, yes, neo-Nazi forces in Ukraine? Fascist or neo-Nazi revivalism is a toxic factor in many countries today, from European nations to the United States. Why is Ukraines history too often ignored, even denied? Meanwhile, as a former Marine Corps general noted, War is a racket. U.S. weapons conglomerates are lining up to feed at the trough. Before the war ends, many Ukrainians and Russians will die while Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman make fortunes. At the same time, network and cable news is replete with pundits and experts or more accurately, military officials turned consultants whose current jobs and clients are not disclosed to viewers. What is barely reflected on our TVs or Internet screens, or in Congress, are alternate views voices of restraint, who disagree with the tendency to see compromise in negotiations as appeasement, who seek persistent and tough diplomacy to attain an effective cease-fire and a negotiated resolution, one designed to ensure that Ukraine emerges as a sovereign, independent, reconstructed and prosperous country. Tell me how this ends, Gen. David Petraeus asked Post writer Rick Atkinson a few months into the nearly decade-long Iraq War. Bringing this current war to an end will demand new thinking and challenges to the orthodoxies of this time. As the venerable American journalist Walter Lippmann once observed, When all think alike, no one thinks very much. Author Bio: Katrina vanden Heuvel is the editorial director and publisher of the Nation and is president of the American Committee for U.S.-Russia Accord (ACURA). She writes a weekly column at the Washington Post and is a frequent commentator on U.S. and international politics for Democracy Now, PBS, ABC, MSNBC and CNN. Find her on Twitter @KatrinaNation. This article is distributed by Globetrotter in partnership with The Nation. 80 Years Since His Passing - Was His Expulsion the Greatest Miscarriage of Justice in the history of the CCP? Compiled by Lionel Bopage Chen Duxiu was a revolutionary socialist, educator, philosopher and author, who with Li Dazhao co-founded the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1921. From 1921 to 1927, he served as the first General Secretary of the CCP. Chen was a leading figure in both the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty and the May Fourth Movement for scientific and democratic development in the early Republic of China. He studied French, English, and naval architecture and went to Japan under a government scholarship. While in Japan, socialist ideas and the growing Chinese dissident movement influenced him. Chen helped setting up two radical political parties there, but refused to join a Revolutionary Alliance, which he considered as narrowly racist. In the late 19th century China, Government corruption was rampant and led to an economic crisis and widespread impoverishment. He was critical of the corrupt bureaucracy and became increasingly influential within the revolutionary movement, which was agitating against imperialism as well as against the Qing government. He founded the Anhui Patriotic Association in 1903, the Yue Fei Loyalist Society in 1905 and became an outspoken writer and political leader during the time of the 1911 Wuchang Uprising. This uprising started the Xinhai Revolution that led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty. In 1912, Chen became secretary general to the new military governor of Anhui, while serving as the dean of a local high school. There he contributed to establishing a student organization, pro-rebel Qing soldiers and secret society members. Chen established the influential Chinese periodical New Youth for this purpose. Believing social progress cannot be achieved without accurately reporting on the prevailing social issues and deficiencies. Chen introduced many new ideas into popular Chinese culture. Confucianism was unacceptable to him because it preached orthodoxy of thought, while rejecting freedom of thought and expression. It advocated submissive compliance to the inequitable status quo. Chen rejected the concept that the individual was the basic unit of society. Instead of Confucianism, Chen advocated progressive social and political values; independence instead of servility; cosmopolitanism instead of isolationism; utilitarian beliefs instead of impractical traditions; and scientific knowledge instead of visionary insight. In January 1917, Chen joined the Peking University as its dean. As a professor and dean, he pursued his anti-Confucianism modern ideas with vigour. For Chen "socialism is a theory of social revolution succeeding political revolution; its aim is to eliminate all inequality and oppression." In 919, conservative opponents at the university forced him to resign. He was jailed for three months by the Peking authorities for distributing "inflammatory" literature that demanded the resignation of pro-Japanese ministers, and government guarantees for the freedoms of speech and assembly. Chen became a Marxist, being impressed that the Russian Revolution of 1917 as a way of modernizing an underdeveloped country. In May 1920, with a handful of followers, Chen founded a communist group and prepared to establish the CCP. The first representative conference of the CCP was held in July 1921. Chen was elected as secretary general and remained so as the undisputed leader for seven years. He was often regarded as China's Lenin. Chen developed a cooperative, which later became a troublesome relationship with the Communist International (Comintern). Over the next decade, the Comintern sought to use the CCP as a tool of Soviet foreign policy, leading to policy disagreements between CCP leaders and Comintern advisors. Chen was not confident of the advantage of collaborating with the Kuomintang, but he had to reluctantly carry out the Comintern's instructions to do so. He was even elected to the Central Committee of the Kuomintang. Nevertheless, Chen came into conflict with Mao Zedong in 1925 over Mao's essay "An Analysis of Classes in Chinese Society". While Chen believed that the focus of revolutionary struggle in China should primarily be about workers, Mao placed primacy on peasants. During the last years of his life, Chen denounced Stalin's dictatorship, and held that various democratic institutions including independent judiciary, opposition parties, free press, and free elections were important and valuable. Because of Chen's opposition to Mao's interpretation of Communism, Mao believed that Chen was incapable of providing a robust historical materialist analysis of China. This dispute would eventually lead to the end of Chen and Mao's friendship and political association. In 1927, Chen with other high-ranking Communists, including Mao Zedong and Mikhail Borodin, closely collaborated with the Nationalist government in Wuhan. Under this influence, the Wuhan government subsequently carried out certain land reform policies. However, considering this as a provocation, various Kuomintang aligned generals attacked the regime. Chen was forced to resign as General Secretary in 1927, due to his public dissatisfaction with the Cominterns order to disarm. This order led to the deaths of thousands of Communists, and is known as the Shanghai massacre of 1927. Also, Chen disagreed with the Comintern's new focus on peasant rebellions. After the CCP - Kuomintang collaboration fell apart in 1927, the Comintern blamed Chen, and systematically removed him from all positions of leadership. In 1929, he was expelled from the CCP. Later on, he became associated with the International Left Opposition of Leon Trotsky. Like Chen, Trotsky opposed many of the policies of the Comintern, and publicly criticized the Comintern's effort to collaborate with the Nationalists. Chen eventually became the voice of the Trotskyists in China, attempting to regain support and influence within the party, but failed. Chen and Trotsky started a complex relationship that was not known in the west, which revealed the developments of Trotskyism in China. Currently there is a revived interest into this interesting relationship. In 1932, Chen was arrested by the government of the Shanghai International Settlement, where he had been living since 1927, and extradited to Nanjing. In 1933, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Nationalist government, but was released on parole in 1937 after the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Chen was one of the few early leaders of the CCP to survive the turmoil of the 1930s, but he was never able to regain any influence within the party he had founded. During the last decade, he had to spend an obscure life. During the long March 0f 1934-35, the Communists had to flee the cities where China's fledgling industrial working class was concentrated and seek refuge in remote rural areas. There they were able to mobilize the support of peasants. This was naturally taken as vindicating Mao's position in his debate with Chen. During the Long March, Mao Zedong emerged as the leader of the CCP. When Chen was released from prison, he refused multiple offers of positions by the Kuomintang. He said, despite the importance of the war effort "Chiang Kai-shek killed many of my comrades. He also killed my two sons. He and I are absolutely irreconcilable". Afterwards, Chen met with the heads of the Nanjing Office of the CCP. An attempt was made to allow him to come back to the Party. For him to re-join Mao wanted Chen to agree to publicly renounce Trotskyism and express support for the United Front against Japan. Chen wrote to the Central Committee of the CCP agreeing with its line of resistance but he did not renounce Trotskyism. This was the end of Chens political relationship with the CCP. Until 1938, Chen travelled from place to place and later took up a junior high school teaching position. In poor health and with few remaining friends, Chen Duxiu later retired to Jiangjin, a small town west of Chongqing, where he died on 27 May 1942 at the age of 62. He is buried at his birthplace of Anqing. We need to understand the historical experiences of the Soviet Union and the Peoples Republic of China without prejudice and learn from those experiences. After the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, Chen's reputation and legacy was thrashed and was used to warn the CCP members not to deviate from party orthodoxy. After Maos death and the brutal suppression of the Gang of Four, this changed and Chen's contributions to the Party have subsequently been reassessed by historians and activists, but has not been officially endorsed. The CCP remains silent on Chens contributions and his achievements. In conclusion, Chen rejected China's traditional values and saw Marxism as a means to achieve a mass democracy with the broad labouring masses as its base. He recognized, however, the significant role the bourgeoisie would play in the Chinese revolution that he hoped to achieve. During the last years of his life, Chen, still bring a socialist, denounced Stalin's dictatorship and defended democratic institutions such as independent nonpartisan judiciaries, opposition parties, free press, and free elections. He awaits political rehabilitation in the country of his birth. His ideas of modernity, tradition, a modern socialist state and the Party need to be widely discussed by all left loving people all over the world. References: 1. Peking University News May 9, 2019, [Centenary of the May Fourth Movement] Chen Duxiu: Commander of the May Fourth Movement, https://newsen.pku.edu.cn/news_events/news/focus/8468.html Accessed 23 May 2022 2. The Asia Society 2015, Wealth and Power Chapter 7 New Youth: Chen Duxiu 1879-1942, http://sites.asiasociety.org/chinawealthpower/chapters/chen-duxiu/ Accessed 24 May 2022 3. Lee F 1983, Chen Duxiu, Founder of the Chinese Communist Party. Princeton University Press, 1983. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7ztnm3. Accessed 24 May 2022 4. Kucha G and Llewellyn J 2019, Chen Duxiu, Alpha History, https://alphahistory.com/chineserevolution/chen-duxiu/ Accessed: May 26, 2022 5. Marxist Writers: Chen Duxiu (Chen Tu-Hsiu) (18791942), https://www.marxists.org/archive/chen-duxiu/index.htm Accessed: May 26, 2022 6. Benton, G 1998, Chen Duxiu's last articles and letters, 1937-1942, https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/509d0002-c883-460a-a04f-f3e67f102448 Accessed: May 26, 2022 7. 5 Pioneers - 60 Seconds 97th CPC Anniversary 29 June 2018, Chen Duxiu: First General Secretary of CPC Central Committee, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRz_xkkF1vY Accessed: May 26, 2022 BEIJING (AP) At least 15 people have died in torrential rains across southern China, state media reported Saturday. Eight died in two building collapses from landslides in Fujian province, near China's east coast, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing the Wuping county information office. Five others died and three were missing in Yunnan province, about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) away in southwestern China, state broadcaster CCTV said in an online report. Three children were swept away by floodwaters Friday in Xincheng country in the Guangxi region, authorities said. Two died and one survived. The storm damaged roads, bridges and telecommunications and power facilities in Yunnan's Qiubei county, which is about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the border with Vietnam. In Fujian, five victims were found in a collapsed factory building and three others in a collapsed residential building on Friday, Xinhua said. Heavy rain started Thursday evening in Wuping county, which is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) inland from the coastal city of Xiamen. Video posted online showed streets flooded with muddy water and some roads partially washed away. The storm damaged crops, cut power and destroyed 39 houses in the county, state media said. More than 1,600 people were evacuated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRETHREN The Brethren High School gymnasium was full of smiles, hugs and tears Friday as members of the class of 2022 walked across the stage to receive their diplomas during a commencement ceremony. Jakob Veith, who served as Brethren's principal from 2015 until being named superintendent last summer, told the graduates how much they mean to him, and that they should never forget about home. "The seven years have really flown by. For most of you, I met you in sixth grade," he said. "... You've all matured. Lord knows it hasn't always been easy. Some of you kept me on my toes, some of you spent a little bit of time in my office, but all of you share a special place in my heart." Halle Richardson gave the salutatory address and Cody Krows was class valedictorian. There were two empty seats among the graduates to honor two classmates who had died: Emmitt Picard and Kevin Dean. "While they're not physically here tonight, we honor their families and their spirits," Veith said. More photos To see more photos from Brethren High School's graduation ceremony, visit manisteenews.com. See More Collapse The school district's motto is "small school, big family," and Richardson said the motto never rang more true than when the class of 2022 leaned on each other in the wake of Dean's death following a traffic crash during their junior year. "There is one day that really shows how close the class of 2022 is, and that day is in the month of November 2020. We cried, we hugged each other, we hurt," Richardson said. "We all came to school because we knew we were all going through the same thing. We came to school together as a family, because that's what we are." Krows said he was grateful to everyone who made his time at Brethren so special: his mom, the school faculty and staff, and his classmates. "This class is left with many memories that we'll remember for the rest of our lives," he said. Richardson told her peers that through the good times and they bad, they always had each other. "Our time here will be missed," she said. "... I want to end my speech by thanking you guys for making my high school experience memorable the endless laughs and jokes we all had, or the fights and make-ups throughout the years. We all did this together." Her tirade is a very good example of just what I was trying to convey through my Dharma sermon that day at the Carlton residence. The sermon was about the Vitakkasanthana sutta of MajjhimaNikaya which teaches about Lobha (greed), Dvesha(anger or hate), and Moha (delusion brought about by ignorance). by Ven. Walpola Piyananda On April 17, 2022 while I was in Sri Lanka, Venerable Kalyanawansa answered the phone at our Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles, California. He was greeted with a vulgar barrage of insults and curses from a lady speaking Sinhalese whom he didn't know. Ven. Kalyanawansa was able to learn that she is a Sri Lankan lady claiming to have lived in the U.S. (she was calling from Louisiana) for 25 years. She was furious, out of control, and the object of her anger was not Ven. Kalyanawansa, but me. I won't tell you her exact words, first, because I don't use that kind of language, and second, because I don't think the English translation conveys the sheer rage, fury and vitriol that came out of the lady's mouth. What prompted her call? Did she feel I had violated the Vinaya (the Buddhist monks' code of conduct), taught dhamma incorrectly, or somehow insulted her personally (although I did not know her)? No, in fact, it was a political issue. She was furious that I had given a dhamma talk, as I had done several times before, in the home of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. To her this was a crime worthy of reporting to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, and in a threatening tone said she would come to Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara. This episode seems typical of recent times, especially familiar to Americans who have faced the extremes of partisan fury in our politics for the past seven years or so. Just think about the unhinged attack on the U.S. capital on January 6 of last year, and you will understand what I am talking about. The tirade was recorded and posted on social media by the woman identifying herself as Nimalka Manamperi. Immediately after hearing this, the Chairman of the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Hudson Samarasingha telephoned me and recorded by responses to his questions about this incident. The following is an English translation of our conversation: Her tirade is a very good example of just what I was trying to convey through my Dharma sermon that day at the Carlton residence. The sermon was about the Vitakkasanthana sutta of MajjhimaNikaya which teaches about Lobha (greed), Dvesha(anger or hate), and Moha (delusion brought about by ignorance). These three unwholesome mental states (Mulawa) are quite difficult to eradicate, even for some Buddhist monks who have achieved a higher state of consciousness (Dhyana) while on the noble path to achieve enlightenment. I should thank her for the opportunity to further point out the importance of striving to overcome these unwholesome mental states of mind. I should say that I got ordained as a Buddhist monk at the tender age of twelve and its been 67 years since. Ever since then Ive been practicing the meditation of loving-kindness (Mettabhavana) day and night. Thanks to Nimalkas harsh abusive tirade, I got a chance to put all the loving-kindness I cultivated those past years into practice. Im glad to realize that my efforts have not been in vain; I didnt get offended or feel any anger towards what she said. Instead, it actually made me smile a little. I hope all the Buddhist monks out there could such an opportunity to put their patience and loving-kindness to test. I should say that from the perspective of certain aspects of Astrology, I know that certain people are afflicted with bad planetary influences according to their horoscopes and this affects the flow of their daily lives. It is known that being scolded by people bearing bad influences of the planet Saturn and of Rahu (a shadow planet according to astrology) is a good thing. That is because such people tend to absorb the negative energy of whomever they interact with, thus preventing whatever bad thing may happen: like a heart attack or an accident that was supposed to happen. So, thinking along these lines she did another big favor to me. Spending most of my time writing books, I need ideas for new topics. Now this incident provides me with an example about what happens when people are blinded by anger and delusion. According to western psychology there are two types of characteristics that people with disturbed mental states exhibit. The first being the sadistic character where one derives pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering on others and the second being the masochistic character where one derives pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering on themselves. So, if a person gains pleasure by humiliating and causing pain to another then that person should take the time to reflect on their actions and the sorry state of mind that prompted their behavior, and they should seek help from a psychiatrist. I dont know for sure if this person who called me is indeed Nimalka Manamperi from Louisiana, USA as she claims to be, but Ive decided that this incident would be a good topic for a future dharma sermons where I can discuss the merits and the extent to which a person could practice meditation of loving-kindness (Mettabhavana). Fortunately for us, the Buddha addressed this type of human behavior, which occurred commonly 2500 years ago just as it does now. So, on the one hand, this is a seemingly insurmountable world-wide problem, but it can be dealt with on the level of society; what we need to do is look first at ourselves, one by one. But before we go into the details of dealing with situations such as these, let me say a few words about approaching Buddhism for what it is. In the U.S. and Europe, where most people were not "born Buddhist", the attraction to Buddhism usually starts with meditation. People read about the benefits of meditation, how to practice it, and what may happen if you practice. They tend to equate Buddhism with meditation. Meditation is an integral part of Buddhism. Buddhism includes meditation to enable us to reach a level of self understanding that helps us on the way to a happier and more fulfilling life. Its a program that requires understanding, behavior, and mental training of a type we could call meditation. Let's see what the Suttas say about this problem as it applies to the circumstances of this story, in which the monks of the temple were berated, insulted, cursed, and threatened. On the most basic level, this problem and its solution are addressed on the very first page of the most popular Buddhist text, the Dhammapada which states: Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief, they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts, suffering follows them like the cart wheel that follows the foot of the ox. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief, they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts, happiness follows them like their never departing shadow. That one abused me, struck me, overpowered me, or robbed me. Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred. They abused me, struck me, overpowered me, or robbed me. Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred. In this simple set of four short verses, we receive some understanding of how our minds work, we are taught some behavior modification, which implies a mental practice necessary to instill this lesson in us. This might be enough to help us deal with the diatribe of that anger filled lady. But the Buddha did discuss these matters in further detail. He understood that full understanding requires more explanation and practical training. The Buddhist fundamental guide to the path for a happier and more peaceful life is traditionally called the Noble Eightfold Path. It may help to consider an alternate name of the path and its steps, in case one speaks more to you that the other. In the terminology of the well known Buddhist teacher Ven. Madawela Punnaji, whose work includes a deep understanding of Western psychology, he uses the term Supernormal Eightfold Way. Here are the constituent steps in the traditional and Ven. Punnaji's translation: Right understanding Harmonious Perspective Right intention/thought Harmonious Orientation Right Speech Harmonious Speech Right Action Harmonious Action Right life/livelihood Harmonious Life style Right Effort Harmonious Exercise Right Mindfulness Harmonious Attention Right Concentration Harmonious Equilibrium One well-known sutta presents a five-fold approach to dealing with unwholesome thoughts, thus helping us improve our understanding (or perspective) and thought (or orientation). It is totally practical, as valid today as 2500 years ago and what I taught at the Prime Ministers house. It is the VitakkasanthanaSutta, found in the MajjhimaNikaya section of the suttas, Sutta #20. Here are the five techniques with an explanation and example. The first we could call "Thought displacement". This simply means that attention should be diverted from the unwanted unwholesome thought and given to another thought. For example, when a small child is playing with something dangerous, you get the child to stop by replacing the dangerous item with a safe toy. The second is "Aversion Therapy". This refers to examining the danger in the unwanted unwholesome thought and seeing the bad consequences what will result from it. For example, when you have a thought of gambling, you could think of the consequences that can occur, such as being left without money to feed your family. And the third one is "Sublimation". Ignore the unwanted unwholesome thought by just not paying attention to that thought. Just as when one with good eyesight doesn't want to see something, they close their eyes or look away. Or when one sees a commercial on TV, they change the channel. In the movie A Beautiful Mind the character John Nashs solution to his mental problem illustrates this type of behavior. The fourth one is Thought analysis. Attention should be given to stopping the unwanted unwholesome thought from forming. Say you see a lit candle is close to curtains that are moved by the wind. You analyze the situation and stop a fire from occurring by removing the candle. The fifth one is Will power. One should use one mental strength to let go of the unwanted unwholesome thought and not give in to it. If you open the refrigerator and see a piece of your favorite cake, you shut the door and do not eat it. These are all immediate, short-term solutions, not yet a transformation of one's way of thinking. But over consistent use they can help eradicate unwholesome thoughts. Loving-kindness is not a common term in English but it is hard to translate Metta otherwise. Basically it is love without a physical or emotional component, based on recognizing that we are no different from others in terms of our needs. I guess you can think of it as analogous to the Judeo-Christian "Love thy neighbor as thyself". Henceforth we will use the Pali term Metta. We can develop Metta via a simple meditation practice of projecting metta outwards. For detailed instructions, please see my short book "Love in Buddhism". What are the benefits of Metta? Here is a useful comparison of Hate and Metta, slightly paraphrasing Ven. Piyadassi's "The Buddha's Ancient Path". Hate restricts, metta releases Hate estranges, metta enfranchises Hate brings remorse, metta brings peace Hate agitates, metta calms Hate divides, metta unites Hate hardens, metta softens Hate hinders, metta helps. In the AkkosakaSutta, found in the SuttaNipata 7.2, we see the benefits of the development of Metta illustrated. The Buddha is approached by a Brahmin, known for being quite abusive. He approaches the Buddha and abuses him with harsh and rude speech. In response, the Buddha asks the Brahmin if he has guests visit him from time to time. When the Brahmin answers in the affirmative the Buddha asks who the food belongs to if the guests do not accept the food the Brahmin offers his guests. The Brahmin says it still belongs to him. Then Buddha replies The abuse, the scolding, the reviling you hurl at us who do not abuse or scold or insult, we do not accept from you. It all belongs to you, Brahmin.... We are not joining you for dinner. It is all yours, Brahmin, it still belongs to you. The Buddha concludes with these verses: Understanding a person's angry mood, the other person can help the first clear it and find peace. He is the healer of them both because both benefit thereby. People think a person like that is a fool, for they cannot understand the Truth. So, back to our "irate telephone caller": Why did this happen to me? The fact of the matter is that I did was not accept the "dinner" this lady offered me, so she held on to it; it still belong to her. I responded with Metta towards her and all beings. I wasn't harmed. So, I guess I should tell her "thanks for your help" and I leave you with this poem. When Youve Lost Your Temper When youve lost your temper, Youve lost your reason, too. Youll not be proud of anything Which in anger you may do. When in anger you have spoken And been by emotion led, Youll have uttered something That youll wish youd never said. In anger you will never do A kindly deed, or wise. But many things for which youll feel You should apologize. In looking back upon your life, And all youve lost or made Youll never find a single time When anger ever paid. So cultivate calm patience, And grow wiser as you age. Never act, nor speak a word When overcome by rage. Remember without fail That when your temper flies, Youll never do a worthy thing, A decent deed, or wise. Bohumil Ontl (1906-1976) STANWOOD A police situation Friday afternoon in Stanwood disrupted bus service for Morley Stanwood Schools and sparked rumors. About 3:45 p.m. Friday, May 27, Morley Stanwood posted on its Facebook page that a police situation in the greater Stanwood area would delay some buses, but that "Morley Stanwood High School, Middle School and Elementary Schools are not involved in current police situation." "I got a phone call it was right around dismissal time because I kind of had to hurry to get off the phone and go got a phone call that there was something significant going on north of Stanwood that involved a lot of police," Morley Stanwood Superintendent Roger Cole told the Pioneer. Cole sent out a message on social media squashing the rumor that there was an active shooter. "That is not true," he said in the post. Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller confirmed, saying that, first and foremost, the public was never in any danger. The situation occurred at a residence in Austin Township, and more information would be release at a later time. Morley Stanwood buses were rerouted and only one was delayed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate REMUS It was a cold and grueling winter for Pvt. Wilmer Norman. As he gathered wood for his shelter at a POW camp, other prisoners succumbed to the harsh Korean winter. Born near Remus to a farming family in 1926, he originally tried to enlist into the tail end of World War II in 1946 along with his five brothers. Everyone but the oldest enlisted. He was denied due to poor eyesight. Later, he enlisted successfully into the Korean War in February 1951 and was captured by Chinese soldiers just two months later in April. He told his nephew, George Crawford, of Canadian Lakes, stories of being surrounded by seemingly hundreds with only a few other Americans. Crawford remembered Norman being animated when he told his war stories, and he said they felt mundane in comparison to his brothers stories. He just persevered and kept struggling, Crawford said. He felt that if anybody was gonna make it, (he) was gonna make it. Vietnam veteran John Pointer said about Norman in 2018, a story he remembered was how Norman and 40 other prisoner stood at attention waiting to be executed for over two hours. Then once in a while they heard a horn blow, and it kept getting closer and closer. It was a jeep coming down the mountain. They were waiting until the jeep got there to complete the order, Pointer said. Well, when the jeep got there they called the death sentence off and sent him to a work camp. An article from the United Press wire said Norman marched for 52 days, which the paper describes as being as bad as anything he had ever experienced. He said he was forced to eat soybeans ground up in a powder eaten raw and washed down with water. While imprisoned, he said eight hours a day were spent on indoctrinating prisoners. The rest of the day was gathering wood for their camp. There was a lot of pressure on them to work on these details, Crawford said. Some guys just gave up, and they couldnt handle it anymore. Norman and other prisoners had to improvise to eat something other than ground soybeans and rice, Crawford said. There was a local chicken farmer near their camp, and he said Norman and some other prisoners stole a chicken. The only way they could figure out how to cook this chicken was they had to boil their clothes to keep the lice down so they put these chickens in the pot with their clothes, he said. According to a news clipping, he was the second Mecosta County soldier to turn up on a prisoner of war list. The first was Cpl. Robert T. Hesselink, a Big Rapids native who was held at the same camp as Norman. Both were released in a 328-person prisoner exchange, which was part of Operation Big Switchthey were presumed dead after being listed as missing in action. The paper goes on to say Normans family was overjoyed by the news. As Norman got older, he had two daughters. He became more religious and talked about the war less over time. Dorothy Allen, Normans niece, remembered Uncle Bert being someone who would always get you a Christmas gift. He gave me a ragdoll with a plastic safe, and I brought it to school for show and tell, Allen said. And of course at school, someone punched my doll in the cheek! Norman was artistic, she said. He painted a crucifixion scene which is still hung in the historic Wheatland Church of Christ today. At Thanksgiving in 1980, Allen said Norman knew he was going to die. She recalled him giving a speech to the family, saying he wasnt sure hed be around anymore. Norman told her in private that she should let your light so shine before men that others will see your good worksa passage from the Bible, she said. Later that night, he wasnt feeling well and had to go to the hospital. He died with his twin, William, holding his arm, Allen said. He wasnt physically a big guy, George Crawford said. But I would want him on my side. If I needed one person, I would have taken him. He will be remembered at the 88th Old Settlers Reunion Picnic Day at School Section Lake Veterans Park on Aug. 20. Normans two daughters, Carla and Cecilia, will be awarded with a POW plaque honoring his service. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defense. The Russian Defense Ministry said Lyman, the second small city to fall this week, had been completely liberated by a joint force of Russian soldiers and Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war for eight years in the industrial Donbas region bordering Russia. Ukraines train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens through Lyman, a key railway hub in the east. Control of it also would give Russia's military another foothold in the region; it has bridges for troops and equipment to cross the Siverskiy Donets river, which has so far impeded the Russian advance into the Donbas. Ukrainian officials have sent mixed signals on Lyman. On Friday, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian troops controlled most of it and were trying to press their offensive toward Bakhmut, another city in the region. On Saturday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar disputed Moscow's claim that Lyman had fallen, saying fighting there was still ongoing. In his Saturday video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the east as very complicated and said that the Russian army is trying to squeeze at least some result by focusing its efforts there. The Kremlin said Putin held an 80-minute phone call Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany in which he warned against the continued transfers of Western weapons to Ukraine and blamed the conflicts disruption to global food supplies on Western sanctions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the chancellors spokesperson, and called on Putin to engage in serious, direct negotiations with Zelenskyy on ending the fighting. A Kremlin readout of the call said Putin affirmed the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue. The three leaders, who had gone weeks without speaking during the spring, agreed to stay in contact, it added. But Russias recent progress in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas, could further embolden Putin. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraines capital, Russia has set out to seize the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Russia has intensified efforts to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, which are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai reported that Ukrainian fighters repelled an assault on Sievierodonetsk but Russian troops still pushed to encircle them. He later said Russian forces had seized a hotel on the city's outskirts, damaged 14 high-rise buildings and were fighting in the streets with Ukrainian forces. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said there was fighting at the citys bus station. A humanitarian center couldnt operate due to the danger, Striuk said, and cellphone service and electricity were knocked out. And residents risked exposure to shelling to get water from a half-dozen wells, he said. Some supply routes are functioning, and evacuations of the wounded are still possible, Striuk said. He estimated that 1,500 civilians in the city, which had a prewar population of around 100,000, have died from the fighting as well as from a lack of medicine and diseases that couldnt be treated. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, Associated Press reporters saw older and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs Friday in Bakhmut. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to persuade reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sievierodonetsk, returned home. I have to know he is alive. Thats why Im staying here, said Lvova, 66. On Saturday, people who managed to flee Lysychansk described intensified shelling, especially over the past week, that left them unable to leave basement bomb shelters. Yanna Skakova left the city Friday with her 18-month-old and 4-year-old sons and cried as she sat in a train bound for western Ukraine. Her husband stayed behind to take care of their house and animals. Its too dangerous to stay there now, she said, wiping away tears. Russias advance raised fears that residents could experience the same horrors seen in the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which endured a three-month siege before it fell last week. Residents who had not yet fled faced the choice of trying to do so now or staying. Mariupol became a symbol of massive destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. Mariupols port has reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia entered the port early Saturday. In the call with Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said, Putin emphasized that Russia was working to establish a peaceful life in Mariupol and other liberated cities in the Donbas. Germany and France brokered a 2015 peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that would have given a large degree of autonomy to Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine. However, the agreement stalled long before Russia's invasion in February. Any hope that Paris and Berlin would anchor a renewed peace agreement now appears unlikely with both Kyiv and Moscow taking uncompromising stands. Ukrainian authorities have reported that Kremlin-installed officials in seized cities have started airing Russian news broadcasts, introduced Russian area codes, imported Russian school curriculum and taken other steps to annex the areas. Russian-held areas of the southern Kherson region have shifted to Moscow time and will no longer switch to daylight saving time, as is customary in Ukraine, Russias state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Krill Stremousov, a Russian-installed local official, as saying Saturday. In his address Saturday, Zelenskyy also accused Russian forces of preventing Kherson residents from leaving, saying they effectively try to take people hostage in a sign of weakness. The war has caused global food shortages because Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations over which side bears responsibility for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage and Ukraine citing a Russian naval blockade. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said two Russian vessels capable of carrying up to 16 missiles were ready for action in the Black Sea, adding that only shipping routes established through multilateral treaties may be considered safe. Ukrainian officials have pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems. Russias ambassador to the United States, Anatoliy Antonov, said Saturday that such a move would be unacceptable and admonished the White House to abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine. Moscow is also trying to rattle Sweden and Finlands determination to join NATO. Russias Defense Ministry said its navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea that struck its target about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The Zircon, described as the worlds fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead and is said to be impossible to stop with current defense systems. Last week Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the country's west in response to Sweden and Finlands bids to join NATO. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine AUSTIN TOWNSHIP Police are investigating an incident Friday afternoon that left three children and an adult female dead. According to a news release from the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded about 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, to a residence in Austin Township for a report of a male with a gun and shots fired. Upon arrival, they found three children under the age of 10 years old and an adult female dead from apparent gunshot wounds. REED CITY St. Paul Lutheran Church in Reed City will host bicycle decorating and offer prayers of blessings for a safe summer for peddlers starting at 8 a.m. Monday, May 30, as part of Reed City's Memorial Day celebrations. Bicycle decorating has been a long-time tradition for the Reed City Memorial Day parade. Through the years, residents, especially children, have decorated their bicycles and then peddled the parade route from the corner of Chestnut and Upton to the cemetery. Over the last decade or so, fewer and fewer children and adults have participated in this town tradition. When asked about the blessing, Rev. Kara Shaw, pastor at St. Paul, said, I hope to mix a fun community event with some prayer and bring it a little new life. We have lost a lot over the last few years. Finding ways to renew those things that bring us joy while recognizing where we know Jesus is with us in our everyday lives is exactly what the Church is called to do. St. Paul invites the community to join them for decorating starting at 8 a.m Monday. Participators can bring supplies to decorate their bikes or use some of the supplies that will be there to share. Prayer of blessing will occur at about 8:20 a.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and welcomes people of all ages, races, orientations and walks of life to join them as they work together to make Christ known to the people of the Reed City area and thought world. St Paul worships weekly at 10:15 a.m. Sundays with a fellowship hour following and an intergenerational education hour at 9 a.m. They have a monthly womens group and a weekly men's group. The people of St. Paul pray that you will join them for worship and let them know how they can help you live our Gods Work. If you would like more information about this topic, please get in touch with Kara Shaw at 501-294-8285 or email at pastor.kara.shaw@gmail.com. Huron County residents will gather together in communities across the Upper Thumb to honor those who have given their lives in service to their country. A small number of dedicated community members are making sure the Bay Port-Pigeon area continues to honor those veterans made the ultimate sacrifice. DALLAS (AP) Airlines and tourist destinations are expecting monster crowds this summer as travel restrictions ease and pandemic fatigue overcomes lingering fear of contracting COVID-19 during travel. Many forecasters believe the number of travelers will match or even exceed levels in the good-old, pre-pandemic days. However, airlines have thousands fewer employees than they did in 2019, and that has at times contributed to widespread flight cancellations. People who are only now booking travel for the summer are experiencing the sticker shock. Domestic airline fares for summer are averaging more than $400 a round trip, 24% higher than this time in 2019, before the pandemic, and a whopping 45% higher than a year ago, according to travel-data firm Hopper. The time to have gotten cheap summer flights was probably three or four months ago," says Scott Keyes, who runs the Scotts Cheap Flights site. Internationally, fares are also up from 2019, but only 10%. Prices to Europe are about 5% cheaper than before the pandemic $868 for the average round trip, according to Hopper. Keyes said Europe is the best travel bargain out there. Steve Nelson of Mansfield, Texas, was standing in line this week at a security checkpoint in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, ready to board a flight to Nice, France, with plans to attend a Formula One race in Monaco. I decided it's time to work on my bucket list, Nelson said. I hadn't even considered Monaco until this year. Although many countries have eased rules for travel, there are still restrictions in place that add to the hassle factor. Notably, the United States still requires a negative COVID-19 test within a day of flying to the country. We only realized that a couple days before coming here. We kind of panicked to find a place to get tested," said Jonny Dawe, a software engineer from Bath, England, who was in Dallas for a conference his first major trip since the pandemic started. You have to check all the testing requirements for the countries you are visiting, and you have to worry about contracting the virus." Online spending on U.S. flights eased in April after a torrid March, but it's still up 23% from spring 2019 mostly because of higher prices, according to Adobe Analytics. Airlines blame the steeper fares on jet fuel roughly doubling in price over 2019. It's more than that, however. The number of flights has not returned to pre-pandemic levels even though demand for travel is surging. We have more travelers looking to book fewer seats, and each of those seats is going to be more expensive for airlines to fly this summer because of jet fuel, says Hopper economist Hayley Berg. When travelers reach their destination, they will be greeted with hotel rates that are up about one-third from last year. Hotels are filling up faster, too. Hotel companies blame the higher prices on increasing cost for supplies as well as workers in a tight labor market. Rental cars were hard to find and very expensive last summer, but that seems to have eased as the rental companies rebuild their fleets. The nationwide average price is currently around $70 a day, according to Hopper. Jonathan Weinberg, founder of a rental car shopping site called AutoSlash, said prices and availability of vehicles will be very uneven. It wont be as bad as last summer, but prices for vehicles will still be way above average, if you can even find one, in Hawaii, Alaska and near destinations such as national parks. Even if you drive your own car, it'll still be pricey. The national average for regular gasoline hit $4.60 a gallon on Thursday more than $6 in California. Those prices have some people considering staying home. "You don't really get used to $6 gas, said Juliet Ripley of San Diego as she paid $46.38 to put 7.1 gallons in her Honda Civic. The single mom of two has no summer vacation plans other than an occasional trip to a nearby beach. For those determined to travel, however, it is an open question whether airlines, airports, hotels and other travel businesses will be able to handle them. More than 2.1 million people a day on average are boarding planes in the United States, about 90% of 2019 levels and a number that is sure to grow by several hundred thousand a day by July. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has tapped nearly 1,000 checkpoint screeners who can move from one airport to another, depending on where they are needed most. "We are as ready as we possibly can be, says TSA chief David Pekoske. Airlines that paid employees to quit when travel collapsed in 2020 are now scrambling to hire enough pilots, flight attendants and other workers. The largest four U.S. airlines American, Delta, United and Southwest together had roughly 36,000 fewer employees at the start of 2022 than before the pandemic, a drop of nearly 10%, despite aggressive hiring that started last year. Pilots are in particularly short supply at smaller regional airlines that operate nearly half of all U.S. flights under names like American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express. Airlines are trimming summer schedules to avoid overloading their staffs and canceling flights at the last minute. This week, Delta cut about 100 flights a day, or 2%, from its July schedule, and more than 150 flights a day on average, or 3%, in August. Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue previously reduced summer flights. Cancellations arent limited to the U.S. In the United Kingdom, easyJet and British Airways scrubbed many flights this spring because of staffing shortages. Air travel within Europe is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels this summer, although visitors from outside the region will likely be down 30% from 2019, according to a new report from the European Travel Commission. The group doesnt expect international travel to return to normal until 2025. Russia's war in Ukraine does not appear to be hurting bookings to most of Europe, according to travel experts, but it will reduce the number of Russian and Ukrainian travelers, whose favorite destinations include Cyprus, Montenegro, Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania, the commission said. Russian tourists tend to be big spenders, so their absence will hurt tourism economies in those destinations. Also largely missing: Chinese tourists, the worlds largest travel spenders, who remain largely restricted by their government's zero-COVID strategy. Some European destinations report that the number of Chinese tourists is down by more than 90% from 2019. ___ Kelvin Chan in London and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. STAMFORD Davenport Ridge Elementary School went into a lockdown Friday afternoon after police said a man went to the entrance of the school and asked to be let in before he was arrested by responding officers. Shortly after 1 p.m., school officials noticed a suspicious man on the school campus and immediately initiated a lockdown, Stamford police said Friday evening. The lockdown triggered a response from police, who arrived within three minutes, the department said, and detained the man. In light of the recent tragedies in Texas and in Buffalo, we want to highlight this incident, Capt. Diedrich Hohn said in a statement. The administrator and school staff of Davenport School did everything right to keep the staff and students safe from harm. We can never take safety for granted. Today, we want to highlight how, if you see something / say something, the police statement said. It is important to follow a schools safety and infrastructure security procedures to ensure everyones safety. Police identified the man as 31-year-old Jamar Mikel Edwards, of Charlotte N.C. He was charged with first-degree trespassing School officials told police they had seen Edwards get off a CT Transit bus, which uses the school driveway to turn around, and saw him approach the school on foot. Police said Edwards appeared disoriented to staff, and attempted to open the front door but was prevented because they were locked. He then rang the schools buzzer and spoke to staff saying he had keys to drop off, and that he was looking for a job. Police said Edwards was not allowed inside and did not gain access to the building. Police are still trying to ascertain why he was on school grounds Stamford police said Edwards has a case pending in Connecticut after state police arrested him on Interstate 95 on Wednesday. Details from that arrest were not immediately available. Edwards was taken to Stamford Hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said. Vinal Technical High School in Middletown was put into secure mode on Wednesday after a staff member received a phone threat from the parent of a student. At approximately 8:20 a.m., the trooper assigned as the school resource officer was contacted by the school principal and notified of the threat, according to Connecticut State Police. The U.S. excuses its aggressive policy against Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua by citing these countries alleged human rights violations and the so-called threats that these countries pose to democracy. by Sheila Xiao and Manolo De Los Santos In a recent interview, Brian Nichols, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, was asked the question that is on everyones mind ahead of the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California: Will three particular countries in Latin America (Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua) be invited? Nichols responded with neither hesitation nor equivocation that the answer was no. Speaking on behalf of President Joe Biden, he further added that countries whose actions do not respect democracyas the U.S. government views these three countries and others like themwill not receive invitations. Nichols seemingly offhand comment, said with the usual arrogance of U.S. officials and calling the three countries regime[s that] do not respect [democracy], sent a shockwave through the region that the U.S. was likely not expecting. Throughout Latin America, the reaction was immediate. Leaders such as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Bolivian President Luis Arce, and Honduran President Xiomara Castro, as well as several heads of state from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) including Antigua and Barbudas Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Trinidad and Tobagos Prime Minister Keith Rowley, all expressed that they would not participate in the summit if the exclusions of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua were maintained. CARICOM has called for a summit that ensures the participation of all countries of the hemisphere. Bidens insistence on continuing the U.S. policy of exclusion and aggression against Latin America has made his summit a failure before it has even begun. Mired in controversy and criticism, the Biden administration has not been able to build consensus around any common agenda because of the double standards it creates. While the U.S. may have already moved on, the memories of recent coups and interventionist plots by the U.S. government in the region are still fresh. The U.S. and the Organization of American States (OAS) both helped engineer a coup in Bolivia in 2019 that overthrew a democratically elected government. There Is No Americas Without Cuba The summit since its inception has been met with skepticism by progressives across Latin America due to the outsized or, more accurately, domineering role played by the U.S. and the OAS with regard to invitations, agenda, and vision. However, this year the U.S. seems to have underestimated the important political shifts in the region and their impact on the political legitimacy of the U.S. The U.S. does not seem to have anticipated any challenges to its leadership of the summit, but the pushback against U.S. hegemony comes as no surprise to most Latin Americans and those around the world who have been following the regions politics of late. Since the last summit in 2018, the political map has undergone radical transformations. Not only are progressive governments outnumbering reactionary ones across the region, but many of them emerged precisely out of a deep rejection of U.S.-backed governments and policies, and the conditions that they create for the people. Across the region, countries whose public sectors were undermined for decades by U.S.- and IMF-imposed neoliberal policies saw their societies and economies devastated during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extreme poverty rate in the region rose from 13.1 percent in 2020 to 13.8 percent in 2021, representing a setback of 27 years. At more than 2.7 million deaths from COVID-19, the Americas represent 43.6 percent of global COVID-19 deaths despite constituting only 12 percent of the world population. The outliers in this general trend of economic crisis and humanitarian emergency were Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, which suffered some of the lowest rates of deaths from COVID-19 in the region and the world due to their comprehensive strategies of, above all else, putting the health and well-being of their citizens before profits. This policy extended beyond their national borders. From as early as March 2020, Cuba was already sending medical brigades to countries across the region and the world to support their responses to COVID-19. With Cubas development of five vaccines against COVID-19, the country has worked closely with other global south countries to distribute vaccine science and technology to promote localized production and distribution; meanwhile, U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies like Pfizer and Moderna were turning record profits. At the height of the pandemic in Brazil, Venezuela sent oxygen to the city of Manaus, which had run out of the vital supply despite pleading for federal aid from the Brazilian government under President Jair Bolsonaro. It has become glaringly clear that countries in the region have everything to gain from maintaining cooperation and partnerships with the countries the U.S. declares to be its enemies. Democracy for Whom? The U.S. excuses its aggressive policy against Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua by citing these countries alleged human rights violations and the so-called threats that these countries pose to democracy. However, many have started to question what kind of democracy exists in a country where 1 million people have died from COVID-19, 2.2 million people are in prison (accounting for more than 20 percent of the world prison population), where police kill an average of three people a day (with Black people being 2.9 times more likely to be killed by police than white people), and where $801 billion is spent on the military (the U.S. makes up 38 percent of global military spending). The majority of people in the Americas have rejected this hypocritical moral high ground and the premise that the U.S. has the right to decide who participates in what forum and with whom. This is why a coalition of more than 100 organizations from across the region have come together to organize the Peoples Summit for Democracy to counter the improperly named Summit of the Americas. The Peoples Summit carries forward the legacy of movements against neoliberal capitalism and U.S. imperialism that have organized counter-summits every time the U.S. organizes its Summit of the Americas. The Peoples Summit will be held in Los Angeles, California, on June 8-10, and seeks to bring together the voices of people whom the U.S. would prefer to silence and exclude. Immigrant organizers in Los Angeles will take the stage with landless rural workers from Brazil to discuss their visions of democracy for all. Feminist organizers from Argentina to New York will share strategies of how to fight for abortion access and counter the reactionary right-wing attacks on women and LGBTQ people. These unprecedented times call for more cooperation and less exclusion. While unfortunately the U.S. government also denied the visas of a 23-person delegation of Cuban civil society to the Peoples Summit, the bonds between the Cuban people and the people of the Americas are unbreakable, and despite their best efforts, the U.S. cannot silence the aspirations of the people. For the Americas, which are on the cusp of transformative times, the age of the Monroe Doctrine is over. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Sheila Xiao is a researcher and community organizer. She is chair of the Los Angeles chapter of the ANSWER Coalition and the co-founder of the peace organization Pivot to Peace. She is a co-coordinator of the Peoples Summit for Democracy. Manolo De Los Santos is the co-executive director of the Peoples Forum and is a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He co-edited, most recently, Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War (LeftWord Books/1804 Books, 2020) and Comrade of the Revolution: Selected Speeches of Fidel Castro (LeftWord Books/1804 Books, 2021). He is a co-coordinator of the Peoples Summit for Democracy. Before joining the military, potential recruits need to know that their legal status is going to change once they put on their new uniform. Military personnel are not only subject to the federal, state and local laws, but they are also subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or UCMJ. The UCMJ outlines a strict set of rules of behavior for those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and some of the regulations don't really overlap with a civilian counterpart. What might be totally legal in the United States could be illegal under the UCMJ. The UCMJ got an overhaul in 2019, its first since 1984, so some surprising crimes (like cohabitation with someone who is not your spouse) are now a-OK. Just so you know, we here at Military.com aren't lawyers, we're writers. None of this should be taken as legal advice. We are just informing you that knowing some of the law service members are subject to is just a good idea -- including the 2022 changes to the UCMJ. Legal defense advice is a job for your Area Defense Counsel. If you've never had to interact with an Area Defense Counsel, bully for you. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Shelby Pruitt) 1. Cursing Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice is called the "General Article," and is really a catch-all article that covers a number of offenses. In the original UCMJ that came into effect in 1951 until its overhaul in 2019, there were 55 specific offenses listed under Article 134, one of which was "Indecent Language." This means that the everyday swearing and cursing troops use with each other is actually a criminal, non-capital offense under the UCMJ. This is, of course, rarely applied, except in the commission of a more serious offense. "Indecent" is defined as language that is "grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety, or shocks the moral sense, because of its vulgar, filthy or disgusting nature, or its tendency to incite lustful thought." 2. The Drunk Prisoner Law Under Article 112 of the old UCMJ, anyone providing liquor to someone who is serving time as a prisoner was as guilty of a crime as the prisoner drinking the booze. In the new UCMJ, this article got folded into the new Article 112, "Drunkenness and other incapacitation offenses." What you may not know about military personnel who are prisoners in military custody is that they are considered on duty while serving time. So any prisoner who is caught drunk, whether it was provided to them or they made it in their cell toilet (prisoners are notoriously resourceful), they are technically drunk on duty. 3. Straggling This one also falls under Article 134 of the UCMJ, along with a few others on this list. That's the reason Article 134 is nicknamed "The Devil's Article." Straggling is "to wander away, to stray, to become separated from, or to lag or linger behind." Luckily there isn't an evidence bag big enough for that kind of shame. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Davis) In a wartime situation, this could be pretty harmful to your unit. In a peacetime situation, it's just fairly uncool and might result in more work for you or your unit in the form of a longer ruck march or some additional duties. In either case, you could be brought up on charges, suffer reduced pay or even be confined for three months. So try to keep up. 4. Adultery Before the 2019 changes, "adultery" under the UCMJ was defined as sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, in the baby-making way. New revisions to the UCMJ have updated the standards for a more tolerant and reasonably sex-positive America. "Adultery" has now been rebranded as "Extramarital Sexual Conduct" and covers everything from traditional intercourse between a man and a woman to any kind of sexual contact and is now gender neutral. The conduct must still be "prejudicial to good order and discipline or of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed services." It still carries the possibility of a fine, jail time and dishonorable discharge. 5. Wearing Unauthorized Uniform Items The Stolen Valor Act signed by President Barack Obama in 2013 makes it illegal to wear unearned military awards and decorations, but only if the intent is to receive compensation or some other kind of tangible benefit. This means anyone can walk around wearing a Purple Heart for love or sympathy from civilians, as long as they aren't profiting from it. Not so in the military. In 2019, an offense under Article 134 was given its own article. Article 106a of the UCMJ prohibits military members from "wearing unauthorized insignia, decoration, badge, ribbon, device, or lapel button." 6. Jumping from a Vessel into Water Pictured: criminal scum. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Card) What is a fun Fourth of July activity for many civilians is a crime punishable by a court-martial in the U.S. military. Intentionally jumping from any vessel being used by the U.S. military into water is a crime that faces a maximum punishment of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and up to two years of confinement. U.S. Navy Swim Calls aside, this doesn't even have to be an official U.S. military ship, just one that was operated by or under control of any branch of the armed forces at sea or in port. You can beat this charge by proving you were attempting suicide, but it's probably best to just get the OK from the captain -- or not jump at all. 7. Dueling Although not as big of a problem in the military these days, the specific mention of dueling in the Uniform Code of Military Justice is kind of warranted if you know the history of dueling in America. There was a time when a duel was the way to settle disputes between individuals -- and U.S. military officers had a lot of disputes. One in 12 naval officers who were killed on active duty before 1815 died in duels, according to author Stephen Budiansky. Two-thirds of U.S. Navy officers killed before the Civil War met their fate in a duel. Today, Article 114, "Endangerment Offenses," requires military personnel to report possible duels to their command under threat of imprisonment. -- 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. Mount Prospect complex (Prospect Hill complex; Prospect Mountain complex), Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USAi Key Sulphuret of Iron, in mass, is in great quantities, and Sulphate of Iron, on the surface of the ground, near it, near Mount Prospect But the principal region for magnetic iron-pyrites [pyrrhotite] is Prospect hill, in the western part of Litchfield. It forms an occasional ingredient in the constitution of the hornblendic rocks of this mountain, and very early excited the notice of the inhabitants of the vicinity. The most favorable place for viewing the ore is near the house of Mrs. POTTER. At this place, an excavation fifteen feet deep by eight wide and high, has lately been carried into the mountain by the Phenix Mining Company, whose object was a flux suited to their copper ores in Granby. A part of the pyrites thrown out by the company still remains in a heap at Bradleysville, from the examination of which, as well as from the inspection of the sides of the adit, it is apparent that the ore forms on an average, nearly one half of the bulk of the rock. It contains traces also of yellow copper-pyrites [chalcopyrite]... The lands of the Connecticut Mining Company, on Prospect Mountain, promise an abundant return for funds invested and labor performed. Disinterested parties who have visited these lands, and others who have analyzed and smelted their copper, nickel and silver ores, pronounce the percentage of pure metal to be much greater than that of some the celebrated English mines. The enterprize is this company deserves and will receive a rich reward. Chalcopyrite and nickeliferous pyrrhotite are found in the less feldspathic parts of the norite. The presence of these minerals is responsible for the numerous unsuccessful attempts to secure nickel in commercial quantities at Mt. Prospect The mines were all located on or near Prospect Mountain, sometimes called Prospect Hill, in the township of Litchfield. The three principle mines were the Grannis mine just west of Prospect Mountain, Buck's Mine on the southwest slope of the hill, and the Connecticut Nickel Company's mine 1 mile south of the summit of the hill. The ores occur in norites, pyroxenites and peridotites, all basic rocks. The sulfides are disseminated through the rock and in places are more concentated. The peridotites are dark brown rocks of coarse grain containing pyroxenes, hornblende, olivine, biotite, considerable magnetite, with accessory apatite and bright green spinel. Masses of intergrown chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite occur in the rock and constitute the ore. These ores are typical deposits formed by magmatic segregation. These rocks with their associated minerals are of great interest because of their similarity with the enormous nickel deposits at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, which yield practically all of the worlds nickel supply. At the Grannis mine there is a water-filled shaft and a short tunnel evidently started as a cross-cut but abandoned before reaching ore. The Buck mine consists of four shafts within a hundred feet of each other and at the Connecticut Companys mine there is one shaft. there are two shallow pits in sulphide-bearing olivine norite at two other points in the Mount Prospect area. One is 880 feet east-northeast of the Mitchell deposit....The other is in olivine norite 2080 feet S. 33 degrees E. of the Buck deposit. Dr. F. A. Genth, in a report dated December 1, 1859, to a Mr. T. Mason Mitchell, refers to a shaft on the northeast slope of the mountain - apparently Schairer's Connecticut Nickel Company's mine - which he elsewhere calls the old mine, which had been worked down to the vein to a depth of about 40 feet, and says: People of undoubted honesty and entirely disinterested, state that mines have driven on the vein and in the same in all directions for a distance of about 60 feet, and that the whole was ore, and in fact when I compared the pile of dead rock with that of valuable ore lying on the surface, I do not doubt the truth of their statements. He concludes his report in the best tradition of the mining expert: From the analysis of the ore and their occurrence, I come to the conclusion that the Prospect Mountain vein is the most valuable nickel vein developed at present, and that by the facility and little expense with which an inexhaustible quantity of valuable ore can be raised, and the easy extraction of nickel therefrom, it is able to control the nickel market of this country and Europe. In 1863 Thomas Petherick, a mining engineer of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, visited the Granniss. He reported to the President and Directors the Nickel Mining and Smelting Company: On visiting your Granniss property, near Litchfield in Connecticut, I was very favorably impressed with the prospect which I found developed there of an abundant supply of nickel ore, obtainable at a cheap rate. The openings on the vein on the Granniss property are very limited in extent. The principal ones of them are at two points at the Smith shop at but a little distance apart; the deepest being only a few feet below the surface. These openings afford the prospect of yielding very large quantities of good ore at a very moderate cost. The width of the vein I am not able to state; in the deepest opening it is opened in width above 9 feet, which is probably but a small part of its general thickness. There is no wall yet seen in this opening. I consider it to be a very powerful vein. That it is longitudinally very extensive I am perfectly satisfied from my examinations of the opening, and from various indications which I observed on the property. In Economic Geology for 1915, volume 10, page 330, Ernest Howe describes a visit to the mines, which apparently failed to control the nickel market of this country and Europe, for he paints a somewhat different picture from that of the earlier experts. In years past a few nickel bearing sulphide deposits were explored by shallow shafts near Prospect Hill, but according to local accounts active mining ceased some fifty years ago (1860, about the time of the Petherick report. CRH), when it became evident that the ore was a too low grade and in too small quantities to warrant further operations. Although economically of no value, the ores are of some interest. (from a mineralogical point of view. CRH)... Finally, we have a report dated May, 1917; by one J. S. Miller, which tends, if he is to be believed, to restore confidence in Genth and Petherick. Miller first notes: Judging from the evidence the writer has gathered from the reports of Mining Engineers and others familiar with the district, there was a considerable effort made by the former discoverers and operators to make these mineral deposits of commercial value, and in trying to do this, a considerable quantity of ore was mined and shipped to different places, both in this country and in Europe for treatment, but as there was no known method at that time for the reduction and separation of such ores, this mineral (Pentlandite, a nickel-iron sulphide. CRH) was then considered as worthless, and the properties were abandoned. Since that time they filled up with water, timber and brush grew up so as to obscure them from view and their history and existence was known only to a few of the local citizens whose association with the owners of the property kept them in touch with it. Through them the writer was induced to visit the district, and after careful inspection, it was arranged to pump the water out of one of the workings and to put it in shape for examination and sampling of the ore bodies. The working which was unwatered would seem to have been the Old Mine of Genth, the Connecticut (Nickel) Company's of Howe: Its location is apparently about the center of the district and the working consists of an underhand stope or pit in the deposit, carried to a depth of about forty feet, and some thirty feet wide and eighty feet long. This entire working is all in ore and the total width of the ore body is not disclosed as there is no evidence of a wall in any direction. Analyses of samples of the ore showed from 1.65 to 2.86 per cent nickel; 0.97 to 1.31 per cent copper; and 11.99 to 16.45 per cent sulphur as compared to Petherick's 3.20 nickel; 0.03 copper; and 25.21 sulphur. Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements Detailed Mineral List: 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS 2 Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 'Hornblende' Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 'Hypersthene' Formula: (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 Reference: Schairer, John Frank (1931): The Minerals of Connecticut, State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51 Pentlandite Formula: (Ni x Fe y ) 9 S 8 Description: Intergrown in pyrrhotite grains in the norite. Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 Pyrite Formula: FeS 2 Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe 1-x S Habit: anhedral grains Description: Schairer described the pyrrhotite: "Mined at the nickel mines around prospect hill where it occurs in large quantities" Includes intergrown pentlandite, accounting for the nickel content. Reference: American Mineralogist 27:218 Spinel Formula: MgAl 2 O 4 Colour: Bright green Description: Schairer, specifically described the spinel as: "Bright green spinel is one of the minerals of the peridotites at the nickel mines, Prospect Mountain, Litchfield" Reference: Schairer, John Frank (1931): The Minerals of Connecticut, State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin 51 List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts Chalcopyrite 2.CB.10a CuFeS 2 Pentlandite 2.BB.15 (Ni x Fe y ) 9 S 8 Pyrite 2.EB.05a FeS 2 Pyrrhotite 2.CC.10 Fe 1-x S Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides Magnetite 4.BB.05 Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 Spinel 4.BB.05 MgAl 2 O 4 Unclassified Minerals, Rocks, etc. 'Biotite' - K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 'Hornblende' - 'Hypersthene' - (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 'Plagioclase' - (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 List of minerals for each chemical element H Hydrogen H Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 O Oxygen O Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 O Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 O Plagioclase (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 O Magnetite Fe2+Fe 2 3+O 4 O Spinel MgAl 2 O 4 F Fluorine F Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Na Sodium Na Plagioclase (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 Mg Magnesium Mg Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 Mg Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Mg Spinel MgAl 2 O 4 Al Aluminium Al Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Al Plagioclase (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 Al Spinel MgAl 2 O 4 Si Silicon Si Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 Si Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Si Plagioclase (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 S Sulfur S Chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 S Pyrite FeS 2 S Pyrrhotite Fe 1-x S S Pentlandite (Ni x Fe y ) 9 S 8 K Potassium K Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Ca Calcium Ca Plagioclase (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi 2 ]O 8 Ti Titanium Ti Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Fe Iron Fe Chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 Fe Pyrite FeS 2 Fe Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)SiO 3 Fe Biotite K(Fe2+/Mg) 2 (Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe] 2 Si 2 O 10 )(OH/F) 2 or Simplified: K(Mg,Fe) 3 AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 Fe Magnetite Fe2+Fe 2 3+O 4 Fe Pyrrhotite Fe 1-x S Fe Pentlandite (Ni x Fe y ) 9 S 8 Ni Nickel Ni Pentlandite (Ni x Fe y ) 9 S 8 Cu Copper Cu Chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 References Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) Brace, John P. (1819), Observations on the Minerals Connected with the Gneiss Range of Litchfield County. American Journal of Science: s.1, 1: 351-355. Robinson, Samuel. (1825): A Catalogue of American Minerals, With Their Localities; Including All Which Are Known to Exist in the United States and British Provinces, And Having the Towns, Counties, and Districts in Each State and Province Arranged Alphabetically. With an Appendix, Containing Additional Localities and a Tabular View. Cummings, Hilliard, & Co., Boston. Shepard, Charles U. (1837), Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. Hamlen, New Haven. Kilbourne, Payne Kenyon. (1859), Sketches and Chronicles of the Town of Litchfield. Rice, William North and Herbert Ernest Gregory. (1906), Manual of the Geology of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 6. Sanford, Samuel and R. W. Stone. (1914): Useful Minerals of the United States. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 585. Howe, Ernest. (1915), Sulphide-Bearing Rocks From Litchfield, Conn. Economic Geology: 10: 330-47. Schairer, John Frank. (1931): The Minerals of Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 51. American Mineralogist (1942): 27: 218. Cameron, Eugene. (1943), Origin of sulphides in the nickel deposits of Mount Prospect, Connecticut. Geological Society of America Bulletin: 54: 651-686. Harte, Charles Rufus. (1945): Connecticut's Minor Metals and Her Minerals. Proceedings of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers, 61st Annual Report. Cameron, Eugene. (1951), Preliminary Report on the Geology of the Mt. Prospect Complex. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 76. Januzzi, Ronald E. (1959): The Minerals of Western Connecticut and Southeastern New York. The Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut. Schooner, Richard. (1961): The Mineralogy of Connecticut. Fluorescent House, Branford, Connecticut. Januzzi, Ronald E. and David Seaman. (1976): Mineral Localities of Connecticut and Southeastern New York State and Pegmatite Minerals of the World. The Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut. Januzzi, Ronald. E. (1994): Mineral Data Book - Western Connecticut and Environs. Mineralogical Press, Danbury, Connecticut. Localities in this Region A group of 6 small mines named Hardy, Pool, Grannis(s), Curtis, Buck and Mitchell in 1943, with Connecticut Nickel Co. mine an older name for one, and 2 additional prospects. They are best discussed collectively as little was written about each individual mine and they are similar. Worked early in the 19th century for copper, latter for nickel, rather unsuccessfully. The ore is widespread but variably disseminated in the hard mafic rock as primary sulfide grains, so there are no classic ore veins with walls, as noted below by contemporary observers. See Cameron's 1943 and 1951 reports for the best geological maps and descriptions. Turning on the Macrostrat geology layer on the map above will show the general outline of the Litchfield Norite host rock and that all the mines lie within it. Why the specific locations were chosen for mining/prospecting is unrecorded.Brace (1819) was apparently the first to document the abundance of iron minerals on Mount Prospect, as repeated by Robinson (1825):Shepard (1837) followed suit and added some chalcopyrite:Kilbourne (1859) wrote a rather glowing report:By then, a group of small nickel prospects was located around Mount Prospect in Litchfield as Rice and Gregory (1906) observed:Schairer (1931) (summarizing Howe (1915)) gives some details about them:Howe (1915) gives these brief descriptions of the mines:Cameron (1943) and (1951) mapped the complex and marked 6 prospects: Hardy, Pool, Grannis, Curtis, Buck and Mitchell, and adds,Harte (1945) gives a good summary of the good, the bad and the ugly assessments of the nickel prospecting:Coordinates are for the summit of Prospect Mountain. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Goodfellas star, Ray Liotta has died in his sleep after a movie shoot in the Dominican Republic. Confirming the unfortunate incident on Thursday, Dominican officials say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the actors death. Liottas agent stated that the actor was in the Caribbean country shooting a new film entitled, Dangerous Waters. We understand that he was accompanied by his (fiancee) and that the (fiancee) asks that you please respect her grief, a spokesperson for the Dominican Republics General Direction of Cinema stated. Liotta was found dead in his hotel room. He was later transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo, the Caribbean countrys capital for further investigations. The 67-year-old was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1954. According to the US media, the actor was left in an orphanage at birth and was adopted when he was only six months old. Journalists in the Western North Region were neglected at the ongoing New Patriotic Party's delegates' conference at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in the Sefwi Wiawso area to elect regional executives. The Western North New Patriotic Party secretariat refused to give the media accreditation to cover the 2022 regional delegates' conference. The media after several complaints made to the regional executives yielded no results. Journalists from the nine constituencies in the region were left stranded at the venue as seeking information became a major issue. However, journalists are contesting that NPP regional executives have not been fair to the media since the creation of the Western North Region. At a press briefing, the media decided to boycott all NPP activities in the region. Source: Classfmonline.com GCB Bank PLC has signed $13.7 million credit facility and one million Euro grant financing agreements to support local businesses towards the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The agreements and projects are part of the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (SUNREF) Ghana, aimed at promoting investment in sustainable energy and environmental protection among private sector players in developing economies. Under the agreement, GCB and SUNREF will continue to offer competitive loans and technical assistance for structuring green investment to companies, organisations, individuals and households. The Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, Mr Kofi Adomakoh, signed the agreement on behalf of the Bank while the French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave; the Head of Cooperation, European Union Development, Mr Mina Massimo; and the Director of AFD, Africa Department, Mr Christian YOKA, signed for their respective institutions. The SUNREF Programme seeks to mobilise Ghanaian financial institutions including GCB to finance private sector investments in green technologies. GCB and other financial institutions will provide green loans and investment grants (up to 10 per cent of the loan) and technical assistance to finance small and medium scale renewable and energy efficient projects. In his speech, Mr Adomakoh highlighted the importance of the agreement and partnership in protecting the climate and promoting clean energy. For us at GCB PLC, sustainability is a matter of survival. It is for a rethink of how we deploy our capital and resources to achieve growth beyond our generation. Our partnership with AFD is a demonstration of our commitment to this cause, Mr Adomakoh said. He said Africa needs support and with the right kind of funding the continent will make progress in the promotion of energy efficiency. Mr Adomakoh said GCB is committed to the partnership and will deploy the funds to achieve its objectives. The French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave, described affordable loans and grants to provide greener energy as one of the tools to fight climate change, improve livelihood and contribute to sustainable growth. This is a win-win partnerships between France and Ghana, the French Ambassador opined. The Director of AFD, Africa Department, Mr Christian YOKA, on his part, said the partnership between AFD and GCB Bank is a great way to promote Ghanas efforts closer to the achievement of its contribution to the Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contributions. He said through this partnership, GCB would be able to reach local businesses and households with attractive financial offer for green projects. Present at the signing ceremony were the Deputy Managing Director, Operations, Mr Emmanuel Odartey Lamptey, Executive Head, Retail Banking, Mr John Adamah, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, Mr Eric Coffie, Head of Corporate Banking, Mr Linus Kumi, Head of Commercial Banking, Mr George Fuachie and other officials of GCB, as well as others from the Energy Commission of Ghana. The Eastern Regional Police Command is looking for six armed robbers who attacked a shop that deals in gold at Asamang Tamfoe in the Atiwa East Municipality of the Eastern Region. The unmasked robbers are reported to have fired sporadically throughout the broad-day light operation that lasted about 11 minutes before making away with over GHS1 million in cash. Two persons, including Kenneth Ampem, the security guard at the facility, were shot dead in the process. The identity of the other deceased person whos said to have been shot while the robbers were escaping is not yet known. When Citi News got to the scene, dozens of residents and passersby had gathered, assisting some personnel of the Ghana Police Service with investigations. Some workers of the company who spoke to Citi News said they are traumatised. The Executive Director of the company, Prince Kwame Asamoah, who is calling for a full scale investigation wants security agencies to up their game. We are praying that our security will work on it so they can bring the perpetrators to book. It is very sad, he said. Meanwhile, some residents of Asaman Tamfoe who witnessed the daylight robbery say they are living in fear. Police has in a statement said it is conducting an anti-robbery operation to arrest the suspects. citinewsroom NATOs war in Libya was its first major military operation in Africa, but it was not the first European military footprint on the continent. by Vijay Prashad Anxiety about the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward the Russian border is one of the causes of the current war in Ukraine. But this is not the only attempt at expansion by NATO, a treaty organization created in 1949 by the United States to project its military and political power over Europe. In 2001, NATO conducted an out of area military operation in Afghanistan, which lasted 20 years, and in 2011, NATOat the urging of Francebombed Libya and overthrew its government. NATO military operations in Afghanistan and Libya were the prelude to discussions of a Global NATO, a project to use the NATO military alliance beyond its own charter obligations from the South China Sea to the Caribbean Sea. NATOs war in Libya was its first major military operation in Africa, but it was not the first European military footprint on the continent. After centuries of European colonial wars in Africa, new states emerged in the aftermath of World War II to assert their sovereignty. Many of these statesfrom Ghana to Tanzaniarefused to allow the European military forces to reenter the continent, which is why these European powers had to resort to assassinations and military coups to anoint pro-Western governments in the region. This allowed for the creation of Western military bases in Africa and gave Western firms freedom to exploit the continents natural resources. Early NATO operations stayed at the edge of Africa, with the Mediterranean Sea being the major frontline. NATO set up the Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) in Naples in 1951, and then the Allied Forces Mediterranean (AFMED) in Malta in 1952. Western governments established these military formations to garrison the Mediterranean Sea against the Soviet navy and to create platforms from where they could militarily intervene in the African continent. After the Six-Day War in 1967, NATOs Defense Planning Committee, which was dissolved in 2010, created the Naval On-Call Force Mediterranean (NOCFORMED) to put pressure on pro-Soviet statessuch as Egyptand to defend the monarchies of northern Africa (NATO was unable to prevent the anti-imperialist coup of 1969 that overthrew the monarchy in Libya and brought Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to power; Gaddafis government ejected U.S. military bases from the country soon thereafter). Conversations at NATO headquarters about out of area operations took place with increasing frequency after NATO joined the U.S. war on Afghanistan. A senior official at NATO told me in 2003 that the United States had developed an appetite to use NATO in its attempt to project power against possible adversaries. Two years later, in 2005, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, NATO began to cooperate closely with the African Union (AU). The AU, which was formed in 2002, and was the successor to the Organization of African Unity, struggled to build an independent security structure. The lack of a viable military force meant that the AU often turned to the West for assistance, and asked NATO to help with logistics and airlift support for its peacekeeping mission in Sudan. Alongside NATO, the U.S. operated its military capacity through the United States European Command (EUCOM), which oversaw the countrys operations in Africa from 1952 to 2007. Thereafter, General James Jones, head of EUCOM from 2003 to 2006, formed the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2008, which was headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, because none of the 54 African nations were willing to give it a home. NATO began to operate on the African continent through AFRICOM. Libya and NATOs Framework for Africa NATOs war on Libya changed the dynamics of the relationship between the African countries and the West. The African Union was wary of Western military intervention in the region. On 10 March, 2011, the AUs Peace and Security Council set up the High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya. The members of this committee included then-AU Chairperson Dr. Jean Ping and the heads of state of five African nationsformer President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Republic of Congos President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Malis former President Amadou Toumani Toure, former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma and Ugandas President Yoweri Museveniwho were supposed to fly into Tripoli, Libya, and negotiate between the two sides of the Libyan civil war soon after the committees formation. The United Nations Security Council, however, prevented this mission from entering the country. At a meeting between the High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya and the United Nations in June 2011, Ugandas Permanent Representative to the United Nations during that time, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, said, It is unwise for certain players to be intoxicated with technological superiority and begin to think they alone can alter the course of human history toward freedom for the whole of mankind. Certainly, no constellation of states should think that they can recreate hegemony over Africa. But this is precisely what the NATO states began to imagine. Chaos in Libya set in motion a series of catastrophic conflicts in Mali, southern Algeria and parts of Niger. The French military intervention in Mali in 2013 was followed by the creation of the G5 Sahel, a political platform of the five Sahel statesBurkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Nigerand a military alliance between them. In May 2014, NATO opened a liaison office at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. At NATOs Wales Summit in September 2014, the alliance partners considered the problems in the Sahel that entered the alliances Readiness Action Plan, which served as [the] driver of NATOs military adaptation to the changed and evolving security environment. In December 2014, NATO foreign ministers reviewed the plans implementation, and focused on the threats emanating from our southern neighborhood, the Middle East, and North Africa and established a framework to meet the threats and challenges being faced by the South, according to a report by the former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Michael R. Turner. Two years later, at NATOs Warsaw Summit in 2016, NATO leaders decided to increase their cooperation with the African Union. They [welcomed] the robust military commitment of Allies in the Sahel-Sahara region. To deepen this commitment, NATO set up an African Standby Force and began the process of training officers in African military forces. Meanwhile, the recent decision to eject the French military is rooted in a general sensibility growing in the continent against Western military aggression. No wonder then that many of the larger African countries refused to follow Washingtons position on the war on Ukraine, with half the countries either abstaining or voting against the UN resolution to condemn Russia (this includes countries such as Algeria, South Africa, Angola and Ethiopia). It is telling that South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his country is committed to advancing the human rights and fundamental freedoms not only of our own people but for the peoples of Palestine, Western Sahara, Afghanistan, Syria and across Africa and the world. The ignominy of Westernand NATOsfollies, including arms deals with Morocco to deliver Western Sahara to the kingdom and diplomatic backing for Israel as it continues its apartheid treatment of Palestinians, bring into sharp contrast Western outrage at the events taking place in Ukraine. Evidence of this hypocrisy serves as a warning while reading the benevolent language used by the West when it comes to NATOs expansion into Africa. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma. Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi is touring eight Pacific island nations as part of a strategy to increase Beijing's clout in the region. The move triggered Western countries to strengthen ties and may re-boot the relationship between France and Australia, still suffering from a submarine deal that went wrong. "The submarine deal is water under the bridge," Carlyle Thayer, a professor with the Australia Defence University, told RFI. "The two countries shared the same strategic interest before that deal was aborted." Thayer is referring to a $56 billion deal between French company Naval Group and the Australian Ministry of Defence. In March 2021, the government of Scott Morisson hailed the purchase of 12 French-made ocean attack submarines diesel fuelled as a "major milestone" in the development of Australia's "Future Submarine Program". The deal would strengthen the Franco-Australian strategic partnership and create thousands of jobs. But just 18 months later, Canberra dumped the deal in favour of US nuclear-powered subs as part of the abruptly announced Aukus trilateral alliance between Australia, the UK and the US. Relations between Paris and Canberra dived below zero, France called back its ambassador and French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian branded the action unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners". But as of this week, things may change. Morisson lost the Australian election to make place for Labour leader Anthony Albanese. Albanese "like President Macron, was given 12 hours' notice of the announcement of Aukus," says Thayer. "They had no idea it was coming." But he adds that the Aukus philosophy (a strong alliance to counter China's influence) could benefit France. "It coincides with the strategic interest of France, already identified over previous years." The relations with France are now "a work in progress. So this is a golden opportunity for both sides to reset the clock," Thayer adds. Quad, the Pacific NATO? The submarine setback may have temporarily slowed down French interest in joining the "Quadrilupal Dialogue" or "Quad" between the US, Australia, India and Japan. Like Aukus, the Quad is rooted in distrust against China and the idea to create a platform to counter Beijing's influence. France did take part in some of the Quad's joint naval exercises, but its participation seemed to have diminished after the submarine debacle. Recent high-level visits by French military to the US and the new government in Australia may change all that. Albanese's first action was to travel to Japan the day after he was elected to attend the Quad's 4th Summit on 24 May, where he met with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On a bilateral level, Washington is already partnering with Tokyo to monitor Chinese naval activity, and is particularly concerned about movement around the disputed territory that Japan calls the Senkaku islands and Beijing the Diaoyu islands. China mocks the Quad as an attempt to create a "Pacific NATO" that is doomed to fail. Its success, say Yao Zeyu and Zhang Tengjun, fellows with the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, hinges upon India. "India will not blindly follow the US," they said in an opinion piece for the Global Times. Chinese suspicions The growing suspicions on both sides seem to feed on each other. A day after the end of the Quad meeting, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi started a high-profile tour to eight Pacific Island nations (Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste) starting with the Solomon Islands. It's the first visit of a high-level Chinese leader to the tiny island group after Beijing on 19 April announced a "security agreement" with the Solomon Islands to the utter horror of Australia and the US. A copy of a draft version of the agreement, seen by Anna Powles, a security studies specialist with New Zealand's Massey University, who published it on Twitter, sent shock waves across the region. Military personnel According to Article 1 of the agreement, Solomon Islands "may request China to send police, armed police, military personnel and other law enforcement and armed forces to assist in maintaining social order". "The fact that we found out [about the China-SI security pact] by Twitter constitutes a failure by our intelligence and diplomatic services," says Thayer. "It happened in an area where we lose face for the US, because this is supposed to be our patch." As a direct result of China's growing presence (Beijing already sent in a small police force to the SI after anti-Chinese riots in Chinatown) and Canberra's intelligence failure, the US announced that it will upgrade its diplomatic presence to embassy level. But the Solomon Islands deal is just the tip of the iceberg. China is also holding talks with Kiribati on a similar deal, and on 20 May closed a deal with Vanuatu to revamp the international airport in Luganville, a key US military base during the second world war. 'Development vision' But the crown on China's efforts may be the "China-Pacific Islands Common Development Vision," a treaty meant to be signed between Beijing and ten Pacific states, and to be signed on 30 March in Fiji, where Wang Yi will represent China. A draft of the "Vision" document foresees the "strengthening of exchanges in the fields of traditional and non-traditional security" and expand "law enforcement cooperation" and the "protection of national security". The treaty would also provide for a free trade zone, facilitate "two-way investments," and address global concerns such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. But Beijing's initiative has set off alarm bells across the Pacific. Australia rushed to counter the move by sending its own Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Fiji to shore up support in the Pacific. In Fiji, speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 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. According to Thayer, Canberra is considering million-dollar aid to help Pacific islands cope with the consequences of climate change. And some 3,000 Pacific Islanders will be given a chance, through a lottery, to come and work in Australia to "earn money and send it back home". "These are things China can't offer. China isn't going to take workers from the Pacific islands and bring them to China to work, they are not going to give them visas to settle there permanently. "So the contest has begun," he says. Private legal practitioner, Mr. Kwame Jantuah has kicked against the idea of having the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) investigate the Will of the late former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John. The OSP in a statement on Thursday, May 27, 2022, disclosed that it has started probing the Will of the late Sir John in relation to land acquired at the Achimota Forest and Ramsar sites. The Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced full investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of alleged improper and unlawful acquisition of state lands at the Achimota Forest enclave and Ramstar catchment at Sakumono in Accra by former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (Now deceased) and other persons, part of a release signed by Special Prosecutor Sir John said. Reacting to the statement in an engagement on the Key Points show on TV3 on Saturday morning, Mr. Kwame Jantuah said the case requires a probe by an Independent Commission and not the Office of the Special Prosecutor. An Independent, nonpartisan Commission of Inquiry must investigate this, it shouldnt be the Lands Ministry or the OSP, Mr. Jantuah said. Mr. Abraham Amaliba, the Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) shares the same opinion. According to him, a bipartisan committee should be set up by Parliament to investigate the matter. He said, We need a bipartisan committee from parliament to deal with it. He added, It should be opened to the public, let us invite people to testify, we will get to know how the forest was distributed to public servants apart from Sir John. Amaliba continued, If you want the OSP to do it he will just limit himself to the will and that will not address our pain. Our pain is that a number of people have acquired state lands which is not just Sir John. The Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress NDC), Mr. Abraham Amaliba says President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the one to blame for keeping absentee MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo at post. The Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament who doubles as the Minister in charge of Gender and Social Protection has been out of the country for almost a year, leaving her job to be designated to Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah. Reacting to an interview by Sarah Adwoa Safo within the week, Mr. Abraham Amaliba said it is good to know the MP who has missed Parliament for months is doing well. He said for abandoning her Ministerial duties, he blames President Akufo-Addo who has decided to retain her when he knows she has been out of the country for this long. It's refreshing to hear from Adwoa Sarfo Yesterday, she was clear, concise and I realized that this is a person who is normal. I will fault the appointor for this matter, why will the president keep her for almost one year when the president knows that she is out there, Amaliba said on the New Day show on TV3 on Friday. Speaking to Joy News on Thursday, Sarah Adwoa Safo assured she will soon return to take care of all her responsibilities. She disclosed that she is taking care of her child who is not well. I will be returning definitely to serve my people. I lead and serve the people of Dome-Kwabenya and I have done that for the past 12 years and I know exactly what my responsibilities are and I am definitely going to do that. As you know, my son is unwell and has to transition to school, so I have to ensure that all that is settled before I can resume my duties and that is exactly what I am doing. I have been doing a lot to take care of my children which the law requires and as you know here in the foreign land, I have to comply with whatever I am directed to do and until all that is sorted out, I have to do what I have to do and then I will return to my duties, the MP shared. The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended RwandAir flights and summoned Rwanda's ambassador in response to what it says is Kigali's support for the M23 rebel group's offensive in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, who advanced as close as 20 km this week to eastern Congo's main city of Goma and briefly captured the army's largest base in the area. Congo and UN investigators had also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during a 2012-2013 insurrection that briefly captured Goma. Rwanda denied those charges. Congo's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya announced the suspension of flights from Rwanda's national carrier and the summoning of the ambassador late Friday night following a meeting of the national defence council chaired by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi. He also said Congolese authorities had designated the M23 a terrorist group and would exclude it from on-and-off negotiations being held in Kenya's capital Nairobi between Congo's government and militia groups active in the east. "A warning was made to the Rwandans, whose attitude is likely to disrupt the peace process that is nearing its end with the discussions in Nairobi, where all the armed groups, except for the M23, are committed to the path to peace," Muyaya said. RwandAir responded Saturday by cancelling "with immediate effect" all flights to Kinshasha, Lubumbashi and Goma, the airline said in a statement. Peace process Kinshasa also accuses Kigali of scuppering a peace process being mediated by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who holds the rotating presidency of the East African Community group. Primarily a Congolese Tutsi group, M23 is one of more than 120 armed groups that roam eastern DR Congo, many of which are a legacy of regional wars more than two decades ago. It briefly captured the provincial capital Goma in North Kivu in late 2012, before the army quelled the rebellion the following year. 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. Recent clashes between the military and M23 rebels in eastern DRC have displaced 72,000 people, the United Nations said on Friday, compounding Africa's worst displacement crisis. (with newswires) The Ghana Institute of Planners(GIP) has expressed its displeasure about government's decision to declassify the Achimota forest in the Greater Accra Region. According to the institute, the process to change the use of the 361.50 acres of Achimota forest is inconsistent with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016. The institute is of the view that families and individuals have the right to own lands, but the use of such lands is determined by an approval zoning scheme (Section 87(1) under Act 925) by the District Assembly. The institute in a statement released on Friday, May 27, 2022, says as a professional body it is drawing the attention of the government to the non-negotiable ecological importance of the Achimota forest. Below is the full statement: THE GHANA INSTITUTE OF PLANNERS (GIP) POSITION ON EXECUTIVE INSTRUMENT (E.I.144) DECLASSIFYING 361.50 ACRES OF ACHIMOTA FOREST RESERVE AS A NON-FOREST RESERVE The Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP) is an internationally recognized body of professional planners in Ghana. As the lead institution for promoting high standards of professional planning practice and advocacy in Ghana, and in line with its planning activism, the Institute advocates for the protection and preservation of the natural environment. In the interest of the public and the ethics of the planning profession, the GIP hereby states its position on the E.I. 144, which declassifies 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest as non-forest reserve effective May 1, 2022. Evidently, the Gold Coast colonial government compulsorily acquired the total area of land known as the Achimota lands. The certificates of title dated 16th December 1921 and 17th May 1927 under the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 for the establishment of the Prince of Wales College (now Achimota School). A portion of the land constituted a forest reserve to provide among others, a buffer between the college and the city of Accra, and to provide cheap fuelwood (an important resource at the time) for the college. The forest reserve mentioned above is what is currently known as the Achimota Forest Reserve, a much larger expanse than what is available at present. A Certificate of Title (No. 869/1921) indicates the Owoo Family and the Government of Ghana reached an agreement that led to the payment of four thousand pounds (4,000.00) to the Family as compensation. However, on May 17, 2022, a press release signed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources claimed, there are no records of payment of compensation for the 1927 acquisition. Also, the statement asserted that, following encroachment on the Achimota Forest Reserve, the Owoo Family (identified as the original owners of the land) petitioned Government for the release of portions of the Forest Reserve specified in E.I. 144. This led to the publication of the two instruments, the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022 (E.I 144), and the Forests (Achimota Firewood Plantation Forest Reserve) (Amendment) Instrument, 2022 (E.I. 154).. Conspicuously, GIP expresses grave concern over the publication of a gazette for the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022 (E.I 144) leading to the loss of 361.50 Acres of the over 100 years old Achimota Forest Reserve in Accra, one of the largest urban green infrastructures in the city of Accra. Thus, the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP) notes with concern the following: 1. that the decision to declassify the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest emanates from a limited appreciation of the uncompromising benefits of urban forest reserves. The Achimota Forest Reserve provides important social and ecological benefits for residents of Accra and beyond. This Forest reservation helps create an aesthetic environment and contributes to keeping the climate stable, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Also, it serves as a home to some species found on land a rich variety of life that keeps many natural systems running. The entirety of the Achimota Forest is an important public good and a subject of ecological security that ought to be protected by the Government of Ghana. Any pecuniary cost aimed at protecting this forest can therefore not be a discretionary one. 2. that the declassified 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve are not peripheral but an integral parts to maintain Forests ecological integrity. Again, the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve amount to the loss of 146 hectares. What is worrisome is the ecological injury the E.I. 144 inflicts on the over hundred-year-old revered ecologically secured and trusted Achimota Forest Reserve in the city of Accra. Thus, the reserve which has already lost 27% of its cover to developers will further lose 41% to E.I 144, the biggest loss in the history of the Achimota Forest Reserve. The cumulative effect is that effective May 1, 2022, the Achimota Forest Reserve has lost close to 57% of its original size to uses other than ecological preservation. Currently, the original size of the Forest Reserve has reduced from 495 hectares since the year 1927 to 214 hectares with E.I 144 in force in 2022, thereby posing an immediate threat to urban ecological security and integrity in Accra. Overall, E.I 144 has provoked the national and global quest for sustainable cities and integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning. Thus, an action to recover and protect the ecological integrity of the Achimota Forest Reserve and all other Forests reserves in Ghana is timely and critically needed. 3. that the processes leading to the change of use of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest is inconsistent with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016, Act 925. While the GIP acknowledges that Traditional Authorities, Families, and individuals have the right to own land, the use of such land is determined by an approved zoning scheme [Section 87 (1) under Act 925] by the District Assembly. Thus, as a professional body, the GIP is drawing Governments attention to the non-negotiable ecological importance of the Achimota Forest, improving the air quality, managing stormwater in a flood-prone city like Accra and mitigating urban heat islands. These are critical for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and goal 13 (climate action). Given this background, any policy that threatens the sustainability of such an important ecological resource is a travesty to the whole idea of sustainable development. It is for this reason that many cities in the global north consciously and conspicuously integrate green infrastructure into their cityscape. Also, the population-green space ratio is as important as any indicator of development. Thus, our national policies, strategies, and actions must shift towards sustainability, ecological, environmental, and social progress. Undoubtedly, as humans, our insatiable material transaction with the natural environment must not proceed unguarded. The GIP is convinced that the Achimota Forest is the only green cover/reserve in Accra that has been effectively maintained despite encroachment, thus, it must be protected. The GIP is aware of the Government of Ghanas commitment to implementing the Green Ghana Project and protecting the Achimota Forest Reserve and many other forests reserves in Ghana. In so doing, the Institute recommends the leadership of the Government to take immediate action to suspend the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve. Thus, the Institute will continue to engage the leadership of the Government of Ghana and the appropriate agencies both local and international to recover and protect the ecological integrity of the Achimota Forest Reserve and all other Forest Reserves in Ghana. 3 GIPs Demands from the Government First, as a matter of urgency, the Government should immediately halt the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve as a non-forest reserve and adequately consult all stakeholders in compliance with Section 93(4) of the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016, Act 925. Additionally, the government through the Forestry Commission should roll out programmes to raise awareness on the protection of Ghanaian forests and particularly engage in policy dialogue on sustainable forest conservation and uses as a means to achieve the economic, social, cultural, and environmental benefits by minimizing the trade-offs. Second, the government should direct sufficient non-discretionary funding and action to recover degraded areas and maintain the ecological integrity of the entire Achimota Forest Reserve. Other funding opportunities should be explored by collaborating with civil society organizations to solicit funds from endowment funds to protect the forest. This aspect is in line with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's advice to countries to halt deforestation in all its forms and to restore degraded forests. According to FAO (in 2020), halting deforestation and maintaining forests could prevent emitting an estimated 3.6 gigatonnes of CO2 annually between 2020 and 2050, constituting 14% of what is needed by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5 oC while protecting 50% of the Earths biological diversity. Ghana cannot and must not stand aloof in the global fight against climate and environmental deterioration. Finally, the Government should publicly commit to enhancing collaboration with stakeholders to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation in Ghana with definite timelines as a matter of intergeneration equity. Source: Classfmonline.com The outgoing French Ambassador To Ghana, Anne-Sophie Ave has opened up about her romantic side as a diplomat. She appears to have fallen in love with the culture, lifestyle and loving Ghanaian men as she hopes a Ghanaian man takes her as a wife. Her Excellency Anne-Sophie Ave had opened up on her relationship standing during an interview when she recognized how she wants to marry a Ghanaian if it occurs that the person is absolutely the chosen one. According to HE. Anne- Sophie, she thinks of getting married to a Ghanaian man if she falls in love with him. She made this revelation throughout an interview with Abeiku Santana on Okay Fm, where she mentioned why won't I marry a Ghanaian?. If I meet the man of my life in Ghana, I will certainly marry a Ghanaian. Ghanaians have been so sweet and nice to me. If I ever fall in love with any of them, I won't hesitate to get married to either of them, the 54-year old diplomat joyfully said. DGN online Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo has debunked claims that she demanded to be made the Deputy Majority Leader by government against in addition to her current position as Gender Minister. According to her, it was untrue that she demanded to be made the Deputy Majority Leader as a condition for her to return to Parliament. That is so, so untrue and I forgive anybody who went out there to insult me because of hearsay, third party people or people telling them what they know which is all untrue, Adwoa Safo told Joy News in a Zoom interview. My Personal Assistant had come in to debunk all of that and the reason I didnt come in immediately is that as a seasoned female politician, when people are speaking loudly and you speak, you are not heard and this is the time for me to explain why I kept my silence and my silence was because it was too rowdy, It was too loud. Adwoa Safo who described the allegations as false says she has forgiven all Members of Parliament who criticised her extended stay away from Parliament. According to her, all those who criticised her in Parliament were new entrant MPs as she has forgiven them because of their naivety. She maintained that she still has a good relationship with member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament and all the female MPs in Parliament. Sarah Adwoa Safo came under attack from Mr Kennedy Agyapong, her former partner in most of the interviews. He disclosed that the Minister is holding the government to ransom over some unfathomable demands, therefore her decision to absent herself from Parliament without official permission. Speaking in an interview on GTV, the outspoken lawmaker said Adwoa Safo is demanding to be made the Deputy Majority Leader before she will come to parliament. She says she wants to be a Deputy Majority Leader, that woman has failed in life. A whole Minister, a cabinet Minister now demanding that she should be made a Deputy Majority Leader before she comes. She should go to hell, Ken said. She doesn't come to Parliament and she is on TikTok dancing. Excuse me Dome Kwabenya is not for Apostle Kwadwo Safo, he added. He said the Women and Gender Minister is deliberately absenting herself from Parliament because she wasn't made the Deputy Majority Leader. Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has referred Ms Safo and two other MPs of the Majority side to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves for more than 15 sitting days in Parliament without permission. DGN online A 62- year old trader has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly having sex with his 14-year-old daughter. Nicolas Opoku, charged with defilement, incest, and indecent assault, has pleaded not guilty. Opoku is said to have been sexually molesting the victim since 2015 to May 2022. The Court, presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, has admitted him to bail in the sum of GHC100,000 with three sureties, two to be justified. He is expected to reappear on June 20 for Case Management Conference. The court has ordered prosecution to file its disclosures and serve same on the accused. Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, prosecuting, said the complainant was a food vender residing at Abossey Okai, Accra. He said the victim, a junior high school student, now resided with the complainant, who is also her mother. The accused also reside in the same vicinity and he is the ex-husband of the complainant and the father of the victim. Prosecution said Opoku and the complainant used to lived together with the victim until the two (complainant and accused) separated, when the victim was eight years old. In between 2015 till May 2022, while the victim lived with him, they both slept in the chamber of the chamber and hall apartment belonging to the accused. Prosecution said Opoku took advantage of that and inserted his finger into the vagina of the victim anytime she slept, and she would wake to see the accused in the act. The act went on until the victim could not bear the ordeal anymore and she informed her cousin who also slept in the hall. Prosecution said, the cousin then moved to the chamber and the accused stopped the act. However on May 13, this year, between 1500 and 1600 hours while the victim had returned from school, and was in the bedroom removing her school uniform, the accused, also in the bedroom, ordered her to lay on the bed, undressed and had sex with the victim, prosecution said. It said during the act, the victim felt sharp pains in her vagina and she shouted for help. The accused quickly got up and left the room. The victim quickly locked the door and called the complainant on phone, threatening to kill herself if she failed to go for her at her father's house, prosecution said. The complainant then rushed to the ex-husband's house with two others and rescued the victim. The complainant reported the matter to the Greater Accra Regional office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in the Greater Accra Region and she was given a police medical form to send the victim to the hospital for examination and treatment. The accused person was later picked up by the police and after investigations he was charged. GNA The Principal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale College of Education(TACE) Dr Sulemana Iddrisu has received a citation of Honour for his exceptional leadership and support to the affairs and management of students on campus The honouring Award, given by the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the College on Friday, May 27, 2022, was to affirm the hard work and dedication to duty by the principal, especially students' welfare The Award which was inscribed "With our greatest appreciation, we hereby present Alhaji Dr Sulemana Iddrisu with this Citation in recognition of the support, cooperation and guidance you offered to the SRC board of the 2019-2021 year group as principal of the college" was given during the handing over ceremony of the SRC The event was organised to pave the way for the outgone SRC executives to transfer power to the executives elected to manage the affairs of the SRC and for the continuity of work and service to students Present at the event were the Vice Principal of the College Mr Nuhu Imoro Alhassan, the Dean of Students, Assessment Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, HODs, lecturers, and students. Dr Sulemana Iddrisu, speaking after receiving the Award, commended the past executives for their dedication and commitment to the welfare of students on campus He also advised the newly elected executives, to learn from the mistakes and successes of the past SRC executives to avoid committing the same mistakes that the outgone officials committed He further urged them to embark on a project that would be of benefit to both the students and the college Mr Tahiru Mohammed Murtala, the outgone SRC President, in his handover speech, expressed gratitude to the management, lecturers and staff of the college for the maximum cooperation his administration got working with them He also thanked the students for choosing him out of the many able men and women to lead, though he was not the best. He used the occasion to admonish the incoming executives to always consult management and people who have held similar positions whenever they were to undertake an activity or a project to get the needed guidance and support to enable them to perform well. The Vice-Principal and Patron of the SRC, Mr Nuhu Imoro Alhassan, in presenting the election report, called for a student-led electoral commission that will be supervised by lecturers, to supper see the election of the executive for the SRC. He also commended the 2019-2021 SRC board for their perseverance and hard work during their tenure in office, and urged the new ones, to copy for them. He also pledged the support of his office to the growth and development of students while they are on campus The newly elected SRC President and Chief Spending Officer, Nuhuman Alhassan Sibdoo, in an acceptance speech, thanked the management of the college for their support of the academic development of the students He also appealed to them, to give him and his administration the needed support to work to improve the lives of students Nairobi, May 28, 2022 The Committee to Protect Journalists on Saturday called for the unconditional release of Ethiopian journalists Temesgen Desalegn and Yayesew Shimelis, and condemned authorities continued use of arrests to target members of the press. At around 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, police officers detained Temesgen Desalegn, chief editor of privately owned Feteh magazine, from his office in Addis Ababa, the capital, according to news reports, his lawyer Henok Aklilu, who spoke to CPJ via phone, and a Facebook post by the journalists brother, Tariku Desalegn. Also on May 26, at around 1:00 p.m., plainclothes police officers arrested Yayesew Shimelis, administrator of the YouTube news channel Ethio Forum, from his home in Addis Ababa, according to news reports and two people familiar with his case who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, for safety concerns. Both journalists were brought before the Federal First Instance Court, Arada Branch, on Friday, which granted police an extension of the journalists custody pending investigation into allegations that they committed crimes against the state, according to these same sources. Police accused Temesgen of inciting violence and public disturbance through unspecified interviews published on YouTube and accused him of working to create discord between the public and the military, according to Henok. He told CPJ the accusations were unfounded given that Temesgen had not appeared in a YouTube interview in at least four years. Temesgen is due back in court on May 30. Yayesew is accused of instigating the public to rebel against the government and instigating people of different religious groups against each other, according to one of two people familiar with his case who spoke to CPJ anonymously, citing security concerns. This person said that police alleged that the offenses were committed via interviews that Yayesew published on Ethio Forum and in commentary he gave in interviews with other outlets, but did not provide specific details. The journalist is due back in court June 6. Authorities did not file formal charges or allege that the journalists violated specific laws, according to Henok and one of the people familiar with Yayesews case. Both journalists have been previously imprisoned by Ethiopian authorities, as CPJ has documented. Temesgen Desalegn and Yayesew Shimelis suffered immensely during previous unjust detentions, and it is devastating that they now find themselves behind bars again, said CPJ sub-Saharan Africa representative, Muthoki Mumo. Ethiopia is cementing its position as one of the regions worst jailers of journalists. Authorities should immediately release all journalists behind bars for their work. Temesgen and Yayesew, whose media outlets are known for their critical journalism of Ethiopias government, are the latest Ethiopian journalists to be arrested since May 19, amid a broader crackdown as authorities carry out what theyve termed as a law enforcement operation in the Amhara regional state and Addis Ababa that has seen at least 11 other journalists taken into custody, as CPJ documented. The operation also included the arrest of an ally-turned-critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Brigadier General Tefera Mamo, who was the subject of an exclusive interview with Feteh earlier this year, reports said. Following Temesgen and Yayesews arrests on Thursday, police searched the journalists homes. In Temesgens home they confiscated copies of Feteh magazine, five hard drives, a camera, a phone, and a flash disk, according to Tarikus Facebook post and Henok. Police confiscated a book and a flash drive from Yayesews home, according to one of the two people familiar with his case. In an interview with BBC Amharic a few days before his arrest, Temesgen said that security sources had warned him about his impending arrest, according to a report by the outlet. When asked if there was anything that might lead to his arrest, Temesgen accused the Ethiopian authorities of turning into a totalitarian dictatorship, saying that they would suppress the media that could expose [them]. On Wednesday May 25, a day before his most recent arrest, Yayesew was convicted of publishing false news in connection with a 2020 case and sentenced to three months of community service, according to one of the two people familiar with his case. This person said that Yayesews May 26 arrest is not related to the 2020 case. Separately, CPJ is also investigating the detention of two other Ethiopian journalists the May 26 arrest of Sabontu Ahmed of Finfinnee Integrated Broadcasting, and the May 27 arrest of Bekalu Alamrew of Ethio Forum. Bekalus arrest was disclosed to CPJ by someone with knowledge of the case who requested anonymity for security reasons. In a telephone interview with CPJ Jeylan Abdi, the federal police spokesperson, said no journalist had been detained in Ethiopia in connection to their professional work, but rather because police had evidence of criminal offences. He did not provide further comment on the specific cases facing Yayesew and Temesgen, saying the matter was before the courts. CPJ calls to federal government spokespersons Legesse Tulu and Kebede Desisa either rang without answer or did not connect; and queries sent via text message did not receive an immediate response on the evening of May 27. The Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP) is an internationally recognized body of professional planners in Ghana. As the lead institution for promoting high standards of professional planning practice and advocacy in Ghana, and in line with its planning activism, the Institute advocates for the protection and preservation of the natural environment. In the interest of the public and the ethics of the planning profession, the GIP hereby states its position on the E.I. 144, which declassifies 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest as non forest reserve effective May 1, 2022. Evidently, the Gold Coast colonial government compulsorily acquired the total area of land known as the Achimota lands. The certificates of title dated 16th December 1921 and 17th May 1927 under the Public Lands Ordinance of 1876 for the establishment of the Prince of Wales College (now Achimota School). A portion of the land constituted a forest reserve to provide among others, a buffer between the college and the city of Accra, and to provide cheap fuelwood (an important resource at the time) for the college. The forest reserve mentioned above is what is currently known as the Achimota Forest Reserve, a much larger expanse than what is available at present. A Certificate of Title (No. 869/1921) indicates the Owoo Family and the Government of Ghana reached an agreement that led to the payment of four thousand pounds (4,000.00) to the Family as compensation. However, on May 17, 2022, a press release signed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources claimed, there are no records of payment of compensation for the 1927 acquisition. Also, the statement asserted that, following encroachment on the Achimota Forest Reserve, the Owoo Family (identified as the original owners of the land) petitioned Government for the release of portions of the Forest Reserve specified in E.I. 144. This led to the publication of the two instruments, the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022 (E.I 144), and the Forests (Achimota Firewood Plantation Forest Reserve) (Amendment) Instrument, 2022 (E.I. 154).. Conspicuously, GIP expresses grave concern over the publication of a gazette for the Forests (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Instrument, 2022 (E.I 144) leading to the loss of 361.50 Acres of the over 100 years old Achimota Forest Reserve in Accra, one of the largest urban green infrastructures in the city of Accra. Thus, the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP) notes with concern the following: that the decision to declassify the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest emanates from a limited appreciation of the uncompromising benefits of urban forest reserves. The Achimota Forest Reserve provides important social and ecological benefits for residents of Accra and beyond. This Forest reservation helps create an aesthetic environment and contribute to keeping the climate stable, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Also, it serves as a home to some species found on land a rich variety of life that keeps many natural systems running. The entirety of the Achimota Forest is an important public good and a subject of ecological security that ought to be protected by the Government of Ghana. Any pecuniary cost aimed at protecting this forest can therefore not be a discretionary one. that the declassified 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve are not peripheral but integral part to maintain the Forests ecological integrity. Again, the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve amount to the loss of 146 hectares. What is worrisome is the ecological injury the E.I. 144 inflicts on the over hundred-year-old revered ecologically secured and trusted Achimota Forest Reserve in the city of Accra. Thus, the reserve which has already lost 27% of its cover to developers will further lose 41% to E.I 144, the biggest loss in the history of the Achimota Forest Reserve. The cumulative effect is that effective May 1, 2022, the Achimota Forest Reserve has lost close to 57% of its original size to uses other than ecological preservation. Currently, the original size of the Forest Reserve has reduced from 495 hectares since the year 1927 to 214 hectares with E.I 144 in force in 2022, thereby posing an immediate threat to urban ecological security and integrity in Accra. Overall, E.I 144 has provoked the national and global quest for sustainable cities and integrating climate change measures into national policies and planning. Thus, an action to recover and protect the ecological integrity of the Achimota Forest Reserve and all other Forests reserves in Ghana is timely and critically needed. that the processes leading to change of use of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest is inconsistent with the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016, Act 925. While the GIP acknowledges that Traditional Authorities, Families, and individuals have the right to own land, the use of such land is determined by an approved zoning scheme [Section 87 (1) under Act 925] by the District Assembly. Thus, as a professional body, the GIP is drawing Governments attention to the non-negotiable ecological importance of the Achimota Forest, improving the air quality, managing storm water in a flood-prone city like Accra and mitigating urban heat islands. These are critical for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and goal 13 (climate action). Given this background, any policy that threaten the sustainability of such important ecological resource is a travesty to the whole idea of sustainable development. It is for this reason that many cities in the global north consciously and conspicuously integrate green infrastructure into their cityscape. Also, population-green space ratio is as important as any indicator of development. Thus, our national policies, strategies and actions must shift towards sustainability, ecological, environmental and social progress. Undoubtedly, as humans, our insatiable material transaction with the natural environment must not proceed unguarded. The GIP is convinced that the Achimota Forest is the only green cover/reserve in Accra that has been effectively maintained despite encroachment, thus, it must be protected. The GIP is aware of the Government of Ghanas commitment to implementing the Green Ghana Project and protecting the Achimota Forest Reserve and many other forests reserves in Ghana. In so doing, the Institute recommends the leadership of the Government to take immediate action to suspend the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve. Thus, the Institute will continue to engage the leadership of the Government of Ghana and the appropriate agencies both local and international to recover and protect the ecological integrity of the Achimota Forest Reserve and all other Forest Reserves in Ghana. GIPs Demands from the Government First, as a matter of urgency, the Government should immediately halt the declassification of the 361.50 Acres of the Achimota Forest Reserve as non-forest reserve and adequately consult all stakeholders in compliance with Section 93(4) of the the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016, Act 925. Additionally, the government through the Forestry Commission should roll out programmes to raise awareness on the protection of Ghanaian forests and particularly engage in policy dialogue on sustainable forest conservation and uses as a means to achieve the economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits by minimizing the trade-offs. Second, the government should direct sufficient non-discretionary funding and action to recover degraded areas and maintain the ecological integrity of the entire Achimota Forest Reserve. Other funding opportunities should be explored by collaborating with civil society organizations to solicit funds from endowment funds to protect the forest. This aspect is in line with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization advise to countries to halt deforestation in all its forms and to restore degraded forests. According to FAO (in 2020), halting deforestation and maintaining forests could prevent emitting an estimated 3.6 gigatonnes of CO2 annually between 2020 and 2050, constituting 14% of what is needed by 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5 oC while protecting 50% of the Earths biological diversity. Ghana cannot and must not stand aloof in the global fight against climate and environmental deterioration. Finally, the Government should publicly commit to enhancing collaboration with stakeholders to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation in Ghana with definite timelines as a matter of intergeneration equity. SIGNED PLN. MOHAMMED A. DAMBA (FGIP) PRESIDENT, GHANA INSTITUTE OF PLANNERS Girls Shall Grow, an Obuasi based NGO has appealed to Government to consider supporting local firms to venture into the production of sanitary pads. This they said will enhance access to sanitary pads, especially in the rural areas. Mrs. Louisa Amoah made this call when Girls Shall Grow partnered the Education and Health Directorates in Obuasi to sensitise school girls in Obuasi on Menstrual Hygiene to observe this years edition of World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The Executive Director, Mrs. Louisa Amoah, made this call during a conference to mark this years edition of World Menstrual Hygiene Day to sensitise school girls in Obuasi on menstrual hygiene and to distribute free sanitary pads to all participants. The conference was in partnership with Ghana Education and Health Directorates in Obuasi Municipal and had over 350 girls selected from 26 schools within the municipality. She said considering the high cost of sanitary pads, it becomes difficult for children from poor homes to access them. As a result of that they sometimes resort to the use of alternatives such as rags, paper, and other materials. "To enhance accessibility and affordability for sanitary pads, just as its been done for One District One Factory, Government can partner the private sector to go into the production of sanitary products for women. This will enhance menstrual Hygiene and contribute to reducing absenteeism during menstruation ". She again called for an all hands on deck to deal with the stigma and misconceptions associated with menstruation. According to her, Girls Shall Grow since its establishment in 2018 has led this charge by bringing health professionals on board to educate young girls on the need to observe menstrual hygiene. She called on other stakeholders to join in sustaining the discussions on menstrual hygiene among the girl child. LACK OF TOILET FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS HAMPERS GIRLS FROM OBSERVING GOOD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE The Obuasi Municipal Education Director George Alfred Koomson has bemoaned the lack of toilet facilities in some basic schools in the Municipality. Describing the situation as worrying, the Director of Education said the absence of this basic facility prevents most girls from coming to school during the period of menstruation. He called on parents and other bodies to support the Local Assembly to build toilet facilities in all basic schools in the Municipality. Mr. Koomson again disclosed that the Education Directorate has intensified education in schools for both boys and girls to understand menstruation and to put to bed the misconceptions surrounding it. Madam Margaret Yaa Manu, the Municipal Health Director who was the resource person for the program sensitized the girls drawn from selected schools in Obuasi on safe menstruation. She said girls should see menstruation as a natural bodily process. She said girls must not be stigmatised or discriminated against when they go through the process. ABOUT GIRLS SHALL GROW Girls shall grow started in February 2018 in Obuasi, Ghana with the aim to empower girls in communities to take up leadership roles and also be responsible women tomorrow. It organizes events that bring girls together to learn, share their experiences and prepares them to be strong willed ladies in the society, the nation and world at large. These are achieved through sensitization programmes like seminars, workshops and community outreaches with the help of Mentors to guide them achieve their goals. The use of reusable pads by females, especially young girls during menstruation, is unhygienic and unsafe, a health advocate has warned. Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, the National Coordinator of the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA Ghana), who raised the concerns, noted that reusable pads could cause infections to the user. She, therefore, cautioned young girls against its usage. She gave the caution in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, at a menstrual health awareness programme held for some school students of the John Wesley Methodist School, in Accra. Organised by INERELA Ghana, the programme sought to educate children, especially young girls on how to effectively manage their menstrual life in a more hygienic manner. It was funded by the United Nations Women Trust Fund and formed part of activities to commemorate this year's Menstrual Hygiene Day. Globally, 1.8 billion people menstruate every month, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates. Millions of girls, women, transgender men and women and non-binary persons are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified, healthy way, said UNICEF. The situation has been attributed to the inability of these persons to acquire sanitary products due to poverty, among other things. As a result, some health persons and groups including Non-Governmental Organisations in health have, in recent times, advocated the use of reusable pads due to their affordability. Mrs Acquah-Hayford noted that this defeated every purpose of promoting a hygienic menstrual life. I am not trying to spoil somebody's business but, we were formally doing reusable, and along the line, we realized that, as health personnel, people were coming with infections and other things, we advocated for this single-use pads. Now, we are saying people should use reusable? How do they get portable water to wash it, especially school children, who are in school? Even in the boarding schools, some schools don't have water, so, how is she going to wash it? She asked. Mrs Acquah-Hayford added that: Again, seeing a lot of blood on the pad, you said the person should wash it. Is it not re-introducing infections? So, we should go back to the drawing board and sit down and look at it. That's my opinion. Mrs Acquah-Hayford, who is a retired health officer, called on health authorities to come out with policies to ensure the safety of young girls during their menstrual periods. I don't know if the Family Health Unit knows this, but, if they are aware, then, they have to come out with policies that can make people use it safely, she emphasised. She appealed to the government to subsidise sanitary pads to make them more affordable and promote healthy menstrual hygiene. I think the cost of pads should be reduced, so, Government should step in and reduce the prices. For me, pads should be affordable for everyone to buy, said Mrs Acquah-Hayford. Madam Paulina Essel, a Counselor and a resource person advised the young girls to prioritise their education to ensure a better future. She took the pupils through the proper usage and disposal of the sanitary pads. INERELA Ghana presented sanitary pads to all the girls and teachers to keep in their first aid boxes. Introduced in 2014, the Menstrual Hygiene Day is marked on May 28, annually, to raise awareness about the issues faced by those who do not have access to sanitary products. GNA Following the launch of the Ministry of National Securitys See Something, Say Something campaign, on 24th May, 2022, an entourage led by the Minister of National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam. Members of the entourage included Mr Edward Asomani, Deputy National Security Coordinator; Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Defence Staff; Ambassador Peter Opata, Director-General of the Research Department; Mr Kwaku Domfeh, Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB); Mr. Edwin Ekow Blankson, Chief Fire Officer; Major General Emmanuel Kotia, National Coordinator of the Ghana Boundary Commission; and Mr Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah briefed Sheikh Osmanu on the See Something, Say Something campaign, which is a citizen awareness campaign aimed at creating awareness regarding the threat of terrorism and encouraging citizens to remain vigilant. He also talked about citizens collaboration with State Security and Intelligence Agencies to reduce the threat of an attack in Ghana. Hon. Kan-Dapaah expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam for his unwavering support for the activities of the Ministry over the years, and called on him to once again support the campaign by aiding with the sensitisation of Ghanaians and urging same to remain vigilant. The Chief Imam, on his part, lauded the campaign and pledged his full support. He informed the Minister of his intention to disseminate the request to his Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Imams for their congregants. He also stressed that Ghanaians are one people regardless of the religion. He noted that without a peaceful environment, Ghanaians could not practice their respective religions, hence the need for co-existence. Aggrieved polling station executives of Akropong Constituency of the Eastern Region are warning their lawmaker, Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei to desist from peddling falsehood about happenings in the area or they would be compelled to spill the beans. They indicate that they have already been given a raw deal by the Member of Parliament (MP) who through her assignees has slapped the area with multiple legal suits for which reason they cannot take part in the Regional Delegates Conference of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). At a press conference on Friday May 27, 2022 in response to a radio interview granted by the lawmaker, Kwadwo Aseidu Odei who is Osainbromu Akropong Electoral Coordinator advised the MP to desist from making comments that would force them to respond. After punishing us in such harsh manner, the last thing we expect from her is further pain and we would advise her to stop peddling the lies or else we put out even more of her callousness. She has succeeded in preventing our constituency from taking part in the Regional Elections; she has succeeded in bringing shame and embarrassment to our constituency. Thats enough, no more from her, he disclosed. According to him, constituents hold no grudges against the MP who has chosen to punish them but would want the appropriate processes to be followed in order for Ghanaians to see the truth which will prevail over falsehood. We only appeal to the National Party Headquarters who have been sued by the Houseboy of the MP and used the name of one of her assigns to quickly address the court issue so we can proceed to also elect leadership of our party in this constituency. We hold nothing against our MP irrespective of all the ordeal she has put us through. We only ask that we make progress, he stressed. Read full statement below: PRESS CONFERENCE BY ELECTED POLLING STATION AND ELECTORAL AREA CORDINATORS OF AKUAPEM NORTH CONSTITUENCY Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you warm greetings from the mountains but come to you with a very sad heart. We are very sad, sad not because of the humiliation we are suffering or because of the embarrassment our constituency is going through, but sad because our pain, our embarrassment, our shame is brought upon us by our own Member of Parliament, Hon. Dokua. The Person to represent our interest, is now actively working against our interest and she is doing it with excitement. The Pain, the shame and the agony with this experience is incomparable. Today, for the first time in the history of the NPP in Ghana, Akuapem North Constituency is counted as one of the constituencies yet to conduct our elections. Shamefully, the reason for the delay is because, our Member of Parliament has not so far been able to have her way to forcefully and illegally replace our names with her favorites. Shamefully. Our pain and sadness stem from the fact that, since this whole Process of internal NPP Elections started, we have had to endure torture, abuse and maltreatment at the hands of the Member of Parliament and the Constituency executives led by the Chairman Frank Appiah, Organiser Appianti and Women Organiser Awo Yaa. And we will take our time to give you a chronology of accounts of where we have come from and how much we have had to endure. SALES OF FORMS AND APPLICATIONS The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr. John Boadu opened nominations for the Polling Station Elections and outlined the processes for acquiring forms and the cost therein as well as the requirement for qualified applicants. The Polling Station Elections was to be run between February 19, 2022 and March 5, 2022. Subsequent to the General Secretarys announcement, the Vice President announced, that, he has purchased and paid for nomination forms for all incumbent Polling Station Executives. The understanding from there was that, all of us who were already polling station executives will receive a nomination form for free, already paid for, by the vice president. Our constant visit to the Party office to pick our forms as incumbents and for new entrants to also purchase their forms went without success. The administrator at the party office kept telling us the forms have not been brought to the office yet. Some of us pitched camp there for 3 days hoping to have sight of the delivery of the forms, but without success. The evening before the deadline Day for the submission of nominations, we picked intelligence, that, the Constituency Organiser, Women Organiser and the Youth Organiser, were visiting and knocking on doors of some individuals and giving them the application forms on the quiet. This got us alarmed and quickly started checking around. This intelligence turned out to be true which then clearly made us realize, there was a deliberate strategy to exclude the general party people from having the chance to apply. At about 10pm the same night, which was a day before the deadline for submission, we had about 350 People seated at the Party office. A collective decision was taken at that time to go get applications from the Regional Office as indicated in the guidelines published by the General Secretary. Reason is simple, Deadline Day was approaching and yet about 350 incumbents had not received application forms not to talk of new entrants. Thankfully, the next morning, which was the deadline day, the Regional Chairman was graceful enough and gave us some application Forms. At about 11am that same day, the forms arrived and we quickly moved in, to complete our forms, at about 4pm when we were ready to submit our forms, the Constituency Chairman told us our forms were fake. In effect any form, not signed by the Member of Parliament wont be accepted. It took a Phone call from the Regional Chairman before they agreed to admit the forms and asked we submit at the party office. We had to rush and run around the whole day putting our documentation and paper work together for something that the party originally gave us about 5 days to do. We went hungry, tired and worn out but still did not complain VETTING First day of scheduled vetting was a continuation of our ordeal, first of all, Hon. Ama Dokua to our shock, selected only those of us who applied using the forms procured from the Regional Office for vetting and indicated that, all the 725 applicants who applied using her signed forms, which she handed to them directly, will not be vetted. After the vetting, she insisted against the decision of the other members of the committee, that some 188 applicants should be disqualified on the basis of having supported an independent candidate in the 2020 elections. This wholesale allegation was a very convenient one for her to be able to weed out everyone, so she can push through her promise of the 725 favorites going unopposed. Some of us found this bizarre because we were her agents on the day of elections and we signed her pink sheets at the polling station and so for her to come back a year and half with this falsehood was untenable. We decided to appeal to the Regional Executive Committee to look into this. The constituency Elections Committee Chairperson at the time, obviously being the honorable person she was, couldnt be part of the illegality attempt by the Member of Parliament and so decided to resign. Regional Chairman called for a meeting between us and the Member of Parliament at Alisa Hotel. At this meeting, Regional Chairmans decision was that, 94 out of the 188 should be vetted again. At this vetting, it came out clearly that the wholesale approach was a deliberate twist to get everyone out. For instance, at the vetting she accused Mr. Theophilus Nana Poku, Secretary for PTC Demonstration Primary Polling Station of having supported an independent candidate, it was at the vetting that Nana Poku proved to her that, indeed he Nana Poku was the MPs agent on the Day of elections and signed her Pink sheet where she won the elections. Unsurprisingly, she didnt even know him. But for this confidence from the gentleman, she would have falsely accused him and knocked him out of the contest. Eventually, 34 were disqualified by a unanimous decision of the committee. The next day, which was supposed to be a brief meeting for setting timelines for the Polling station elections, Hon. Dokua came into the meeting with another twist, this time, she wants another set of 380 disqualified. Most of who are incumbent executives, her allegation is that, they, supported an independent candidate in the past elections. (very convenient excuse indeed). Now think about it, initially, she wanted 188 and now she wants 380. Where and how does she come by these numbers. These are not just counters, these are human beings who have spent their lives and time, shepherding and building this party in their various polling stations years before our dear MP came into this constituency in 2015. We decided to submit another appeal to the National Grievances committee as prescribed by our partys constitution and were subsequently invited to a meeting in Accra. At the meeting was the Hon. Dokua, Regional Chairman, General secretary, Director of Elections and other Party leaders. At that level, our MP, Hon Dokua, raised her issues and we did same. She raised the following issues; unknown in Polling Stations, NDC Members, Fake Forms, Members who supported the Independent Candidate, Youth Organiser above 40 years, absent from vetting etc. The National Grievances committee addressed these issues as follows and a copy of the letter written by the Director of Elections to this effect is attached for your information; UNKNOWN POLLING STATIONS Such Prospective Aspirants should be vetted and given the opportunity to correct their mistakes NDC MEMBERS These Prospective aspirants should be vetted to ascertain the authenticity of the allegations. Those who will be cleared in the process should be allowed to contest. FAKE FORMS it was resolved that ones they are NPP members, they should be allowed to participate in the process since forms were not readily available to them. MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE it was resolved that, where there is undeniable evidence to prove that such a prospective candidate openly supported the independent candidate in 2020 parliamentary election, such aspirant must be disqualified. In cases where there is no clear cut evidence to back that the member openly supported the independent candidate, such applicants must be allowed to contest ABSENT FROM VETTING There were varied reasons why certain candidates were absent from vetting. Key among these reasons was the fact that there was misinformation going round that those who had been called for the vetting should leave because they would be eventually disqualified. It was therefore resolved that, those members be contacted again for vetting YOUTH ORGANISERS OVER 40 The resolution on the issue was that in areas where the age of the youth Organiser is not above 60, that aspirant should be cleared to contest. However, the committee should exercise discretion on the matter. Where it would be a problem, the candidate must be changed. MISSING APPLICATION FORMS This scenario was not discussed, however, where an applicants nomination form is missing, it is directed that a new form be issued out to him or her and after proper vetting, he or she may be allowed to contest. This letter from the National Grievances committee signed by the Director of Elections was dated March 10, 2022. Easily, one would have thought this was a fair and just resolution and we thought that was going to be the end of our woes, But NO, our troubles was just about to start. We came back into the constituency and as expected, None of her 725 Applicants went through the vetting process. But we did, without complain. Fast forward, all of us went through the vetting and eventually, about 37 were disqualified and the rest of us cleared to contest. It is important to note that the vetting committee included the Member of Parliament herself, her Political Aide who is acting as the Elections and Research Officer, the Constituency Organiser, Constituency Women Organiser who was not supposed to be part of the committee in the first place, Chairman of Council of Elders and Chairman of Patrons. 10pm on the night of 16th March, 2022, a notice of polls with the names of qualified applicants was pasted at the Party office in Akropong and the Polling Station Elections scheduled for the next morning at 8am, (we have attached a copy of the Notice of Polls). 37 applicants were disqualified and the rest of us cleared and published by the committee to contest. ELECTIONS Day 1 of Elections went through without any Drama. It was on the Day 2 of the Elections, at Akropong Maternity Polling Station, The Constituency Chairman was present, Constituency Women Organiser, Regional Police Commander and his team all present to observe. It was after that particular polling stations election, where the former Constituency Youth Organiser who is also a Political Aide to Hon. Dokua, told the Constituency Chairman openly that, if they dont stop the elections, they will not win even one polling stations. Unsurprisingly, he quickly made a voice note and shared on all Constituency WhatsApp Platforms asking all their people to pull out of the elections and meet him at Akropong Mpeniase. The baffling question, is how did he know who their person was and who wasnt, in a polling station elections which is still underway. We have attached a copy of the voice note for your listening pleasure. It looks like most of their so called people didnt get the voice memo so the elections went on as scheduled. This was the day the former Youth Organiser, went on a rampage and insulted the entire government and party without barriers including, the President, Vice President and the chairman of the Party. (we have attached a copy of the video for your viewing). He has since been suspended by the Regional Executive Committee for this misconduct. COURT SUITS & PETITIONS After the final Day of the Polling Station Elections, around 8pm, then we saw a notice of injunction filed by one of the Spokespersons of the Member of Parliament, Richmond Kwasi Amoako, popularly called Brother, had filed a suit restraining the continuation of the Polling Station elections. Thankfully, the notice came after the process was already done. Two days after the elections, when it was realized the court move by her boy was belated, Hon. Dokua then wrote a petition, this time signed by herself, to the Director of Elections and Research at the Party Headquarters, copying the President, chief of staff, Majority leader and several others. This Petition was rightly so, referred to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee chaired by the respected Hon. Cecilia Dapaah. As we gathered, the first day of hearing, the Member of parliament requested that she withdraws the written petition and makes a verbal petition. Of course, she had to do that because the allegations of infractions made in her written petition, were untrue and could not be substantiated. She submitted a completely different verbal petition at the ADR, different from her initial written petition and was given the album to go back, audit it and come up with the particular polling stations she has issues with and which specific positions. She came back to the committee after some days with a list of about 50 Positions and indicated what her issues are with these 50. The ADR committee then referred these issues back to the Constituency Elections Committee, of which she is a member, to come and look into the issues raised by the MP and also give their comments. The Committee got back, looked at the issue and gave their comments with evidence, pictorial, documentary and video to each of the issues raised by the Hon. Dokua. The ADR after looking at the feedback from the committee and their Evidence therein realized there was no basis and so dismissed the MPs claims. One would have thought that will be the end but NO, the Member of parliament wasnt satisfied, she had to come in with one excuse or the other, list after list all in an attempt to have her way. Finally, the ADR decided that, some 12 Polling Stations, which the Women Organiser was responsible for supervising, should be re-run. While waiting for the official communication of the ADR decision, the Member of Parliament then generated another list of 63, the most ridiculous move anyone could make, 63 Names of People that she wants in the Album and for which reason people who genuinely contested and won their elections should be removed and replaced by her list. A copy of this list will be made available for you to read some of the most ridiculous reasons, mostly false and fabricated anyway, to only mislead decision makers to condone illegalities. For example; No. 32: Name: Emelia Awuku Polling Station: Larteh, Akaade No. 1 Position: Women Organiser Claims: Candidate is an influential political actor for the party. She is effective at organising events for the Party. Her contender was openly Campaigning against the party during the 2020 elections. Basically what our Dear MP is asking for here is that, the person who has legitimately gone through all the process, passed vetting and his name published by the committee of which the MP is a member of, should be removed and her favourite should rather be inserted and he reason is simply because Emilia is an influential political actor in the area. Ironically, the influential political actor could not run an election in the area when according to the MP she wields so much influence. As a matter of fact, Emelia did not even run for the elections in the area let alone to win or lose. Please Take Note of this Particular Name in the MPs list, it will come up again shortly. No. 35 Name: Goerge Aforo Richardson Polling Station: Larteh, Anglican Primary Position: Chairman Claims: Candidate was instrumental during the 2020 election campaign in the Akonedi Shrine. He is also a liason for the party to the fetish priests at the shrine. Our Dear MP is asking that a party man who has genuinely run and won an election should be removed and replaced by Aforo simply on the basis that, Aforo is her liason with the Akonedi Shrine. Funny enough, this particular polling station is at the Anglican church and no where near the Akonedi Shrine. Indeed the closest Polling Stations to the shrine are the Larteh Plaza Polling Station and Larteh Methodist primary school Polling Station. No. 41 Name: Fosu Calvin Kwawo Polling Station: Presby Lower Primary Mampong 1 Position: Chairman Claims: Candidate is dedicated to party related activities. His contender, Emmanuel Donald said he is a pastor and cannot indulge in active partisan Politics There are 60 more of such ridiculous claims from the list of 63 generated in the MPs bedroom and demanded be inserted into the album so legitimate party members, who applied, went through vetting, their names published by the elections committee, run for elections and won be removed. Of course, this request and list which goes directly contrary to the spirit of democracy and against the NPP constitution was thrown out. The National Council subsequently directed that 12 Polling stations as indicated earlier be re-run. POST NATIONAL COUNCIL DECISION The rerun of the of the 12 Polling Stations were done on the on 18th May, 2022 without incidence. ELECTORAL AREA CORDINATORS ELECTION The Morning of Sunday 22nd May, 2022, which was the scheduled day for the Electoral Area Elections, at a predispatch meeting of the committee, the Member of Parliament picked a pen and started circling names she wants out of the Album. Same names she had raised at the ADR and the committee, had investigated and thrown out. Eventually, she succeeded in preventing 14 of our colleagues who had legitimately been elected by party people at the polling station aside from participating in the elections of the Electoral area cordinators. We decided not to protest this because we wanted the process to go on. At this point, it was quite clear the end game for the MP was to frustrate the process and not allow it to go on. The numbers were not significant enough to affect the outcome and so we decided not to grant her the pleasure of a protest. This compromise by some of our colleagues paved way for a successful Electoral Area elections without further incidence. This was on the 22nd May, 2022. CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS The Constituency Elections was subsequently scheduled for 25th May, 2022. We have been sitting in numerous of meetings deep into the night listening to candidates campaign. Some of us were out of the constituency for private business, others also have their work places outside the constituency had all come back to the constituency to participate in the elections. Meetings back to back, listening to campaigns all day on 24th May 2022. Only to see a copy of a court writ around 8pm on 24th May, 2022 restraining the EC from proceeding with the constituency elections. And guess whose name was on the writ, Emilia Awuku, Does the name ring a bell? Remember No. 32 on the MPs list of 63? The person she says should be inserted into the album because Candidate is an influential political actor for the party. She is effective at organising events for the Party. This time in the court writ, she is saying she won an election at the polling Station and her name has been removed. What the Member of Parliament and Emilia didnt know was that, there is a video of the entire election at her Polling Station from beginning to declaration. As a Matter of Fact, the said Emelia Awuku did not contest the elections at her Polling Station, let alone to win or lose. The second applicant on the Court writ is Godfred Ampadu, a House boy of the MP who lives in the MPs house and helps her at home in Akropong. Godfred contested the election at Akropong Presby JHS, Daakye in the full glare of the public and lost the elections. He got 28 votes against his opponent who got 84 votes. The Confidence with which these two people lied to the courts in their statements knowing there are incontrovertible facts in both video and pictures is baffling. No wonder Emelia Awuku has flatly denied knowledge of any court process and has stated she has not authorized anyone to do anything. We have her on audio denying knowledge of any court action and is surprised her name has been used for this. Infact, the innocent lady has not been herself since this action and has resorted to indoors till date. CONCLUSION Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, listening to us give this tall chronology of events, we believe you now understand our frustrations and stress and the reason why we are pained and sad at the same time. The question we keep asking ourselves is, why? Why would our own member of Parliament put us through such ordeal, such pain, such wickedness. Why would our Member of Parliament Ama Dokua met such callousness on her own people. All for what? Political power? We were stunned, when we heard her speak on OKAY FM and spew out so much lies with such calmness. Naturally, we wouldnt have responded and you would realise from all we have been through that, we do not want to engage in such banter, but her recent attempt to lie and spin the issues is what has pushed us to respond. After punishing us in such harsh manner, the last thing we expect from her is further pain and we would advice her to stop peddling the lies or else we put out even more of her callousness. She has succeeded in preventing our constituency from taking part in the Regional Elections, she has succeeded in bringing shame and embarrassment to our constituency. Thats enough, no more from her. We only appeal to the National Party Headquarters who have been sued by the Houseboy of the MP and used the name of one of her assigns to quickly address the court issue so we can proceed to also elect leadership of our party in this constituency. We hold nothing against our MP irrespective of all the ordeal she has put us through. We only ask that we make progress. God Bless The New Patriotic Party God Bless Akuapem North Constituency God Bless Ghana Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vowing to crush the presence of the Kurdish militant group PKK in Iraq. But as the Turkish military closes in on the group, some analysts predict its fighters could turn to Iran, with implications across the region. Turkish forces, backed by jets and drones, are driving the PKK Kurdish militant group from its bases across Iraqi Kurdistan. For decades, the mountainous region has provided the PKK a sanctuary to launch attacks in its battle for greater minority rights across the border in Turkey. With Erdogan claiming to have the support of local Iraqi Kurdish forces, the PKK's once deemed impregnable headquarters in the Qandil mountains is now the target of Turkish troops. "The politicians have to speak with symbols," said Aydin Selcen, the former head of Turkey's consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan. "When you say Qandil is our ultimate target or aim, whatever, it means that the ultimate step is to stop the PKK from existing altogether." Mountain headquarters The PKK bases in the Qandil mountains border Iran, a rival of Turkey. As the Turkish military steps up its offensive, some analysts suggest the PKK could turn to Iran for support. Despite having its own restive Kurdish minority, Tehran has in the past found common ground with the PKK, whose influence extends to Iraqi and Syrian Kurds. "Iran supported PKK in the 80s and 90s very strongly," says Huseyin Bagci, president of the Foreign Policy Institute, a research organisation in Ankara. "And now when Russians are out of the scene, not so strong, and probably Iran will take their place and the PKK and PYD, of course, they will try to use PKK as a leverage in their relations with Turkey." Tehran has developed close links with armed groups across the region. "We don't know relations with Iranian revolutionary guards or the Quds forces relations with the PKK. As they have connections with every armed group in the area, they should have some sort of communication with the PKK as well," says Selcen. Iranian-backed Iraqi militia like the PMU already have contacts with groups linked to the PKK. "Right inside the Iraqi border in Sengal, Sinjar area, the PMU, and YBS the PKK affiliate in the area, they have friendly relations, or they depend on each other, perhaps," says Selcen. "So, in order to survive, all these local actors will need bigger actors than themselves like Turkey, Iran, or global powers like the Americans, the United States," he added. Undermining US forces In Syria, Kurdish forces linked to the PKK cooperate with American forces in the war against the Islamic State group. For Tehran, which backs the Damascus regime, deepening cooperation with the PKK offers the opportunity to undermine the American presence in Syria. "Tehran and Ankara are very pragmatic. They are aware of the very big differences in Syria in the Caucasus and other parts of the world," said Zaur Gasimiov, a senior research fellow in the history department at the University of Bonn. But any Iranian cooperation with the PKK will involve a careful balancing act, says Gasimiov. "I can imagine that the ties between PKK and Tehran would be staid, and maintained, and maybe boosted, but I can't imagine that Tehran would overplay, become a promoter of the PKK or supporter in the region, jeopardising its relations with Ankara. "They learned to cooperate but being aware of the differences." Relations between Turkey and Iran are often characterised as a combination of competition and cooperation. Iran's battered economy relies heavily on Turkish trade a point Erdogan is likely to stress in his expected visit to Tehran in the coming weeks. 28.05.2022 LISTEN The real criminals are insurgents in high places including special interest groups and any Government that creates a culture of violence and gives easy access to AK-47 and MR-15. There is the comfortable feeling out there that the world has changed from the days of brute force, violence and the survival of the fittest in the jungle; to a kinder, gentler and civilized world. We may have predicted our way to utopia too early. It is becoming unclear if we are progressing or regressing back into a world of cave mentality. Why are the Brains being overwhelmed by the brute force of the Brawn? They would go in search of what kills people. People who slaughter people should not be classed as mental patients to give them soft landing by their sponsors. Call criminals a criminal and stop stigmatizing or insulting mental patients in need of treatment. Those who create the culture of violence must not be allowed to pass blame on most of the mental patients that cannot obtain or afford AR-15 or AK-47 made readily available by organized groups that want to overthrow constituted civil authorities. If dagger, gun and bomb do not kill people no blood thirsty criminal would use them. Culture of violence is a deliberate and cultivated behavior to instill fear, not a mental problem greater than what we have in other countries. It takes calculated actions by ignoring law and regulations enforcement to make high powered guns the preferred choice by instigated killers. We cant postpone or excuse repulsive and deadly actions to intimidate others as purely a mental problem that cannot be solved while lives are continually lost. Violence has always been part of human behavior but we became civilized to a point where our brains took over the most difficult tasks instead of our brown. Skills, experience and intelligence gave the smaller man an advantage over the powerful giant. We also use technology to perform tasks such as fertilizers and tractors in the farms for survival to increase our basic need, food production. Automatic weapons are not needed for self defense or hunting. AK-47 and AR-15 are not basic needs within a civilized community. The world was so bad, we had to invent Religions for the fear of God and Hell for the evil ones. Religion was supposed to civilize and purge us from our sins. We also institute criminal and civil laws to sort the bad folks from the good ones. The bad ones are locked up and the crazy ones are kept in mental homes until they can be rehabilitated back into society. Along the way, we missed our goal. There are some good people that are locked up while criminals roam the streets and get into Governments and Armed Forces. Unfortunately, the criminals and mental patients in many high places display their tendencies and disposition. Most hide under pious, religious and government authority to encourage the worst form of violence we had tried to prevent in a civilized society. We are resigned to the adage that the only way to deter violence is overwhelming greater violence. We spend more money on weapons of mass destruction than we spend to prevent civil wars or to rehabilitate criminals and mental patients. The common factor among perpetrators of violence is that they are a powerful and privileged minority forcing their ways on the majority. They go after other ethnic groups, rivals, opponents and parties in order to climb the ladder to be celebrated. Indeed, many of them are members of the Police and Army that are supposed to enforce the law. They are the same investigators of their fellow members. Most of the mass murderers have motives and political agenda raised and protected at home by the culture of violence. Indeed, many of the mass murderers have taken the opportunity of easy access to weapons to commit crimes and are protected by the culture of violence. Compared to other Western countries that have successfully reduced the use of guns, those in the United States that are obsessed with guns and violence have turned their children in schools to soft targets. Yet, the argument about the obsession of this minority is that you need more guns to curb gun violence since guns don't kill, people do. Canada, their neighbor at the northern border, Australia and other European countries where there is no gun proliferation have nothing close to the United States gun victims. Prayers, sympathy and compassion have a place after innocent lives are lost but those cannot bring them back or prevent the following attack without taking concrete actions. These perpetrators look for soft targets and victims that cannot defend themselves including children in schools to attack. Mental patients are not so deliberative. Nobody can avoid responsibility by claiming they do not know or understand what they are doing because they are mental while others are thrown into jails for far less vicious offenses. Some countries intentionally encourage the culture of violence to suppress their ethnic or political opponents and blame their victims. We see this in many African countries, some European and American states. In Africa, wherever you have a minority Fulani, they want to dominate the majority in the country. They share a culture of violence that is similar to the National Rifle Association in the United States. They share the Paranoia that if they do not dominate the Government and fellow citizens, the Government will take their weapons away. Most mass murderers are failures attracted and recruited by those who blame their shortcoming on others. They recruit failures and give them a sense of belonging as gang members. Stigmatization of mental patients in most communities discouraged some of them from seeking treatment. It is not productive to tag them with mass murder knowing they do not have as much access to weapons as those well hidden at home and fraternities encouraging violence. Indeed, it is seen as an effort to give criminals a soft landing after committing horrendous crimes in support of an agenda. This type of reasoning demonizes all mental patients, most of whom are not even violent. Most countries have closed inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals, pushing out violent mental patients, increasing cost to local communities. Farouk Martins Aresa @oomoaresa 28.05.2022 LISTEN Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has expressed displeasure with the utterances of some leaders of majority group in relation to the seeming financial crisis of the house. The Speaker on Thursday indicated that Parliament lacked the financial wherewithal to function and called on the Minister for Finance to ensure the release of the house's budgetary allocation. The Majority at a press briefing indicated that the Speaker rushed to make the pronouncement when 25 million Ghana cedis had been released to parliament. But the Speaker did not take a kind view of the comments from the Majority. It is important that when the Speaker speaks, the leader of the house is not seen to be the one countering what the arm of government says and if you want us to give documentary evidence about the non-funding of the house this year, we will produce it so when I heard a leader of the house had said what I said is not true, it saddens me. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, had lamented the dire financial constraints Parliament is currently facing. The Speaker said he had stopped approving financial commitments of the house due to the constraints. Speaking in Parliament, the Speaker called out the Minister for Finance for starving the House of funds. citinewsroom Sudanese activist and engineer Amira Osman Hamed has won a Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. She was first charged in 2002 for daring to wear trousers, and was detained and threatened with flogging in 2013 for refusing to wear a headscarf. Osman Hamed, now in her forties, has been advocating for Sudanese women for two decades, and was detained this year in a crackdown following the country's latest coup. She was among defenders from Afghanistan, Belarus, Zimbabwe and Mexico who also received the 2022 award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, the organisation announced Friday. Osman "never deterred from her mission," Dublin-based Front Line Defenders said in its awards announcement, "consistently [advocating] for democracy, human rights, and women's rights". After first being charged for wearing trousers in 2002, she drew international support in 2013 when she was detained and threatened with flogging for refusing to wear a headscarf. Both charges fell under morality laws during the rule of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir who took power in an Islamist-backed coup. Osman told AFP at the time that the morality laws had "changed Sudanese women from victims to criminals" and targeted "the dignity of Sudanese people." In 2009 she established "No to Women Oppression", an initiative to advocate against the much-derided Public Order Law. It was finally repealed in 2019 after Bashir's ouster following a mass uprising. Female frontrunners Women were at the forefront of protests that toppled Bashir, and hopes were high for a more liberal Sudan as restrictions were removed that had stifled their actions and public lives. But many fear for the hard-won liberties gained since his ouster, after the October coup led by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule. A crackdown on civilian pro-democracy figures has followed, with at least 96 people killed in protests and hundreds detained. In late January 2022, Osman's team told AFP that "30 masked armed men" had stormed into her house in Khartoum in the middle of the night, "taking her to an unknown location". The United Nations mission to Sudan called for her release, tweeting that "Amira's arrest and pattern of violence against women's rights activists severely risks reducing their political participation in Sudan." She was freed in early February and an AFP correspondent saw her participating in a demonstration, kneeling on crutches due to a prior back injury. The award has honoured human rights defenders annually since 2005. (with AFP) 28.05.2022 LISTEN In his powerful speech to declare Ghanas political independence from the colonial British rule, the late ex-President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, made some powerful statements among those was, Ghana is free and free forever. This was the concluding statement of his declaration, throwing Ghanaians into instantaneous applausive celebrations. He was a farsighted leader who really had the masterplan and clout to make not only Ghana, but the entire continental Africa, free from the domination of white rule with its associated rancour, denigrations, etc. He tried his best to achieve his set objectives for Ghana and Africa. However, his best was not good enough due to some constraints of some sort. Nevertheless, he has left an indelible footprint in the African political arena as the only president who seriously attempted to, and implemented, far reaching policies and programmes to liberate Africa, particularly Ghana, from the white mans politico-economic subjugation and domination. After him are Presidents Paul Kagame of Rawanda, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and the late John Pombe Joseph Magufuli of Tanzania. They are also visionary leaders who mean to help their countries and Africa develop to extricate themselves from their near-total dependency on our contemporary whites. Unfortunately, President Magufuli has passed away. May his soul rest in peace. Has Dr Nkrumahs dream of Ghana being free forever materialised? In my candid opinion as inferred from empirical observations, the answer is a BIG NO! Ghana is rather deeper and deeper sinking into the domination of the whites, especially, the Chinese. The Chinese are taking over the country. They are owning the lands. They are extracting the richness of the soil of the country; spoiling the water bodies, polluting the air and destroying without mercy, the fertile and arable lands. They are also engaged in gambling games all over the country. The youths have taken to gambling these Chinese games, spending most of their time doing that rather than going to school or doing other profitable jobs. Apart from the Chinese, our Nigerian neighbours, most of whom are charlatans and 419 peddlers, have flocked into the country like vermin, engaged in all destructive activities intended to sink the nation deeper into the economic and security abyss, thereby negating whatever efforts President Nana Akufo-Addo and his NPP government make on intent to bringing about the economic emancipation and development of Ghana. Who is to be blamed for the failure of Ghana to be free and free forever as envisioned and declared by late President Dr Kwame Nkrumah? You and I, have to be blamed. Our desire to amass great wealth without wiping off any sweat but resorting to all corrupt practices, has caused the non-materialisation of the dream of Ghana being free and free forever. We are too selfish; insatiably greedy and myopic as a people. We love power and money hence will do whatever it takes to realise that selfish and dehumanising objective. We are too individualistic, unlike our contemporary whites that are nationalistic and always seek the collective interests of their lot. No wonder their lands have turned into greener pastures to serve as a strong magnet to pull lazy and short-sighted Africans to their countries to do all sorts of jobs for them. Your love of corruption, easy money and power to enable you selfishly lord yourselves over your compatriots, have culminated in the non-realisation of Dr Nkrumahs free forever dream for Ghana. Our Ghanaian politicians are worrisomely corrupt, selfish, myopic and a bunch of liars. Most of them pursue their political partys interests instead of the collective interests of the citizenry hence resorting to telling lies and acts of pugilism as seen in our parliament. Ghana will never be free socially, politically and economically, contrarily as wished by Dr Nkrumah until you and I, change our shameful attitudes. Look at our rogue traditional chiefs who as unwisely greedy as they are, are selling all the nations lands under their jurisdiction to both natives and especially, to foreigners to pocket the proceeds for their selfish ends. Shame on us all for being a bunch of uncivilized people! Because of the deplorable attitudes by you and I, Ghana will forever remain under the domination of the whites, especially, the wicked Chinese. We will continue to remain slaves in our own land unless we begin to see the light to change our selfish, greedy and pull him down attitudes to pursue the collective farsighted interests of Ghanaians and mother Ghana. The proud and fearless son of Kumawu/Asiampa has spoken! He who has ears, let him hear what the writer is saying. Rockson Adofo Saturday, 28 May 2022 Fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese soldiers has caused many people to flee their homes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. By Aubin Mukoni (AFP) Rwanda on Saturday said two of its soldiers were being held captive by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and accused government authorities there of backing the group responsible. It comes as a diplomatic feud between the two neighbours escalates, with both sides accusing each other of aiding armed militias in the volatile eastern DRC region that borders Rwanda. On Saturday, RwandAir announced it was cancelling flights to DRC, after Congolese authorities suspended the carrier and summoned Kigali's ambassador over what it alleges is Rwanda's support for M23 rebels. Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) later said two soldiers had been kidnapped on patrol and were being held by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), another rebel group active in eastern DRC. "We call upon authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo that work closely with these genocidal armed groups to secure the release of the RDF soldiers," the RDF said in a statement. The two soldiers were named by the RDF as Corporal Nkundabagenzi Elysee and Private Ntwari Gad. The abduction followed an attack earlier this week along the border by Congolese forces and FDLR rebels, the RDF added. Kigali had already called for an "urgent investigation" into that incident, which it said involved Congolese forces shelling Rwandan territory and injuring civilians. Rising tensions Fighting between Congolese forces and M23 erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu, a conflict-torn eastern province of DRC, which borders Rwanda. The United Nations said on Friday the fresh clashes had displaced 72,000 people, and warned that those on the run faced constant violence and the looting of their homes. DR Congo said M23 -- a primarily Congolese Tutsi group -- had received support from Rwanda. Kigali has denied involvement, with a government spokeswoman saying Rwanda has no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of its neighbour. Kinshasa said late Friday it would take "conservative measures" against Rwanda, which included summoning the ambassador and blocking flights from the national carrier. The airline, RwandAir, responded on Saturday by cancelling "with immediate effect" all flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma. 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. Kinshasa has regularly accused Rwanda of carrying out incursions into its territory, and of backing armed groups there. More than 120 armed groups roam volatile eastern DRC, many of which are a legacy of regional wars more than two decades ago. Relations had begun to thaw after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, but the recent resurgence of M23 violence has reignited tensions. The militia group 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. 29.05.2022 LISTEN The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, says the Party is on course to win the 2024 general election. He said, since last year, the Party had taken various programmes and activities to restructure it to ensure victory in 2024. For instance, Mr Boadu said since January this year, the Party had successfully held elections in 38,622 polling stations, 6,500 electoral areas and 271 constituencies to elect officers to steer the affairs of the Party ahead of the 2024 elections. The General Secretary made the remarks in an interview with the media at the Party's 2022 Greater Accra Regional delegates congress at the Trade Fair, in La on Saturday. Mr Boadu said the Party would from Monday, begin preparations towards the National Delegates elections, saying: This indicates that our preparations towards election 2024 is still on course, he said. The NPP is holding its regional delegates conference across all 16 regions to elect officers to lead the Party for the next four years. GNA The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament has negated the claim by the embattled Member of Parliament for the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo that she has not been duly invited to appear before the Committee in connection with her long absence from the chamber. According to Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, who is the Chairman of the Privileges Committee, parliament used the same medium the media used in managing to have her speak recently. Speaking to Accra-based Joy News a few days ago, Ms Safo claimed that she can only come to Ghana if her son, who is sick in the United States of America, is fully healed. However, Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also the MP for Bekwai, argued that the Dome-Kwabenya MP, who is also the Minister of Gender and Social Protection, had been duly invited to appear before the Committee. He explained further that an email was sent to her through her known email address, followed by a WhatsApp message to all her known contacts in the United States of America. Mr Osei-Owusu said the Committee further followed up with a letter to her office in parliament, so, she cannot tell the Committee she had not been duly invited. It was these same channels that the radio station used in getting her to speak on her invitation to appear before Committee that parliament used, he stressed. He said the committee will make a decision on her if she fails to appear. She will be in contempt of the Committee if she does not take measures to appear before it, the First Deputy Speaker said on Accra-based Joy FM on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Source: Classfmonline.com President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina speaks at the 2022 AfDB annual meetings in Accra, capital of Ghana, May 27, 2022. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina urged the global community late Friday to use the "polluter pays" principle in dealing with climate financing. Adesina made this call while addressing the media after the close of the 2022 AfDB annual meetings with the theme of "achieving climate resilience and a just energy transition for Africa" in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) ACCRA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina urged the global community late Friday to use the "polluter pays" principle in dealing with climate financing. Adesina made this call while addressing the media after the close of the 2022 AfDB annual meetings with the theme of "achieving climate resilience and a just energy transition for Africa" in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. "Africa did not create the emissions. The developed countries created the emissions and must pay for the adaptation needed to deal with climate change," he urged. On existing global financing for climate change, Adesina urged the international community to grant Africa equitable access to the Green Climate Fund to raise the needed resources to support climate investments. He said AfDB, with support from the Global Center on Adaptation, had increased its climate funding to 25 billion U.S. dollars for Africa. Ghana's Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta called for a global climate financing framework that respects historical responsibility. "The balance sheet of climate change demands that we seek this fairness," added Ofori-Atta, who is also the chairman of the board of governors of AfDB. People walk in front of the venue of the 2022 AfDB annual meetings in Accra, capital of Ghana, May 27, 2022. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina urged the global community late Friday to use the "polluter pays" principle in dealing with climate financing. Adesina made this call while addressing the media after the close of the 2022 AfDB annual meetings with the theme of "achieving climate resilience and a just energy transition for Africa" in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) Ghana's Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta (L) presents a plaque to President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina at the 2022 AfDB annual meetings in Accra, capital of Ghana, May 27, 2022. President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group Akinwumi Adesina urged the global community late Friday to use the "polluter pays" principle in dealing with climate financing. Adesina made this call while addressing the media after the close of the 2022 AfDB annual meetings with the theme of "achieving climate resilience and a just energy transition for Africa" in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua) Four environmental organizations and DCP Midstream on Friday announced a settlement of a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act. Under the consent decree, filed Friday in federal court for the Western District of Texas, resolves a lawsuit filed in March 2021 by The Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club, Environment Texas and Texas Campaign for the Environment. Under the agreement, DCP Operating, owner of the Goldsmith Gas Processing Plant, will make improvements to reduce gas flaring. DCP has also agreed to pay $500,000 to help improve local air quality and public health in the Odessa area. DCP also agreed to pay automatic penalties in the future up to $14,000 per ton of hydrogen sulfide if emissions exceed certain limits. The groups informed DCP of their intent to sue in December 2020 and filed the lawsuit in federal court in March 2021. Its been 18 months since the notice of intent to sue, Colin Cox, attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Jeanette Alberg, spokeswoman for DCP, told the Reporter-Telegram by email her company is dedicated operational excellence, continuous improvement and sustainability and we are actively working to reduce emissions across our footprint. The settlement is related to safety flare usage and related facility emissions events that occurred between 2015 and 2020 at the Goldsmith Gas Processing Plant, she said. She explained those events were associated with facility malfunctions or operational upsets and all of which DCP Midstream has addressed with the Environmental Integrity Project. DCP Midstream believes it has defenses for these emission events under Texas regulations; however, DCP Midstream and EIP have reached a workable and positive resolution to address and resolve EIPs claims, as well as advancing facility reliability and operations using solutions that are technically feasible, commercially proven and will result in significant emission event reductions, Albert said. We focus on safety and reliability and have worked diligently to eliminate these types of upset and malfunction events. DCP made great strides in 2020 and 2021 to improve operational reliability and is seeing continued improvement at the Goldsmith facility thanks to our focus on operational excellence and the use of updated technologies, she added. Cox said a lack of regulatory action was the biggest motivator for the lawsuit, known as a citizens lawsuit under the act. In an ideal world, EPA and TCEQ would be doing this work. Thankfully the Clean Air Act allows citizens to step in when regulators fail, he said by email. He said his organization and the others hope the settlement will serve as a model for other companies. As it mentions in the release, Sierra Club and EIP prosecuted a similar lawsuit two years ago against a nearby plant, he wrote. Our work fighting flaring in the Permian Basin will continue. The other lawsuit Cox referenced was brought by environmental groups against James Lake Gas Plant. It was also resolved in a settlement that reduced sour gas flaring at the plant as well as funded the purchase of replacement air filters for every classroom and office in Ector County Independent School District. The proposed consent decree will be reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice before it is formally approved by U.S. District Judge David Counts. Consolidation is occurring across the energy industry, a trend that is finding its way into the non-operated sphere. Dallas-based Grey Rock Investment Partners announced this month it is teaming with Executive Network Partnering Corp., a special purpose acquisition entity, to form Granite Ridge Resources. Granite Ridge will be a $1.3 billion publicly traded company that will own non-operated oil and gas properties across the nations five most prolific producing basins. We saw an opportunity to bring to market a zero-debt, strong cash flow, non-operated public company, explained Griffin Perry, co-founder of Grey Rock, in a telephone interview with the Reporter-Telegram. Perry added that he sees Granite Ridge as a good opportunity to consolidate in the non-operated space and give current owners an additional exit opportunity beyond cash. He said Grey Rock has contributed three of its fund assets to help create Granite Rock. He estimated 58 percent of those assets are in the Midland and Delaware basins. Perry estimated Grey Rock partners with 70 companies, many with headquarters in Midland. The Permian Basin is a world class reservoir, one of the few places that can have sustainable growth. At the same time, he said, we are big fans of diversified portfolios. We like exposure to different hydrocarbons and to different basins. Its beneficial to be in different places. Thats why the company is also active in the Eagle Ford, Bakken, Haynesville and Denver-Julesburg basins. The company is acquiring assets weekly, he said, either from owners or through partnerships with operators in order to grow its footprint. While the initial valuation is between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion, he said management is being diligent in its underwriting and Granite Ridge will grow as large as opportunities allow. We have no doubt this will provide additional access to capital, Perry said. He watched investors back away from the industry and institutional investors focus on ESG Environmental, Social and Governance. I said as soon as returns come back, these folks will come back around, he said. Apparently, the industry was attractive enough to attract Executive Network Partnering Corp., which is chaired by Paul Ryan, former speaker of the House of Representatives. As hydrocarbons continue to play an important role in the global energy mix, we are confident that Granite Ridge, led by a world-class team with deep operational, technical and financial expertise, is a compelling opportunity for investors looking to participate in the energy space, Ryan said in a statement announcing the deal with Grey Rock. Granite Ridge will be led by chief executive officer Luke Brandenberg and chief financial officer Tyler Farquharson. The former top leader of the Proud Boys will remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol and stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory, a federal judge has ruled. Henry Enrique Tarrio poses a danger to the public that cannot be mitigated by home detention and banning him from using social media, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in an order issued late Friday. Tarrio, a South Florida resident, has been jailed since his arrest on March 8, a day after his indictment on charges including conspiracy. A federal magistrate in Miami previously ordered his pretrial detention. Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders used encrypted channels, social media and other electronic communications to plan and carry out a plot to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and interfere with the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote, according to the indictment. Tarrio asked Kelly to order his release on bond, but the judge rejected the request. Kelly said the evidence against Tarrio is very strong despite Tarrio's argument that authorities essentially do not have a smoking gun against him, perhaps in the form of direct evidence of an order from Tarrio to other Proud Boys to storm the Capitol. Tarrio was not in Washington when the insurrection took place. Police had arrested Tarrio in the District of Columbia two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. A judge ordered Tarrio to stay out of the nation's capital. Before he left Washington, Tarrio met with Oath Keepers founder and leader Elmer Stewart Rhodes and others in an underground parking garage for approximately 30 minutes, authorities say. Rhodes and several other members or associates of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia group are charged with seditious conspiracy in the Capitol attack. A documentary filmmaker recorded part of the garage meeting. "But not much about the substance of the meeting can be gleaned from the clips at one point, Tarrio and others motion for the filmmaker to stop," Kelly noted in his order. Tarrio claims to have stepped down as Proud Boys' national chairman. Five other men linked to the Proud Boys Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Charles Donohoe and Dominic Pezzola were charged in the same March 7 indictment as Tarrio. Donohoe, 34, of Kernersville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy and assault charges and has agreed to cooperate in the Justice Department's cases against other Proud Boys members. Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Pezzola also remain jailed while awaiting a trial scheduled for August. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president. Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, has described himself as a Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. The indictment describes Pezzola, of Rochester, New York, as a member of his local Proud Boys chapter. Tarrio tried to communicate with Nordean and Biggs by telephone while the two men were moving in and out of the Capitol, the indictment says. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in New Mexico history have both been traced to planned burns set by U.S. forest managers as preventative measures, federal investigators announced Friday. The findings shift responsibility more squarely toward the U.S. Forest Service for initiating a natural disaster that has destroyed at least 330 homes as flames raged through nearly 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers) of high-altitude pine forests and meadows. The wildfire also has displaced thousands of residents from rural villages with Spanish-colonial roots and high poverty rates, while unleashing untold environmental damage. Roughly 3,000 firefighters, along with water-dropping planes and helicopters, continue to fight the blaze as it approaches mountain resorts and Native American communities. Firefighting costs already surpass $132 million, climbing by $5 million a day. Fire and law enforcement officials offered a cautious but hopeful Friday night status report, with fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner noting they need to watch the so-called red flag conditions warm, dry weather with high winds starting Saturday. The weather is a big concern for us, Turner acknowledged, saying even an errant pine cone rolling down a slope and crossing a control line could spread flames. Red flag warning is a big message for tomorrow. He said dry conditions are expected through Tuesday, but some moisture and even thunderstorms are possible starting Wednesday. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez described a rising sense of outrage as the fire triggers new evacuations of families and livestock. Fear of flames is giving way to concern about erosion and mudslides in places were superheated fire penetrates soil and roots. The destruction these two fires caused is immeasurable and will be felt for generations, said Leger Fernandez, sponsor of a bill that would reimburse residents and businesses routed by the fire. The Forest Service has not yet released detailed planning documents for the original planned burns that might indicate whether fire protocols were followed. Scientist and forest managers are racing to develop new tools to forecast the behavior of planned fires amid climate change and an enduring drought in the American West. The intentionally set blazes, known as prescribed burns, are aimed at limiting the accumulation of timber and underbrush that, if left unattended, can fuel extremely hot and destructive wildfires. The Biden administration announced in January a $50 billion plan to stave off catastrophic wildfires that would more than double the use of planned fires and logging to reduce trees and other vegetation that serve as tinder in the most at-risk areas. Prescribed burns often are used in wildland areas that are too vast to thin by hand or machine. The two fires east of Santa Fe joined in April to form the massive blaze at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains, in the Sangre de Cristo range. One of the fires was previously traced to April 6, when a planned burn, set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush, was declared out of control. On Friday, investigators said they had tracked the source of the second fire to the remnants of a planned winter fire that lay dormant through several snowstorms only to flare up again last month. Investigators said the prescribed pile burn was initiated in January at Gallinas Canyon in the Santa Fe National Forest outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, and concluded in the final days of that month. Fire was reported again in the same vicinity April 9 and escaped control 10 days later amid dry, hot and windy conditions, Forest Service investigators found. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in a statement called the investigation results a "first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility" for the New Mexico wildfire. She highlighted her pending request to President Joe Biden to direct the Federal Emergency Management Administration to pay for 100% of costs related to a broad range of recovery efforts. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore last week announced a 90-day pause and review of protocols for planned fires that limit the buildup of flammable vegetation. He cited extreme fire danger and unfavorable weather and did not specifically link the review to New Mexico's fires. It will also ensure the prescribed burn program nationwide is anchored in the most contemporary science, policies, practices and decision-making processes, and that employees, partners and communities have the support they need to continue using this critical tool to confront the wildfire crisis, the agency said in a statement Friday. Moore said prescribed fires go as planned in more than 99% of cases. Notable exceptions include the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire that swept through national security installations and residential neighborhoods at Los Alamos. So-called pile burns can often include wildland debris collected over months or even years. Forest managers cut back trees and gather debris into mounds, preferring to burn forest fuels in the winter when planned burns are easier to control. In January, Santa Fe National Forest workers started burning through a series of piles across an area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers), after advising the public of possible smoke hazards. ___ Attanasio is a corps member for the Associated Press/ Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter. The police official blamed for not sending officers in more quickly to stop the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting is the chief of the school system's small police force, a unit dedicated ordinarily to building relationships with students and responding to the occasional fight. Preparing for mass shootings is a small part of what school police officers do, but local experts say the preparation for officers assigned to schools in Texas including mandatory active shooter training provides them with as solid a foundation as any. The tactical, conceptual mindset is definitely there in Texas, said Joe McKenna, deputy superintendent for the Comal school district in Texas and a former assistant director at the state's school safety center. A gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. As students called 911, officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building. The district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided officers should wait to confront the gunman on the belief he was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and children were no longer at risk, officials said Friday. It was the wrong decision, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference Friday. A group of Border Patrol tactical officers would later engage in a shootout with the gunman and kill him, officials said. Arredondo could not immediately be reached for comment Friday by the AP. Across the country, police officers who work in schools are tasked with keeping tabs on whos coming and going, working on building trust so students feel comfortable coming to them with problems, teaching anti-substance abuse programs and, occasionally, making arrests. The police department for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District says on its website that its primary goal is to maintain a safe and secure environment for our future leaders to learn and our current leaders to educate while forming partnerships with students, teachers, parents, and the community while enforcing laws and reducing fears. The active shooter training was mandated by state lawmakers in 2019 in response to school shootings. Under state law, school districts also are required to have plans to respond to active shooters in their emergency response procedures. Security can sometimes become lax because school officials and officers may not believe a shooting will ever happen in their building, said Lynelle Sparks, a school police officer in Hillsboro, Texas, and executive director of the Texas Association of School Resource Officers. Its always making sure that you are prepared, she said. People get relaxed. It happens in every district. You cant say that it doesnt. It happens everywhere. We get to the point, Oh my gosh. This is horrific. Safety Safety Safety. The school year goes by, Oh, why do I have to lock my door everyday, you know? I wish that every teacher would teach behind a locked door. It doesnt make it a prison system. Its about saving lives. Under the incident command approach that was widely adopted after 9/11, it is unsurprising that the school police chief would be considered the commander, even following the arrival of officers from other agencies, McKenna said. The designated person would be considered the commander until relieved by a higher-ranking officer, but that doesn't necessarily happen immediately when efforts to save lives are continuing, he said. Obviously its still an ongoing investigation, but it would make sense that a police chief of a school district would be the initial incident commander," McKenna said. While many schools around the country host school resource officers who report to their municipal police departments, it is not uncommon especially in some Southern states and large cities for school districts to have their own police forces, like Uvalde. McKenna said his research on school policing indicated that training and other factors mattered more than which agency was managing the officers. It doesn't matter if you're in a school police department or an SRO, its more about the components of any good officer, he said. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Wong Maye-E/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Wong Maye-E/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The Midland County Sheriff's Office will be sending deputies to Uvalde to assist with law enforcement duties, according to the county's spokesperson. The deputies will be assisting there for an unknown amount of time. Maj. Gen. John L. Borling will be the Lincoln Academy of Illinois guest during the Memorial Day weekend edition of its "Lincoln Laureates" podcast. Borling is a 37-year career military veteran who has been decorated with the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with V for Valor and two Purple Hearts. As an F-15 Eagle fighter pilot, he commanded the Hat in the Ring squadron. During the podcast, Borling, a 2021 recipient of Illinois Order of Lincoln, shares the story of his first training flight and his conviction that I have to do this. I have to be a fighter pilot. Borling told podcast guest host and award-winning broadcast journalist Ron Claiborne that was all he wanted to do after his first flight. That was my focus from that point on, he said. I still get operatic chills thinking about that first flight in a fighter-type aircraft." The Chicago native also discusses his connection to Abraham Lincoln. A seven-year prisoner of war during Vietnam, Borling was released on Lincolns birthday in 1973 and believes the experience made him a better person. "I think when you are tested over such an extended period, and you have the assurance from your fellows that reputations are intact, you have an urge to live and give back. Borling is a graduate of the National War College and Harvard Business School and wrote the book Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois was established in 1964 to recognize todays leaders who have contributed to the betterment of humanity. The Lincoln Laureates podcast, now in its second season, is available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher, with streaming available via the TuneIn app. ROME (AP) Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a once-powerful Italian prelate who long served as the Vaticans No. 2 official but whose legacy was tarnished by his support for the pedophile founder of an influential religious order, has died. He was 94. The Vatican in its Saturday announcement of his death said Sodano had died on Friday. Italian state radio said that Sodano recently had contracted COVID-19, complicating his already frail health. Corriere della Sera said he died in a Rome clinic where he had been admitted a few weeks ago. Pope Francis in a condolence telegram Saturday to Maria Sodano, the retired prelates sister, noted that Sodano had held many roles in the Vaticans diplomatic corps, culminating in his being named secretary of state on June 28, 1991, by the then-pontiff, John Paul II. A day later, John Paul, who later was made a saint, elevated Sodano to the rank of cardinal. In the condolence message, Francis expressed sentiments of gratitude to the Lord for the gift of this esteemed man of the church and paid tribute to his long service as a Vatican diplomat in Ecuador, Uruguay and Chile in South America, Francis' native continent. But late in his Vatican career, Sodano's church legacy was tarnished by his staunch championing of the Rev. Marcial Maciel, the deceased Mexican founder of the Legion of Christ, a religious order, who was later revealed to be a pedophile. Maciel's clerical career was discredited by the cult-like practices he imposed on the order's members. An internal investigation eventually identified 33 priests and 71 seminarians in the order who sexually abused minors over some eight decades. Sodano for years, while secretary of state under John Paul, had prevented the Vatican from investigating sex abuse allegations against Maciel. The Holy See had evidence dating back decades that the founder of the religious order an organization that was a favorite of John Pauls for producing so many priests was a drug addict and a pedophile. The Vatican's biography, issued after Sodano died, made no mention of the scandals. Instead, it noted Sodano's accomplishment as a top Vatican diplomat, including his work for the peaceful solution to the controversy of the sovereignty of 2 states," a reference to the territorial dispute that erupted in the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain. Speaking of Sodano's career at the Vatican, which saw him serve until 2006 as the Holy See's No. 2 official in the role of secretary of state, Francis said the prelate had carried out his mission with exemplary dedication. In December 2019, Francis accepted Sodano's resignation as Dean of the College of Cardinals, an influential role, especially in preparing for conclaves, the closed-door election of pontiffs. Sodano had held that position from 2005. Sodano was born in Isola d'Asti, a town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, on Nov. 23, 1927. He was ordained a priest in 1950 and obtained a doctorate in theology at the prestigious Pontifical Gregorian University and in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, both in Rome. He joined the Vatican's diplomatic corps in 1959, eventually representing the Holy See at foreign ministers' meetings across Europe. In 2000, Sodano played a role in ending an enduring mystery at the Vatican by disclosing the so-called third secret of Fatima. In 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children said they saw the Virgin Mary appear above an olive tree and she told them three secrets. The first two were said to have foretold the end of World War I and the start of World War II and the rise and fall of Soviet communism. Some speculated that the third, unrevealed secret, was a doomsday prophecy. While the pope was visiting the popular shrine in Fatima, Portugal, Sodano said that the interpretations" of the children spoke of a bishop clothed in white, who falls to the ground, apparently dead, under a burst of gunfire. That description evoked the assassination attempt on John Paul in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981, in which the pope was gravely wounded. It was the same day of the year as the first of the reported Fatima visions in 1917. Sodano's funeral is to take place on Tuesday in St Peter's Basilica. It will be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, while Pope Francis will perform a traditional funeral rite at the end of the ceremony. Although some groups have resumed meetings, others schedules may have changed because of pandemic restrictions. It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 217-370-4002 Jacksonville locations: First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible. Club HOW, 638 S. Church St. Monday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Tuesday Open discussion, noon at Club HOW. Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets. ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St. Wednesday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Thursday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group. Friday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group. Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave. Saturday Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Open meeting, noon at Club HOW. Sunday Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group. Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open) SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St. AL-ANON Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-248-6434. Wednesday Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance). Thursday Al-Anon, noon at First Presbyterian Church, 870 W. College Ave. (open meeting). NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization. Jacksonville locations: First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975. Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975. Wednesday Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf. Friday Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church. OTHER MEETINGS Monday Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388. Tuesday Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Holiday Inn Express meeting room, South Jacksonville. 217-243-6895. Wednesday Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2. ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670. Thursday Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882. Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons. WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St. Friday Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388. Saturday Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com. Compiled by Angela Bauer This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Memorial Day celebrations began to spring up on local levels just after the Civil War. But a Civil War hero from Illinois was the first to make it official. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, one of the great volunteer officers of the war, is credited by many as the first to declare Memorial Day an official holiday. He did so in 1868 in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, the foremost Civil War veterans organization. Though Logan was the first to establish a national remembrance, there is considerable debate on the site of the actual first Memorial Day commemoration. Theres a lot of controversy on that, said Michael Jones, director of the Gen. John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro. There was a Memorial Day celebration in Woodlawn Cemetery in nearby Carbondale in which Logan was the keynote speaker, and I believe that played a role. The Carbondale celebration, on April 29, 1866, is thought by many to be the nations first community-wide observance. Some 212 area veterans participated in the event. But Jones notes a discrepancy on the inspiration for Logans action even within his own family. In her autobiography, "Reminisces of a Soldiers Wife," Logans wife, Mary, cites her own experience in 1868 at a cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. Mrs. Logan saw the withered flowers and flags that had been placed in honor of the Confederates buried there, Jones said. She described this to her husband and said he should do something similar, which she says was the basis for his national declaration. She never mentions the Carbondale event. Whatever the reason, Logan was moved to take Memorial Day a step further. On May 5, 1868, he issued General Order No. 11, designating May 30 for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion. Logans order stated that no form or ceremony is prescribed, but that individuals and communities were left to their own fitting services and testimonials ... cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead. In the first year after Logans declaration, an estimated 183 cemeteries hosted observances for Memorial Day, more commonly known as Decoration Day. A crowd of some 5,000, including keynote speaker and future President James A. Garfield, attended the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery that May 30. The following year, the remembrance was marked in more than 336 communities in 31 states. While the original order clearly applied to Northern soldiers, informal commemorations in the South became some of the earliest Memorial Day observances. Recent scholarly research also reveals a mass celebration, mostly of African-Americans, on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina. There, a parade of some 10,000, including Black Union infantry units, marched to a local horse track that had been converted to a prison for Union soldiers. Black workmen had re-buried at least 257 Union dead from a mass grave, inspiring the large gathering that included the singing of hymns, reading of scripture and placing of flowers. In 1864, women in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, decorated the graves of their local dead soldiers, some of whom had died at Gettysburg. On April 25, 1866, just days before the Carbondale celebration, a group of ladies in Columbus, Mississippi, placed flowers on the graves of Confederates who died at the battle of Shiloh. Noticing some nearby Union graves that had been neglected because of lingering animosities, they also laid some flowers to honor those soldiers. On May 5, 1866, the town of Waterloo, New York, began an annual community event to commemorate war dead. A century later, President Lyndon Johnson and Congress declared Waterloo as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Congress officially named May 30 as Memorial Day in 1967, though many elderly Americans still refer to the holiday by its traditional name, Decoration Day. Four years later, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act switched the holiday to the final Monday in May. Though Memorial Day has become a little more than a three-day weekend and the kickoff to summer for many, thousands of communities from coast to coast still celebrate the day by honoring their war dead. Jones sees parallels in todays Memorial Day celebrations and the deeper meaning of Logans General Order No. 11. I think Logans primary purpose was his fear, which is shared by many of us, that all of the veterans would be forgotten," Jones said. "He wanted to ensure that we will still honor the men who died to keep the republic. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) First she saw the graphic cellphone video showing Ahmaud Arberys shooting death in Georgia, then news that Breonna Taylor had been shot in her Kentucky home during a botched drug raid. But when Teresa Parks watched videos of the white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee onto a Black man's neck, and heard George Floyd cry out for his mother as his life drained away, she was spurred not just to tears, but also to action. After Floyd's May 2020 death, Parks and a friend formed a Black Lives Matter group in their hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, a largely white city that had elected no Black leaders since 1969. Parks' activism led to her appointment to a task force that city leaders said was designed to make the community more welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds. That task force issued a report in December 2021 with more than 60 recommendations, but so far the city commission hasnt discussed them. And that's not unusual. All over Kansas, elected leaders convened task forces or held town hall meetings to gather community input on racial justice and diversity issues after demonstrators in more than a dozen communities protested Floyds death. But almost two years later, the passion and energy evident in those protests hasnt translated into widespread change. One of the most common results has been formalizing changes that had already been made. Topeka and Lawrence police banned no-knock search warrants, for example, but police in both cities had already discontinued the practice. In several Kansas cities including Wichita and Kansas City, police have put into writing the practices they said they had already adopted. Lauren Bonds, the legal director for a New Orleans-based group of lawyers, legal workers and law students called the National Police Accountability Project, said local leaders sometimes form working groups when they want to appear to be on the right side of an issue but lack the political will to make real change. Youll put some people of color on it, and then youll be able to point to that when someone says you didnt respond to this egregious situation, but then you dont actually have to change anything, said Bonds, who is based in Kansas City, Kansas. The Hispanic population in Kansas has more than quadrupled over the last 30 years, largely because of immigrants attracted to jobs in the meatpacking industry in the southwest of the state, and the Black population grew 15% between 1990 and 2020. But Kansas remains largely white and non-Hispanic; 72% of residents self-identified as such in the 2020 census and the Kansas Legislature was 92% white that year according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Proposals pushed by advocacy groups on behalf of racial justice in Kansas typically stall. After the Floyd protests, for example, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed a committee on racial equity and justice, saying communities of color do not have the luxury of time for leaders to address these issues. But neither the panel nor the governor pushed the Legislature to adopt the groups recommendations. And this year, the momentum in the Republican-controlled Legislature swung away from racial justice toward limiting what public schools teach about racism and tightening voting laws. Kevin Willmott, a University of Kansas film professor who in 2019 won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for BlacKkKlansman, said that when elected officials create task force groups, they often face little opposition, giving people hope that they can bring change. But then the task force doesnt change anything, Willmott said. So it appears on the surface like youre being brought to water, but youre not allowed to drink. They know that you just allow the focus to drift away and then you get to go back to normal. Until the next George Floyd, which might be in Kansas. You never know, he said. Post-Floyd racial justice efforts in other Kansas cities have seen mixed results. In Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, then-Mayor David Alvey created a task force in 2020 to discuss policing practices, but he told task force members not to advocate for specific changes during meetings. It was such a politically charged atmosphere, Alvey said. I wanted to keep the politics out of it as much as possible. About a quarter of Wyandotte Countys population is Black and voters have elected a similar percentage of Black commissioners since 2005. Alvey narrowly lost reelection last year to Tyrone Garner, who became the communitys first Black mayor. Garner, who previously served as deputy police chief, ran for office on a police reform platform. He also announced a new committee to look into policing practices, which he said would unlike his predecessors group craft proposals for the city to vote on. The committee held introductory meetings last month. Garners views of the community and policing have been shaped by his years as a police officer. Early in his career, a Black police major told him about how minority officers previously werent allowed to arrest or interact with white residents. Stories like that prompted Garner to pay attention to how colleagues talked about minority police leaders and officers. Among other things, Garner hopes his new task force will consider requiring an outside law enforcement agency to conduct police misconduct investigations. Discussions are in progress in other Kansas communities. In Topeka, a task force set up by a former mayor is reviewing police policies in response to proposals to ban chokeholds, prohibit officers from firing at fleeing suspects and create an independent citizen panel to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The group has met for almost two years and hasnt made any recommendations to the City Council. City commissioners in Salina approved a 2020 proposal to create a new citizens review board, but advocates were disappointed that it didnt give the board authority to investigate complaints. In the affluent Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, where Black residents make up about 1% of the population, the citys budget this year included $10,000 for a diversity committee that is using some of the funds to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. After rallies in the southwestern Kansas community of Liberal following Floyds death, the city held a town hall where attendees discussed their experiences with racism. Latinos make up almost two-thirds of Liberals population. About a month after the meeting, Liberal city commissioners passed an ordinance calling for similar public forums as needed, but so far no other meetings have occurred. Racial justice advocate Kathleen Alonso pushed for the ordinance, but told the AP that she had shifted focus to increasing voter turnout. In November, Liberal elected two Hispanic members to the city commission, including its first Latina city commissioner. In Manhattan, Parks, the local Black Lives Matter founder, is hopeful instead of frustrated that the city hasn't yet taken up the task force's more than 60 recommendations. Many of them are outside the city governments control, but some are in its purview, including the hiring of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer to work across city-sponsored organizations. Through her involvement, Parks has gained a line of communication with police that enables her to share information with other residents when theyre worried about something theyre hearing or seeing on social media. Thats leading to a better relationship between police and Black residents, who make up about 6% of the community, and that was one of Parks' main goals. Shortly before her Black Lives Matter groups 2020 demonstration, Parks met an officer to contact with concerns. That new line of communication was tested that year when a witness made a video recording of a man who appeared to be having a seizure while he was detained in handcuffs. Parks contacted the officer and learned from police that they had kept him in handcuffs to prevent him from injuring himself. They answered every single question that we had and we were able to bring that back and kind of give people a little bit of clarity about the situation, Parks said. It's all aimed at meeting Parks' goal of avoiding a high-profile police killing like George Floyd's in Manhattan. To hear that grown man call out for his mother I just couldnt I cant even talk about it, Parks said, her voice shaking. That is just something I would never want to see for my kids. ___ Andy Tsubasa Field 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. ___ On Twitter, follow Andy Tsubasa Field at https://twitter.com/AndyTsubasaF An autopsy determined a Morgan County jail inmate whose death is under investigation died of a systemic infection known as septic shock. But for his mother, there still are too many questions unanswered about the nearly 60 hours between his arrest and when he died after being taken from the jail to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. "I feel like they just ignored him ... it doesn't make any sense to me," Julie Downs of Jacksonville said. Brian C. Downs, 40, of Jacksonville died at 1:57 a.m. April 25, according to the autopsy. He had been arrested at 1:43 p.m. April 22 in the 200 block of East Morton Avenue on charges of possession of a controlled substance and resisting or obstructing a peace officer, according to police records. His mother said Brian had been gaming at J.B. Hawks Discount Tobacco and Vape. She said his friends told her a needle was found in a bathroom and police were called. Police reports said Brian was arrested after being accused of leaving needles in the bathroom and then returning to the gaming area. He resisted arrest, police reports said, and officers said they found a controlled substance in his possession while he was being searched. He was booked into jail and then taken to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital for supervised treatment, according to a preliminary report by Illinois State Police. It is protocol for many jails to get medical clearance for inmates suspected of being under the influence of drugs before placing them in a holding cell. Julie Downs first heard from her son after his arrest around 8 p.m. April 24, when he called her from jail. During the phone conversation, Brian asked his mother for help and pleaded with her to get him out of jail, she said. But it was a Sunday evening and nothing could be done. Julie didn't realize it would be the last time she would talk with her son. "It's just a travesty," she said. During the early hours of April 25, Julie was awakened by Coroner Marcy Patterson and a sheriff's deputy. They told her Brian had died. "They told me that he had passed while in custody," Julie said. "I was freaking out ... I just talked with him at 8" the night before. Julie Downs acknowledges her son struggled with addiction, and said she wants transparency about what happened in the ensuing hours and if theres anything that could have been done to save her son's life. Answers appear to be closely held by Illinois State Police. The agency was called in by the sheriff's department to investigate the death. State police have not responded to several requests for comment on the investigation. Sheriff Mike Carmody has declined comment on the death and referred the Journal-Courier to Chief Deputy Jamie Jackson, who referred the newspaper to state police. A Freedom of Information request from the newspaper seeking video footage of Downs in his holding cell from 10:30 p.m. April 24 to 1:30 a.m. April 25 was denied, saying it was exempt because it was part of an ongoing investigation. The Journal-Courier is discussing with legal counsel whether to appeal that decision. For now, Julie Downs has bits and pieces of information she has been able to gather. She said the coroner told her Brian had been treated for a gastrointestinal bleed, but "when I got the paperwork from the hospital, there was nothing on there about a GI bleed," Julie said. Some details dont add up, she said. Others lodged in the jail that Sunday night later contacted Julie and told her they could hear Brian screaming for help, she said. She believes someone with medical experience should have been called sooner to assist her son. "If you have an infraction, you're just looked down upon," she said. The autopsy by Dr. Nathaniel Patterson, a copy of which was provided to the Journal-Courier by Julie Downs, determined Brian died of septic shock resulting from bowel obstruction as a consequence of small bowel intussusception in the setting of opioid withdrawal syndrome." Intussusception occurs when a segment of bowel folds into an adjacent segment of bowel like a telescope, causing obstruction and decreased blood flow, according to Mayo Clinic. The accompanying toxicology report said amphetamine and methamphetamine were found in his system. Brian had a series of traffic and misdemeanor violations, going back to a 2002 arrest on a charge of possession of cannabis. His first felony arrest came in 2014, when he was charged with manufacturing of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine-manufacturing materials. He pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine-manufacturing materials in 2015 and an aggravated methamphetamine-manufacturing charge was dismissed as part of the plea. He also had felony arrests for possession of a controlled substance in 2019 and burglary in 2021. While Julie Downs doesnt deny her sons addiction which she faults for many of his problems she said perceptions based solely on a person's past are unfair. "He was a good person, she said. Yes, he had a drug addiction. But he was a really good guy." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate They weighed a collective 13 pounds, 6 ounces at birth and grew up in a tourist attraction resembling both a museum and a zoo. Everyone around them reaped the financial rewards. The lingering effects left them socially maladjusted for life. May 28 marks the birthday of the Dionne Quintuplets, the only known set of surviving identical quintuplets in world history. Born in 1934 in northern Ontario four hours from Toronto, the Quints all girls were a continental sensation in the 1930s and 1940s, though the two remaining sisters largely avoid the spotlight today. The quints were born to an impoverished French-Canadian farm family, and barely survived their first few days. Forty-seven minutes passed from the birth of the first child to the fifth. Their parents, who had already produced six children, would later have three more, bringing the family total to 14. Almost immediately, care of the quints was controlled by Dr. Allan Dafoe, who later orchestrated much of the profiteering that quickly surrounded their upbringing. He was hardly alone. A few days after the quints birth, their father, Oliva, signed a contract to display them at the Chicago Worlds Fair for 23% of the profits. The parish priest, apparently joining the craze, was to receive 7%. A day later, Oliva changed his mind and cancelled the contract, but the public relations battle was already lost. Amid public outcry, the Ontario government later stepped in and established a board of guardians to care for the infants, in part to prevent American promotion. Meanwhile, Dafoe was instrumental in the construction of a hospital across the road from the Dionne farmhouse. To meet skyrocketing public interest, an observatory was eventually created outside the nursery and indoor playground. There, throngs of spectators filed past a one-way glass window, allowing a peek at the quints inside. The scenario, sort of like a zoo enclosure, attracted 3 million visitors to northern Ontario between 1934 and 1943, despite the ongoing Depression. A kind of theme park, Quintland, sprang up around the nursery and by 1936 was a larger tourist attraction than Niagara Falls. Souvenir shops, restaurants, campgrounds, and other recreational facilities were developed, including a large souvenir stand operated by the quints father that employed 25 people. The quints became a $500 million boon to the strapped province of Ontario and were media darlings around the world. Dafoe and Oliva Dionne continued to line their pockets as well. Three Hollywood movies with the quints were produced, and tens of millions of dollars rolled in from endorsement deals. At one point, dolls of the quintuplets outsold those of Shirley Temple. These endorsements helped make the Dionne Quintuplets household names across North America. But interest in the quints dwindled as they grew, and public perception of the Dionne parents rose while that of Dafoe, who was terminally ill, fell. Oliva Dionne eventually won back custody after a prolonged legal battle, and in November 1943, the quints moved back in with the family, this time into a new two-story brick house constructed with money from their fame. There, the girls were forced to do chores despite the familys newfound wealth, and were shunned by their siblings. Sequestered from the outside world, the quints had strained relations with both parents. The quints later called the house the saddest home we ever knew. As the quints reached adulthood, they continued to struggle with relationships and social skills. Three of the girls married; each union ended in divorce. The quints lived on a trust fund that was relatively small by the standards of the income generated by their 1930s' sensation. In 1954, one quint, Emilie, died of a seizure, while a second, Marie, died in 1970 of a blood clot on the brain. Oliva Dionne passed away in 1979, followed by his wife, Elzire, seven years later. The remaining three quints, Annette, Cecile, and Yvonne, eventually moved into a Montreal apartment together and in 1998 won a $2.8 million judgment against the government of Ontario for the mishandling of their custody and their money. Yvonne died in 2001. The story of the Dionne Quintuplets is periodically revisited. In 1965, the quints published their autobiography, "We Were Five," and a second memoir was released 30 years later. In November 1994, a two-part miniseries on the quints aired on both CBS and the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Every year on the last Monday in May, we remember those who died while serving their country; those prisoners of war and missing in action who never returned; and those who succumbed to wounds of war after coming home. Across America and even overseas in national cemeteries, people will come together for Memorial Day events and thousands will gather to remember loved ones, family members and those heroes whom we only know as names engraved in stone. Well remember those who gave their lives as far back as the American Revolution and those who paid that price during recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In some places as we remember those who died decades or more than 100 years ago there may not be family left to mourn. We will mourn in their place and will continue the sacred promise that their sacrifice will never be forgotten. In other places, family and friends will be on hand; the pain still raw and etched on their hearts and faces. We hope to find the words that at least for a moment might ease their grief. This day has significant meaning for me. I am an Army veteran. I am the son of a Vietnam veteran who earned the Bronze Star in combat. I am the brother and nephew of military veterans. And now, I am the deputy secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs, charged with carrying out our mission to ensure veterans, survivors, dependents and caregivers receive the benefits and services they have earned. I stand with the nation in mourning, remembering and honoring the men and women who as President Abraham Lincoln once said gave their last full measure of devotion so we may be free. Many of us veterans have lost friends in combat or know someone who has. We know there is no greater sacrifice than laying down your life for a buddy; no greater loss than knowing you came home when a dear friend did not; and no greater pain than hearing that terrible knock on the door bringing heartbreaking news nobody wants to hear. And Memorial Day is an opportunity for those of us who are still here to remember and honor those who are not. So, when you are taking time off to enjoy this Memorial Day, please let the family members and dear friends of the fallen know in words, deeds and actions that their loved ones will be forever remembered. Please do your best to let America and the world know these heroes sacrifices were not in vain. And please, in some small way, help shoulder some of the pain survivors feel making the burden a bit lighter for families left to carry on. Because the words we say on Memorial Day may not be remembered we must put our them into action as they can stand the test of time. We must pay it forward for those who cannot. Maybe its a simple act of kindness each day in their memory. Maybe its helping a veteran navigating tough times. Maybe its simply stopping for a chat to educate a fellow veteran about their VA healthcare and benefits they so rightly earned. No matter how you choose to spend this Memorial Day, I ask that you remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom not only in words, but in action. We must continue to do what is right by these men and women today, tomorrow, forever. With more and more people from the region applying for a second citizenship in hotspots like Portugal and the Caribbean countries (mainly Dominica and St. Kitts) - thanks to the tax breaks, wealth management and smooth travel to more than 130 countries - the global citizenship industry is booming and is poised to reach $100 billion within the next three years. People apply for Citizenship by Investment (CBI) for various reasons. Most of these programs are established and strong that offer great convenience for travelling, according to AAA Associates Immigration Services. The second passport allows travel to more than half of the world, including European and Far Eastern regions. People also use the Second Citizenship for tax planning. According to AAA Associates, the total size of the residence and citizenship market currently stands at $21.4 billion. Thats a big number and increasing every year. If the current expansion rate remains steady, this niche market will reach $100 billion by 2025, it added. Mobility biggest driver Mobility is the biggest motivating factor for those who avail of visa-free travel so that they can freely move around for holidays and for trade events without filling out lengthy visa documents and seeking appointments at visa offices," remarked its CEO Imran Farooq. Portugal Golden Visa (which is a five-year residence permit), he stated, was a great winner in CBI and becoming a lead program. It has emerged as one of the strongest passports. While quoting Bloombergs recent report Imran Farooq said the Portuguese capital Lisbon has emerged amongst the worlds top prime residential markets by its appeal to tourists. Portugal Golden Visa allows visa-free entry to most countries - including the US and Canada. Secondly, the investment in it is reasonably low. The requirements for this type of visa are very limited which include 280,000 ($293,788) and a seven-day stay in the country. Ultimately, holding a Portuguese property for five years entitles the golden resident visa holder to Portuguese citizenship. Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you can live, work, stay, and retire anywhere in Europe because the EU is a united bloc of nations. Key attractions of Portugal for foreigners include living in a developed country which is the sixth most visited place in Europe. For foreign companies, the country offers many opportunities. The quality of education in Portugal is very good. On the social side, Portugal boasts cultural diversity. Its capital Lisbon offers the advantages of downtown living. The capital growth in Portugal is one of the best in Europe. Portugal has seen an upward growth trend for the last several years, it added. Dominican citizenship On the Middle Eastern investors' interest in Dominican citizenship, Farooq said: "For him, who runs a leading CBI advisory firm in the Middle East, would tend to be neutral and not recommending the passport of a particular country." "For him, all Caribbean passports are good and hold specific benefits." He said Caribbean passport processing is convenient and has strong due diligence processes. Once an applicant gets a passport from any of these countries, he has the massive freedom of visa-free travel to more than 130 countries. Caribbean passports include visa-free travel to most of Europe and the Far East. Thats travelling to more than half of the world," he added. "The key competition among Caribbean countries is the services for their passport applicants. For example, ease of the application process without compromising the integrity of CBI programs. However, I see both Dominica and St. Kitts offer combatively better services among five Caribbean states," he added. Future of CBI Industry The changes in the world due to the old and new conflicts, the pandemic, shifting blocs, globalization, decentralization of state systems and rapid digitalization have put the Citizenship by Investment industry in the spotlight. Firstly, Farooq said, we need answers to many whys about the citizenship industry. Why does it matter? What is the good in it? Who are the stakeholders of the CBI industry? How does everyone win? Governments need CBI revenue to support economies. Businessmen and industries need it to grow their business. Families need it to find a safe and secure place to live. Looking at the socio-economic factors mentioned above indicate that the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) industry is heading to play a key role in global mobility, especially in the economies of the countries that offer it and the lives of the people who hold second passports.-TradeArabia News Service Japan terrorist group founder freed after serving time View Photo TOKYO (AP) Fusako Shigenobu, who co-founded the terrorist group Japanese Red Army, was released from prison Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence, and apologized for hurting innocent people. I feel strongly that I have finally come out alive, she said, welcomed by her daughter and a crowd of reporters and supporters in Tokyo. I have hurt innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first. Although those were different times, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize deeply, said Shigenobu, who wore a black hat and gray suit. Shigenobu was convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands. She was arrested in 2000 in Osaka in central Japan, where she had been in hiding. The Japanese Red Army, formed in 1971 and linked with Palestinian militants, took responsibility for several attacks including the takeover of the U.S. Consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1975. The group is also believed to have been behind a 1972 machine-gun and grenade attack on the international airport near Tel Aviv, Israel that killed 28 people, including two terrorists, and injured dozens of people. Shigenobu was not physically present in the attacks. A year after her arrest, she declared the group dissolved. Japanese media reports said Shigenobu had undergone surgery for cancer during her incarceration. Kozo Okamoto, who was injured and arrested in the Israeli airport attack, was released in 1985 in a prisoner exchange between Israeli and Palestinian forces. He is reportedly in Lebanon. Okamoto and several other members of the group are still wanted by Japanese authorities. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama By YURI KAGEYAMA Associated Press UVALDE, Texas (AP) Nearly 20 officers stood in a hallway outside of the classrooms during this week's attack on a Texas elementary school for more than 45 minutes before agents used a master key to open a door and confront a gunman, authorities said Friday. The on-site commander believed the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was barricaded in a classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde during Tuesday's attack and that the children were not at risk, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said at a news conference. He was convinced at the time that there was no more threat to the children and that the subject was barricaded and that they had time to organize to get into the classroom, McCraw said. Of course it was not the right decision. It was the wrong decision, he said. McCraw said U.S. Border Patrol agents eventually used a master key to open the locked door of the classroom where they confronted and killed Ramos, who killed 19 students and two teachers. McCraw said there was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where they killed Ramos but that shots were sporadic for much of the 48 minutes while officers waited outside the hallway. He said investigators do not know if or how many children died during those 48 minutes. Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including a girl who pleaded: Please send the police now, McCraw said. Questions have mounted over the amount of time it took officers to enter the school to confront the gunman. It was 11:28 a.m. Tuesday when Ramos' 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, the 18-year-old Ramos entered the halls of Robb Elementary School and found his way to a fourth-grade classroom, where he killed 19 students and two teachers in a still-unexplained spasm of violence. But it wasn't until 12:58 p.m. that 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 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. Friday's update on the attack's timeline came only after authorities declined to explain 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 Thursday that he had taken all those questions into consideration, but was not ready to answer them. The Thursday 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 gunman was still inside at 12:10 p.m. when the first U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrived. They had raced to the school from nearly 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in the border town of Del Rio, the agency said in a tweet Friday. The crisis came to an end after a group of Border Patrol tactical officers entered the school 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 A black CB microphone with light scratches and a coil sets behind a clear case on a display inside a trailer that travels the country. It may not seem like much but that mic is a powerful tool that was instrumental in saving several lives. It was last used to communicate from a truck stop where a trucker recognized the signs and made a call that rescued nine minors and broke a 13-state trafficking ring that resulted in 31 arrests. Now it travels across the country as a part of the Truckers Against Trafficking educational exhibition. Its new purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of recognizing the signs of human trafficking while highlighting what drivers can do if they see it. A detailed list of those signs is available at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs. The trailer seems to be of average size, though instead of a load of goods, the inside is full of artifacts donated to help tell the story of real trafficking victims. It has been making rounds across the country since 2014 but this was the first time its stopped in Plainview, said Ashley Smith, director of energy operations for Truckers Against Trafficking. The TAT trailer is currently on a nine-stop tour of Walmart Distribution centers sharing the information with drivers, noted Heather Jameyson-Henry, a general transportation manager for a Walmart Distribution Center in Ohio. It made a stop in Plainview on Thursday. We know our drivers have a unique opportunity, Jameyson-Henry said. Antoine Sadler, a Walmart truck driver and a TAT board member, later described truckers as being the eyes of the road. They frequent truck stops, motels, diners, hole-in-the-wall businesses and other places one wouldnt even suspect to be hotspots for human trafficking. By sharing the exhibit with as many truck drivers as possible, the goal is that it will lead to more recognizing the signs and saving more lives. As an example, Sadler said, he always likes to tell a story experienced by a friend and fellow driver. After checking in to a motel, the driver found a notebook in a drawer with a photo and a note asking for help. He called it in and it was believed to have been a trafficking victim. They never followed up but the initiative to say something is what he hopes more drivers will take away from the story. The trailer includes items like a tube of lipstick one victim used before being forced to do a job for her pimp. Theres a tattered shirt used by another before it was torn off during a rescue after a beating. The stories are shocking and, Sadler pointed out, similar ones are happening in your back yard. He often hears people say things like that doesnt happen here, Sadler said. Thats not true, he counters. Its a problem everywhere. According to statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotlines website, an estimated 987 cases of human trafficking have been reported to the hotline this year. A further breakdown shows 824 of those cases have involved females and 216 have involved minors. The team that brought the trailer to Plainview just wants it to stop. NEW YORK (AP) Margaret Atwood has imagined apocalyptic disaster, Dystopian government and an author faking her own death. But until recently she had spared herself the nightmare of trying to burn one of her own books. With a flamethrower, no less. She failed, and that was the point. On Monday night, timed for PEN America's annual gala, Atwood and Penguin Random House announced that a one-off, unburnable edition of The Handmaids Tale would be auctioned through Sothebys New York. They launched the initiative with a brief video that shows Atwood attempting in vain to incinerate her classic novel about a totalitarian patriarchy, the Republic of Gilead. Proceeds will be donated to PEN, which advocates for free expression around the world. In the category of things you never expected, this is one of them, she said in a telephone interview. "To see her classic novel about the dangers of oppression reborn in this innovative, unburnable edition is a timely reminder of whats at stake in the battle against censorship," Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House, said in a statement. The fireproof narrative is a joint project among PEN, Atwood, Penguin Random House and two companies based in Toronto, where Atwood is a longtime resident: the Rethink creative agency and The Gas Company Inc., a graphic arts and bookbinding specialty studio. Rethink's Robbie Percy said that he and fellow creative director Caroline Friesen came up with the idea. Late last year, they had heard about a Texas legislator who listed hundreds of works for potential banning from school libraries: Percy and Friesen wondered if it were possible to make a book protected from the most harrowing censorship. They soon agreed on The Handmaids Tale, which came out in the 1980s and has had renewed attention over the past few years, beginning with the political rise and unexpected presidency of Donald Trump and continuing with the current surge of book bannings. We thought an unburnable copy of Handmaids Tale could serve as a symbol, he said. Percy and Friesen spoke with Atwoods publishers in Canada and the U.S. both divisions of Penguin Random House and got in touch with the author. They then contacted Gaslight, which has worked on numerous commissioned texts, including some for PEN. The Gas Companys principal owner, Doug Laxdal, told the AP that instead of paper, he and his colleagues used Cinefoil, a specially treated aluminum product. The 384-page text, which can be read like an ordinary novel, took more than two months to complete. The Gas Company needed days just to print out the manuscript; the Cinefoil sheets were so thin that some would fall through cracks in the printer and become damaged beyond repair. The manuscript was then sewed together by hand, using nickel copper wire. The only way you could destroy that book is with a shredder, Laxdal says. Otherwise, it will last for a very long time. Atwood told the AP that she was was immediately interested in the special edition, and in making the video. She was a teenager in the 1950s, when Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 was published, and holds vivid memories of the novels futuristic setting, in which books are reduced to ashes. The Handmaids Tale has never been burned, as far as Atwood knows, but has often been subjected to bans or attempted bans. Atwood remembers a 2006 effort in one Texas high school district, when the superintendent called her book sexually explicit and offensive to Christians, that ended when students successfully fought back. In 2021, The Handmaid's Tale was pulled by schools in Texas and Kansas. The novel has sold millions of copies and its impact is not just through words, but images, amplified by the award-winning Hulu adaptation starring Elisabeth Moss. Advocates worldwide for women's rights have dressed in the puritanical caped robes Atwood devised for her story. Most recently, some women in handmaid outfits marched to protest the Supreme Court's expected overturning this year of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. It's an unforgettable visual metaphor, Atwood said. That's why people in the middle ages put coats of arms on their armor, and had recognizable flags. That way you can visualize them and know who's standing for what. Click here to read the full article. More details are emerging about the 911 calls made by children inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas as an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two adults at the primary school. On Friday, Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw held a press conference to discuss an updated timeline of the shooting, the polices delayed response, and the harrowing calls made by students to 911. Its better that I read it than you listen to it, McCraw said before discussing the calls, taking a moment to collect himself. Without naming the children, McCraw said that a student in room 112 made four emergency calls: first, at 12:03 pm for one minute and 23 seconds as she whispered her location to first responders. She called back at 12:10 and said multiple people were dead. She then called at 12:13 and 12:16 and said eight to nine students in her classroom were alive. By 12:19, another female student had made a 911 call from room 111. She hung up after another student told her to hang up, explained McCraw. Two minutes later, three gunshots could be heard from a second call. At 12:36, that same student called again for 21 seconds, before making a final call and staying on the line. She told us that he shot the door at 12:43, McCraw said. At 12:47, she asked 911 to Please send the police now.' Minutes later, the student said she could hear officers on the scene taking students out of the classrooms. Later in the conference, when answering questions from journalists, McCraw said that more than one of the 911 callers survived. He provided no further detail. The 911 calls discussed by McCraw were made as students waited for more than 40 minutes for police officers to intervene with the school shooter, and enter the school building, despite 19 officers being on school premises. McCraw explained that instead of entering the building, officers waited to enter after receiving a master key since they believed the gunman was barricaded and children were no longer in danger. Of course, it was not the right decision, McCraw said. It was the wrong decision. The press conference comes a day after the Associated Press reported that onlookers urged police officers to enter the school building. Go in there! Go in there! women shouted, according to one witness. Javier Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn was killed, said police were congregated outside the building when he arrived, before he suggested that the parents barge into the building. Lets just rush in because the cops arent doing anything like they are supposed to, he said. More could have been done. One mother claimed to the Wall Street Journal that she was put in handcuffs while trying to urge law enforcement to enter the school. The police were doing nothing, she said, according to the Journal. They were just standing outside the fence. They werent going in there or running anywhere. San Antonio is now home to the second U.S. location of Enrique Tomas. The legendary purveyor of jamon with more than 100 locations in Spain, Mexico, the U.K., Peru, France, and Argentina recently added a San Antonio location on the River Walk. The new restaurant is located at 849 E. Commerce Street, where Maria Mia Mexican Bistro once was. We stopped in during a soft opening on Friday, May 20 for a first look. Here's what to expect on your future trip to the River Walk's newest restaurant. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com The food While jamon takes center stage at Enrique Tomas, the menu includes appetizers like queso flameado with chorizo, pastas on the entree list, and paella. Owner Ricardo Sieveking invited us to try the Jamon Experience, which for $40 is a generous sampling for two of three of Enrique Tomas' meats. The platter was served with small pieces of bread and we added a cheese platter ($9) to round out the tasting. Enrique Tomas employees suggested letting the jamon sit in our mouths, letting the flavors melt, before eating. It was a good tip for a first-timer. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Before digging in to the jamon we snacked on the garlic and pepper shrimp, recommended by staff. Each shrimp was tender and juicy and we joked that we wouldn't mind saving the sauce for the rest of our meal. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Still a little hungry after grazing, we added an entree to share. The $18 Pasta Carbonara with Iberian Secreto. The rigatoni pasta with parmesan had chunks of the full-flavored iberian secreto mixed into the thick, creamy sauce. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com The space: The River Walk spot is an airy space with additional balcony seating. While still in its soft opening, the jamon experience is taking shape. Three jamons are displayed in the center of the dining room with employees, or jamoneros, shaving off cuts to be plated. As guests walk into the restaurant, a display case with rows of jamon ranging in price greets them. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com More to know: Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com Because the restaurant is located in The Shops at Rivercenter, guests may have to pay for garage parking if they are unable to find a street spot. Reservations can be made online or by sending a direct message to the @enriquetomasriverwalk Instagram page. Hours for the remainder of the week are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Zain Bahrain has teamed up with LSS Technologies, a leading technology solutions and system integrators in the kingdom, to complete an innovative streetlight solution to boost 5G deployment at Bahrain Bay, thus making it the country's first telecom to achieve such a milestone by offering the latest 5G technologies which contribute to the advancement towards vision 2030. A leading telecommunications industry innovator in the kingdom, Zain said the innovative streetlight solution turns existing streetlights into Zain 5G sites, blending seamlessly with the city infrastructure. The new solution aims to boost both 4G and 5G coverage and provide reliable connectivity for a great end-user experience, it stated. The solution contributes to Zain Bahrain Sustainability Strategy that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Goal 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production. Zain Bahrain's strategy is centered around digital transformation leadership and is committed to building a secure and resilient 5G network. It will continue to expand its 5G network progressively with the latest innovative solution across the Kingdom. Zain Bahrain CEO Duncan Howard said: "We are thrilled to be the first telecom operator in the kingdom to complete the innovative 5G street solution in Bahrain Bay's luxurious development." "With this innovative Street solution, we will now be able to deploy more advanced 5G sites across the Kingdom, allowing us to offer better and faster coverage to our customers who demand high bandwidth and always-on connectivity," he added. LSS Technologies General Manager Sandeep Ahluwalia said: "We are pleased to partner with Zain Bahrain to deploy 5G services across the Kingdom, leveraging the innovative 5G street solution." "Through our partnership with Zain we worked together to design these new compact enclosures, 5G sites in the smallest form factor," he stated. Bahrain Bay CEO Gagan Suri said: "Our collaboration with Zain Bahrain will help deliver Bahrain Bay residents and visitors reliable connectivity and enjoy the best experiences and opportunities that 5G offers." "Zain has completed a solution that suits our high-end development and expands the network coverage while seamlessly integrating with our existing streetscapes. The deployment highlights Zain's latest innovation, and with the 5G, it will help transform Bahrain Bay to a smart city," he added. For customers taking a snorkeling expedition in Maui, PacWhale Eco-Adventures lists packing suggestions on its website. Among the essentials, there are hats, sunglasses, cameras and towels - but no mention of sunscreen. Hawaii bans some types of sunscreen, so the company instead details a policy that's more about what not to bring: "We support the statewide ban on sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate." Hawaii was the first state to enact such legislation, but it is not the only popular tourist destination to do so. If you're planning on a vacation with lots of time in the water, it may be time to reevaluate your buying habits. Key West, Aruba, Palau, Bonaire and national parks in Thailand are just some of the places to act since research has shown products containing the common sunscreen chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate can wash away from skin and damage coral reefs. According to the National Park Service, each year about 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen enter reef areas - the majority concentrated in tourist hot spots. There are still plenty of sunscreens to keep your skin safe - and the water cleaner - on vacation. Here are five tips from scientists and dermatologists on how to identify them. - Not all "reef safe" options are the real deal More "reef safe" sunscreens are hitting the market to meet consumer demand, but that description isn't a seal of approval. "'Reef safe' sunscreen is largely a marketing term," says David Andrews, a senior scientist at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group. "It doesn't have a definition by the FDA, so there is no standard for that." As you shop, it's important to scan the ingredients. (Warning, we're about to get into a bunch of chemical names that are easy to gloss over.) PacWhale Eco-Adventures recommends making sure the sunscreen is non-nano zinc oxide based and that does not contain the following ingredients of concern: oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. If you're worried that any "reef safe" sunscreen is not effective, rest easy; there are good ones out there. "You're not deciding between your skin and the coral reefs," says Kenneth Howe, an associate clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital and dermatologist at UnionDerm. "It's a win-win for everybody." - Look for mineral (not chemical) sunscreens There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens absorb UVA and UVB light, while mineral sunscreens physically block them with active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. While you can find chemical sunscreens that don't have those environmentally-concerning ingredients, experts recommend choosing a mineral sunscreen instead. "There is some conflicting evidence, but the best available information indicates that some of the mineral products like zinc oxide seem to be the least damaging to coral reefs," Andrews says. For Craig Downs, executive director of the nonprofit Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL) who's co-authored studies on sunscreen's impact on coral reefs, says mineral options are also the way to go as their main ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are the only sunscreen ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration. "And there are some really nice mineral sunscreen products out there that apply as a white cream, but as you rub it in, the white disappears and it's translucent," Downs says in an email. "What is really fantastic about these 'disappearing' creams is that you can see what skin is being covered when you apply it, and what isn't." - Dermatologist-approved options When Howe's clients want a sunscreen recommendation for their beach vacation, "I really love the Elta MD sunscreen brand," he says. "It's very popular with dermatologists." Howe says Elta MD sunscreens offer strong UV protection but also feels nice to apply - not something most people think of when zinc oxide comes to mind. Hamza Bhatti, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group who specializes in skin cancer, also vouches for Elta MD - particularly for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. "It has a little bit of niacinamide in it, which is an antioxidant that helps prevent any type of flare-up," he says. For a cheaper alternative, there is Neutrogena's Sensitive Skin sunscreen, which Howe uses personally. His wife, who is a surfer constantly under harsh daylight, adds an extra layer of protection by using a sunscreen stick (she's a fan of Shiseido's Clear Sunscreen Stick). Not only is it easy to apply to a small area, but also it is good for travelers anxious about the liquids rule for carry-on bags on planes. However, because our bodies aren't perfectly flat surfaces, Bhatti says sunscreen sticks have drawbacks. "There are some rounded areas where you might not get the same amount of penetration," he says, warning users to pay close attention to any sun-exposed nooks and crannies. - Ditch sunscreen sprays altogether An easy rule of thumb for your sunscreen shopping: Avoid spray cans. Downs says HEL recommends against aerosol or spray cans because they don't guarantee even or sufficient application, especially outside. "The wind can drive as much as 90% from the can to the surrounding environment," he says. "And that spray can travel at least a quarter of a mile away." If it's not getting on your skin, it's getting into your surroundings. "This is a source of environmental contamination," Downs says. There is also the concern of inhaling sunscreen spray. "That's both inhalation of the ingredients in the product as well as of small particles of sunscreen," Andrews says. "That's of concern, especially when [researchers] found that some products out there [were] releasing particles that could be inhaled deep into the lungs." - Seek shade and pack more coverups While sunscreen can help travelers protect their skin from UV rays, it's not the only way. "We recommend sunscreen alongside really the use of hats, clothing and seeking shade," Downs says. Howe encourages people to find clothes with built-in UV protection. "I've worn a sun shirt for the past 20 years, and it doesn't take me nearly as long to put on sunscreen," he says. "I put it on the backs of my hands and everywhere that's exposed from the neck up and my legs." You can shop for specialized garments that have a tight weave or have their threads coated to absorb and reflect more ultraviolet light (check out companies such as Coolibar or BloqUV). To test your own clothes for sun protection, Howe has a simple tip. "If you hold it up to the light, and you can see a lot of light streaming through, it's not going to work," he says. SEATTLE (AP) Alan White, the longtime drummer for progressive rock pioneers Yes who also played on projects with John Lennon and George Harrison, has died. He was 72. Whites death was announced on his Facebook page by his family. The post said he died at his Seattle-area home Thursday after a brief illness. Just days earlier Yes had announced that due to health issues White would not take part in the bands upcoming tour of the United Kingdom to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic album Close to the Edge. White joined Yes in 1972, replacing original drummer Bill Bruford. In a band noted for frequent lineup changes, White was a constant and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes in 2017. Though he didnt play on Close to the Edge, he performed on every subsequent Yes studio album over nearly five decades, including the bands latest release, The Quest, which came out last year. White stayed with the band through its many iterations. A trailblaizing act in the progressive rock scene in England that grew in popularity in the early 1970s alongside bands like Genesis, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull, Yes was especially known for its intricate arrangements and the musical skill of its individual members. When progressive rock fell out of fashion in the late 1970s many of the bands associated with the genre struggled. Following another lineup change, Yes, with White still behind the drum kit, reinvented itself in the 1980s as a harder edged band that appealed to younger listeners more attuned to heavy metal and the visual cues of music videos. In 1983 Yes released the smash hit album 90125." A longtime Seattle-area resident, White was born in Pelton, County Durham, England, in 1949. His family said he began piano lessons at age 6 and playing the drums when he was 12. White played with bands in England throughout the 1960s. In 1969, he was asked by John Lennon to join his Plastic Ono Band. In an interview with The Seattle Times in 2021, White said he thought the call from the famous Beatle was a prank. A voice announced, Hello, this is John Lennon, White said. I thought it was a mate pulling my leg, put the receiver down, and went back to the kitchen." White played a 1969 concert in Toronto with Lennon's band, which also included guitarist Eric Clapton. White also played with another Beatle, contributing drums to George Harrison's 1970 solo album All Things Must Pass. In the statement announcing his death, his family wrote: Alan was many things to many people: a certified rock star to fans around the world; band mate to a select few, and gentleman and friend to all who met him. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOUSTON (AP) One by one, they 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 further restricting access to firearms was not the answer to preventing future tragedies. The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens, said former President Donald Trump, who was among the Republicans who lined up to speak before the gun rights lobbying group Friday as thousands of protesters angry about gun violence demonstrated outside. The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens," he said Friday. The gathering came just three days after the shooting in Uvalde and as the nation grappled with revelations that students trapped inside a classroom with the gunman repeatedly called 911 during the attack one pleading Please send the police now" as officers waited in the hallway for more than 45 minutes. The NRA had said that convention attendees would reflect on the shooting at the event and pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure. The meeting was the first for the troubled organization since 2019, following a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization has been trying to regroup following a period of serious legal and financial turmoil that included a failed bankruptcy effort, a class-action lawsuit and a fraud investigation by New Yorks attorney general. Once among the most powerful political organizations in the country, the NRA has seen its influence wane following a significant drop in political spending. Wayne LaPierre, the groups embattled chief executive, opened the program with remarks bemoaning the "21 beautiful lives ruthlessly and indiscriminately extinguished by a criminal monster. Still, he said that restricting the fundamental human rights of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is not the answer. It never has been. Later, several hundred people in the auditorium stood and bowed their heads in a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting. Several thousand people were inside the auditorium during the speeches, which appeared fewer than the number gathered outside. Many seats were empty. Trump accused Democrats of trying to exploit the tragedy and demonizing gun owners. When Joe Biden blamed the gun lobby he was talking about Americans like you, Trump said, referring to the presidents emotional plea in a national address asking, When in Gods name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby? Trump called for overhauling school security and the nation's approach to mental health, telling the group every school building should have a single point of entry, strong exterior fencing, metal detectors and hardened classroom doors and every school should have a police officer or armed guard on duty at all times. He also called yet again for trained teachers to be able to carry concealed weapons in the classroom. He and other speakers overlooked the security upgrades that were already in place at the elementary school and did not stop the gunman, who entered the building through a back door that had been propped open. According to a district safety plan, Uvalde schools have a wide range of safety measures in place. The district had four police officers and four support counselors, according to the plan, which appears to be dated from the 2019-20 school year. It also had software to monitor social media for threats and software to screen school visitors. Security experts say the Uvalde case illustrates how fortifying schools can backfire. A lock on the classroom door, for instance one of the most basic and widely recommended school safety measures kept victims in and police out. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who, like Trump, is considered a potential presidential candidate in 2024, railed against Democrats calls for universal background checks for gun purchases and bans of assault-style weapons and instead pointed to broken families, declining church attendance, social media bullying and video games as the real problems. Tragedies like the event of this week are a mirror forcing us to ask hard questions, demanding that we see where our culture is failing," he said. We must not react to evil and tragedy by abandoning the Constitution or infringing on the rights of our law-abiding citizens." South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, another potential presidential contender, said calls to further restrict gun access are all about control and it is garbage. Im not buying it for a second and you shouldnt, either. Some scheduled speakers and performers backed out of the event, including several Texas lawmakers and American Pie singer Don McLean, who said it would be disrespectful to go ahead with his act after the countrys latest mass shooting. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Friday morning that he had decided not to speak at an event breakfast after prayerful consideration and discussion with NRA officials. While a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all those suffering in Uvalde, he wrote in a statement. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who was to attend, addressed the convention by prerecorded video instead. Outside the convention hall, protesters gathered in a park where police set up metal barriers some holding crosses with photos of the Uvalde shooting victims. Murderers! some yelled in Spanish. Shame on you! others shouted at attendees. Among the protesters was singer Little Joe, of the popular Tejano band Little Joe y La Familia, who said in the more than 60 years hes spent touring the world, no other country hes been to has faced as many mass shootings as the U.S. Of course, this is the best country in the world, he said. But what good does it do us if we cant protect lives, especially of our children? Democrat Beto ORourke, who is challenging Abbott in the governors race, ticked off a list of previous school shootings and called on those attending the convention to join us to make sure that this no longer happens in this country. While Biden and Democrats in Congress have renewed calls for stricter gun laws after the Uvalde shooting, NRA board members and others attending the conference dismissed talk of banning or limiting access to firearms. Samuel Thornburg, 43, a maintenance worker for Southwest Airlines in Houston who was attending the NRA meeting, said: Guns are not evil. Its the people that are committing the crime that are evil. Our schools need to be more locked. There need to be more guards." There is precedent for the NRA to gather during local mourning and controversy. The organization went ahead with a shortened version of its 1999 meeting in Denver roughly a week after the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. Texas has experienced a series of mass shootings in recent years. During that time, the Republican-led Legislature and governor have relaxed gun laws. Most U.S. adults think that mass shootings would occur less often if guns were harder to get and believe schools and other public places have become less safe than they were two decades ago, polling finds. Many specific measures that would curb access to guns or ammunition also get majority support. A May AP-NORC poll found, for instance, that 51% of U.S. adults favor a nationwide ban on the sale of AR-15 rifles and similar semiautomatic weapons. But the numbers are highly partisan, with 75% percent of Democrats agreeing versus just 27% of Republicans. Though personal firearms are allowed at the convention, guns were not permitted during the session featuring Trump because of Secret Service security protocols. ___ Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed from Jefferson City, Missouri. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings. Protesters are making good on a promise to put pressure on the National Rifle Association during its annual convention in Houston this Friday, days after a legally armed teenager allegedly shot and killed 19 students and two teachers inside a Uvalde elementary school. The investigation into the shootingas well as the delayed police responseremains active Friday as several Republican officials, including former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, are set to speak to members of the NRA. Gov. Greg Abbott and others have backed out of attending the meeting, although the governor will deliver pre-recorded remarks to the assembly. Ariana Garcia The protest garnered an estimated 4,000-plus demonstrators, according to an officer from the Houston Police Department, as well as several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. "Our hearts do break," Hidalgo said to the crowd. "Kids are terrified. Moms are terrified. Dads are terrified. Teachers, school administrators, they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders." Hidalgo, who wore T-shirt from national gun safety organization Moms Demand Action, continued: "I offer my sadness. I offer my anger. I know I share it with you. I offer my thoughts and I offer my prayers," Hidalgo said, calling out Republican leaders who offered their thoughts and prayers for victims following the Uvalde shooting. "But you did not elect me to offer my thoughts and to offer my prayers." Hidalgo also called for a special legislative session to regulate the purchase, sale and storage of guns. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D- San Antonio) who represents Uvalde is also calling for a special session. "If Greg Abbott can call a special session, and a second special session, and a third special session to keep people from voting, surely he can call a special session to keep babies from being murdered," Hidalgo said. Ariana Garcia Texas governor hopeful Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat who confronted Abbott over the shooting at a press conference earlier this week, also spoke. "There are some, including those who have lost those who are most dear to them, who say its too soon to talk about what were going to do to prevent this from ever happening again," O'Rourke said to the crowd. "I hope you agree with me, that the time for us to have stopped Uvalde was right after Sandy Hook. The time for us to have stopped Uvalde was right after Parkland. The time for us to have stopped Uvalde was right after Santa Fe High School. The time for us to stop mass shootings in this country is right now, right here, today." O'Rourke also addressed those attending the NRA convention across the street from the protest, calling for them to join the fight against gun violence. "You are not our enemies. We are not yours," O'Rourke said. "We extend our hand open and unarmed in a gesture of peace and fellowship to welcome you to join us to make sure that this no longer happens in this country." Before leaving, O'Rourke made the plea for those in attendance to "get in their [lawmaker's] faces before another child is shot in their face." Ariana Garcia Jackson Lee called on the NRA and Trump to cancel the convention which is scheduled to run through Sunday. As she spoke, she was surrounded by children wearing the names of the children killed in the Uvalde shooting. "I want you to look at these babies and I want you to be reminded of those in Uvalde," Jackson Lee said to the crowd. "I want you to look at these babies and know they love teddy bears, they love Legos, they love hugs, and they love good food. Do you know what they have now? Body bags." Ariana Garcia Other speakers including Parkland shooting survivor and March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg, who made similar calls, adding the movement to end gun violence is stronger than ever. "We need allies," Hogg said, pointing to the NRA Convention happening across the street. "You are complicit in this if you are not speaking out against this." Organizers put the protest together almost immediately after the shooting, according to Black Lives Matter Houston leader Ashton Woods. "It's about making sure we create a nexus of power while calling out the organization that enables Republicans... like Greg Abbott and other folks who make these laws and put them on the books to make it easier for what happened to happen," Woods said. "These same people are talking about the right to life and about family. A child is a human at conception, but you won't protect children who are living." A new free mental health clinic is looking for licensed mental health professionals to help the Uvalde community in the wake of the Texas town's tragedy. Beginning on Tuesday, May 31, virtual interviews will be conducted to find these health care professionals. The free mental health clinic is seeking out mental health clinicians across the Lone Star State who can commit to eight to 12 weeks. Mental health clinicians will help the community deal with the aftermath of the May 24 mass shooting of Robb Elementary School where 19 students and two teachers were killed by a gunman. Bob Stead, MS, LPC, a provider and Give an Hour ambassador, is spearheading the effort to establish the free mental health clinic. There are immediate needs that must be addressed in the Uvalde community, but the long-term effects have yet to be determined and may not be as obvious, a news release points out. Regardless of the timeline, Stead and other professionals are committed to helping out the Uvalde community "for the long haul." Licensed health care professionals who want to get involved can register here. Give an Hour created the Route 91 Heals program, for the victims of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program offers peers support, resources, and group sessions led by a therapist.. The program helps build resilience through online events, creative workshops and community gatherings. Yves here. This post raises the possibility of upheaval, even revolt, as a result of rising hunger. Many experts expect a real crunch to start, even in the US, at the end of summer/early fall. For instance, of IM Docs contacts, a retired agribiz CEO warned that the shortages would be somewhere between epic and Biblical. This article oddly ignores Arab Spring, where food and fuel price increases led to demonstrations and in some cases, government overthrow, all across the Middle East. Yet perilous little to benefit the poor and hungry seemed to have come out of it. This piece also strikes me as naive regarding how the super rich protect themselves. Back in 1984, when on a short project in Mexico City, it did not take much in the way of observation skills to notice the snipers on some roofs in the tony suburb where McKinsey had its offices. Its now pretty common for the worried super wealthy to have panic rooms and bunkered compounds. The latter wont buy much more than say five, and most ten, year of respite in an actual collapse (things like medications and computer chips will become scare), but they are perfect bolt holds for riding out six months to a year of upheaval. By Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies in the Department of Peace Studies and International Relations at Bradford University, and an Honorary Fellow at the Joint Service Command and Staff College. He is openDemocracys international security correspondent. He is on Twitter at: @ProfPRogers. Originally published at openDemocracy While it has long been blatantly obvious that the global economic model is not working for all, the rate of accumulation of wealth by a small minority is now breathtaking if not totally obscene. With the situation only being worsened by the economic impact of the Ukraine War which has come on top of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could we be headed for mass revolts sparked by a desperate need for change? The war is causing food shortages, with the worlds poorest the most affected. Though the full impact is yet to be felt, the number of severely food insecure people has already doubled from 135 million to 276 million in just two years, leaving almost 50 million on the edge of famine. Though the Global South is the worst hit, poorer communities in richer states are also affected. Here in the UK, where millions of people already live close to the edge, there has been a surge in the need for food banks as many are pushed into critical need. Many schools in more deprived areas are forced to provide breakfasts every morning, not least to avoid having to teach hungry children who cannot concentrate. Meanwhile, the rich are getting richer. In one three-month period in 2020 which coincided with the start of the pandemic the worlds then 2,189 billionaires increased their wealth by 27.5% to $10.2trn, according to Swiss private bank UBS. This represented a 70% increase in their wealth in just three years. Two years on, there are now 2,668 billionaires. Just last week, Britains Sunday Times published its annual rich list of the countrys most wealthy reporting the richest ten individuals and families have a combined 182bn. In this context, two questions arise. Why has the global rich-poor divide grown so wide? And why has there not been a bigger uprising against it? The latter is particularly confusing, given our global system has seen such a vast increase in overall wealth in the past 75 years. After all, following the end of World War Two, many countries in the West put considerable effort into public services, developing much-improved health systems, public education, housing, and basic social assistance support for the most marginalised. What has happened since? The answer is widely recognised to be neoliberalism, an approach whose essence is that the true foundation of economic success is strong and determined competition, which a political system must work towards to have any chance of success. This approach was developed in the 1950s, with the work of economists including Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, and has since been shaped by a network of more than 450 right-wing think tanks and campaign groups. Neoliberalism is aided by taxation designed to benefit the more successful; the firm control of organised labour to minimise opposition; and the maximum privatisation of transport, utilities such as energy, water and communications, housing, health, education and even security. There are obviously losers from this system, but typically enough wealth will trickle down to prevent serious opposition. It is a line of thinking that can reach the fervour of a religious belief and is certainly best seen as an ideology. The switch to neoliberalism was boosted by the huge economic upheavals that followed the 1973-74 oil price hikes (over 400% in eight months). Stagflation became the order of the day and, in the UK and the US, key elections at the end of the decade brought in the Thatcher and Reagan administrations. Both newly elected leaders were convinced of the need to embrace the new thinking. Throughout the 1980s, the US pursued a firm belief in the need to accelerate tax changes and financial deregulation, while Britain sought to control the trade unions and oversee the large-scale privatisation of state assets Thatchers mantra being there is no alternative. Two global processes also did much to speed up the transition towards neoliberalism. The first was the Washington Consensus, introduced in 1989, which set out free-market economic policies for developing countries. The World Bank and IMF led the way in ensuring the Global South followed the new model. The second was the collapse of the Soviet bloc. Russias immediate embrace of hyper-capitalism was surely the proof, if any was needed, of the value of the neoliberal approach and the obsolescence of a centrally planned system. Even China was moving towards hybrid authoritarian capitalism. But now, more than three decades on, neoliberalism does much to explain the obscene levels of wealth for the few, not the many. So, why has it had so little resistance? Part of the answer is the residue of the experience of pre-neoliberal economics, a sense that things were worse before the likes of Thatcher and Reagan came on the scene. That view persists but is rapidly losing its potency in the face of the widening divide. A more realistic explanation lies in so much of the Wests mainstream mass media being controlled by singularly wealthy individuals, families, and corporations. In the UK, the print media is dominated by just three billionaire families, who set much of the news agenda. They are hardly likely to focus too much on deep inequalities that, if addressed, would strike at their own power. That doesnt rule out radical responses, though. ISIS and other Islamist paramilitary movements have benefitted enormously from their ability to recruit marginalized and angry young men with very limited life prospects, offering a cult-like alternative to their deep frustrations. There are, of course, current instances of revolt elsewhere, such as in Sri Lanka, which have specific causes, invariably in a much wider context. But we have not yet seen any truly transnational movement, though it is worth remembering the coincidence of many revolts in a few months during the latter part of 2019. In October of that year, thousands took to the streets in Iraq to rebel against levels of unemployment and low wages, which came amid rampant corruption in a country basically rich in fossil fuels. At the same time, Lebanon witnessed repeated street demonstrations against inequality and corruption, and Chile experienced protests that were framed as a response to both the failed promises of neoliberalism and the inequality that neoliberal policies have arguably created in the country. Elsewhere France had the Yellow Vests protests, and Ecuador, Bolivia, Haiti, Albania, Ukraine, Serbia, and even Russia saw civil unrest. As an Oxford Research Group analysis put it at the time: In most cases there are specific factors which push unease and resentment over into demonstrations often followed by repression and violence. A few may have little to do with rising inequality and diminishing life prospects, but for the majority, these are very much part of the wider social and political context. Those revolts did not spill over into a transnational anger, though, let alone violence. The individual protests have not been seen as part of a more global process and there is little sense of a worldwide movement of revolt. But now, the economic effects of the pandemic and the Ukraine war, combined with the growing impact of climate breakdown, suggest that it is only a matter of time. If that is the case, then we really are moving into uncertain times. Yves here. This is a fine backgrounder on NATO, particularly on the beliefs driving its existence and continuation. Some additional points: As Scott Ritter noted, a military fights in the way it has been trained to fight. Brecher points out that NATOs first engagement was in the Middle East, and since then, it was regularly dragged in to support US misadventures. As a result, its forces were increasingly being trained and equipped to fight insurgencies, as opposed to a combined arms operation against a peer power. Second, the US and NATO went from overestimating the USSR to in recent years underestimating Russia. Admittedly, that might not be hard given that Russia had an economic extremely lost decade in which it was probably lucky if it kept its military in a holding pattern, which would mean falling (further) behind relative to the US with its continued spending. However, Russia was alarmed by the US withdrawal from nuclear arms reduction agreements, and then by its plans to build a defensive shield (which BTW never worked but if it had, it would have been one of those storied game changers). Third, Russia is a land power. It does not have a huge navy or air force like the US, nor does it have costly military bases all over the globe. Russia arguably has the best missile and missile defense systems, relying on long-distance precision missiles rather than manned aircraft for strikes deep into unfriendly territory, and generally reserving its air force for cover of its ground operations. Russias hypersonic missiles, where the West has no comparable weapons systems in production, allow it to hit enemy targets without the possibility of being intercepted, which if deployed at scale, could enable it to take out so-called decision centers before there was time to respond. And were pouring $40 billion into Ukraine (actually only $6 of new weapons for Ukraine; the rest is replenishment of stocks sent to Ukraine, training, payments to the Ukraine servicemen and I believe other Ukraine budget items, and other NGO goodies). If we really are worried about the great Slavic peril, perhaps we need to revisit our priorities. By Gary Brecher. Originally published as a Radio War Nerd subscriber newsletter on May 7, 2022 NATOs been around for longer than I have. It survived what should have been its extinction event, the fall of the Soviet Union. In fact, it expanded and became more aggressive once the USSR, its supposed enemy, vanished. NATOs own site mentions an odd factoid: Its first military operation came, not in the Cold War years, but in 1991. Thats odd, right? If youre old enough to remember the Cold War, like me, you took it for granted that defending Europe from the Soviet threat was NATOs whole purpose, its reason for existing. Western Europe was at the mercy of Soviet tanks, and the NATO forces were the only thing keeping them from rolling in. Thousands of Russian tanks were poised the newspapers always used that word, poised to pour through the Fulda Gap. Most of us were pretty vague about what the Fulda Gap was and couldnt have found it on a map people couldnt google things in those days, and it was a lot harder to go to the library, grab one of those giant Atlases, and try to find Fulda on it but we proto-War Nerds were proud of just knowing the term, Fulda Gap. That put us way ahead of the ordinary rubes who uncomplainingly paid their taxes for the expensive weapons NATO stacked up in what was then West Germany, and to show off, we talked a great deal about that Fulda Gap. It was our favorite gap, over there somewhere in the clogged, incomprehensible, history-littered mess of Central Europe. We were very worried about it. It was vulnerable. Heres the actual gap, if youre interested: The Fulda Gap, a mythical realm of the NATO Era. Its not much, just a route around what passes for mountains over there. But it was vulnerable, that was the key. NATO was always vulnerable, like a silent-film heroine. Those Russian tanks were always on the verge of rolling over NATO like a steam locomotive chugging toward Mary Pickford, tied to the tracks. But the Russian tanks never came. The rubes still paid for new, more expensive weapons meant to stop them. But they never came. Even when America was distracted, as in the Vietnam War, or during Watergate, they never came. All through the whole second half of the last century, taxpayers coughed up for endless NATO upgrades and nobody in America questioned or complained about it. I seem to remember the actual Western Europeans complained sometimes, but what did they know? Europe seemed weak, drained of all its fire, gone from berserkers to appeasers in the wake of 1945. Why, those Dutch even let their army have a union! The US was the bulwark of The Alleged West. And even in Europe, everyone who mattered supported NATO, as far as we knew. Looking back now, its our acceptance of the whole farce that seems odd. Youd think people would catch on after a few decades, but we never did. It was the old joke, the favorite joke of any protection racketeer: The fact that the tanks never poured through the Fulda Gap just proved how well the protection racket was working. Any time a nay-sayer dared to suggest that the Russians might not even mean to send their tanks, they got slapped down with the same cliches: Munich! 1939! Readiness! and If you want peace, prepare for war. That was a big one, that slogan. The less you know, the more sense it makes, and we didnt know much. Like I say, this was before the internet and no matter how annoying the internet can be, you durn kidz just try imagining a world where the censors of the three TV networks and a half-dozen big-city newspapers ruled the entire spectrum of media discussion. Hold your thumb and index finger about a centimeter apart; that was the range of opinion. And for those editors, it was always 1939. Its still 1939, for mainstream people. Sure, there have been gigantic, horrific wars all over the world since then, but those wars were in the Global South, the hot countries, and they mostly killed poor, non-European people, who just dont count for the pundits. If you think Im exaggerating, just compare the orgy of commiseration about war in Ukraine with the pundits studied silence about Yemen or Tigray. Its so blatant, so obvious, and so gross that theres no use even beating them over the head with it. Ive tried, and its like sermonizing your cat. They cant change, and dont even want to. Theyre comfortable with 1939; its the only navigation aid they know, their one lighthouse in a dark world. Khomeini said, Every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala. Well, for a NATO-shilling pundit, and they were legion, every day was the Munich Conference, every dissent was appeasement, and the only danger was not pouring trillions into weapons that would never be used. And this strange tableau never changed, even as other things were morphing wildly. Thats what amazes me, looking back: the sheer granite stability of the NATO scam. You could call it a tableau vivant, but youd have to leave off the vivant part. That Russian blitzkrieg never came, but it was always going to come. Being an American in the Cold War was a lot like belonging to one of those Last Days churches, where you sit through a scary sermon every Sunday about how The Lord is coming soon, very soon, all too soon, and YOU PEOPLE ARENT READY! YOU WILL BE CONSUMED IN FIRE! Come to think of it, I wonder if 40 years of believing in those Russian tanks swarming through the Fulda Gap had something to do with the rise of the Evangelicals. They must have found it easy to believe The End is nigh! You will be consumed in fire! In fact, that pretty much was the prediction: We would be consumed in fire, but secular, Soviet fire, tank fire. And all it amounted to was money, the boring, adult stuff Cold-War kids like me never even thought about. Money didnt seem very interesting in those years. The notion of worshipping billionaires was alien thats one thing I have to say, grudgingly, for that accursed era: They didnt worship billionaires. But the oligarchs of that era didnt mind not being worshipped, as long as that sweet Defense money kept coming. Those budgets were as irrational in their details as in their basic premise. That is to say, they were overwhelmingly invested in conventional, armored warfare tailored to the European battlefield. NATO strategists, and their colleagues (colleagues is very much the correct term) in the Warsaw Pact planned endlessly for a replay of the Eastern Front in WW 2. There was one little flaw in this thinking: Nukes. There were no nukes on the Eastern Front in WW 2. If there had been, they would have been used. Like, instantly. By either side. Used until they were all used up, and Europe was a lake of glass. So if the Eastern Front sequel, replayed with nukes in the inventory, would inevitably go nuclear, then what was the point of all those troops with rifles, all those tanks? Youd do just as well and save a few trillion by stationing a few thousand unarmed soldiers with radios along the border between East and West Germany. If the Russian tanks crossed the border, the soldier with the radio could call it in, and the ICBMs would fly. But NATO did not want to think much about that. Nukes were oddly unpopular among post-1945 officer corps. They were a form of automation that the officers guild did not favor. They would put all the armored divisions out of business, all the infantry divisions, all the surface navies. Whereas an updated Eastern Front would mean full employment for the whole guild. And the best part was, you didnt you never would, in fact have to make actual war. You would train endlessly for an event that you and your guild colleagues knew in your secret hearts would never happen. Because they knew it would go nuclear and nobody wanted that. The big armies in NATO did plan for nuclear war, but glumly, in secret, with none of the zest for publicity they displayed when discussing conventional weapons that could be used against that sea of tanks the Russians were always about to send. Nuclear war was like that line in Ghostbusters: Bystander, staring up at the sky: Its a sign! Ghostbusters secretary: Its a sign all right, Goin out of business! The dream of this perfect, imagined NATO/Warsaw Pact conventional war was so precious that people had to invent scenarios which confronted and defused the nuke problem. Somehow, the future war had to be conventional. But it had to deal with the existence of nuclear weapons. So storytellers came up with plotlines in which nuclear weapons were used, then abandoned. It had to be mano a mano, with good old tanks, planes and small arms. So in the 1980s we got plotlines in which nukes were used only once or a few times, then abandoned in favor of conventional weapons. Sir John Hackett, a respected British general, published The Third World War: The Untold Story in 1982. Hackett clearly savored every battle in his imagined war, except the nuke part. He didnt look forward to that at all. So he came up with a storyline that made all his readers happy: Early in the big NATO/WP war, the Soviets nuke a British city, and the Brits respond by nuking a Soviet city. And thats the end of the nuclear war. After that, both sides stick to good ol tank/air warfare. The genius of Hacketts plot is the choice of city. Its a Tale of Two Cities nobody who mattered would miss. So, in his book, the Soviets nukeBirmingham. Perfect! Nobody Hackett was likely to meet at the MoD or over drinks at the club would miss Birmingham! In fact, theyd wax droll over it, little jokes about how theyd have paid the Russians to take care of Birmingham for them, etc. And in retaliation, Hacketts plot has NATO nukingMinsk. Not to bad-mouth Minsk, butits Minsk, OK? Nobody in the Kremlin would miss Minsk. So, after exchanging pawns, NATO and the Warsaw Pact get down to business, in Hacketts book, blasting each other with updated WW2 weapons. Theres something similar in the original Red Dawn (1984), the movie that defined Reagan-era Cold-War dreams. In the movie, Powers Boothe plays a shot-down F-15 pilot (Im an Eagle jockey, he introduces himself) who parachutes into occupied Colorado and is rescued by the Wolverines, a teen clique of American insurgents. First, Boothe has to justify getting shot down (because Patrick Swayze and his fighters are pretty hardcore, believe you me), which he does by invoking the common view that the Russians had more of everything, including fighter planes. Boothe growls, There was four ofem. I GOT three! After that the Wolverines accept him as an OK fighter and ask him to explain the big war picture to them. Boothe lays it out, his face smeared with expensive battle-smoke camouflage, using a stick as they stare into their campfire in the Rockies. Boothes summary has it all, from illegal immigrants who are actually Soviet infiltrators, to a craven Europe which has decided to sit this one outall except England, and they wont last very long. Then he adds another commonplace used to explain why the war didnt go all-out nuclear: The Russians need to take us in one piece, and thats why they wont use nukes, and we wont either, not on our own soilthe whole things pretty conventional now. Every now and then, some troublemaker would break the taboo and ask the old, annoying question, But wouldnt an all-out war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact go nuclear? That quibble was mostly ignored by the newspapers of record, the television networks, the talk shows. We dreamed of nuclear war, but in an oddly detached way, imagining our cities vanished under the mushroom cloud. It wasnt a battlefield, and it didnt have much to do with how we imagined a replay of WW 2 in Europe. It could happen for any reason, our president having a tantrum, the Soviet boss waking up on the wrong side of the bed, anything. We didnt connect it with trillions spent on NATO, or the 400,000-odd US troops we kept in Europe, along the West Germany vs. East Germany line. And there was a funny thing about those H-Bomb dreams: They were a feature of the first phase of the Cold War, the 1950s and early 1960s, much more than the second Cold War, under Reagan. Reagans Cold War was tilted toward conventional war, while that first phase was dominated by the possibility of a sudden, unpredictable, all-out nuclear exchange. Theres a Peanuts strip, from about a year before I was born, showing how sudden and nuclear people imagined war in the first phase: Peanuts 1954. This was totally first-phase dreaming, not at all like Reagan-era dreaming. There was a logical problem with US action during this first phase: Everyone thought that the war would be sudden and nuclear, with no role for old-timey soldiers with guns. But at the same time, the US maintained almost half a million soldiers with guns, tanks the whole outmoded WW 2 arsenal in Western Europe. So what were they doing, the 400,000 American troops in Europe? There werent enough of them to stop a Soviet blitzkrieg, but there were about 390,000 too many to be pure tripwire soldiers. Tripwire was a common way to describe them, meaning their job was to get rolled over and call it in. Its so strange to remember that now, the tripwire talk that pundits used so blandly. Thats something I keep coming back to when I try to remember that dim time, dim in more ways than one: Didnt they think harder? Didnt it cross their minds that their strategy was hopelessly confused? 400k soldiers was too many for a tripwire, too few for a deterrent, but we accepted them. I wonder now if that was because we knew it was all theater. I think people did begin to think that, as the years went by with no big war. Maybe when NATO started in 1949, Americans really expected a big WW3 to flare up in Central Europe, as if the embers of WW2 hadnt been fully hosed down. But by the 1970s, the idea that the Russians were eternally revving their engines, waiting to hit that Fulda Gap, was a little far-fetched. Cool people made fun of army guys (Animal House) and saw the service as a last resort of the unemployable. It was not cool at all. Brezhnev was running the USSR, and all it took was one look at his photos to see that this guys whole ambition was to die in his bed, as comfortably as possible. He didnt make a plausible war chief. Brezhnev: Just let me die in peace, OK? Only a few specialists thought hard about what those big NATO armies were doing. Most Americans accepted NATO as a form of insurance. You might not need it, but you should always have it, and that means paying the premiums every year. The premiums were the gigantic Department of Defense budgets Congress voted every year. After all, the way we saw it, NATO really amounted to the United States with a few lesser, much lesser, sidemen. And we made the rules, as shown by the rule about withdrawing: any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of the United States of America, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation. Like a tough landlord, we insisted on a years notice. And even when our European allies followed the rules, the U.S. vilified them. When de Gaulle tried to downscale Frances integration in NATO in 1966 (because he had this quaint notion that France was a sovereign power), he became an enemy forever. I remember the editorial cartoons, the furious opinion pieces, and the scornful reminders of Frances supposedly cowardly record in WW2 after de Gaulle tried to pull France back. It was obvious, it went without saying, that if NATO showed weakness in any way, those Russian tanks would roll west til they hit the Atlantic Ocean. And maybe they wouldnt stop there, either. First they take Paris, then they take Manhattan, as Leonard Cohen didnt say. De Gaulles pride in the French nuclear force may have been odd, by superpower standards. The French (and British) nuclear forces were nothing compared to the Soviet or American stockpiles. In 1977 Britain had 500 nuclear warheads, France about 230, enough to level most major Soviet cities. That seemed small compared to the five-figure totals of America and the USSR. Those two nuclear forces were something else, unprecedented. The ability to end the planet! There was something hysterical about it, even exciting. I always wondered why no one spoke in favor of nuclear war, but I didnt say that out loud. You were supposed to be anti-them; even I knew that. Kept it to myself, how beautiful those mushroom clouds were, how right they felt, how deserved. A still from Akira (1988), in which you get not one but two nuclear annihilations, both beautiful. Its always fun when 21st c. academics go Heeeey, theres jouissance going on with those mushroom clouds! As my compatriots in Cold-War Pleasant Hill were wont to say, No shit, Sherlock Ph.D.! This made for some awkward conversations with Mark and Steve Shumway, children of a liberal Minnesota family across the street. They would go to their heretical church and get all anxious about nuclear war. It seemed a bit shameful to me, though I tried to be broadminded. There were lots of jokes about the crazy overkill of those stockpiled nukes, but the people making the jokes were a few fringe comics and lefties, and even they tended to moan about nuclear war as if it was bad weather, something sad that wasnt anyones particular fault. That dog sitting in the flames smiling? Very Cold-War, only the flames were in the future tense. It was an awful lot like thinking about Hell: it would be bad if it happened, but you couldnt help giggling about it, all those flames. In fact, a lot of us, I think, felt the pull of oblivion. When I heard Tom Lehrers supposedly anti-nuke song, Well All Go Together When We Go, I heard it as a dream of justice, not a warning. Every other war killed some people, often the best of their world, and left others, often the worst, alive and gloating. Wasnt it better, a war where wed all go together Maybe that was an eccentric reading, but I dont think, looking back, that I was all that eccentric. Just outside the permitted discourse, as they said in grad school. We were legion, the oblivion fans. There was no real argument in the media about any of this grotesque tableau. In fact, there was very, very little argument in the American media about anything beyond preference for one or the other presidential candidates. Im telling you, those gatekeepers ruled the world before the internet came along. The US media lost interest in NATO a bit in the worst years of the Vietnam War, from about 1968-1973. By the time Nixon resigned, the US central government was adrift and the Army was a demoralized branch of the Civil Service. You had to wonder well, I had to wonder anyway, in my few lucid moments, why the USSR didnt attack during Watergate, or in the chaos afterward, when a comically feeble Gerald Ford was fronting the Presidency for the deposed Nixon. The Russians could have won a conventional war easily at that time. They must have known it. Why, I wondered while picking my various scabs, didnt they send the tanks across that famous Fulda Gap? That got me wondering why they hadnt struck after JFK got killed, in November 1963. You wouldnt believe how that assassination pole-axed America. Hell, even Lou Reed wrote a maudlin song about it. People were paralyzed. And there were constant rumors that the Soviets had killed JFK, either by themselves or via their Cuban proxies. Looking back, its pretty obvious why not. First of all, the Soviets didnt want to. They were much more afraid of war than America, which had never been invaded. The Soviet elite of that era wanted a little calm, the chance to have a moderately prosperous life. Thats what theyd always wanted: no incursions, leave us alone. No one had taken that World Revolution noise seriously for decades. Second, they knew what would happen if they did send the tanks across the West German border. The US would nuke every city and military base in the USSR. Of course the USSR would return the favor, nuking every American city and military base, but that wasnt much comfort. In other words, only amateurs took those big conventional armies in Europe seriously. What mattered was the nukes. It was that simple. Which raises the question, what the Hell were those huge, expensive armies all about? Even if you could suspend your disbelief in a purely conventional war, it was impossible to explain how those NATO armies were supposed to survive a long, grinding Eastern Front war. It didnt seem likely that they could be reinforced from America if an all-out war started. Even the Nazis had come very close to cutting off trans-Atlantic shipping with no more than a few diesel submarines, and the Soviets were a lot bigger and smarter than the wretched Nazis. The Soviets had magnificent interceptor aircraft (or so we were told) and were always building a great navy. How was the US supposed to reinforce its troops in Central Europe across an ocean full of Soviet subs and within range of Soviet interceptors? There were Popular Mechanix stories that we planned to commandeer commercial airliners and use them to ferry G.I.s across the ocean. But even for a trusting Cold War product like me, those stories seemed absurd. They were going to ferry tanks and APCs across the Atlantic, in wartime, on a bunch of re-branded 747s? Those big giant radar-signature planes, in range of the fearsome Soviet fighter-bombers? Much as I wanted to believe, I couldnt help thinking, I dont think Id want to be on one of those planes. Yet even NATOs most obvious weaknesses led to bigger budgets because there was always some gadget under development that would fix them. STOL cargo planes would allow NATO to use highways and small airfields, more fighter aircraft would be able protect convoys of cargo planes and so on. There was always a gadget on the way that would save us. Gadget wars were something we could win, unlike Vietnam, where no gadget, however loudly touted in Popular Mechanix, seemed to make any difference. Russians played war fair, with tanks and planes and a front, a proper front. Them you could beat with gadgets. And the most feared Russian gadgets were new, secret, superpowered attack planes that could blast those converted 747s out of the sky, like the MiG-25. You would not believe the volume of terrified, awed, enraptured prose about that plane which flowed from the typewriter keyboards of thousands of NATO shills. Hell, Clint Eastwood made a movie about it. Thats how much we all loved to fear it. The MiG-25, NATO codename Foxbat though it turned out to be more of a stripped-down 1970s muscle car. Well, a Russian pilot flew his Foxbat to Japan in 1976, and the techies swarmed over that plane. What they found though they didnt publicize it much was that the MiG-25 was a stripped-down, low-rent muscle car of a fighter. Its famous Mach-3 speed required a long, slow acceleration; it was hand-welded of nickel-steel alloy, not titanium as claimed; its electronic systems used vacuum tubes, and its range was a crazy-low 300 km/190 mi. It was essentially a short-range interceptor, useful for attacking bombers or short-range recon, but not much else. The news that the MiG-25 wasnt as scary as wed been told didnt get out nearly as fast as the claims about its super-powers had. There was no profit in downplaying Soviet threats. As far back as the Bomber Gap and Missile Gap, Cold War media told the scare stories loud and clear, but consigned the corrections to page 17. So us rubes had an inflated notion of the USSRs power, right up until it went out of business. We had our own champions, like the F-15, marketed as an answer to the growing Soviet AF threat. The F-15 Eagle: Always outnumbered in our dreams It was a good plane (and a very expensive one) but we had so few of them! We always needed more. There was always that sense that the USSR had more of everything, as in Powers Boothes account of his unequal combat against the MiGs. More tanks, more fighter planes, and more will. The part about more tanks may have been true, at certain points during the long phony war, but the rest was totally false. The Soviet AF never matched the USAF, and as for the will to fightwell, that myth lasted right up to the moment the USSR fizzled out like a damp campfire. Just plain fizzled out without firing a shot. So much for their iron will, their endlessly growing threat, their terrifying potential. The collapse of our designated villain was a shock. I mean across the board. A shock to Kremlinologists, a shock to the public, and a giant shock to weapons manufacturers. Whats St George supposed to do when his Dragon ups and dies? Most of the people reading this will have grown up after that moment, so I should tell you, no one expected it. (Except Andrei Amalrik, and all he got for being right was an early death.) We had a whole Hogwarts of Kremlinologists, whose job was to read the entrails and practice divination from them. Seriously, there were thousands of these charlatans pulling down tenured salaries in every respectable university in the NATO countries and not one of them noticed that their subject, their very raisin deter, was about to fold. If theyd been employed by more rigorous institutions say an actual wizards college in some fantasy novel theyd have paid for their staggering incompetence with a slow and unpleasant death. They didnt, of course. They didnt even get fired. Thats what it was to be part of the NATO industry: You did your part in the charade and got paid for that. Being competent had very little to do with it. So when the Soviet Union turned off the lights and posted ClosedUnder New Management in 1990-93, these Kremlinologists did what the Department of Defense and its contractors did: They changed the phrasing of their budget demands and scholarly articles from Soviet threat to Russian threat. Thank God the USSR collapsed in the 1990s, because there were word processors by that time, so these people didnt even have to risk RSI by retyping whole pages. Soviet became Russian, and they were back in business. You might be wondering if there was any blushing, any apologies, from the Kremlinologist wizards guild. Then again, you might know better. Of course there wasnt. Reagans administration had so tamed the supposedly unpatriotic and liberal media that they never even called out all the Kremlinologists. Id see some of them coming out of Barrows Hall, UC Berkeley, home of the Poli Sci Department (and in the running for ugliest building on campus, no small feat at a school which experienced a building boom during the 1960s). Most were smug wretches like Steven Fish, later famed for trying to smear Stephen Cohen. And Id wonder even then, seeing people like Fish striding confidently along in their utter failure, almost with awe, at the mysterious workings of the God of Tenure. Id think, God, if all the marine biologists hadnt noticed that the oceans were about to vanish, they wouldnt be so smug! But the God of Tenure is a Calvinist, and his favors are distributed to many a Holy Willie. And in a way, being distracted by envy of mere professors was typical of all of us victims of the great Cold War scam. We never even thought about the people whod been collecting dividends, from Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, McDonell Douglas. Thats where NATO won its victory, in the dividend envelopes that arrived each month do dividends arrive by month? I dont really know. Hell, I never even got a tenure check. All that was left was hazardous industrial waste. Those tanks, a sea of rusting tanks as one Soviet general mourned when it was all over; all those planes, whole deserts full of abandoned USAF deluxe models, all just part of the cost of doing business. And the most bizarre part of NATOs history, the footnote that was longer than the text itself, was yet to come: NATOs many, many military operations after its precious Soviet Union had almost ruined things by unilaterally declaring peace. Gary Brecher is the nom de guerre-nerd of John Dolan. Buy his book The War Nerd Iliad. Hear him read his comic memoir Pleasant Hell in audiobook format. Subscribe to the Radio War Nerd podcast & newsletter! (Natural News) A study has revealed that black-browed albatrosses can dive up to an impressive 62 feet (19 meters) into the sea to hunt prey, which is more than twice the depth previously thought. The study, which was published in the journal Current Biology, was led by zoologist Oliver Padget of the University of Oxford and his fellow researchers from the University of Lisbon and the British Geological Survey. For the study, the researchers used accelerometers, depth sensors and GPS to study the black-browed albatross population on New Island in the Falklands. They monitored the birds as they flew to the South American coast. Black-browed albatross facts A black-browed albatross is mostly white with yellowish-orange webbed feet, grey highlights on its head and wings and a bright yellow beak. A distinct black eyebrow gives them their name. Of the 24 albatross species, the black-browed albatross is one of the smallest. An adult bird can only grow up 80 to 95 cm in length, with a wingspan of 210 to 250 cm and a weight of three to five kilograms. The birds fly fairly low and they take food from the sea surface or just below. Occasionally, black-browed albatrosses will plunge from heights of up to nine meters. Black-browed albatrosses mostly feed on krill and fish, with some cephalopods and jellyfish. The birds also feed on salps, which look like jellyfish but are a member of the Tunicata, a group of animals also called sea squirts. Black-browed albatrosses may travel long distances to find food, and foraging trips can take up to several days and take them hundreds of kilometers of flight. According to earlier research, mollymawks (the name given to medium-sized albatrosses like black-browed albatrosses) only dive around 20 to 30 feet (six to nine meters). But during the study, the researchers discovered that at least 50 percent of the black-browed albatrosses studied could dive deeper than 33 feet (10 meters). Some birds even reach nearly twice this depth. Understanding unobserved behavior key to conservation Padget advised that a closer understanding of the unobserved behavior of the black-browed albatross and other endangered seabirds is important for conservation efforts. The researchers reported that at least 15 of the 22 albatross species are currently at risk of extinction. Over the last few decades, populations have also plummeted. One key driver of albatross species decline has been how the seabirds are often caught in the hooked, baited fishing longlines used to catch large ocean-going fish like tuna. Previously, albatrosses have been considered as only surface feeders. (Related: Antarctic petrels (birds) mysteriously disappear from Svarthamaren Mountain.) With the data from the recent study on black-browed albatrosses showing that the birds are physically capable of much deeper dives, experts now also have to consider their diving abilities when thinking about the effectiveness of mitigation strategies that rely on the species being restricted to the surface. The team also added that the black-browed albatrosses do not dive at night. which implies that the birds rely on their vision to target shoals of fish at depth. Padget suggested that pelagic long lines could be set at night when albatross might be less likely to chase baits and get caught. Tim Guilford, a study author and animal behavior expert from the University of Oxford, suggested that diving among black-browed albatrosses could be the result of previously unseen behavioral flexibility. The study findings may have important consequences for how people consider the risks to threatened species, and how they might respond to change, concluded Guilford. Visit Ecology.news to read more articles about unusual and impressive animal feats. Watch the video below to know more about some interesting facts about wild birds. This video is from the KC-Sunbeam channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Shorebird breaks record for non-stop flight after flying from Alaska to New Zealand. More than 80% of bald and golden eagles in the US have RAT POISON in their systems, study shows. POLLUTION PLAGUE: Coronavirus waste is harming animals around the world, from dogs to penguins. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Antarctica.gov.au Australian.museum Brighteon.com (Natural News) Australias eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant told members of the World Economic Forum that society needs to undergo a recalibration of free speech and a whole range of other human rights. (Article by Jack Bingham republished from LifeSiteNews.com) We are finding ourselves in a place where we have increasing polarization everywhere, and everything feels binary when it doesnt need to be, so I think were going to have to think about a recalibration of a whole range of human rights that are playing out online, Grant told a panel at the World Economic Forums annual summit on Monday. Australian eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant tells the World Economic Forum we need a recalibration of freedom of speech. pic.twitter.com/zEq72wFhNf Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) May 23, 2022 From freedom of speech to the freedom to be free from online violence, or the right of data protection to the right [of] child dignity, said the eSafety commissioner, indicating which rights she believes are in need of recalibration. The clip, which was first reported by the Canadian conservative outlet True North Centre, has gone viral on social media over the past 48 hours, with people and groups from around the world suggesting that a recalibration of human rights is a euphemism for the eradication of such rights. The Great Free Speech Recalibration, replied investigative journalist and editor of The GrayZone, Max Blumenthal, making reference to the WEFs Great Reset agenda which seeks to reset capitalism in favor of global socialism. The Great Free Speech Recalibration https://t.co/p0TGnQR5cN Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 24, 2022 No, added the Republican House Judiciary Committee on its official Twitter account. According to the World Economic Forums biography of Grant, she leads the worlds first government regulatory agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online, and her career began in Washington DC, working in the US Congress and the non-profit sector before taking on a role at Microsoft. During her time at pro-censorship Microsoft, Grant spent 17 years serving as one of the companys first and longest-standing government relations professionals, while also doing similar work for social media giant Twitter. As reported by LifeSiteNews, the WEF has sparked increasing controversy since the onset of COVID-19 due in part to the unveiling of the WEFs radical socialist Great Reset agenda, which envisions a life in which private property and privacy are widely abolished, which seems to include many aspects of the Chinese Social Credit System. In fact, members of the Alibaba Group, the organization behind key components of the Chinese Communist Partys social credit system, are currently in Davos for the WEF annual meeting. The WEF has also enacted massive security measures for its 2022 meeting, including 5,000 military personnel and a strictly enforced no-fly zone. On Monday, conservative journalist Jack Posobiec was detained by said personnel, who were displaying World Economic Forum Police badges, for about an hour while he was filming outside the secret meeting in Davos. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com Kabul, May 28 (UNI) The Taliban dismissed a United Nations Security Council call to lift stringent restrictions on Afghan women, calling the world bodys concerns unfounded. Reaffirming the Taliban's commitment to Afghan women, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi dimissed the Security Councils concerns, reports Khamma Press. Since the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society, it said. The UNSC on Tuesday officially and unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Taliban for restricting girls and womens access to school, government jobs and freedom of movement since regaining control last year. The Security Council called on the Taliban to swiftly reverse the policies restricting human rights and freedom for women and girls. The Council also called on the Taliban to reopen the schools for all female students without further delay. UNI MYK MR (Natural News) In The Corbett Report above,1 independent journalist James Corbett reviews the contents of Bill Gates book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. Its every bit as infuriating, nauseating, ridiculous, laughable and risible as you would expect, he says. This is a ridiculous book Theres certainly nothing of medical or scientific value in here Its a baffling book even from a propagandistic perspective (Article by Dr J Mercola republished from Expose-News.com) Gates goal in writing the book is to disarm the public and prepare us to accept the agenda that Gates and his allies would like to impose on the world. Ultimately, what this is about is drumming up general public support or at least general public understanding of the unfolding biosecurity agenda. Another reviewer of Gates book, economist Jeffrey Tucker, offered similarly negative feedback:2 Imagine yourself sidled up to a bar. A talkative guy sits down on the stool next to you. He has decided that there is one thing wrong with the world. It can be literally anything. Regardless, he has the solution. Its interesting and weird for a few minutes. But you gradually come to realize that he is actually crazy. His main point is wrong and so his solutions are wrong too. But the drinks are good, and he is buying. So you put up with it. In any case, you will forget the whole thing in the morning. In the morning, however, you realize that he is one of the worlds richest men and he is pulling the strings of many of the worlds most powerful people. Now you are alarmed. In a nutshell, thats what its like to read Bill Gatess new book How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. Gates Book Chapter by Chapter Corbett goes through Gates book chapter by chapter, so if youre short on time, you can review the ones that interest you the most: Chapter 1: Learn from COVID (timestamp: 12:58) Chapter 2: Create a pandemic prevention team (timestamp: 18:23) Chapter 3: Get better at detecting outbreaks early (timestamp: 26:21) Chapter 4: Help people protect themselves right away (timestamp: 31:01) Chapter 5: Find new treatments fast (timestamp: 37:26) Chapter 6: Get ready to make vaccines (timestamp: 39:46) Chapter 7: Practice, practice, practice (timestamp: 47:06) Chapter 8: Close the health gap between rich and poor countries (timestamp: 50:49) Chapter 9: Make and fund a plan for preventing pandemics (timestamp: 57:40) Afterword: How COVID changed the course of our digital future (timestamp: 1:03:00) Gates GERM Team By now, youve probably heard that the World Health Organization is attempting to seize control over global pandemic monitoring and response, and ultimately, all health care decisions. But did you know Bill Gates, the largest funder of the WHO (if you combine funding from his foundation and GAVI), also intends to play a key part in this takeover? As Gates explains in a video at the beginning of Corbetts report, hes building a pandemic response team for the WHO, dubbed the Global Epidemic Response & Mobilization or GERM Team. This team will be made up of thousands of disease experts under WHOs purview, and will monitor nations and make decisions about when to suspend civil liberties to prevent spread of an illness.3 Alas, as noted by Rising host Kim Iversen in the video compilation above, if COVID-19 has taught us anything, its that stopping the spread of a virus is more or less impossible, no matter how draconian the rules. Meanwhile, the side effects of lockdowns and business shutdowns are manifold. Peoples health has suffered from lack of health care. Depression and suicide have skyrocketed. Economies have gone bust. Violent crime has risen. Tucker also points out the false premise behind Gates pandemic prevention plan, stating:4 This theory of virus control the notion that muscling the population makes a prevalent virus shrink into submission and disappear is a completely new invention, the mechanization of a primitive instinct. Smallpox occupies a unique position among infectious diseases as the only one affecting humans that has been eradicated. There are reasons for that: a stable pathogen, a great vaccine, and a hundred years of focused public health work. This happened not due to lockdowns but from the careful and patient application of traditional public-health principles. [T]he attempt to crush a respiratory virus through universal avoidance could be worse than allowing endemicity to it to develop throughout the population. Gates Destructive Greed During COVID, we basically traded false protection against one thing for a multitude of other ills that are far worse in the long run. Now, Gates and the WHO want to make this disastrous strategy the norm. Once again, we see Gates is basically paying the WHO to dictate what the world must do to make him a ton of money, because hes always heavily invested in the very solutions he presents to the world. While hes built a reputation as a philanthropist, his actions are self-serving, and more often than not, the recipients of his generosity end up worse than they were before. Case in point: After 15 years, Gates Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) project has now been proven an epic fail.5 Gates promised the project would double yields and incomes for 30 million farming households by 2020. That false prognosis was deleted from the AGRA website in June 2020, after a Tuft University assessment revealed hunger had actually increased by 31%. February 28, 2022, the first-ever evaluation report6 confirmed the failure of AGRA. The Globalists Double-Prong Attack on National Sovereignty But getting back to the globalists plan to seize global control through biosecurity governance, they are attempting to do this using two different avenues. If we fail to fight off both attacks, well end up under totalitarian governance. The first attack comes in the form of amendments7 to the International Health Regulations (IHR). The second attack comes through a new international pandemic treaty with the WHO. Starting with the first takeover strategy, as you read this, countries around the world are in the process of voting on amendments to the IHR.8 By May 28, 2022, the World Health Assembly will have concluded their vote on these amendments and, if passed, they will be enacted into international law in November 2022. The IHR, adopted in 2005, is what empowers the WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).9 This is a special legal category that allows the WHO to initiate certain contracts and procedures, including drug and vaccine contracts. While the IHR grants the WHO exceptional power over global health policy already, under the current rules, member states must consent to the WHOs recommendations. This is one key feature that is up for revision. Under the new amendments, the WHO would be able to declare a PHEIC in a member state over the objection of that state. The amendments also include ceding control to WHO regional directors authorized to declare a Public Health Emergency of Regional Concern (PHERC). In summary, the IHR amendments establish a globalist architecture of worldwide health surveillance, reporting and management, Robert Malone, Ph.D., warns,10 and we the public have no say in the matter. We have no official avenue for providing feedback to the World Health Assembly, even though the amendments will give the WHO unprecedented power to restrict our rights and freedoms in the name of biosecurity. Theres not even a publicly available list of who the delegates are or who will vote on the amendments. Summary of Proposed IHR Amendments A summary of the proposed changes to the IHR was recently provided by Malone.11 In all, the WHO wants to amend 13 different IHR articles (articles 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 48, 49, 53 and 59), the end result of which is the following:12 1. Increased surveillance Under Article 5, the WHO will develop early warning criteria that will allow it to establish a risk assessment for a member state, which means that it can use the type of modeling, simulation, and predictions that exaggerated the risk from COVID-19 over two years ago. Once the WHO creates its assessment, it will communicate it to inter-governmental organizations and other member states. 2. 48-hour deadline Under Articles 6, 10, 11, and 13, a member state is given 48 hours to respond to a WHO risk assessment and accept or reject on-site assistance. However, in practice, this timeline can be reduced to hours, forcing it to comply or face international disapproval lead by the WHO and potentially unfriendly member states. 3. Secret sources Under Article 9, the WHO can rely on undisclosed sources for information leading it to declare a public health emergency. Those sources could include Big Pharma, WHO funders such as the Gates Foundation and the Gates-founded-and-funded GAVI Alliance, as well as others seeking to monopolize power. 4. Weakened sovereignty Under Article 12, when the WHO receives undisclosed information concerning a purported public health threat in a member state, the Director-General may (not must) consult with the WHO Emergency Committee and the member state. However, s/he can unilaterally declare a potential or actual public health emergency of international concern. The Director Generals authority replaces national sovereign authority. This can later be used to enforce sanctions on nations. Once the amendments are adopted by the World Health Assembly, nations will have only a limited time six months to reject them. That would put us into November 2022. Any nation which hasnt officially rejected the amendments will then be legally bound by them, and any attempt to reject them after the six-month grace period will be null and void. Attack No. 2: The WHO Pandemic Treaty The second attempt to gain global control is through an international pandemic treaty with the WHO. An intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) was established as a subdivision of the World Health Assembly in December 2021,13 for the purpose of drafting and negotiating this new pandemic treaty. In summary, the WHO wants to make its pandemic leadership permanent. It can then extend its power into the health care systems of every nation, and eventually implement a universal or socialist-like health care system as part of The Great Reset. While a WHO-based universal health care system is not currently being discussed, theres every reason to suspect that this is part of the plan. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has previously stated that his central priority as director-general is to push the world toward universal health coverage.14 And, considering the WHO changed its definition of pandemic to a worldwide epidemic of a disease,15 without the original specificity of severe illness that causes high morbidity,16,17 just about anything could be made to fit the pandemic criterion. The problem with this treaty is that it simply cannot work. The whole premise behind this pandemic treaty is that shared threat requires shared response. But a given threat is almost never equally shared across regions. Take COVID-19 for example. Not only is the risk of COVID not the same for people in New York City and the outback of Australia, its not even the same for all the people in those areas, as COVID is highly dependent on age and underlying health conditions. The WHO insists that the remedy is the same for everyone everywhere, yet the risks vary widely from nation to nation, region to region, person to person. They intend to eliminate individualized medicine and provide blanket rulings for how a given threat is to be addressed, and this can only result in needless suffering not to mention the loss of individual freedom. Are You Ready to Cede All Authority to Gates-Led Group? In closing, Gates GERM team would be the ones with the authority to declare pandemics and coordinate global response.18 Are you ready to cede all authority over your life, health and livelihood to the likes of Gates? I hope not. In the video above, Del Bigtree with The Highwire provides poignant examples where Gates is now admitting what The Highwire, I and many others have been saying since the earliest days of the COVID pandemic, and getting censored and deplatformed for it. Gates is two years behind everyone else, yet despite his apparent inability to interpret the readily available data, he now wants power to dictate health rules to the whole world. We cant let that happen. Join the Global #StopTheWHO Campaign Its going to require a global response to prevent these two power grabs, starting with the IHR amendments under vote by the World Health Assembly. To that end, the World Council for Health has launched a global #StopTheWHO campaign. Heres how you can get involved:19 Read more at: Expose-News.com (Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) never caused a pandemic. But the so-called vaccines created to respond to COVID-19 did. This is according to Dr. Reiner Fuellmich, a German trial lawyer who has successfully won cases against megacorporations. In his home country, Fuellmich leads the Extra Parliamentary Corona Investigative Committee, an organization at the forefront of fighting against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations and working towards bringing a Nuremberg-style trial against the nations and corporations that have committed crimes against humanity during the pandemic. (Related: Shocking report suggests COVID-19 vaccines have caused millions of deaths worldwide.) We dont have a problem with any pandemic, we dont have a problem with any virus, said Fuellmich during an interview with Alex Jones of InfoWars. We only have a problem with scare tactics that are designed to drive us to accept shots that will then cause the real problem. That is the real pandemic. Its immune systems being compromised. It is vaccine-induced thrombotic diseases. He added that the real pandemic is the health complications caused by the COVID-19 vaccines. Nothing that were seeing is real except for the damage that the vaccines the so-called vaccines are inducing. Fuellmich leading fight to hold pandemic instigators accountable Fuellmich also leads an organization called the Peoples Court of Public Opinion. This group has published multiple reports detailing the many human rights violations inflicted by politicians, scientists and corporate executives around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. During one public hearing in February, which was convened to galvanize public support for bringing legal cases against the main criminal entities and organizations, Fuellmich elaborated in great detail how the pandemic caused by the coronavirus was engineered. One, there is no corona pandemic, but only a PCR test plandemic fueled by an elaborate psychological operation designed to create a constant state of panic among the worlds population, he explained. This agenda has been long-planned. Fuellmich is referring to the polymerase chain reaction tests widely credited as being the most accurate way people can find out whether or not they have COVID-19. But as Ben Armstrong noted during his program, The Ben Armstrong Show, the tests were faulty from the very beginning. You had to take these tests that light up for any type of coronavirus whatsoever and were geared to be extremely sensitive so that even if you werent sick and they were just, say, a false positive well, you light up positive, said Armstrong. Most of those who tested positive were told that they were asymptomatic cases. But, as Armstrong noted, in reality, they were all false positives. You know thats a scam. Theres no such thing, he said. If youre asymptomatic, that means youre not sick. [You cant] infect other people while you have zero symptoms. No, that does not happen. If youre sick and you are infectious where you can infect other people, you will have symptoms, always. There will be symptoms of it. Fuellmich noted that the conspirators responsible for the pandemic were also instrumental in promoting the use of the lethal experimental injections and in demonizing and dismissing the use of effective treatments like vitamins C and D and Zinc regimens, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. The end goal of the pandemic, according to Fuellmich, is for the establishment of a One World Government that uses a single currency. This involves population control which, in their view, requires both a massive reduction of the population and manipulating the DNA of the remaining population with the help of mRNA experimental injections, said Fuellmich. Watch this episode of The Ben Armstrong Show from the New American as host Ben Armstrong talks about how the COVID-19 vaccines caused the real pandemic. This video can be found in The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Truth confirmed: Research proves two more conspiracy theories related to vaccine shedding, pregnant women to be true all along. More evidence emerges proving Pfizer committed fraud during COVID-19 vaccine trial. COVID-19 vaccine shedding can harm the unvaccinated and cause serious health problems like fist-sized blood clots. Mass COVID-19 vaccination is a deadly and unscientific policy that will cause surge in cancer rates, warns pathologist. Scientist warns: mRNA vaccines will continue killing people, and those who survive will be NWO puppets Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com Algora.com InfoWars.com (Natural News) A mother trying to save her two children at the Robb Elementary School shooting incident in Uvalde, Texas was handcuffed by federal marshals. The police were doing nothing. They were just standing outside the fence. They werent going in there or running anywhere, said Angeli Rose Gomez, who drove 40 miles to the school to try to save her children as quickly as she can. Gomez was one of the several parents demanding the officers to stop waiting around and go into the school themselves. It was then that the marshals approached her and put her in handcuffs, the Wall Street Journal reported. The enforcers informed her that she was being arrested for intervening in an active investigation. A few moment later, the mother was able to convince the authorities to free her then she broke into a run; jumped a fence; and ran inside to rescue her kids. Gomez shared that she also saw one father pepper-sprayed and another one tackled and thrown to the ground by the marshals as he tried to go to the school. The latter lost his 10-year-old daughter in the slaughter. Social media posts showed footages of other parents calling for the law enforcement to do something and try to get into the school. The police had set up a perimeter around the building while the ordeal was taking place. Witnesses of the horrific incident, mostly parents of the children, are outraged on the kind of response showed by the the authorities. A woman in one clip can be heard yelling, Shoot him or something! A man can be heard saying, Theyre all just parked outside, dude. They need to go in there. 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. Witness Juan Caranza, 24, 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. (Related: Why did Uvalde police stand outside and do nothing while Texas shooter rampaged through Robb Elementary School?) The shooter, identified as Salvador Ramos, had 40 minutes to one hour before the cops went in to neutralize him. This gave him ample time to massacre two teachers and the innocent lives of 19 children. A young girl who survived the execution heard the shooter say, What do I have here? as he opened the classroom door and began firing. Ramos was eventually shot and killed by a border patrol agent who also sustained injuries. Murderer entered the school unobstructed The gunman entered the building unobstructed, contrary to the information released earlier, authorities said on May 26. Ramos was not confronted by a school police officer before he entered the elementary school, said Victor Escalon, the South Texas regional director for the state Department of Public Safety. The Texas ranger said no armed guard challenged the teenaged attacker and it is unclear if the school door was even locked. Reports quoted witnesses saying police were hesitant to confront the killer. Campuses are required to have staff who patrol door entrances, parking lots and perimeters according to Uvalde County Independent School District Officers protocol. We will find out as much as we can why it was unlocked, Escalon said. Or maybe it was locked. But right now, it appears it was unlocked. Meanwhile, an armed school officer was driving nearby but was not on campus before the shooting spree started, said a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The said enforcer told NBC: Investigators concluded that school officer was not positioned between the school and the shooter, leaving him unable to confront the shooter before he entered the building. Visit GunViolence.news for more updates on the Uvalde shooting incident. Watch this video to learn who is truly to blame for the Robb Elementary School massacre. This video is from the Cisco Girl channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Psychic disintegration: Prepare for society to become MORE VIOLENT as insanity spreads. ITS NOT THE GUNS: Americas left-wing culture of DEATH and self-mutilation is a FACTORY that produces mass shooters. Survival 101: How to find effective cover in a mass shooting. Sources include: ThePostMillennial.com WSJ.com ABCNews.Go.com BBC.com NBCChicago.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Research suggests that exposure to harmful chemicals can cause many health problems in people of all ages. And according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, pregnant women are being exposed to more dangerous industrial chemicals. These harmful chemicals include parabens, pesticides and plastics, along with replacement chemicals for substances like bisphenols and phthalates that are known to cause many adverse effects. There is a wealth of data that proves chemical exposures during pregnancy is a critical window of vulnerability. Health experts also called for public awareness of these growing threats and swift action by government regulators to reduce exposure. The recent study follows the 2021 release of data that revealed how over 100 different chemicals were present in pregnant womens blood and umbilical cord samples. However, in the present study, the research team also detected these chemicals and tracked exposure levels for 12 years. The cohort of 171 women included a diverse group of people from seven American states and territories like California, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York and Puerto Rico. Twenty percent of women participating were Black, one-third were White, 40 percent were Latina and the remaining were from other groups. Throughout the study, the researchers conducted routine monitoring using an advanced diagnostic method that lets them analyze dozens of chemicals from a single urine sample. The research team reviewed 103 chemicals and findings showed that over 80 percent of the chemicals are detected in at least one of the participants. Additionally, one-third of the compounds are found in over 50 percent of women. The study also revealed that many women have levels of neonicotinoid insecticides in their urine. (Related: Scientists find 55 new environmental chemicals in pregnant women, newborns.) While widely known for the dangers they pose to pollinators, scientific data from the last decade has also highlighted the adverse effects of pesticides on human development from prenatal exposure. According to a review by the Natural Resources Defense Council, several peer-reviewed studies have linked these exposures to autism-like symptoms and birth defects in the brain and heart. Pregnant women from certain communities are exposed to more chemicals The study also found that the body burden of the dangerous chemicals is disproportionate among women of different races and backgrounds. According to findings, there was higher exposure amounts in non-White women, those with less education and pregnant women who are single. Jessie Buckley, first author of the study and associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, explained that even though the pesticides and replacement chemicals were prevalent in all women, data showed that Latinas had substantially higher levels of parabens, phthalates and bisphenols. She noted that this could be because of higher exposures to products with chemicals like processed foods or personal care products. The study findings are in line with recent research showing that Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities are often exposed to pesticides at disproportionately higher rates compared to other communities. Aside from higher rates of chemical exposures, current laws result in weaker protection of these communities. Researchers also identified other areas of concern like elevated risk factors for pesticide-induced illness, toxic housing and poor enforcement even after problems are identified. The study also found that many of the chemicals detected are found in higher amounts compared to the previous studies in the peer-reviewed literature. Tracey J. Woodruff, senior author of the study and professor and director of the UC San Francisco Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment and co-director of the UCSF EaRTH Center, said that this marks the first time researchers were able to measure and identify the amounts of chemicals in such a large and diverse group of pregnant women. She added that their findings emphasize how the number and scope of chemicals in pregnant women are increasing during a very vulnerable time of development for both the pregnant person and the fetus. Adverse effects of chemical exposure during pregnancy Pesticide exposure during this critical window of vulnerability is linked to various long-term health hazards. According to a study published last April, maternal pesticide exposure during pregnancy can affect sleep patterns in daughters later in life. This suggests that sleep problems you may be having now may be caused by chemical exposure when you were only a baby. Exposure during pregnancy can increase the probability of childhood ear infections. This can increase the risk of hearing loss, which can set back childhood development and significantly change the course of a childs life. Data also suggests that pregnant mothers who have used insecticides have a 98 percent increased risk of having children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) scores in the 90th percentile. Chemical exposures can also affect the health of both mother and child in various ways. According to data, early exposure to pesticides in the womb increases the risk of the rare fetal disorder holoprosencephaly. This disorder prevents the embryonic forebrain from developing into two separate hemispheres. Pesticides can also cause early births and low birth weight. Research has found that glyphosate may be a primary contributor to these. Overwhelming data has also found a link between prenatal pesticide exposure to a greater risk of developing cancers like acute childhood leukemia or nephroblastoma kidney cancer. Unfortunately, while peer-reviewed research has highlighted the need to strictly regulate or ban the use of these harmful industrial chemicals, federal regulators at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to allow harmful exposures to occur. In some instances, the EPA even permitted increases in application rates of chemicals linked to prenatal and early childhood health impacts, like the pyrethroid class of insecticides. Tips on how to avoid exposure to chemicals when pregnant Follow these tips to ensure your safety and avoid further exposure to dangerous chemicals when pregnant: Wash your hands thoroughly. Find safer alternatives whenever possible. For example, use products that contain low levels of chemicals. You can also make non-toxic cleaning solutions using safe ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. Store all chemicals safely. Keep them out of reach of children and with safety caps screwed on correctly on all containers. Read and follow the instructions on any packaging. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, postpone home renovations. Always keep your home well ventilated. If you have a task that involves chemicals, like cleaning, ask someone else to do it. Visit Chemicals.news for more on the harmful effects of industrial chemicals. Watch the video below to know how to cleanse and detox for conception. This video is from the Dr. Edward Group channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CDC encourages pregnant women to take COVID vaccines, citing spike in pregnancy deaths. WHO warns against administering Moderna coronavirus vaccine to pregnant women. Another danger from fracking: Benzene exposure during pregnancy found to affect maternal health. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org BeyondPesticides.org PregnancyBirthBaby.org.au Brighteon.com (Natural News) Russia aims to strengthen its economic ties with China aside from sharing common interests and making technological developments together. Now that the West has taken the position of a dictator, our economic ties with China will grow even faster, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a press release Monday, May 23. Lavrov made the statement while speaking to students at a high school in Moscow. Lavrov cited that Russia and China have common interests in international affairs and both sides can gain the benefits of working jointly on technology. This is an opportunity for us to realize our potential in the field of high technology, including nuclear energy, but also in a number of other areas, he said. Three weeks before Russias invasion of Ukraine, Beijing and Moscow renewed their bilateral relationship to a no limits partnership after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders also announced that there would be no forbidden areas of cooperation between the two countries. China has not criticized Russia over its invasion of Ukraine but has been critical of the sanctions made by Western nations against Moscow. Last May 4, Sen. Dick Durbin, who is the co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, told Chinas ambassador to the United States Qin Gang that he was extremely concerned about Chinas denial to clearly condemn Putins unjustified and unprovoked war. Meanwhile, Chinas energy imports from Russia have expanded in the current months. The communist governments buying of Russian oil, gas and coal increased 75 percent in April to over $6 billion, Bloomberg said in a recent report that cited Chinese customs data. Imports of Russias liquefied natural gas surpassed 463,000 tons in April, an increase of 80 percent from the previous year. Lavrov rejected the notion that Russia would be willing to enhance ties with Western nations soon. If they [the West] want to offer something in terms of resuming relations, then we will seriously consider whether we will need it or not. We must stop being dependent in any way on the supply of anything from the West, Lavrov said. He added that China has information and communications technologies that are in no way inferior to the West and a great deal will ensure mutual benefits. Russia-China space program a threat to US national security Outer space is one specific area of Sino-Russian cooperation that has major effects on U.S. national security. Both sides are presently in the last year of a five-year space cooperation program that began in 2018. Chinas state-run media Global Times reported last December that the program was likely to be extended for another five years concluding in 2027. In March 2021, the Russian space agency Roscosmos approved a memorandum of understanding with Chinas National Space Administration agreeing to work closely on an international lunar research station. Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin told Russian state-run media Tass in April that hes planning to discuss with Chinese partners about collaboration on the moon before the end of May. Chinas and Russias interests in the moon were emphasized in a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report titled Challenges to Security in Space 2022 issued in April. Both nations seek to broaden their space exploration initiatives, together and individually, with plans to explore the moon and Mars during the next 30 years. ??If successful, these efforts will likely lead to attempts by Beijing and Moscow to exploit the moons natural resources, DIA defense intelligence officer John Huth said at a briefing stating the report. The moon could possibly turn out to be a crucial source of rare earth metals, which are scarce on Earth, but are required to produce common electronics such as computers and lithium batteries, as well as defense products utilized by the U.S. military like night-vision goggles and armored vehicles. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb warned about Russian and Chinese space capabilities during a congressional hearing held last May 11. (Related: China, Russia, working on weapons that can kill US GPS satellites) Russia and China have developed directed energy weapons to blind intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites, and they continue the development, testing and proliferation of direct-ascent and on-orbit anti-satellite weapons to hold at risk U.S. and allied space assets, Plumb said. They continue to develop the means to deny others the use of space through the employment of malicious cyberspace activities, including cyber attacks, against ground sites supporting space operations. Watch the video below to know why the Russia-China Bromance is very dangerous to the West. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia, China building powerful, exotic, new weapons capable of destroying American coastlines and entire cities by stealth. China, Russia sign agreement to build space station on the moon, the high ground above planet Earth. US military revamping to fight Russia and maybe China in the Arctic. China slams US, NATO for provoking Russia to invade Ukraine. World War III will be nuclear and destructive, warns Russian foreign minister. Sources include: The Epoch Times.com Bloomberg.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Texas Republicans are now pressuring the court to reverse its decision that blocks the states attorney general (AG) from prosecuting election cases. In 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott unilaterally suspended the Texas Election Code by calling in the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, giving him almost unlimited power to suspend or change the laws. In this case, the declaration effectively changed the election code. Abbott took nearly unprecedented steps by placing limits on the size of public gatherings, instructing restaurants to limit service to take-outs and deliveries instead of dine-ins, prohibiting nursing home visitations and even closing all schools. While he wasnt the first governor to implement such measures during the pandemic, and while his executive order is far less draconian than others, questions arose regarding the legality of his action. According to the Texas State Constitution, only the Legislature has the power to suspend laws in the state. However, the Texas State Code does allow him as governor to suspend the provisions of any regulatory statutes for state business or affairs if it could prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with a disaster. The disaster powers are part of the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, which was passed in a 2019 session. In the May 23 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report on Brighteon.TV, Texas lawyer and political figure Jared Woodfill talked about the lawsuits filed against Abbott, which revolve around the suspension of the Texas Election Code and the limited ability of adults to cast their ballots by mail due to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. If you look at each one of Governor Abbotts executive orders related to the election in that year, he made it very clear that he was suspending the Texas Election Code, Woodfill said. It was the first time that anyone challenged Abbotts executive orders, and Woodfill noted it takes courage and boldness to take on a sitting governor from the same party and say enough is enough. If its wrong for the Democrats, its still wrong for the Republicans, he said. Abbott changed some of the executive orders to be more consistent with the Texas Election Code. However, he did not change the early voting rule, which he expanded from two weeks to three despite the Code stating clearly that there should only be two weeks of early voting. Problem with in-mail early voting With respect to ballot by mail, we know thats the number one area where voter fraud occurs, Woodfill said. (Related: Detroit whistleblower comes forward, describes massive voter fraud for Biden with repeat ballot counting.) He explained that after these ballots are sent in, there are also ballot harvesters, who are individuals hired usually by campaigns or parties to go and find applications to vote by mail to make sure that those applications are filled out. This is where it gets tricky. These people tend to harvest these ballots without being objective and are more likely to want the ballots to align with their own views and desires. Its too simple, its too easy to occur, and there are no checks and balances on it, Woodfill said. But the bigger issue is that the court ruling favoring Abbotts changes to the Texas Election Code has essentially blocked the state AGs ability to prosecute cases related to election fraud. And so here we are. This is an extremely important decision that has to be overturned. And so were looking at ways to get this case in front of not just the Court of Criminal Appeals, but ultimately the Texas Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution in the correct manner, consistent with 70-plus years of election law in this area. (Related: Former Director of National Intelligence prevented by election officials from investigating claims of voter fraud in Nevada.) He went on: The new ruling is completely contrary to the Constitution into 70 years of jurisprudence in this area, and its got to change because no voter fraud will be prosecuted ever again in Texas. Follow VoteFraud.news for more news on election frauds in the United States. Watch the May 23 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report video below. Catch new episodes of The Dr. Hotze Report every Monday at 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Lawsuits and recounts underway in light of massive voter fraud will Americans get the fair election they deserve? EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: Democrat whistleblower exposes Biden campaign voter fraud operation. Yes, voter fraud is real and yes, Democrats are behind it: Leftists caught funding illegal voting ring in Texas. How massive voter fraud was facilitated in three swing states: Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada. BEWARE voter fraud: Texas AG says 134 felony charges have been filed against Gregg County Commissioner and three associates. Sources include: Brighteon.com TheTexan.news SupremeCourt.gov (Natural News) As you might expect, the current White House occupant is about to rake in boatloads of cash from the new monkeypox vaccines that are currently under development. The Penn Biden Center, a globalist think tank at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, is receiving a flood of cash, we now know, to create the next wave of plandemic injections at warp speed. And as its name suggests, the Penn Biden Center is directly tied to the Biden Crime Family. Patrick Howley told Owen Shroyer during a recent live transmission of War Room that the pharmaceutical-industrial complex is greasing the skids for the Biden Crime Family to profit heavily from the monkeypox false flag event that is now unfolding. The University of Pennsylvania, which hosts Joe Bidens think tank the Penn Biden Center and paid Joe Biden in the lead-up to his run for president, got paid by the company Bavarian Nordic to perform a clinical trial on the Bavarian Nordic monkeypox vaccine, stated an article by Howley that was published by National File. Joe Bidens host university profited from helping Bavarian Nordic develop the MVA-BN monkeypox vaccine. The Penn Biden Center, by the way, is financed by UPenns general funds. The MVA-BN jab being tested there is known in the United States as the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine. A 2014 document further revealed that UPenn is being paid directly by Bavarian Nordic, which received $100 million in U.S. taxpayer funding from none other than career government employee Tony Fauci. UPenn and Biden also profit from COVID injections and those profits will skyrocket even more if Bidens FDA grants full approval for the shots Biden reportedly joined UPenn in 2017, a year after leaving the vice presidency. It appears as though the monkeypox scam was being concocted under the cover of darkness while then-President Donald Trump hyped up the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) and pushed scam vaccines for it under Operation Warp Speed. Now, Biden has been handed the baton for Plandemic 2.0, which will include its own set of scam jabs and possibly many of the same oppressive restrictions that were imposed for COVID. UPenn also generated plenty of cash from COVID, we now know. The school was paid licensing fees by BioNTech, Pfizers injection partner. The more injections Pfizer-BioNTech sell, the more money the school makes. And if Bidens Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants full approval for the injections as expected, then both UPenn and Biden will rake in even more cash. This is thanks to a deal that UPenn forged back in 2018 when Biden worked for the university. According to financial documents obtained by the File, the Penn Biden Center receives regular milestone payments from the sale of Pfizer-BioNTech injections, as well as from each new FDA approval for them. UPenn is closely tied to communist China, it is also important to note, as is the entire Biden Crime Family. With Joe Biden able to return to the Penn Biden Center after his presidency, Biden puts himself in a position to personally profit from the vaccines he is pushing, Howley explained. Pfizer-BioNTech is trying to get a new authorization for a child booster for 5 to 11 year olds. Under the watch of UPenn President Amy Gutmann, massive amounts of money have flowed into the universitys funds apparently to import students from around the world including from Communist China and the Peoples Republic of China with administrator notes including MAKE SURE STUDENT IS FROM CHINA.' Clearly the crime ring runs deep, and it has fully invaded Washington, D.C. Keep that in mind once the monkeypox jabs start getting pushed the same way COVID jabs were. The latest news coverage about monkeypox can be found at Outbreak.news. Sources include: Infowars.com NaturalNews.com NationalFile.com (Natural News) The FBIs fingerprints are all over the Buffalo mass shooting. A local news report from the Buffalo News has linked a retired federal agent to the shooting because he apparently knew about it at least 30 minutes before it occurred. The former agent, believed to be from Texas, is said to be under investigation for direct communications he had previously had with Payton Gendron, the alleged shooter. The former agent, along with at least six other individuals, engaged with Gendron in an online chat room where racist hatred was discussed, the Buffalo News reported. Two law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation were supposedly petitioned by Gendron to read about his mass shooting plans (why do these alleged shooters always seem to have full-length manifestos outlining in detail their future crimes?). It is unclear at this point whether or not the retired agent accepted the invitation. What we are being told is that law enforcement is once again involved, which points to this potentially being yet another government false flag attack with suspicious roots (Related: Even the New York Times admits that the FBI is complicit in false flag activity). These were like-minded people who used this chat group to talk about their shared interests in racial hatred, replacement theory and hatred of anyone who is Jewish, a person of color or not of European ancestry, claimed one of the two law enforcement officials said to be privy to this background information. What is especially upsetting is that these six people received advanced notice of the Buffalo shooting, about 30 minutes before it happened. The FBI has verified that none of these people called law enforcement to warn them about the shooting. The FBI database shows no advance tips from anyone that this shooting was about to happen. Chances are that law enforcement is behind the Buffalo shooting The FBI said it is now attempting to track down these six people, including the retired agent, to conduct interviews. Two sources with close knowledge of the probe told the Buffalo News that the FBI could charge them as accomplices depending on what gets uncovered. The identity of the federal agency and which department he worked in remains unknown because the sources are not disclosing it. The FBIs Buffalo office is also refusing to comment on the investigation. If he had advance notice, he had a moral obligation to get on the phone and try to notify someone about it, said John V. Elmore, a Buffalo civil rights attorney representing the family of Andre Mackniel, one of the victims who died at the scene of the crime while buying a birthday cake for his three-year-old son. Terrence M. Connors, another attorney who is representing several other victims families, echoed the sentiment that law enforcement knew the shooting was going to take place before it happened but did nothing to try to stop it. As outrageous as this may sound, based upon what we are finding in our investigation, it is not surprising, Connors said. Like most of the other mass shootings that have been blasted across the headlines and airwaves over the years, the Buffalo shooting is replete with questionable circumstances that point to a coverup at best. At worst, the shooter was groomed by the very people who are supposed to protect society into committing mass murder. Imagine how bad the situation is, with foreign spies operating full throttle in the U.S., at numbers unheard of, while the FBI is busy proving itself incompetent, and staging coups, wrote someone at Natural News back in 2020 when the depth of FBI corruption really started gaining traction amid the election scandal. More related news can be found at FBICorruption.news. Sources include: BuffaloNews.com NaturalNews.com Hummingbirds may face extinction as a result of global warming, Newsweek reports on a new study. Scientists predict that the avian species will have to migrate north in search of cooler climates or possibly perish completely. As hummingbirds have the most difficult type of flight in the whole animal kingdom, hovering requires far more energy and oxygen than regular flight, as Study Finds reports. The bird species, however, are unaffected by the thin air. From Alaska to South America, they thrive in high mountain ranges. Studying Anna's Hummingbirds Species According to the study, the hurdles of shifting may be too much for the agile, tiny aeronauts. Austin Spence, the stated lead author of the study and a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut, explains that overall, the presented data implies that low air pressure and oxygen availability may impair hovering performance in hummingbirds when subjected to the acute challenge of high-elevation. In the study, Spence explains that when there is less oxygen available, thinner and colder air is especially challenging for species trying to stay warm. The study focused on the species Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna), which may live up to 2,800 meters above sea level. They enticed the bird species into net traps from locations around California, including Sacramento, which is 10 meters above sea level, and Mammoth Lakes, which is at 2,400 meters. The researchers then relocated them to a 1,215-meter aviary in western California. After a few days in their new habitat, the birds were given a little funnel into which they could stick their heads while hovering and sipping delectable syrup. The metabolic rate of the small organisms was recorded overnight since they let their metabolism drop as they slept. During sleep, this type of mini-hibernation conserves energy. Hummingbirds can cool their bodies to below 4C at night, the lowest temperature ever recorded in any bird. They have wings that beat at a rate of more than 10 times per second, and they use their hovering abilities to drink nectar from thousands of flowers during the day. Hummingbirds have a small heart that roughly 1,000 times each minute to stay up, but only 50 times during rest. The birds were transported by Spence and colleagues to a nearby research site 3,800 meters up near Mount Barcroft's top, where the air is thinner, with around 39% less oxygen and a temperature of about 5C. The hovering hummingbirds should have been working harder to remain aloft in the thin air 1000 meters above their natural range, but they experienced a 37 percent drop in metabolic rate. When the researchers examined the energy expended on the mountain top by birds that began around sea level and those from the higher end of their range, they found that they all labored similarly. Read also: For At Least 50 Years, Bird Population Kept on Falling in Tropical Rainforest Furthermore, the hummingbirds began to lower their metabolic rate for longer periods during the night. They were in torpor for more than 87.5% of the freezing high-altitude night. Spence explained that the birds employ torpor when it's extremely cold. The researchers also looked at the size of the animals' lungs to see if they grew larger in those that came from higher altitudes to compensate for the lack of oxygen. The team's findings show that although the birds' lungs were not larger, their hearts were. The findings in the Journal of Experimental Biology have implications for the future of hummingbirds as the avian species seek more comfortable conditions due to climate change. The findings presented by Spence and his team show that decreasing oxygen availability and low air pressure may be challenging difficulties for hummingbirds to overcome. Related article: Bizarre 'Behavioral Change' Observed in Birds Linked to Climate Change Enormous birds-massive birds-inhabited Australia fifty thousand years ago. One of them, called mihirunga, or "thunder bird," was six times the size of a contemporary emu, weighing up to 250 kilograms and standing over 2 meters tall. However, the enormous Genyornis newtoni vanished 45,000 years ago, and scientists debated whether human hunters or climate change were to blame. According to Trevor Worthy, a paleozoologist at Flinders University, a fresh examination of old eggshells-the remains of a prehistoric feast-suggests "humans were responsible." Humans vs Birds About 55,000 years ago, humans arrived in Australia; by 45,000 years ago, the Genyornis bird and hundreds of other giant creatures like marsupial lions and huge kangaroos had become extinct. However, the evidence linking their demise to the introduction of humans was at best speculative. Although evidence of hunting and butchering huge creatures was left in North America-bones with cutmarks, for example, or stone projectile points buried in mammoth remains-none of this was found in Australia. Researchers connected charred eggshells in Australia's southern and western shores to Genyornis in 2016, providing a probable smoking gun. They claimed that the shells proved omelet production on a big enough scale to put the thunder bird over the edge. Gifford Miller, a geoscientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a co-author of the article says, "A lot [of shells] had been burnt, which suggests human use." "That would have been the first concrete proof of predation." Others, however, said the shell fragments were too tiny and thin to be Genyornis and instead thought they belonged to Megapodius, a smaller bird species distantly related to chickens and turkeys. "We needed some independent means to establish the shells belonged to a gigantic bird," Miller says of the eggs, which are around the size of an emu or small ostrich egg. Also Read: Scientists Claimed that Mass Extinction Can be Drastically Lessened by Reducing Fossil Fuel Usage Extracting DNA Samples The scientists attempted to extract ancient DNA from the petrified shells but were unsuccessful. "The shells were too ancient, and the environment is too hot," explains Beatrice Demarchi of the University of Turin, who helped Miller identify the eggshells. The team instead used eggshell proteins. Eggshells develop swiftly in the bird's oviduct-within 24 hours-and quickly trap proteins inside the calcium and mineral crystals that make up the shell. These proteins are "unaffected by environmental contamination-only by temperature and time," according to Demarchi. She was able to retrieve protein fragments associated with egg development. The protein sequences were radically different from those discovered in current megapode eggs, even falling outside the group that binds all extant land birds, according to Demarchi. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week, the researchers write that Genyornis, a distant duck cousin, was the only remaining option. Worthy, who opposed previous studies linking the eggshells to Genyornis and was not involved in the study, believes the findings are impressive. "They've responded admirably to the challenge-the protein data appears to be fairly solid," he says. However, puzzles persist due to the lack of skeletal evidence: why would such a large bird lay little, thin-shelled eggs? "If they're accurate," Worthy adds, "we've got an enormous bird with the tiniest eggs known for a bird of its size." He says we might need an eggshell adjacent to a set of thunder bird bones to cement that relationship. Prehistoric People Eating Prehistoric Eggs The charred shells indicate that the first people in Australia stole and ate eggs-each of which would have been a family-size meal-rather than directly attacking the large birds. "It's possible that people were effective in driving birds away from their nests," Miller adds. "Capturing the young is the most efficient way to induce extinction." Related Article: One of the World Largest Mass Extinctions May Have Been Triggered by Volcanic Winter For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Gujarat on Saturday to address a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' and attend various other programs. Modir will visit the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Atkot, Rajkot at around 10 am. The hospital is managed by Shree Patel Seva Samaj. It will make available high end medical equipment and provide world class healthcare facilities to the people of the region, the PMO said. He will also address at the venue. Thereafter, he will address the seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on Sahakar Se Samriddhi at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar at around 4 pm, where he will also inaugurate the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol, the PMO said. "The cooperative sector of Gujarat has been a role model for the entire nation. There are more than 84,000 societies in the State in the Cooperative Sector. About 231 lakh members are associated with these societies," the PMO said. In yet another step towards further strengthening the cooperative movement in the state, the organisation of a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on Sahakar Se Samriddhi will take place at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, the PMO added. More than 7,000 representatives from various cooperative institutions of the state will participate in the seminar. In an effort to further provide farmers the means to boost productivity and help increase their income, Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol at a cost of around Rs 175 crores, the PMO said. The ultramodern Nano Fertilizer Plant has been established keeping in mind the increase in crop yield through the use of Nano Urea. The plant will produce about 1.5 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. UNI ASU RNJ Environmentalists are concerned about a new danger to biodiversity: renewable energy. Cleaner energy sources are critical in the fight against climate change, but some scientists argue that more should be done to preserve pristine desert environments. Rising Trend If it hadn't grown in lithium-rich soil, a little Nevada wildflower known as Tiehm's buckwheat could have remained unknown. As it is, this might be its undoing. However, Tiehm's buckwheat is more uncommon than lithium. It only grows on about 10 acres of land in Rhyolite Ridge in southern Nevada, also the site of one of the new lithium mines. "One individual on a bulldozer might wipe it out in a day," says Patrick Donnelly, the Center for Biological Diversity's Great Basin Director and one of the flower's strongest supporters. He and other environmentalists regard the flower and the mine as symptomatic of a larger and troubling trend: attempts to solve two environmental crises-a fast-rising climate on the one hand and an incredible surge in extinction on the other-are increasingly at odds; they argue. Impacts of Renewable Energy The renewable energy revolution impacts landscapes across the country, not only in the desert. Solar and wind-powered energy output in the United States has doubled in the last decade. Experts believe that's only the beginning of what we need to do to transition away from fossil fuels and prevent the worst effects of climate change. Nevada wants to acquire 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, under the Biden Administration's objective of totally decarbonizing the economy by 2050. According to some campaigners, the upshot is a renewable energy land rush that threatens endangered species and pristine desert habitats. Also Read: New Study: To Fight Climate Change, We Must Shut Down Fossil Fuel Production Environmental Detriment Wetlands and grasslands have long been considered worthless, with swamps being drained for building and prairies being plowed to cultivate crops. Some conservationists believe that history is repeating in the desert's mainly undeveloped valleys, rich in sunlight, lithium-rich soils, and geothermal hot spots. Donnelly claims he hasn't seen a thorough list of all the species threatened by renewable energy development. He does, however, retain an informal list of patients in Nevada. The US considers several of them to be endangered. Others, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), aren't-or aren't yet. They are frequently unfamiliar. Tiehm's buckwheat, Tecopa bird's beak (an annual plant), Railroad Valley springfish, Railroad Valley toad, Kings River pyrg (a small snail), and Ash Meadows women tresses are all threatened by lithium mining, according to Donnelly (an orchid). Desert tortoise, three-cornered milkvetch, and white-margined beardtongue are all threatened by solar energy (a flower). Dixie Valley toad, Dixie Valley pyrg, Long Valley speckled dace (a tiny fish), Steamboat buckwheat, Fish Lake Valley tui chub (another small fish), and bleached sandhill skipper are among the geothermal-energy-dependent species (a butterfly). "There is virtually little information about these species in many cases-they are all quite uncommon and cryptic," adds Donnelly. "However, Nevada is facing a possible renewable energy extinction problem, and these little organisms and plants are in the forefront." While ecosystems have constantly been threatened by livestock grazing and gold mining activities, he claims that renewable energy growth is the most recent and expanding concern. The United States controls little under half of the land in 11 Western states, including 80 percent of Nevada's territory, controlled mainly by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM designated 17 sites in six western states as BLM Solar Energy Zones in 2012, citing them as the best places to build a solar facility. Nevada has five locations. Actions According to Lee Walston, an ecologist for the US Forest Service, the BLM ignored essential species' habitats while identifying the locations. Argonne National Laboratory is part of the Department of Energy. BLM experts worked with Argonne scientists to map their solar energy zones and develop environmental impact statements. Some businesses, however, request permissions outside of these zones. "There are a variety of motivations for uses outside of solar energy zones," says Heidi Hartmann, an energy policy expert at Argonne who works with Walston. She cites the closeness of power lines or roadways as a reason for applying for a permit outside of a zone. The BLM stated in an email that they grant permits per the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), which requires public and environmental organizations to submit comments during open comment periods. Related Article: Experts are Saying that Renewable Sources are Not Enough to Solve Europe's Energy Crisis For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! According to a video published by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on May 28, 2022, the Admiral Gorshkov class frigate Project 22350 from the Russian Navy has performed a firing test of the Zircon anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile in the Barents Sea. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Russian Navy Admiral Gorshkov class frigate fires Zircon anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile in the Barents Sea. (Picture source Russian MoD) On May 28, 2022, the Russian Navy lead frigate of project 22350 "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" fired a hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile Zircon to reach a target in the White Sea. This firing test was conducted in the framework to test the combat capabilities of the frigate. According to information published by the Russian Ministry Of Defense, the Zircon missile has successfully hit the sea target at a distance of around 1,000 km. The Admiral Gorshkov Russian designation project 22350 is a new class of frigates built by Severnaya Verf OJSC for the Russian Navy. They are to be capable to execute long-range strikes, conducting anti-submarine warfare, and carrying out escort missions. The Admiral Gorshkov class frigate has a length of 13 m, a beam of 16 m, a draught of 4.5 m, and a displacement of 4,500 t. She has an operational range of 4,850 nmi (8,980 km) at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h). The Admiral Gorshkov class is powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) including two 10D49 cruise diesel engines of 5,200 shp (3,900 kW) and combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion systems including two M90FR boost gas turbines of 27,500 shp (20,500 kW). The Admiral Gorshkov is armed with one 130 mm Amethyst/Arsenal A-192M naval gun, 16 3S14 VLS (Vertical Launching System) cells able to launch Kalibr, Oniks or Zircon anti-ship cruise missiles, 32 Redut VLS cells for 9M96, 9M96M, 9M96D/9M96DM(M2) and/or quad-packed 9M100 surface-to-air missiles, two Palash CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), eight 330 mm torpedo tubes for Paket-NK anti-torpedo/anti-submarine torpedoes and two 14.5 mm MTPU pedestal machine guns. The Zircon is a scramjet-powered maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise missile. It can fly more than five times the speed of sound and maneuver in mid-flight, making them much harder to track and intercept than traditional projectiles. This missile could hit targets at sea and on land with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said that the seventh foreign ministerial level Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission meeting would be held in New Delhi on June 19 instead of May 30, a date which was fixed earlier. We rescheduled it (JCC meeting) ... we felt it is okay, it good with us, he told a media briefing in Guwahati of Assam where he is attending the third edition of Asian Confluence River Conclave-2022 (NADI). Momen said that the meeting was rescheduled on Friday evening during his talks with Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who is now also in Guwahati to attend the conclave. The Bangladesh foreign minister did not elaborate what caused the rescheduling of the meeting but said that there remained some issues between the two countries which were yet to be resolved. Actually, the JCC will be held on (June) 19, hinting that the two sides would meet in preparatory discussions on June 18. Friday evening, Momen said, he discussed with some critical bilateral issues with his Indian counterpart. As we already had a long discussion, so we thought, we could defer the JCC (for some days), he added. The Bangladesh foreign minister said that Dhaka proposed long pending Joint River Commission meeting before June 19. The sixth JCC meeting was hosted by Dhaka virtually on September 29 in 2020. Colombo, May 28 (UNI) Sri Lanka on Saturday took delivery of Russian oil, to restart operations at the countrys only refinery, the energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera said, bringing in much needed relief to the cash and energy strapped country, Khaleej Times reported. But this supply of Russian oil to Sri Lanka could soon be subject to a European embargo. The worst economic crisis that has befallen the island nation has led to shortages of fuel and other vital goods bringing the worst economic calamity on 22 million people. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. -- File photo. Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that the attacks on the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were carried out by the Bangladesh Chhatra League in Dhaka University area on orders from the topmost level of the government. The videos containing the cruel attacks on peaceful processions of JCD and repression on female JCD leaders by the goons of Chhatra League and Jubo league have gone viralwe would like to say the perpetrators indulged in such misdeeds at the behest of the highest leader of Awami League and the highest position of the government, he said. Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also strongly condemned the cruel attacks on the JCD leaders and activists on the Dhaka University campus and the high court premises by the Chhatra League activists. Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal organised the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in protest against what it said the attacks on JCD leaders and workers by BCL and the death threat to Khaleda Zia by prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Mosharraf warned the BCL leaders that they will not be spared for indulging in misdeeds of attacking their fellow students on the evil advice of their superiors. You will be tried in the peoples court in the days to come for your evil deeds. I want to warn you (BCL activists) that dont ruin your lives at the instigation of your senior leaders. The usurper government that lacks public support is turning the students into terrorists and using them to cling to power in an autocratic and fascist style, he said. Mosharraf said that the countrys people were angry with the government for its various misdeeds. This regime has failed to deliver on all fronts. The country now lacks democracy while people have no rights, including the voting one. People have also become helpless due to price hike in the daily essentials. The BNP leader alleged that the government was being failed to control the soaring prices of essentials as the ruling party business syndicates are hiking the prices of the commodities. He said that the countrys people no longer wanted to see Awami league in power for their various misdeeds. The support of this regime has become zero everywhere in the country and abroad. So, this government and Sheikh Hasina have become isolated. This is a weak regime and only a push is necessary to remove it. The BNP leader said that their party would ensure the fall of the government by creating a mass wave on the streets. Our Chhatra Dal has begun the movement to give a push to remove this regime by sacrificing their blood in Dhaka. Hasan Mahmud. -- File photo. Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that Awami League, along with the countrymen, would resist Bangladesh Nationalist Partys ill efforts of creating anarchy. The Awami League leaders and activists have been asked to remain alert. BNP is trying to create anarchy across the country. The terrorist activities in Dhaka University and even in front of the Supreme Court and at countrys other places involving the outsiders are ill efforts of creating instability as per the partys decision, he said. The minister told reporters before addressing an extended meeting of the AL district unit at local Zila Parishad auditorium here. Hasan said Awami League is in state power and the countrymen gave the party the responsibility of running the state. So, the party leaders have a responsibility to remain alert so that none could hamper the countrys peace and discipline and carry out arson terrorism like the BNPs acts in 2013, 2014 and 2015, he added. We, along with the people, will resist them (BNP) if they (BNP) try to create such instability, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary. In fact, he said, BNP has become mad. They (BNP) had claimed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would not be able to construct the Padma Bridge and many conspiracies were hatched to prevent the financing of the World Bank, he said, adding, but, Bangladesh has constructed the bridge with its own fund. For this, they have gone mad and are talking nonsense, he said. Replying to a query, the minister said that BNP had been trying to topple the government since 2009. But the BNP is becoming isolated from the people day by day, he added. He warned that tough actions would be taken if anyone tries to create anarchy. Replying to another query over Teesta agreement, Hasan said that Delta Plan had been taken as per the directives of the prime minister and a physical plan has been done for the country. Different steps, including the issue of distribution of the water of the Teesta River, have been taken to take the country ahead. He said that Bangladesh would turn into a developed nation before 2041. AL presidium member Shahjahan Khan, organising secretary Shakhawat Hossain Shafiq, executive members Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia and Safura Begum Runi, among others, addressed the meeting with AL district unit president and lawmaker Motahar Hossain in the chair. AL district unit general secretary and Zila Parishad chairman Matiar Rahman conducted the meeting. A total of 26 organisations are going to get the National Productivity and Quality Excellence Award-2020 for their significant contributions to the industrial sector through maintaining higher productivity and quality of products. The event is being organised by the National Productivity Organisation (NPO) under the Ministry of Industries. Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun will hand over the awards and certificates to the representatives of the recipient organisations as the chief guest at a function to be held at a hotel in the city, said a press release. State minister for industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, industries secretary Zakia Sultana and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Md Jashim Uddin will attend the function as special guests. A total of 26 organisations in five categories have been selected for the National Productivity and Quality Excellence Award-2020 and one business organisation for the Institutional Appreciation Award-2020. Of the large industries, Coca-Colas bottling venture International Beverages Pvt Ltd has secured the first position in the food sector, while Prans venture Habiganj Agro Ltd bagged the second prize. Fair Electronics Ltd became the champion among large-scale engineering firms, while real estate builder Sheltech stood second and Runner Automobiles won the third prize. In the services category, Nitol Insurance, Mir Telecom and Digicon Technologies won the first, second and third positions, respectively. Of the IT firms, Service Engine Ltd has been recognised by the government for its productivity and quality excellence. Under the chemical category, Premier Cement Mills, Kohinoor Chemical Company (Bangladesh) and Square Toiletries have won the top three prizes respectively under the large chemical industries category. Of the medium size industries, RFL Groups electric transformer manufacturing venture Sylvan Technologies Limited won the prize, while Mascotex Ltd stood first and Index Accessories became second among the medium textile and apparel industries. Millennium Information Solutions won the award in the mid-size IT firm category. BRB Polymer and GME Agro won the first and second prizes respectively in the mid-chemical category. In small and cottage industries, Dhaka-based Ahmed Food Products, Tohfa Enterprise and Jarmartz won the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Of the micro industries, Narayanganj-based Super Star Electronics won the prize. Eastern Tubes has been named the only state-owned enterprise to receive the award. Besides, the ministry has also named the Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the winner of the Institutional Appreciation Award 2020. S&P Global Ratings on Friday cut Ukraines debt rating and said the outlook is negative, due to the ongoing fallout from the Russian invasion and the expectation the conflict will not end any time soon. The agency lowered the grade on Ukraines long- and short-term foreign currency debt to CCC+/C from B-/B due to the expectation of a prolonged period of macroeconomic instability in the country. It was the second downgrade since the invasion began in late February. The fighting has taken a severe toll on Ukraines economy and society, and on Kyivs ability to collect taxes, S&P said. The Ukraine governments capacity to meet its foreign-currency commercial debt payments is contingent on the flow of donor support, according to a statement. Even amid massive support from Western nations and international lending institutions, the outlook later in the year remains highly uncertain, especially given the post-war reconstruction price tag, S&P said, forecasting a 40 per cent contraction of the nations economy this year. Moodys last week also cut Ukraines rating a notch, citing similar concerns. The International Monetary Fund in March approved a $1.4 billion aid package for the wartorn country, while the World Bank has approved a loan of $350 million as part of a total package of more than $700 million. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his government needs $7 billion a month to keep its economy afloat. Families of victims of enforced disappearance form a human chain at Shahabagh in Dhaka on Saturday marking the International Week of the Disappeared. Sourav Lasker Families of enforced disappearance victims, politicians and rights activists on Saturday at a protest rally in the capital called on the government anew to locate their relatives. They alleged that the countrys security and law enforcement agencies were behind the abductions of persons mostly belonging to the opposition political parties and representing the voices of dissent. The protest rally was organised by Mayer Daak, a platform of the families of victims of enforced disappearance, in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh to observe the International Week of the Disappeared, also observed globally, from May 21 to May 27 in solidarity with the families of the disappeared. Mothers, sisters, children, spouses and sympathisers holding photos, banners, placards or portraits of missing persons also vowed that they would be waiting for justice and punishment to the perpetrators serving government agencies for committing the crime against humanity. Every year, the world observes the International Week of the Disappeared to remember those who have been forcibly disappeared. We are supporters of the ruling Awami League. My son Sazzad Hossain Sabuj was [Awami] Swechchhasebak Leagues Kushtia district unit secretary. He was abducted on August 21, 2015 and his whereabouts are still unknown, the victims mother Sahida Begum said. She was accompanied by her daughter-in-law Jannatul Ferdous Zinia, wife of her disappeared son, among others, to the rally. Zinia said that they had spent some Tk 1 crore to learn the whereabouts of her husband but in vain. She narrated that her husband was initially picked up by the Rapid Action Battalion-1 from a resort in Gazipur and later he was kept in detention under the RAB-4. One of the men, who were in the custody with my husband, told us that he was last seen in RAB-4 custody, said the disappeareds wife. Mahfuza Akhter, a daughter of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Chowdhury Alam who was abducted in 2010, was holding a portrait of her father and in tears. She said that her father was a popular opposition leader in the capitals Gulistan area. Plainclothes people in three microbuses obstructed him and picked him up on Indira Road. We are yet to know where my father is and why he was picked up, said her daughter in her 30s. Dozens of family members of victims, who have disappeared over the decade during the tenure of the Awami League-led government, came together and briefly narrated their experiences of how their near and dear ones were taken away by members of law enforcement agencies and still remain untraced. The government always dismissed the allegations. Anika Islam Irsha, daughter of missing Mirpur-based trader Ismail Hossain, said at the rally that they could not determine in the past three years whether her father was alive or not. Ismails family says that a navy official deputed to the Rapid Action Battalion was behind his disappearance from the capitals Mirpur on June 19, 2019. The allegation was denied by the RAB. Parbatya Chattogram Pahari Chhatra Parishad leader Amol Tripura called on the government to ascertain and disclose the whereabouts of Michael Chakma, a leader of the Chattogram Hill Tracts-based United Peoples Democratic Front. Michael went missing on April 9, 2019 on his way to Dhaka from Narayanganj. We blame the state for the inaction as it did not take any step to locate our leader. We were told at police stations the police could not find anyone who was in the custody of other agencies, said Amol, who was holding a portrait of Michael. Ahead of the 126th session of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, overseen by the UN Human Rights Council, held in February 7-11, 2022, Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen told reporters that a lot of the people listed by some UN bodies as disappeared had actually drowned in the Mediterranean. Addressing the protest rally, Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna blasted the foreign minister for his remark, citing that the UN has reported that Bangladesh has shared insufficient information on 66 cases of disappearances. Jatiya Mukti Council general secretary Fayzul Hakim Lala said that disappearances were no new phenomenon as the then government, between 1972 and 1975, used the law enforcers, especially the Jatiya Rakkhia Bahini, to eliminate left-leaning politicians and activists. Retired diplomat Sakib Ali, Odhikar director ASM Nasiruddin Elan, acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam, Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, among others, expressed their solidarity with the rally that was chaired by Mayer Daak coordinator Afroza Islam Akhi, sister of disappeared BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon. The rally organisers alleged that a rickshaw that held a public announcement system for the rally had been taken away by unidentified people immediately before the event started. Shahbagh police station sub-inspector Harun Or Rashid said that he also received a verbal complaint from the organisers in this regard. Enforced disappearance emerged as a major cause for concern as Odhikar stated that at least 604 people had been forcibly disappeared by security forces and law enforcement agencies since 2009. Bangladesh is the largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions in the world. --AFP photo Impartiality, discipline and promptness in the deployment have encouraged United Nations to hire the highest number of troops from Bangladesh for peacekeeping operations across the world over three decades, former peacekeepers and observers said. Apart from professionalism, former military and serving police officials said that the highest moral integrity maintained by Bangladeshi peacekeepers during their duty in UN missions also contributed to more number of troops being recruited from the country. Against this backdrop, the country will celebrate the International Day of UN Peacekeepers-2022 marking their respect for those, who sacrificed their lives during different peacekeeping missions. According to the army headquarters, 161 officials and rankers, including 139 members of the armed forces and 22 police, sacrificed their lives in peacekeeping missions as of May 23, 2022. At least 252 personnel sustained critical injuries since the country started contributing to UN peacekeeping missions by sending a group of officers to the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observers Group in 1988. According to army headquarters, 6,825 officials and rankers are currently serving in the UN missions in 14 countries while 1,83,378 others have so far completed their 54 missions in different capacities in 43 countries once or multiple times. Bangladesh was the leading troops contributing country to UN peacekeeping missions in 2011, 2014 and 2015. On the eve of the UN peacekeeping day, retired major general Shahidul Haque, a former UN peacekeeper, said that the impartiality, discipline and promptness in the deployment of forces to any part of the world made the Bangladeshi troops popular in the UN recruitment. Apart from these, Shahidul, also a former Bangladesh ambassador to Libya, said that military hardware carried by the Bangladeshi peacekeepers was sophisticated compared with many other countries. Police headquarters additional deputy inspector general Md Masudur Rahman, who served as UN peacekeepers twice, told New Age that discipline, professionalism and integrity made the Bangladeshi forces unique in the UN duties. The reports of drug addiction, sexual exploitation and abuse are almost zero against the Bangladeshi peacekeepers, said Masudur, who served once as contingent commander. From his experience of observing a peacekeeping mission in the African country Mali, Shahab Enam Khan, a professor at the international relations department of Jahangirnagar University, also found Bangladeshi peacekeepers professional and disciplined. Bangladeshi peacekeepers have proved themselves as one of the top security providers across the regions owing to their outstanding professionalism and discipline, he observed, adding, Perhaps physical resilience, socio-cultural understanding of a given conflict, and a rigorous selection procedure have made them unique peacekeepers. I have seen them constructing an airport, apart from their peacekeeping mandates, in the harshest desert environment in Mali. Such activities are not possible without intense physical abilities and cognitive patience. Our peacekeepers can assimilate with the locals and can negotiate with various hostile actors too. Saying that the UN was encouraging the deployment of more female peacekeepers in the peacekeeping missions, army headquarters informed that 519 Bangladeshi female peacekeepers were currently involved in UN duties and 2,322 others from the army, navy, air force and police completed their missions in the past. President M Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday extended the heartiest congratulations and felicitations to all members of the UN peacekeeping missions, marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers-2022 to be observed today in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the globe, reported Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. The president, in his message, said I would like to convey my heartiest congratulations to the UN peacekeeping members, including Bangladesh. I also pay my deep homage to the valiant peacekeepers who had to make supreme sacrifices for upholding world peace. The outstanding contribution of our peacekeepers as one of the largest troops contributing nations has upheld the image of Bangladesh at the international arena, Abdul Hamid added. In her message, PM Hasina proudly recalled the impressive role of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping operations by extending her heartiest greetings to all Bangladeshi peacekeeping members. The Supreme Court administration on Saturday started installing Closed Circuit Cameras at various points of court premises following Thursdays mayhem on the court compound. None but identity cardholders will be allowed to enter the court compound from today while lawyers will need to take their clients with them from the entry points to the court, according to a traffic chart issued by the SC administration on Saturday. As per the new traffic chart, lawyers, their clients and the court officials have been requested to use the Mazar gate for entering the court compound by showing their identity cards while judges can enter the court premises using the main gate within 10:00am and the Judges Complex Gate from 8:00am to 11:00am. The chart said that visitors could use the gate near the Bangladesh Bar Council only for the exit. Appellate Divisions registrar Mohammad Saifur Rahman told New Age that a large number of police in plainclothes and uniform beside the security guards of the court would be posted at various entry points to the court compound to enforce the new traffic chart. He said that CCTVs were installed in the courtroom of the Appellate Division on December 11, 2019 after pro-BNP lawyers demonstrated and chanted anti-judge slogans in the chief justices courtroom on December 5, 2019 during the hearing of a bail prayer of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Supreme Court Bar Association president Momtazuddin Fakir appreciated the latest entry restrictions, requesting lawyers to carry their identity cards while entering the court. The entry restriction was imposed as lawyers witnessed that the ruling party-backed Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and activists, wearing helmets and carrying machetes, iron-rod, and sticks, entered the court compound on Thursday and attacked rival Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders and activists, who took shelter there after being chased away from the Dhaka University campus. At least 20-25 leaders and activists of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party-backed JCD were injured in the attack. Rajshahi Medical University syndicate members hold their 10th syndicate meeting at Hotel-X in Rajshahi on Thursday morning. Press release The 10th syndicate meeting of Rajshahi Medical University was held at Hotel-X in Rajshahi on Thursday morning. Rajshahi Medical University vice-chancellor professor AZM Moshtaque Hossain presided over the meeting, said a press release on Saturday. At the beginning of the meeting, the VC remembered Bangladeshs founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with deep respect. After that the VC started the meeting by welcoming the members of the syndicate. The meeting decided on several important issues, including approval of the constitution of the university, formulation of policies, ongoing education and research activities, organising seminars, publication of journals. They also discussed on other agendas and issues, and they took decision unanimously. Sara Ali Khan shares a BTS video of her IIFA rehearsals 02 Jun 2022 | 9:39 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Sara Ali Khan recently landed from London and was spotted going directly to the rehearsals of her IIFA performance, and now she is all set to take the stage all over. see more.. Bhajan Sopori leaves void in world of classical music 02 Jun 2022 | 9:33 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Leaving a major void in the Indian music industry and the cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir, renowned Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori passed away at a private hospital in Gurugram on Thursday. see more.. Anveya launches new hair care range Curlvana 02 Jun 2022 | 8:13 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Anveya Living, a skincare and hair care brand has launched Curlvana, which is a glycerine-free haircare range for curly hair. see more.. Samrat Prithviraj: Dont give out spoilers, says Akshay Kumar 02 Jun 2022 | 7:14 PM New Delhi, June 2 (UNI) Akshay Kumars Samrat Prithviraj which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan is an authentic retelling of history. see more.. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. AP Breaking with the party line in a rare show of opposition to his countrys war in Ukraine, a Communist Party legislative deputy in Russias Far East demanded an end to the military operation and withdrawal of Russian forces One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 In a clinical report released on April 18, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended resources administered by the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) to pediatricians across the nation. These resources are recommended to be distributed by pediatricians to families learning about a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The report directs medical providers to Lettercase: National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Resources, which has been housed within HDI since 2012. Lettercase offers both print and digital resources that provide accurate, balanced and up-to-date information for new and expectant parents learning about a diagnosis of Down syndrome and other genetic conditions. The guidelines in this report are really the definitive recommendations for pediatricians. So to be included in that, especially when there are just a handful of resources listed ... it's just a real honor." Stephanie Meredith, Director of Lettercase The Lettercase "Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis" book was originally developed in 2008 by Meredith and her husband, Justin. Former HDI Executive Director Harold Kleinert was the principal investigator of Brighter Tomorrows, a grant funded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Cooperative Agreement with the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) to improve physicians' capacity to provide accurate information to families upon the diagnosis of Down syndrome in their child. Brighter Tomorrows, which is also listed in the American Academy of Pediatrics report as a resource for families, has now merged with Lettercase as one national center. Meredith and Kleinert had a vision of the societal need they could begin to meet by bringing their resources together. Generally, according to Meredith, grant-funded programs have a natural shelf life, as grants come with finite funding usually dispensed over a set number of years; so while Brighter Tomorrows was initiated through a two-year development grant and a subsequent one-year national dissemination grant, Meredith and Kleinert found funding for Lettercase through book sales and various other revenue streams. "It was kind of this piecemeal hardscrabble program, but we've made it flourish," said Meredith. "It's been a labor of love for (the Human Development Institute) and the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation to support this program, because it was definitely driven by wanting to meet a need that families have, as opposed to just fulfilling the cut out terms of a grant we figured out a funding structure because we believed in the purpose of what we were doing." Researchers who analyzed language related to depression on social media during the pandemic say the data suggest people learned to cope as the waves wore on. University of Alberta researcher Alona Fyshe and her collaborators at the University of Western Ontario hypothesized that depression-related language would spike during each wave of COVID-19. But their study shows that wasn't the case. There was a big reaction at the beginning and then people sort of found their new normal. It's a message of resilience, people figuring out how to keep on keeping on in a pandemic." Alona Fyshe, assistant professor of computing science and psychology, University of Alberta For the study, the researchers turned their attention to online platforms such as Reddit and Twitter. Social media is a useful tool in assessing mental health at the population level, explains Fyshe, a fellow of the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and Canada CIFAR AI chair. The researchers first identified keywords by analyzing the type of language posters were using in discussions on Reddit. The self-identification found in those subreddits and forums isn't replicated in many other social media platforms, Fyshe explains. "Essentially we trained a machine learning model that can differentiate between the language of people who post to a thread on the topic of depression versus people who don't," says Fyshe. Using this information and the identified keywords, they turned their attention to Twitter. They analyzed data from four cities -; Sydney, Mumbai, Seattle and Toronto with different waves of COVID-19 so they could determine which changes in language were due to global trends and which were local. They restricted the data to areas with a large percentage of English tweets so they could use the same methodology to analyze all the data. The results were surprising, says Fyshe. In general, spikes in COVID-19 cases and the various waves throughout the pandemic weren't reflected in the data. In fact, the only city with an increase in depression-related language after the first wave was Mumbai, which saw a significant second wave. Fyshe says the machine learning methods used to scrape Reddit subforums to identify keywords and analyze Twitter data could be applied to a wide range of subjects. For example, when examining data in Seattle, they found strong reactions to the Black Lives Matter movement. "It was indicative of there being a large change to the general mood -; what people were talking about and how people were feeling about the world they lived in." SYDNEY, May 28 (Xinhua) -- After being cancelled two years in a row due to the pandemic, one of Sydney's most iconic events, Vivid Sydney, is set to once again light up the city's most famous landmarks. From May 27 to June 18, each night as the sun goes down Sydney will be lit up with illuminations, installations and interactive events, bringing together light artists, music makers and a variety of creatives to celebrate the soul of Sydney. New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres, who kicked off the 23-day event on Friday evening, said after two years of darkness Vivid 2022 would be "bigger, brighter and bolder" than ever. "This is the moment that we have all been waiting for... it's time to put a smile back on everyone's faces, and that's exactly what Vivid's going to do," said Ayres moments before the lights were turned on for the first time. And for the first time in its 12-year history, the event was kicked off with a "First Light" smoking ceremony and Indigenous performance, in acknowledgement and celebration of Australia's Indigenous peoples and culture. And, although the crowds are expected to be lower than before the pandemic, Ayres urged visitors to plan ahead as "massive crowds" were expected. "The weekends are going to be huge... I'm quite confident Sydneysiders and people right around the country really want to get out and about and see Vivid," he said. The event will see 11 sections across downtown Sydney lit up, including the iconic Darling Harbour, the sails of Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Over the 23 nights a total of 200 hours of unique moving images would be projected onto the Opera House, the centerpiece of the festival. The event will also host a Vivid Ideas Exchange, at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with talks, seminars and film screenings, designed to spark debate between the nation's top minds. Autistic individuals are more likely to have chronic mental and physical health conditions, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge. Autistic individuals also report lower quality healthcare than others. These findings, published in Molecular Autism, have important implications for the healthcare and support of autistic individuals. Many studies indicate that autistic people are dying far younger than others, but there is a paucity of research on the health and healthcare of autistic people across the adult lifespan. While some studies have previously suggested that autistic people may have significant barriers to accessing healthcare, only a few, small studies have compared the healthcare experiences of autistic people to others. In the largest study to date on this topic, the team at the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge used an anonymous, self-report survey to compare the experiences of 1,285 autistic individuals to 1,364 non-autistic individuals, aged 16-96 years, from 79 different countries. 54% of participants were from the UK. The survey assessed rates of mental and physical health conditions, and the quality of healthcare experiences. The team found that autistic people self-reported lower quality healthcare than others across 50 out of 51 items on the survey. Autistic people were far less likely to say that they could describe how their symptoms feel in their body, describe how bad their pain feels, explain what their symptoms are, and understand what their healthcare professional means when they discuss their health. Autistic people were also less likely to know what is expected of them when they go to see their healthcare professional, and to feel they are provided with appropriate support after receiving a diagnosis, of any kind. Autistic people were over seven times more likely to report that their senses frequently overwhelm them so that they have trouble focusing on conversations with healthcare professionals. In addition, they were over three times more likely to say they frequently leave their healthcare professional's office feeling as though they did not receive any help at all. Autistic people were also four times more likely to report experiencing shutdowns or meltdowns due to a common healthcare scenario (e.g., setting up an appointment to see a healthcare professional). The team then created an overall 'health inequality score' and employed novel data analytic methods, including machine learning. Differences in healthcare experiences were stark: the models could predict whether or not a participant was autistic with 72% accuracy based only on their 'health inequality score'. The study also found worryingly high rates of chronic physical and mental health conditions, including arthritis, breathing concerns, neurological conditions, anorexia, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, insomnia, OCD, panic disorders, personality disorders, PTSD, SAD, and self-harm. This study should sound the alarm to healthcare professionals that their autistic patients are experiencing high rates of chronic conditions alongside difficulties with accessing healthcare. Current healthcare systems are failing to meet very fundamental needs of autistic people." Dr Elizabeth Weir, postdoctoral scientist at the ARC in Cambridge, and the lead researcher of the study Dr Carrie Allison, Director of Strategy at the ARC and another member of the team, added: "Healthcare systems must adapt to provide appropriate reasonable adjustments to autistic and all neurodiverse patients to ensure that they have equal access to high quality healthcare." Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the ARC and a member of the team, said: "This study is an important step forward in understanding the issues that autistic adults are facing in relation to their health and health care, but much more research is needed. We need more research on long term outcomes of autistic people and how their health and healthcare can be improved. Clinical service providers need to ask autistic people what they need and then meet these needs." The research was funded by the Autism Centre of Excellence, the Rosetrees Trust, the Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, the Corbin Charitable Trust, the Queen Anne's Gate Foundation, the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and the Innovative Medicines Initiative. Smart hearing aids that adapt to the individual needs of the user: for the last four years, the researchers of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) Hearing Acoustics have been working towards this goal. Now the German Research Foundation (DFG) has extended the funding of the project. Led by Prof. Dr. Volker Hohmann, a hearing researcher at the University of Oldenburg, the CRC will receive up to 8.1 million euros for a second funding phase running from 2022 to 2026. With the official title "Hearing Acoustics: Perceptual Principles, Algorithms and Applications" (HAPPAA), the CRC is focusing on developing hearing aids and hearing assistance systems that use artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically adjust to different environments, making these devices more adaptable to the specific needs of individual users. In addition to the University of Oldenburg, the Jade University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT, the Horzentrum Oldenburg gGmbH, RWTH Aachen University and the Technical University of Munich all leading institutions in the field of hearing research are involved in this large-scale project which is scheduled to run for a total of twelve years. In our aging society it is becoming increasingly urgent to develop hearing aids and other communication aids that work effectively in difficult acoustic environments and really help people in daily life. Oldenburg's hearing research is doing excellent work and is highly recognized both nationally and internationally. The German Research Foundation's renewed funding commitment underlines this in an impressive way." Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder, President, University of Oldenburg When humans interact with their acoustic environment The Collaborative Research Centre Hearing Acoustics brings together various disciplines, in particular acoustics, psychoacoustics, audiology, engineering sciences and physical modelling. In the first funding period the focus was on the interactions between people with impaired hearing and their acoustic environment. "In real life, the hearing situation changes constantly because people react to voices and sounds. For example, they turn their head towards the sound source, or shift their gaze in that direction. We call this the 'acoustic communication loop'," says Hohmann. This dynamic loop had received little attention in hearing acoustics in the past, he notes. In the last few years the team has succeeded in incorporating the hearing aid into this acoustic communication loop. "We have developed a first prototype of the so-called 'immersive hearing aid' which constantly assesses the acoustic situation and identifies which sound source a test person is directing their attention towards at a given moment," Hohmann explains. The device determines the direction of the test person's gaze and head movements and then adjusts the signal processing to ensure that the targeted sound source can be optimally heard by the test person. The current prototype can be used in field experiments as well as in the lab. Among other factors, new perception models developed by the research team for use in different hearing situations have paved the way for this success. "These models predict how a test person will perceive a sound signal in a given situation whether or not they will be able to follow a conversation in a noisy environment, for instance," Hohmann explains. Simulating hearing with and without hearing impairment in different hearing situations involving background noise and reverberation is essential for the development and evaluation of innovative methods for signal processing in hearing aids, he stresses. Testing algorithms directly in the ear Another important result from the first funding period is the "hearpiece" a special, particularly high-quality earpiece for research purposes. Inserted in the ear and featuring several integrated microphones and small loudspeakers, the device can boost sound in exactly the same way as a hearing aid. The researchers can use it to test new algorithms for signal processing directly in the ear, for example. The special feature here is that the hearpiece is acoustically transparent which means that hearing with this device corresponds to normal hearing with an open ear. "Thanks to the interdisciplinary collaboration within the CRC we were able to combine acoustics and signal processing methods and have made considerable progress as a result," says Hohmann. The team has also developed an interactive, audiovisual virtual reality set-up in the lab for conducting hearing experiments with test subjects under controlled conditions. With this technology, real-life situations can be simulated more realistically than was previously possible. To this end, the team created several complex audiovisual scenarios in which test persons can "immerse" themselves, including a virtual restaurant, an underground station and a living room. These scenarios, together with the related data, have been made freely available to research laboratories across the world so that they can conduct their own hearing experiments. Active noise control In the second funding period that will now commence, the CRC team plans to refine and merge its perception models, algorithms and applications. One goal is to develop algorithms for the hearpiece and the immersive hearing aid that can actively control noise depending on the acoustic scenario. To do this, the researchers are using cutting-edge AI methods which they themselves developed. The long-term goal is for each hearing aid to constantly learn and get better at predicting which setting is optimal for the respective user in a specific situation. People with impaired hearing are to be able to enter the necessary feedback themselves via their smartphone. "However, we still have a lot of work to do before we reach this goal," notes Hohmann. The team is also working on establishing international standards for complex acoustic scenarios in hearing research and audiology in order to facilitate and enhance exchange between different laboratories. In addition, the CRC aims to develop new hearing-acoustic tests in virtual environments that enable researchers to better identify differences in individual perception. This should make it possible to design diagnostics and hearing aid rehabilitation measures that are optimally tailored to individual needs. The Collaborative Research Centre complements the research conducted by the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4all, which is also led by researchers from the University of Oldenburg. In addition, it actively supports the doctoral projects of early career scientists with its own integrated Research Training Group. Research drawing on the national Overcoming COVID-19 study, led by Boston Children's Hospital, and the hospital's own Taking On COVID-19 Together Group provides evidence that children who previously had COVID-19 (or the inflammatory condition MIS-C) are not protected against the newer Omicron variant. Vaccination, however, does afford protection, the study found. The findings, published in Nature Communications on May 27, parallel similar findings in adults. "I hear parents say, "Oh, my kid had COVID last year," says Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, of Boston Children's Hospital, who launched Overcoming COVID-19 in 2020. Randolph was senior author on the current paper with Surender Khurana, PhD, of the Food and Drug Administration's Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "But we found that antibodies produced by prior infections in children don't neutralize Omicron, meaning that unvaccinated children remain susceptible to Omicron." The researchers obtained blood samples from 62 children and adolescents hospitalized with severe COVID-19, 65 children and adolescents hospitalized with MIS-C, and 50 outpatients who had recovered from mild COVID-19. All the samples were taken during 2020 and early 2021, before the emergence of the Omicron variant. In the laboratory, they exposed the samples to a pseudovirus (derived from SARS-CoV-2, but stripped of its virulence), and measured how well antibodies in the samples were able to neutralize five different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron. Overall, children and adolescents showed some loss of antibody cross-neutralization against all five variants, but the loss was most pronounced for Omicron. Omicron is very different from previous variants, with many mutations on the spike protein, and this work confirms that it is able to evade the antibody response. Unvaccinated children remain susceptible." Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, Boston Children's Hospital In contrast, children who had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine showed higher neutralizing antibody titers against the five variants, including Omicron. Randolph hopes these data will encourage parents to have their children and teens vaccinated. According to data from the CDC, only 28 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds and just 58 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds had received two vaccine doses as of May 18, 2022, numbers that have barely changed since March. An FDA panel will meet on June 15 to consider authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 5. Biological arms races are commonplace in nature. Cheetahs, for example, have evolved a sleek body form that lends itself to rapid running, enabling them to feast upon similarly speedy gazelles, the fastest of which may evade predation. On the molecular level, immune cells produce proteins to conquer pathogens, which may in turn evolve mutations to evade detection. Though less well known, other games of one-upmanship unfold within the genome. In a new study, biologists at the University of Pennsylvania show, for the first time, evidence of a two-sided genomic arms race involving stretches of repetitive DNA called satellites. "Opposing" the rapidly evolving satellites in the arms race are similarly fast-evolving proteins that bind those satellites. While satellite DNA does not encode genes, it can contribute to essential biological functions, such as formation of molecular machines that process and maintain chromosomes. When satellite repeats are improperly regulated, impairments to these crucial processes can result. Such disruptions are hallmarks of cancer and infertility. Using two closely related species of fruit flies, researchers probed this arms race by purposefully introducing a species mismatch, pitting, for example, one species' satellite DNA against the other species' satellite-binding protein. Severe impairments to fertility were a result, underscoring evolution's delicate balance, even at the level of a single genome. "We typically think of our genome as a cohesive community of elements that make or regulate proteins to build a fertile and viable individual," says Mia Levine, an assistant professor of biology in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences and the senior author on the work, published in Current Biology. "This evokes the idea of a collaboration between our genomic elements, and that's largely true. But some of these elements, we think, actually harm us. This disquieting idea suggests that there needs to be a mechanism to keep them in check." Mia Levine, assistant professor of biology, Penn's School of Arts & Sciences The researchers' findings, likely to also be relevant in humans, suggest that when satellite DNA occasionally escapes the management of satellite-binding proteins, significant costs to fitness can occur, including impacts on molecular pathways required for fertility and perhaps even those relevant in the development of cancer. "These findings indicate that there is antagonistic evolution between these elements that can impact these seemingly conserved and essential molecular pathways," says Cara Brand, a postdoc in Levine's lab and first author on the work. "It means that, over evolutionary time, constant innovation is required to maintain the status quo." Evolutionary paradox It's long been known that the genome is not composed solely of genes. In between genes that give rise to proteins one can find long stretches of what Levine calls "gobbledygook." "If genes are words and you were to read the story of our genome, these other parts are incoherent," she says. "For a long time, it was ignored as genomic junk." Satellite DNA is part of this so-called "junk." In Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly species often used as a scientific model organism, satellite repeats make up roughly half the genome. Because they evolve so rapidly without any apparent functional consequence, however, scientists used to believe satellite repeats were unlikely to be doing anything useful in the body. But more recent work has revised this "junk DNA" theory, revealing that the "gobbledygook," satellite repeats included, plays a variety of roles, many related to maintaining genome integrity and structure in the nucleus. "So this presents a paradox," Levine says. "If these regions of the genome that are highly repetitive actually do important jobs, or, if not managed properly, can be harmful, it suggests that we need keep them in check." In 2001, a group of scientists put forward a theory, suggesting that coevolution was taking place, with the satellites rapidly evolving and satellite binding proteins evolving to keep up. In the two decades since, scientists have offered support to the theory. With genetic manipulation, these studies have introduced a satellite-binding protein from one species into the genome of a closely related species and observed what happens as a result of the mismatch. "Often these gene swaps cause dysfunction," says Brand, "particularly disrupting a process that is usually mediated by regions of the genome that are enriched with repetitive DNA." New tools to prove the case These investigations lent support to the coevolution theory. But until researchers could experimentally manipulate both the satellite-binding protein and the satellite DNA, it would be impossible to prove that the disruption they observed arose because of an interaction between the two elements. In the current work, Levine and Brand found a way to do just that. Another fruit fly species, Drosophila simulans, lacks a satellite repeat that spans a whopping 11 million nucleotide base pairs found in its close relative, D. melanogaster. This satellite was known to occupy the same cellular location as a protein called Maternal Haploid (MH). The researchers also had access to a mutant strain of D. melanogaster that lack the 11 million base pair repeat. "It turns out the fly can live and reproduce just fine without this repeat," Levine says. "So it gave us a unique opportunity to manipulate both sides of the arms race." To first investigate the satellite-binding protein side, the researchers used the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system to remove the original MH gene from D. melanogaster and add back the D. simulans version of the gene. Compared to control females, female flies with the D. simulans MH gene had significantly reduced fertility, producing substantially fewer eggs. Flies that lacked MH altogether, however, were unable to produce any offspring; the embryos were not viable. "This was interesting because it showed that these satellite-binding proteins are essential, even though they're rapidly evolving," says Brand. "Doing the gene swap showed us that we could rescue the ability to make embryos. But another function, related to the ovary and egg production, was impaired." Looking closely at the ovaries, Brand and Levine discovered that the apparent cause of reduced egg formation and atrophied ovaries was DNA damage. Such damage often triggers a checkpoint protein to stop developmental pathways. When the researchers repeated the experiments in a fly with a broken checkpoint protein, egg production levels were restored to a higher level. Levine and Brand were then ready to test the other side of the coevolutionary arms race, to find evidence that the problems that arose with the swapped MH protein were due to an incompatibility with the 11 million base pair satellite, or if they were acting on a different genetic element. Here they relied on the D. melanogaster strain that was missing the repeat and found that the gene swap now had no effect on these flies. DNA damage levels, egg production, and ovary size were all normal. Looking to the closest relative of the MH protein in humans, a protein called Spartan, gave the scientists a clue as to the mechanism behind these results. In humans, Spartan is understood to digest proteins that can get stuck on DNA, posing an obstacle to various processes and packaging that DNA must undergo. "After everything we'd discovered thus far," Levine says, "we thought, maybe this wrong species version of the protein is chewing up something it shouldn't." One of the proteins often targeted by Spartan is Topoisomerase II, or Top2, an enzyme that can help resolve tangles in tightly wound and entangled DNA. To see whether the negative effects of the MH gene mismatch owed to inappropriate degradation of Top2, they overexpressed Top2 and found fertility was restored. Reducing Top2, on the other hand, exacerbated the reduction in fertility. "This repair process that MH is involved in happens in yeast, in flies, in humans, across the tree of life," says Brand. "Yet we're seeing rapid or adaptive evolution of these proteins involved. That suggests that this seemingly conserved and essential pathway requires evolutionary innovation." In other words, coevolution must proceed apace, just to maintain this essential pathway. Implications beyond flies In future work, Brand and Levine will be looking to see if segments of the genome beyond satellites are involved and will be looking in other organisms, including mammals, to drill down into the molecular players of these evolutionary arms races. "There's no reason to believe that these arms races are playing out only in flies," Levine says. "The same types of proteins and satellites in primates also evolve rapidly and that tells us that what we are studying is broadly relevant." The focal genes involved in this study have important roles in human health. Spartan mutations have been associated with cancer and ineffective regulation of satellite DNA could shed light on infertility and miscarriage. "The number of miscarriages is remarkably high, and certainly satellite DNA is an unprobed source of aneuploidy and genome instability," Levine says. Less than 1 percent of the population has been diagnosed with Long QT syndrome a rare heart condition that can cause chaotic, sometimes fatal, heart rhythms. Now, Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have identified two core factors that may put patients with Long QT syndrome Type 3 at significantly higher risk of sudden cardiac death. The researchers found that heart inflammation and elevated blood sodium levels together elevate the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in guinea pigs with faulty intercellular sodium channels a condition modeling a form of the Long QT syndrome. Monitoring salt intake is a simple, inexpensive intervention, but our new findings demonstrate that controlling blood sodium could help Long QT patients prevent dangerous arrhythmias." Steven Poelzing, study's lead author and associate professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute The research team's finding were recently published in the American Journal of Physiology Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Some Long QT syndrome patients are born with the disease, while others develop it as a result of natural aging, certain medications, tissue swelling, or heart disease. The syndrome remodels the heart's sodium channels to become hyperactive and leaky, which disrupts the heart's normal electrical pathways. Long QT is diagnosed when the length of time it takes for a heartbeat to drop from its peak to baseline, the QT interval, is extended on an electrocardiogram reading. "Some patients with Long QT live long, healthy, and event-free lives, while others suddenly die. We've examined cellular activity to better understand which factors exacerbate the disease," Poelzing said. Poelzing's laboratory was the first to examine the impacts of heart tissue swelling and blood chemistry in relation to the syndrome. The research team injected wild type guinea pigs with a toxin derived from sea anemones that makes the heart's sodium channels leaky. The scientists observed that while the anemone toxin mildly prolonged QT intervals, it didn't trigger arrhythmias on its own. Next, they increased sodium levels in the blood. "Combined, leaky sodium channels and elevated blood sodium levels slightly altered the heart rhythms, but it didn't cause sudden cardiac death," said Poelzing, who is also an associate professor in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, and co-director of the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH) Graduate Program. Finally, Poelzing's research team added mannitol, a drug that causes swelling by drawing water into the spaces called the perinexus between heart cells. This 'trifecta' was enough to prompt sudden cardiac death. "Our data suggests that the combination of tissue edema, elevated blood sodium, and faulty sodium channels trigger deadly heart arrhythmias," Poelzing said. Poelzing believes these findings could help Long QT patients, as well as the general population. As humans naturally age, heart muscle cells grow and require more calcium to contract. To sustain elevated calcium levels, heart muscle cells also need more sodium. As a result, the aging human heart naturally adapts 'leaky' sodium channels, allowing more sodium to enter the cell. "While Long QT is a rare disorder, anyone could acquire similar sodium channel dysfunction with age, ischemia, or other heart disease," Poelzing said. Sylvia Priori, who was not involved in the study, is one of the world's leading scientists in the field of Long QT syndrome. "This is a thought-provoking study," said Priori, professor of cardiology at the University of Pavia and Scientific Director of the ICS Maugeri. "Bringing the concept closer to the clinical setting will require teaching cardiologists on how parameters related to perinexal expansion and extracellular sodium levels may be monitored in a clinical environment." The study's first author, Xiaobo Wu, Virginia Tech TBMH graduate student, was joined on the study by Gregory Hoeker, postdoctoral associate; Grace Blair, TBMH graduate student; Ryan King, TBMH graduate student at the time of the study; Robert Gourdie, professor and director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Center for Vascular and Heart Research; and Seth Weinberg, associate professor at Ohio State University. This research was supported by funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. Everyone knows that while disinformation is a problem, social media is a powerful tool for communicating fast in an emergency. In 2011 only about 10% of the U.S. population turned to social media for information during a crisis, according to several studies. Today that number is closer to 70%. A new study from the University of Central Florida found that social media isn't just good for communicating. It can be a critical tool for collecting intelligence in real time to better deploy resources before and after hurricanes hit. Associate Professor of Public Administration Claire Connolly Knox looked at 23 Florida counties and their use of social media during Hurricane Irma. Results of the U.S. National Science Foundation study were recently published in the Disasters journal. For many Florida counties, Hurricane Irma in 2017 was the first time using social media during a disaster. Some counties were creative in using the latest social media tools, some didn't use any social media during a disaster, and most were somewhere in the middle, Knox says. Knox analyzed After Action Reports (AARs) from every county that completed them in Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Regions 4 through 7, which represents Central and southern Florida. These reports are not required by law but are considered a best practice to capture lessons learning during the response phase of an incident. The research team also held focus groups sessions to gather more detailed information. The in-person sessions included emergency managers from three counties (two coastal, one inland), one major city (population greater than 250,000), FDEM, the Florida Department of Transportation, a regional planning council, and two private sector organizations. "While 95% of the counties who used social media discussed it in positive terms in the AARs and focus group discussions, less than half of the counties engaged in two-way communication, or pulled information for situational awareness or rumor management," Knox says. "There is progress in using social media, but we certainly have a way to go." The findings can be grouped in two categories. Challenges Funding for enough staff to keep up with information during crisis. Some counties were creative and used mutual aid or emergency management assistance compacts for needed staffing, while others relied on digital volunteers. No broad use of monitoring software to track social media information, which the public assumes local government is engaging in throughout the disaster. Misinformation Not all agencies are taking into consideration social media information to make real time decisions No consistent policies or guidelines for managing multiple government social media channels Technical issues (access, power) Opportunities More government agencies recognize social media as communication vehicle General public is more familiar with many social media platforms Some agencies are tailoring information beyond Facebook that allows information to be targeted to specific neighborhoods. These include Twitter, Nextdoor, Instagram, YouTube, Periscope and Flickr. Sometimes, social media can be a critical tool. In one community, the 9-1-1 system went offline because of the storm. The local government was able to use social media to get critical information to its community. One lesson learned -; the public seeks out information about hurricanes on social media much more often before and during the storm than afterwards, so timing of messages is important as many lose power and are unable to access social media. Therefore, emergency managers are posting recovery information before the storm landfall. Additionally, knowing which social media account the public uses is vital. Nearly one-third of counties struggled with managing multiple social media accounts. For example, the City of Orlando has more than 50 social media accounts. Some counties were able to shut down and redirect the public to one Twitter or Facebook account for consistent disaster information. There are certainly challenges such as correcting bad information and combating rumors, but social media can also provide rich information that properly shared can help emergency managers and their teams better respond to emergencies such as hurricanes, the researcher said. Knox joined UCF in 2011. She is an Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Master's in Emergency and Crisis Management Program in UCF's School of Public Administration. She has a Ph.D. in public administration and policy and a master's of public administration (MPA) (environmental policy and management concentration, emergency management certificate) from Florida State University. She is a member of UCF's National Center for Integrated Coastal Research She has nearly $5 million in funded research, and she has published more than 25 articles and eight book chapters in her areas of research which include: environmental vulnerability and disaster response, environmental policy and planning in coastal zones, cultural competency, and Habermas' critical theory. Her co-edited book, Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management: Concepts, Theories and Case Studies, won the 2021 Book of the Year from the American Society for Public Administration's Section on Democracy and Social Justice. She has also prepared multiple white papers and reports for municipalities looking to improve their emergency and resiliency planning in Florida and Louisiana. Women feel more frustrated than men by the gendered expectations placed on them at work, even when those expectations appear to signal women's virtues and are seen as important for workplace advancement, according to new Cornell University research. Both women and men face gendered pressures at work. While men are expected to display independent qualities, like being assertive, women are expected to display communal qualities, like being collaborative, prior research shows. Recent polling reveals that beliefs that women possess positive communal qualities are on the rise in the U.S.; and ILR School research has found that women themselves view qualities like collaborativeness and skill at interaction as relevant to success and advancement at work. Still, when women and men are faced with positive gendered stereotypes, women experience more frustration and less motivation to comply with the expectation than men, according to Devon Proudfoot, assistant professor of human resource studies in the ILR School and co-author of "Communal Expectations Conflict With Autonomy Motives: The Western Drive for Autonomy Shapes Women's Negative Responses to Positive Gender Stereotypes." The research published April 21 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. We find that one reason why women feel more frustrated than men by these positive gendered expectations is that women and men face gender stereotypes that differ in the extent to which they affirm a sense of autonomy. In the Western world, people tend to strive to maintain an autonomous sense of self. But while Western society is subtly communicating that an ideal self is an autonomous, independent self, society is also telling women that they should be interdependent and connected to others. We find that this conflict helps explain women's frustration toward the positive gender stereotypes they experience." Devon Proudfoot, assistant professor of human resource studies in the ILR School In the paper, Proudfoot and her co-author, Aaron Kay of Duke University, examined how women feel about positive gendered stereotypes in the U.S., a Western individualistic culture. Further, the duo engaged in a cross-cultural comparison, finding that women in a non-Western collectivistic culture, in this case India, do not feel the same resentment. "Our findings provide initial evidence that culture influences the way that women and men respond to gender stereotypes," Proudfoot said. "We show that it's the interaction between cultural models of ideal selfhood and the expectations placed on women and men that shape how women and men experience gendered pressures." Proudfoot, whose work often examines stereotyping and discrimination, as well as what motivates employee attitudes and behavior, led participants through five studies to gauge their reactions to positive gender stereotypes. The centerpiece of each study focused on personal experience and how the participant felt as a result. "For instance, in some studies we ask participants to recall a time when they were expected to act a certain way because their gender," Proudfoot said. "What we find is that women report more anger and frustration when they were expected to be collaborative or socially skilled than men experienced when they were expected to be assertive or decisive." To further examine their theory, Proudfoot and Kay compared women and men in the U.S. with women and men in India, a country that has a collectivistic culture in which people tend to strive for social connection and interdependence with others. They found that women in India did not experience the same feelings of anger and frustration, as the positive gender stereotypes align with cultural goals. "What I find interesting is thinking how these Western cultural ideals around autonomy and independence intersect with gender and gendered expectations," Proudfoot said. "Our research considers how people's experiences of gendered trait expectations are dependent on the cultural context they grew up in and the ideal model of self promoted by that culture." The research suggests that complimenting women employees for being collaborative or socially skilled could backfire, she said. "Reinforcing these types of gender stereotypes could have negative emotional and motivational consequences for women in the workplace," Proudfoot said. Smoking is among the most insidiously deadly of habits, harming both the one who smokes and those who are exposed to secondhand smoking. Chronic diseases such as obstructive lung disease and some common forms of lung cancer are far more common in smokers and those inhaling second-hand smoke, than in non-smokers. Study: Risk factors for adolescent smoking uptake analysis of prospective data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study . Image Credit: Syda Productions/Shutterstock A new preprint paper on the medRxiv* server exposes the risk factors behind the uptake of smoking in adolescence, which is among the factors that best predict adult smoking. Introduction Earlier research has shown that the majority of adult smokers begin this habit as teenagers. Moreover, the earlier smoking begins, the more likely it is that the individual will continue to smoke as an adult. However, all adolescents are not equal in their risk status. Prior cross-sectional data has shown that deprivation, for instance, puts children at greater risk of smoking uptake, and thus aggravates the health outcomes. Yet another established factor is that there are stark differences between groups with high and low socioeconomic status when it comes to the health outcomes of tobacco-related disease. For these reasons, the UK government has set its aim at achieving a smoke-free generation, beginning with an initiative to prevent adolescent uptake of smoking. Its Childrens Charter for Lung Health includes measures to prevent smoking among children. The data in the current study comes from a follow-up of the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), which had shown a strong predisposition to smoking before the age of 14 years, among those children with parents or caregivers who smoked. As this group of children grows, it has become possible to look at how many young smokers continued to smoke into adolescence, and how many newly took up smoking during this period. An earlier MCS study, based on a cohort of children born between September 2000 and January 2002, used data on smoking uptake, collected between the ages of 14 and 17 years. The researchers defined new smoking between these ages as smoking uptake, comprising those who had never smoked at age 14 and were smoking regularly at age 17. Regular smoking at this age was defined as smoking one or more cigarettes a week by that age. Findings The findings of this study indicate regular smoking was prevalent in over one in ten children in this cohort at the age of 17 years. More than half of these children began smoking between 14 and 17 years. Of the rest, over a tenth were regular smokers at age 14, while 37% had tried smoking or were smoking less than one cigarette a week at this age. Over one in 20 children who were not smoking at the earlier time point were smoking at least one cigarette a week at age 17. Interestingly, the same factors were found to be linked to those who smoked regularly at age 17 and those who took up smoking between 14 and 17 years. Ethnic minority status protected against smoking uptake or regular smoking at age 17, but low economic status, as well as being around caregivers or parents who smoked, increased the risk. The lowest household income group had twice the risk of smoking compared to those in the highest income group. Especially at risk were those teens who, at age 14, had caregivers who smoked. These children were at more than double the risk of smoking uptake between ages 14 and 17, or to smoke regularly at age 17, compared to those with non-smoking caregivers. Peer group smoking was another risk factor. Such teens were three times more likely to smoke at age 17, and were at double the risk of taking up the habit between ages 14 and 17, vs those with non-smoking peers. Finally, social media played a large role in promoting smoking uptake in this group. Children who spent 1-5 hours a day on social media had a 40% higher rate of smoking at age 17, while those with more than 5 hours had a doubled risk of either smoking uptake during the years from 14-17 years, or regular smoking at the age of 17. Overall, there were 160,000 adolescent smokers with a regular habit. Of these, 100,000 started smoking between 14 and 17 years. The highest uptake was in Wales, at ~9%, vs 7% in England. Implications The data from this cohort indicate that regular smoking by age 17 was associated, in over half the cases, with uptake by age 14. Having caregivers or friends who smoked, and heavy use of social media, were major promoters of the habit, whether new or established, among British teens. Earlier studies of this cohort showed that two in every 100 children aged 14 were smokers. Moreover, the skewed risk of uptake and regular smoking with lower-income households shows that the harms of smoking are likely to affect poorer individuals disproportionately and that an attempt needs to be made urgently to correct this bias in tobacco use. Social media is associated with higher smoking rates in other countries as well, notably the USA, which has also reported higher rates of smokeless tobacco use among children who view online advertising for tobacco. The Royal College of Physicians has already urged the government to ban tobacco advertising on social media, a call that gains urgency from this finding. Moreover, lawmakers should reconsider the fitness of stopping online tobacco advertising once and for all by legislation, keeping in mind the changing profile of these marketing campaigns and their targets. The ability to identify the variables before the participants took up smoking is a strength of the study. However, smokeless products were not considered, despite the estimates of other researchers that up to 8% of adolescents may use these. The true rate of tobacco use in this group may thus be even higher. Together, these findings indicate that a large group of UK adolescents still take up smoking despite the governments pledge to create a smoke-free generation and that approaches to address this need to be delivered across childhood. In view of the transmissibility of smoking habits and the force of social media to propagate and support it, unified approaches will be needed to ensure that the younger generation is weaned off tobacco. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. (Newser) A California college student who created an adventurous treasure hunt for family and friends as a Christmas gift is presumed to have died while hiding the treasure: Hunter Lewis, 21, was last seen on Dec. 30 paddling a canoe into the Pacific; the waters were frigid, he was clad in a T-shirt and shorts, and shards of his canoe later washed up. The story made national news, but Stephen Rodrick takes a much deeper and more intimate look at it for Rolling Stone. He paints a picture of an adventurer who was born to adventurers: His parents met on the Pacific Crest Trail; his mom swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco in her 30s; his dad taught Lewis and his brother parkour. He also staged treasure hunts for them. Lewis, who had his pilot's license and dreams of becoming an astronaut (he was a student at Cal State Long Beach, which had an aerospace program), spent two years working on his own hunt, which purported to be a search for the "legendary Lost Lewis treasure." Rodrick details some of the clues, and they're involved. One was a recording of Lewis playing the Scooby-Doo theme song; his girlfriend used an audio-edit-function app "to isolate tracks and find one on which he had written on the files spectrogram 'S3 E12 2:00 Blue Lake.'" That led them to a Scooby-Doo episode, which led to a treehouse, which led to a 3D printed key that had Braille on it and referenced Isaac Newton and Rene Descartes. But as Rodrick writes, he was worried in writing the story "that everyone would concentrate on the ingenious and, yes, the joy of the treasure hunt" and "skim over the fact that a promising young man made a terrible mistake that will forever haunt his family and friends." Read the full story to gain an appreciation of both. (Read more Longform stories.) (Newser) Not every kid gets a video call from former President Barack Obama when they graduate high school. Jacob Philadelphia isn't just any kid, however. In 2009, Jacob, whose dad then served on the National Security Council, visited the White House as a 5-year-old and met up with Obama in the Oval Office, where the little guy expressed his fascination with one particular aspect of the commander in chief, per People. "Is your hair like mine?" Jacob asked the surprised president, whose response was to bend over and let the boy touch his head. "I think that's pretty much what I got," Jacob declared after the head rub, per CBS News. White House official photographer Pete Souza was there to capture the moment, and the image soon went viral. It also ended up hanging for years on a wall in the West Wing. It's been 13 years since the photo was taken, and Jacob is now about to graduate high school in Uganda, where his family moved due to his dad's work with the State Departmentwhich is why on Friday, Obama decided to surprise him this time, with a video call. "Is that Jacob? It's Barack Obama, man. Do you remember me?" the ex-president asked Jacob, now a young man of 18, complete with a bit of facial hair. Jacob says the photo with Obama was "a pretty big highlight of my life," and that, as young Black boy, it was "very wonderful to see representation in the government." Obama reflects in the video as well on that concept of representation. "I think this picture embodied one of the hopes that I had when I first started running for office," he says in the video posted by his Obama Foundation. "Folks who maybe didn't always feel like they belonged, they'd look at themselves differently." Jacob told Obama he plans on attending the University of Memphis to study political science, to which Obama replied, "I think the White House visit clearly inspired you, I hope." "Yes, it really has," Jacob responded. As for the photo of Jacob and Obama, Souza tells People it was one of about a thousand he took that day back in 2009, but "it was one of those small moments that grew in gravity as the years went by." Watch more of the video reunion between Obama and Jacob here. (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a once-powerful Italian prelate who long served as the Vatican's No. 2 official but whose legacy was tarnished by his support for the pedophile founder of an influential religious order, has died. He was 94. In its Saturday announcement of his death, the Vatican said Sodano died on Friday. Italian state radio said Sodano recently had contracted COVID-19, complicating his already frail health. Corriere della Sera said he died in a Rome clinic, where he'd been admitted a few weeks ago. In a condolence telegram Saturday to Maria Sodano, the retired prelate's sister, Pope Francis noted that Sodano had held many roles in the Vatican's diplomatic corps, culminating in his being named secretary of state on June 28, 1991, by the then-pontiff, John Paul II. A day later, John Paul, who later was made a saint, elevated Sodano to the rank of cardinal. Late in his Vatican career, however, Sodano's church legacy was tarnished by his staunch championing of the Rev. Marcial Maciel, the deceased Mexican founder of the Legion of Christ, a religious order, who was later revealed to be a pedophile. An internal investigation eventually identified 33 priests and 71 seminarians in the order who sexually abused minors over some eight decades. Sodano for years, while secretary of state under John Paul, had prevented the Vatican from investigating sex abuse allegations against Maciel. The Holy See had evidence dating back decades that the founder of the religious orderan organization that was a favorite of John Paul's for producing so many priestswas a drug addict and a pedophile. The Vatican's biography, issued after Sodano died, made no mention of the scandals. Instead, it noted Sodano's accomplishment as a top Vatican diplomat, including his work for "the peaceful solution to the controversy of the sovereignty of 2 states," a reference to the territorial dispute that erupted in the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain. Speaking of Sodano's career at the Vatican, which saw him serve until 2006 as the Holy See's No. 2 official in the role of secretary of state, Francis said the prelate had carried out his mission with "exemplary dedication." In December 2019, Francis accepted Sodano's resignation as dean of the College of Cardinals, an influential role, especially in preparing for conclaves, the closed-door election of pontiffs. Sodano had held that position from 2005. Sodano's funeral is to take place on Tuesday in St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis will perform a traditional funeral rite at the end of the ceremony. (Read more cardinals stories.) Agencies | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com US troops deployed to Bahrain now have certain mental health services available locally for themselves and their family, freeing them of the necessity of returning stateside for care, Naval Forces Central Command announced yesterday. A two-year pilot programme 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 programme also allows for intensive outpatient care, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said in an interview yesterday 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 US active duty and reserve troops, 1,200 family members, 500 military civilians and 300 contractors, Hawkins said. Japan plans to allow the exports of lethal military equipment, including missiles and jets, to India and 11 other countries, a move that could bolster efforts by New Delhi and Tokyo to cooperate in defence manufacturing. The development comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida agreed to enhance bilateral security and defence cooperation, including in defence manufacturing, during a meeting on the margins of the Quad Leaders Summit in Tokyo on Tuesday. Japanese military conducts live-fire exercises NHK - May 29 Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force held its annual live-fire exercises at the foot of Mount Fuji in central Japan on Saturday. Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force held its annual live-fire exercises at the foot of Mount Fuji in central Japan on Saturday. Japan to enable fighter jet and missile exports to 12 nations Nikkei - May 28 The Japanese government plans to allow exports of fighter jets, missiles and other arms to 12 countries, including India, Australia as well as some European and Southeast Asian nations, Nikkei has learned. Regulatory changes to allow for the exports could come by next March. The Japanese government plans to allow exports of fighter jets, missiles and other arms to 12 countries, including India, Australia as well as some European and Southeast Asian nations, Nikkei has learned. Regulatory changes to allow for the exports could come by next March. Kishida pledges to restart idled nuclear power plants Al Jazeera - May 27 Japan will move to restart idled nuclear power plants to make maximum use of nuclear power in order to stabilise energy prices and supply, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said. Japan will move to restart idled nuclear power plants to make maximum use of nuclear power in order to stabilise energy prices and supply, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said. Ex-farm minister given suspended prison sentence for receiving bribes NHK - May 27 A former Japanese agriculture minister, Yoshikawa Takamori, has been given a suspended prison sentence for taking bribes from an egg producer while in office. A former Japanese agriculture minister, Yoshikawa Takamori, has been given a suspended prison sentence for taking bribes from an egg producer while in office. Japanese missiles and jets in India soon; New Delhi, Tokyo sign key pact on military cooperation Hindustan Times - May 27 Japan plans to allow the exports of lethal military equipment, including missiles and jets, to India and 11 other countries, a move that could bolster efforts by New Delhi and Tokyo to cooperate in defence manufacturing. Japan plans to allow the exports of lethal military equipment, including missiles and jets, to India and 11 other countries, a move that could bolster efforts by New Delhi and Tokyo to cooperate in defence manufacturing. N.Korea fires three ballistic missiles with different ranges in short succession NHK - May 25 South Korean media suspect that North Korea's multiple launches on Wednesday of different kinds of ballistic missiles may have been aimed at showcasing its ability to hit targets with different ranges. South Korean media suspect that North Korea's multiple launches on Wednesday of different kinds of ballistic missiles may have been aimed at showcasing its ability to hit targets with different ranges. Japan economic report drops mention of coronavirus Kyodo - May 25 The government said in a monthly report Wednesday that the Japanese economy is recovering from the pandemic, with the word "coronavirus" not included in its assessment for the first time in more than two years. The government said in a monthly report Wednesday that the Japanese economy is recovering from the pandemic, with the word "coronavirus" not included in its assessment for the first time in more than two years. Chinese, Russian bombers fly around Japan NHK - May 25 Japan's Defense Ministry says Chinese and Russian bombers jointly flew over areas around Japan on Tuesday. Japan's Defense Ministry says Chinese and Russian bombers jointly flew over areas around Japan on Tuesday. Kishida pledges action as Quad summit wraps NHK - May 24 The leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India say they'll work closer on economic development, climate change and security. The leaders of Japan, the United States, Australia and India say they'll work closer on economic development, climate change and security. Indian Prime Minister Modi holds bilateral meeting with Australian and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo IndianExpressOnline - May 24 Prime Minister Modi had a "fruitful interaction" with Australia's newly-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Tokyo. He also met with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and participated in a bilateral meeting. Prime Minister Modi had a "fruitful interaction" with Australia's newly-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Tokyo. He also met with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and participated in a bilateral meeting. Kishida, Biden agree to strengthen alliance NHK - May 23 The leaders of Japan and the US have committed to boosting regional defense. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with President Joe Biden amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders of Japan and the US have committed to boosting regional defense. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with President Joe Biden amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Brookfield resident Erik Kukk, along with a small group of others, is taking on a challenge on Sunday to bring awareness to veterans who commit suicide. Kukk, a veteran and co-founder of Calculated Survival, a new company designed to educate those on being prepared in the wilderness, is leading a 22-mile ruck march from Kent to Brookfield with 22 pounds on their back. HOUSTON (AP) For a brief moment in 2012, it seemed like a national stalemate over guns was breaking. Adam Lanza, a 20-year-old gunman, had forced his way into a Connecticut elementary school and massacred 26 people, mostly children, with an AR-15-style rifle. Flags flew at half-staff. A sporting goods chain suspended sales of similar weapons. And longtime gun-rights supporters from both parties in Congress said they were willing to consider new legislation. The issue was complex, then-President Barack Obama said, but everyone was obligated to try. Then, one week after the bloodshed at Sandy Hook elementary, the most powerful gun lobby in the U.S. made its public position known and the effort unraveled. "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre said in a defiant speech that blamed video games, cowardly lawmakers, the media and a perverted society for the carnage, while calling for armed guards at schools across the U.S. Nearly a decade later, the nation is at another crossroads. A gunman killed at least 19 children with a similar weapon at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday in the nation's second mass killing this month. This time, however, LaPierre didn't need to address the bloodshed the organization's Republican allies in Congress did. The problem starts with people. Not with guns. Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who holds an A-rating and an endorsement from the NRA, told reporters Wednesday, bluntly summing up the position of many in the GOP, especially considering the party's recent turn further right. "Im very sorry it happened. But guns are not the problem, OK. People are the problem. Thats where it starts. And weve had guns forever, and were gonna continue to have guns. Much has changed since Sandy Hook. The NRA is on the ropes after a series of costly financial scandals and lawsuits. And an ascendant gun control movement has poured tens of millions of dollars into political campaigns to counter their message. The group Moms Demand Action, for example, was founded the day after the Sandy Hook shooting. How many more children have to die?" founder Shannon Watts said this week. "How many parents, teachers, shoppers and worshippers, and lives must be taken for our leaders to do something? Any senator who sides with the gun lobby, who blocks life-saving change, is choosing carnage and gun industry profits over the precious lives of our children. But even as mass shootings continue unabated, in Washington one thing remains the same: Republicans and Democrats both agree there is little chance that legislation tightening gun laws will be passed by a narrowly divided Congress. The gridlock, which remains even as public opinion supports some tighter gun laws, offers testament to the enduring influence of gun rights groups, which have spent $171 million lobbying the federal government since 1989. I want to be more optimistic. But I dont think it will change, said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. The NRA isn't the same powerhouse it once was, and in its wake other, further right gun groups have gained, like the Gun Owners of America, which bills itself as the no compromise gun lobby. There are multiple gun rights alliances operating at state levels wielding enormous influence in legislatures as well. But in 40 years of working to loosen gun laws, the NRA has largely set the cultural tone on the right and is still the most prominent. You dont need the NRA, really, to take the lead anymore because opposition to gun laws is so much now a litmus test of conservatism and the Republican Party that it has its own momentum, said Robert Spitzer, a political science professor at the State University of New York at Cortland and the author of five books on gun policy. As weve seen it stumble in recent years, its not that gun culture has overall become weakened, adds David Yamane, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University who studies American gun culture. Theres other membership organizations that have arisen or grown to fill some of the gap that the NRA used to serve." The NRA has a built a well of goodwill by disbursing more than $70 million to further the political ambitions of Republicans who currently serve in Congress, often by running ads attacking Democrats, according to an analysis of data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political spending. Theyve spent a comparatively small $171,000 helping pro-gun Democrats who are currently in the House or Senate, the analysis shows. The NRAs gold-standard endorsements are also sought after by Republican candidates, particularly in primary elections, where they serve as a cultural shorthand for what it means to be a conservative. Receiving a poor letter grade from the organization can be a major source of concern. Still, as the NRA gathered this past week in Houston for its first convention since 2019, current and former board members say the secretive organization must confront a growing crisis. The New York Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the organization. Court proceedings have revealed how LaPierre and others diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and no-show contracts for associates, among other questionable expenditures. That led the organization to file for bankruptcy in 2021. But a judge dismissed the case, which was brought by LaPierre without the consent of the NRA board, ruling it was not filed in good faith. The financial difficulties have led to mass layoffs, a reduction in programs and a sharp drop in political spending, which had reached an apex in 2016 when the organization spent $54 million, most of it helping Donald Trump win the White House. NRA contributions have dropped sharply in the past two years, according to campaign finance data compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics. The NRA is becoming really a shell of its former self, said former NRA board member Rocky Marshall. It cannot carry out the mission of the NRA because all the money is being spent on attorneys. Marshall is backing a push to replace LaPierre with Allen West, the former chairman of the Texas GOP party. Marshall is also hoping to pull back from the culture wars and find common ground with gun-safety advocates. Instead of being antagonistic or defensive, we need to have a dialogue because we can do a lot more to prevent gun violence like this. One area where the NRA remains formidable is its lobbying of the federal government. In 2021, the organization nearly tied its past records set in 2017 and 2018, spending over $4.8 million, records show. Firearms themselves are part of the culture as well. Gun purchases grew enormously during the pandemic, and a 2021 National Firearms Survey found that 81 million Americans are gun owners. While the NRA only claims a fraction of that, about 5 million, as members, they tend to be vocal. NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said that declarations of the groups demise are wishful thinking on the part of our detractors. The reality is significantly different and the results speak for themselves, he said. Still, an NRA brand that some view as toxic has presented an opportunity for other gun-rights groups, including some that strike a more measured tone. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents gun sellers, spent over $4.8 million on lobbying last year, reaching parity with the NRA. It's avoided heated partisan rhetoric and has a growing influence as the NRA star has waned. We are not going to approach those who disagree with our viewpoints or our industry in a denigrating manner, said Mark Oliva, the managing director of public affairs for NSSF. The gun rights movement also continues to have success at the state level, where it has focused on repealing laws requiring a permit to carry a concealed handgun. Roughly half the states in the U.S. have rolled back such laws, with Texas, Indiana and Tennessee all doing so in the past year. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, is expected to 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 nations largest cities. For gun owners who traveled from around the country for the convention, the NRA remains a lodestar. Barbara Galis, 75, of Racine, Wisconsin, said she is concerned about the allegations of mismanagement but isn't sure another organization has the influence to support gun rights. What other avenue do we have? Where do we go? she said. ___ Whitehurst reported from Salt Lake City and Slodysko from Washington. OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2022 Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, concluded a visit to Europe, where he met with key industry stakeholders and business leaders to continue promoting Canada as a reliable, stable and attractive economic partner. Minister Champagne began the week by participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. This was an opportunity for the Minister to highlight everything Canada has to offer to potential investors and businesses, including Volkswagen, Intel, LG Chem and Rio Tinto, as companies seek to secure and green their supply chains. While at the Forum, Minister Champagne also talked about Canada's unique model for attracting and retaining talent to help businesses succeed and grow. He also met with a number of political leaders, including Ukraine's First Prime Minister as well as the country's Vice Prime Minister, to discuss how Canadian businesses can help in the reconstruction effort. During his European visit, Minister Champagne also met with officials from organizations that play an essential role in supporting innovation across industry, including Finland's innovation agency. The information gathered at these meetings will help inform the design and the mandate of the new Canadian Innovation and Investment Agency, recently announced in Budget 2022. Quote "This week was another great opportunity to make the case for Canada as one of the best places in the world to do business. Rarely have I seen so much interest in Canada from global CEOs. I met with business leaders to promote everything Canada has to offer, including an educated workforce, world-class research institutions and abundant sources of clean energy. I will continue to work tirelessly to attract more investments to Canada that will create well-paying jobs and spur economic growth." The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Quick facts The Government of Canada is committed to attracting private sector investment and working with industries and businesses to help them make the investments they need to innovate, grow, create jobs and be competitive in the changing global economy. is committed to attracting private sector investment and working with industries and businesses to help them make the investments they need to innovate, grow, create jobs and be competitive in the changing global economy. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently reported that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada was up 158% in 2021 (from 2020) and up 162% since 2017, ranking it third as an FDI destination behind the United States and China . was up 158% in 2021 (from 2020) and up 162% since 2017, ranking it third as an FDI destination behind and . At the World Economic Forum, Minister Champagne highlighted Canada's Global Innovation Clusters Initiative as a best practice, applauding DNAstack, a Toronto -based company that was supported by the Digital Supercluster, on being recognized as one of the WEF's Technology Pioneers of 2022. Global Innovation Clusters Initiative as a best practice, applauding DNAstack, a -based company that was supported by the Digital Supercluster, on being recognized as one of the WEF's Technology Pioneers of 2022. Budget 2022 announced the government's intention to create a market-oriented innovation and investment agencyone with private sector leadership and expertisesimilar to those that have helped countries like Finland and Israel transform themselves into global innovation leaders. and transform themselves into global innovation leaders. On May 11 , the government launched the Canadian Industry for Ukraine donation portal. Through this new online portal, Canadian businesses can provide offers of high-priority goods and services to support displaced Ukrainians and the organizations providing aid and resettlement services. Associated links Stay connected Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media. Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada For further information: Laurie Bouchard, Senior Manager, Communications, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected] New petition was filed in the SC challenging the constitutional validity of key portions of the Places of Worship Act 1991 On Saturday, another petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of key portions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, claiming that the Act contradicts secularism principles. The petition, filed by Devkinandan Thakur, a religious guru from Mathura, challenges the constitutional validity of Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, claiming that it violates Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29, and the principles of secularism and the rule of law, which are enshrined in the Constitutions Preamble and basic structure. Hindus have been fighting for the restoration of Lord Krishnas birthplace in Mathura for hundreds of years through peaceful public agitation, the petitioner said. The petition further states However, by enacting the Act, the Centre has excluded the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya but not the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura, despite the fact that both are incarnations of Lord Vishnu-the creator. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, Varanasi residents Rudra Vikram, and religious leader Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, among others, have already filed a petition against the Act in the Supreme Court. According to the pleas, Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Act have taken away the right to seek the Court, effectively closing the Right to Judicial Remedy. According to Section 3 of the Act, no individual shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any part thereof. Section 4 prohibits the filing of any suit or the initiation of any other legal proceeding for the conversion of any place of worships religious character as it existed on August 15, 1947. For numerous reasons, the Places of Worship Act 1991 is void and unconstitutional, the petition said, adding that it violates Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs rights to worship, profess, practice, and prorogate religion (Article 25). The Act violates Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs rights to manage, maintain, and administer sites of worship and pilgrimage (Article 26), it continued. The Act additionally stated that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs are prohibited from holding or obtaining religious properties belonging to the deity (misappropriated by other communities). It also takes away Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs right of judicial redress to reclaim their places of worship and pilgrimage, as well as the deitys property, it said. The Act also denies Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs the right to reclaim places of worship and pilgrimage associated with their cultural heritage (Article 29) and restricts Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from reclaiming places of worship and pilgrimage, while allowing Muslims to claim under Section 107 of the Waqf Act. According to one of the petitions, the Act makes invaders barbaric deeds lawful. It goes against Hindu law, which states that Temple property is never lost even if enjoyed by strangers for years, and even the king cannot take away property because the deity is the embodiment of God and is a juristic person who represents Infinite the timeless and cannot be bound by the shackles of time. The petitioners asked the court to declare Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 void and unconstitutional for violating Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, 26, 29 of the Indian Constitution insofar as they legalize ancient historical and puranic places of worship and pilgrimage that have been illegally occupied by foreign invaders. India calls out OIC-IPHRC on Friday for criticizing a judge's decision in the Yasin Malik terror funding case, saying the group has tacitly shown support for terrorist operations. India calls out OIC-IPHRC on Friday for criticizing a judges decision in the Yasin Malik terror funding case, saying the group has tacitly shown support for terrorist operations. India has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) not to legitimize terrorism in any way, claiming that the world wants zero tolerance for the threat. According to Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) spokeswoman Arindam Bagchi, Maliks terrorist acts have been documented and shown in court. Bagchi responded to media questions about the OIC- IPHRC comments on the NIA Courts decision involving Yasin Malik by saying that India finds the comments unacceptable. The comments made today by the OIC-IPHRC criticizing India for its decision in the Yasin Malik issue are unacceptable to India. The OIC-IPHRC has tacitly voiced support for Yasin Maliks terrorist operations, which have been documented and proven in court. The international community demands zero tolerance for terrorism, and we ask the OIC not to legitimize it in any way Bagchi explained. Earlier on Wednesday, Yasin Malik, a separatist from Jammu and Kashmir, was sentenced to life in prison by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in a terror funding case. Malik was sentenced to life in jail as well as a fine of Rs 10 lakh by the NIA court. He was twice sentenced to life in prison. The National Institute of Justice had sought the death penalty for the separatist leader, who was found guilty on May 19. Malik had stated in court that he would not defend the charges brought against him. Muslim students of Universities & Colleges in Mangaluru went to the Deputy Commissioner's office to present a memorandum requesting permission to wear hijab in classes Muslim students of Universities & Colleges in Mangaluru went to the Deputy Commissioners office to present a memorandum requesting permission to wear hijab in classes. This comes after the degree college declared a ban on hijab or headscarves on campus on May 16. After the court decision, nothing happened, and we went about our tests in peace. However, we recently received an unauthorized message instructing us to attend lessons without wearing a hijab. With HCs permission, we went to the principal and attempted to speak with him. He expressed his helplessness. VC echoed the same sentiment Fathima, a student, expressed her thoughts. On Thursday, students from Mangaluru University College organized a protest on campus against the wearing of hijab in classrooms. The college was chastised by the students for failing to comply with the Karnataka High Courts directive on hijab in educational institutions. Hijab demonstrations erupted in Karnataka in January and February of this year, when several students at the Government Girls PU College in the states Udupi region said they were prohibited from attending courses. Some students said they were denied admission to the college because they wore hijab during the rallies. A bench of Karnataka High Court dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Muslim girls studying in pre-university colleges in Udupi seeking the right to wear hijabs in classrooms on March 16, stating that wearing the hijab is not an essential religious practice in Islam and that freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to reasonable restrictions. The Court also upheld a state decree issued on February 5 that suggested that wearing hijabs in government institutions where uniforms are required can be prohibited ruling that prescription of a school uniform is a reasonable restriction that is Constitutionally lawful. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda to discuss how to deal with the island nation's economic difficulties In New Delhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda to discuss how to deal with the island nations economic difficulties. Following his meeting in mid-April, High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda met with Indias Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today (27) to examine the status of ongoing economic cooperation and to discuss the way forward, the Sri Lankan Embassy in India wrote on Twitter. On Friday, the 37th Board Meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation was conducted in New Delhi, co-chaired by Moragoda and Indias High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay. Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its biggest economic crisis since its 1948 independence. Foreign exchange problems caused by a tourism ban during the COVID-19 pandemic are blamed for the slump. It left the country unable to purchase adequate gasoline, causing a severe shortage of food and other commodities, as well as fuel and gas. In February, New Delhi gave Colombo a USD 500 million short-term credit for the purchase of petroleum products on behalf of the Sri Lankan government through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Sri Lanka received 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers from India in November 2021, after their government banned the import of chemical fertilizers. Over the last 50 days, almost 200,000 MT of petroleum has been given to the people of Sri Lanka, including a cargo of 40,000 MT delivered by Indian Oil Corporation outside the line of credit arrangement in February 2022. Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge expressed gratitude to the Indian government for the petroleum shipments. India has established a new USD 1 billion credit line for Sri Lanka to support the island nations ailing economy. New Delhi also provided Colombo with a stock of 11,000 MT of rice. Amidst Pakistan's deteriorating position, Pakistan's new Prime Minister asked the Indian government to reconsider its decision to remove Article 370 from Kashmir on Friday Amidst Pakistans deteriorating position, Pakistans new Prime Minister asked the Indian government to reconsider its decision to remove Article 370 from Kashmir on Friday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that it is Indias responsibility to end the unilateral decision made on August 5, 2019 for Asian peace. In order for the Jammu and Kashmir issue to be resolved via dialogue. Pakistan has been vocal in its opposition to the Indian governments choice. However, India has made it clear to the international community that the repeal of Article 370 is a matter for India alone. On Friday, Pakistans new Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, brought up the topic of Kashmir, citing the Article 370 ruling. Furthermore, PM Shehbaz justified the governments decision to raise the pricing of petroleum goods such as diesel, gasoline, and kerosene. He claimed that raising fuel prices was vital to keep the country from going bankrupt. Pakistan raised the price of petroleum products by Rs 30 per litre on Thursday. In Pakistan, the price of fuel has risen to Rs 179.85 a litre as a result of this increase. Diesel was priced at Rs 174.15 per litre, while kerosene was priced at Rs 155.95. File photo / Kimberly O'Hara / Contributed photo / The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for several counties in northern Connecticut for Saturday afternoon. The warning, which was issued at 2:34 p.m. Saturday, covers northern Windham County, northern Tolland County and northeastern Hartford County, as well as several counties in central and western Massachusetts. HAMDEN At a time when some argue the need for youth programs is greater than ever, a Hamden mentorship program is shutting down. Its leaders, who launched Hamden Youth Connections a year ago, say a lack of funding has forced them to bring the initiative to an end. (Im) very disappointed, said founder Cheryl Kasprzycki. All of our board we all did this for the community. None of us have kids in middle or high school. We wanted to do this because we knew that Hamden needed it. Seeing the program fail to garner enough support to keep running was disappointing, she said. Even though were all volunteers, (Hamden Youth Connections) doesnt run on nothing, Kasprzycki said. You have to have money for insurances, programming and supplies. When Kasprzycki decided to launch the program a year ago, she said, she was promised financial support from the town. Though Hamden did provide some building space, the money never came through, she said. And as time went on, she failed to get answers about the funding from the town, she said. You just feel bad because it was a wonderful program, and you feel a little disappointed, said fellow board member Kim Washington. You feel a little hurt because a lot of kids benefited from the program. For a time, Kasprzycki was able to keep the program going through a grant from the Rotary Club, her own personal funds and some money earned through fundraising, she said. I couldnt continue to fund it ... without backing from the town, she said. I reached out to various senators, the governor, different charitable organizations. We did some Facebook fundraising but none of it really amounted to enough to get us through. Though Hamden Youth Connections recently was awarded some money through a grant, it would not have been enough to keep the initiative running for more than two months, Kasprzycki said, so she turned it down. Former Mayor Curt Balzano Leng, who was in office when the program began, said he intended to fund Hamden Youth Connections and other youth programs with money from the American Rescue Plan Act but was unable to disburse any of it before he left office. Leng did use money from the first tranche of ARPA funds to make up for lost revenue in the municipal budget, he later said in a written statement. The remainder of the funds ... (were) completely undesignated for anything other than future programs and community improvements, he wrote. My desire was to see funding for positive youth programs and violence reduction efforts, as well as major renovations to the Keefe Community Center. Kasprzycki said she has tried and failed to get answers about the ARPA money from the current administration. Sean Grace, chief of staff to Mayor Lauren Garrett, issued a statement indicating the town has not decided how to spend the ARPA funds. Earlier this year the town put out a request for proposals for after-school programs, he said, and awarded the money to The Village. It is unclear whether Kasprzycki put in a bid. Possible funding from the Board of Education also fell through, Kasprzycki said. About 50 middle and high school students participated in Hamden Youth Connections, according to Kasprzycki. Activities included classes on subjects including carpentry and financial literacy. The program also had a community service aspect to it, she said. Community leaders involved in youth programming spoke to the impact that losing services like Hamden Youth Connections can have. Any opportunity that is lost, its gonna be impactful, and from everything I heard about (Hamden Youth Connections), it was good, said Leonard Jahad, who heads the Connecticut Violence Intervention Program. Yet Jahad said there are other valuable services in town. Hamden Youth Services, which runs out of the Keefe Center, does a phenomenal job with the resources it has, he said. Sometimes, engagement is just as big a challenge as program availability, according to Jahad. Rich Mutts, who runs the Born Rich Foundation, said running youth programs can be stressful because a lot of us are nonprofit or volunteers, so were always scrambling to get funding and get people engaged. To Mutts, recent community strife shows how important youth engagement is. (If) we take a look at some of the violence and just some of the things that are going on locally, its very apparent that these things are needed more than ever, he said. Earlier this month, 15-year-old Hamden High School student Elijah Gomez was shot and killed in broad daylight near the canal line. The past year has brought other challenges to the school district, including a rash of threats of violence and a stabbing. Any time you lose funding or lose different programs that are geared towards resources or assisting youth, its not only detrimental to the youth in the community but the community as a whole, said Mutts. To support youth, Mutts said, it is important to have innovative programming thats constantly evolving, which means we need constant funding. Its important that leadership in the municipality understands that the youth shape the community, he said. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com BRIDGEPORT A person was shot on Prince Street late Friday in Bridgeport, police said Saturday morning. According to a news release from the Bridgeport Police Department, dispatchers received multiple ShotSpotter notifications from the 100 block of Prince Street at approximatelty 11 p.m.. That was quickly followed by multiple calls about a person shot in the torso, according to Scott Appleby, director of the city Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security/Emergency Communications. A few moments later, Bridgeport Hospital notified the Bridgeport Police that a (shooting) victim was dropped off by a private vehicle with a (wound) to the abdomen. BPD established a crime scene on Prince Street, Appleby said in an email. According to the release, Bridgeport police officers responded to the hospital and the crime scene, where the Police Identification Unit discovered and collected several pieces of evidence. Police identified the victim as a 29-year-old Bridgeport resident from the East Side. He was shot multiple times and required emergency surgery, but is listed in stable condition, police said. Police encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact Det. Todd Toth at 203-531-5239 or the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS. Hearst Connecticut Media Group / BRISTOL Police captured a loose dog that had prompted a complaint and took it to a veterinarian for care Saturday, according to the department. Police had been looking for a medium-size pit bull that reportedly attacked a person on French Street and then ran after it was shot by an officer on Friday, police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CANNES, France (AP) The 75th Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia's war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators as Charlie Chaplin satirized Adolf Hitler. After tributes and musical numbers, Zelenskyy was streamed live for the formally attired audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius' zombie comedy Final Cut." Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now and Charlie Chaplins The Great Dictator as not unlike Ukraines present circumstances. Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin's final speech in The Great Dictator, which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II: The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent, implored Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president pushed filmmakers not to stay silent while hundreds continue to die in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since WWII, and show that cinema is always on the side of freedom. The war is to be a regular presence in Cannes, where the festival has barred Russians with ties to the government from attending this year. Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsas documentary The Natural History of Destruction. Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fiancee, Hanna Bilobrova. Even Final Cut," the latest film from The Artist filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its original title, Z, after Ukrainian protesters noted that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Russias war in Ukraine. Formally attired stars including Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Berenice Bejo and No Time to Die star Lashana Lynch were among those who streamed down Cannes' famous red carpet Tuesday. More star-studded premieres Top Gun: Maverick!" Elvis!" await over the next 12 days, during which 21 films will vie for the festival's prestigious top award, the Palme d'Or. But Tuesday's opening and the carefully choreographed red-carpet parade leading up the steps to the Grand Theatre Lumiere again restored one of the movies' grandest pageants after two years of pandemic that have challenged the exalted stature Cannes annually showers on cinema. Dear friends, lets come out of this dark together, said opening ceremony host Virginie Efira. After last year requiring regular COVID-19 testing and masks in theaters and no kisses on the red carpet Cannes has largely done away with pandemic protocols. Masks are recommended inside but are rarely worn. Cannes presented an honorary Palme dOr to Forest Whitaker, who received a standing ovation. Whitaker, who won best actor at Cannes 34 years ago for his performance as Charlie Parker in Clint Eastwoods Bird, said that while ascending the steps to the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday, he could still hear chants of Clint! Clint! ringing in his ears. Eastwood is one of few others who have been awarded an honorary Palme. On Tuesday, Cannes also unveiled the jury that will award the Palme d'Or. French actor Vincent Lindon is leading a jury that includes Deepika Padukone, Rebecca Hall, Asghar Farhadi, Trinca, Ladj Ly, Noomi Rapace, Jeff Nichols and Joachim Trier. Questions of gender equality have long surrounded the Cannes Film Festival, where no more than five female filmmakers have ever been a part of the Palme competition lineup and only two women directors have won it. On Monday, Fremaux defended the festival, arguing that it selects films purely on the basis of quality. Hall, who last year made her directorial debut with the film Passing, was asked about her opinion on Cannes' record. I believe that it is a work in progress. I mean for the whole film industry, not just the Cannes Film Festival," replied Hall. The way of dealing with these things needs to be addressed on a grassroots level as well. Its not just the festivals or public-facing situations. Its about all the minutiae of what goes into the industry at large." Farhadi, the Oscar-winning Iranian director, also spoke for the first time about an ongoing plagiarism suit regarding his previous film, A Hero, which won the Grand Prix in Cannes last year. A former film student of Farhadi's, Azadeh Masihzadeh, has accused him of stealing the idea of the film from a 2018 documentary she made in a workshop taught by Farhadi. Speaking at length, Farhadi said A Hero was not based on the documentary. It was based on a current event so this documentary and this film are based on an event that happened two years prior to the workshop, said Farhadi. "When an event takes place and is covered by the press, then it becomes public knowledge and you can do what you like about the event. You can write a story or make a film about the event. You can look up the information on this event. A Hero is just one interpretation of this event. At the tradition-upholding Cannes, the world's largest and most glitzy temple to film, cinema, controversy and glamour swirl together in a 12-day spectacle of red carpet premieres and rampant movie deal-making up and down the Croisette. Theatrical release is a requirement of any film vying for the Palme, which has prevented streaming services from playing a big role at Cannes. But this year, one new festival partner TikTok has raised some eyebrows. The festival is hosting TikTok creators from around the world and holding a separate contest for best (very short) videos created during the festival. Thierry Fremaux, artistic director of Cannes, granted TikTok wasn't the future of cinema. "The cinema remains the final art," said Fremaux. ___ 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 About two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, Emily Franco flew to Europe with a mission: save as many disabled dogs in the war-torn country as she could. Franco said that during the next two months, she drove a car and a trailer which she bought with her own money from Poland into Ukraine and back with dogs in tow. I felt it in my gut just a call to come here, Franco, 27, said from a hotel in Poland earlier this month. Franco, a Monroe resident who previously lived in Stamford, said she had plenty of experience caring for dogs before going to Ukraine, from fostering to boarding to walking. The Scotland native moved to the United States in 2017. She previously worked with Special Needs Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Northeast, a nonprofit that looks to rescue the animals that nobody else wants; the dogs that would otherwise be euthanized, according to its website. Courtney Bellew, the founder of SNARR Northeast, said Franco has been dedicated to helping animals for many years and can always be counted on to take in dogs needing extra love in their final days. The crisis happening in the Ukraine is unimaginable, and it doesnt surprise me one bit that Emily made her way there to help the people and the animals, Bellew said in a statement. While she was overseas, Franco said she would find out about disabled dogs that had been abandoned in Ukraine through a local Facebook group. Because of checkpoints, she said it would take her about 18 hours to drive to east Ukraine, where she saw destruction from the war first hand. After finding a dog, she said she would stay in Ukraine overnight, sleeping in a church or her car. She would then return to Poland and look for a shelter or rescue group to take in the animal. She said she saved about 40 dogs in all. I only rescue disabled dogs, Franco said. Many organizations do not and if they do, its like one out of 100. At the time she spoke to The Stamford Advocate, Franco was caring for a dog she had rescued from Kharkiv. The dog, an Anatolian Shepherd named Topaz, had been shot. Topaz was later brought to a shelter in Romania, where it was determined that he should be euthanized. Franco said she planned to return to the United States soon because she had no money left to keep rescuing dogs: she said she lost some of her money to scams, plus, the car she drove into Ukraine was damaged during one of her trips. She and her husband, Christopher Franco, have four senior cats and three dogs, two of which have special needs, at their home in Monroe. Emily has a very unique heart that guides her and drives her to really empathize with abandoned animals, those ignored or even people look at as just ghosts they dont even see them, Christopher Franco said. Among the organizations contributing to efforts to help animals in Ukraine is Humane Society International said Annie Hornish, the Humane Society of the United States director for Connecticut. HSI notes on its website that it is supplying financial aid to UAnimals, an animal protection group in Ukraine, and is working on the ground in nearby countries to help refugees who have fled with their pets. brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com Bjoern Wylezich / TNS A New Haven man pleaded guilty Friday, after federal authorities alleged a loaded 9mm handgun was found hin his belongings during a search of his belongings in a hotel room last September. Michael Stanley, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, the U.S. attorneys office said. The office said Stanleys criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including a prior conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He had been sentenced for that offense in 2014, and was released from prison in 2019. WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) A former dean at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is returning to the school as its new chancellor, officials announced Thursday. Aswani Volety, currently serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Elon University, was elected unanimously by the UNC Board of Governors during its meeting in Chapel Hill. Volety replaces Jose Sartarelli, who is retiring in June after seven years as UNCWs chancellor. JERUSALEM (AP) The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces shot and killed a teenager on Friday during an operation in a town near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The ministry identified the slain teen as Zaid Ghunaim, 15. It said he was wounded by Israeli gunfire in the neck and back and that doctors failed to save his life. The death raises to five the number of Palestinian teenagers killed during Israeli military operations in the West Bank in the past month. Israeli-Palestinian violence has intensified in recent weeks with near-daily arrest raids in Palestinian-administered areas of the West Bank and tensions around a Jerusalem holy site sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, cited witnesses as saying Ghunaim came upon the soldiers in al-Khader and tried to run away but the troops fired at him. Online videos purportedly of the shooting's aftermath show bloodstains near a white car parked in a passageway. The Israeli military, which has stepped up its operations in the West Bank in response to a series of deadly attacks inside Israel, said soldiers opened fire at Palestinians who threw rocks and Molotov cocktails, endangering the troops. The soldiers provided an injured suspect with initial treatment at the scene before transferring him to Palestinian medics, the military said in a statement. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Israeli forces deliberately shot at Ghunaim with the intention to kill him. On Sunday, Israeli ultranationalists plan to march through the main Muslim thoroughfare of the Old City of Jerusalem. The compound houses Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. The hilltop site is also the holiest for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. The march is meant to celebrate Israels capture of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel subsequently annexed the area in a step that is not internationally recognized. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WEST HAVEN A meeting between city officials, including members of the state delegation, and developers for the currently-stalled Water Street mall development project Friday did not bring the parties closer to an agreement on how to move forward together, officials said. In fact, West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi said the city is going to start getting aggressive. We tried everything we could as a city to cooperate and go along with all this, but now were getting excuse after excuse. There was no sense of urgency from anybody who represented the developer on the call, Rossi said. Two members of the citys representation in Hartford who joined the city on the call supported Rossis version of events. I found the meeting to be noncommittal and unpromising and therefore we wont be providing any state funding, and I think the residents deserve an honest assessment of the status, said state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven. Im glad the city is finally taking action. State Rep. Charlie Ferraro, R-West Haven, said he believes the project as envisioned may be dead. The project, in my opinion, is not going forward, he said. Fridays meeting came after the citys attorney told the City Council earlier this month that developers had not responded to the citys inquiries for months. At the start of public discussions about the project in 2014, the City Council requested regular updates from the developer, which have not come to pass. Rossi said that was discussed on Fridays call and developers did not have a satisfactory excuse. Thats all there is to it, she said. Theres no other road to take at this time. Borer said city and state officials kept pushing and pushing and the answers they received from developers appeared unserious. It doesnt appear theyre committed to moving forward, she said. Officials from Haven developer Simon Property Group and the state Department of Economic Community did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Following Fridays meeting, Rossi said the city will change its tactics to advance the proposed $200 million, 261,182-square-foot mall that would combine waterfront views with luxury retail. The week before announcing the meeting, Rossi announced she was considering enacting the citys blight ordinance against the developer. Residents in the area of the development have complained about years of rotting, burnt houses and overgrown grass kept behind a chain-link fence blocking their own views of the water. Following the meeting, Rossi said she believes it is the best tactic the city could enact right away, making noncompliance expensive for the developer. It could add up rather quickly, she said. Rossi said the developers requested some unspent funds from a $5 million DECD grant issued in 2019 to expedite the development. Thats going to be a no, Rossi said. Why would we do that at this point in time? Theyve left this, walked away. According to Ferraro, developers on the meeting also requested $1 million from the state to fund a cleanup of the site. No one in our delegation is willing to give them any extra money on this project, he said. It would be throwing good money after bad. Another tactic discussed by local officials is to demolish standing structures on the site of the development and to send the developer the bill. Rossi said shes not supportive of that idea. They need to step up to the plate as well. If they dont have any urgency, what do we do? she said. Borer said she would also like to see the city attempt to recoup money it has provided to the developers that has not been used. Water Street also has been closed for two years as the city had anticipated it would expedite demolition on the site, but little has happened. One challenge to reopening the road is that it currently is enclosed by fencing. However, Rossi said she believes it is time for the city to open the road back up because the developers have stalled their progress and backed-up traffic has become a problem in the area. On a Friday night like this, everybody is trying to get off (Interstate) 95, she said. Last year, the state approved a special taxation district for the site, allowing for a lower borrowing rate for the developer. An expected interlocal agreement between the city and the developer has not yet come to pass one year later. Ferraro said he believes it could be to the citys advantage. Although the developers claim to have invested upward of $46 million in the project, they recently sold their 15 percent share of a mall development project in Indiana, Simon Property Groups home state. I find it hard to believe theyd walk away, but if they did it there why wouldnt they do it here? he said. The fact we were able as a delegation to get a tax district for that area does become an asset that goes with the property, so if a new developer were to purchase the project, a special taxation district could help them in bonding the project. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, on Saturday, said the party decided to shun the zoning agreement for its presidenc... A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, on Saturday, said the party decided to shun the zoning agreement for its presidency ticket for peace and unity of the party. The elder statesman disclosed this in an interview with journalists at the venue of the PDP special convention in Abuja. It was reported that despite the clamour and agitation for the 2023 presidency to be zoned to the south, the PDP had thrown the ticket open. I want to state that the party has never been in this situation and that is why I said it is an experimentation and there was a caveat because everybody thought that the zoning and rotation principle has been removed from the constitution, no. We said for the unity and peace of the party, let everybody go and try their luck. Thats why we are in this situation. I dont pray that it will be a matter of North and South, because that will be divisive. So far, following the withdrawal of a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and businessman, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, the following will be contesting the presidential ticket under the PDP. They are former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku; two former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim; Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom); former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; Sam Ohunabunwa, and Dele Momodu. Musa Mani, a top Commander of the Islamic State of the West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to the troops of the Multi-National Join... Musa Mani, a top Commander of the Islamic State of the West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to the troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) following sustained joint operations on the fringes of the Lake Chad. Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in Lake Chad disclosed this on his Twitter handle on Saturday. Makama gathered that Mani, who was from Diffa in the Niger Republic, surrendered to troops of the task force in Damasak and Malam Fatori. Impeccable sources told Makama the surrendered Commander of Hisbah Militant (civil police) was in charge of supervising activities of the insurgents with a view to ensuring right conduct as well as controlling logistics supplies, tax and levies being paid by fishermen and farmers in the Lake Chad. The 43-year-old suspect, according to Makamas tweet confessed that the ongoing offensive by troops of Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Lake Sani made him escape and surrender. The suspects told troops that dozens of fighters had died while many have escaped due to the fear of being killed, he said. He, however, noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a high profile member of the terrorist group. The suspect is currently undergoing profiling in troops custody, he added. Ubi Franklin, the music executive, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to represent Yakurr constituency 1 of Cross River i... Ubi Franklin, the music executive, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to represent Yakurr constituency 1 of Cross River in the house of assembly. The talent manager and entrepreneur failed to clinch the ticket after he lost the party primaries that were held in Ugep on Thursday. Franklin, who is the founder of Made Men Music Group (Triple MG), a record label, lost to Cyril Omni, the special adviser on security to Ben Ayade, the governor of the state. The 36-year-old secured 12 votes against 17 votes garnered by Omini. Ubi Ubi Itam, another hopeful, came third with 11 votes. Franklin, who is also the special adviser on tourism to the Rivers state government, on May 24, received the royal blessing from the paramount ruler of Yakurr LG. The music mogul had earlier sparked a wave of reactions on social media when he announced that he will be contesting for a political position. The primary elections conducted on Friday by the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were characterized by controvers... The primary elections conducted on Friday by the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were characterized by controversies and violence in some wards. It was gathered that the state Chairman of the APC, Austin Agada, narrowly escaped being lynched as aggrieved members of the party protesting over irregularities descended on him. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the incident happened in Otukpa, the headquarters of the Ogbadibo Local Government Area where the irate members of the APC vented their anger on Agada to send a message to the leadership of the party. Agada is from Ogbadibo LGA where the angry APC members in a mob-style manhandled him for claiming that there was an election in any part of the Benue South Senatorial District of the state. In a video, which has gone viral, fisticuffs ensued as the state APC Chairman tried to convince the members that the primaries took place. The APC members were heard shouting at Agada to produce evidence of result sheets and election materials to show where the primaries took place. While attempting to explain, the angry members pounced on him as gunshots could be heard while people scampered for safety. An eye-witness at the bloody incident, who pleaded anonymity, narrated that it took the swift intervention of security agents who whisked Agada away from being lynched as he was heard shouting for help. President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to donate $3 million to the new humanitarian agency set up by the African Union (AU). The pre... President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to donate $3 million to the new humanitarian agency set up by the African Union (AU). The president attended the AU meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on May 26. The summits tagged extraordinary humanitarian summit and pledging conference, as well as the extraordinary summit on unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, was held from May 25 to 28. According to a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, Buhari, in his remarks at the 16th African Union extraordinary session, said more than five million people have been displaced in the Lake Chad region, with 70 percent of them mostly Nigerians. The president said in tackling this menace, his administration created the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, to respond to the growing issues relating to displaced persons. This is in line with the Kampala convention for the protection and assistance of internally displaced persons. I am glad to inform your excellencies that the ministry of humanitarian affairs of Nigeria has continued to live up to its mandate in responding quickly to all situations of displaced persons and disaster management, he said. Commenting on the establishment of the new humanitarian agency by the AU, Buhari said the development will help Africa to effectively coordinate and respond to crises on the continent. The president pledged to donate $3 million for the commencement of operations at the newly-created African Union humanitarian agency. He also called the attention of the union to rising global warming issues across the world, adding that Africa needs to focus on preserving its aquatic and ecological systems. We cannot deny the fact that we have a very dangerous humanitarian crisis in our hands, he said. The rationale for the establishment of this agency is to forge a common African position on humanitarian effectiveness and to create an appropriate continental architecture to effectively respond and coordinate humanitarian crises on the continent. You will agree that this conference could not have come at a better time, considering the challenges posed by the increasing rate of Internally Displaced Persons, Refugees and Returning Migrants, to our various countries and the continent at large. As you are aware, mr. Chairperson, the world is confronted by emerging threats, such as climate change, resulting in global warming, rising levels in waters, in some climes shrinking of rivers and lakes. All these lead to distortions in our aquatic and consequently ecological systems. Conflicts, violent extremism and terrorist attacks, including herdsmen-farmers clashes and banditry lead to the displacement of whole communities, thus rendering thousands of people homeless. Macky Sall, president of Senegal and AU chairman, also pledged $3 million on behalf of his country and asked other African leaders to contribute to the establishment of the agency. Teodoro Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, who hosted the summits, also promised the sum of $4 million. He said half of the money will go to the agency, while the other half will go to Mozambique. The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to repr... The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to represent the Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu constituency of Kano state in the House of representatives. Ahmad, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contested against the lawmaker who currently represents the constituency in the House of Representatives, Mahmud Gaya. The results announced on Friday night showed he polled only 16 votes, while Gaya amassed 109. Gaya has now secured the ruling partys ticket to seek a second term in the 2023 elections. Ahmad left the venue of the primary before the conclusion of the exercise. He then posted on his Facebook page: As an aspirant, I left the venue of the primary election for Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency, because of the security of our majority delegates. If you want to compete with the best, thugs shouldnt be part of any election. Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the national assembly shouldnt make laws that choke political parties. Jonathan spoke in ... Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the national assembly shouldnt make laws that choke political parties. Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of a book authored by Mohammed Wakil, former minister of state for power. The 2022 Electoral Act approved by President Muhammadu Buhari does not permit statutory delegates to participate in the convention and congresses of political parties. Statutory delegates form a major part of voters at a partys convention to elect a governorship or presidential candidate. A fortnight ago, the national assembly passed a bill to correct the omission. While debating the bill, Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy senate president and sponsor of the legislation, had said the error was unintended. Buhari is however yet to sign the bill into law, forcing political parties to rely on only elected delegates in their congresses. Reacting to the development, Jonathan said political parties are not government parastatals and should be allowed to decide what benefits them. The national assembly made alterations to the electoral law, and now only what they call the elected delegates are to elect people that would vote. Then one day Nigerians will go to the polls and think they are voting for a president, he said. But who presented presidential candidates for you? Very few people at the national level, at the state level, at the local districts, at the federal and state constituencies. Give political parties the leverage. The key thing is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is regulating them, Jonathan said. They mentor them, and the system they will adopt in selecting their candidates must be documented in their constitution and copies deposited with INEC. That is what will be used to judge that party. Parties are not parastatals of government and the national assembly cannot make laws that choke the political parties. That is my take on this controversial issue. We have former governors, former deputy governors, former senators and all the rest. But then, we have only one elected delegate that you dont know where he is coming from. A delegate that will come to Abuja to select who becomes the presidential candidate. Is that the kind of democracy we will practice? But those of us who have been involved know that it is terrible. Are we bringing those who really know who is who to elect these delegates or those delegates that can be bought over with money? Outgoing Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, has penned an emotional goodbye message to the fans as he walks away from the club. In the stateme... Outgoing Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, has penned an emotional goodbye message to the fans as he walks away from the club. In the statement, he thanked the players, staff and supporters of the Premier League club. The Russians 19-year reign comes to an end, with a consortium led by Todd Boehly having reached an agreement over a 4.25billion takeover. Abramovich also wished the new owners good luck. As I hand over Chelsea to its new custodians, I would like to wish them the best of success, both on and off the pitch. It has been an honour of a lifetime to be a part of this club I would like to thank all the clubs past and current players, staff, and of course fans for these incredible years. I am proud that as a result of our joint successes, millions of people will now benefit from the new charitable foundation which is being established. This is the legacy which we have created together, the statement read in part. The last may not have been heard on the report of the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor, Nyesom Wike as a former gover... The last may not have been heard on the report of the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor, Nyesom Wike as a former governor of the state, Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, claimed that the Friday judgment of the Supreme Court on the matter has vindicated him. Amaechi, one of the leading presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said that his stance on the report of the commission has been justified by the apex court decision. His position was contained in a statement by the Media Office of the presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which reads: Nigerias apex court today ruled on the Appeal filed by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi against the Rivers State Government on the Justice George Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The Supreme Court in dismissing the appeal pronounced that the function of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was mere investigative, that nobody, neither Amaechi nor anyone else, was on trial before the panel. The Supreme Court ruling clearly vindicates the former Governor of Rivers State. The apex court was categorical and clear that Amaechi was not on trial. The implication of this is that any indictment from the Commission is null and void and cannot stand. With this judgment, Amaechi has been vindicated and cleared of all purported or alleged indictment by the Governor Wikes Commission. It has been further settled that the decisions/recommendations of the commission of inquiry and subsequent White Paper issued by the State Government is not a conviction or indictment and cannot stand. From the onset, it was obvious to any discerning mind that the Commission was set up to embarrass, denigrate and humiliate Amaechi. The apex courts judgment today further buttressed this stance. A commission purportedly set up to investigate past financial transactions was actually a commission to personally witch-hunt Amaechi, the statement said. Wike had, shortly after assuming office in 2015 constituted the Justice George Omeregi-led judicial commission of inquiry to probe the alleged sale of state assets by the immediate past administration led by Amaechi. Amaechi challenged the decision of the governor at the High Court of Rivers State in a suit marked: PHC/187/15. In a judgment on August 20, 2015, Justice Simeon Amadi held, among others, that the judicial commission of inquiry was not established to investigate the personal activities of the former governor, but set up to investigate the previous actions of the government as they affect the people of Rivers State. On appeal, the Court of Appeal also expressed a similar view, which was also reflected in the judgment of the Supreme Court on Friday. The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has bowed to pressure by political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Cong... The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has bowed to pressure by political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for the extension of the June 3 Primary Election deadline. After twice failing to arm-twist INEC into extending its June 3 deadline for the conduct of political parties primary elections, the nations 18 registered political parties have now asked the to consider a one-week extension. The parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council IPAC had earlier asked for a 37-day extension and when it was not granted, they asked for a two-month extension. However, at a meeting with INEC on Friday, the parties through the IPAC Chairman, Yabagi Sani, requested the electoral umpire to allow them to utilize the one week period of inactivity between the earlier June 3 deadline and June 10 when they are expected to begin uploading the names of their candidates unto the Commissions Candidate Nomination Portal. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu however requested a closed-door session with the parties after which INEC also met as a commission and granted the extension. Earlier, the political parties had requested for a 37 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The Commission was emphatic that this request could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the Timetable. This position of the Commission has not changed, said Barr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee. He said that based on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, the parties have now pleaded with the Commission to use the 6-day period between 4th and 9th June 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal. The Commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period. The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading the same to the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal from 10th 17th June 2022. The Commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct. However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The Commission will not monitor already concluded primaries, he stated. After the conduct of primaries, INEC said the next critical activity for political parties is the online submission of the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor which shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidates indicating that they fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into the various offices via the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal. In addition, the Commission, based on past experience, has decided to train the political party officials to make efficient and effective use of the portal. The Commission will train four officials from each of the 18 political parties, making a total of 72 in all. Unfortunately, some of the political parties are still yet to submit their nominees for the training. The Commission hereby reminds such parties to do so immediately. The Commission wishes to reiterate that only electronically submitted nominations will be processed. Political parties are therefore advised to ensure that their primaries are free of rancour in order to meet the timelines for the remaining activities embodied in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, he stated. Two young boys have been stabbed to death in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. The two young boys simply identified as Lukman and Kudus were alle... Two young boys have been stabbed to death in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. The two young boys simply identified as Lukman and Kudus were allegedly attacked and stabbed at Adifa and Centre Igboro area of Ilorin metropolis on Friday night at about 11.30pm. The attack according to police accounts, was reportedly carried out by a group of boys led by one Habeeb Ganiyu, of the Agbarere area of Ilorin, who allegedly stabbed the deceased several times in the chest. The Spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi confirmed the development in Ilorin on Saturday. He said the victims were rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital by operatives of the Oja-Oba Police station after responding to a distress call. They were, however, confirmed dead immediately on arrival at the teaching hospital by doctors on duty, the spokesman revealed. Okasanmi informed that Habeeb, who led the group that carried out the vicious attack was also seriously injured and is now under arrest. Kwara State Police Command, condemned the development saying the immediate and remote cause(s) of the fatal attack were yet to be unravelled. However, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, CP Tuesday Assayomo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the matter, by deploying strategies to arrest the fleeing attackers. He vowed that anybody found to have contributed to the ugly process that led to the death of the victims would be arrested and made to bear the full weight of the law. The Commissioner of Police assured the people of the area in particular and Kwara State in general of their safety and security at all times. He advised lawbreakers to vacate Kwara State, as anyone arrested for committing any crime would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land. New Orleans will respond to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday at 5 p.m., with a funeral procession rooted both in the citys parading culture and civil rights lessons learned in Treme. Reuben Buck Evans and Corey Nolan, both seasoned members of local social aid and pleasure clubs, came up with the idea while working together as cooks in a kitchen in the Central Business District. We dont have much to offer in response, in terms of money. But we can offer this: our culture, said Evans, 31, whose family founded the Family Ties Social Aid and Pleasure Club. On Saturday, he arrived at a rehearsal for the funeral procession with his daughter, Remi Evans, 12, a St. Marys Academy student who will play snare drums Sunday with the Big Six Brass Band. We need to do this, Remi said. Because it seems like what happened in Texas could happen to any school at any time. Tuesdays mass shooting, which killed 19 schoolchildren and two teachers, will remain in the minds of children and their caregivers for years to come, said Michelle Moore, chief of psychology for LSU Health New Orleans. Senseless blood, said Evans, who rehearsed and made drawings for the march on Saturday with his daughter and three children of his late cousin, Renard Weedy Fournette Jr., 27, who was fatally shot Jan. 21 in his car in the Lower 9th Ward, in front of some of his children. Evans and others have now heard that Fournette was not the intended target; it was a case of mistaken identity. So that was innocent, too, in a couple ways. Evans said. Not in a school, but done with kids right there. 'How we show our love' The best way to address the Texas tragedy is by dancing through the streets, said Nolan, 49, a member of ?, a social aid and pleasure club identified only by the question mark. Parading is how we show our love, and tell you that we feel your pain, Nolan said. At the request of second-liner Tyrone Tuffy Nelson, 50, the organizers expanded their focus, to include the increasing number of New Orleans children traumatized by violence and lost to tragedy, including three who recently disappeared in the Mississippi River and those slain within the citys devastating struggle with gun violence. Kids are dying right here in New Orleans, Nelson said. Like other children who were part of Tambourine & Fan, the youth organization based at the Treme Community Center, Evans learned about the young martyrs of the civil rights struggle from New Orleans freedom fighter Jerome Smith. Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair, said Evans, naming the four little girls who were killed in 1963 by a bomb hidden in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. 'We also understand hate' Because of Tambourine & Fan, we understood love. And we also understood hate, Evans said. In her youth, Remis mother, Quindell Quinn, 31, was also part of Tambourine & Fan. More than a decade later, she, too, can remember the names of the four little girls killed in Birmingham. Because they were innocent and I was a child myself, growing up and going to church just like them, she said. As they did at Tambourine & Fan events, children will lead Sundays procession, to honor the Texas children who until Tuesday were growing up and attending school just like them. Well do for them what we do down here, parade for the dead, in the tradition that comes from Africa, Quinn said. Well parade for peace. Well parade for their souls. Well parade for the innocence of children. Sundays procession begins at 5 p.m. at Tuba Fats Square, at the intersection of North Robertson and St. Philip streets. Hugo Alvarez always wanted to get into the food industry. He found his place in a butcher shop in his home of Westchester County outside New York City. He moved to New Orleans at the beginning of the pandemic and decided to start a pop-up selling home-made sausages. He recently switched to a home-delivery model and sells various types of sausage at the Coffee Science market on Sundays. For information about The Useful Arts Sausage Co., visit usefulartssausage.square.site and @usefularts.sausage on Instagram. Gambit: How did you get interested in butchery? Hugo Alvarez: I have worn a lot of hats. I started in the food industry when I was 16 in catering. I ran a little sandwich company out of my apartment in college for a while. I went to Beloit, a small college in Wisconsin. They didnt serve Sunday dinners, and friends and I decided someones got to feed all these college kids. We made sandwiches in my apartment and delivered them on bikes all around campus. We sold BLTs that you could add avocado or egg to. We had a pulled pork sandwich and a weekly fried side that we switched out all the time. We did pretty well something like 40 or 50 orders on a Sunday. I knew that I wanted to be in food, but I didnt necessarily want to work in restaurants. My first job out of college was for a whole animal butcher in New York. Thats where I learned the tricks of the trade making sausage. I really loved the community aspect to the local butcher shop. I loved seeing my regular customers every Thursday evening and theyd get stuff for the weekend. It was really wonderful relationships that I got to have with that job. I was there around three years. They were called Campbell Meats. They were a victim of the pandemic. They closed. There was no better time to leave New York. I moved down here and was the kitchen manager for NOLA Pizza Co., but I wanted to get back into meat production. Gambit: How did you start your pop-up? Alvarez: It seemed like pop-ups had a really great success rate. It felt like every month I heard about a place that started as a pop-up was going brick and mortar. I spent a couple months getting my game plan together branding and all that good stuff. Sausages are good bar food, and a fairly democratic food. Every culture has sausage and you can make it as fancy as you want or not fancy as you want. I had to get some specialized equipment. I got a grinder, and you have to get a stuffer. Once you get that, its pretty simple. I drove around to around 25 places that I knew hosted pop-ups and dropped off samples. Thankfully some of those folks enjoyed it and I hit the ground running. My classic menu had bratwursts two different ways. One is fairly standard that I serve with cabbage and mustard, and the other one is currywurst, which is a German street food. That recipe was pretty much perfect when I learned it the first time. The only thing I did differently was emulsify it a little more so it was more of a smooth sausage and less of a rustic, chunky one. For the chorizo recipe I use whole dried chilies which I rehydrate and puree. I have Toulouse, which is a French garlic and white wine sausage. Its also used in cassoulet, but people recognized the street name, so I guess it did really well. I also do a chicken sausage, because you cant forget the people who dont eat pork. This was a Buffalo chicken, so it was like you were looking for classic bar food. It was a spicy sausage that I put blue cheese and yogurt dressed lettuce on. Otherwise, I would do specials and change things up. That was my chance to get fancy if I wanted to. I have done a bit of a pivot from the bars and breweries circuit. Now I am offering home delivery and I am doing the Coffee Science market. That lets me expand my horizons. I can make stuff as people order it. I can post different things on the website and see what people bite on that week. I added a breakfast sausage and a cacio e pepe chicken sausage. Ill probably keep adding. If you order by Tuesday at midnight, I can deliver to you Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Piece of Meat converts from butcher shop to steakhouse In response to customer demand, Piece of Meat is now open three nights a week, with plans to expand to six as soon as possible. Gambit: What did you learn from working at a small butcher shop? Alvarez: Were so far removed from these processes. We would get the entire pig, the entire cow. Groceries are still majority rib-eyes, pork chops and ground beef, which is kind of ambiguous. In the shoulder of the cow, which often just gets used for ground beef, there are at least five really wonderful steaks for the grill and other things that are good for braising or stews. There is a wealth of the animal that we neglect or think is only good for (ground beef), and its quite the opposite. I think people know what theyre supposed to like, but theres not much education beyond that. Some restaurants manage to do whole animal. But its such a feat of not only training your staff but your customers too. Restaurants have contributed to this idea that there is an unlimited amount of (certain) beef cuts. A filet is 4-6 pounds on a 1,000-pound cow. Theres only so much to go around. But there are tons of great options from the same cow. The New Orleans Public Library this summer will launch a new music streaming platform exclusively showcasing local musicians. Crescent City Sounds will feature albums by a range of lesser-known and up-and-coming New Orleans musicians, curated by a group of community jurors, when it launches in late-July. And the platform will be free to use even without a local library card at crescentcitysounds.org. New Orleans musicians take note: Crescent City Sounds is currently accepting submissions for the platform through June 18. All genres are welcome, and artists accepted to the platform will be given a $250 honorarium. We want the collection to reflect the diversity of the music scene, says library associate Joshua Smith, who has been leading the Crescent City Sounds project. Crescent City Sounds will be similar to platforms created by other public library systems already streaming around the country and in Canada, including Seattle, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Edmonton, Alberta. Smith says a colleague in Texas told him about the success of Electric Lady Bird, Austin Public Librarys streaming service, and he felt it was only natural to bring this to the New Orleans music community. Like Electric Lady Bird, Edmontons Capital City Records, Chapel Hills Tracks and the other library music services, Crescent City Sounds will use MUSICat, a platform built by software developers Rabble. Once a year, New Orleans Public Library will open a submission period for new music through crescentcitysounds.org. Musicians and bands must primarily perform in New Orleans, and recordings cant be more than five years old. A single track can be submitted for consideration, but if accepted the artist or band should send a minimum of four songs or at least 20 minutes of music the idea is to host EPs and albums on Crescent City Sounds. Music will be hosted on Crescent City Sounds for five years, and the license is non-exclusive, so artists retain the rights to do what they want with their music. Crescent City Sounds has a budget to put up 30 albums and pay honorariums in 2022, Smith says, and he hopes that budget will grow in the future. Submissions will be listened to by a group of local musicians, industry professionals and New Orleans music devotees along with Smith and library staff to help choose the new albums added to Crescent City Sounds. This year, that team includes New Orleans emcee Alfred Banks, MidCitizen co-founder and Tank and the Bangas manager Tavia Osbey, Euclid Records Lefty Parker and WWOZ DJ and journalist and former Gambit columnist Alison Fensterstock. New Orleans is a city of musicians. We make some of the best music in the world here, Banks told NOPLs Marie Simoneaux. But it is true that without people providing real opportunities for our local musicians, they might never be heard, even if theyre the best out there. The library is a champion of free speech, so there aren't many rules around music submissions, Smith says, except for one: No hate speech. Otherwise, Crescent City Sounds wants to reflect the New Orleans music community as it is today. A section of Crescent City Sounds also will be dedicated to old gig posters, collecting New Orleans music history through the bands that have played the city over the years. Users can now submit their own posters to the website. Crescent City Sounds will launch in July. Musicians and bands can find more information and submit music now through June 18 at crescentcitysounds.org. After two years of social distancing, the world is slowly returning to normal and that means kids all over the Shreveport-Bossier area are welcoming their friends back into their homes. A local business is taking their creative idea to make the ultimate sleepover. The Pitched Fort opened its doors in December, and is offering unique individualized teepees and tents for partygoers. The message that The Pitched Fort wants to send is getting back to the tribe and gathering and learning from each other and community, said Denise Schnelle, co-owner of The Pitched Fort, a locally owned small business in Shreveport run by a mother-daughter pair who are not only working to build community once again through parties, but also community through small businesses. Schnelle said she found the concept on the internet in late October and pitched the idea to a couple of entrepreneurs, but nothing happened. In the end she decided to embark on the venture on her own. Miranda Ogletree was living out of state during this time and Schnelle said, Shed come back and I was like, Im doing something. Guess what Im doing? Here it is. After Ogletree saw the creative designs she quickly jumped on board as co-owner of the business. Now, The Pitched Fort is home to four tent options perfect for sleepovers or a picnic in the backyard. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We have the A frame tents that have changeable material, Schnelle said. We have the teepee tents that are only white. We have the double teepee so you can put two twin mattresses in it or just a bunch of pillows and blankets or whatever. And then we have a 16.5 foot bell tent thats outdoor. Every option includes a warm inviting design that can be selected through an information sheet on The Pitched Fort website. Also, on the site you can decide the length of the rental and the upgrades. Schnelle and Ogletree are building an empire that they hope can help fellow women entrepreneurs in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Were just sprinkling ourselves everywhere, making so many friends and doing all this stuff, said Ogletree. Schnelle worked in retail up until 2013, when she opened her first beauty business venture doing eyelashes. She said, Ive been servicing the public forever. So, why not do it on my terms instead of corporate. Ogletree said that the problem people have who are in their 30s like her mother when she embarked on her first venture is they dont know how to scale up. Now Ogletree and Schnelle are trailblazing the idea of partnering with local entrepreneurs to create businesses that can work effectively through the efforts of Innovative Compass. Innovative Compass is a startup management company owned by Ogletree. Weve been working for about a year now and seeing how we failed together, said Ogletree. Im helping partner with people for about eight weeks to see how they work their companies and businesses and setting up systems, trying to do the same thing, copy and paste for Innovative Compass students so that these people can employ people of our community. Three men charged in a trio of murders in Algiers have been convicted of a slew of offenses related to the shooting deaths, but only one was found guilty of pulling the trigger. A jury on Friday night convicted Michael Robinson, 38, of three counts of second-degree murder for killing Leroy Benn Jr., Gavonte Lampkin and Shantrell Parker. Jurors acquitted Denzel West, 27, Robinsons alleged accomplice in Benns death, and Kirk Powell, 27, whom prosecutors fingered as a second triggerman in Lampkin and Parkers killings, of second-degree murder. But they convicted West and Powell of multiple counts of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, and Powell of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. Over the course of the 10-day trial, Orleans Parish prosecutors laid out a case centered on Robinson's lust for Benn's wife. They said it motivated an 11-day burst of violence that began with Benn's killing and ended with Lampkin and Parkers bodies being burned beyond recognition in a field. On the night of July 18, 2018, witnesses testified, Robinson and West, his cousin, dressed in dark, hooded clothes and hid in tall, overgrown grass in an empty field on Vespasian Boulevard, waiting for Benn, 43, to come out of his home across the road. Once he did, he was fatally shot, and a man who exited the house with him was wounded. On July 29, Robinson sought to cover up the killing by eliminating Lampkin, whom he suspected of witnessing Benn's shooting. Prosecutors said Robinson and Powell fatally shot Lampkin and Parker, his girlfriend, inside a home on Tullis Street, then took the bodies to a field a few blocks away and set them afire. While an overwhelming amount of the evidence pointed to Robinson, all three defendants played a role in the horrific events that played out, Assistant District Attorney Katherine Messina said in her closing argument. For example, witnesses said they saw both Robinson and West dressed in dark clothing in the moments before Benns killing. One witness said she watched Powell enter the Tullis Street house, where Robinson, Lampkin and Parker were already inside, and heard several gunshots ring out from the residence. Ballistic tests on bullet casings showed two guns were used to kill Lampkin and Parker, said Assistant District Attorney Alex Calenda. Unless you want to believe Michael Robinson is the 'Terminator, he said, there must have been been two gunmen. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up But defense attorneys argued that the multiple trial witnesses did not see West and Powell commit the crimes, and that physical evidence was sparse. Wests defense attorney, Keith Couture, said video recordings from Benns killing were too grainy to identify either shooter. That, paired with witnesses testimony about Wests attire, should not be enough to convict West of any charges, Couture said. Powell's attorney, Judson Mitchell, argued that no one identified Powell as a triggerman. I heard a string of witnesses who had nothing to say about my client, he said. Robinson's defense attorney, Mark Vicknair, said law enforcers who combed Robinsons car for blood or evidence found nothing incriminating. When police searched his home, they found two guns, but ballistics tests showed neither was used in the killings, Vicknair said. And though multiple witnesses said Robinson told them, without being asked or prompted, that he was responsible for the killings, Vicknair scoffed at the idea. Who does that? he asked the jury. The jury deliberated more than nine hours before returning its verdicts. Robinson was additionally found guilty of aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. His conviction of second-degree murder alone carries a mandatory life sentence in prison without parole. CORRECTION: Shantrell Parker's first name was misspelled in earlier versions of this story. A veteran New Orleans police sergeant who flipped his patrol car while driving drunk, injuring himself and another driver, was justly fired from the force and will not be reinstated, the New Orleans Civil Service Commission ruled this week. The incident was the fourth time Daniel McMullen Jr., 53, damaged a police car over the course of his 30-year career, according to personnel documents. The other infractions, which included a paid detail on an adult movie set, accrued penalties ranging from letters of reprimand to a five-day suspension. The Civil Service Commission on Thursday considered McMullen's request to get his job back and found that his termination last November was "commensurate with the dereliction." Stella Cziment from the Office of the Independent Police Monitor also described his firing as "fully justified." After working a regular shift and a paid detail on Nov. 15, 2020, McMullen had drinks at a friend's restaurant, which had closed for the night, according to court documents. He drove home in his marked unit at around 2 a.m. and rear-ended a sport-utility vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate 10, injuring its driver and causing "substantial damage" to the police car. McMullen went to University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, court documents said. There, a breathalyzer test registered .141 percent blood alcohol concentration nearly twice the .08 percent considered legal intoxication, though McMullen said he'd only had two shots of whiskey. He was placed under emergency suspension, and a year later, he was fired. Prior to the drunk-driving crash, McMullen had wrecked two other police cars and flooded another, according to personnel files. The first crash happened in 2000, when he failed to yield while turning into traffic from a parking garage at #1 Galleria Drive in Metairie and struck another vehicle. He was issued a letter of reprimand. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In Sept. 2002, McMullen "completely submerged" his police car when he disregarded directives and drove into high standing water in the 3800 block of Alvar Street during Tropical Storm Isidore. This garnered another letter of reprimand. On May 15, 2003, McMullen swerved right to avoid hitting a car that veered in front of him while both drivers were traveling northbound at around 4:50 a.m. on West End Boulevard. When he did so, he hit a parked vehicle in the rear. The NOPD's Traffic Accident Review Board deemed McMullen partially at fault and issued another letter of reprimand. McMullen's most severe discipline came in 2003, when he lied about the nature of his work on an authorized paid movie detail. McMullen worked a detail for Mardi Gras Xposed, described by Adult Video News as "a reality-based softcore line." The movie involved videotaping women "removing their clothing and exposing their breasts in public ... in direct violation of the City of New Orleans Municipal Ordinance 54-260 relative to Obscene Live Conduct" according to personnel records, but McMullen "did not take the appropriate and necessary police action." In addition, he told investigators he didn't see women take their clothes off in public during the filming of the movie, even though video evidence and witness testimony showed otherwise, the document states. McMullen was suspended for five days for violation of truthfulness, professionalism and neglect of duty. He did not return a call seeking comment Friday. A Marrero man driving unrestrained in Lafourche Parish was killed early Saturday when he crashed his SUV in Raceland. Louisiana State Police said Byran Lombas, 29, was eastbound on Louisiana 182, at about 2 a.m., when his 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe veered off the right side of the highway in a leftward curve near Morristown Street. He overcorrected to the left, causing the SUV to rotate across the centerline, overturn and strike some parked vehicles, Troop C said. The SUV came to rest upside down. Lombas was not wearing a seat belt. He died at the scene. When a man caught two people burglarizing his vehicle in Uptown New Orleans, he shot them, sending both to hospitals, New Orleans police said Saturday. The 30-year-old man took matters into his own hands Friday at about 9 p.m. in the 2700 block of Nashville Avenue, just below South Claiborne Avenue, the Police Department said. Officers were told the man saw his vehicle being burglarized, heard a gunshot and returned fire, striking both alleged burglars. The wounded, a 29-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, made their own way to hospitals. The vehicle owner was not injured. The Police Department did not immediately arrest anyone or release more information. The Biden administration is reportedly reaching out to the oil industry to talk about restarting closed refineries, an attempt by the White House to tackle high gas prices. Will turning refineries back on help with how much you pay at the pump? NTD spoke with Jason Issac, energy expert and director of think tank Life:Powered. TEHRAN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a 10-storey commercial building collapse in the city of Abadan in southwestern Iran's Khuzestan Province rose to 28 on Saturday, Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA reported. The deputy governor of the Khuzestan Province said earlier that 37 people were injured in the accident and were hospitalized, 34 of whom had been discharged from the hospital. Rescue operations are still underway, and authorities have dispatched rescue workers and firefighters from other parts of the country to help remove the debris, head of Ahvaz Municipality's Fire Fighting and Safety Service's Organization Ebrahim Qanbari told reporters on Saturday. On Tuesday, the Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported that 10 people were arrested for the incident, in which the building's owner and contractor were killed. The under-construction building was on a crowded street in downtown Abadan, surrounded by commercial and medical complexes and offices. Parts of the building collapsed suddenly on Monday, trapping dozens of people beneath the rubble. The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a gala this summer. The economic development agency will present its annual business investment awards and host a Silver Anniversary Gala at 5:30 p.m. July 21 in the Stardust Event Center at the Blue Chip Hotel & Casino, 777 Blue Chip Drive in Michigan City. It's a black-tie event celebrating prosperity, innovation, growth, synergy and investment, according to the EDCMC. The five concepts are really at the core of what we do here at the EDCMC. While we may be the starting point for site selectors and startups, we move beyond initial conversations and contacts by offering assistance along the way, EDCMC Executive Director Clarence Hulse said. Innovation and synergy of private, nonprofit and government agencies are essential to maintaining growth and prosperity and bringing investment into our region. The EDCMC works to bring jobs, investment and economic development to the lakefront city in LaPorte County. It also seeks to be a resource for businesses, workforce development initiatives and community groups, taking a holistic approach to developing Michigan City's economy such as by ensuring there's a skilled workforce. We understand that results are driven by partnerships and working together. We have had the opportunity to bring together people and agencies across the board to get things done, Hulse said. Our groundwork for a long-term strategy is based on four tenets: workforce development and talent attraction, economic modernization, placemaking and aggressively telling the story. Michigan City has been making progress in recent years, Hulse said. He pointed to the South Shore Line's Double Track project, forthcoming downtown housing projects and the hotel with a rooftop pool planned across from the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. The 11th Street Central mixed-use development includes a new train station for the South Shore Line, luxury residential apartments, commercial space and a parking garage, Hulse said. This is the single most impactful development in decades that we have the opportunity to use as a platform for even more growth. The Double Track project is expected to shave the commute time from here to Chicago from 1 hour 41 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes to attract residents and businesses here. With the expansion of Burn Em Brewing and additional residential and commercial developments planned, we are seeing the additional quality of life elements that go hand-in-hand with everything we already have in place to create a community that we can all love and enjoy for years to come. The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City plans to toast to its past successes and the future growth it anticipates. Twenty-five years of dedication to creating jobs, attracting new businesses, supporting our entrepreneurs ... Its been 25 years of making an immeasurable impact on our communities through leading events, exploring answers to challenges and building a spirited and lively place for all who live here, said Linda Simmons, EDCMC board chair and director of marketing at Visit Michigan City LaPorte. The EDCMC is honored to have the opportunity to be a component of all things Michigan City as our community sees continued momentum and prosperity at an amazing level. For tickets, visit www.edcmc.com/edcmc-silver-anniversary-gala-investment-awards/. For more information call 219-873-1211 or email admin@edcmc.com. 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. EAST CHICAGO An emotional East Chicago Police Chief Hector Rosario took to police airwaves late Friday morning to announce his retirement, bringing an end to a career he began as a cadet with the department just out of high school 24 years ago. Rosario, 42, told The Times he is proud of his time on the department and all he was able to accomplish during his three years as chief. He said he walks away having succeeded in a long-overdue update of the department's policy book and in delivering such public safety efforts as license plate readers and Shotspotter, which notifies police of the sound of gunfire. Rosario said he is not venturing far in his retirement. He has accepted a job with the Indiana Gaming Commission and will be working oversight at the nearby Horseshoe Hammond Casino. A tribute read over the airwaves Friday said he began as a cadet with the department in 1998 and then went to work as a 911 dispatcher before being sworn in as an officer in 2002. He rose through the ranks to be named chief in 2019 by East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland. Copeland said at the time Rosario would lead the department in a "new direction." Copeland could not be immediately reached Friday morning on his plans to replace Rosario. Various officers and dispatchers lauded Rosario's efforts on air Friday morning following his retirement announcement. The East Chicago department, under the leadership of Rosario, announced the creation last summer of a street crime unit designated to roam the city, saturating high crime areas as needed. "They're not assigned to a specific beat like a patrol officer would be," Rosario said at the time. Rosario also oversaw the creation a couple years ago of the SHOUT OUT program in which officers visit public, private and charter schools in the city to address needs such as gangs, drugs and teen pregnancy. "Bullying is a big issue right now, so we're going to try to tackle that," Rosario had said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court jury convicted a Whiting man Friday of six counts of murder for beating three people to death 24 years ago inside a crack house in Hammond. James H. Higgason III, 52, could face consecutive sentences of 45 to 65 years for killing Jerod "Buddy" Hodge, 18, of Chicago; Timothy W. "Midnight" Ross, 16, of Calumet City; and Elva Tamez, 36, on Jan. 18, 1998, inside Tamez's home in the 4600 block of Torrence Avenue in Hammond. Higgason's co-defendant, David L. Copley Jr., 47, of Franklin, Indiana, pleaded guilty last year to one count of murder linked to Hodge's death. In exchange for his testimony against Higgason, the state agreed to a 45-year sentence for Copley. Higgason's attorneys, Matthew Fech and Mark Gruenhagen, questioned Copley's credibility during the weeklong trial, but jurors ultimately rejected the notion that Copley pointed a finger at Higgason to protect whomever was truly responsible. In his closing arguments, Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Jovanni Miramontes played clips from two recorded phone calls Copley testified he made to Higgason in May 1998, while Copley was in a rehab program in South Bend. The defense disputed that the person heard in the calls was Higgason, but Miramontes pointed out Copley called Higgason's grandmother by her first name and she answered affirmatively. When Copley asked her to wake up "Jim" so Copley could talk to him, she said she hoped "Jim" didn't get Copley in any trouble. The defense suggested Copley killed Tamez, Hodge and Ross with Higgason's uncle, who also was Copley's sister's boyfriend. Copley testified his sister and Higgason's uncle had four children together, and Higgason had two children. In one of the recorded calls, the man Copley spoke to talked about his "two beautiful children," Miramontes said. "James Higgason and David Copley beat Elva Tamez, Jerod Hodge and Timothy Ross to death," he said. "They bashed their skulls in a drug-fueled frenzy." Miramontes said now-retired Hammond police Detective Lt. Thomas Fielden "did an excellent job" investigating who had been at Tamez's house in the 24 hours before the murders. Among those to testify this week was a former drug dealer who opened the front door, saw the bodies and left without calling police. Lavonte "Kilo" Nunnally testified he and James "Red" Williams left Tamez's house after making the grisly discovery and drove to Chicago to tell Hodge's mother her son was dead. "Why would a killer do that?" Miramontes said, as he questioned theories that the killer was anyone other than Higgason. Several witnesses testified they noticed unusual activity at Tamez's house just before sunrise, and Copley said he and Higgason fled the residence as the sun was coming up, Miramontes said. Under cross-examination by Fech, Copley testified he once told detectives the killings happened at 1:30 or 2:30 a.m. but "that was just a guess-timate." On the stand this week, Copley was adamant he and Higgason went to the house three times to buy crack cocaine. The last time, Higgason brought a shotgun to trade for drugs, and they stayed inside the house smoking crack until Hodge and Ross fell asleep and Higgason initiated the killings. Gruenhagen call Copley a liar and said his story wasn't plausible. Copley told police his hit Hodge with a board, but he later walked back his statement and told prosecutors he "pretended to hit" Hodge, Gruenhagen said. The defense attorney said it would not have been possible for Copley to see Higgason use a board and a pipe to hit Hodge and Ross while Copley was running to a back door and then to a front door. Police found blood on the outside of the front door, which meant it was open, not closed as Copley testified, he said. "Copley is just not telling the truth," Gruenhagen said. "He is selling you a false bill of goods." An analyst with Indiana State Police testified DNA from six people was discovered in blood collected from the door. Higgason, Copley and the three victims were each determined to be contributors, but a sixth contributor could not be identified, Gruenhagen said. "Who is the sixth person?" he asked. Police never interviewed Higgason's uncle, and DNA analysis performed in 2020 made the state's case weaker, he said. "We know there is absolutely no way that the story David Copley tells you could have possibly happened," Gruenhagen said. "He's wrong in everything he says." Miramontes reminded the jury that Copley, when asked if he committed the crimes with Higgason's uncle, simply replied, "Wrong." Police testified Higgason's uncle likely was dead, so it would not have been possible to compare his DNA to the blood sample from the door, he said. Analysis showed it was 2.7 quintillion times more likely that DNA found on Tamez was contributed by Higgason, Copley and Tamez, Miramontes said. The deputy prosecutor reminded the jury of what Higgason said in the phone calls. "I dug a hole. ... I got the dirt up to my neck," Higgason said, as he urged Copley not to talk to police. "The only way to get out of it is to get away with it." Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court judge granted bail Friday for an 18-year-old charged with murder in a shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy and wounded another teen last fall in Gary. Daminion Y. Green Jr., of East Chicago remains the only person charged so far in the Oct. 30 shooting at the Save gas station in the 6200 block of West Fifth Avenue. Surveillance videos from the gas station showed Green's companion, whose identity remains a mystery, fired the shots that killed 17-year-old Antonio Santana, of East Chicago, Lake County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Antwan Jakes testified. After viewing the videos, Judge Samuel Cappas said the evidence showed Green helped the shooter leave the scene but wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. Prosecutors failed to meet their burden of showing the proof was evident or the presumption of guilt was strong that Green committed murder, he said. Lake County Deputy Prosecutors Bradley Carter and Christopher Bruno said Green still could be found guilty of murder under "accomplice liability theory," but Cappas rejected that argument. To be convicted under that theory, a person must intentionally aid, induce or cause another person to commit a crime. Cappas said he had not seen or heard any evidence that led him to believe Green aided in the killing. Defense attorney John Cantrell said police found no evidence of a "beef" between Santana and Green, who went to high school together in East Chicago and were friends at one time. Green's back was turned to Santana when Santana was shot, he said. The videos showed Green enter the gas station about 6:30 p.m. and begin circling Santana, who was standing just inside the door, in what appeared to be an exchange of words. Santana, who had a gun in his hand during the encounter with Green, was shot in the face by Green's companion. Santana collapsed on the floor and was later pronounced dead at the scene. Green and his friend both ran from the gas station and fled in a two-tone SUV, Jakes said. The detective testified he later confirmed the SUV was owned by one of Green's parents. Green posted a bond of $75,000 surety or $7,500 cash Friday afternoon, online records showed. Anyone with information about Santana's homicide is asked to call Jakes at 219-755-3855. To remain anonymous, call 866-CRIME-GP. 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. CROWN POINT A Lake Criminal Court judge told a Nigerian man Friday his wife and child were better off without him after sentencing him to a maximum of 12 years in prison for brutally beating his wife last year. Sylvester Okafor, 28, pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of criminal confinement, a level 3 felony. Judge Samuel Cappas said he watched a home surveillance video of the 36-minute beating April 27, 2021, at the couple's apartment in Gary and was stunned by how casual and cool Okafor appeared to be. Okafor walked up to his wife, slapped her, took her to the floor with some kind of martial arts move, choked her until she passed out and stepped over her to check his text messages as she lay unconscious on the floor, the judge said. After she began to wake up, Okafor kicked and stomped her and stood on her neck. "And she didn't fight back one bit," Cappas said. "She almost played dead while you ... tortured her." Cappas rejected defense attorney Cipriano Rodriguez's argument that Okafor "snapped" because he was upset the woman cheated on him. "Even if she had an affair, the remedy is divorce, not a 36-minute beating," Cappas said. "You came up with the idea to pour steaming hot water down her throat," he said. "That's basically torture." Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Infinity Westberg said the woman suffered injuries to her ears and eyes from being beaten and strangled and blisters in her throat from the hot water. "The way he treated his wife it was cruel. It was inhumane," Westberg said. "It's heartbreaking to have her call me and try to take blame for what happened to her." Westberg said Okafor is a sociopath who already benefited greatly from his plea agreement. The state agreed to a cap of 12 years on his sentence, and he deserved the max, she said. Rodriguez said Okafor is expected to be deported to Nigeria, but he isn't sure when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will take action. Okafor grew up with seven siblings in a one-room apartment in Lagos, Nigeria, and was beaten by his mother and father. He came to the U.S. to attend college, but he could no longer pay tuition after his father died, Rodriguez said. Okafor previously was charged in a different attack on his wife, but the charges were dismissed after she claimed she lied to police. Rodriguez said Okafor was not convicted in that case, and it shouldn't count against him. He asked for a three-year sentence, with one year to be served in a work-release program. Okafor said he worked hard to support his family and asked the judge for an opportunity "to heal our broken family." Cappas told Okafor he had no doubt in his mind that Okafor had beaten his wife before the April 27, 2021, attack. After pronouncing Okafor's sentence, Cappas said, "You've earned it." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CROWN POINT Irene Holinga is remembered as bringing elegance and hard work to the job of minding the finances of Lake County government. Holinga, 95, died May 22 after more than four decades in public service. She was always well dressed, County Auditor John Petalas said of Holinga, whom he had known and befriended since the 1970s. I never saw her get angry with anyone. She was an honest, good public official who will leave behind a legacy that will be hard to match, Petalas said. Lake County Elections Director Michelle Fajman said she thought of Holinga, like royalty. She took over office after having lost her husband and had to raise her children as a single mother and she still so kind and generous. Gary Mayor Jerome Prince offered his condolences to the family and hold fond memories when they worked together when he was county assessor. Michael Griffin, longtime Highland clerk-treasurer, said he still remembers when he won his first election in 1991. There was a picture in the paper of her hugging me when we found out I won. She served the public with earnestness and integrity, Griffin said. Former Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez said, She had a smile that would warm someone all over. She dressed beautifully and professionally. She was a role model for a number of women now in public life. She just lit up the room. "I guess that is why she was elected so many times, Dominguez said. Visitation will be held at Hillside Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8941 Kleinman Road, Highland, from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church at 3025 Highway Ave., Highland. Born in Czechoslovakia, she moved at age 4 with her family to East Chicago, where her father worked at Inland Steel. She married World War II veteran Andrew Holinga shortly after high school and had three children. She worked during the Korean War as a class A welder at the American Steel Foundries. She also worked as a co-manager of the Highland BMV bureau and later opened a store for womens apparel in 1972. She entered into public service in 1977 when her husband, then the Lake County treasurer, died of cancer after only six months in office. She was appointed to finish out the remaining time of his term. Lake County Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona, Irenes daughter, said her mother refused to retire back into private life. She put her name on the 1978 ballot to run for county treasurer in her own right to honor my dad (Andrew Holinga). He had asked my mom to serve as treasurer before he died. Katona said no woman had previously run for county office before. She said her mother had support from a number of county and state officials, but was being pressured by others to return to being a traditional housewife. Holinga told The Times in 2012 interview, she was warned she'd never win election to countywide office. I just thought I could do the job just like anybody else if I worked really hard, she said. Katona said her mother won that election by a 2-1 margin. She broke the glass ceiling. Holinga went on to win three other elections as county treasurer. Holinga employed her daughter as her deputy treasurer in the 1990s and herself served as a deputy treasurer until two years ago. Holinga served as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention for multiple presidential primaries as well as being an invitee to the inaugural balls of President John F. Kennedy and President Bill Clinton. 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. GARY Police officers hope to do their job daily, then return home safe. Most do. Some never return home. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 61 paid tribute to 15 officers at its annual Fallen Officers Memorial Friday at the citys Public Safety Facility. Officers honored fallen comrades and their families. It doesnt get easier, only harder, said Tim Yaros, of Valparaiso, whose father, George Yaros, was killed in 1981. I was married five months before the shooting, and my father was my best man. A few months later, his first grandchild was born. Honored were Gary officers killed in the line of duty between 1921 and 2014, when Jeffrey Westerfield died. Lt. Dawn Westerfield, the mother of his children, has been on the Gary force for more than 20 years. Coming back to the annual ceremony, the lieutenant said, is like the first time, every time. Its wonderful to see them remembered. Sgt. Greg Wolf, president of Gary FOP, said these fallen officers were willing to make sacrifices for the common good. They will never be forgotten. Gary police Lt. Derrick Cannon called these officers peacemakers who exhibited true love through sacrifice, virtue, and caring for one another. Noting that police work is not easy for officers or their families, Police Chief Brian Evans told his fellow officers, Im so proud of the job you do every day and continue to do. For Mayor Jerome A. Prince, These officers all paid the ultimate price to protect us. When they put on that uniform, every day they put their lives on the line for every one of us. Despite daily challenges, the mayor continued, They keep believing they can make a difference in the community. That is the true definition of valor and honor. In addition to officers killed on duty, the service recognized 12 former officers who died in the past year. These officers will be missed, said Lt. Jeff Tatum. Keynote speaker William Godwin, president of the Gary City Council, cited recent acts of violence and said, We benefit from the sacrifices from all officers. Noting that citizens have the luxury of calling upon police to fight our battles," Godwin said todays police continue the tradition of those who died in action. Current police, the First District councilman said, carry the banner of honor. Honoring Dorian D. Rorex, killed in 1974, were his sons David, of Valparaiso, and Dorian Jr., of Portage, and grandson Kylo, 1. We come ever year, David said. Its good to know hes remembered. As the names of fallen officers were announced, an officer attached a white flower to a floral star. In some cases, family members accompanied the officer. These included Jeannette Donald-Gillis, of Gary, sister of Louis W. Donald Jr., killed in 2001. He lived his life for people, the sister said. Id like people to remember him as we do. He was a good guy. 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. MERRILLVILLE A Hobart police officer was accused of fraud at two Region home improvement stores that amounted to thousands of dollars of loss, according to legal documents. D'Andre Lamar Spears, 33, of Merrillville, faces four counts of Level 6 felony fraud, Lake Criminal Court records said. His alleged accomplice, Christopher Blane, 42, of Crown Point, was charged with seven counts of Level 6 felony theft, one count of fraud and two counts of misdemeanor theft. The Hobart Police Department issued a statement Friday about the allegations, stating that the police administration learned Spears was the subject of a criminal investigation Wednesday. Hobart Chief of Police Garrett Ciszewski was presented with the preliminary evidence and took immediate action by placing Spears on paid administrative leave pending administrative and criminal investigations. "The allegations against the police officer in no way represent the 67 other police officers, who continue to proudly serve and protect the Hobart community," said Hobart Police Department Capt. James Gonzales. "Although the criminal investigation of this officer may cast a negative stigma on Hobart officers and law enforcement as a whole, we would like to emphasize to our community that the allegations are not indicative of the Hobart Police Department or law enforcement as a whole." Court records stated that Merrillville police were called around noon May 13 to Lowe's Home Improvement at 1520 East 79th Avenue in Merrillville. There, they met with a loss prevention manager, who said his investigation began when he noticed items were missing from his inventory. After reviewing transaction lists and video surveillance, he saw Blane walking out with large amounts of merchandise without paying for them on multiple occasions. The court reports allege that Blane frequented the store with a Hobart police officer, identified as Spears by his uniform. The loss prevention employee said Spears would often arrive to the store wearing his uniform and park his squad car on the east side of the building. Spears would meet up with Blane and the two would walk through the store and talk to employees. Blane would load up carts with merchandise and exit the building without paying, court documents alleged. Between March 4 and March 22, the employee was able to identify 10 separate instances where Blane stole merchandise. During this time, Blane allegedly stole items like tile, several doors, plumbing items, doors, counter tops, sinks and more, amounting to thousands of dollars of stolen goods. In addition, Blane was found to be returning the stolen goods to the Merrillville Lowe's on April 1 using Spears' ID number and showing a photo of Spears' license on his phone, the court records state. Blane received $1,804 for the return of the stolen items. In addition, the loss prevention employee said Spears returned items that Blane stole to the Lowe's store in Schererville, receiving thousands of dollars in store credit, according to court records. The total amount for the returned items was $9,133 and when employees questioned Spears' returns with no receipts, he was paraphrased as stating, "Do you think I would lie? You know what I do for a living." On March 7, it was found that Spears was using a merchandise card that Blane had received before when returning stolen tiles. Police reviewed further surveillance video, which showed Blane and Spears in uniform stealing items and loading them up into a GMC truck. Photos also showed Spears returning the stolen merchandise and unloading the items from the same truck. On Friday online court records showed that a warrant was issued for Spears and bail was set at $30,000. A warrant was also issued for Blane with bail set at $50,000. The Board of Public Works is set to review the investigation findings to determine if Spears will continue paid leave or be put on unpaid administrative leave. Love 4 Funny 9 Wow 5 Sad 4 Angry 24 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. Andy Fletcher, who played synthesizers in Depeche Mode, the electronics-heavy British band that developed a huge fan following and sold millions of records in the 1980s and 90s, has died. He was 60. The band announced his death on Thursday on Twitter. The announcement did not specify where he died or give a cause. An unidentified source close to the band told The Associated Press that he died on Thursday at his home in Britain. Mr. Fletcher formed Depeche Mode in 1980 in Basildon, east of London, with his fellow synthesizer players Vince Clarke and Martin Gore and the vocalist Dave Gahan. Mr. Clarke left after the groups first album, Speak & Spell, was released in 1981, Alan Wilder filled the spot, and Mr. Gore took over from Mr. Clarke as the groups main songwriter. The band started to veer away from pop and toward the darker, more serious music that it rode to worldwide fame over the next two decades. Critics at first often didnt fully appreciate the appeal of the synthesizer-dominated act. Consisting of four young men, three synthesizers and a tape recorder playing prerecorded rhythm tracks, Depeche Mode makes gloomy merry-go-round music with a danceable beat, Stephen Holden wrote in an unenthusiastic review in The New York Times of a 1982 performance at the Ritz in New York. Cameron Kasky had just gotten off the phone with his grandfather when I talked to him on Wednesday, the day after the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Kasky, who is 21, was a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., when 17 people were killed there in 2018 by a teenager with an AR-15 rifle. Kasky said his Pop Pop was giving me the post-mass-shooting-how-you-doing call, which, we both noted, happens with pathetic, maddening, horrifying regularity. By pretty much any measure, it has been a dispiriting few years for Americas teenagers and young adults. As Kasky put it, you open up the door on any day, and either there is an invisible virus that could make you incredibly sick, or the threat of gun violence. Parkland was a formative shock for my generation. And then Covid comes and completely pulls the curtain aside and shows us there have been no inner machinations to help us if everything comes to a boiling point. Our conversation reinforced what I already hear from Gen Z that its clear to many of our younger citizens that our institutions, and the older adults who run them, arent going to save them. As Alex Pareene pointed out in his newsletter this week, the disaffection Kasky describes is fairly widespread: According to the Spring 2022 Harvard Youth Poll, a majority of Americans under 30 now believe politics today are no longer able to meet the challenges our country is facing. Harvard also reports a sharp increase in youth believing that political involvement rarely has tangible results. There is evidence, too, that Covids emotional toll has been particularly hard for young adults. The American Psychological Association does a regular survey called Stress in America, and in October 2020, the APA was already sounding the alarm: The potential long-term consequences of the persistent stress and trauma created by the pandemic are particularly serious for our countrys youngest individuals, known as Generation Z (Gen Z). Our 2020 survey shows that Gen Z teens (ages 13-17) and Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) are facing unprecedented uncertainty, are experiencing elevated stress and are already reporting symptoms of depression. In a more recent Stress in America survey from earlier this year, 77 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds said that the COVID-19 pandemic has stolen major life moments they will never get back. I called two adolescent mental health providers, both of whom have been working with teens for about two decades, to see if they have detected any changes in the past five years or so. Lisa Damour, a psychologist based in Ohio who has contributed to The Times and is the author of Under Pressure and Untangled, books about the challenges facing girls, in particular, in our society, said, I think Ive watched teens become more cynical, and raise more pointed questions than ever about the decisions adults make, which of course plays to one of the true strengths of adolescents. They are designed to question authority, and they are built to point out painful realities. In the 15 years since he began Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, his Food Network flagship, Guy Fieri, 54, has become perhaps the most powerful and bankable figure in food television, the eminence grise of the eminently greasy. And by dint of that shows success and Mr. Fieris runaway celebrity, and that golden porcupine of hair, and maybe that one review of his Times Square restaurant a while back certain perceptions have attached to him through the years, perpetuating the caricature he still often seems eager to play. He would like a word about all that. If you only hear Metallica as a heavy-metal band, then you are not hearing Metallica, Mr. Fieri said, riding shotgun after a day of filming and charity work. Now maybe you dont like that style. But theyre real musicians. Written by Amanda Morris, Christina Jewett and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs | Narrated by Amanda Morris Recently, it seems as if teens and college students have had to grow up quickly. Facing a deluge of global and local crises, Gen-Z is past any age of innocence, when worries were relatively low stakes (e.g. wondering whether to skip the prom because its lame vs. wondering whether to skip the prom because it could get your family sick, provided youre lucky enough to have a prom at all). In her essay, May We Please Just Date Without the Hate? Joyce Juhee Chung, a finalist in our most recent Modern Love college essay contest, writes movingly about her desire to have a carefree first romance in New York City, but how she is robbed of that opportunity after a series of racist incidents. [Like this newsletter? Sign up to receive it in your inbox.] It is a tale of two Texans, with two divergent responses to the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers in their state this week. Senator Ted Cruz has angrily dismissed any talk about gun safety measures and doggedly insisted he will speak to the National Rifle Associations annual meeting in Houston on Friday. Senator John Cornyn has backed out of his speech and pledged to try to find some compromise with Democrats on new gun laws. The N.R.A.s convention opens under the shadow of two mass shootings perpetrated by gunmen carrying military-style assault rifles the first in Buffalo, N.Y., the next in Uvalde, Texas, 303 miles from where the group is gathering. One after another, Mr. Cornyn, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Representative Dan Crenshaw, all Republicans, have discovered scheduling conflicts that have made their planned, in-person speeches infeasible. Not Mr. Cruz. 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 N.R.A., Mr. Cruz told a CBS reporter ahead of the speech, planned for Friday afternoon. He also counseled that schools should respond to the Uvalde slaughter by ensuring they have only one door to enter and exit, with an armed guard monitoring it. Mr. Cornyn canceled his speech his office said he had done so before the Uvalde massacre, after discovering a scheduling conflict and declared on the Senate floor, Im not interested in making a political statement. Im not interested in the same old tired talking points. Im actually interested in what we can do to make the terrible events that occurred in Uvalde less likely in the future. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, has tasked Mr. Cornyn, a close ally, to keep tabs on high-stakes bipartisan talks on gun legislation that can win at least 60 Senate votes to break through a filibuster. Should such a deal materialize, the filibuster is likely to be led by his fellow Texas Republican, Mr. Cruz. Three hundred miles away from Uvalde, raw divisions over gun rights in Texas were on vivid display on Friday as hundreds of gun control supporters protested outside an annual National Rifle Association convention in Houston. Inside, Mr. Trump and others blamed evil and an array of social ills for the attacks, but not easy access to guns. Mr. Abbott withdrew from speaking in person at the convention and instead traveled to Uvalde amid mounting anger over revelations that the police response was delayed in confronting and killing the gunman. The Roman Catholic archbishop of San Antonio, whose territory includes Uvalde, said the N.R.A. should have canceled its meeting in Houston. The country is in mourning, but they are not, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, the archbishop, said in an interview, calling the embrace of guns a culture of death in our midst. Vincent Salazar, 66, whose granddaughter Layla was killed in the Uvalde attack, said he had kept guns in his house for 30 years for protection. But as he grieved the girl who won three blue ribbons at Robb Elementarys Field Day, he said he wanted lawmakers to at least raise the age for selling long guns like the black AR-15-style rifle used in his granddaughters killing. This freedom to carry, what did it do? Mr. Salazar asked. It killed. Several parents and relatives of Uvaldes victims said they wanted politicians in Texas to follow the lead of six states that have raised the age for buying semiautomatic rifles to 21 from 18. But gun rights supporters are challenging those laws in court, and recently won a legal victory after an appeals court struck down Californias ban on selling semiautomatic guns to young adults. Javier Cazares, whose daughter Jacklyn was killed inside Robb Elementary, carries a gun and fully supports the Second Amendment, having learned how to fire semiautomatic rifles at 18 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. But he said the killing of Jacklyn and so many of her fourth-grade friends should force politicians into tightening gun measures. There should be a lot stricter laws, he said. To buy a weapon at 18 its kind of ridiculous. Even as many in Uvalde have said they want to focus their attention on the victims, the conversation about guns has been reverberating through town. Kendall White, who guides groups on hunting trips, helped cook at the barbecue fund-raiser for relatives of victims of the attack on Friday. Prominent Republicans defended gun rights at the National Rifle Association convention on Friday with some misleading claims about the efficacy of gun restrictions, gun ownership trends and school shootings. Heres a fact check. What Was Said Gun bans do not work. Look at Chicago. If they worked, Chicago wouldnt be the murder hellhole that it has been for far too long. Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas This is misleading. Opponents of firearm restrictions frequently cite Chicago as a case study of why tough gun laws do little to prevent homicides. This argument, however, relies on faulty assumptions about the citys gun laws and gun violence. There were more gun murders in Chicago than in any other U.S. city in 2020, fueling the perception that it is the gun violence capital of the country. But Chicago is also the third-largest city in the country. Adjusted by population, the gun homicide rate was 25.2 per 100,000, the 26th highest in the country in 2020, according to data compiled by the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. But a defense lawyer, Sean M. Berkowitz, portrayed the case as riddled with uncertainties including about what Mr. Sussmann actually said, whether it was false and whether it mattered if he was there on behalf of clients since the F.B.I. would have investigated the tip regardless. Each was a path to find reasonable doubt and vote to acquit, he said. Mr. Sussmanns liberty is at stake, he said. The time for political conspiracy theories is over. The time to talk about the evidence is now. A verdict is expected as early as Tuesday. The case centers on odd internet data that cybersecurity researchers discovered in 2016 after it became public that Russia had hacked Democrats and Mr. Trump encouraged the country to hack Mrs. Clintons emails. The researchers said the data might reflect a covert communications channel using servers for the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank, a Kremlin-linked bank. The researchers began working with Rodney Joffe, a technology executive who was an expert in the type of internet data they were scrutinizing. Mr. Joffe brought the suspicions to Mr. Sussmann, who at the time represented the Democratic National Committee on matters related to Russias hacking of its emails. A partner at Mr. Sussmanns law firm, Marc Elias, was the Clinton campaigns general counsel. Mr. Sussmann and Mr. Joffe tried to get reporters including Eric Lichtblau, then of The New York Times to write about the matter, arguments in the trial showed. Mr. Sussmann continued to inform Mr. Elias about those efforts and discussed the matter with an opposition research firm the Clinton campaign had hired through Mr. Elias called Fusion GPS; the firm drafted a paper about Alfa Banks Kremlin ties that Mr. Sussmann later gave the F.B.I. Despite these concerns, many of the attendees expressed anger at the negative press coverage the N.R.A. has received, and some urged defiance in the face of growing calls for gun control. Senator Ted Cruz, who preceded Mr. Trump on the podium, began his speech with a tribute to the dead in Uvalde. He then offered an unapologetic defense of gun rights, warning N.R.A. members that the liberal elites would try to capitalize on the tragedy to destroy the Second Amendment. Now is not the time to yield to panic, Mr. Cruz said. Wayne LaPierre, the embattled head of the N.R.A., opened the convention by calling out the evil of the attack in Uvalde. Then he quickly pivoted to saying the federal government could not legislate against evil, and said Mr. Bidens gun control proposals would restrict the fundamental human right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves. Rank-and-file N.R.A. members, along with journalists, began streaming into the George R. Brown Convention Center late on Thursday for a three-day convention scheduled from Friday through Sunday. The N.R.A.s convention was planned months ago, before the killings in Uvalde and a racist attack on a supermarket in Buffalo earlier this month that left 10 people dead. Both gunmen used AR-15-type semiautomatics that have been legal since the expiration of the assault weapons ban in 2004, a big victory for the N.R.A. Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime, the N.R.A. said on Twitter on Wednesday. Mr. Trumps appearance was the high point of the convention for many in attendance. But what he said he veered off script into his accustomed litany of complaints and digressions after discussing school safety was arguably less important to the N.R.A. than simply his decision to honor his commitment to come. Rosemary Radford Ruether, a pioneering theologian who brought feminist, antiracist and environmental perspectives to bear on the traditional teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, died on May 21 in Pomona, Calif. She was 85. Her daughter Mimi Ruether confirmed the death, in a hospital, but did not specify a cause. Starting in the late 1960s, Dr. Ruether was a leading figure in a wave of progressive women theologians who, inspired by the feminist and civil rights movements, took on the churchs traditional male-centered doctrines. Dr. Ruether, whose academic training was in patristics, the study of early church writings, argued that in the first few centuries after Christs death, the Catholic Church split into two parallel and often opposing tracks: the institutional hierarchy based in Rome and the faiths global grass roots. To me Catholicism is a community of a billion people who represent a range of things, so I dont identify with the pope, she said in a 2010 interview with Conscience, a liberal Catholic magazine. My Catholicism is the progressive, feminist liberation theology wing of Catholicism. That is the Catholicism that I belong to, that I am connected to around the globe. UVALDE, Texas It did not go without notice when an 18-year-old who frequently sparred with classmates before dropping out of high school posted a picture of two long, black rifles on his Instagram story. The image was startling enough that a freshman at Uvalde High School sent it to his older cousin on Saturday morning and asked who would have let the former student obtain the weapons. He finna shoot something up, replied the older cousin, Jeremiah Munoz, who had graduated from the high school and knew the former student. The freshman noted that the week ahead was the last of the school year and said, in words that would become chillingly prescient: Im scared now to go to school. He added a skull emoji. The exchange adds to the wealth of evidence that Salvador Ramos, 18, had begun to tease his plans sometimes in oblique and sometimes in more explicit ways in the days and weeks before he fatally shot 19 children and two teachers in a classroom on Tuesday. The freshman was far from the only person who harbored fears that he might turn the weapons on students in the district. A 15-year-old girl in Germany had video chatted with Mr. Ramos as he visited a gun store, unpacked a box of ammunition that he had ordered online and showed off a black duffel bag holding magazines and a rifle. One of his co-workers at the Wendys in Uvalde said the 18-year-old frequently snapped at other employees and customers, and that they took to calling him names including school shooter in part because of his long hair and dark garb. A California woman he had met online said she had been afraid when he tagged her in a picture of his guns out of the blue, telling him its just scary. CANNES, France The satire Triangle of Sadness, from the Swedish director Ruben Ostlund, won the Palme dOr at the 75th Cannes Film Festival at a ceremony here on Saturday. A blunt, ugly sendup of class politics, the movie had sharply divided critics. The awards ceremony ran a relatively painless 90 or so minutes, another reminder that the emphasis at Cannes remains on the movies themselves, not the accompanying circus. Held inside the magnificent Grand Lumiere Theater inside the festivals headquarters with the nine-person jury watching from the stage the awards confer critical legitimation and generate much-needed public relations for movies that, years into the pandemic, are headed into a still-difficult world for art cinema. The Grand Prix the festivals second prize was split between Close, from the Belgian director Lukas Dhont, and Stars at Noon, from the French auteur Claire Denis. Stars at Noon was brutalized by critics, but it wasnt wholly a shock that it won an award: Vincent Lindon, the president of this years jury, has appeared in several of Deniss movies. Close, a critical and audience favorite about two 13-year-old boys whose friendship is tragically tested, drew warm applause from the Lumiere audience. The Jury Prize, the third prize, was split between two very different dramas: EO, a heartbreaker about a donkey from the Polish auteur Jerzy Skolimowski, and The Eight Mountains, a coming-of-age story from the Belgian filmmakers Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch. Skolimowski, 84, began his acceptance speech by thanking (and naming) all six of his donkeys including a little beauty called Taco. For her part, Vandermeersch seemed to surprise her co-director and partner by repeatedly kissing him right before he started his acceptance speech. ROME Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who rose to the pinnacle of the Roman Catholic Church as the Vaticans top diplomat, the ultimate power broker of the papal court and the deeply influential dean of cardinals before seeing his reputation stained by his connection with the cover-up of sex abuse scandals, died on Friday. He was 94. His death was announced by the Vatican, which did not say where he died or cite a cause. Cardinal Sodano served as secretary of state, the second-highest-ranking position in the Vatican after the pope, for 16 years. His tenure covered a good portion of the pontificate of John Paul II, who once described him as my first and precious collaborator. As Parkinsons disease and other ailments debilitated John Paul II, Cardinal Sodano, along with the popes private secretary, played an outsize role in running the church. The cardinal mediated in the Balkan wars and vigorously opposed the George W. Bush administrations war in Iraq. In 2003 he told reporters, We are asking for reflection not only on whether a war would be just or unjust, moral or immoral, but also whether it is opportune to irritate a billion followers of Islam. But Cardinal Sodano is most known in the church for the power he often exercised within the Vatican hierarchy, including to block investigations of sexually abusive priests and to further his conservative and anticommunist vision of a church that put protection of the institution above all else. In 2010, speaking during a public Easter address, he infamously called accusations of abuse petty gossip. A slain teachers husband died of a heart attack after he took flowers to her memorial at the school. They had four kids. Who will take care of them? Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas coldly said of the massacre, the sixth mass shooting in his seven years in office, It could have been worse. Donald Trump, who once told me if he was elected president, he would get in his limo and drive down to the National Rifle Association and bargain with it until he could get agreement to some common-sense solutions, spoke to the N.R.A. convention in Houston Friday evening and spouted gun lobby talking points small price for the tens of millions it spent to get him elected. What a sociopathic jellyfish. It was sacrilege for him to make it seem as though the N.R.A. cared by reading the names of the dead children and teachers, with a bell gonging after each name. What is wrong with this country? Republicans think theyre showing their toughness by preventing curbs on guns. But its a huge American weakness. When a gunman killed 35 people in Tasmania in 1996, the Australian government passed such common-sense gun laws six months later that there has been only one mass shooting since. More than a million firearms were destroyed. When an anti-Islamic extremist in Christchurch killed 51 people in two mosques in 2019, the New Zealand government banned most semiautomatic weapons 26 days later. There have been no mass shootings since. As the inspiring New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said at the time, she could not have faced the surviving victims and told them, Our system and our laws allow these guns to be available, and that is OK. The political debates here are empty and soulless, with Democrats dodging the issue and Republicans hardening even on mild proposals like requiring universal background checks, which has overwhelming public approval. This is a column about good news, written in the shadow of the worst news imaginable. Like many people, the mass shooting of children in Uvalde, Texas, is basically the only thing Ive read about for days. But as Ive marinated in the horror and, increasingly, in rage at the police response Ive also been aware of the way our media experience works today, how we are constantly cycled from one crisis to another, each one seemingly existential and yet seemingly forgotten when the wheel turns, the headlines change. Climate change, systemic racism, toxic masculinity, online disinformation, gun violence, police violence, the next Trump coup, the latest Covid variant, the death of democracy, climate change again. This is the liberal crisis list; the conservative list is different. But for everyone there are relatively few opportunities to take a breath and acknowledge when anything actually gets better. So my next column will be about the darkness in Texas and the possible policy response. In this one I want to acknowledge that in a different zone of existential agitation, things just meaningfully improved. In Georgia, the state at the center of the 45th presidents attempt to defy the public will and stay in office, there were two Republican primary races that doubled as referendums on the Trumpian demand that G.O.P. officials follow him into a constitutional crisis and in both of them his candidate lost badly. States around the country have made halting but commendable progress in passing sensible gun safety measures red flag laws, background checks and age of purchase requirements. They face stiff headwinds. A federal court this month struck down a California law that set the age limit for purchasing semiautomatic weapons at 21. But the legislature is now considering other promising bills that would limit the advertising of certain guns to children and allow Californians to sue gun makers. Anything that introduces friction into the system of gun acquisition is to the good. In New York this week, a federal judge tossed out a challenge from gun groups to a law that allows civil lawsuits against companies that have endangered public safety. And Gov. Kathy Hochul called on the legislature to raise the age limit to purchase some assault weapons to 21. The shooter in Texas waited until his 18th birthday to buy a pair of assault weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. In Washington, D.C., there is talk that Republican and Democratic lawmakers might make a deal on some type of national red flag law, which would allow the police to take guns away from people judged to be an imminent danger to themselves or others. Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, has been leading a bipartisan group of senators that is considering establishing a more comprehensive federal background check system, a reform supported by 88 percent of Americans. We have seen these bipartisan efforts on gun safety measures come and go without results. Still, in the face of Republican intransigence, Democrats Mr. Biden, in particular should do whatever they can. Senator Murphy, who has led the charge for tougher gun regulations since Sandy Hook, put it well on the floor of the Senate this past week: What are we doing? he asked his colleagues. Why do you go through all the hassle of getting this job, of putting yourself in a position of authority he wondered, if the answer is to do nothing as the slaughter increases, as our kids run for their lives? Its a question that speaks to the Senate directly and the entire system of American government more broadly. Yes, the countrys democratic system represents the diversity of views in this country on guns. But as currently structured, Congress is fundamentally unresponsive to the needs of its most vulnerable citizens and has been corrupted by powerful interest groups, allowing those groups to block even modest changes that the vast majority of Americans support. We Americans all share this vast country and need to figure out how to make it better and keep one another alive and thriving. Right now, were failing at that primary responsibility. There are glimmers of hope, especially at the state level, that things are changing. But even there, progress is agonizingly slow and wont be enough for the hundreds of Americans who will be shot today and tomorrow and every day until action is taken. It takes a certain panache to wear white in New York City. And Khrzielle Vargas, a 21-year-old seaman apprentice from Fremont, Calif., was strolling through Times Square on Thursday afternoon in her white trousers, white jumper top and white sailor hat. When you walk around the city in your uniform, you look like youre glowing, Ms. Vargas said. Ms. Vargas was among the 3,000 service members of the Navy and the Marines swarming the streets of New York City for Fleet Week, a Memorial Day tradition that has returned for the first time since 2019. The seven-day festival includes a parade of ships, public tours of naval vessels docked along the Hudson River and various demonstrations of nautical and aeronautical prowess by members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Michelle Fishman calls it the worst-case scenario that you dont really think through. After a three-week vacation in Greece, the 52-year-old hotel art consultant from Miami and her husband took pre-departure coronavirus tests required to fly home from overseas. She tested positive, he did not. Although coronavirus travel restrictions have eased across many parts of the world, the United States still requires all international air passengers to present a negative test taken within one day of departure. And according to guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ms. Fishman should have isolated and delayed travel for 10 days, but she said she had to get home earlier to officiate at a wedding. Instead, she took advantage of a quirk in the rules to head home after five days (the mandatory self-isolation period required by the Greek government) via a backdoor crossing into the United States by land, which does not require a coronavirus test, rather than by air. Because Canada does not require a test for entry, the couple first flew to Toronto and, after spending a night there, Ms. Fishman and her husband drove across the border into Buffalo and caught a flight home. (There is no testing requirement for flying domestically.) I had zero symptoms, no fever, nothing. I felt fine and when youre stateside, the C.D.C. says you can end isolation five days after testing positive, so the same rules should apply when Im traveling, Ms. Fishman said. It makes no sense that I can go to a wedding five days after a positive test in Miami, but if I catch the virus when Im on vacation I cant fly home. That should be illegal. In the seven years that Greg Abbott has served as governor of Texas, dozens of people have been killed in mass shootings across the state. In a few cases, his administration has responded to the violence by indicating an openness to tightening the states gun laws. But not much has changed, and those laws remain some of the least restrictive in the United States. In May 2018, in response to shootings in Sutherland Springs and Santa Fe that left a total of 36 people dead, Mr. Abbott issued a 43-page report calling for more school security and preparation for active shooters on campus, among other measures. The Republican governors report also asked state lawmakers to study the possibility of creating a so-called red flag law, one that would allow the police to temporarily confiscate firearms from people a judge considers to be a danger to themselves or to others. The results of Mr. Abbotts report included a $1 million item in the states budget for the Department of Public Safety to promote safe gun storage, as well as a state law abolishing a cap on the number of school marshals who are allowed to carry guns on public school campuses. But, unlike Florida, where state lawmakers passed a red flag law weeks after 17 people were fatally shot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, the idea for a similar measure in Texas died in a state legislature committee. One reason was public opposition from Mr. Abbotts own lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick. Regarding the topic of Red Flag laws, which was discussed today in the select committee, I have never supported these policies, nor has the majority of the Texas Senate, Mr. Patrick said in a statement in July 2018. A similar pattern played out in the summer of 2019, after a gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso and another killed seven others and wounded at least 21 more in Odessa. A few days after the Odessa massacre, Mr. Patrick publicly endorsed expanding the states background checks to private gun sales, telling The Dallas Morning News that he was willing to take an arrow from the gun lobby to champion such a measure. But Mr. Patrick later went quiet on the idea of background checks. And last year, Mr. Abbott, whose policies have been drifting rightward in recent years, signed a wide-ranging law ending a requirement for Texans to obtain a license to carry handguns. Now, virtually anyone over the age of 21 is allowed to do so. In a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Abbott said that although the gunman who killed 19 children in Uvalde had no known history of mental issues, he believed that the area near the school lacked sufficient access to mental health care. We as a state, we as a society, need to do a better job with mental health, he said. He did not make any specific proposals for legislation that would address gun violence. A California woman who repeatedly punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant last year, bloodying her face and chipping three of her teeth, was sentenced on Friday to 15 months in federal prison, prosecutors said. The woman, Vyvianna M. Quinonez, 29, of Sacramento, will also have to pay nearly $26,000 in restitution and a $7,500 fine, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California. A video of the attack, which occurred in May 2021, was widely viewed on social media. Judge Todd W. Robinson of United States District Court also ordered Ms. Quinonez to be on supervised release for three years after completing her sentence, during which she will be barred from flying on any commercial aircraft. The assault came amid a surge of unruly and violent behavior by passengers who shoved, struck and yelled at flight attendants. Within days of the attack, two major airlines, American and Southwest, postponed plans to begin serving alcohol again on flights, in an effort to stop the behavior. Both airlines have since resumed alcohol sales. Our commitment is to manage the public lands entrusted to us by improving the forests resilience to the many stressors they are facing, including larger, hotter wildfires, historic levels of drought, rising temperatures, and insects and disease, Ms. Cress said. In response to the fire investigators findings, New Mexicos governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, said the federal government must examine its fire management practices and how they account for climate change. This is a first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility for the largest wildfire in state history, which has destroyed hundreds of homes, displaced tens of thousands of New Mexicans and cost the state and local governments millions of dollars, she said in a statement. In the Western United States, wildfires are burning more frequently and more intensely and wildfire seasons are growing longer, narrowing the windows for performing prescribed burns. Recent research has suggested that heat and dryness associated with human-caused global warming are major reasons for the increase in bigger and stronger wildfires. Lisa Dale, a lecturer at Columbia Climate School, said prescribed burns are the best tools available for reducing the long-term risk from wildfires. They clear away vegetation that would otherwise fuel an unwanted fire and recognize that forests depend on fire to be healthy. I hope that the aftermath of this incident doesnt lead to long-term policy changes that will continue to limit our ability to use this tool, Dr. Dale said. She said climate change has made it more difficult to use prescribed fires because fire seasons have increased to seven to eight months from around three months. The growing intensity of fires has also made it more difficult for fire managers to respond. WASHINGTON In the sprawling distances of South Texas, sheriffs deputies, local and county police officers, Texas Rangers and Highway Patrol troopers, U.S. Border Patrol agents, immigration officers and other members of law enforcement work together on a daily basis. Along the more than 1,200 miles of border between Mexico and Texas, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies respond to one anothers calls for backup and regularly conduct joint operations. So it was not unusual that agents with Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to the desperate request for backup from the Uvalde Police Department on Tuesday. It was highly unusual, however, for ICE officers to be pulling children out of school windows, and for Border Patrol agents to play such a central role in response to a school shooter, firing the bullets that killed him. The Uvalde police asked for tactical equipment when they called for backup, and members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, the agencys version of a SWAT team, dropped what they were doing and went to the school, about a 40-minute drive from where they had been working on the southwest border. Polling suggests that many Americans are eager for a broader reset. Nearly 90 percent of adults in the United States support the idea of doing more to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill people, according to a Pew Research Center survey last year. And about 80 percent of people say gun purchasers should be subject to background checks, even when they buy their guns in a private sale or at a gun show. But surveys also reflect the deepening polarization in the country, where about 30 percent of adults say they own a gun. At the federal level, 51 percent of Americans favor a nationwide ban on the sale of AR-15 rifles and similar semiautomatic weapons, while 32 percent are opposed, according to a poll this month by The Associated Press and NORC. Three-quarters of Democrats were supportive, compared with barely a quarter of Republicans. And the divide is also wide between people who own guns and people who do not. (Republicans are roughly twice as likely to say they own a gun as Democrats.) A sizable majority of people who do not own guns favor banning high-capacity ammunition magazines and creating a federal database to track all gun sales, according to Pew. Fewer than half of gun owners support the same restrictions. By contrast, large majorities of gun owners favor arming teachers in schools and allowing people to carry concealed weapons in more places changes that are broadly opposed by people who do not own firearms. The response to mass shootings in the United States is starkly different from the decisive action taken in other developed countries around the world. Britain banned semiautomatic weapons and handguns after shootings in 1987 and 1996. Australia held a mandatory gun buyback after a 1996 massacre and the rate of mass shootings plummeted. Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Norway all tightened gun laws after horrific crimes. For Republican lawmakers in the United States, even a national tragedy like the two recent mass shootings may not be enough to break through the fear of angering their supporters, who have been fired up over the last several years by former President Donald J. Trump, Fox News and social media. An international pressure campaign to keep the route open is now underway. The United States is presiding over the Security Council this month and has held a series of meetings touching on the plight of Syrians who have become homeless or otherwise need assistance to survive. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said Moscow had not decided how it would vote. But in an interview on Friday, he said that under the current system, the aid was vulnerable to extremists in Idlib. I do not deny that it goes to refugees as well, but the terrorist groups they benefit from this, he said, adding that the extremists had attacked deliveries. Mr. Polyanskiy would not discuss negotiations to keep the corridor open, except to say that talks between Russia and the United States were stagnant, given current geopolitical circumstances. Frankly, we dont have very many things to make us optimistic at this stage, he said. But three foreign diplomats said Russia had sent vague signals suggesting it might try to use the vote to gain concessions in the standoff over Ukraine. The United States and European countries have imposed a variety of sanctions on Russia to punish the country for invading its neighbor. The diplomats would not describe the signals in detail and said Moscow had stopped short of directly tying the corridors fate to the war in Ukraine. But they said they believed Moscow would lean on countries that would be directly affected by a new wave of refugees for help in evading the sanctions. One of the diplomats also predicted Russia would counter accusations that its invasion had violated Ukraines sovereignty by denouncing the aid convoys as an infringement on Syrias territorial integrity. Most of Mr. Trumps advisers believe he should wait until after the midterm elections to announce a candidacy. Yet the sense among Republicans that Mr. Trump has lost political altitude is taking hold, including among some of those close to him. Taylor Budowich, a Trump spokesman, said the undeniable reality is that Republicans rely on Mr. Trump to fuel Republican victories in 2022 and beyond. President Trumps political operation continues to dominate American politics, raising more money and driving more victories than any other political organization bar none, Mr. Budowich said. Some Republican strategists have fixated on the fact that so many of Mr. Trumps endorsees have landed about one-third of the vote big winners (J.D. Vance in Ohio), losers (Jody Hice in Georgia, Janice McGeachin in Idaho and Charles Herbster in Nebraska) and those headed for a recount (Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania). One-third of the party is at once an unmatched base of unbending loyalists and yet a cohort far from a majority. Notably, Mr. Trumps share of what is raised overall among all Republicans online has also declined. Mr. Trumps main fund-raising committee accounted for 19.7 percent of what was raised by Republican campaigns and committees on WinRed in the last four months of 2021, but just 14.1 percent of what was raised during the first three months of 2022. Some of that decrease is the result of other candidates on the ballot raising more this year. Still, only 10 times since July 2021 has Mr. Trumps committee accounted for less than 10 percent of the money raised on WinRed during a single day and nine of those instances came in March 2022, the last month data was available. Those with PTSD often have trouble sleeping and may become emotionally numb, continuously on edge or easily startled, she said. The world will often feel unsafe to them, and upsetting memories may intrude on their daily thoughts. Some people may try to avoid things that remind them of their trauma. Teens and adults might turn to substance abuse. Younger children may experience stomachaches or headaches, and lower-grade anxiety that causes them to misbehave or have trouble concentrating. They may also engage in traumatic play, acting out the trauma they experienced, Dr. Nugent added. If the behavior persists, she said, then we start to worry that it could be signaling something significant like PTSD. Proximity to violence Much like those who experience gun violence, those who live near it may also suffer. Dr. Aditi Vasan, a general pediatrician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, decided to investigate how children in her community were psychologically affected by nearby shootings after speaking with patients who had anxiety, depression or difficulty sleeping. When I asked them when these symptoms started, they told me it was after a classmate or a friend or a neighbor was shot, she said. The resulting study, published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2021, examined emergency department admissions between 2014 and 2018 and found that children and teenagers in west and southwest Philadelphia who lived within about four to six blocks of where a shooting had occurred were more likely than other children to use an emergency room for mental health reasons during the two months after the shooting. The odds rose among children who were exposed to multiple shootings and among those who lived closest to a shootings location, within two or three blocks. Their symptoms included anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal ideation and self-harm behavior, Dr. Vasan said. Another study, in California, looked at the effects of police killings on several communities in Los Angeles. It showed decreases in high school students academic performance, learning deficiencies related to PTSD and higher levels of depression and school dropouts that correlated to how close students lived to where the shootings occurred. These problems were most pronounced among Black and Latino students who lived near the locations of police shootings of Black and Latino people. The fear overcomes the need to connect with other people, and thats the real tragedy of what violence does to communities, said Dr. Joel Fein, an emergency medicine physician at Childrens Hospital Philadelphia, where he co-directs the Center for Violence Prevention. HONG KONG The United Nations top human rights official offered limited criticism of Chinas crackdown on predominantly Muslim minorities, saying at the end of her six-day trip to the country on Saturday that she had raised questions about its application of counterterrorism and de-radicalization measures but that her visit was not an investigation. The comments from Michelle Bachelet, the first U.N. high commissioner for human rights to visit China since 2005, were sharply criticized by overseas Uyghurs and human rights advocates who had called on her to more vociferously condemn Chinas policies. Rayhan Asat, a lawyer whose younger brother is imprisoned in Xinjiang, said Ms. Bachelets comments show a total disregard for the Uyghur peoples suffering. The crisis has been going on for six years, and it needs no further examination but condemnation, she said. We did not see any of that in her remarks. MELBOURNE, Australia When a man washed up on the shores of Christmas Island in 1942, lifeless and hunched over in a shrapnel-riddled raft, no one knew who he was. It wasnt until the 1990s that the Royal Australian Navy began to suspect that he may have been a sailor from the HMAS Sydney II, an Australian warship whose 645-member crew disappeared at sea when it sank off the coast of Western Australia during World War II. In 2006, the mans remains were exhumed, but DNA extracted from his teeth yielded no match with a list of people Navy officials thought might be his descendants. With few leads, the scientist who conducted the DNA test, Jeremy Austin, told the Navy about an emerging technique that could predict a persons ancestry and physical traits from genetic material. The method, known as DNA phenotyping, relies on variations in the genome associated with traits connected to physical appearance to assess the likelihood that a person has a certain hair, eye or skin color, among other characteristics. It differs from older techniques in that it does not require DNA to be matched with an existing sample in a database. Canadas previous registry for shotguns and standard rifles was maintained by the federal government rather than sellers. That long-gun registry, which was plagued by technical issues but supported by most police forces, was scrapped in 2012 by Stephen Harper, the prime minister of the Conservative government at the time. Conservatives very much associate themselves now with the opposition to gun control, but that wasnt always the case, Blake Brown, a history professor at Saint Marys University in Halifax, told me. He said that Liberals and Conservatives passed firearms control measures in the 1950s and 1960s, and that both parties strengthened Canadas gun laws in the years following the 1989 Montreal massacre. In his book Arming and Disarming: A History of Gun Control in Canada, Professor Brown wrote that Canadas cultural attitudes toward firearms diverged from those in the United States as early as the 1860s. [Read: Other Countries Had Mass Shootings. Then They Changed Their Gun Laws.] Certainly there have been periods in American history where theyve been more aggressive in gun control than in Canada, he said. But, overall, the trend has been that Canada has seen themselves differently when it comes to firearms. That has led to stricter gun laws amid fears of importing American gun violence. Despite these historical distinctions, the gun debate raging south of the border often reverberates here. While it was far from the spotlight issue in our federal election last September, candidates in the ongoing Conservative Party leadership race have been rehashing it. [Read: Debate Over Guns Is Muted as Canadas Election Nears] During our federal election coverage in September, my colleague Ian Austen reported that there were 12.7 million legal and illegal guns in Canada, or 34.7 civilian firearms per 100 people in 2017, the most recent data. (These figures are from the Small Arms Survey, a nonprofit organization based in Switzerland, which estimates that there are more than 300 million guns in the United States and 120.5 firearms per 100 people.) His image was so powerful that people kept saying its not possible, hes such a seducer, she should have been flattered, Ms. de Blasi, 33, recalled. I kept reading, French charm, gallantry and seduction, when it wasnt about that at all. In 2015, just out of journalism school and on her first freelance assignment, Ms. de Blasi was asked to go interview Mr. Poivre dArvor but with warnings from her own editors and friends in journalism. Little jokes about not wearing a decollete, makeup or a skirt, she recalled. The interview went without incident. But Mr. Poivre dArvor followed up with persistent calls asking her out to dinner, she said. When she refused, he called her editors to say she was a bad journalist who had refused to accept a scoop from him, Ms. de Blasi said. Shielded by his reputation, Mr. Poivre dArvor initially seemed able to ride out the scandal. But then he gave a disastrous TV interview, saying that seduction was important to his generation and included kisses on the neck. Denying that he had ever coerced any woman, he challenged anyone to look into his eyes and tell him the contrary. The next day, Ms. Devynck went to the police one of nearly 30 women who eventually did. The gap between this mans image and what I knew was so great, she recalled. Natalia Abiyeva is a real-estate agent specializing in rental apartments in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, east of Moscow. But lately, she has been learning a lot about battlefield medicine. Packets of hemostatic granules, she found out, can stop catastrophic bleeding; decompression needles can relieve pressure in a punctured chest. At a military hospital, a wounded commander told her that a comrade died in his arms because there were no airway tubes available to keep him breathing. Ms. Abiyeva, 37, has decided to take matters into her own hands. On Wednesday, she and two friends set out in a van for the Ukrainian border for the seventh time since the war began in February, bringing onions, potatoes, two-way radios, binoculars, first-aid gear and even a mobile dentistry set. Since the start of the war, she said, she has raised more than $60,000 to buy food, clothes and equipment for Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine. The whole world, it seems to me, is supporting our great enemies, Ms. Abiyeva said in a phone interview. We also want to offer our support, to say, Guys, were with you. The final day of classes in Ukraine is normally a festive occasion when gleeful students get dressed up and jump into fountains and as tradition dictates, the smallest student climbs onto the shoulders of the tallest to ring a bell marking the school years end. This year, in the throes of a devastating war that has forced millions of children from their homes and reduced schoolhouses to rubble, many schools made do on Friday by holding virtual last bell ceremonies online, with some of the children signing on from overseas where their families have fled to escape the violence. Near the front lines of the war in the countrys east, a local official lamented that instead of the bell, children were hearing gunfire and explosions. The last bell did not ring today in Luhansk region, Serhiy Hadai, the head of the regions military administration, wrote on his Facebook page. Those children who still remain in the areas bomb shelters listened to the cannonade. Offaly actor Tadhg Devery has just won his second award for his role as The Chi in Follow the Dead, a feature film shot in the county. The film has won 15 awards and earned eight nominations from festivals all over the globe, including Sunscreen Film Festival in Florida, Fright Night Film Festival in Kentucky, Wales International Film Festival and the Kerry International Film Festival. Tadhg won his first award for Best Supporting Actor at the Dublin International Comedy Film Festival earlier this year, but his second comes from the Achill Island Film Festival which had its inaugural event over the weekend. Tadhg walked away with the Standout Performance award at the ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Tadhg's performance was the talk of the evening at the opening night feature screening of Follow the Dead. Fellow actor Emily Swain, who flew over from England to be at the festival, said, "I loved the authentic relationships, and that the zombie narrative builds around that unit, rather than the zombies defining the heart of the film. This worked so well and is guaranteed to win you over, zombie fan or not!" The festival itself took place on Achill, and director Adam William Cahill said "it was incredible to take in the awe-inspiring views of the hills, the cliffs, and the ocean, while getting to meet some like-minded filmmakers and enthusiasts, and seeing some of the wonderful films that were on display." You can find out more about the film at www.followthedead.com A plan to create special school centres for children with additional needs is a watered-down form of education that is unlawful, an expert has said. Childrens rights solicitor Gareth Noble said the governments plan is in breach of childrens constitutional right to an education. 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 were confirmed by Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan on Twitter on Wednesday evening following media reports. However, Ms Madigan appeared to row back on the plan, saying on Thursday that it was in its infancy and that the plan had been misperceived. Mr Noble said there is a duty on the minister to provide a suitable and appropriate education to all children, regardless of their needs. Talk of stop-gaps, autism centres, temporary arrangements, that just doesnt wash with our constitutional standard, he said. This isnt a luxury or a privilege for young people. This is absolutely a constitutionally enshrined right. He said that Ireland recently brought into effect the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which adds a further layer of protection for children with additional needs. He said that the Governments plan to shove children away into autism centres breaches the convention. This isnt about a name change, this is about values change, he added. Its about the value that is being placed on a child and their rights and to suggest that this plan is in any way a child-centred or rights based approach, its a watered-down, diluted form of education that doesnt enable children to access the curriculum on a par with their peers. It is for that reason that it is not only unjust, and its not just immoral but it is unlawful. Parents of children with additional needs have struggled to find school places for this September. While Ms Madigan said she is dealing with legacy issues and not adequate forecasting, Mr Noble claimed the numbers of children needing school places have been well known to the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education for years. This is the departments equivalent of the dog ate my homework, he added. The minister has also been urged to issue a notice under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998, that requires a school to make a place available to a child with additional needs. But Mr Noble said the piece of legislation is hugely bureaucratic and needs reformed. Effectively, it envisages engagement between the department, the National Council for Special Education and schools around ensuring that there are students for the appropriate places, he added. Whether its in the form of autism classes, or indeed special education provision. If that engagement doesnt produce the results, then ultimately the minister can compel a school to open a learning environment. I think weve arrived at the point now where every school in Ireland, there has to be a discussion about not whether they provide for children with additional needs, but how they can support it in doing so. A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: As a Government, ensuring that every child has access to an appropriate school placement is a top priority. We continue to work with schools and stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient places available and to support parents where there are difficulties in securing places. Discussions will be ongoing over the coming period with stakeholders on proposals to meet the immediate needs of children with special educational needs. The Government recognises the need to ensure appropriate placements for all children. Every effort will continue to be made to ensure that every child has access to a school place that is suitable for them. In the 2021/2022 school year, 300 special classes opened, creating 1,800 places. This work is being continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Families currently have access to home tuition, which is intended as a short-term measure, to support children until a placement is available, in special classes or special schools, depending on their needs. An additional measure which is being considered by the department is the development of an additional interim measure, where children can be in a class with their peers, supported by qualified staff based in a location outside of a school, with opportunities for integration being explored in nearby schools until appropriate long-term school placements become available. A proposal is being developed and discussed with stakeholders to determine whether this could provide an alternative for parents if they wished to avail of it, while arrangements are made to open more special classes and in doing so provide for more appropriate school places for children with special educational needs. This proposal remains under discussion and is subject to further engagement with all stakeholders. The Indianapolis 500, also formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, or simply the Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis. The event is traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, usually the last weekend of May. Universities in Melbourne and Sydney are standing firm in their support for a controversial Indian politicians visit to Australia. Australian dad Michael O'Neill is the first Australian to lose their life in the Ukraine conflict. Sydney Morning Herald 29 May 2022 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was spotted supporting his beloved Rabbitohs in Homebush on Saturday, at the first game hes attended since he was elected last week. Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark plan to build 150 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in the North Sea to help achieve the EU's climate goals and, eventually, break away from Russian energy. More than 100,000 Russians have left for Armenia, many of them protesters fearing arrest at home. 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.. Japan has quickly opened its borders to Ukrainian refugees, but the country has a long history of denying entry to refugees seeking safety from conflicts. Human rights activists hope that will now change. The president and first lady will meet with victims' families, the NRA's convention will continue in Houston and more news to start your weekend. As Europe frantically searches for alternative energy suppliers, Norway's natural gas and oil are in high demand. But are remarks that it is profiting from the war in Ukraine fair? Tourists are returning to Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. But, given the global uncertainty caused by the Ukraine war, will the comeback be enough to save a struggling sector, revive lost jobs and avoid unrest? Tensions remain high between Iran and the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers, as Tehran enriches more uranium. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers Friday in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, officials said. The action appeared to be retaliation for Athens' assistance Students trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 during this week's attack on a Texas elementary school, including one who pleaded, "Please send the police now", as officers waited more than an hour to breach... The Ukrainian military managed to push back Russian troops from the outskirts of Kharkiv more than two weeks ago. Life as he knew it ended for Matt Capelouto two days before Christmas in 2019, when he found his 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra, dead in her childhood bedroom in Temecula, California. Rage overtook grief when authorities ruled her death an accident. The college sophomore, home for the holidays, had taken half a pill she bought from a dealer on Snapchat. It turned out to be fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that helped drive drug overdose deaths in the U.S. to more than 100,000 last year. She was poisoned, and nothing was going to happen to the person who did it, he said. I couldnt stand for that. The self-described political moderate said the experience made him cynical about Californias reluctance to impose harsh sentences for drug offenses. So Capelouto, the suburban dad who once devoted all his time to running his print shop and raising his four daughters, launched a group called Drug Induced Homicide and traveled from his home to Sacramento in April to lobby for legislation known as Alexandras Law. The bill would have made it easier for California prosecutors to convict the sellers of lethal drugs on homicide charges. Capeloutos organization is part of a nationwide movement of parents-turned-activists fighting the increasingly deadly drug crisis and they are challenging Californias doctrine that drugs should be treated as a health problem rather than prosecuted by the criminal justice system. Modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which sparked a movement in the 1980s, organizations such as Victims of Illicit Drugs and the Alexander Neville Foundation seek to raise public awareness and influence drug policy. One group, Mothers Against Drug Deaths, pays homage to MADD by borrowing its acronym. The groups press state lawmakers for stricter penalties for dealers and lobby technology companies to allow parents to monitor their kids communications on social media. They erect billboards blaming politicians for the drug crisis and stage die-in protests against open-air drug markets in Los Angeles Venice Beach and San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood. This problem is going to be solved by the grassroots efforts of affected families, said Ed Ternan, who runs the Pasadena-based group Song for Charlie, which focuses on educating youths about the dangers of counterfeit pills. Many parents mobilized after a wave of deaths that began in 2019. Often, they involved high school or college students who thought they were taking OxyContin or Xanax purchased on social media but were actually ingesting pills containing fentanyl. The drug first hit the East Coast nearly a decade ago, largely through the heroin supply, but Mexican drug cartels have since introduced counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with the highly addictive powder into California and Arizona to hook new customers. In many cases, the overdose victims are straight-A students or star athletes from the suburbs, giving rise to an army of educated, engaged parents who are challenging the silence and stigma surrounding drug deaths. Ternan knew almost nothing about fentanyl when his 22-year-old son, Charlie, died in his fraternity house bedroom at Santa Clara University a few weeks before he was scheduled to graduate in spring 2020. Relatives determined from messages on Charlies phone that he had intended to buy Percocet, a prescription painkiller he had taken after back surgery two years earlier. First responders said the strapping 6-foot-2-inch, 235-pound college senior died within a half-hour of swallowing the counterfeit pill. Ternan discovered a string of similar deaths in other Silicon Valley communities. In 2021, 106 people died from fentanyl overdoses in Santa Clara County up from 11 in 2018. The deaths have included a Stanford University sophomore and a 12-year-old girl in San Jose. With the help of two executives at Google who lost sons to pills laced with fentanyl, Ternan persuaded Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms to donate ad space to warnings about counterfeit drugs. Pressure from parent groups has also spurred Santa Monica-based Snapchat to deploy tools to detect drug sales and restrictions designed to make it harder for dealers to target minors. Since the earliest days of the opioid epidemic, the families of people dealing with addiction and of those who have died from overdoses have supported one another in church basements and on online platforms from Florida to Oregon. Now, the family-run organizations that have sprung from Californias fentanyl crisis have begun cooperating with one another. A network of parent groups and other activists that calls itself the California Peace Coalition was formed recently by Michael Shellenberger, a Berkeley author and activist running for governor as an independent. One critic of Californias progressive policies is Jacqui Berlinn, a legal processing clerk in the East Bay who started Mothers Against Drug Deaths a name she chose as an homage to the achievements of Mothers Against Drunk Driving founder Candace Lightner, a Fair Oaks housewife whose 13-year-old daughter was killed in 1980 by a driver under the influence. Berlinns son, Corey, 30, has used heroin and fentanyl for seven years on the streets of San Francisco. My son isnt trash, Berlinn said. He deserves to get his life back. She believes the citys decision not to charge dealers has allowed open-air narcotics markets to flourish in certain neighborhoods and have enabled drug use, rather than encouraged people dealing with addiction to get help. In April, Berlinns group spent $25,000 to erect a billboard in the upscale retail district of Union Square. Over a glowing night shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the sign says: Famous the world over for our brains, beauty and, now, dirt-cheap fentanyl. This month, the group installed a sign along Interstate 80 heading into Sacramento that targets Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Playing off signage used at parks, the billboard features a Welcome to Camp Fentanyl greeting against a shot of a homeless encampment. The group said a mobile billboard will also circle the state Capitol for an undisclosed period. Mothers Against Drug Deaths is calling for more options and funding for drug treatment and more arrests of dealers. The latter would mark a sharp turn from the gospel of harm reduction, a public health approach embraced by state and local officials that holds abstention as unrealistic. Instead, this strategy calls for helping people dealing with addiction stay safe through things like needle exchanges and naloxone, an overdose reversal drug that has saved thousands of lives. The parent movement echoes recall efforts happening in two major cities. Progressive prosecutors Chesa Boudin in San Francisco and George Gascon in Los Angeles have veered away from throwing street dealers in jail, which they call a pointless game of whack-a-mole that punishes poor minorities. California lawmakers are wary of repeating the mistakes of the war-on-drugs era and have blocked a series of bills that would stiffen penalties for fentanyl sales. They say the legislation would accomplish little apart from packing the states jails and prisons. We can throw people in jail for a thousand years, and it wont keep people from doing drugs, and it wont keep them from dying, said state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). We know that from experience. Some parents agree. After watching her son cycle in and out of the criminal justice system on minor drug charges in the 1990s, Gretchen Burns Bergman became convinced that charging people with minor drug offenses, such as possession, is counterproductive. In 1999, the San Diego fashion show producer started A New Path, which has advocated for marijuana legalization and an end to Californias three strikes law. A decade later, she formed Moms United to End the War on Drugs, a nationwide coalition. Today, both her sons have recovered from heroin addiction with the help of compassionate support and work as drug counselors, she said. Ive been at this long enough to see the pendulum swing, Burns Bergman said of the publics shifting views on law enforcement. In December, Brandon McDowell, 22, of Riverside, was arrested and accused of selling the tablet that killed Matt Capeloutos daughter. McDowell was charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Although Alexandras Law failed to make it out of committee, Capelouto pointed out that years of lobbying went into the passage of stricter drunken driving laws. He vowed not to give up on the bill named for his daughter, who wrote poetry and loved David Bowie. Im going to be back in front of them, he said, every year. 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 Kaiser Family Foundation. KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WIRTZ, Va. (AP) 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. 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. 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. Senate Bill 1029, Suspend gas tax this summer: Passed 30 to 7 in the Senate To suspend collection of the states 27.2 cent-per-gallon "motor fuel tax" on gasoline and diesel fuel sales from June 15 to Sept. 15, 2022. The Senate Fiscal Agency reports this would reduce the amount available for future road and bridge repairs by around $360 million. Y Kevin Daley (R) Attica, Sen. Dist. 31 Y Kenneth Horn (R) Frankenmuth, Sen. Dist. 32 Y Jim Stamas (R) Midland, Sen. Dist. 36 Senate Bill 972, Suspend sales tax on gas and diesel: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate To suspend collection of the states 6% sales tax on purchases of gasoline and diesel fuel from June 15 to Sept. 15, 2022. The Senate Fiscal Agency reports that suspending sales and use taxes on fuel would reduce state and school revenue around $680 million in the current fiscal year. Y Kevin Daley (R) Attica, Sen. Dist. 31 Y Kenneth Horn (R) Frankenmuth, Sen. Dist. 32 Y Jim Stamas (R) Midland, Sen. Dist. 36 House Bill 5291, Authorize port subsidies to private and public developers: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate To authorize state grants of up to $2.5 million each to developers and owners of shipping ports and related facilities. The bill creates a new state agency to manage the subsidies, and to pursue more projects eligible for them. Y Kevin Daley (R) Attica, Sen. Dist. 31 Y Kenneth Horn (R) Frankenmuth, Sen. Dist. 32 Y Jim Stamas (R) Midland, Sen. Dist. 36 House Bill 4527, Authorize carnival ride safety violation fines: Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate To authorize civil fines of $2,500 per day for carnival ride safety violations. The bill would also revise procedures on permit revocations, appeals, reporting and disclosure mandates and more. Y Kevin Daley (R) Attica, Sen. Dist. 31 Y Kenneth Horn (R) Frankenmuth, Sen. Dist. 32 Y Jim Stamas (R) Midland, Sen. Dist. 36 House Bill 5190, Revise state high school graduation requirements: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate To revise state high school graduation requirements by adding a new one, that schools offer and students take a one-semester personal finance course, which would also substitute for a portion of the math credits that are currently required. The Michigan Department of Education would be required to develop the personal finance course. Y Kevin Daley (R) Attica, Sen. Dist. 31 Y Kenneth Horn (R) Frankenmuth, Sen. Dist. 32 Y Jim Stamas (R) Midland, Sen. Dist. 36 House Bill 4239, Revise vehicle immobilization after arrest: Passed 106 to 1 in the House To revise details of the requirement that a vehicle be immobilized after certain offenses where police detain the driver. Currently, that involves taking the license plate and issuing a temporary plate. The bill would eliminate the requirement that a temporary plate be issued, essentially making the vehicle unusable until the violation is adjudicated or the vehicle is sold outside the family. Y Amos O'Neal (D) Saginaw, Rep. Dist. 95 Y Timothy Beson (R) Bay City, Rep. Dist. 96 Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Annette Glenn (R) Midland, Rep. Dist. 98 Y Roger Hauck (R) Mount Pleasant, Rep. Dist. 99 House Bill 6070, Authorize adoption-related business tax credits: Passed 95 to 12 in the House To authorize adoption leave business tax credits for employers, which would be equal to half the annual wages of the employee for up to 12 weeks of adoption leave, up to a maximum of $4,000. Y Amos O'Neal (D) Saginaw, Rep. Dist. 95 Y Timothy Beson (R) Bay City, Rep. Dist. 96 Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Annette Glenn (R) Midland, Rep. Dist. 98 N Roger Hauck (R) Mount Pleasant, Rep. Dist. 99 SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting 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. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan minister of Economy and Trade in the government of national unity, Mohamed al-Haweij, Friday discussed ways of expanding trade cooperation with Tunisia and South Korea in the context of the stagnant global economy and rising prices Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Zambias plan to abolish the death penalty adds to the growing global chorus against the practice, the UN Human Rights Office, OHCHR, said on Friday in welcoming the decision 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 Insurance and commerce partners Hollard Ghana and Melcom have announced the extension of their "Shop and Insure" collaboration beyond the current in-store Hollard on-the-go booths in select Melcom stores, to e-commerce on www.melcom.com. This move will enable more Ghanaians to conveniently use digital means to access financial security on their purchases and lives. The existing partnership between the unconventional insurance group with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance, and the retail giant, Melcom, enables customers who enter selected Melcom stores to sign up for insurance on their appliances, electronics, and families while they shop. With this e-commerce addition, customers can also navigate Melcoms online shopping portal to access Hollard's general and life insurance products. Speaking on the announcement, Group CEO of Hollard Ghana, Patience Akyianu, said: "As an innovative company, we seek ways to make insurance more accessible. Consequently, with this move to e-commerce, we have elevated our pioneering partnership with Melcom by adding digital to the conventional brick and mortar store distribution channel. We are proud to acknowledge that this aligns with our purpose of courageously pursuing a better way to improve the lives of Ghanaians." Our goal at Melcom is to be a one-stop-shop for all our customers. Recently, there has been a surge in e-commerce since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a forward-thinking company, it is only prudent to add insurance to the variety of products available in our online shop. Customers can now log on to www.melcom.com to enquire about the unique insurance products as they shop for their groceries and home essentials online. We believe it will deepen our partnership with Hollard while increasing insurance penetration in the country, said The Directors of the Group. The Hollard general and life insurance policies available on Melcom's e-commerce platform www.melcom.com are motor, electronics and appliances, home, travel, life, funeral, and investment. Hollard is poised to answer all related customer enquiries. About Hollard Ghana Hollard is the country's favourite insurance group, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market, having operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customized to Ghanaians' unique risks. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more, and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance) and 0501533698 (Hollard Life). Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.melcom.com for all their insurance needs. About Melcom Limited. Melcom Limited is West Africas Leading Organized Retail Chain and is a true local home-grown Retail Super Brand. Established in 1989, it has footprints across Ghana with 55+ retail stores and 10+ Cash n Carry outlets, making it a preferred shopping destination. Melcom has been adjudged a SUPER BRAND and rated as one of the Top Business Houses in Ghana year after year. For all media enquiries, contact [email protected] Source: Peacefmonline 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 Paramount queen mother of Mankessim, in the Central Region, Nanahemaa Ama Amissah III, has called for an increased effort toward the goal of ending Obstetric Fistula by 2030. Regrettably, she said, obstetric fistula had not received the desired attention from both government and society at large, forcing the victims to endure the medical condition though they can be treated. Noting that Obstetric Fistula mainly afflict poor women, Nanahemaa Amissah III stressed that women who end up with the condition live in a state of distress because of the stigma associated with it. Nanahemaa Amissah III was speaking at an interactive session to mark the 2022 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula held at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Accra under the theme, End Fistula Now: Invest in Quality Healthcare, Empower Communities. Obstetric Fistula Women experience Obstetric Fistula due to obstructed labour complications. It is a medical condition in which a hole develops in the birth canal, usually due to prolonged obstructed labour, resulting in incontinence of urine or faeces. According to the queen mother, one of the major reasons women get obstetric fistula is because they are either unable to afford health care services or make long-distance trips to health facilities. The consequences of Obstetric Fistula are far more than the visible medical condition, Nanahemaa Amissah II added. Beyond the medical condition, the social consequences are severe, and the affected women often struggle with social and marital relationships, their mental health and economic capacity, she said. 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 Alexandr Wang grew up in the shadow of New Mexicos Los Alamos National Lab, the top-secret site where the United States developed its first atomic bomb during World War II. His parents were physicists who worked on weapons projects for the military. Now he does too: Wangs six-year-old San Franciscobased company, Scale AI, has already inked three contracts worth some $350 million or more, contingent on the governments needs, to help Americas Air Force and Army employ artificial intelligence. Pretty impressive for a 25-year-old. Scales technology analyzes satellite images much faster than human analysts to determine how much damage Russian bombs are causing in Ukraine. Its useful not just for the military. More than 300 companies, including General Motors and Flexport, use Scale, which Wang started when he was 19, to help them pan gold from rivers of raw informationmillions of shipping documents, say, or raw footage from self-driving cars. Every industry is sitting on huge amounts of data, Wang says, who appeared on the Forbes Under 30 list in 2018. Our goal is to help them unlock the potential of the data and supercharge their businesses with AI. A $325 million funding round last year valued Scale, which generates an estimated $100 million in revenue, at $7.3 billion. Wangs estimated 15% stake is worth $1 billion, making him the worlds youngest self-made billionaire. (The next-youngest is Pedro Franceschi, the 25-year-old Brazilian cofounder of credit card company Brex.) As a kid, Wang was a math whiz who competed in national math and coding competitions. In 6th grade, he signed up for his first national math competition intent on securing a free ticket to Disney World. He didnt win the competition, but he clinched his trip to the magic kingdom. By 17, he was working full-time coding at the question-and-answer site Quora, where he met Scales cofounder, Lucy Guo. He made a quick detour to MIT to study machine learning and started Scale with Guo the summer after his freshman year, with an investment from Y Combinator. I told my parents it was just going to be a thing I did for the summer, Wang says. Obviously, I never went back to school. Source: Forbes.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 Following the launch of the Ministry of National Securitys See Something, Say Something campaign, on 24/05/2022, an entourage from the Ministry of National Security, led by Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, the sector Minister, paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, National Chief Imam. Members of the entourage included Mr Edward Asomani, Deputy National Security Coordinator; Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Defence Staff; Ambassador Peter Opata, Director-General of the Research Department; Mr Kwaku Domfeh, Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB); Mr. Edwin Ekow Blankson, Chief Fire Officer; Major General Emmanuel Kotia, National Coordinator of the Ghana Boundary Commission; and Mr Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah briefed Sheikh Osmanu on the See Something, Say Something campaign, which is a citizen awareness campaign aimed at creating awareness regarding the threat of terrorism and encouraging citizens to remain vigilant, and to collaborate with State Security and Intelligence Agencies to reduce the threat of an attack in Ghana. Hon. Kan-Dapaah expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam for his unwavering support for the activities of the Ministry over the years, and called on him to once again support the campaign by aiding with the sensitisation of Ghanaians and urging same to remain vigilant. The Chief Imam, on his part, lauded the campaign and pledged his full support for the campaign. He informed the Minister of his intention to disseminate the request to his Regional, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Imams for their congregants. He also stressed that Ghanaians are one people regardless of the religion and noted that without a peaceful environment, Ghanaians could not practice their respective religions, hence the need for co-existence. 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 Kenyan doctors who are doing post-graduate training took to the streets of Nairobi to protest against the fact that the funding meant to help pay for their training has been withheld by the ministry of health. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) says 400 government-sponsored medical specialists in training have not had their school fees paid for the last three years. The doctors said they would protest for the next two weeks if the ministry fails to release the money. The union has further threatened full-blown industrial action and the withdrawal of services. The union is also demanding that the University of Nairobi complies with court orders issued last year to cancel the increase of fees charged to medical students. 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 government of South Sudan has slammed the UN Security Councils renewal of an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on the country. Those accused of prolonging the conflict in South Sudan will remain under sanction. Rights group Amnesty International has welcomed the decision. "The (embargo) is crucial to curtailing the flow of weapons that have been used to commit or facilitate war crimes, human rights violations and abuses including conflict-related sexual violence," it said in a statement. South Sudan's Foreign Minister Mayiik Ayii Deng called the resolution counterproductive. He also criticized Ghana for having voted in favour of the resolution. The other African members of the Security Council - Gabon and Kenya - abstained. When the African Union rejected the arms embargo on South Sudan, Ghana was its chair. That our brotherly country, whom we look to as an anchor of Pan-Africanism, should vote against the African Union position disappoints us. We, nonetheless, have confidence that the Ghanaian Government will revisit its position, Mr Ayii added. South Sudan's envoy at the UN, Akuei Bona Malwal, said the renewal of the resolution may compound the economic misery the people of South Sudan are enduring. 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 Mrs Afi Azaratu Yakubu, the Executive Secretary, National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, has commended ECOWAS and the partners for producing a report, which provides an excellent basis for an in-depth discussion on arms brokering within West Africa. The report and accompanying operational guidelines provide further basis for the Member States to elaborate laws and procedures to regulate brokering practices. Mrs Yakubu said this during technical experts' meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on the Validation of Study Report on Arms Brokering in West Africa, organised by the ECOWAS Small Arms and Light Weapons Division, through the Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking Project. It was to review and validate a draft study report and operational guidelines for regulating arms brokering in the ECOWAS. Mrs Yakubu, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, explained that in many countries, because of the lack of regulation and controls, it was easy for small arms to fall into the hands of people, who used them use them to commit crimes in violation of international humanitarian or human rights laws or diverted them to the illicit market. Recent global data indicates that the arms trade had seen a shift from direct contact between government officials or agents to the pervasive use of private intermediaries, who operated in a particularly globalised environment, often from multiple locations, she said. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Information indicates that contemporary traders, agents, brokers, shippers and financiers regularly combine their activities, making it difficult to clearly distinguish small arms trade from brokering and related activities. Mrs Yakubu said many countries had not enacted specific laws or regulations covering arms brokering within their systems of arms export, therefore, the ECOWAS Arms Brokering regulations would ensure that member states regulated the importation and exportation of arms and contributed to the reduction of illicit transfers and diversions into unauthorised hands. Mr Piex Joseph Ahoba, the Head of ECOWAS Small Arms Division highlighted the importance of the regulation of arms brokering activities. He said it was a key that national and regional efforts were geared towards preventing, combating, and eradicating illicit circulation, trafficking and proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. He expressed optimism that the meeting would elicit inputs that enriched the draft Operational Guidelines on Arms Brokering given the richness of the experts assembled. The Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) is an ECOWAS project, commissioned by the German Government and co-funded by the European Union. GIZ jointly implements the OCWAR-T with the United Nations Development Programme, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Mines Advisory Group, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Institute for Security Studies, and the Global Initiative Against Organised Crime. 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 Surprises are anticipated as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the polls from today to Sunday to elect regional executives. A lot of action is likely to go on in the Ashanti, Eastern, Bono, Central and Greater Accra regions where new entrants are seeking to unseat incumbents. This has brought in its wake anxiety, tension and fear, which has gripped many of the partys faithful and candidates as the party goes to the crunch polls. Meanwhile, due to a last-minute injunction sought by five persons in the Ekumfi Constituency from a Cape Coast High Court to restrain organisers of the Central Regional conference from holding the elections, the conference will not come off in that region. Tension The tension has been brought about by the fact that the identity of some of the delegates, especially those representing the Council of Elders of the party in the region, the TESCON representative, the 10 patrons in the region, are not known to some of the aspirants. But at its meeting last Wednesday, the Dan Botwe-led National Appeals Committee, directed that the photo album of delegates in the Ashanti Region, which issue came to the attention of the committee, should be given to all the aspirants by the close of yesterday [May 26, 2022]. Although the party was to hold the Ashanti Regional conference today, it has been shifted to tomorrow, May 28, 2022, while the venue has been changed from the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council to the Baba Yara Stadium. John Boadu - General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party Whoever leads the Ashanti Region in the crunch polls will be expected to play a major role in the partys bid to break the eight. Therefore, whoever becomes the NPP chairman in the region, considered the World Bank of the party, is of interest to not only the region but also the entire membership of the party. The election comes against the background that the incumbent Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, had promised to deliver all the 47 parliamentary seats in the region for the NPP in the 2020 parliamentary election, but could not. He had also promised to build a regional office for the party but has not been able to deliver that one too, leading to the accusation that he is running the party from radio stations. He has also been criticised for his leadership style, which many feel is unorthodox, giving room for his opponents, especially his strongest contender, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, to promise to help eliminate the creeping apathy in the NPP in the Ashanti Region to be able to help increase its votes in the 2024 elections. Election results In the 2020 presidential election, the NPP garnered 1,795,824 votes in the Ashanti Region, as against 1,646,949 in 2016, but lost ground with its parliamentary seats, as it won 42 in 2020, as against 44 in 2016. While the party polled 752,061 votes in the 2020 presidential election in the Eastern Region, it got 678,482 in 2016, but lost ground in the parliamentary seats, as it garnered 27 in 2016 but 25 in 2020. In the Greater Accra Region, from its presidential votes of 1,062,152 in 2016, it got 1,253,179 in 2020, while it reduced its parliamentary seats from 21 in 2016 to 14 in 2020. Overall, while the NPP gained 55 extra seats in the 2016 parliamentary election, the party split the seats with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2020 election, with either party getting 137 seats, with one independent candidate. In the Bono Region, the incumbent Regional Organiser, Konlaabig Rasheed, is challenging the incumbent Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, using the abysmal performance of the NPP in the 2020 elections in the region as his campaign message. The incumbent Regional Chairman for Greater Accra, Divine Otoo Agorhom, will come face to face with Alfred Boye, who says he is on a redemption mission to save the party in the region. In the Eastern Region, Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, who resigned his position as the New Juaben North Constituency Chairman, will face off with Jeff Konadu Addo, as the incumbent regional chairman is not seeking re-election. Breaking the eight All the aspirants have pledged to help break the eight, but the new ones believe after a high performance in the 2016 elections and a slump in 2020, it is time for a change. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic, neither the NPP nor the NDC has served more than two consecutive terms in power. Breaking the eight is, therefore, an ambitious and Herculean task for the NPP which requires focus, unity and sound political strategy. Candidates As of the close of nominations and vetting, a total of 480 candidates had been pencilled in to vie for the various positions in the 16 regions, with 10 such positions in each region. The Ashanti Region has the highest number of aspirants 39; while Volta has 36; Upper East, 34, with Savannah with the least number of 21 aspirants. It is only in the Western Region that the incumbent Chairman, Mr Francis Ndede Siah, is contesting unopposed. In the Upper East, six candidates are vying for the chairmanship, while Ashanti has five. Delegates Per the partys constitution, under Article 9 (25), the delegates to the conference include all members of the Regional Executive Committee, all the Members of Parliament in a region, the members of the constituency executive committees, all regional representatives of the National Council, the 10 members of the Council of Elders in a region, one TESCON member from each recognised tertiary institution in the region, the 10 patrons in the region and any founder member (s) from the region who is/are a signatory to the registration documents of the party at the Electoral Commission. The partys guidelines provide that the presence of at least one-third of the delegates shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the conference. Venues Per the schedule of the party, eight regions, namely: Ahafo, Bono East, Central, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East and Western North, will hold their delegates' conference today, May 27, 2022. The Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Upper West, Volta, Oti and Western regions will take their turn tomorrow, May 28, with the Bono Region taking its turn on Sunday, May 28, 2022, at the Pastoral Centre in Sunyani. While the Ahafo delegates conference will take place at the Oasis Hotel, Goaso, that of the Bono East will take place at the Kintampo School of Health, while that of the Northern Region will take place at the Tamale Stadium. The conferences in the North East, Savannah, Upper East and Western North will take place at the Nalerigu Senior High School, the Damongo MPs office, the GNAT Hall in Bolgatanga and the Pastoral Centre, Sefwi Wiawso, respectively. The Cultural Centre in Koforidua will play host to the Eastern Regional conference; the Trade Fair Centre at La is the venue for the Greater Accra conference; with the Wa Secondary Technical Institute hosting the Upper West conference; while the Yabram Senior High School, Dambai, will host the Oti conference and the Nzema Manle Complex at Ampane, Ellembelle, will host that of the Western Region. Fairness The Director of Elections and Research of the NPP, Evans Nimako, said the party was counting on the election committees to be transparent and fair to all aspirants to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections. That, he said, would ensure victory for the party in 2024. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has asked the Finance Minister to appear before the House and account for the COVID-19 expenditure. This comes on the back of a motion moved by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kweku Kwarteng for the approval of 75 million for the Covid-19 health response project. This motion was met with strong resistance from the Minority especially as there have been previous calls for government to account for the COVID-19 Funds and it has been turned down. The Speaker intervening directed that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta "appear before this House and account for all the monies that have been approved for the utilisation of Covid-19 management". It is only then that this motion would be expressed on the floor again to approve or disapprove . . . people of Ghana have been blaming the executive arm of government for some of these things, but I think it is Parliament that should be blamed. We have all it takes to make sure the right thing is done so it is Parliament that is weak," he added. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Barima Sidney has encouraged the NPP government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to go outside the box to fix the economy. Barima Sidney made the call during Connect FMs Edwumapa Mmre drive. Barima Sidney says Ghana isnt the only country suffering from the Russia-Ukraine war, but politicians arent thinking creatively. Ghanas economic woes arent unique. Everybody suffers globally. If your fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you, and thats whats happening in Ghana. He said Ghanaians should evaluate living conditions before voting. I cant recommend NPP or NDC to Ghanaians in 2024. Vote based on how you live. Im not static, I dont belong to any political party, and I can speak up if things are wrong, he said. The Our Money hitmaker will release POWER shortly. The new songs message would stun Ghanaians and leaders, he says. Ill shortly release a current-events tune. Controversial. Power comes out in August. He continued, That music will shake everywhere. Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/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 ULAN BATOR, May 28 (Xinhua) -- As China has made wide strides in combating desertification with its forest cover greatly increased over the past decades, Mongolia draws inspiration from the neighboring country's experience, Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Bat-Ulzii Bat-Erdene has said. Apart from ecological effects, China's reforestation campaign has created many jobs and helped millions of people increase their income, which is also worth learning from, Bat-Erdene told Xinhua in a recent interview. Noting China has expressed its readiness to help Mongolia fight against desertification, Bat-Erdene said that tackling such environmental issues as desertification is not the sole responsibility of a certain country, but necessitates joint actions of all countries in the region. Currently, forest only covers 7.9 percent of the country's 1,564,116 square kilometers of land. The minister said around 77 percent of Mongolia's total territory has been affected by desertification and land degradation. He also mentioned that the frequency of yellow dust storms in Mongolia has increased in recent years due to climate change-related desertification. "The yellow dust storm is a sign that Mongolia's soil is deteriorating significantly," he noted. "Yellow dust storms originating from Mongolia reach other countries such as China, South Korea and Japan," Bat-Erdene said, stressing that the situation entails collaboration among relevant countries to jointly fight yellow dust storms. Last year, Mongolia launched a nationwide campaign called "Billion Trees," with the goal of planting at least 1 billion trees by 2030 as part of its strategy to combat climate change and desertification. "The tree-planting campaign 'Billion Trees' initiated by the Mongolian president has been implemented across our country to combat desertification," said Bat-Erdene, noting that trees are the most important factor in preventing soil degradation. The minister added that Mongolia's national committee in charge of climate change and reduction of desertification is cooperating with other countries, including China and South Korea, to learn from their experiences in supporting tree-seedling enterprises, helping tree farmers and creating new jobs while promoting their anti-desertification plans. A Navy sailor and member of an honor guard stands in front of a photograph of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower during the groundbreaking at the site of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Sports Reporter Andrew Miller is a reporter, covering growth and development in Berkeley County. Before joining The Post and Courier in 1989, he graduated from South Carolina with a degree in journalism. CAYCE A Brookland-Cayce High School assistant principal is accused of pushing and tackling a student on May 25, the same day that a teacher in the same school district was fired for assaulting a special-needs student. Districts leaders, however, came out in support of the assistant principal, Leon Brunson, at his bond hearing May 27, even questioning why he was being held in jail for doing his job. On May 25, Brunson called the school resource officer to the school's gym to help him break up a fight between students, according to the Cayce Police Department. One of the students then told police that Brunson pushed him several times and knocked him to the ground, injuring him. Brunson was arrested two days later when he turned himself in to police, who had issued a warrant with charges of third-degree assault and unlawful conduct toward a child. The first charge is a misdemeanor, and the latter is a felony. Brunson was released without bond during a May 27 hearing. The judge also ordered Brunson not to have contact with his accuser until the investigation ends. Another hearing is scheduled for July 7. Todd Rutherford, Brunson's attorney, told the court that his client was doing his job by trying to separate the two fighting students. Rutherford said one of the students, Brunson's accuser, shouted that he was going to kill the other student, while Brunson tried to hold him back. The student has been expelled from school for fighting, said Rutherford, who is the Democratic leader in the S.C. House. What concerns me as a lawmaker is the chilling effect that this has on other administrators and teachers that are supposed to jump in and stop fights whenever necessary, Rutherford said in an interview after the hearing. "Mr. Brunson has found his freedom taken away because he did just that." Four Lexington Two school board members attended the hearing in support of Brunson. Jake Moore, an attorney representing Lexington Two, told the court that Brunson was suspended from his job at Brookland-Cayce pending the investigation. Moore told the judge that the video footage of the incident shows the student tripping and falling after being held back, rather than Brunson taking the student to the ground. The attorney also said there was no evidence of physical injury. The school district does not appreciate this man having been incarcerated," Moore told the judge. "His job is to keep peace. I don't get this." Security video footage exists of Brunson assaulting another student in 2020, city of Cayce spokeswoman Ashley Hunter said, but he was not arrested. That is part of in current investigation, she said. Cayce police declined to the release the footage cannot be released because it is part of an ongoing investigation. Brunson's arrest came in the same week that Melanie Harris, a teacher at Cayce Elementary School was arrested on second-degree assault, kidnapping and unlawful conduct toward a minor, having allegedly injured a student. Harris is accused of holding the student against his will, leading to the kidnapping charge, authorities said. "I have never had to send this type of release twice in one week, and it's certainly my hope that I never have to again," Hunter said. "We're a tight-knit community. We want better for all of our children, our citizens, our teachers and school family." The high school and Cayce Elementary School are both part of Lexington School District Two, which serves 8,600 students in West Columbia and Cayce. COLUMBIA LaKenyatta Moore-Rhodes had a handgun in her purse when she strode past the signs posted at Columbiana Centre reading "no concealable weapons allowed," a reminder from a mass shooting in the mall over Easter weekend. With her was a 13-year-old relative who had another handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants six weeks after nine people were shot and six more were injured fleeing a gunbattle near the food court. The pair would point those guns at three transgender shoppers near that same food court, authorities said. She passed a gun to him. And later, the teen would manage to get one of those guns past pat-downs by police and state Department of Juvenile Justice officials and carry it into a prison already fraught with safety issues. "We are thankful that the weapon was ultimately recovered safely by our staff. However, this entire series of events was preventable," DJJ Director Eden Hendrick said in a statement. Information about this incident came from statements and interviews with Columbia Police Department and DJJ officials. Around 7 p.m. May 25, Columbia Police Department officers were called to the popular shopping center 10 miles northwest from downtown Columbia for a report that two people were pointing guns at patrons. Moore-Rhodes, 40, was walking through the Columbiana Mall with relatives when she encountered a group of three people who police said identify as transgender. Moore-Rhodes is accused of starting an argument with the three people, calling them derogatory gender-related slurs. During the argument, Moore-Rhodes allegedly pulled out the loaded handgun she carried in her purse and pointed it at the group, police said. The 13-year-old boy with her allegedly lifted his shirt, revealing a second gun. Police said surveillance video showed Moore-Rhodes, who was out on bond on earlier assault and weapons charges, handed her gun to the teen, who also pointed it at the group. Since the Easter weekend shootout among three men in the midst a large crowd of shoppers, the mall had hired private security and a dog trained to sniff out firearms. A mall spokeswoman did not respond to questions about whether the dog or extra security was on site the evening of May 25. The teen, whose name was not released because he's a juvenile, was arrested and searched about 30 minutes later, with police finding a 9mm handgun on him. Officers would somehow miss the second gun though. "This lack of a thorough search is unacceptable and risked public and officer safety," Chief Ship Holbrook said in a statement. The department is conducting an internal investigation and the arresting officers have been placed on administrative duty until they can be retrained in search and handcuffing procedures. The procedural failures would not end there. After officers took the teen to the DJJ detention center on Broad River Road, corrections officers patted down the teen. He then showered and dressed in facility clothes before the gun was discovered, Hendrick said in a statement. A DJJ spokesman did not answer questions about how the teen got through intake with a gun or how officers learned he possessed a gun inside the facility. DJJ officials were able to retrieve the weapon without incident. It is unclear whether the confiscated gun was the one the teen had carried in the mall or the one handed to him by his relative. Hendrick, who was appointed to the DJJ's top post in February amid upheaval at the agency, said the Columbia facility is changing its intake process and retraining will take place. The staff directly involved were suspended while the agency investigates. Meanwhile, the teen faces juvenile offenses for possessing a firearm, unlawful carry and pointing and presenting a firearm. The woman, Moore-Rhodes, faces pointing and presenting a firearm, a felony which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison; unlawful carry; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She does not have a South Carolina concealed weapons permit. She's also charged with violating city of Columbia gun laws and its hate speech ordinance. Moore-Rhodes was already out of jail on bond for a pair of other felony charges in Richland County from March assault and battery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, which together carry a sentence of up to 25 years if convicted. Her lawyer did not respond to calls from The Post and Courier. The incident also presents another black eye for the embattled state agency charged with housing and rehabilitating juvenile offenders that has seen the resignation of two consecutive directors following years of understaffing and violence. Civil rights groups, at the end of April, filed suit against DJJ over the safety, mental health and education of children in state custody. The federal lawsuit came less than two weeks after the agency signed a settlement agreement with federal regulators to make changes at its main detention center in Columbia following an investigation that found civil rights violations. The lawsuits both said children were forced to spend days or weeks in isolation for minor offenses and the agency failed to get treatment for children who threatened self-harm. In the Columbia prison that houses just over 100 juveniles, 99 injuries were reported in 11 months, according to a February 2020 report from the federal Department of Justices Civil Rights Division. Findings included an officer intervening in a fight by putting a teen in a chokehold and an officer failing to do anything while a teen was repeatedly attacked in his pod over three hours. There also was a riot in February 2016 that resulted in reports of attempted sexual assault, attempted murder with an effort to run someone over in a car, and arson when toilet paper was set on fire. Staffing remains a problem. As of April 3, the agency said nearly 60 percent of officer positions at the Columbia facility are vacant. To help with recruitment, the recently confirmed director is asking for $1.7 million to boost starting salaries and raises. She is also overhauling the facility's security camera system. As part of the federal settlement, Hendrick signed an agreement to enact changes in officer training, restraining techniques, using isolation as punishment and how to respond to fights between teenagers. The civil rights groups filed another lawsuit seeking better conditions at four other facilities across the state. It was during a trip to Beaufort recently where I stumbled onto some sacred grounds that deserve a word or two on this Memorial Day weekend. Beaufort, by the way, reminds me so much of how Charleston was maybe 20-25 years ago or so. Many of the houses share similar architecture and even a handful of the streets are named the same. There are various history tours available and excellent seafood restaurants that beckon visitors and locals alike. The pace of life is decidedly slower, but you can feel it quickening with large amounts of land being cleared on the outskirts of town. Just within the city limits stands a plot of land surrounded by a stone fence that stretches three city blocks. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established this area as one of six national cemeteries for the interment of fallen soldiers. Some 9,000 Civil War veterans are buried there. In addition to that, soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought in every war since then are marked with more than 26,000 headstones. Its a place of reverence and remembrance. Large oaks with moss gently blowing in an afternoon breeze are joined on the property by palmetto trees and magnolias that sweeten the air with a fragrance that reminds us this is sacred ground. I cant help but wonder how many times has taps been played here? All present and accounted for Many of the headstones are worn smooth by the winds of time. A lot of them are leaning; others have been in the ground so long its difficult to determine where the grass ends and the stone begins. Occasionally on the back of a headstone an inscription will say Did it my way or Gone fishing. Presumably, those editorial decisions were made by people who knew the deceased and wanted to leave a reminder of their personality. 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! Ive driven by Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. This has the same feel to it with one major difference: In Arlington, the trappings of big government and giant monuments are visible in every direction. In Beaufort, the primary distractions and noises come from passing traffic and the birds that seem to sing their songs to honor those who died fighting for their country. Hallowed grounds There will be multiple American flags, big and small, decorating the 44 acres just off Beauforts Boundary Street this weekend. Some will be stuck in the ground near a headstone, others will fly from poles as visitors walk the oyster shell roads that lead into these hallowed grounds. As a rule, we often view Memorial Day weekend as the start of summer. There will be patriotic concerts and various sales to entice customers to spend money, and the beaches will be crowded. If youre looking for something that is more subdued but still delivers a message of thanks and gratitude, a 65-mile trip to Beaufort just might be the best use of a tank of gas you can find. Every one of the grave markers represents an individual who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Every one of those individuals also had grieving families who once gathered in this corner of South Carolina. Each service might have included a color guard, a bugler and possibly a ceremonial gun salute. A mother, a wife or a loved one would be given a folded flag by someone in uniform who would then say, On behalf of a grateful nation. Somehow, some way, we should all take a moment to utter those words this weekend. Stocking up on batteries and candles. Checking where you put the portable radio. Finding, or buying, phone chargers. Filling up the jerry can with extra fuel. Checking to make sure the gas generator turns over. Ensuring the slats of plywood are accessible and ready for mounting over your windows. Does anyone ever get used to this annual ritual? Its hurricane season starting June 1, and time for Lowcountry residents to get nervous again. A lot of the electrical grid remains above ground, and home construction is not always good enough to ensure that our structures can withstand sustained 150-mile-per-hour winds. This means its up to homeowners to prepare as best they can for the high winds and flooding that accompany tropical weather events. Online resources National Weather Service hurricane preparedness: https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan City of Charleston hurricane information: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/974/Hurricane-Information Charleston County Hurricane Preparedness Guide: https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/emergency-management/files/hurricane-guides/Hurricane-Guide-Color-Full-Size.pdf S.C. Emergency management Division Hurricane Guide: https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/publications/hurricane-guide/ City of Charleston emergency information and storm tracking: https://charleston-sc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=61d5ee562990480f922de9695872cd19 Shannon Scaff, emergency management director for the city of Charleston, said hurricane preparedness boils down to two basic things: Knowing your vulnerabilities and having a plan. He often speaks publicly about storm readiness. When he talks with people about their decisions to evacuate or not, the vast majority tell him it depends on the intensity of the storm. A Category 1? They'll probably stay put. A Category 4? They'll probably leave. But Scaff says simply focusing on a storm's category misses an important point. Water is the main killer, he said. We are in real danger here. We have a real vulnerability to storm surge. I mean, our nickname is the Lowcountry." A slow-moving storm, even a relatively weak one, can dump huge amounts of water onto the metropolitan area. This can overwhelm drainage systems that already struggle with nuisance flooding at high tide. The problem is that it can be hard to know what the swirling storm will do: Will it gain strength? Will it change course? Will it deliver heavy rain over many hours, or sporadically? Will it arrive during high tide? Leaving may be the better idea, especially if you have friends or relatives inland with whom you can stay for a night or two. Play it safe. Grab a toothbrush, change of clothes, and essential documents such as your drivers license, passport, insurance cards and photo albums, and skedaddle. If you choose to leave you have to decide when exactly to hit the road. Too early, youll feel a fool; too late and the roads will be jammed with traffic. Then there are the complicating factors: an employer who needs to keep you for as long as possible, kids who need to be tracked or wrangled, the car thats still in the shop, and the relative coping with illness or disability who needs assistance. There's also the price of a hotel room. These and other issues can influence our decisions, not always for the better. Thats why its important to think all this through now, before Mother Nature turns mean. Thinking ahead Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Tropical Storm: Winds 39 to 73 mph. Category One: Winds 74 to 95 mph. Category Two: Winds 96 to 110 mph. Category Three: Winds 111 to 129 mph. Category Four: Winds 130 to 156 mph. Category Five: Winds 157 mph. If you live in a designated flood zone, you probably have national flood insurance coverage provided by FEMA and administered by your local agent. If youre not sure, check. Flood insurance takes about a month to kick in once youve purchased it. Prepare an emergency kit now, before nearby ocean waters warm to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. While you do it, you can imagine all sorts of doomsday scenarios that will add urgency to the task. Think about what essential items youd need for a few days stuck in a dystopian landscape, then fill a big container with healthy nonperishable snacks like granola bars, high-energy foods, canned food, infant formula, pet food, batteries, flashlights, books, a knife, a can opener, a couple of forks and spoons, bottles of water, a small first-aid kit, essential medicines, toilet paper, soap, and feminine supplies. If you are feeling ambitious, toss in maps, a roll of strong tape, a couple of basic tools, a sewing kit, tarps, paper plates and cups, and a pen to write with. You probably wont get stranded in your car, but maybe plan to take sleeping bags along just in case. Its a good idea to assemble your ditch bag soon and tuck it away in the corner of the pantry. Itll be ready should you need it as one less thing to think about when the pressure is on. Boat prep Do you have a boat? Youll want to secure it well at the dock if really big winds and a storm surge are not predicted. Put on extra dock lines and criss cross them. Remove anything thats not fixed, including sails. Lash the boom to the deck and secure all your canvas with lots of wrapped lines. Remember: the winds will shift over the course of the weather event, so youll want your bow positioned a few feet from the dock (assuming the boat is bow-in) and a safe distance from other boats. If you notice nearby boats that seem to have absentee owners and loose lines, inform the marina management. If big winds and a storm surge are predicted, then you probably will want to get your boat onto terra firma and secured in a boatyard assuming theres space available and you can afford it. If you have sufficient time, and you know the storm track, you can relocate your boat to a marina or anchorage outside of the storm zone. Another option is to move your boat up the river and into a deep-water creek where theres a bit of shelter from a tree line, and where any surge is likely to be less severe. Anchor it well (and maybe use two anchors) while being sure to allow for a safe 360 degrees of swing. Home prep What about your house? Theres a lot to think about. Strong winds that find gaps in the exterior foundation or get underneath overhangs can do real damage. Check your end gables and climb into the attic to ensure your roof sheathing is sufficiently nailed down. Double doors will need to be bolted on both sides and objects in the yard such as tables and chairs, barbecue grills, and potted plants, should be secured. Inside, electronic devices and appliances ought to be elevated above potential flood waters along with other items that could be at risk in case of water intrusion. Check for gaps along the edges of your garage door: You really dont want the winds to blow that out. Intense gusts inside a garage cavity could do real damage to the whole structure. If you are handy and agile, perhaps you can manage to do a lot of the prep work yourself. Otherwise, consider finding a good contractor to install hurricane shutters over the windows, improve the integrity of the roof, or add bracing to the end gables. Oh, and trees. Dont forget the trees. If you have big ones in the yard, and they havent been trimmed in a while, theres a chance a good blow could rip a limb free, or send a big branch into your windows, onto your roof, or on top of your parked car. So check for dead or unhealthy limbs and get them amputated. Then consider installing impact-resistant windows, and put your car in a well-protected place. Now is the time The need for all this hurricane prep does beg a question: Why arent our houses designed to withstand a big storm? Well, some are. Newer construction occasionally takes into account the chance of severe weather. Overhangs are few, windows are strong and come with shudders, a big crawl space allows for several feet of flood waters to pass under the structure and not through it. And, increasingly, power lines are buried. Older homes, instead, are more likely to need attention. So, too, are houses located by the ocean or along a river or creek thats prone to flooding. Scaff said decades of development and growth have transformed the Charleston metropolitan area since 1989, when Hurricane Hugo devastated the area. Today, another Hugo-like storm would be far worse, inflicting more damage because there is now more to damage. When the governor orders an evacuation, its because hes taking into account all of the risks associated with that event," he said. That's not the time to figure out what important belongings to pack or try to determine where to head for safety. Now is the time. TRAVELERS REST The move of Methodical Coffee's operations to a warehouse space on U.S. 276 is part of a larger effort to repurpose an expansive former textile mill property for new industry and services. The property that is now home to Grace Church's satellite campus north of Travelers Rest will be marketed as Millstead, part of a 13.5-acre campus that aims to attract other production companies as well as provide space for medical offices and retail. "Millstead is a mixed-use development replacing mill operations and its employees with new places of worship and businesses for residents of Travelers Rest and surrounding communities," business operations head Jeff Randolph, a developer by trade, said May 27. In 2020, the church through a subsidiary bought the 111,000-square-foot warehouse building with a new worship space in mind as the congregation temporarily met in Travelers Rest High School. The warehouse, situated along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, will be home to Methodical's new operations venture, Methodical Manufactory, and Nicholas James Fine Woodworks. Earlier this month, Methodical bought a nearly 40,000-square-foot portion of the warehouse to accommodate its bean roasting, storage and distribution. Non-profit wall climbing venture GOAT will also share the space. The coffee company plans to move from its roasting operation in the Monaghan Mill community this October. After completing an environmental cleanup, the subsidiary is marketing outparcels for medical and retail development. The redevelopment was eligible for state tax credits associated with the revitalization of former textile plants and communities. The site was once home to the Renfrew Bleachery mill, which was built in 1928 by the Brandon Corporation to produce Devonshire cloth and table damask fabric. Like other mills across the Upstate, Renfrew created an entire community for its workers with housing, churches, stores and recreation. The Millstead project is just the latest of Grace Church's initiatives in real estate. In April, the church presented plans to the city of Greenville to build an 11-story tower on property next to its downtown sanctuary, one of the city's most historic structures. In May, Grace announced that it was buying former Greenville Technical College student dormitories for $16 million to repurpose into 121 affordable housing units. Randolph said any involvement in real estate associated with Grace is tied to efforts to create more space or fulfill mission work. GREENVILLE A framed picture of a smiling mother and her two grown children. A text message from someone she hasn't seen in years. A yearly Christmas card from a woman letting her know she's now "living a peaceful life" after so many years of pain. They're mementos Becky Callaham gathered, along with many others, over the course of her 22 years working with Safe Harbor, a Greenville nonprofit that serves as a resource and haven for survivors of domestic violence. She revisits them often, reminders of why she has devoted so much of herself to the work. Many of the keepsakes stem from her time on Safe Harbor's front lines as a shelter advocate between 2000 and 2008. For the past 14 years, she has served as the organization's executive director, overseeing a decade of growth in both reach and vision. Now Callaham is stepping down. Her last day is May 31. "I recognized it's time for me to take a knee and allow for that next generation of leaders to come in," she said. When Callaham first started at Safe Harbor, she worked directly with women in crisis, ushering mothers and their children into the shelter, often in the middle of the night, making them feel comfortable and helping them begin the process of rebuilding their lives. She knew almost instantly it was where she belonged. "It was just recognizing that I was able to witness and be a part of someone truly being able to breathe, just take a breath for the first time in a long time," she said. "It just felt right. It felt like it was the right thing to do." Back then, the nonprofit employed just 10 staff members serving four counties, a number that didn't grow much over the next eight years. As Callaham prepares to leave, Safe Harbor has a staff of 55, as well as a strong group of volunteers. Callaham said that while her time as an advocate in the shelter was deeply fulfilling, transitioning to a leadership roll was an easy decision when the time came. After eight years working directly with survivors and watching them struggle through a system that often made escaping abuse more difficult, she wanted to affect change on a larger scale. She has worked the past 14 years to do that, finding a mix of success and frustration. Part of that effort was expanding the purview of her own organization. Safe Harbor Program Director Julie Meredith, who's been with the organization for 14 years, said Callaham was instrumental in broadening outreach and prevention efforts, growing varied services including support with affordable housing, and changing public perception around domestic violence in the community. "Becky has been very much a proponent of growing what we do," she said. 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! During her time as director, particularly in recent years, Callaham said she and the leadership team at Safe Harbor have strived to make the nonprofit an anti-racist, multicultural organization. Externally, Callaham has worked to bolster awareness about domestic violence throughout the Upstate with programs in schools teaching students about what abuse looks like and how to have healthy relationships. She was also part of a successful push to lobby state lawmakers to increase funding for domestic violence services and strengthen laws to protect survivors. As she prepares to leave, she said there is still work to be done. South Carolina has allocated $800,000 a year to domestic violence services but it must be approved separately each year. That makes the funding less certain on an annual basis. Safe Harbor, along with other victims advocacy groups across the country, recently experienced a steep funding cut when support from the federal Victims of Crime Act dipped. The setback, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for Safe Harbor, forced the nonprofit to freeze open positions and implement other cost cutting measures. "We're still having to hustle for money," Callaham said. "It feels sometimes like we get lip service. That sounds pessimistic and cynical, but there's an opportunity to get funding to provide these services." While Safe Harbor has grown significantly during Callaham's tenure, the emergency shelter still has to turn away roughly half of those who call looking for a bed, she said. To address that need, the nonprofit is in the process of establishing a new headquarters and shelter that would more than double its shelter capacity. Its current facility, a repurposed house, can hold a maximum of about 50 people, a number reduced to roughly 16 by COVID-19 protocols. Safe Harbor has been putting people in hotel rooms to expand its capacity. The new shelter will have 56 beds and its capacity will not be limited. Safe Harbor is partnering with the M. Peters Group to complete the project. The Greenville-based development firm is building a 116-unit development in conjunction with the nonprofit's facility. Ten of those units will be reserved for Safe Harbor clients. The groundbreaking is tentatively set for September. Reflecting on her 22 years with Safe Harbor, Callaham said she is ready to step away and optimistic for the nonprofit's future. A statement from the organization's board said an interim director will be named soon and a search for permanent replacement will be conducted. In the meantime, Callaham said she has full faith in the leadership team she helped assemble. Callaham said she is still figuring out what to do next. She plans to take a month or so to rest before embarking on her next phase. "I can't really imagine thinking of anything else until my time here is done," she said. "Since the moment I stepped foot in Safe Harbor, it's just been pretty much who I am. So I will be taking some time to figure that out." A She's the Veteran event is planned for the Waterfront Park, honoring female veterans from across the state. COLUMBIA Former House Speaker Paul Ryan will travel to Florence to campaign for U.S. Rep. Tom Rice who faces a crowded GOP primary challenge after breaking party ranks to impeach former President Donald Trump last year. The Rice campaign announced the Wisconsin Republican and onetime vice presidential candidate will speak at a campaign luncheon for the incumbent at the Hotel Florence on June 1 to build momentum ahead of the June 14 primary. Ryan will then attend a business roundtable with Rice and members of the local business community at 2:30 p.m. at the Senator Leatherman Assembly Hall, located at 201 W. Evans St. in Florence. Tom Rice is a man of principle, a man of conviction and a leader who always puts South Carolinas interests first," Ryan said in a statement. "He is a legislative workhorse with a long track record of supporting policies that grow the economy, rein in out-of-control spending and expand opportunities for families and businesses." Rice faces multiple challengers in the race including physician Garrett Barton, insurance agent Barbara Arthur, former Horry County School Board chairman Ken Richardson and Trump-endorsed candidate Russell Fry, the majority whip in the S.C. House of Representatives. Ryan, who began his tenure in leadership as a reluctant supporter of Trump, has since found himself among the ranks of Republicans seeking to undermine his influence in the 2022 midterms. Ryan, like Rice, has been openly critical of the former president for his continued insistence the 2020 election was systematically rigged against him. The result has been a barrage of attacks by the onetime commander-in-chief. "As a Republican, having Paul Ryan on your side almost guarantees a loss, for both you, the Party, and America itself!" Trump said in May 2021. Rice and Ryan have a long relationship that was in place well before Rice took Ryan's seat on the House Ways and Means Committee in 2015, when Ryan became the committee's chair. In the lead-up to Ryan's White House bid with Mitt Romney, the Wisconsin Republican was a significant donor to one of Rice's early campaigns, with Rice a recipient of a share of $65,000 in donations through his leadership PAC. The duo also worked closely together to pass the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one of Ryan's most significant accomplishments as speaker. Ryan's tenure in leadership was marked as a disappointment among some conservatives over his failures to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and reduce social spending on programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, resulting in a ballooning of the national debt and the retaking of the House by Democrats in the 2018 midterms. The Middleton Scholars Education Assistance Fund just got a big boost thanks to a $250,000 matching gift. The program, which started with $50,000 two years ago, soon will have around $625,000 secured in an endowment. The fund is meant to provide $2,000 tuition grants annually to any Black Middleton family descendant who wants one. Middleton Place Foundation staff hope to get another challenge match soon and to set a new financial target of $1 million, CEO Tracey Todd said. That would give the (Middleton Scholars) committee more flexibility to support people in different ways, he said. The program is part of a larger effort at Middleton Place to broaden its outreach and engagement, as well as its historical interpretation, in ways that move the African American experience to center stage. Middleton Place leaders also have updated its house tour, changed its Beyond the Fields tour about slavery, added new information about the enslaved population thats displayed inside Elizas House, and altered the design of the stableyard exhibits. Some of the modifications already have taken effect; others are in the works. The idea for the tuition assistance program first was broached at the 2016 Middleton family reunion, a large event that gathers Black and White descendants together at the historic plantation site. After it launched in 2021, the program received one application and awarded Juanita Barr $2,000. This year the program distributed eight awards, Todd said. Program committee members redefined and broadened the award, calling it tuition assistance and welcoming applications not only from students enrolled in four-year degree programs but also those attending community colleges, trade schools or other institutions of higher learning. We wanted to remove barriers and make it as available and useful as it could be, Todd said. Recipients can reapply each year. The goal is to support as many applicants as we have, Todd said. Five percent of income generated from all special events at Middleton Place is earmarked for the Education Assistance Fund. Scratching the surface The $250,000 matching gift was promised by Frank and Catherine Middleton, who now lives in Wyoming. Frank Middleton, a foundation board trustee, sent a letter to all trustees, past and current, asking them to contribute to the fund. I feel in my gut that the timing is good for this sort of thing, he said. Middleton hopes the program will continue to expand, not only to provide support to more descendants but also to become a communitywide endeavor, providing financial assistance to a new generation of young African American students. There are so many positive repercussions, he said. Individuals receive tuition assistance, which in turn alleviates some financial pressure from their families. Plus the program fosters necessary conversation about access and privilege and history. It encourages more genealogical research. It strengthens the connections between descendants and Middleton Place, and thus encourages constructive feedback. As we develop this, why wouldnt we bring (recipients and their families) together for an event at Middleton Place, have them talk amongst themselves, help us figure out whats important to them, how they see the property, how they can help us with the property? The potential to reach a large number of people is high, Middleton said. Founding Father Henry Middleton, who was born in 1717, and who owned 50,000 acres of land in South Carolina and 800 enslaved people, likely has around 2,000 living descendants, Frank Middleton said. Count up the descendants of the many other Middleton family members, and the estimate likely reaches into the tens of thousands. Were just scratching the surface, he said. Christopher Middleton-Pearson, a student at Oklahoma State University, is one of this years Middleton Scholars. He is a rising junior majoring in economics and running on the track and cross-country teams. He had planned to attend a Middleton Place reunion with his mother Alicia Middleton until the COVID pandemic interfered. But his mother had heard about the tuition assistance program and encouraged him to apply. He submitted an essay about what its like to be Black in the U.S., especially in the San Francisco area where Middleton-Pearson grew up. He noted how African American culture is impressive, but invented. I have the Black culture that we created when we came over here on slave ships, he said. The culture that I want is Motherland culture. The financial aid program is a welcomed new initiative, one that prompts Middleton-Pearson to think about the purpose and programming of historic plantation sites, he said. Hes uncomfortable with the notion that these sites of Black suffering have become tourist attractions, but hes happy that Middleton Place is making an effort to tell its history truthfully. I think its pretty cool that theyre giving out some sort of reparations to descendants, he said. Moment in time Updates to exhibits and tours at the historic site are overdue, Todd said. The stableyards displays date to the 1970s. Elizas House opened in 2005. The tours sometimes seemed as though they were getting a bit calcified, or the opposite: too loose. A National Endowment for the Humanities grant of $169,000, secured in September, has enabled the team to undertake some extensive revisions to its exhibits and historical interpretation. Neither research and documentation nor outreach to descendants and supporters have abated, and over time the staff has gathered significant new information about how generations of White and Black people lived at the Middleton familys 19 plantation properties. The slowdown prompted by the COVID pandemic gave them the opportunity to rethink it all. Jeff Neale, director of preservation and interpretation, has taken the lead. In the house museum, he altered Henry Middletons bedroom to reflect a moment in time. The bed is unmade, tables and chairs are set as if the room is in use. Henrys shaving station is ready. The setup draws attention to Henrys Black manservant Caesar, and the intimacy of their complicated relationship. Caesar was enslaved and therefore an unwilling collaborator. Henry nevertheless trusted his servant, and cared about Caesar enough to note in a will that, upon Henrys death, Caesar was to be liberated and provided an annuity for the rest of his days. Caesar was the only enslaved person of 800 to be treated this way. Visitors to the room are encouraged to scrutinize this history, Neale said, citing examples of the kinds of questions that come up. Did the relationship include affection? Was it reciprocated? Did Caesar feel threatened? Resentful? Did he know the familys dirty secrets? Was he a family secret? It opens a conversation that wouldnt happen in a traditional house museum focused on decorative arts, Neale said. And it treats both figures as equals in the historical narrative. Inside the house museum, staff also have mounted a small exhibit honoring chef Edna Lewis, who worked at Middleton Place and who helped popularize Gullah cuisine. On display on the first floor is Ashleys Sack, a gift an enslaved mother gave to her daughter before they were separated because of a slave auction. That sack says more about the institution of slavery than I ever could, Todd said. Middleton Place intends to loan the sack to the International African American Museum next year. Revisions The popular Beyond the Fields walking tour mostly has consisted of a lecture delivered by a guide. It stretched in length over the years to around 90 minutes, and the contents have not always been consistent, Neale said. So during the pandemic break, they decided to hone it, and to make it more conversational to allow people to express what they feel, he said. The topic of slavery can be difficult to discuss, and it tends to provoke a range of emotions. So we want to provide people with an outlet to talk freely about it, he said. Its a story of violence and oppression, but also survival and perseverance, and the birth of a culture. Now, the tour is no more than 40 minutes. This means Middleton Place can offer more of them, reaching more people. And because the length and location now coincide with that of other tours, it makes it easier for visitors to participate in more than one. The stableyards, which currently features some static installations and some artisan demonstrations, soon will describe in some detail the labor of the former Middleton plantations, including rice and indigo cultivation, how the labor was performed, how the task system worked and more. The team plans to add QR codes and some video presentations. If the stableyards focus is physical labor, Elizas House will dwell on the mind, heart and soul, Neale said. Here, 400 names will be added to a listing of people enslaved by the Middleton family on its various properties over the years. The panel now will include 3,200 named individuals, with their purchase price indicated next to each one. A panel that currently describes African Homelands will be changed to African People and Cultures, shifting the emphasis from place to people. New information about the transatlantic slave trade will be added, including details about Henry Middletons brother Thomas, who actively participated in the trade. He was likely the second-most-active slave runner in the Charleston area after Henry Laurens. And they will add an infamous quote from Arthur Middleton: Slaves have been and always will be chattel. In an adjacent room, family life will be redescribed to convey information about how enslaved people lived how they resisted, how they cooked, how they cared for each other, how they embraced religion, how they endured punishment. What happens in the cabin when the Middletons are not present? Neale asks. Here, too, new objects will be installed, along with QR codes. The team is not acting alone. They consult with trustees, historians and academics, and community leaders. They seek input from visitors and descendants, and from members of the foundations Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group. The emphasis is bringing a sense of humanity to the study of slavery, Todd said. Authorities are investigating after a man and woman were found dead May 28 at a storage facility in West Ashley. Charleston police officers were dispatched shortly after noon to Public Storage at 2363 Ashley River Road for reports of two bodies on the property, Lt. Corey Taylor said. Officers found a man and woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds when they arrived at the business, the lieutenant said. Detectives and crime scene investigators were at the scene in the afternoon. Taylor said it was too early to say whether the deaths are homicides. Anyone with information about the deaths can call the on-duty Charleston police central detective at 843-743-7200. Anonymous tips can be made by contacting Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111. I have to be out of town on June 14, so I checked to see whether Richland County was offering a convenient early voting site, or whether I should take my last opportunity to mail in an absentee ballot under such circumstances, before a new state law bars it. While I was on the State Election Commission website, I clicked on my sample ballot to see if there were any local races I hadnt heard about, and I got a nasty surprise. Not a big surprise, because Ive grown accustomed to such shenanigans. But a surprise nonetheless, because either the S.C. Republican Party decided to go under the radar or the media just got bored reporting on its freeloading. Once again, the GOP is forcing the taxpayers to pick up the tab for its political polling, by tacking misleading advisory questions onto the Republican ballot. With the results, the party will try to bully Republicans legislators into passing bad laws. Its hardly a new tactic; its something our Legislature refuses to outlaw, and something the Democratic Party has done in previous elections. The only saving grace is that the strategy doesnt always work. Case in point, the first question, which is a slightly tweaked version of a question from two years ago: Should people have the right to register with the political party of their choice when they register to vote? Its back this year because the Legislature refused to be bullied by the 2020 results; in March, the S.C. House body-slammed an effort to make the partys vision state law, with Republicans leading the charge both for and against and far more Republicans voting no than yes. It was a beautiful thing. Of course what the Republican sponsors of the right to register by political party proposal actually proposed isnt what the party asked about in 2020 ballot, or what its asking about in 2022. The amendment did what the GOP actually wants to do: require everybody to register by party, or else be barred from voting in the primaries. That way, people who dont consider themselves partisans will be locked out of the elections where most races are decided, as will partisans who live in districts dominated by the other party. Heres the thing: A lot of people voting in the GOP primary probably would say yes if the party asked them an honest question: Do you support changing state law so voters have to register as Republicans to vote in Republican primaries or as Democrats to vote in Democratic primaries? But either party officials arent willing to take the chance on an honest question or they simply cant bring themselves to conduct an honest debate on this topic. I could write a whole column about why we should keep our primaries open about why we should kick the parties out of primaries rather than kicking out the independents. In fact, I have written a whole column on that, more than once. For today, lets just focus on this: If you want to be able to participate in future elections that decide who gets elected, you should vote no, if only because you never know when youll be drawn into an election district dominated by the other party. In fact, you should always vote no on any questions that political parties put on our primary ballots, unless they start turning them around and making no their desired answer. You should do this to sabotage their taxpayer-funded public opinion polling, which defiles our sacred ballots. You should not, however, try to sabotage the actual primary contests. Even if you dont agree that doing so is immoral, its dangerous: The weak candidate you help nominate could end up winning the general election, and you would share the blame for that. And have to live with the consequences of your dishonesty. The second advisory question grows out of a local bill the Legislature passed this year to force candidates for the Lancaster County School Board to run in partisan instead of nonpartisan elections. Some Democrats saw that as a trial run for a statewide effort an idea I considered ridiculously paranoid until I saw the ballot question. It asks voters: Should candidates for local school boards be able to run as a candidate of the political party of their choice, just like candidates for other elected offices? This one is a little less misleading, because most voters probably assume that elections are either partisan contests with primaries (Congress, the Legislature, county councils) or nonpartisan contests with runoffs (school boards, most town and city councils). But you certainly could run the school board election the way most districts run them without primaries and just let candidates put their party next to their name; in fact, that's how we ought to run all of our elections. But that's not what the GOP has in mind. And again you have to wonder why, if the party thinks it's such a good idea to force the candidates to be winnowed through the primaries, it couldnt ask voters straight up whether they want to change from nonpartisan to partisan school board elections. Its worth noting that H.4800 which died after Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed it, as he appropriately does all single-county bills actually did more than that: It required current school board members who arent up for reelection until 2024 to declare their political affiliation by affidavit filed with the Lancaster County Board of Voter Registration and Elections to finish out their terms. The governor didnt mention this in his veto letter, but that part of the legislation would have been a little unconstitutional in much the same way some women are a little pregnant. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. CARTA's free Beach Reach shuttle runs an hourly loop from Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant to Isle of Palms on weekends through the summer. The island pickup and drop-off is at the entrance to the county park on 14th Avenue. Brad Nettles/Staff The five-figure raises that five top administrators received earlier this year dont even add up to a rounding error in the Charleston County School Districts new $639 million budget. But in a year when teachers are set to receive raises that are only a tenth as much as the smallest of those administrator raises and just half what state legislators have been promising teachers they send a bad message. And they send an even worse message coming from a School Board that still hasnt explained why those administrators had to take on additional responsibilities. Oh, we know the proximate reason: Someone had to step in as superintendent, and the School Board gave CFO and administration officer Don Kennedy a nearly $42,000 raise to do that on an interim basis. And, as The Post and Couriers Hillary Flynn reports, the other raises fell into place like dominoes: $33,000 for deputy CFO Channa Williams to become interim CFO; $35,000 for district executive director Anita Huggins to assume Mr. Kennedys other duties; $20,000 for principal Steven Larson to take on an unfilled position as interim associate superintendent for high schools; $21,000 for associate superintendent Terri Nichols to step into a new position; and $20,000 for Jacqueline Haynes to move from executive director to associate superintendent of acceleration schools. But the School Board still hasnt told us why we needed a new superintendent. Instead, it continues to peddle the fiction that Gerrita Postlewait voluntarily resigned and hope we don't notice that it agreed to pay her nearly $500,000 the equivalent of about 18 months compensation to leave in the middle of the school year, necessitating the musical chairs routine in the district office. To recap how we concluded that Dr. Postlewait was forced out, for reasons we can only imagine reflect badly on the School Board: In addition to the six months pay and benefits the board acknowledged giving her to remain available as a consultant, contracts show that it also gave her an additional years salary and benefits totaling more than $320,000. Her contract with the district said that if she resigned voluntarily, all the district owed her was pay for any unused vacation time and any retirement benefits guaranteed by state law. It said that if the board fired her without cause, she was entitled to a years salary and other benefits that dovetail with what the board gave her. Further, in return for the $500,000 package, Dr. Postlewait agreed not to sue the district which is a strange thing to ask of someone who just decided one day she was tired of being superintendent. She also agreed not to say anything bad about the board also strange under the scenario that the board wants us to believe. And her separation agreement required board approval for the statement she released saying that leaving was her idea. So, while we wait for the School Board to explain why getting rid of Dr. Postlewait was worth half a million dollars plus another $170,000 for those domino raises lets talk about the teacher raises it approved Monday. Of course you cant pay teachers as much as administrators because there are so many more teachers; even a $2,000 raise for every teacher in the district adds up to some serious money. But the state budget that goes into effect July 1 will cover a lot and possibly all of that money. State legislators are working on a compromise between the budget passed by the House that raises the minimum salary districts must pay all teachers by $4,000 and the Senate version that raises the minimum salary by $2,000. Neither version would require Charleston and other wealthier districts that already pay well above the minimums to raise their teachers pay, but both would provide them with additional funding they could use to raise pay if they want to. Theres a lot of dispute in Columbia about whether the additional money would be enough for all districts to increase all teachers pay; well just say its a difficult question to answer and likely won't be clear until an agreement is reached in the next few weeks. Well also say this: Although both versions of the state budget would actually reduce the percentage of state funding that goes to our schools, either one would provide enough additional funding that raises of $2,000 strike us as the minimum the Charleston district should provide. Were not crazy about the School Board raising taxes in a year when its drowning in federal COVID-relief money, only part of which has to be spent to deliver a better education to struggling students. Of course, were also not crazy about using one-time funding to pay for salaries and other ongoing expenses, so perhaps doing a little of both sets a reasonable balance. But the board should seriously consider using more of its new state funding to give teachers bigger raises. And it should come clean with us about why weve had an interim superintendent since January. The main question prompted by seeing "Omar," the new opera by composers Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels that had its world premiere on May 27 as part of Spoleto Festival USA, may well be this: What took so long? If the question pertains specifically to the timing of this production, that's fairly easy to explain. The project began five years ago by former Spoleto Festival USA General Director Nigel Redden and team, then was postponed twice by the pandemic. When Redden retired, it fell into the hands of his successor, Mena Mark Hanna, who has championed the work and made it the galvanizing force of his first season. Those sudden stops and false starts have also resulted in a build-up that's operatic in its own right. Its debut in Charleston has drawn national attention, and its opening night was chock-full of high-profile audience members, among them Congressman Jim Clyburn and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. And that leads to the more pressing question on timing: Why has the first-person account of an enslaved African's journey from the place of origin through to his life in captivity inarguably the embodiment of the most consequential, repercussive and tragically human event of the collective American experience taken so long to find its way to an opera stage? The answer to that bears far more column inches and input on the telling of essential American stories than can be contained in this review. But Omar's story has finally arrived to the stage, driven by a Black composer and right here in Charleston, dead center in the Gordian knot of America's tangled, tainted past. The production, directed by Kaneza Schaal, is keen to honor the work's resonant, real-life source material: the autobiography of Omar ibn Said. A Muslim scholar from the Futa Toro region of Senegal, Said was captured and enslaved in the Carolinas. In Arabic, he chronicled his life, leaving a written text proclaiming his unflagging faith in Allah and expressing his fervent desire that others should know his true story, to remember him as he truly was before another identity was thrust upon him. In the opera, it is Omar's journey that we take. The work is based on his own account, with the main departure being the inclusion of a fictional character, Julie, a means to effectively tell his story in operatic form. That story is this: Omar is captured in Senegal. He endures the harrowing transatlantic passages. He is sold at auction at Charleston Slave Market and forced into labor on the Johnson Planation. He flees, is jailed and reaches his ultimate destination, the Owen Plantation in Fayetteville, N.C. In "Omar," that text is an active agent, and realized by production designer Christopher Myers and set designer Amy Rubin. Among the visual components of a stylized, sweeping set encompassing videos, illustrations and an upstage platform, Said's own elegant, Arabic script rolls and races and dances along with the music, layering sheaths of cloth, populating scrims, as if Said were forever, furiously laying down his words. And as Omar moves, so do the words and music. Giddens' transfixing, poetic pan-cultural libretto captures the essence of his words and those of the people he encounters, shifting with the changing terrain. The score which was performed exquisitely by Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra conducted by John Kennedy weaves in all manner of musical genres. Arabic-infused interludes, with the action beginning in Senegal, are followed by Southern spirituals, which then give way to Appalachian square dance music in "Old Corn Likker." Some passages feel straight out of the mid-century American musical songbook. Others call to mind a Christian church choir. In the Senegal beginnings, verses are filled with reverence for Allah, like "Every breath we breathe for you," accompanied by transporting wind instruments. As the score intensifies with the pounding, percussive threat of invaders, we learn of "long ragged lives of living ghosts to be sold to the devil." On the ship, yoked to strangers, Omar and the other captives mourn, anguish mounting sonically, then succumbing to the slipping away of identity with plaintive searching words: "Who am I? Who was I? I can't remember." At the Charleston Slave Market, a towering, Grim Reaper of an auctioneer confers fate as if it were an Oompah-fueled carnival. On the Johnson Plantation, the score deepens into the burnished exhaustion of a spiritual call-and-response punctuated by "Oh Lord, how long?" So the performers must elide one style to the next, and they do so with the same deceptive ease of the cohesive score, which so movingly, masterfully wrangles all that music into one man's journey. As Omar, Jamez McCorkle magnificently harnesses the character's depth of feeling and deep reserves of faith. Certainly, it's no small task to train one voice on the whole of a transatlantic trajectory that tests his devotion and threatens to shatter his sense of self. In this performance, the tenor did so in the first act seated, due to an injury, miraculously rallying in the second to walk. The pre-curtain announcement about this was at first concerning, in light of how this might affect the singing and staging. In the end, however, McCorkle's impressive command and stoicism underscored the same in his character. McCorkle is well matched in vocal excellence and emotional range by Laquita Mitchell in the role of Julie, who has directed Omar to Fayetteville. A pin-drop-quiet moment in Sottile was her heartbreakingly gorgeous appeal to Omar to write his story, his memories, history, feeling, assuring him that it's healing. As Omar's mother, the captivating mezzo-soprano Cheryse McLeod Lewis is a majestic, apparitional ancestor, guiding Omar through dark days with a voice that embraces the entire theater in its maternal warmth and wisdom. As Johnson/Owen, baritone Malcolm MacKenzie brings on the Southern drawl, and it coated his voice in the familiar specifics of this place we know as home. This performance also marked the debut of aggregate cast member, the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus, with part of the chorus plucked for this production. It is officially a standout, and we have much to look forward to in the weeks and years to come from this new initiative. At one point, they are positioned among the audience, though I won't elaborate at the risk of spoiling the moment. I will say that it was nothing short of healing, their vibrations enfolding audience members. And for that reason and many more, the clear and present power of "Omar" to heal a country whose stories are not yet fully told should make this a prominent part of the operatic canon. Before seeing the production, I knew many details about Omar's life, both through past coverage, his own autobiography, and had some knowledge of the history he recounted. But, through this work of art, we walk alongside Omar. With his sure and true proclamation, "I am Omar!," it holds within it the kernel of a new way forward. And it also bodes well for the potential of opera to move us through crucial stories in new ways. It is as if Omar, like his mother from on high in this powerful, magnificent work, is perhaps asking us all to take a page from his book. In his fine Arabic script with his fine, transcendent mind, he is asking us to remember and, in doing so, to keep the faith. 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 As if we didnt have enough bad news this week, oh look, the baby formula shortage is getting worse: Glad the Biden administration is on top of this. Maybe they could try something like Operation Warp Speed to get things going? Is Kamala Harris giving lessons to Georgias governor, Stacey Abrams? When confronted with the fact that voter turnout in the Georgia primary surged, making a hash of charges of voter suppression, Abrams replied with a nonsensical Kamala-esque word salad: Reporter: What do the early voting numbers tell you? Is it possible that the Democrats were wrong and that the new law isnt suppressing votes? John Paul Mac Isaac is the Delaware computer repairman with whom Hunter Biden dropped off his infamous laptop for repair in April 2019. In a long-term drug-induced stupor, Biden abandoned the laptop with the repairman. When the New York Post obtained a copy of the laptops hard drive and revealed some of its scandalous contents in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, all involved (excepting Hunter Biden) were tagged as agents of Russian disinformation. On May 3 the Posts Miranda Devine reported that Isaac has brought defamation claims against Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, CNN, The Daily Beast and Politico. The lawsuit is filed in Maryland state court. I have posted Isaacs 29-page complaint at the bottom. Devines column helpfully reviews the relevant facts and serves up this pungent quote from Isaac: After fighting to reveal the truth, all I want now is for the rest of the country to know that there was a collective and orchestrated effort by social and mainstream media to block a real story with real consequences for the nation. Mac Isaacs lawsuit goes back to the lie promulgated by the Dirty 51 laptop liars, as Devine characterized them in her May 18 Post column. The Dirty 51 are the former high-ranking intelligence officers who signed off on the October 2020 letter published by Politico and reported by Politicos Natasha Bertrand in Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former intel officials say. Landing at CNN, Bertrand subsequently failed upward. The Dirty 51 carefully couched their disparagement of the laptop story as opinion based on their experience. Knowing how their letter would be taken, they purported to express no knowledge of the underlying facts. They are knaves and cowards. If their letter is safe from a claim for defamation, as it probably is, claims based on republication (restatement) of what they said would be too. Mac Isaacs lawsuit is accordingly predicated on statements that go beyond the letter. The shiftless Adam Schiff, for example, went well beyond republication. He announced to CNNs Wolf Blitzer: Well we know that this whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin. Thats been clear for well over a year now that theyve been pushing this false narrative about the Vice President and his son. Schiff should be shafted. Isaacs claim against CNN derives from its broadcast of Schiffs statement to Blitzer. Without any intel, the head of the intel committee decided to share with CNN and its viewers a complete and utter lie, Mac Isaac said. A lie issued in the protection of a preferred presidential candidate. (Here I am drawing on Caroline Downeys NRO story behind NROs paywall.) The Daily Beast also went beyond the dirty work of the Dirty 51. In a December 2020 story, the Daily Beast described the laptop as stolen. That would make Isaac a thief. The Daily Beast story, by the way, came under the byline of Erin Banco, Scott Bixby, and Sam Stein. That adds up to three count em reporters. Mac Isaacs lawsuit has apparently induced late second thoughts at the Daily Beast. The December 2020 Daily Beast story is now accompanied by an editors note that is appended to it: An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to Hunter Bidens laptop as stolen. We have removed that word, and we apologize to Mr. Mac Isaac for the error. FOX News media reporter Joseph Wulfsohn covers the development here. Mac Isaacs complaint also takes up an October 2020 Daily Beast story by Spencer Ackerman and Will Sommer that allegedly described the laptop as purloined. The Daily Beast story was updated this week on May 25. I cant get access to the story to figure out this aspect of the complaint. See the complaint at paragraphs 108-111. Isaac Schifff Laptop Complaint by Scott Johnson on Scribd All is set for the Special National Convention of Nigerias main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Weeks of preparations that involved controversies, meetings, threats, lobbying, promises, and even defections, have led to this day where elected delegates will choose a candidate to fly the partys flag at the 2023 presidential election. Party delegates, officials, journalists and other accredited participants are gathering at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, venue of the primary. The Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, David Mark, said preparations for the primary have been made and the party expects a smooth, transparent and credible convention. About 811 delegates elected from across the country are expected to vote at the convention where they will pick from a list of 14 aspirants in the race. Initially, 17 aspirants purchased the partys nomination form at N40 million each but two Cosmas Ndukwe, a former lawmaker, and Nwachukwu Anakwenze, a US-based medical doctor were disqualified by the screening committee. Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and top contender for the position, resigned his membership of the PDP on Tuesday. The 14 other cleared aspirants have since been meeting party delegates, governors and leaders across the country. They are Tariela Oliver, the only female among them; Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and investment banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. Others are two former senate presidents, Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim; former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; and a publisher, Dele Momodu. Also in the race are a pharmacist, Sam Ohabunwa; Charles Ugwu and Chikwendu Kalu. The aspirants are from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, reflecting the partys decision to jettison zoning and throw the primary open. PREMIUM TIMES is on ground at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja venue of the convention to bring you live updates of the event. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, one of the presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has pulled out of the race. He said his decision to withdraw from the race, which he said has been obscenely monetized, was made after wide consultations. He made this known in a statement dated May 27 where he said efforts to forge a consensus which would have facilitated a seamless emergence of a candidate, could not be achieved. The investment banker also said he did not join the race for personal gains and inordinate ambition, but to serve the country. I joined the contest as a democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent. It is therefore based on personal principles and with great humility that have decided after wide consultations to withdraw from this contest which has been obscenely monetized, he said. Mr Hayatu-Deen was one of the 17 aspirants who got the PDP presidential form for N40 million each. He was cleared by the partys screening committee. His withdrawal comes days after another contender, Peter Obi, withdrew from the race and resigned from the PDP. Mr Obi cited recent developments in the party as his reason for leaving. He later joined the Labour Party. Mr Hayatu-Deens plan to ensure that the great potential that had become the hallmark of Nigerias development paradigm, should be actualised during his presidency would be put on hold. He said he had planned to make Nigeria the continental economic powerhouse which would guarantee high quality of life to the vast majority of our citizens. He also said he planned to end insecurity and the incessant university strikes some of the reasons that compelled him to enter the political space in order to provide tangible solutions to these problems. While he thanked his supporters, he promised to avail himself at all times to ensure victory of the party. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Nigerias former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has again emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Abubakar defeated 12 other candidates in a keenly contested presidential primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday. Of the 767 accredited ballots at the election, he polled 371 votes while his closest challenger, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, came second with 237 votes. Nigerias former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, scored 70 votes to come a distant third while Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, came fourth with 38 votes. The only female in the race, Oliver Diana, and another contestant, Sam Ohuabunwa, scored one vote each. A former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes while Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, scored 20 votes. The other contestants including former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu got zero votes. Twelve invalid votes were recorded. While Atikus victory at the primary is his second successive attempt, it also marked his fifth shot at the presidency. He has had other unsuccessful contests for the seat under both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his current party, the PDP. The Adamawa-born politician also secured the ticket of the PDP in 2019 but lost at the general elections to the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. The former vice-president will again face whoever emerges from the forthcoming presidential primaries of the APC. Before voting commenced at the primary, a strong contender for the ticket, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, stepped down from the race and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku. Some political analysts believe it was Mr Tambuwals withdrawal from the race that tilted the race in favour of the former vice president. The Sokoto governor, who also contested for the ticket ahead of the 2019 election, had campaigned aggressively and was widely rated among the top contenders for the ticket. Party insiders said he had especially locked down votes from the North-west geopolitical zone which has the highest number of delegates nationwide. But for his withdrawal, he would have divided the votes of the north and possibly opened the way for Mr Wike to clinch the ticket. In his acceptance speech after he was declared winner, Atiku described his emergence as the making of another history. He said the election is the freest and fairest election in the history of the party. Promising to unify the country, Atiku accused the APC-led government of fostering disunity among Nigerians across ethnic and religious borderlines. I also pledged to confront economic problems which were compounded by the APC government, he said. Atiku called on his fellow contestants to join forces with him and promised to cooperate with them in building the country. It was a well-fought primary election, he added. He seized the moment to appeal to aggrieved members to employ internal mechanisms to resolve all disputes rather than seeking redress in court. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Olaibi Blaize, Head, APC Electoral Committee, Somolu Constituency 1, Lagos State, on Friday ordered the arrest of the chairman of the party in the constituency for alleged unlawful distribution of primary election materials. APC held House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries across the 40 Lagos State constituencies and 24 federal constituencies in the state. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who covered the elections, report that Mr Blaize also cancelled the partys primary election in the constituency. Yomi Olubamido, APC chairman in the constituency, was consequently arrested for alleged unlawful distribution of delegates tags and accreditation materials. Mr Blaize, who addressed delegates, said: I cannot conduct the elections under this atmosphere because the materials meant for the elections were cited with some delegates. I was told from the APC Secretariat in Acme that the election materials have been sent to the local government, but when I got here, l asked Olubamido about the materials and he denied receiving anything from the state secretariat. I was surprised when l saw the delegates tags and other election metarials with party members and delegates. On this note, l decided to cancel the process here and l told a police officer to arrest Olubamido for illegal possession of election materials. Mr Blaize said the process had been compromised. He said the tags and other election material ought to have been strictly kept in the hands of electoral officers and not party members or delegates. Reacting, the Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Abdul-Ahmed Salawu, told NAN that he was disappointed at the alleged action of Mr Olubamido. READ ALSO: Thugs invade APC primaries in Lagos He alleged: We have a sole aspirant for House of Representatives and 11 aspirants for House of Assembly, and some materials were given to Olubamido since yesterday for the elections but he refused hand them over. He was supposed to hand over all the materials to me, but he went ahead to distribute them himself and when the electoral officer came, l was asked about the materials and I said l was not aware of any. When l called him to explain about the materials, he could not explain. NAN reports that as at 10:15 p.m., APC members were still moving around the venue in the hope that the elections would still hold. Somolu Constituency 1 has 30 ad-hoc delegates drawn from six wards. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Suspected political thugs on Friday disrupted the primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 and brought the process to an abrupt end. The contestants were incumbent lawmaker, Bunmi Ogunlola; former Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Biodun Omoleye; and Dele Philips. The presiding officer, Akin Alebiosu, was caught in the mayhem and had his head injured with stones and sticks. Ms Ogunlola, while describing what happened, said a personal assistant to one of the contestants had intercepted the process during voting and destroyed the ballot box and papers, an action which sparked violent reactions. The exercise was inconclusive so it is normal we have to go all over again, he said. My appeal to the party is that they should conduct primary for the constituency because we have limited time. It should be conducted in no distant time because tomorrow will be for the Senate even tomorrow we can still do it. They want to take advantage of my gender. Meanwhile, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, lost the ticket to a businessman, Akinlayo Kolawole. However, a serving House of Representatives lawmaker, Sola Fatoba, has won the APC ticket to return to the House. Mr Fatoba represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1. He polled a total of 114 votes to defeat Oluyemi Esan, Opeyemi Ogunsakin and Sunday Ola, who polled 2, 3 and 0 votes respectively. But his opponents have rejected the results, saying it was married by fraud. This primary is nothing, but a sham and disgrace to APC, said Mr Esan, who spoke on. their behalf. The delegates list that was brought from the national headquarters was changed by some party members and we expected the panel from Abuja to rectify this , which they didnt do. READ ALSO: Thugs invade APC primaries in Lagos We are appealing to the national leaders of our party to nullify the primary and order fresh election so that our party can win in 2023. Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to Governor Fayemi, Akin Rotimi, also won the primary in Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA), had earlier secured his ticket for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2. He got all the 160 votes to defeat a serving House of Assembly member representing Emure constituency, Bummi Adelugba, who scored nothing. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Muktar Betara has emerged unopposed for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of 2023 general elections Betara will be representing Biu, Bayo, Kwaya/Kusar and Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State. The lawmaker in a statement on Saturday in Abuja said that the support was overwhelming from delegates He said that the primary election took place at the Biu township stadium and featured a massive turnout of supporters. He said that all the delegates from his four local government areas making up the federal constituency affirmed his nomination through the ballot monitored by INEC and APC officials. Dr Shani Total, INEC Returning Officer said that Betara pulled a total of 194 votes out of 200 votes while 6 were invalid. READ ALSO: APC postpones presidential primary In his acceptance speech, the lawmaker thanked his constituents for the show of love. I am happy my people want me back because i am always on ground for them. This has shown how much they appreciate my effort and i will keep doing more for them. I want to use this medium to thank everyone for believing in me, together we will work to achieve goals for the good of our Constituents, he said. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has rejected the outcome of the Lagos West senatorial primaries where he lost to the former deputy governor of Lagos, Idiat Adebule. Mrs Adebule, who was deputy to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, defeated Mr Obanikoro with 424 votes against 119. Kayode Opeifa, a former commissioner in the state, polled four votes. The former ministers loss came a day after his son, Ibrahim Obanikoro (APC, Eti Osa), lost the ticket for a return to the House of Representatives. Mr Obanikoro joined the APC in 2017, defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. According to a statement by Mr Obanikoros campaign office, the primaries was fraught with intimidations and other malpractices. The statement said Mrs Adebule was not qualified to stand for the election having not participated in the electoral process of obtaining the expression of interest and nomination forms. It also said the former deputy governor did not participate in the screening of the aspirants. It was obvious that the exercise was designed to favour the acclaimed winner, who was not even qualified to stand in for the election, the statement read. In due course, our grievances and all other necessary steps would be made formal to the party. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Muhammed Dattijo, a former chief of staff to the governor of Kaduna State, has won the primary election of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) for Kaduna Central Senatorial District. Mr Dattijo was unopposed after the two other contestants vying for the partys ticket stepped down at the venue of the election, just before the commencement of voting. 396 delegates were accredited to vote at the primaries. At the end of the voting, 388 delegates voted for Mr Dattijo while eight votes were recorded invalid The two aspirants who stepped down are Rabi Salisu and Usman Garba. Speaking to journalists after the elections, Mr Dattijo thanked the delegates for the confidence they have in him and unanimously voting for him to represent Kaduna Central at the senate. I thank you all for the support you gave to me and also to my fellow contestant. We shall work together all for the success of the party in the general elections coming up in February. Mr Dattijo will slug it out with Lawal Adamu who won the primaries to represent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the general election next year. On Friday, Bello El-Rufai, son of the governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was also unanimously elected by delegates as the APC candidate for the Kaduna North federal constituency. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Former governor of Anambra State and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has said he defected to Labour Party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he is desperate to make Nigeria work again. Mr Obi stated this when he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV, on Friday, shortly after he announced his defection to the Labour Party. The former governor had dumped the PDP on Thursday. I am not desperate to be president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work (again) especially for the youths of this country, he said. The presidential aspirant said he left the PDP quietly and decently when he realised that their policies were at variance with his person and principles, stressing that he has the right to defect to any political party of his choice. Mr Obi explained that his new party is a route that aligns with his principles and personal belief. He denied speculations that he visited former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over a possible defection to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Why my choice of Labour party? If you have followed my mantra since I started this, I have always said (that) the greatest tragedy of our country today, is consumption and no production; it is sharing and not creating. I said I want to move the country from consumption (nation) to production (nation). I have moved to where I think the process will allow me. It is not about winning or losing. I will rather lose doing the right thing than win doing the wrong thing. My politics have been consistent in character and integrity since I started. I have been consistent in seeking the right process, Mr Obi said. The former governor, who stressed that his new party is predisposed to his principles and mission to rescue Nigeria, however, said the party was yet to give him the presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 presidential general election. He said: I hope to get the (Labour Party presidential) ticket. I have to campaign the way it should be and I hope the people will vote for me because I have an idea on how to turn around this sinking ship (called Nigeria). On Thursday, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State accused the former governor of lacking integrity and character after he resigned his PDP membership. But Mr Obi said character and integrity should be measured by peoples efficient management of public funds and trust. He said he managed the resources of Anambra State prudently while he was the governor, adding that he exited office with a huge amount of money in the states treasury. Nobody has ever seen me in my political life sharing money anywhere. I am not saying I am a saint. But I did things which I believe were right. When I left office as governor, it is on record, I left N75 billion, thats about $500 million as at that time. I left it because it is public money, Mr Obi stated. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 "Hemos venido a reconstruir el pais, fortalecer la democracia y atender las necesidades de la poblacion desde cada uno de los sectores", aseguro el presidente Pedro Castillo al culminar el XIII Consejo de Ministros Descentralizado en Amazonas.#SiempreConElPueblo pic.twitter.com/28QkHn0UkV Nigerias major political parties are set to choose their flag-bearers for the 2023 presidential election. As delegates and members of the APC and PDP converge this weekend in Abuja, the nations capital city will experience an uptick in activities and traffic. Party delegates have already arrived the FCT from the 36 states of the country to partake in the various party primaries, majorly for the APC and PDP. Most hotels in town are fully booked while others have the best of their rooms taken. As both parties go to the primaries this weekend, these are what Abuja residents should expect as they go about their daily businesses: Saturday: PDP primaries holds at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium The Moshood Abiola National Stadium is located along the Airport Road leading to Lugbe, around city gate. Typical of such events, it is expected that adjoining routes to and from the stadium will be heavily congested or entirely cut off. Persons living in Lugbe or Airport Road who wish to come to town between Saturday and Sunday may want to consider an early takeoff from their residences. The same will apply to travellers visiting the city over the weekend. Also people going to Garki Area 1 from Airport Road will also need to leave their homes earlier than usual. Travellers who have to catch a flight out of Abuja on Saturday or Sunday, may consider an accommodation close to the airport or leaving for the airport earlier than they usually would. In March when Nigeria played against Ghana at the same venue, cars could hardly make through that route owing to heavy traffic. We expect a similar situation on Saturday and part of Sunday. The situation for the weekend will be further complicated by the growing fuel queues returning to town. Both parties will be hold their primaries about the same dates: while PDP will hold hers May 28 and 29, the ruling APCs will take May 29 and 30. PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the Federal Road Safety Corps for comments as at press time. The road use agency has not issued any advisory as well. Sunday: APC primaries begins at Eagles Square, city centre The Eagle Square is located in the city centre, popular for its use for national events. Usually, when events are held at the square, adjoining roads are blocked from public use with other road users having to find alternative routes. Commuters from Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu, Nasarawa axis will encounter perhaps a moving traffic around Finance, Bullet and NNPC towers owing to the various diversions in search of better routes. Abujas Central Business District where the Eagles Square is located will definitely witness congestion and angry commuters and drivers alike. Churchgate and some parts of Garki district will also see a bit of this congestion as drivers try to manoeuvre their way out of gridlocks in certain areas. This will spill into Monday as the primaries are not expected to end until a few hours into Monday. Despite what is looking like a hectic period, taxi drivers are perhaps smiling and preparing for what would likely be a great business weekend in recent times- transportation fare may increase as well because of the congestion. Food sellers will do well too. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Pius Anyim, former Senate President and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Friday, raised an alarm over absence of delegates from Ebonyi State in the partys delegate list ahead of its presidential primaries. Mr Anyim stated this in a letter of concern addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, and the Chairman of the partys Special Convention, David Mark. The chairman may recall that during the meeting of presidential aspirants and the Special Convention Committee held on the 26th day of May, 2022 at the Legacy House, the entire delegates list for all the states were presented to each of the aspirants. On an examination of the list, I discovered that the Ebonyi State delegates list was not included. On inquiry from the National Organising Secretary, he informed me that there was a technical error and it will be corrected today, Mr Anyim said. But the presidential aspirant expressed disappointment that despite the assurances of the National Organising Secretary of the party, the problem was yet to be rectified as of 12 p.m. on Friday. The purpose of this letter is to alert all concerned that disenfranchising delegates from Ebonyi State or any state for that matter will fundamentally affect the election, he added. Mr Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, hails from Ebonyi State. The PDP has slated its primaries for May 28 and May 29. Mr Anyim is expected to get the majority of his votes from the state during the party primaries. Peter Obi, a former PDP presidential aspirant who recently resigned his membership of the party and defected to the Labour Party, has accused PDP of holding practices that are at variance with his persona and principles. Both Messrs Obi and Anyim hail from South-east Nigeria, one of the regions pushing to produce a president in 2023. PDP came under fire recently from some South-east leaders after the party threw its presidential ticket open. The partys decision came in the heat of the South-east regions clamour for Nigerias next president to come from the region. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A former new media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, on Saturday rejected the outcome of a primary election for Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu/ Federal Constituency. Mr Ahmad, an aspirant in the election, failed to secure the ticket for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday. He was defeated by the incumbent member, Abdullahi Gaya, with 109 to 16 votes. Mr Ahmad had earlier written on his Facebook page that he left the venue of the primary to protect his supporters because thugs were intimidating them. As an aspirant, I left the venue of the primary election for Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency, because of the security of our majority delegates, if want to compete with the best, thugs shouldnt be part of any election, Mr Ahmad wrote. Below is a statement from Mr Ahmad rejecting the outcome of the election REJECTION OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION EXERCISE FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERSHIP, REPRESENTING ALBASU/GAYA/AJINGI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY I hereby categorically reject the process and proceeds of the primary election conducted on 27th of May, 2022 to elect the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer for the position of member House of Representatives for Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi Federal Constituency. I offered myself to serve my constituents as best I can and I would have been willing to accept whatever outcome if it was free, fair and credible. I am sad to say that what ensued at the venue of the primaries highly threatens the credibility and integrity the APC has built over two political cycles. It is therefore a great disservice to my people and our great party, to be silent about such injustice. To the best of my knowledge, election at the primaries stage requires delegates to cast their votes and a winner emerges with the majority votes. It therefore implies that there could not have been any voting process that occurred considering majority of the delegates were neither allowed to vote nor even granted access to the venue. No document that supposedly validates the election was signed by my agents because they were also denied access to the voting area. On my arrival to the venue as an aspirant too, I was denied access to the voting area. My supporters who were around the premises for the primaries resisted the unjust treatment I was given and attempted insisting on my entrance into the voting area. Like I have consistently been saying, my ambition is not worth anybodys life or safety, so at that time, I believed the best action to take was to vacate the premises in order to douse the friction and for the safety of the majority delegates, my agents and my supporters who were being targeted by thugs. I, therefore call on the stakeholders of our party, the APC, to as a matter of urgency, save the reputation of the party by insisting on the members of the electoral committee to conduct a fresh, free and fair election. I would like to commend and extend profound gratitude to the delegates who despite the ill-treatment, refused to be intimidated by anyone. I would also like to send my appreciation to my supporters who have always been with me from the onset. To be silent about the injustice we have experienced, is to disappoint those supporters. I implore all to be calm and remain the law-abiding citizens I know you to be because I still have faith in the APC that this spectacular blunder, we have experienced on the 27th of May, 2022 shall be annulled and credible primary election shall be conducted. Thank you very much and may Allah bless you all. Bashir Ahmad, House of Representatives Aspirant for Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The striking Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), an umbrella body of lecturers of polytechnics in Nigeria, has announced the suspension of its two-week definite warning strike, which began on May 16. The union said its decision was because of progress made so far in the engagement with the countrys government towards agreeing to its requests. It said the government has met some demands, and the process is on to ensure that they meet other demands. ASUP said it declared the strike following the governments failure to implement the agreements in the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed with the union in April 2021. A statement by Shamma Kpanja, the secretary-general of the union, said they took the decision to suspend the strike at an emergency national executive council meeting of the union. Progress The statement said the two-week warning strike has ushered significant progress in four of the unions demands from the government. Parts of the progress recorded, according to the statement, is the commencement of payment of arrears of the new minimum wage in all affected federal polytechnics and the approval and release of regulatory instruments for accreditation of institutions, management, and programmes. It added that continued infractions in the Federal Polytechnics Act were also being handled as the document is due to be withdrawn, as agreed. The statement listed other issues to include the regulatory instruments that address issues around accreditation activities, which he noted were reviewed in 2021 and approved. It said it was released to the public through the NBTE website. The statement reads in part; This issue shall provide a policy framework to address the challenges in state-owned institutions. Already, implementation is on as a decision has been taken on the situation in Abia State Polytechnic where salaries are owed for 34 months. The proprietor (Abia State Government) has been duly communicated. A decision has also been taken on the vexed issue of victimisation of union officials in the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu where 5 of our officers were dismissed due to their participation in the 2017 strike of the union. The situation in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (where we still have 1 victimised officer) which has a different background is yet to be handled. The issue of continued infractions in the Federal Polytechnics Act as typified by the release of a contentious template for appointment of principal officers by the Federal Ministry of Education was also handled as the document is due to be withdrawn as agreed. Full Demands The union had embarked on the warning strike to demand the complete implementation of the 2021 MOA it signed with the government. ASUP listed items in the MoA to include the release of the approved revitalisation fund of N15 billion approved for the sector; the release of the arrears of the new minimum wage; approval and release of the reviewed normative instruments for institutions, management, and programmes accreditation; release of the scheme of service and conditions of service undergoing review since 2017. Others are the non-release of the arrears of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre; sustained infractions on the Federal Polytechnics Act (2019); continued victimisation of some union officers in IMT Enugu and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo; as well as the poor treatment of members in some Colleges of Agriculture. 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. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Four aspirants are currently slugging it out to replace Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos Central) in the ongoing APC Senatorial Primaries on Saturday in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Tinubu, a third-term member of the Nigerian senate is no longer contesting to return to the National Assembly. The four aspirants jostling for the APC Lagos central senatorial ticket are Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, the Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly; Demola Seriki, Nigerias Ambassador to Spain; Oyinlomo Danmole, a former commissioner; and Akeem Apatira. Voting has begun at the primaries, amidst tight security under the watch of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at 2.45 p.m., after the completion of the accreditation of 310 ad hoc delegates. In his remarks before the commencement of the exercise, Tolani Sule, the Chairman of the five-man Electoral Committee/Returning Officer, said that 308 ad hoc delegates were accredited out of 310 ad hoc delegates expected. 308 delegates will be participating in this election. For us to be fast, we will be calling delegates from one local government to another local government, Mr Sule said. According to him, there are 60 delegates expected from Surulere, 50 each from Apapa and Eti-Osa, 55 from Lagos Mainland, and 95 from Lagos Island. The APC senatorial special congress is holding at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The ruling party on Thursday conducted its governorship primaries while that of the house of assembly and house of representatives were conducted on Friday. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 A former Minister of Aviation and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Osita Chidoka, has given reason for not attending the partys convention in Abuja. Mr Chidoka, who had bought form to contest as a national delegate to the convention, cited shady and corrupt electoral processes for his decision. In a statement on Saturday in Abuja, the former minister said this was the first time in many years he would be watching the partys convention from home even though he was a member of the electoral sub-committee of this years event. On May 10th a National Delegate Congress Committee chaired by Prof Kingsley Chimsorom Chilaka of Nnamdi Azikiwe University went to Anambra to conduct the congress and did not conduct any congress in Idemili North LGA where I had bought form to contest as a National Delegate, he said in a statement. Strangely the committee submitted a report and fake result for Idemili North LGA with the name of someone that did not purchase the form for the congress. It is time we look into the role of Academics in the corruption in our electoral process. I will follow up on that soon. INECs report clearly stated that they did not observe any election in Idemili North LGA as they were at the venue till 7 pm. I submitted a petition to the Party with a certified copy of the INEC report. I requested the Party to reschedule and conduct the congress in line with the party rules and Electoral Act. Mr Chidoka said he waited till Thursday for the party leadership to intervene to no avail. I waited till yesterday Friday 27th May for the Party NWC to sit on the petition to no avail instead the Party went ahead and published the name from the fake result as National Delegate. As a loyal Party member who has remained a dedicated and prominent voice of the Party since the Party went into opposition, I have elected to stay away from the convention and will not pursue a legal redress against the party that I have given so much at grave personal risk and cost, he said. The former minister however said he wished the party a successful convention. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Police in Rivers have confirmed the death of 31 persons in a stampede during an outreach programme organised by a new generation church, Kings Assembly, on Saturday in Port Harcourt. The acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt. ALSO READ: At least 45 killed after stampede at religious gathering in Israel Ms Iringe-Kok told NAN that the church, located in GRA in Rivers capital, had invited members of the public to an event where it would share some gifts, including foodstuffs. She said the event was held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club, a bigger facility to accommodate the anticipated crowd, including the underprivileged. The police spokesperson said the stampede occurred when the people who had gathered struggled to force their way into the arena, resulting in the death of the 31 persons. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Dozens of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials arrived at the venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) special national convention in Abuja on Saturday. It is unclear if the officials are there to arrest anyone or to monitor exchange of money between aspirants and delegates. The anti-graft agencys officials who were seen wearing red armless jackets with EFCC crested at the back, were seen positioned strategically at the convention venue. About 811 delegates elected from across the country are expected to vote at the convention where they will pick from a list of 13 aspirants in the race. They are Tariela Oliver, the only female among them; Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and investment banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. Others are two former senate presidents, Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim; former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose; and a publisher, Dele Momodu. Also in the race are a pharmacist, Sam Ohabunwa; Charles Ugwu and Chikwendu Kalu. The aspirants are from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, reflecting the partys decision to jettison zoning and throw the primary open. Party delegates, officials, journalists and other accredited participants have converged on the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, venue of the primary. The presence of the EFCC officials was noticed as notable presidential aspirants of the PDP arrived at the convention venue. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accredited all 774 delegates from the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to vote in the presidential primary election holding on Saturday. The member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency of Kogi State, Tajudeen Yusuf, said in an interview on Channels TV crew at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja. Total number of delegates at the PDP primaries are 774, this includes those from FCT, he said. We had only this number and they have all been accredited. He stated that the PDP was complying strictly with section 84(3) of the Electoral Act on elected delegates. Mr Yusuf defeated the former Dino Melaye at the just concluded primary election for Kogi West Senatorial District. ALSO READ: EFCC operatives seen at PDP convention venue Under tight security at the venue, presidential aspirants arrived at the venue and the programme commenced with the National anthem and opening prayers. Seventeen aspirants purchased the partys nomination form at N40 million. However, two candidates, Cosmas Ndukwe, a former lawmaker, and Nwachukwu Anakwenze, a US-based medical doctor, were disqualified. A top contender and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, resigned his membership of the party on Tuesday. On Saturday, Mohammed Hayatudeen, pulled out of the race, citing monetisation of the process. The aspirants have since been meeting state delegates, governors and other leaders across the country, seeking support to win the primaries. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 The chairman of the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Organising Committee, David Mark, has described the convention as a call to salvage Nigeria and offer solutions to its present challenges. Mr Mark, a former president of the Senate, said this in his remarks at the opening of the 2022 PDP National Convention on Saturday in Abuja. He said the country is currently faced with challenges, including an over three months strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), insecurity, unemployment and poverty. He said that history beckoned on PDP to rescue the nation. Todays convention is beyond the ordinary, it is a call to salvage Nigeria from the brinks. Nigeria has had chequered socio-economic and political problems but never has it descended so low. The 2023 election is not a contest between the PDP and other political parties, it will be a moment of historic decision of all Nigerians to right the wrongs at the moment and faith in the PDP as the vehicle to redeem the situation and give them a chance to live again. No wonder, our logo, the umbrella, is a veritable shade and shield for Nigerians and Nigeria as an entity. It is therefore a call to patriotic national service, for all of us; delegates to make the wise decision which will ultimately save Nigeria, he said. Mr Mark, who described all the PDP presidential aspirants as persons of proven integrity, promised that the exercise would be free, fair and transparent. I repeat, this exercise will be transparent, credible, fair and just to all. Whoever emerges from this convention will be the choice of the party and will ultimately win the presidential election for the PDP in 2023 by the grace of God, Mr Mark said. Spirit of sportsmanship The former lawmaker urged all aspirants to approach the exercise with the spirit of sportsmanship. He said, We must remember that the party is our bond. We are known for due process, peace and unity. These, we must not compromise at todays convention. Mr Mark urged all the delegates and party faithful to cooperate with the party to ensure a smooth and successful exercise, saying we must rescue Nigeria, the time is now. The chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Walid Jubrin, also called for the cooperation of all aspirants and delegates to ensure that the convention is peaceful and successful. Mr Jubrin said it was also important for the PDP to continue to wax stronger in rescuing and developing the nation. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 YEREVAN, MAY 28 ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the Republic Day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan together with President Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, top leadership of the Republic of Armenia and diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia visited the Memorial Complex of Sardarapat Battle, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan laid a wreath at the memorial to the heroes of the Battle of Sardarapat and paid tribute to their memory. The Prime Minister also attended the state awards ceremony at the Sardarapat Memorial, Museum of Armenian Ethnography. Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has clinched his partys Edo North Senatorial ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections. Mr Oshiomhole scored 309 votes to pick the APC ticket while his opponent, the incumbent senator, Francis Alimikhena, polled five votes at the party primary election held in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday. The party returning officer for the APC primary, Festus Ebia said 317 delegates were accredited out of the 320 expected delegates for the election. He said three votes were voided. Oshiomhole having scored the majority votes of 309 and satisfied the requirement of the election is hereby declared winner, he said. Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates and commended the committee for conducting a transparent primary. The former APC chairman vowed to do his best for the district if elected senator. If God gives us victory in the main election, I will ensure that the voice of Edo North will be loud and clear the same way I did as governor of the state. My promise, if given the mandate at the Senate, I will work with other senators to ensure that the senate functions in a manner that will reflect the will and aspiration of Nigerians, he said. Mr Oshiomhole urged Senator Alimikhena to find the courage to accept the outcome of the election in good faith, the same way his opponent accepted him in 2015 and 2019 when he emerged the partys candidate. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Victor Umeh, former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Saturday lost his bid to return to the Senate. Mr Umeh lost the APGA Senatorial ticket for Anambra Central to Dozie Nwankwo, member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The primary was conducted in Awka. Announcing the result of the election, Elizabeth Nwokeocha, the returning officer, said Mr Nwankwo won the election with a total of 162 votes ahead of Mr Umeh who had 151 votes. Another contestant, Uzuegbunam Okagbue, an aide to former governor Willie Obiano scored 10 votes in the primary. Mr Dozie will contest the seat against the incumbent senator, Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Umeh contested the Anambra Senate seat in 2015 soon after handing over as national Chairman of APGA, but lost to Mrs Ekwunife whom he displaced in 2017 through the court and served out the tenure. Mr Umeh also contested the seat in 2019, but lost to Mrs Ekwunife. Mr Nwankwo, in his reaction, thanked the APGA delegates in Anambra Central for handing him the partys ticket. He promised to make them proud in the general election. He said he would continue his quality representation which he had been providing for Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka Federal Constituency and to expand it to Anambra Central if he wins in the general election. Mr Umeh congratulated Mr Dozie, saying it was the will of the people. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 An entrepreneur, Valentine Asuen, on Saturday emerged the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Edo South District. Mr Asuen polled 215 votes to defeat former Edo Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen at the party primary held in Benin. Mr Imasuen scored 160 votes, while four votes were voided. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that 379 delegates from seven local government areas took part in the exercise amid tight security. While Mr Asuen was the former APC youth leader in Edo State, Mr Imasuen served as deputy governor to the botched Governor Osariemen Osunbors administration between 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has clinched his partys Edo North Senatorial ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections. Mr Oshiomhole scored 309 votes to pick the APC ticket while his opponent, the incumbent senator, Francis Alimikhena, polled five votes at the party primary election held in Auchi, Edo State, on Saturday. The party returning officer for the APC primary, Festus Ebia said 317 delegates were accredited out of the 320 expected delegates for the election. He said three votes were voided. Oshiomhole having scored the majority votes of 309 and satisfied the requirement of the election is hereby declared winner, he said. Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates and commended the committee for conducting a transparent primary. The former APC chairman vowed to do his best for the district if elected senator. If God gives us victory in the main election, I will ensure that the voice of Edo North will be loud and clear the same way I did as governor of the state. My promise, if given the mandate at the Senate, I will work with other senators to ensure that the senate functions in a manner that will reflect the will and aspiration of Nigerians, he said. Mr Oshiomhole urged Senator Alimikhena to find the courage to accept the outcome of the election in good faith, the same way his opponent accepted him in 2015 and 2019 when he emerged as the partys candidate. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 the recent celebration of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation presenting an audited financial statement for the first time after 43 years of existence is an example of when accountability flees from its custodians. When an auditor-general issues an audit query on unexplained transactions in the public sector, and no response is given by those in charge of the transaction, accountability flees from its custodians. I aver that when accountability flees from its custodians, the citizens cry, businesses collapse and government fails. But who are the custodians of accountability? On the surface, we will say accountants e.g. company accountants, local government accountants, accountants of Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government, state accountants-general, accountants-general of the federation. But the custodians of accountability are not only accountants. Accountants may be likened to the first line of custodians of accountability, while the second line and main custodians in the public and private sectors are the budget holders, or the approving authorities. The budget holder is the person who authorises and approves the payment for any transaction. However, when accountability flees from the first line of the custodian of accountability, the nation suffers Examples of accountability fleeing from its custodians abound in Nigeria. For example, the recent celebration of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation presenting an audited financial statement for the first time after 43 years of existence is an example of when accountability flees from its custodians. When an auditor-general issues an audit query on unexplained transactions in the public sector, and no response is given by those in charge of the transaction, accountability flees from its custodians. Other examples of when accountability flees from its custodians is the newspaper reporting of the arrest of the accountant-general of the federation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for being involved in a N80 billion fraud. Newspapers also screamed a headline: EFCC declares Rivers State Accountant-General, others wanted for N435bn fraud. Then they informed us about the fraud allegation against the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), all pointing to accountability fleeing from its custodians. If Nigeria is to make economic progress, we must ensure that accountability does not flee from the first line of its custodians accountants. This is by ensuring that only qualified accountants with integrity occupy accountability positions in both the private and public sectors. The private sector is already doing that and we must focus on the public sector. That is why the motto of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria is Accuracy and Integrity. It is accuracy and integrity that ensure that accountability does not flee from its custodians. The process of acquiring the accuracy skill evidenced in the training of accountants brings with it a natural discipline, which makes the ICAN fellow to cherish that which he obtained through suffering. He values the training obtained to acquire the calculative craft and the integrity re-enforced through the professional code of conduct. It is different from those whom the professional accountancy certificate was dashed Accuracy comes with the professional training of accountants. Those who went through and are still going through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)s professional accountancy training can testify its rigour. To qualify, people write one stage of the professional accountancy examination two to ten times. The founding fathers embraced the training of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and their successors continued to maintain that till date. Accuracy refers to the calculative craft of accountants, in which they are meticulously trained to engage in double entry accounting, where the dual concept is the order of the day. In this, every debit entry has a corresponding credit entry following measurement in monetary terms, recognition and disclosure, in accordance with the guidance in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS). The process of acquiring the accuracy skill evident in the training of accountants brings with it natural discipline, which makes the ICAN fellow to cherish that which he obtained through suffering. He values the training obtained to acquire the calculative craft and the integrity re-enforced through the professional code of conduct. It is different from those whom the professional accountancy certificate was dashed, to use a Nigerian terminology, whereby you sit in your office and the professional accountancy certificate is posted to you. Accountability is likely to flee from its custodian when the professional accountancy certificate is dashed and posted to you sitting in your office or you simply pay money for the award of the professional accountancy certificate, without undergoing the actual training as stipulated. It is therefore recommended that the custodians of strategic accountability points at the local, state and federal governments, including MDAs, should be qualified accountants, not those who got theirs by dashing. It should be those qualified accountants who went through rigorous professional accountancy training and belong to a professional accountancy body The integrity of the members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria is enforced through a disciplinary process, whereby the respondent faces an investigating panel and if found culpable appears before the disciplinary tribunal for adjudication. The final verdict of the tribunal may lead to the striking out of name from the Register of members, or suspension for a period of time, or a fine at the discretion of the tribunal. A fine may connote restitution. The disciplinary tribunal is fearless and merciless in holding on to integrity, when it comes to confronting professional misconduct. For example, a former accountant-general of the federation (AGoF), Jonah Otunla, is facing an investigating panel over the allegation of returning 6.4 billion diverted from the public coffers as part of a plea bargain not to be prosecuted. Recollecting the untold suffering of writing the ICAN examination many times to qualify and facing the stack reality that your name will be struck of members register is the greatest nightmare of a chartered accountant. It is therefore recommended that the custodians of strategic accountability points at the local, state and federal governments, including MDAs, should be qualified accountants, not those who got theirs by dashing. It should be those qualified accountants who went through rigorous professional accountancy training and belong to a professional accountancy body, whose disciplinary process punishes professional misconduct without fear or favour. Such appointment should be strictly on merit and devoid of favouritism or any partisan consideration. Innocent Okwuosa is a visiting associate professor of Accounting at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos and the first deputy vice president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He consults with Entop Consulting Ltd. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Lagos, Nigeria May 27, 2022: Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc or the Group), emerged winner in four major categories at the 12th annual Brand Africa 100: Africas Best Brands 2022 rankings of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands in Africa. The award is an initiative by Brand Africa aimed at driving Africas competitiveness and creating a positive image through strong brands with GeoPoll, the worlds leading mobile surveying platform, and Kantar, a well-respected consumer insights and data analytics company, as key technical partners. In the presentation ceremony held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, GTBank retained the number #1 spot as Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Africa, Most Admired Financial Services Brand in West Africa, and Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Nigeria for the second year in a row. GTBank also ranked as the Most Admired Nigerian Financial Services brand in recognition of its excellent positioning, strength, and reach beyond Africa. In an inaugural feature of the awards ceremony, Mr Segun Agbaje, the Group CEO of GTCO Plc, was conferred with the Africa Brand Leadership Excellence award for his pivotal role in inspiring brand-led excellence that drives the growth of Made in Africa brands and businesses and his long-standing contributions to the financial services industry. Mr Agbaje led GTBank through a decade of unparalleled growth and now oversees the Holding Company. The Group recently concluded the acquisition of key businesses in fund management and pension operating as Guaranty Trust Fund Managers Ltd and Guaranty Trust Pension Managers Ltd. ALSO READ: GTCO to pay shareholders N88 billion total dividend Commenting on the awards, Mr Segun Agbaje, said: As a leading financial services company, we are always looking for new ways to meet every customer need and to do more to help our customers and communities thrive by creating faster, cheaper, safer and products for people and businesses through every stage of life. The awards are testament to our boundless innovative capacity and the power of the Guaranty Trust brand to touch and enrich lives as a Proudly African and Truly International institution. He further stated that, As we grow and expand as a Group, we remain committed to our founding values which have endeared our brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond, and which continue to drive our financial success. We will leverage the synergies within our holding company to drive Africas growth and achieve our vision of making end-to-end financial services easily accessible to every African. GTCO Plc is a diversified financial services company with over N5.1trillion in assets, providing a wide range of banking as well as non-banking financial services in Nigeria, West Africa, East Africa, and the United Kingdom. The Groups consistent year on year growth in customer base and delivery of superior value to all stakeholders is underpinned by its strong service culture, world-class corporate governance standards, efficient management, and bias for innovation. The Group is rated B and B-/B by Fitch and S&P Global, respectively, a reflection of its long-term stability and reputation of being a well-established franchise with strong asset quality and consistent excellent financial performance. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 President Muhammadu Buharis aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad, failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest the House of Representative seat for Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency, Kano. Mr Ahmad was defeated by the incumbent member, Abdullahi Gaya, with 109 to 16 votes. Mr Ahmad had earlier written on his Facebook page that he left the venue of the primary to protect his supporters because thugs were intimidating them. As an aspirant, I left the venue of the primary election for Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency, because of the security of our majority delegates, if want to compete with the best, thugs shouldnt be part of any election, Mr Ahmad wrote. Meanwhile, Umar Ganduje, son of the governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje, won the APC ticket to contest the seat of Dawakin Tofa/Tofa/Rimingado Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Mr Ganduje emerged as the consensus candidate following the withdrawal of his opponent, Junaidu Yakubu, after a reconciliation meeting arranged by the senator representing Kano North, Barau Jibrin, and the House of Representatives member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Abubakar Bichi, just before the primary election. Also, the immediate past commissioner of rural and community development of the state, Musa Kwankwaso, won the ticket of the APC to contest Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam federal constituency. Mr Kwankwaso polled 150 votes to beat his main opponent, Hama Aware, who scored 6 votes during a primary election conducted at Islamic Centre, Kura Local Government Area. Another former commissioner of education, Sunusi Kiru, also won the APCs ticket for Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency. A copy of the election result signed by Musa Sumaila and Muhammad Arewa, chairman and secretary of the primary election committee, showed that Mr Kiru scored 140 votes to beat incumbent member Ali Yako who scored three votes. Bashir Bello had two votes. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Odianosen Okojie, husband of famous Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the 2023 elections in Esan North East/ South East federal constituency of Edo State. Mr Okojie won the primaries held in Ubiaja, Esan South East LGA., Edo State on Saturday. The 48-year-old politician picked the declaration form expression of Interest and Nomination Form to run for the office of Federal House of Representatives, Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency, in April 2022. In December 2017, Mr Okojie and several PDP supporters defected to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The hotelier turned politician is a descendant of the Okojie royal family in Uromi Esan, North-East native authority. He is from the lineage of Ogbidi Okojie, Onojie (king) of Uromi, who was a ruler of the Esan people and is renowned for his opposition to British rule. Appreciation Mr Okojie appreciated God for the win and his wifes love and support in an Instagram post on Saturday. He also shared his manifesto on his official Instagram account. He wrote, Incoming days, my team and I shall be embarking vigorously on more tours throughout all the wards of our constituency, meeting with stakeholders (both leaders and constituents) to foster and deepen the already harmonious relationship that will bring about the very best ways of meeting the dire needs of the good people of Esan North East and South East constituency. His wife also celebrated her husbands victory. Congratulations to @princeodiokojie on this win. You are a good man and a man of the people, she wrote. I am sure you will be an awesome federal representative for the good people of Esan land. The mission is now a movement. Ms Johnson is not the only actress whose husband has secured a party ticket ahead of the forthcoming elections. Ned Nwoko, the husband of Nollywood actress Reginald Daniels, also emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Delta North Senatorial District. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central), has emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State. Mr Folarin emerged candidate after polling 954 votes in the primaries held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium on Thursday in Ibadan. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Folarin, a former Senate leader, is the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content. NAN reports that the governorship primary in the state, conducted by the Tokunbo Afikuyomi-led Committee, had six other aspirants Adebayo Adelabu, Akeem Agbaje, Akeem Alao, Azeez Adeduntan and Adeniyi Akintola. NAN reports that Mr Folarin polled 954 votes, Mr Adelabu 327, Mr Agbaje 15, Mr Alao six, Mr Adeduntan two votes while Mr Akintola had no vote. There were 11 invalid votes. Abdullahi Kuso, the secretary of the committee, who doubled as the returning officer, declared Mr Folarin winner of the primary, having polled the highest number of votes. Mr Folarin, in his acceptance speech, expressed resolve to rescue Oyo State from what he called maladministration of the PDP-led government. I wholeheartedly accept my nomination as Oyo State Governorship Candidate of the APC for the 2023 general elections. First of all, I solemnly give glory to Almighty Allah for His Divine Grace that catapulted me from being an aspirant to the 2023 governorship candidate of our great party. My most sincere gratitude to the 1,755 delegates that participated in the primary elections. I pledge never to let them down, he said. He said that with their continuous cooperation, understanding and support, we shall return Oyo APC to winning ways in 2023. According to him, my nomination by majority of our party delegates has further reinforced my conviction that God and the good people of Oyo State are indeed behind my 2023 Rescue Mission. I want to state that there is no victor, no vanquished in the contest for the 2023 governorship ticket of our great party, the other aspirants are also eminently qualified to govern our dear state. Lets come together as family members to build a formidable and indivisible Oyo APC that is capable of ensuring electoral victories in 2023, he said. (NAN) WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 Officials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested two traffic robbers in different areas of the state. The police in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, said that two phones Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 12, were recovered from the suspects. Mr Hundeyin said the victims reports led to the arrest of the traffic robbers at Magodo Estate and Otedola bridge area of the state. One suspect, Korede Saheed (29) was arrested on Thursday night, while the other suspect, Yahaya Faisal (22), was arrested on Friday night, the statement read. Luck ran out on the suspects when their victims quickly reached out to RRS officers on patrol in the area. Yahaya, who was also found with different ATM cards, confessed to the police that his gang robbed in traffic between Ojodu-Berger and Otedola Bridge. The police said the commissioner has directed the Commander of RRS, Olayinka Egbeyemi, to transfer the suspects and exhibits to the CPs special squad for further investigation that would lead to the arrest of other fleeing gang members and their eventual prosecution. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 An aspirant for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), AbdulAhmed Mustapha, has expressed displeasure at the just concluded gubernatorial primary in Lagos State. Mr Mustapha, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, said he was prevented from accessing the venue of the primaries on the day of the event. I was turned back at the gate of Onikan Stadium along with my agents despite introducing myself as a gubernatorial aspirant to the security men on duty, Mr Mustapha said. Efforts to get the State and National Officials were not successful until I was finally able to reach Dr. Mohammed Bashir. R (Lagos Committee Secretary) who surprisingly claimed that I was not cleared to participate in the election. This information was news to me as I was hearing it for the first time. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was the only aspirant cleared by the partys electoral committee. Mr Mustapha and Wale Oluwo, the third aspirant, were disqualified. The governor polled 1,170 votes to emerge as the winner of the primaries held at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos. Read Mr Mustaphas statement below: RE: ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION HELD ON THE 26TH DAY OF MAY, 2022 AT MOBOLAJI JOHNSON ARENA (ONIKAN STADIUM) LAGOS STATE. DELIBERATE EXCLUSION FROM THE NOMINATION PROCESS I, AHMED OLORUNFEMI MUSTAPHA (LAGOS STATE GUBERNATORIAL ASPIRANT) *wish* to express my displeasure at the just concluded gubernatorial primary in Lagos State. Let me state the facts of the matter first before my comments. On the 10th day of May, 2022, I purchased the Expression of interest and Nomination forms to contest the Lagos State Gubernatorial seat which was completed and submitted on the 11th day of May, 2022 (Within the time frame allowed to do so). I was also screened satisfactorily on Saturday the 14th day of May 2022 at Fraser Suites, Abuja by the Partys inaugurated Committee. I have no doubt that I met all the screening criteria as contained in the Partys guidelines, the Partys Constitution, the Electoral law, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The screening report was scheduled to be published not later than Sunday 15th May 2022. I protested via a letter dated the 24th of May 2022 on the non-publication of the screening report which was not done before the gubernatorial congress of 26th May 2022. I had the impression that all was well and continued with my consultations on ward to ward basis in the State. My profile during the consultation increased exponentially amongst delegates, party faithful, and the good people of Lagos State at large. I made several efforts at getting the details of the process at the National and the State Party headquarters but all efforts met brick walls. Specifically, I submitted a letter to the State Chairmans Office in Lagos and also, the National Chairmans Office on the 25th day of May 2022 for the following materials; 1. GUBERNATORIAL ASPIRANTS TAG. 2. LIST OF STATE DELEGATES 3. LIST OF LAGOS STATE GUBERNATORIAL ASPIRANTS CLEARED TO CONTEST. 4. GUIDELINES FOR 2023 ELECTIONS. 5. AGENTS TAG FOR ALL WARDS. None of the details requested nor materials listed *were* made available to me. I now believe the silence and elusion was deliberate and calculated to technically shut me out of the race and trample upon my rights with gross impunity. On getting to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, through speculations on the 26th day of May 2022, I was turned back at the gate of Onikan Stadium along with my Agents despite introducing myself as a Gubernatorial Aspirant to the security men on duty. Efforts to get the State and National Officials were not successful until I was finally able to reach Dr. Mohammed Bashir. R (Lagos Committee Secretary) who surprisingly claimed that I was not CLEARED to participate in the election. This information was news to me as I was hearing it for the first time. Even though the arrangement shown on TV gave the impression that there are 3 gubernatorial aspirants to deceive the public, the purported disqualification was only announced at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, and was thereafter published by several news media on the selection rather than election of the sole candidate schemed for, by the Party Officials. I have raised an appeal despite the difficulties encountered along the process. I have reasons to believe that I, with the other aspirant were deliberately shut out to give the Party chieftains aspirant the opportunity to emerge despite being an incumbent Governor. The process and actions taken by the National and the State Officers violated all relevant laws of the land and amounted to a gross abuse of power as well as breach of the trust of members of our great Party which had been vested in the Party Officials at the State and National levels. I strongly request that the exercise as carried out be nullified and a fresh exercise be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner in the State. The All Progressives Congress is a beacon of truth and hope for us and future generations. It should not and must not be seen as condoning such high-level impunity in its operation. It is my firm belief that the right step would be taken by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Finally, I wish to implore our teeming supporters and well-wishers to remain calm while we explore all the necessary party mechanism to redress these glaring irregularities. I thank you all. Abdul-Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha Gubernatorial Aspirant WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 YEREVAN, MAY 28, ARMENPRESS. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan visited the "Broken Church" memorial in Vanadzor together with the Governor of Lori Aram Khachatryan, MPs Arpi Davoyan, Armen Khachatryan, as well as the acting Mayor of Vanadzor Arkady Peleshyan on the occasion of the Republic Day, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Offic eof the Deputy Prime Minister. After the requiem service delivered by Bishop Hovnan Hakobyan. Primate of the Diocese of Gougark, the Deputy Prime Minister delivered a speech, saying, "Your Holiness, Dear compatriots, Dear citizens of Vanadzor, About a century ago, during these days, when everything seemed to be lost and there was no way out, thank to the glory of the brave Armenians, despair turned into inspiration, as a result of which we had the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash-Aparan and Gharakilisa. Glory and honor to all the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the salvation of the homeland, fought for statehood. And today, on May 28, it is a great honor for me to be present and participate in this ceremony dedicated to the heroic battle of Gharakilisa and to pray to God for the peace of the souls of our martyrs. Much time has passed, but the challenges and the formula for facing them have not changed, that is, unity, will and faith. I think that due to this trinity and tireless work we will have a strong and unbreakable army, a strong state. long live the Republic of Armenia, Long live the heroes of all time, Congratulations to all of us on the Republic Day." After MP Arpi Davoyan's welcoming speech, Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan laid a wreath at the memorial to the heroes of the Gharakilisa battle and paid tribute to their memory. Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has condemned the killing of a pregnant woman, her four children, and others in Anambra State. He said this in a statement titled Drawing the red-line on infanticide sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday. We must begin somewhere, draw a line however individual and limited. I totally repudiate the killing of guests, of the unarmed, of innocents, the vulnerable, indeed, the murder of humanity, he said. Mr Soyinka wondered how such a crime could be perpetrated by a human. The anticipated question surfaced again and again: What kind of mind is capable of such bestiality? And yet it happens, again and again, he said. We know who these killers are, they live among us. Some yet-to-be identified gunmen had killed the pregnant woman, Harira Jubril, and her four children in Anambra State. Sometimes I undergo the feeling that I actually know them, that I have encountered them, have heard them, and perhaps even read them, Mr Soyinka said. He said that the perpetrators of such a crime should be denounced and exposed to prevent a recurrence. Read Mr Soyinkas full speech below: Drawing the red-lime on imfanticide So, it has happened! No one can claim it was nowhere fearfully expected, but one dared hope that the ugly, abominable word reprisal would remain locked down within the dark pit of primitivism hidden in the Nigerian psyche. I decided to edit out the warning expression of that fear from my recent Abuja statement this was a concession to a superstitious fear, that giving it voice could set off the zombie trigger in the homicidally inclined. Then of course one would be held responsible for inserting the notion in the heads of others. We all know however that these retarded minds are ever present among us, and only await the most trivial excuse to actualize their innermost craving. From the pronouncements of even those who claim to be men of God, we are left in no doubt that such craving receives endorsement from across the human spectrum. Where they cannot act, they incite others to fulfill their credo of morbidity. The horror that was recently afflicted on the people of Anambra and the rest of us was redoubled for me personally because the news reached me outside the country while I was participating in an event of youth empowerment a college graduation ceremony. The anticipated question surfaced again and again: What kind of mind is capable of such bestiality? And yet it happens, again and again. We know who these killers are, they live among us. Sometimes I undergo the feeling that I actually know them, that I have encountered them, have heard them and perhaps even read them. And we know that unless they are pre-emptively denounced and exposed, they will strike and strike again. Their actions reduce us all, tarnish us, and question our humanity. At the Abuja event, exactly a week ago, I proposed the need to develop the collective sense of a Lowest Common Denominator in the seizure of our humanity. Any act that attempts to drag us below, or remove that rung of the human ladder should be answered by a total community shutdown or other equivalence of its own accord, until that rung is fully reclaimed. The Anambra infanticidal orgy is one such. Deborah Samuels mob immolation was another. Response to such abominations transcends the mandatory functions of security agencies. The act constitutes a breach in community ramparts and should be answered by collective action. Again, I insist that it is long past time to move beyond pious denunciations essential, yes, but insufficient. We simply must devise ways of making our revulsion so stark, unambiguous, and inclusive. Only then will such pollutants of civic consciousness be brought to rethink, come to understand that it is not just the immediate family, friends and colleagues whose humanity is thus violated, but the totality of cohabitants. I admitted, in Abuja, that I nearly cancelled that engagement as an expression of that revulsion, and in solidarity with the bereaved. In the end, I decided that this would not be the right gesture. It so happens that I also have an engagement in Anambra, at a school where, for all I know, the children of Mr. Jibril Ahmed were enrolled, or would soon be enrolled, a sanctuary of learning for the one yet in the womb of the murdered Harira. It need not have been that very institution, but it is to just such a place of creative formation that they were all innately predetermined. Collective action is not always easy to come by except of course by coercion, which is what we are witnessing in the activities of militant groups in the East. That, however, is not the issue, this being a crossroads that the Anambra people will navigate themselves. The cold-blooded murder of guests in our home is however not merely a national issue but a violation of the much touted values of the black race. We must begin somewhere, draw a line however individual and limited. I totally repudiate the killing of guests, of the unarmed, of innocents , the vulnerable, indeed, the murder of humanity. This time, I believe the decision is right, the moment is compelling. In empathy with those innocents whose scholastic careers have been so brutally annulled, I serve notice of cancellation of that engagement with the Anambra school, scheduled for August. The deaths of those innocents cannot be reversed, but we must begin, even yesterday, the process of reversing the mental trajectory that makes death from innocence the current norm of national existence. WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023 For the second consecutive year with the event, Hyundai will be donating $50,000 to Folds of Honor to provide scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. "We've been a proud partner of the National Salute to America's Heroes since its debut in 2017," said Angela Zepeda, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America. "Everyone at Hyundai shares the utmost respect and appreciation for the contributions of the men and women in our nation's armed services. This partnership is part of Hyundai's long-term commitment to supporting the U.S. military and honoring America's greatest heroes." "Thanks to the support of Hyundai, we are able to create a family-friendly event that honors and pays its respects to the men and women of our military and first responders," said Mickey Markoff, executive producer, Hyundai Air & Sea Show. "There is no better time than Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to our military, first responders, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our freedom." National Salute to America's Heroes Event Details The National Salute to America's Heroes is anchored by the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, The Greatest Show Above the Earth, showcasing the men, women, technology and equipment of all five branches of the U.S. military, police, firefighter and first responder agencies. The Hyundai Air & Sea Show begins each day at 11 a.m. with sea demonstrations by professional jet skiers, ThunderCats boat races and the Cigarette Offshore Powerboat Racing Demonstration which will showcase 10 state-of-the-art cigarette boats. After the sea portion, look to the sky to witness state-of-the-art U.S. military technology including parachute teams, jet demonstrations, and search and rescue exercises. The Memorial Day weekend event also includes the Music Explosion presented by Hyundai on the sands of Miami Beach featuring the international rock band, 3 Doors Down, taking the stage at 8pm on Saturday, May 28. The Music Explosion kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with the U.S. Army's: "As You Were" Band and the U.S. Air Force "Max Impact" Band. A special night pyro-parachute demonstration by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will kick off the spectacular Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association fireworks extravaganza following the concert. Experiential activations are centered at Lummus Park, spanning more than four city blocks on 11th and 14th Streets on Ocean Drive and will include the Hyundai Hangar, a patriotically inspired consumer lounge honoring the military and first responders. The Hyundai Hangar, located between 12th and 13th Street, will feature a collaborative chalkboard memorial wall for messages to family and friends who have served and other interactive activities and themed giveaways. Hyundai will also have several other activations communicating its built in the U.S. story and eight vehicle displays staged throughout the area featuring a specially-wrapped Hyundai Tucson, Santa Cruz , Santa Fe and Palisade honoring the branches of the military and first responders. The National Salute to America's Heroes presented by Hyundai debuted in 2017 along the shores of Miami Beach to a daily crowd of more than 100,000 spectators. The 2022 nationally recognized event is expected to be even more thrilling, with a larger spectator viewing area and a free-to-the-public Display Village, Action Zone and Kids Zone, all located between 11th and 14th Streets along Ocean Drive, which will include interactive displays from military service branches and corporate partners. For additional information, please visit https://usasalute.com/. Hyundai's Military Support Hyundai shows its support for the U.S. Military through a dedicated internal employee resource group called Stars and Stripes. In addition, Hyundai's Veteran Employment Transition program actively recruits military veterans for Hyundai dealership parts and service positions. The success of this program and others have led to Hyundai being named a 2022 VETS Indexes Recognized Employer, a 2022 Military Friendly Employer from VIQTORY (an honor Hyundai has received nine times) and has been recognized as being one of the Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies by U.S. Veterans Magazine. Hyundai also offers a $500 incentive to military and first responders on all its vehicles. For additional details, please visit Hyundai Military Program and Hyundai First Responders Program. National Salute to America's Heroes The National Salute to America's Heroes presented by Hyundai is a nationwide two-day celebration held on Miami Beach, Florida, featuring the Hyundai Air & Sea Show, Music Explosion presented by Hyundai, and 365 Salute initiative. Held Memorial Day weekend, the National Salute to America's Heroes presented by Hyundai focuses on paying tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and honoring the military and first responders who protect the freedoms of all Americans. For more information, please visit www.USAsalute.com. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn ### SOURCE Hyundai Motor America Reversal of Point Molate development costs city millions and loss of community benefits City faces lawsuits that will adversely affect the general fund RICHMOND, Calif., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 24, the Richmond city council voted to deny Winehaven Legacy, LLC, a special purpose entity of Irvine-based developer, Suncal, the right to develop the former Pointe Molate Naval Fuel Depot. The deal would have added over $22.5 million to the general fund, ensured substantial environmental cleanup, rehabilitated the Winehaven Historic District, and expanded the beach park, while providing over 4,000 jobs. Initially inked in 2020, the contract would have also preserved more than 70% of the property as open space and paid the Guidiville Tribe and its developer, Upstream Point Malote, LLC, an additional $22.5 million. The property will now be sold to the Guidiville Tribe for only $400 with no payment to the City's general fund. The Navy deeded the original property to the City of Richmond with the understanding that Richmond would oversee its clean-up and would develop the area for beneficial use. The City first agreed to sell the land to Upstream and the Guidiville Tribe. After years of effort by Upstream and the Tribe, the City refused to approve their project. The Tribe and Upstream sued. The City settled that lawsuit to avoid a costly verdict against it. In the settlement, the City was given one more chance to make productive use of Point Molate and serve the community's interests. The City was given a period of time to find a developer and sell the developable areas of the property to it. Winehaven was chosen, and struck a $45 million deal with Richmond, which the City of Richmond would split with Upstream and Guidiville. This proposal included a commitment to deliver over 1400 new homes, rehabilitate the historic buildings, bring in local development jobs and create recreational access to an area that has long been fenced off and unavailable for public use. To ensure that the project would be successful, Winehaven worked closely with city staff on the project and negotiated a Disposition and Development Agreement and a Development Agreement that included a preliminary financing plan for the construction of the project. These documents also obligated the City to work with Winehaven to make the project successful. The City Council approved these documents in September 2020. In 2021, the new City Council claimed that the agreed-upon financing plan was inadequate, suggesting it would put the City's general fund at risk. City Councilmember Claudia Jimenez, admitted at the hearing the real reason they were preventing the project. She said "we don't want a high-end housing project" at Pointe Molate, indicating the true reason for the change in project support. "The new City Council and its law firm, Aleshire and Wynder, had no good faith basis to prevent the deal from moving forward," said a Winehaven spokesperson who noted that the claim that the project would adversely impact the City's general fund was patently false. Guidiville and Upstream will now get the developable areas of the 270 acre Pointe Molate property for only $400 with no payment to the City's general fund. This has caused yet another lawsuit against the city, putting the general fund at risk, and denying the City of Richmond a rehabilitated Historic District, open space trails, and shoreline park that could have been a destination for the entire Bay Area. SOURCE SunCal Request a Sample Report to know about the contribution of each segment of the environmental disinfection robot market Frequently Asked Questions: What are the major trends in the market? Innovations in deployment models are a trend in the market. Innovations in deployment models are a trend in the market. What are the key market drivers and challenges? Changes in cleaning protocols to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are driving the environmental disinfection robot market growth. However, factors such as the threat from alternative products may challenge the market growth. Changes in cleaning protocols to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are driving the environmental disinfection robot market growth. However, factors such as the threat from alternative products may challenge the market growth. How big is the North American market? 61% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. 61% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. What was the year-over-year growth rate of the market in 2021? The year-over-year growth rate of the market in 2021 was 42.67%. Environmental Disinfection Robot Market 2021-2025: Scope The environmental disinfection robot market report covers the following areas: Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at just USD 5000. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights Environmental Disinfection Robot Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Blue Ocean Robotics, Ecolab Inc., Finsen Technologies Ltd., Mediland Enterprise Corp., Professional Disposables International Inc., Steriliz LLC, STERIS Plc, Surfacide, The Clorox Co., and Xenex Disinfection Services LLC are some of the major market participants. View our Sample Now to learn more about major vendors and their key offerings in the environmental disinfection robot market Environmental Disinfection Robot Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist environmental disinfection robot market growth during the next five years Estimation of the environmental disinfection robot market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the environmental disinfection robot market across North America , Europe , APAC, MEA, and South America , , APAC, MEA, and Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of environmental disinfection robot market vendors We offer customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our analyst to gain access to a customized report based on your requirements. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. Related Reports: Centrifugal Compressor Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 High-temperature Filters Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Environmental Disinfection Robot Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 40.53% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 7.71 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 42.67 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 61% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, China, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Blue Ocean Robotics, Ecolab Inc., Finsen Technologies Ltd., Mediland Enterprise Corp., Professional Disposables International Inc., Steriliz LLC, STERIS Plc, Surfacide, The Clorox Co., and Xenex Disinfection Services LLC 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 Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 01: Parent market Exhibit 02: Market characteristics 2.2 Value chain analysis Exhibit 03: Value Chain Analysis: Agricultural and Farm Machinery Market 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 05: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2020 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ million) Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of buyers 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 10: Bargaining power of suppliers 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 11: Threat of new entrants 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 12: Threat of substitutes 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 13: Threat of rivalry 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 14: Market condition - Five forces 2020 5 Market Segmentation by Technology 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 15: Technology - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Technology Exhibit 16: Comparison by Technology 5.3 UV-C - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 17: UV-C - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 18: UV-C - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.4 HPV - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 19: HPV - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 20: HPV - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Technology Exhibit 21: Market opportunity by Technology 6 Customer landscape 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 23: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 24: Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 25: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 26: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 27: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 28: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 29: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 30: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.6 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 31: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 32: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 33: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million) Exhibit 34: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.8 Key leading countries Exhibit 35: Key leading countries 7.9 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges Exhibit 37: Impact of drivers and challenges 8.3 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview Exhibit 38: Vendor landscape 9.2 Landscape disruption Exhibit 39: Landscape disruption Exhibit 40: Industry risks 9.3 Competitive Scenario 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 41: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 42: Market positioning of vendors 10.3 Blue Ocean Robotics 10.4 Ecolab Inc. Exhibit 47: Ecolab Inc. - Overview Exhibit 48: Ecolab Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 49: Ecolab Inc. Key news Exhibit 50: Ecolab Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 51: Ecolab Inc. - Segment focus 10.5 Finsen Technologies Ltd. Exhibit 52: Finsen Technologies Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 53: Finsen Technologies Ltd. - Product and service Exhibit 54: Finsen Technologies Ltd. - Key offerings 10.6 Mediland Enterprise Corp. Exhibit 55: Mediland Enterprise Corp. - Overview Exhibit 56: Mediland Enterprise Corp. - Product and service Exhibit 57: Mediland Enterprise Corp. - Key offerings 10.7 Professional Disposables International Inc. Exhibit 58: Professional Disposables International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 59: Professional Disposables International Inc. - Product and service Exhibit 60: Professional Disposables International Inc. - Key offerings 10.8 Steriliz LLC Exhibit 61: Steriliz LLC - Overview Exhibit 62: Steriliz LLC - Product and service Exhibit 63: Steriliz LLC - Key offerings 10.9 STERIS Plc Exhibit 64: STERIS Plc - Overview Exhibit 65: STERIS Plc - Business segments Exhibit 66: STERIS Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 67: STERIS Plc - Segment focus 10.10 Surfacide Exhibit 68: Surfacide - Overview Exhibit 69: Surfacide - Product and service Exhibit 70: Surfacide - Key offerings 10.11 The Clorox Co. Exhibit 71: The Clorox Co. - Overview Exhibit 72: The Clorox Co. - Business segments Exhibit 73: The Clorox Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 74: The Clorox Co. - Segment focus 10.12 Xenex Disinfection Services LLC Exhibit 75: Xenex Disinfection Services LLC - Overview Exhibit 76: Xenex Disinfection Services LLC - Product and service Exhibit 77: Xenex Disinfection Services LLC - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 78: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.3 Research methodology Exhibit 79: Research Methodology Exhibit 80: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 81: Information sources 11.4 List of abbreviations Exhibit 82: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. 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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 Dr. Sharief's statement is made in light of the Miami Herald Report that revealed Ulvert's ties to the nation of Qatar. MIRAMAR, Fla., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Broward County Mayor Dr. Barbara Sharief expressed her shock at the Miami Herald report's revelation that Christian Ulvert, a political strategist working for both Lauren Book's campaign and the Florida Senate Victory Fund is also employed by the country of Qatar a nation with one of the worst human rights records in the world. Sharief said, "Qatar has no respect for workers' rights. They have forbidden their one million migrant workers from organizing into labor unions. Ulvert's other clients, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Laborers International Union of North America, should be troubled by this, and should be re-thinking their association with him." Dr. Sharief also pointed out that Jewish groups in Broward County should be horrified by Book's decision to hire Ulvert because Qatar does not recognize Israel as a nation and will not allow direct flights from Israel to land in Qatari airports. She continued, "As someone who supposedly works on behalf of the Democratic Party and their interests, it is unconscionable that Christian Ulvert would take money from Qatar, whose policies stand in direct opposition to Democratic values. This is a nation that does not recognize LGBT rights, punishing those in the LGBT community with sentences of up to seven years in prison. They also have a horrible women's rights record, only allowing abortions with the approval of a panel of three doctors and have instituted draconian laws that only allow women to marry, travel, and attend school with a male guardian's approval. Throughout my time in office, I have fought hard for LGBT rights, and for women's rights, and have been endorsed by most of the leading LGBT organizations in South Florida." Sharief concluded, "We must take a stand against bigotry. It is not ok to support women, or the LGBT community, in America while not having their backs overseas. That is why I am calling for Lauren Book to do the right thing today. I also ask that state senators Janet Cruz, Jason Pizzo, and the Florida Senate Victory Fund sever ties with Christian Ulvert. He has chosen money over our Democratic values. We as party leaders must stand up for what is right, or we are no better than Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party." Dr. Barbara Sharief is a former Miramar City Commissioner and Broward County Commissioner, and was the first African American Women to serve as Broward County Mayor. She is currently running for election as Florida State Senator for District 35, which encompasses much of the area she formerly represented as commissioner. For press inquiries, contact [email protected], or (954) 593-8826. ShariefforFlorida.com SOURCE Sharief for Florida PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Whiting Petroleum Corp. ("Whiting") (NYSE: WLL) on behalf of the company's current shareholders. On March 7, 2022, Whiting announced that it had entered into an agreement to combine with Oasis Petroleum Inc. ("Oasis"). According to the announcement, Whiting shareholders are expected to receive 0.5774 shares of Oasis common stock and $6.25 in cash for each share of Whiting common stock currently owned. The investigation seeks to determine whether Whiting and/or the company's representatives violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties to investors by failing to maximize the buyout price for the Company's shareholders, and whether Whiting has properly disclosed all potential conflicts of interest to its shareholders. Whiting shareholders who wish to protect their investment are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 0750, or by email ([email protected]) or online at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/whiting-petroleum-corp/ , for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about the firm please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. CONTACT: D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. Adrienne Bell, Esq. KASKELA LAW LLC 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (484) 229 0750 (888) 715 1740 www.kaskelalaw.com SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) shot up 55% this week to 6.8p after it was granted US patents protecting two key assets. The assets are POLB 001, a potential flu treatment, and POLB 002, a nasal spray for virus infections. The additional US patent protection of POLB 001 and POLB 002 is an important step in the commercialisation of these novel infectious disease products, said Poolbeg chief executive, Jeremy Skillington. Elsewhere in the medical sector, ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY) saw its shares soar after the US Food and Drug Administration approved a blood diagnostics device developed by the AIM-listed company 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. Later in the week, the company highlighted new research that indicates its Parsortix harvesting technology captured circulating lung cancer cells in frozen as well as fresh blood samples. Italys National Cancer Institute of Milan undertook a study on advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and sarcoma patients with the results published in the Clinical Chemistry journal. It was by any measure a good week for the liquid biopsy specialist, which saw its share rise 45% to 143.5p. On to the software sector and Pelatro PLC (AIM:PTRO), which describes itself as a precision marketing software specialist; its shares were up precisely 38.7% on the week after the company slashed its full-year adjusted loss to half a cent from 5.5 cents in 2020. The loss before tax narrowed to US$666,000 from 2.1mln the year before. SEED Innovations Ltd (AIM:SEED, OTC:FFRIF) said its portfolio company Fralis LLC, trading as Leap Gaming, has been granted a content supply license by the UK Gaming Commission (UKGC). SEED, the AIM-quoted investor with a focus on medical cannabis, health and wellbeing, has roughly 4.7mln invested in Leap, representing 43.75% of the Israeli company. "We feel this key milestone was critical before any liquidity event for Leap's shareholders, said Ed McDermott, the chief executive of SEED. Newmark Security PLC (AIM:NWT), a provider of electronic and physical security systems, hit the comeback trail with its year-end trading update. We are delivering on our targets for revenue growth and cost management initiatives whilst focusing on our new product pipeline that provides us with the ability to offer complete solutions to our clients continuously, said Maurice Dwek, the chair of Newmark. The companys shares rose 27% on the week to 37.5p after the company confirmed year-on-year revenue growth in the year to the end of April 2022. The shares are now close to the 41p level they were at in January before the shares fell off a clip following the half-year results. In the ever excitable resources sector, Cornish Metals Inc (AIM:CUSN, TSX-V:CUSN, OTC:SBWFF) jumped 29% to 23.75p after it closed its previously announced 40.5mln fundraising. "The completion of this financing allows Cornish Metals to push ahead with the dewatering of the mine and delivery of a feasibility study in order to make a production decision for the South Crofty tin project, said Cornish Metals chief executive Richard Williams. The top faller this week was Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd, which plunged 31% to 89p after a proposed 482mln takeover and US$100mln fundraising hit the buffers. The group said it had received a letter from proposed acquirer Brickell - controlled by Miami-based investment group 777 Partners - alleging that it was in breach of certain obligations under the terms of the deal. As a result, Brickell said it was exercising its right to terminate the offer immediately. Randall said it did not agree it had breached the terms or that Brickell could make that move. Brickell owns 23.2% of Randall but only controls voting rights over 9.9% but that is still enough to cause problems if Brickell votes against the insurance groups proposed equity fundraising. DCD Media Plc (AIM:DCD) lost 30% of its value after it announced plans to delist. This was on the cards after the company sold the bulk of its businesses and assets to 108 Media late last year. Morses Club PLC (AIM:MCL), the struggling doorstep lender, hit the skids again after it said its full-year results, which had been scheduled for release this month, will now be announced no later than 26 August 2022. The company gave no reason for the delay and as usual, the market suspected the worst. On the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the Day of the First Republic of Armenia, Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan sent a congratulatory message. "Dear compatriots, Today, on the occasion of the Day of the First Republic of Armenia, I would like to convey words of congratulations and best wishes to the whole Armenian people, all our sisters and brothers in Mother Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. At different stages of our centuries-old history, we have had to face the same challenges, to encounter the same trials, to go through the same difficulties. And, despite the heavy blows of fate, we have always been able to find strength in ourselves to continue living, silently healing incurable wounds, rebuilding our ruined home and hearth again and again, developing our homeland and country. This is evidenced by the heroic battles of Sardarapat, Bash Aparan and Gharakilisa and as a result, the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia, which at that time seemed an unrealistic dream for the Armenian people who had survived the Genocide. The 44-day Artsakh war has once again put us in front of hardest tasks. We faced the imperative to defend our basic rights over and over, which were again grossly violated by Azerbaijan, to unite on that path, to combine everyone's efforts and potential, to solve national problems by common efforts. A strong national state is the guarantee and guarantor of the existence of the whole Armenian people. This is the important lesson of the First Republic of Armenia, this is the message of our holy martyrs who carved heroic victories in the course historical battles, which should be an inviolable guideline for every Armenian. Hence, each of us is obliged to do everything in our power for the sake of strengthening the Armenian sovereignty, the eternal and uninterrupted existence of the Armenian people." Los Angeles, May 28 : Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, were injured in a shooting at a graduation ceremony in Honolulu, the capital city of US' Hawaii, local media reported, citing the police. The boy was hospitalised in critical condition and two other victims were in serious condition, Xinhua news agency reported, citing KITV television station. The incident occurred at Thomas Square, a city park, a little before 9 p.m. local time on Thursday. Witnesses told the news outlet that fireworks were being lit off while families and young people gathered in groups in the park. Graduation celebrations had kicked off earlier in the evening. A witness described the pandemonium as the crowd scattered, seeing a young man open fire near the park where families and groups of young people were celebrating. Witnesses said a lot of people were trying to run away from the area after hearing the gunshots, another local news outlet, Hawaii News Now, reported. Local news outlets said three suspects in connection to the shooting had been arrested by Honolulu police. Baghdad, May 28 : Three militants of the Islamic State (IS) group were killed in a clash with paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a Hashd Shaabi statement said. The clash occurred on Friday during an operation by the Hashd Shaabi forces to hunt down IS militants in the desert area of Wadi Huran west of the provincial capital Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the statement. The IS militants are still active in the vast Anbar desert that stretches to the Iraqi borders with neighboring countries of Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. They are infiltrating Iraq from Syria across the nearly 600-km border in an attempt to regroup again. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have conducted operations across the country against the IS militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has been improving since 2017. However, the IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against the security forces and civilians. Kiev, May 28 : Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that he had discussed military support for Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "Heavy weapons on top of our agenda, and more are coming our way," Kuleba tweeted after the conversation. Kuleba said he appreciated Blinken's personal efforts to ensure a sustained US and global support for Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported. The issue of Ukraine's food exports was also discussed at the talks, Kuleba said. Earlier in the day, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing foreign media, reported that the US is preparing to send Ukraine advanced long-range rocket systems. On May 9, US President Joe Biden signed into law the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022. The document allows the US government to lend or lease war supplies, such as weapons, military equipment, medicines and food, to Ukraine. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Dublin, May 28 : The Irish government has revealed that there were 10,049 homeless people as of the week ending April 24, an increase of 224 people compared to a month ago. This is the first time that the number of homeless people in the country has crossed over the 10,000-mark since February 2020, Xinhua news agency reported. Latest data from Ireland's national statistics bureau CSO showed that the residential property prices in the country increased by 15.2 per cent in March this year compared with a year ago. The CSO figures also showed that since early 2013 the residential property prices in Ireland have more than doubled. In Dublin, home prices have risen nearly 123 per cent from February 2012 when the local property market crashed to its lowest point in the wake of the international financial crisis around 2007. House rents in Ireland were almost 12 per cent higher in the first three months of this year compared with a year earlier, said Daft.ie, Ireland's largest property website. In a statement on Friday, the Department of Housing said that the growing number of homeless people is a serious concern and it is trying every means to address the problem. The Department added that the government provided 9,183 new social homes in 2021, an increase of 17 per cent over 2020, and that it will deliver 11,800 social homes this year. "People are getting evicted from properties either because the landlord is selling up, or because they've fallen behind in their rent...", Mike Allen of Focus Ireland told the national radio and television broadcaster RTE. Allen is a member of the management team of Focus Ireland, a Dublin-based nonprofit organization which provides services for homeless people in Ireland. He called on the government to do something immediately to keep people in their homes while in the long run building more homes. Houston, May 28 : Former US President Donald Trump said that the Washington government should prioritise funding for school security in the country rather than sending aid to the war-torn Ukraine. Trump made the remarks on Friday at the National Rifle Association's (NRA) ongoing three-day annual convention in Houston, which comes just three days after the deadly shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. Addressing thousands of supporters, the former President said: "We spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and got nothing for it. Before we nation-build the rest of the world, we should be building safe schools for our own children in our own nation." Trump also rejected calls for tightened gun controls, saying decent Americans should be allowed firearms to defend themselves against "evil", the BBC reported. He instead proposed a "top-to-bottom overhaul" of school safety, with fortified single points of entry including metal detectors and at least one armed police officer on every campus, and also accused Democrats of stonewalling such security measures. The former President also read out the names of the Uvalde shooting victims, with each marked by a bell toll. In his speech, Trump also called to "drastically change our approach to mental health". The annual convention of the NRA, the country's most powerful gun lobby group, is taking place after a two-year Covid-induced hiatus. In the wake of the Uvalde massacre, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, both Republicans, have cancelled their in-person appearance at the convention, reports Xinhua news agency. The Governor is expected to address the convention "through pre-recorded video". "While a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all those suffering in Uvalde," Patrick said on Friday. Meanwhile, protests have been planned against the event. Friday witnessed hundreds of protesters outside the convention venue holding signs saying "NRA kill kids", "protect children not guns" and held crosses and photos of shooting victims. In a statement, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged participants to "remain peaceful out of respect to the families of the 19 children and two teachers killed in their classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde". The City of Houston is aware that several organisations have planned demonstrations near the convention centre, and the Houston Police Department and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have a public safety plan, Turner was quoted as saying in the statement. The NRA convention is expected to draw 55,000 attendees, who are prohibited from bringing "firearms, firearm accessories, knives, and other items", including backpacks and selfie sticks. The gun lobby group, currently has over 5 million members. The US has witnessed at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. As of Tuesday when the Uvalde school shooting occurred, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the US this year. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, paid tribute to Veer Savarkar, the Hindu ideologue, on his birth anniversary by sharing a video. Sharing a statement by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Veer Savarkar in his voice, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Respectful tribute to Veer Savarkar, the hardworking son of Mother Bharati, on his birth anniversary." Expressing his feelings about Savarkar in the video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a worshiper of both weapons and scriptures, saying that people generally know him for his bravery and his struggle against the British Raj, but apart from that, he was a brilliant poet. He was also social reformers who always emphasized on harmony and unity. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered Savarkar for his unique contribution to the freedom movement and his efforts to remove untouchability from the society. Amit Shah tweeted, "Many tributes to the symbol of nationalism, Veer Savarkar, on his birth anniversary. Savarkar ji's life is an excellent example of how one can live for the country. His life will continue to inspire and give us strength." Shah further said, Veer Savarkar's unmatched contribution to the freedom movement and his efforts to remove untouchability from the society can never be forgotten. New Delhi, May 28 : The Income Tax Department (ITD) is conducting search operations on the premises of the Shree Anandhaas group of hotels in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, in connection with an alleged tax evasion case, sources said on Saturday. The searches are being conducted at more than 40 placed including Vasavalli, Lakshmi Mill and Gandhipuram. The teams of IT officials started the search operation early Saturday morning which is still on. As of now no official statement has been released by the IT department in this respect. Shree Anandhaas group also has not given any quote in the matter. Details are awaited. Thiruvananthapuram, May 28 : If anyone wondered why there has been no controversy after the announcement of the 2021 Kerala State Film Awards then they are mistaken, as less than 24 hours it has surfaced after those associated with the hugely popular film 'Home' alleged the jury headed by veteran director Sayyed Akhtar Mirza might not even have seen the film. The fears of those who said this is attributed to the fact that the film was produced by actor-producer Vijay Babu, presently on the run after being accused of raping a young actress. The fresh lid of this controversy was opened by veteran actor Indrans who played the title role in the film and a previous state award-winning actor expressed doubts if the jury has seen the film, as all who saw it have said it's really good. "Maybe the jury would not have seen the film. I expected that the film would do well at the screening of the awards, but it has not happened. Maybe the issue of Babu being the producer of the film might have been there," said Indrans who won the Best actor award in 2018. "Is it good to punish all members in a family , if one member has done a wrong. Ok, now Babu is accused, what will happen if he is exonerated. Will the film then be considered, no?" said Indrans. Manju Pillai who played a prominent role in the film also expressed her sadness that the film failed to shine as expected, when the awards was announced. Rojin Thomas the young director of the film said all expected that the film will do well, but it failed to do so, when the awards were announced. "But, the moment it was known our film did not win any awards, my phone has not stopped ringing as numerous people called me and comforted me. I feel this is the biggest award that I got," said Thomas. But Mirza reacting to this dismissed the statement that the jury has not seen the film as nothing but ridiculous. "Every single member of the jury has seen this film and never did this film in any segment come to the last round," said Mirza. Youth Congress president Shafi Parambil, also a legislator alleged the role of the government in denying 'Home' an award has surfaced and it even deserves an Oscar. Imphal, May 27 : More than two years after closure of the India-Myanmar trade, the bilateral business through Manipur's Moreh-Tamu border would resume soon, officials said on Friday. The official trade through the crates of tomatoes and 15 pouches of capsicum were stolen from a wholesale market in Gurugram early on Friday, police said. Gurugram, May 27 (IANS) Amid a sharp rise in vegetable prices, 10 sacks of lemon, 35 crates of tomatoes and 15 pouches of capsicum were stolen from a wholesale market in Gurugram early on Friday, police said. According to police, the incident took place on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Driver Sandeep, a resident of Charkhi Dadri, had informed the police that on Thursday night, he stored the vegetables inside shop no-64 at Khandsa market but the next morning, he found that the shop shutter was half-open and some of the stock missing. He said that the rise in prices of vegetables and lemons could be the reason behind the theft. The stock was worth Rs 60,000-70,000 in the wholesale market while it would be around 1.50 lakh in the retail market, he said. The police said they registered a case against unidentified people under Section 380 (theft in dwelling, house etc) of the Indian Penal Code at the Shivaji Nagar police station. Ramallah, May 28 : A Palestinian teenager was killed and more than 90 protesters were injured in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that Zeid Ghuneim, 15, was killed after he was shot by Israeli soldiers on the neck and back during clashes in the town of al-Khader, near Bethlehem, reports Xinhua news agency. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said the injuries were reported from villages of Burqa, Beit Dajan, Beita and Huwara. Among the injured, 10 were shot by live ammunition, 22 by rubber bullets, and dozens suffered from inhaling tear gas, said the organisation. Fierce clashes broke out on Friday, mainly near the northern West Bank cities of Nablus and Qalqilya, and dozens of anti-settlement demonstrators burned tires and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers. The Palestinians organise rallies and protests on Fridays against the Israeli government's policies of expanding settlements and confiscation of lands, and the demonstrations usually turn into clashes. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Artsakh Republic State Minister Artak Beglaryan reacted to the recent statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. May 28, 2022, 10:26 Artsakh State Minister to Aliyev: Delimitation and demarcation with Armenia cannot affect the status of Artsakh STEPANAKERT, MAY 28, ARTSAKHPRESS: In this regard, in particular, Beglaryan noted that the process and results of delimitation and demarcation with the Republic of Armenia cannot affect the current and future status of Artsakh. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, again made a number of problematic statements, in response to which: The process and results of delimitation and demarcation with the Republic of Armenia cannot affect the current and future status of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic). - After all, the Karabakh conflict is not with the Republic of Armenia, but with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict has not been resolved, and this is a fact that the whole world accepts, regardless of certain differences in interests and formulations. - And if Azerbaijan wants to turn the page of the conflict and clarify the status of Artsakh, then it can carry out the process of delimitation and demarcation also with the Republic of Artsakh, at the same time returning our occupied territories and recognizing our independence. The main principle of conflict settlement is the full realization and recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination. - However, only after passing through this test, the international community will prove that contrary to Aliyev's statements, nevertheless, there is international law, where the right of peoples to self-determination has its fundamental place. Another important principle of international law is the non-use of force / threat of use of force, which was also grossly violated and ignored by Azerbaijan. Moreover, Aliyev today again threatened with new precedents for the use of force, which is a clear signal for the international community to take preventive and sanctions measures. Encouraging and ignoring deviant behavior gradually leads to international disasters, becoming international practice and part of customary law - an example of legal custom, as news.am informs, Artak Beglaryan wrote in his Telegram channel. Bhopal, May 28 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that associating Ayurveda and Yoga with a particular religion or community is "unfortunate". President Kovind made the observation while inaugurating Arogya Manthan programme "One -Nation One Health System' organised by 'Arogya Bharti'. The President hailed Arogya Bharti for working in an organised manner with a holistic approach of making citizens healthy. He praised the institution for expanding its activities at the national level. "When every individual is healthy, all the families will be healthy. If each family is healthy then every village and every city will be healthy and thus the whole country will be healthy," Kovind said. The President said that under the National Health Policy announced in the year 2017, the government aims to make quality health services accessible to all at an affordable cost. "It is also the aim of this policy to arrange health facilities for all in a comprehensive and holistic manner," he added. He further said that to achieve these goals, the cooperation of all sections of society, especially the aware citizens, along with the participation of government and private sector institutions is essential. Meanwhile, the president also expressed his gratitude to the scientists from across the world for their efforts to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. "For the last two-and-a-half years, the world has been suffering from the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. Doctors and scientists from across the world with their research and efforts saved people's lives. I express my gratitude to scientists," the President said. The President's three-day visit to Madhya Pradesh began on Friday evening with his arrival to the state capital Bhopal. He was accorded a grand welcome by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Governor Mangubhai Patel. On Saturday, he will be performing bhoomi-pujan of 10 urban health institution buildings, costing Rs 154 crore, and dedicate newly constructed buildings of four health institutions, costing Rs 72 crore, at Motilal Nehru Stadium. He will also perform bhoomi-pujan of the 182-beded Regional Institute of Respiratory Diseases which is being built at a cost of Rs 55 crore. He will go to Ujjain to take part in 'Ayurveda Mahasammelan' and offer prayers at the Lord Mahakaleshwar Temple on Sunday and return to Delhi via Indore the same day. Dakshina Kannada : , May 28 (IANS) Following a statement by Karnataka Education Minister B.C. Nagesh that only uniforms are permissible inside classrooms, authorities at a college in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday sent back hijab-clad students home. The incident took place in Mangaluru's University College. The college had banned the wearing of hijab as per the decision of it syndicate. Though majority of the Muslim students attended classes on Saturday without hijab, 12 students came in wearing them. They insisted on allowing them to attend classes with hijab. However, the college principal stopped them from attending classes and were also denied permission to go to the library, after which the students returned home. As the hijab row is resurfacing in the district, the College Development Committee has decided to allow students to take it off in rest rooms and then attend classes. Kolkata, May 28 : A delegation of all 16 BJP Lok Sabha MPs from West Bengal will approach President Ram Nath Kovind with complaints that they are unable to spend the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds on development projects in their respective areas due to lack of cooperation from the local and district administration. The MPs will go to New Delhi shortly and submit a written deputation to the President. Before approaching the President, they will meet Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and submit a written deputation to him as well on this count. Confirming the decision, BJP's national vice-president and the party MP from Midnapore Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh said the state government is deliberately not cooperating with the party members in spending their respective MPLAD funds, so that their expenditure figure on this count cut a sorry figure and BJP does not get a political advantage. "The district officials also refuse to meet our MPs, when the latter approach the administration with their proposed development projects to be funded from their respective MPLAD funds. We will now highlight this matter," Ghosh said. It is learnt that with just two years left from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, none of the 16 BJP Lok Sabha members have been able to spend even 50 per cent of the MPLAD funds allocated to them. According to Ghosh, although the party MPs regularly submit their proposed expenditure to the administration, a section of the district magistrates, additional district magistrates, sub-divisional officers and block development officers hold them back. It is learnt that BJP is preparing a list of such bureaucrats who have been ignoring this issue regularly and register complaints against them. The MPs allege that if MPLAD funds are utilised for a particular project, as per rule, the name of the MP concerned has to enlisted and displayed at the project site. "The ruling Trinamool Congress do not want that and hence the bureaucrats are resorting to such non- cooperation as per the instructions of the ruling party leaders," Ghosh said. The Trinamool Congress leaders have overruled such allegations and described it as an attempt to malign the party. Caracas, May 28 : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned the US for excluding his nation Cuba and Nicaragua from the upcoming Summit of the Americas to be held June 6-10 in Los Angeles. Maduro expressed his government's "firm, strong and total rejection of the imperialist vision that intends to exclude the peoples of the Americas" from a regional gathering, reports Xinhua news agency. The Venezuelan President is currently in Havana for the 21st Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP), which took place Friday. In contrast to Washington's handling of the Americas Summit, the ALBA-TCP is inclusive and uniting, and works on issues that impact people's lives and development in the region, he said. "If there is anything truly democratic on this continent, it is ALBA, from the point of view of its debates and the sharing of diversity," Maduro stressed. On Thursday, US coordinator of the Americas Summit Kevin O'Reilly reiterated that the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, all members of ALBA-TCP, had not been invited to participate in the meeting. New Delhi, May 28 : The Jal Jeevan Mission has achieved a significant milestone of 50 per cent rural households having access to tap water connections, an official of the Ministry of Jal Shakti said here on Saturday. Goa, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, D&N Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry and Haryana have already achieved 100 per cent household connections. States of Punjab, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have coverage of more than 90 per cent and are progressing fast towards attaining the status of 'Har Ghar Jal', as per the official. In a move to attain 'Gram Swarajya', the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, Jal Jeevan Mission aims at empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions and communities by engaging them in water supply schemes from the very beginning. "Over 9.59 crore rural households spread across states/ UTs are getting water within their premises. Women and girls in these households are now free from the century old drudgery of walking long distances in scorching heat, rain and snow in search of water," he said. 'Har Ghar Jal' is a flagship programme of the Union Government, implemented by Jal Jeevan Mission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in partnership with states/UTs to ensure tap water connection in every rural household by 2024. At the time of launch Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, only 3.23 crore households i.e., 17 per cent of the rural population had access to drinking water through taps. As on May 27, 108 districts, 1,222 blocks, 71,667 gram panchayats and 1,51,171 villages have become 'Har Ghar Jal', wherein all rural households have been provided with drinking water through taps. This year, as the nation celebrates 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', special Gram Sabhas are being convened across the length and breadth of the country to discuss and deliberate on issues related to drinking water in a move to attain 'WASH Prabudh Gaon'. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, support is provided to Panchayats by the state government through Implementing Support Agencies (ISAs) in community engagement, building capacity of the Pani Samitis, and taking up O&M activities. New Delhi, May 28 : Want to enjoy a beautiful sunset while eating delicious food? Tired of going to restaurants with boring interiors, cramped spaces, and repetitive themes? Visit these stunning locations with breathtaking views before the monsoon ruins your plans. 1522 Want solace in the arms of nature? Find this safe nest, beautifully positioned in the middle of an urban jungle to help you dwell in its fresh vibe. Hitchki, Powai Need a break from your lacklustre daily routine? What you need is a meal in the open area of Hitchki, Powai, an upbeat and spacious restaurant adding Bollywood drama to your meal, with a fresh breeze that makes your hair fly. OPA Are you enchanted by the wondrous architecture of Santorini and Mykonos as well? Well, then get ready to embrace the gusts of Grecian winds in this modern place. Its outdoor seating is surely going to transport you to Greece and leave you wanting more time at OPA. M.I.T.R.O.N A spectacular sunset sky, awe-inspiring lighting and the company of your loved one(s). Enjoy the perfect blend of all 3 at M.I.T.R.O.N Thane to have an unforgettable experience that will leave you mesmerised. Bengaluru, May 28 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday asked leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah that he must clarify whether he is an Aryan or Dravidian. Reacting to attacks by Siddaramaiah on the RSS, he reiterated that Siddaramaiah must clarify where he came from, and on being Dravidian or Aryan? Siddaramaiah on Friday had asked, "Are RSS people native to India? Are Aryans native to this country? It is Dravidians who are originally from this country. Who is responsible for the 600 year rule of Mughals? If Indians stayed united, was it possible for them to rule over us?" Reacting to the demand to drop Rohith Chakrathirtha from the Textbook Revision Committee, he maintained that he would get inputs from the Education Minister in this regard and take a call. "There is no need to create controversy on hijab. The court had given its verdict. Everyone should follow court orders, 99.9 per cent of students are abiding by the court orders. Mangaluru University Syndicate has taken a decision on hijab," he said. "The decisions of the management and administrative authorities must be followed. Even syndicates have to follow court orders. Students must focus on studies rather than hijab," CM Bommai said. He also warned Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES) members for attacking Kannadigas. "If they are taking law into their hands it won't be tolerated. If Kannadigas are troubled we will not sit quiet," he warned. Nimbawas : , May 28 (IANS) For centuries, deeply-rooted traditions and unique cultural practices have helped conserve and manage the environment, ecosystems and biodiversity in India. With this historical and sociocultural context, one can witness in quiet fascination how multitudes of people in Rajasthan care for ants in a conservation effort and even arrange for food for them daily. Though some may deem that the practice of feeding ants is immersed in superstition, it's widely believed that this tradition stems from a community-centric concern for the environment. Circle of life Every village, town and city in Rajasthan resonates with this conservational ethos, and people are dedicated to providing ants with sustenance. There are plenty of small and big spaces in every village that are demarcated specially for insects. Local residents call these areas 'kidi nagara', which loosely translates to city of ants. Hiraram, assistant professor at the Zoology Department of Jodhpur's Jainarayan Vyas University, told 101Reporters: "Kidi nagara are present throughout the state, and people of the community feed the ants every day. The simple act of providing food grains to the ants is called kidi nagara seenchna, which loosely meaning in local language to feeding the ants. Because of this, insects are found in abundance everywhere. "Ants play a vital role in the ecosystem. They are the primary consumers and feed directly on plants. Insects survive by eating these ants. Carnivorous birds higher up on the food chain derive nourishment by eating ants and insects. These birds play a crucial role in pollinating crops in the fields and also feed on insects that damage the crops. In fact, birds are found in abundance around kidi nagaras and provide a natural balance to biodiversity." Community-driven initiative People visit these grounds daily with reverence and feel 'blessed' to feed the insects flour, pulses, millets, rice and sugar. In Nimbawas village of Jalore district, the kidi nagara is spread over 150 bighas of land, where locals and even people from distant districts come to feed the ants. Hiralal Bhati, a resident of Nimbawas, told 101Reporters: "Due to kidi nagaras, there are many birds in our village. Over time, we learnt how important insects are to the ecological balance of this region. We treat feeding the insects as a virtuous act." Locals embrace conservationist attitude The kidi nagara of Nimbawas is on government land. However, in Singari village of Pali district, their insect haven of about 50 bighas belongs to the villagers, which they neither use nor think of selling. Professor Hiraram told 101Reporters: "All the kidi nagaras are located in uninhabited places, unhindered by human activity. It shows that even centuries ago, our ancestors understood the importance of the natural habitat of all living beings. In the absence of human encroachment, ants and insects have a protected space where they can thrive without threat." Several organisations and religious ashrams collect grains in large quantities and transport them to the insect cities. Every year, a stock of grains is collected for the ants at the Kishandas Maharaj Ashram in Chharsa village of Jaipur district's Manoharpura area. Here, villagers voluntarily donate food grains. "Last year, 2,051 quintals of food grains were collected in the ashram, as well as coconut, sugar and jaggery. These were later sent to temples in different places," said Krishnakumar Verma from Manoharpura. "The temples distribute the grains to kidi nagaras throughout the year." In 2020, due to Covid restrictions, villagers could not donate food. But in 2021, the donations doubled. In Shivganj of Sirohi district, 250 people set up Manav Asha Sansthan. Bhairu Kashyap, a worker at the institute, said: "We organise various acts of service in line with the ecosystem of the ants. Before the rainy season, we visit the kidi nagaras and leave many quintals of food in the anthills, so that they are provided for during the rains. We make balls of cereals, grains, sugar and coconut and stuff them in the anthills." Activism with roots in religion, tradition Speaking to 101Reporters, Bhagwataacharya, Pandits who told the story of Shrimad Bhagwat Pandit Satyapal Parashar explained that their ancestors associated all forms of flora and fauna with faith, belief or a deity to protect them. "Elevating them to reverence made common people regard every being with inherent respect and dignity," he added. "Our elders also understood that despite being tiny creatures, ants contribute immensely to the environment. This is how the tradition of giving them food developed. Our scriptures emphasise the importance of giving food to all living beings, which also gives the benefactor a sense of purpose." Dwindling numbers cause for concern Corrie Moreau, noted biologist as well as professor, director and curator of the Insect Collection Department at New York's Cornell University, majored in myrmecology, the study of ants. She believes that "ants are the engineers of our ecosystem" and "without ants, the world would not be a very good place to live in" - given the vital role they play in soil health, crop production, decomposition and the spread of seeds. In research conducted abroad, scientists have found that the population of many species of insects have nearly halved, which calls into question the future of the planet. In fact, a report published in National Library of Medicine, in February 2019 projects a grim future: more than 75 per cent of decline in total flying insect biomass in protected areas globally over 27 years. Though its origins cannot be determined, the tradition of feeding ants is commonplace in different states of north India. Padma Shri Himmat Ram Bhambhu, an environmental activist from Nagaur, considers kidi nagaras enormously essential to the ecosystem. "If there are no such nagaras, many insects and birds will be endangered," Bhambhu said. "Today, numerous species of animals, birds, trees and plants are approaching extinction. It's because of a lack of genuine interest in conserving them. Kidi nagaras and other such traditions are a step in the right direction and should be preserved." (The author is a Hanumangarh-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Panaji, May 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not just popular in India, but globally, he is more popular than US President Joe Biden, BJP national secretary C.T. Ravi said on Saturday. Ravi, who is the Goa BJP inchrage, was speaking at a meeting of the BJP state executive in Panaji. "Modi is popular not only in India, but the world praises him. Today's popular leader is not 'President of America', but our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is," Ravi said at the function. Addressing BJP's state executive committee meeting in Panaji, Ravi also said, in his (Modi's) recent visit to Europe, people were chanting 'Modi, Modi, Modi' along with 'Bharat mata ki Jai'. "Even during his visit to Japan, he was leading from the front. Rest all were following him. He is a leader," Ravi further added. San Francisco, May 28 : The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now after Tesla CEO Elon Musk over late disclosure about his substantial stake in Twitter. According to reports, the SEC told Musk that he "does not appear" to have disclosed his acquisition of Twitter shares within the commission's required 10-day window. The SEC said that Musk "likely used the wrong form when he eventually disclosed his stake", reports The Verge. The letter, filed last month and made public now, asked clarifications from Musk on "why he chose to use a form meant for passive investors and whether the agency is wrong about his filing coming in late". "Please advise us why the Schedule 13G does not appear to have been made within the required 10 days from the date of acquisition as required by Rule 13d-1(c), the rule upon which you represented that you relied to make the submission," the SEC asked Musk. Twitter shares surged nearly 28 per cent after regulatory filings in the US revealed that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has a 9.2 per cent passive stake in Parag Agrawal-run platform. According to a regulatory filing in the US SEC, the world's richest man bought nearly 73.5 million shares in the micro-blogging platform. Musk has put the $44 billion Twitter buyout on hold over the presence of fake/spam accounts on the platform. Musk recently tried to escape a settlement he reached with the US SEC over his "funding secured" tweet in 2018, where he posted about taking Tesla private. Meanwhile, a Twitter shareholder has also sued Musk, alleging that the Tesla CEO actively manipulated the company's stock for personal gain. The lawsuit alleged that Musk proceeded to make statements, send tweets, and engage in conduct designed to create doubt about the deal and "drive Twitter's stock down substantially in order to create leverage that Musk hoped to use to either back out of the purchase or re-negotiate the buyout price". The proposed class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of Twitter shareholders in federal district court in San Francisco. NEW YORK Former President Donald Trump has paid the $110,000 in fines he racked up after being held in contempt of court for being slow to r New Delhi, May 28 : Menstruation, despite being a healthy and fundamental bodily process, is a topic often buried in fear and shame, and its discussion is even taboo in many societies. But a worldwide effort to bring conversations about menstruation and menstrual health into the open is now firmly underway. "Period Matters" (Pan Macmillan), edited by human rights lawyer and writer Farah Ahamed, carries this important endeavour forward by bringing together a breadth of perspectives from well-known figures as well as those whose voices are missing from the mainstream. Essays, artwork, stories and poems from policy makers, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, activists, as well as interviews with those at the margins, such as the homeless and those living with disabilities, explore myriad aspects of how menstruation is experienced in South Asia. While activist Granaz Baloch narrates how she defied traditional notions of tribal honour and conducted the first-ever menstrual health workshop in Balochistan, Radha Paudel writes about her mission to have menstrual dignity acknowledged as a human right in Nepal. Shashi Tharoor relays his radical Menstrual Rights Bill which was tabled in the Lok Sabha. We hear from Erum about the challenges of getting one's period when incarcerated, as Farzana and Chandan relate how mimicking the rituals of menstruation helps them feel more feminine as transwomen. Tishani Doshibreaks new ground with a poem about her uterus. Ayra Indrias Patras describes how some poor women in Pakistan managed their period during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aditi Gupta reflects on promoting menstrual literacy among young children across India through the Menstrupedia comic books. In a personal essay, Lisa Ray reveals how her illness triggered an early onset of menopause. The book also showcases menstrala, or art inspired by menstruation, ranging from Rupi Kaur's iconic photo essay, Anish Kapoor's oil paintings, Shahzia Sikander's neo-miniaturist art, photographs of wall murals made by young people in Jharkhand, to Sarah Naqvi's embroidery. Amna Mawaz Khan offers a perspective through the choreography of her menstrual dance. The cover, designed by Sukruti Anah Staneley, contains menstrala artwork by Lyla FreeChild, who harvested her own menstrual blood for the painting. The complete painting forms a part of the book's art section. A collection of breathtaking scope and significance, "Period Matters" illustrates with power, purpose and creativity both the variances and commonalities of menstruation. Farah Ahamed's essays and short fiction have been published in anthologies and journals including The White Review, Ploughshares, The Massachusetts' Review and The Mechanics' Institute Review. Her short story "Hot Mango Chutney Sauce" was shortlisted for the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. You can read more of her writing at farahahamed.com. Kochi, May 28 : A day after the Kerala High Court took a strong position and directed the government to take firm action against those responsible for a ten-year-old child raising provocative slogans against non-Muslims at a Popular Front of India (PFI) rally in Alappuzha on May 21, the police on Saturday took into custody the boy's father. Confirming this, a top police official said he was picked up from his house here and has been handed over to the Alappuzha police. But the father of the boy said that none had tutored the boy and he did it on his own. "This same slogans have been aired a few times in the past and surprisingly, when no action took place then, how come this time it has turned out to be like this," asked the boy's father before he was taken away by the police. When the police arrived at the house of the boy, a good number of PFI activists were present and they shouted slogans against the police. On Friday around 18 people, who took part in the rally held at Alappuzha sloganeered, was arrested. The boy, who lives at Thoppumpady near here, was identified, a few days back but the police failed to find anyone in the house as it was locked, when they came. Meanwhile the police are looking into if the boy needs to be sent for counselling and are also contemplating on what needs to be done to his mother, as guardians have been held responsible. As the video of the incident went viral, there were numerous protests against it following which the police swung into action and the High Court took up the matter early this week and on Friday the court came down heavily against this act and asked for strong action to be taken. The boy's father was earlier identified as a known PFI activist who had participated in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests. The boy was brought to Alappuzha to take part in the rally by his father and was spotted sitting atop the shoulders of a man called Anzar, and leading the sloganeering. Anzar, who hails from Kottayam district, was the first to be taken into custody and he is now in judicial custody. A case has been registered against the organisers of the rally for promoting rivalry and hatred among communities. The PFI has also attempted to downplay the incident saying that the slogans were against "Hindutva fascists" and not against Hindus or Christians. Guwahati, May 28 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that India is looking at road connectivity through Myanmar and sea connectivity through Bangladesh and this would see a huge change in the region. Addressing a "NADI (River) Conclave 2022" in Guwahati, the External Minister said that six old cross border rail links between India and Bangladesh need to be restored." There are 10 waterway protocol routes between India and Bangladesh. Nine new "Border Haats" (markets) between India and Bangladesh are being set up," Dr Jaishankar said adding "We are improving connectivity with Nepal and Bhutan". Saying that land connectivity through Myanmar and sea connectivity through Bangladesh would facilitate easy connectivity with Vietnam and Philippines. "The upcoming connectivity not only would build the strong partnership with the ASEAN countries and Japan, but would actually make a difference to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. It is absolutely within our capability to overcome geographic bottleneck and rewrite history." The External Affairs Minister said that this vision can be productively realised by enhancing connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to improve access to ASEAN countries and beyond. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also attended the "NADI Convlave-2022" organised by Shillong based thing tank and research group 'Asian Confluence'. Taking to Twitter, the Assam Chief Minister said: "Due to its strategic location, Assam provides a great opportunity for economic growth. The state has immense potential in tourism sector, including wildlife tourism, tea tourism and river tourism. Our government is taking necessary steps in this direction." "Northeast India, including Assam, not only provides the only land link between India and ASEAN region, but also acts as a cultural and civilisational bridge. We share the vision of Adarniya PM Shri Nareendra Modi ji that northeast is the sunrise area of Indian economy," Sarma said in another tweet. Los Angeles, May 28 : Harry Styles has joined the building-up chorus of politicians, civic leaders and Hollywood figures in condemning the epidemic of gun violence in America. Styles announced he'll be partnering with the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety during his upcoming North American tour and donating over $1 million in proceeds to it, along with Live Nation, reports 'Variety'. "Along with all of you, I have been absolutely devastated by the recent string of mass shootings in America, culminating at the latest in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas," Styles' Instagram post reads. "On our North American tour, we will be partnering with Everytown, who work to end gun violence, donating to support their efforts and sharing their suggested action items," Styles added. The post has a simple but telling caption: "End gun violence." Styles is not the only major musician to speak out on the issue. Earlier, on Tuesday, Taylor Swift tweeted that she was "filled with rage and grief" by the Texas shooting as well as others in Buffalo and Laguna Woods. "We, as a nation, have become conditioned to unfathomable and unbearable heartbreak," Swift wrote. Styles, who released his third studio album 'Harry's House' last week, will embark on his sold-out 'Love on Tour 2022' in August. The tour consists of multiple dates in select cities, including New York and Los Angeles (15 nights each), Chicago and Austin (five nights each), and Toronto (two nights). Thiruvananthapuram, May 28 : Seven time legislator P.C. George, who was released on bail after spending a day in jail for his hate speech, on Saturday told the media that he will reply to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's insinuations at an rally in bypoll-bound Thrikkakara on Sunday, but the police appeared to have checkmated him. The Fort Police station here, which had arrested him on May 1 for his hate speech, served a notice to him to appear before the police probe team on Sunday at 11 a.m. Incidentally even if he presents himself before the police with the election campaigning ending at 5 p.m on Sunday at Thrikkakara, he will not be able to make it on time as he will need at least six hours from here to Kochi by road. Moreover there is no flight which lands at Kochi before 5 p.m and hence in all likelihood, George will have to be content to attack Vijayan here, or else he will have to skip presenting himself before the police. Reacting to the checkmate of the police, George, in his characteristic style, said: "The dramatics of the Vijayan government is now out." Meanwhile, he is busy seeking expert legal advice on what needs to be done. He was given bail for his hate speech by a court in the state capital on May 1 , but a few days later, he repeated it and the government went ahead and filed a petition to cancel his bail. The court accepted the plea, his bail was cancelled, and he was arrested by the police on Thursday and sent to jail for a day, before he got bail from the High Court on Friday. One of the conditions in the bail is he has to cooperate with the police probe team and hence if he fails to appear before the probe team here on Sunday, it could be more trouble for him. Kolkata, May 28 : Against the backdrop of consecutive orders of Calcutta High Court, for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probes, that have gone against the West Bengal government, the ruling Trinamool Congress's national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday launched a scathing attack against a section of the judiciary. "I feel bad to say that a couple of members of the judiciary are acting at the behest of others and as agents. They are ordering for CBI verdicts in petty cases. They are putting a stay in murder cases. This is unthinkable," Banerjee said at a public rally at the industrial township of Haldia in East Midnapore district. He also said that he is aware that he can be legally pulled by the judiciary for such comments. "Some people might take offense. There can be legal suits against me as well. But I am not scared to speak the truth. I will say the same thing in future as well," he said. His comments attracted stark criticism from the opposition parties. BJP state's spokesman Shamik Bhattacharya said that the statements prove the fear and frustration among the Trinamool leaders. "The manner in which Abhishek Banerjee has slammed the judiciary is unthinkable and tantamount to contempt of court," he said. Congress' state President and party leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Abhishek Banerjee's statement against the judiciary is an expression of his party leadership's will to have control over everyone. "The future days will be disastrous in this regime," he said. CPI-M Central Committee member and former Left legislative party leader, Dr Sujan Chakraborty said that such comments against the judiciary does not suit the traditionally rich culture of West Bengal. This is for the time that any senior leader of Trinamool has come out so openly against the judiciary. During the last one month, there had been over ten orders by different benches of Calcutta High Court directing a CBI enquiry. At the Haldia rally, Abhishek Banerjee also touched upon the issue of the return or entry of turncoats in Trinamool. "Those who have joined Trinamool Congress recently after measuring waters for a long time will be given election nominations immediately. Whatever happened in the past will not be repeated. I can guarantee that," he said. Guwahati, May 28 : Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen on Saturday said that the next phase of relations between India and Bangladesh would be based on shared rivers. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers and the two countries have a 2,979 km land border and 1,116 km of riverine boundary. Addressing the "NADI (River) Conclave 2022" in Guwahati, Momen said that Bangladesh believes in the expansion and extension of the waterway movement between India and Bangladesh. "We need to develop a win-win river and water sharing regime." One of the biggest challenges in Bangladeshi rivers is siltation, he said. India's External Minister S. Jaishankar and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also spoke in the "NADI Convlave-2022" organised by Shillong-based think-tank and research group 'Asian Confluence'. "Historically, India and Bangladesh bondings are rock-solid while China is a development partner of Bangladesh. Further, we want to develop a strong relationship with all the states of India," Momen observed. Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Foreign Minister said that India-Bangladesh relation is going through a golden age. "We are looking forward to better relations in the coming decades." "Noting that India and Bangladesh shared common challenges of climate change, the visiting Minister said that only last week, Assam, Bihar and Bangladesh faced flood at the same time." "It's time for India and Bangladesh to work together in flood management. It is time to replace competition with cooperation," the Bangladeshi Minister said. Momen said that Bangladesh is known as the "land of the rivers" as there are about 700 rivers including tributaries, which have a total length of about 24,140 km, one of the largest in the world. "Rivers are the basic life lines of Bangladesh and are accessible to the remotest areas of the country whereas roads and railways do not have such accessibilities. In Bangladesh, rivers have huge impact on our tradition, culture, music, life style and livelihood. It can influence politics too. So, you understand how important the river is for Bangladesh," he said. The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister said that at the historic juncture of completing 50 years of its bilateral ties, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Bangladesh-India relationship is now passing its 'Golden Chapter'. He said that with regard to Bangladesh's relations with India's northeastern states, factors like geographical proximity, close cultural and historical ties, and economic factors are hugely contributing to the ever-growing bond between Bangladesh and the northeastern region of India. Bangladesh's robust engagements with India's northeastern states are intertwined and have always been at the heart of overall India-Bangladesh relationship. It is widely accepted that there are huge prospects and potentials for promoting trade and investment and other economic activities between Bangladesh and the northeast region of India. Momen said that Bangladesh solicits India's support to push the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. "Many of them (Rohingya refugees) are getting involved in drug trafficking and numerous criminal activities and these might become a threat for both India and Bangladesh," he said. Since 2016, over 860,000 Rohingyas fled from Myanmar to evade violence, sheltered in various camps Cox's Bazar in southeast Bangladesh. New Delhi, May 28 : The Delhi High Court, while dealing with a complaint pending before the police since 2014, has asked how an ordinary citizen can be blamed for the wilful inaction of the police. The court was dealing with a plea filed by a policeman seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against him in a civil dispute with the complainant -- a Delhi resident. "How can an ordinary citizen of this country be blamed for the wilful inaction of the police? Can his right to legal remedy be so defeated? Every citizen of this country is entitled to the protection of law," remarked Justice Asha Menon on Friday. As per the complainant, in 2007 the petitioners (including the policeman) had befriended him on a business proposition of opening a security agency in partnership with them, and they had got him to sign blank papers when he was intoxicated. Later, he discovered that the original title deeds of property in his wife's name had gone missing. But no action was taken by the police. "It appears that because the petitioner is himself a policeman, he has succeeded in stalling the investigations and preventing prosecution. Now he seeks to benefit from such wanton interference with the course of justice. That cannot be permitted," the court said. Despite the complaint of the man in 2014, nothing happened and he had moved the court. Later, a vague report was filed by the police. No charge-sheet has been filed to date even after the lapse of 8 years, the court noted. Accordingly, the court dismissed the petition imposing a Rs 10,000 fine to be deposited with the 'Delhi High Court Staff Welfare Fund'. The court also directed the Investigating Officer to file a final report in the FIR within three months. Paris, May 28 : World No 1 Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 31 with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Danka Kovinic in the third round of the French Open, here on Saturday. With her win in over 1 hours and 30 minutes, Swiatek, the 2020 champion, has now reached the second week in all four of her Roland Garros appearances and she has won 17 of her 19 matches at the tournament. Her active winning streak, which stretches back to February and encompasses titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome, is the fourth-longest of the 21st century. The 20-year-old Pole is one win away from tying Justine Henin's 32 in 2007-08; a final would equal Serena Williams's 34 in 2013, and a title would put her level with Venus Williams's 35 in 2000. Swiatek will next face either home hope AlizA Cornet or rising 19-year-old Zheng Qinwen. No 95-ranked Kovinic, the first Montenegrin to reach the third round at Roland Garros, delivered a valiant performance that meant Swiatek could not repeat the smooth sailing of her opening two rounds. Having never gone beyond the second round of a major in 17 main draw entries prior to this year, Kovinic has now made the third round of both of this year's Slams. In another game, Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu returned to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2016, defeating French wildcard Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-4. Ranked No. 63, Begu withstood a surge from Jeanjean in the second set to close out the win after 1 hour and 25 minutes. Despite generating more break-point chances, 11 in total, the 26-year-old Frenchwoman was able to break Begu just once in the match. Begu finished the match with twice as many winners as Jeanjean while keeping a cleaner sheet, hitting 21 unforced errors to 27. Begu, who previously reached the fourth round at the 2015 Australian Open and 2016 French Open, will next face either No.11 seed Jessica Pegula or 2021 semifinalist Tamara Zidansek for a spot in her first major quarterfinal. Moscow, May 28 : Russian forces have likely captured most of the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region, in what is likely a precursor for the next stage of Moscow's Donbas offensive, the UK's Ministry of Defence says in its daily intelligence update, BBC reported. Lyman is strategically important because as it gives access to important rail and road bridges over the Siverskyy Donets River. "In the coming days, Russian units in the area are likely to prioritise forcing a crossing of the river," the ministry said. But Moscow's main focus remains on Severodonetsk in the Luhansk region, it says. Russian forces are bombarding towns and cities in eastern Ukraine with the declared aim of "liberating" the old industrial heartland known as Donbas, which is made up of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. If the city falls into Russian hands, Moscow will then control the Luhansk region, BBC reported. Many believe Vladimir Putin could hold up taking control of Donbas as victory in the war. Russia's defence ministry says the city in the Donetsk region has fallen under the full control of Russian and Russian-backed forces. It comes a day after pro-Russian separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic said they had fully captured the town, a railway hub west of Severodonetsk. "Following the joint actions of the units of the militia of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Russian armed forces, the town of Lyman has been entirely liberated from Ukrainian nationalists," the defence ministry said in a statement. On Friday, Ukraine said that Russia had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, a city a half-hour drive further southwest, BBC reported. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Samoa's Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Apia, capital of Samoa, May 28, 2022. (Xinhua) APIA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Samoa and China agreed here on Saturday to enhance unity and cooperation, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of developing countries, and insist on true multilateralism. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Samoa's Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II said Samoa and China have enjoyed strong and close relations with fruitful results yielded in mutually beneficial cooperation, demonstrating the importance of equality and mutual respect in dealing with the relations between countries. Samoa hopes to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen mutual understanding and expand pragmatic cooperation with China so as to benefit the people of the two countries, Tuimalealiifano said. For his part, Wang said China has embarked on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country and is now devoted to achieving common prosperity. China will work together with other developing countries to accelerate common development, safeguard fairness and justice, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. He said this year marks the 60th anniversary of Samoa's independence, which is of great significance to its country, nation and people. Noting that Samoa is one of the first Pacific island countries to establish diplomatic ties with China, Wang said since the establishment of diplomatic relations nearly half a century ago, the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals. Mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has brought benefits to the Samoan people, he said, adding that the China-aided Faleolo International Airport and stadium for the 2019 Pacific Games have become local landmarks, and a cultural center in Samoa has injected new impetus into bilateral friendly exchanges. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China immediately provided Samoa with anti-epidemic supplies to help the country effectively control the pandemic, Wang said, adding that China will also provide Samoa with a new batch of rapid test kits. China is ready to continue to support Samoa in its fight against the pandemic until it wins the battle ultimately, he added. Wang said as both developing countries, China and Samoa face the same development task. Under the current circumstance of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying, China is willing to consolidate unity and cooperation with developing countries including Samoa, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of developing nations, and insist on true multilateralism. Samoa is the third leg of Wang's tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. Before arriving in Apia, Wang visited the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Beware: The draft Assembly plan to renew mayoral control of the citys public schools is a stealth bid to undermine it. Yes, it would give Mayor Eric Adams the three-year extension he initially requested, but at the price of reducing his direct appointments to the schools-governing Panel for Educational Policy from nine of 15 members to 10 of 18 while also making it near-impossible to fire an appointee for providing a swing vote to thwart his reform agenda. That last is the true point of setting staggered, fixed terms for the mayors appointees. This is a play by Assembly Democrats to please the United Federation of Teachers, whose power grows directly as the mayors shrinks and as accountability is blurred. The UFT would love to return to the nobody-truly-in-charge days of the old Board of Education; this plan pushed it that way. And the idea that three new seats would allow for representation of more views (parents of special needs kids, or even charter-school parents) is a just camouflage: Who gets to pick these new members is key, and you can bet the process would be something complex that would maximize UFT influence. Other ideas in the mix are creating an independent schools watchdog to report back to the Legislature, as if the State Education Department (which Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie effectively controls, by the way) didnt already have all the needed power. Mayoral control should be permanent, to end the ridiculous and venal renewal games. No other system of governance allows for any hope of real accountability. Yet the Assembly plan looks to renew control while actually replacing it. In other words, its a bid to end accountability for the schools by lawmakers who themselves dont want to be accountable for doing it. Any victory like this would doom not only Adams hopes to deliver for parents and kids, but all hope for any mayor ever to fix the schools. New York Post It may be next year before legislation to require New York schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to their students is considered in the state Legislature. Between now and then, we hope the sponsors of A.9518/S.9144, Sen. Michele Hinchey, D-Kingston, and Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, D-East Elmhurst, make one minor change by focusing the program on those who truly need it. Hinchey and Gonzalez-Rojas are right when they note far too many families throughout New York state dont have enough to eat, and we know the free food programs that sprang up during the COVID-19 pandemic helped a lot of children. But their legislation, as proposed, would require all schools to opt into the Community Eligibility Programs offered by the federal government with the state paying the difference between federal aid through the U.S. Agriculture Department and the cost to provide food for all students. The legislation doesnt note the potential cost to the state, but its not going to be cheap. Heritage Foundation research has shown the more middle- and upper-income students have received free meals since lawmakers enacted the Community Eligibility Program which is helping drive up the cost to help those who really need it or even expand the program to keep the take-home breakfasts that some children have received during the pandemic and which were sure are very helpful to many families. Hinchey and Gonzalez-Rojas have a worthy goal to help children whose families need help have access to two meals during the school day. Offering free lunches to those who need it in more schools is a good goal. But the program must be focused on those who need help. Jamestown Post-Journal In the interest of justice, Anthony Broadwater was exonerated for a rape he didnt commit after 16 years in jail that stole his freedom, his health and his life prospects. In the interest of justice, New York state should stop fighting Broadwaters claim for compensation and start negotiating a settlement. It is insulting for the Attorney Generals Office to question whether Broadwater is truly innocent and to deny the states responsibility for Broadwaters wrongful conviction. We dont care that its response to Broadwaters lawsuit was routine legal boilerplate. This is not just any routine lawsuit against the state. Forty years ago, a mans life was ruined by police and prosecutors who cut corners to solve a high-profile crime, the rape of a Syracuse University student in a public park. They sent an innocent man to jail based on now-discredited evidence and tainted eyewitness testimony. The AGs Office simply should accept the ruling of a judge, who last November overturned Broadwaters conviction for the rape of Alice Sebold, the author who later wrote a best-selling book about it. It should take the word of the Onondaga County District Attorney, who agreed with Broadwaters attorneys that the case against him was fatally flawed. And the word of Sebold, who apologized for her role in Broadwaters railroading. The states opposition to Broadwaters claim appears to contradict both the letter and the intent of a law enacted in 2007 by the state Legislature to streamline the claims of people wrongfully convicted of crimes. Broadwaters lawyers note that he is in poor health and may not have years to wait for a lawsuit to play out. Attorney General Letitia James should direct her staff to expedite Broadwaters case instead of fighting it. Its the right thing to do. Advance Media New York Chennai, May 28 : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Saturday decided to conduct "Dravidian model" training camps to inculcate Dravidian values in the present generation. The decision was taken in a meeting of the DMK's district Secretaries at the party headquarters in Chennai, chaired by Chief Minister and DMK President, M.K. Stalin. A resolution was adopted in the meeting which stated that the camps would mark the centenary of late Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi in 2023. The resolution said that the purpose of the Dravidian model training camps was to organise the march of an army to counter the "dangerous forces that seek to sow communal seeds and those who are ready to sell themselves and become slaves". It also said that communal forces were not able to gain a foot in Tamil Nadu as well as not able to stomach the communal harmony and social justice that prevailed in the state due to the tireless efforts of Periyar, Anna, and Karunanidhi. Stalin, in the meeting, said that the term 'Dravidian model' is now not confined to Tamil Nadu and has reached other states also. Patna, May 28 : A Bihar revenue officer was arrested by the state police's Economic Offence Wing (EOW) on Saturday for his alleged involvement in Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) question paper leak case, officials said. Rahul Kumar Singh, deployed as revenue officer in Bhagama block in Araria district, was staying there for the last five months. According to an EOW official, the officer was having link with the mastermind of the question paper leak case. "We have conducted a raid at the rented accommodation of Rahul Kumar Singh and recovered some question papers, bank passbooks, PAN card copies etc," the official said. The EOW, which is investigating the BPSC question paper leak case, had registered an FIR against Rahul Singh on May 9. Since then, he was on the radar of EOW. The EOW will soon bring him to Patna for thorough investigation. Bengaluru, May 28 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday called upon the Jain community, which has a major presence in business the world over, to establish an e-commerce company under their own forum of Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), on the lines of Flipkart and Amazon. The Chief Minister, in his address after inaugurating the 'JITO Grand Summit', said that the Jain community has excelled in trade and business, and has a very good network worldover. "You will achieve huge success if JITO establishes an e-commerce company. The profit from the company could be used for the welfare of JITO members," he said. The Chief Minister was all praise for the business acumen of commitment of the Jain community. "People in other communities are worried about the money in their pocket before they start a business. They look out for jobs if they don't have money. But the jains have the acumen to start a business even without a rupee in their pocket," he said. Jains are also known for their friendly nature as they easily integrate with the local people wherever they go and start their business. They live harmoniously wherever they are, Bommai added. Referring to Jain community's connection with Karnataka, Bommai recalled that the third century poet Ranna was a Jain. Bahubali, who came from Bihar, attained Moksha at Shravanabelagola, he said. The Chief Minister assured full cooperation from the State government for any proposal from JITO to start educational institutions on scientific basis. JITO's apex President Suresh Mutha, Apex Vice President Paras Jain, JITO Bengaluru President Ashok Nagori and others were present. Bengaluru, May 28 : At a time when the agitation is growing stronger to drop revised syllabus for Kannada textbooks of Class 1 to 10 standards, and Social Science books of Class 6 to 10, the ruling BJP in Karnataka is asserting its firm resolve to implement the new syllabus. Karnataka Education Minister B.C. Nagesh on Saturday said: "We will tell history of Indian victories not defeats to students. Everyone wrote about defeats throughout the history, none wrote about victories." He further said: "We are all set to tell historical victories of India." After the inauguration of "Amruta Bharatige Kannadada Aarati" programme organised by Kannada and Culture Department he said, India had its own system before the invasion of foreigners. "The volume of injustice done by British and Muslim rulers had not been done by anyone," he said. Mughals have destroyed temples, culture of the land and snatched away our self respect, he said. "Our people did not take sword to conquer any foreign land. They went with knowledge. British had only the intention to destroy Gurukulas," he said. Nagesh said the British did not conquer this land with their intelligence and valour. "But, they came to power by divide and rule policy, through illegal and immoral ways". "But, our freedom fighters turned revolutionaries have challenged the British empire and took away their peace of mind," he said, adding: "Children must be taught that the freedom was achieved through the sacrifice and martyrdom of crores of people." New Delhi, May 28: Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again emphasised that attempts to make Moscow responsible for the difficulties with the supply of agricultural products to world markets are "groundless". In what the Kremlin described as "a thorough exchange of views" on issues related to global food security with Austrian Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Friday, Putin said that the Ukrainian side should clear the ports as soon as possible for the free passage of blocked ships. Informing Nehammer about the Russian military's ongoing work to ensure the safety of navigation in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas, Putin accused Kyiv of sabotaging the negotiation process between representatives of the two countries. "Detailed explanations were given of the real causes of these problems, which have arisen, among other things, due to anti-Russian sanctions by the United States and the European Union," the Russian President's office said in a statement after the telephone conversation between the two leaders. Putin also reaffirmed that Russia would fully fulfill its contractual obligations to supply natural gas to Austria. As reported by IndiaNarrative.com earlier, there appears to be no end in sight to the growing global food crisis in the world due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier today, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, slammed fresh statements by representatives of the US administration that Russia is deliberately contributing to the growth of the food crisis in the world. He said that difficulties in the area have been accumulating for a long time and are related to miscalculations and systematic errors in the macroeconomic, primarily financial and foreign trade, energy and food policies of Western countries. The Covid-19 pandemic, said the Russian diplomat, also caused significant disruption to value chains as the logistics costs doubled and naturally led to a sharp rise in food prices. "Further aggravation of the crisis occurred due to the introduction by Washington and its satellites of illegitimate sanctions against Russia. Despite sending American officials to exemptions from the restrictive regime, allegedly providing for the opportunity to trade agro-industrial goods with our country, domestic exporters often cannot arrange such deliveries," Antonov told media in Washington. Ukraine Crisis "They face blocking payments, denials of loans and insurance, problems with chartering ships and purchasing agricultural equipment and even seeds. In addition, the United States continues to raise duties on the import of our fertilizers. What is this if not the height of hypocrisy?" he added. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba dialled US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, stating that Ukraine and the US continue to work "hand in hand to deliver food exports despite Russia's reckless blockade". "The Secretary and Foreign Minister Kuleba shared updates on efforts to resolve the global food security crisis caused by President Putin's invasion, noting that the Kremlin continues to weaponize food and spread false claims about US sanctions," the US State Department said in a statement. Last week, at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue of hunger and armed conflict, Blinken had accused the Vladimir Putin government of "using the hunger of civilians" to advance its objectives in Ukraine. However, nearly 10 days after the meeting, the situation remains largely unchanged with no "meaningful solution" to end the global food insecurity - as was suggested by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres by reintegrating Ukraine's agricultural production and the food and fertilizer production of Russia and Belarus into world markets despite the war - having been found till now. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Latest updates on Global Food Crisis New Delhi, May 28 : Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who is under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, has got the court's permission to travel abroad from May 31 to June 6. Jacqueline, who wants to attend the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi, had approached the Patiala House court, seeking its nod for her visit to the UAE, France, and Nepal. The ED has interrogated Jacqueline multiple times and recorded her statement after her alleged friendship with Chandrashekhar came to light. In the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving Chandrashekhar, the ED had last month attached gifts and properties worth Rs 7 crore given to the Sri Lankan actress, terming them proceeds of crime. In February this year, the agency had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who had introduced him to the actress. It has been alleged that Irani used to choose costly gifts for Jacqueline and later dropped them at her house after the payments were made by Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. Patna, May 28 : A father-son duo were arrested in Bihar's Saharsa in connection of their alleged involvement in illegal trade of sophisticated weapons, police said on Saturday. The local police recovered a carbine, two magazines, a pistol, a home-made gun, 8 live cartridges and two mobile phones from their possession. DSP, HQ, Saharsha Ejaz Hafeez Mani said: "We have received a tip-off that some criminals are assembling at a house in ward number 16 of Vidyapati Nagar under Sadar police station. Accordingly, a team headed by (trainee) DSP Nishikant Bharti was constituted. The police team conducted a raid and arrested two accused, named Rajeshwar Jha and Ashish Kumar Jha." "We have have recovered a cache of illegal arms and ammunition from the house of Rajeshwar Jha. The preliminary investigation reveals that Rajeshwar and his son were involved in illegal arms and ammunition trade in the region. We are scanning their criminal backgroundd. "The investigation is currently underway. We are making efforts to find out their nexus and how they would obtain arms and ammunition. We are also hopeful that they would reveal the names of criminals who may be in contact with them," the DSP added. Gurugram, May 28 : After the reduction of excise duty on petrol and diesel by the Centre, the All Haryana Petrol Pump Association has demanded that the state government follow suit. The organization has threatened that if the Haryana government ignores their demand, all dealers of the state will not buy oil from companies on May 31, which has been named 'No Purchase Day'. The association said on Saturday that in the coming days, giving fuel to government vehicles will also be stopped. This was announced by the All Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association during a press meet here on Saturday. They said that the pump dealers are incurring losses of crores of rupees due to the arbitrariness of the government and oil companies. "The state government should reduce VAT on petrol and diesel so that the constant loss to the petrol pump operators can be compensated," Anil Yadav, President of Petrol Pump Association told IANS. "Excise on petrol and diesel has already been reduced by the central government but the state government has not yet decided to reduce VAT. In view of this, all petrol pump operators will register their protest for a day on May 31," he added. "In the past five years, the price of petrol has increased by 160 per cent and that of diesel by 150 per cent, but the commission of pump dealers has not been revised even once. The Apoorva Chandra Committee constituted by the Government of India has also said in its report that 90 per cent of the commission that pump dealers get is spent on operating the pump itself. The expenses which have increased for them are not being met by the commission." Association general secretary M.C. Gupta said that pump dealers should be kept out of the fluctuation of excise rates. "Full supply of petrol, diesel is given only after full payment of excise duty to the dealer. In such a situation, it is excessive to reduce the amount of excise duty back from their sale price," Gupta said. "There are 4,000 oil pumps in Haryana and 200 pumps in Gurugram. The reduction in excise duty has resulted in a loss of at least Rs 5 lakh to each pump. Accordingly, the dealers have suffered a loss of more than Rs 200 crore," Manish Yadav, a Gurugram based dealer said. However, it has also been made clear by the Petrol Pump Association that people will not face any problems in any way. The association informed that the way the excise on petrol and diesel has been reduced by the Centre, in the same way, if the state government also reduces the VAT, the association will end its protest. Srinagar, May 28 : Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Saturday, police said. "Killed terrorists identified as Ishfaq Ah Ganie R/O Chakwangund, Anantnag and Yawar Ayub Dar R/O Dogripora, Awantipora, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM. The duo were involved in several terror crimes," Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted, quoting Inspector General Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar. The firefight took place after a joint team of security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire and retaliated, triggering the encounter. Nagpur, May 28 : The political couple -- Navneet Rana, an MP and her MLA husband Ravi Rana, sparked yet another controversy, this time in Nagpur. Following their conflict with the Shiv Sena workers over chanting of Hanuman Chalisa at the residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the couple - Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana - faced a similar situation in Nagpur from the NCP workers. Banners of Ranas reciting Hanuman Chalisa at the Ramnagar Hanuman temple were put up right in front of the NCP office in Nagpur. The NCP activists, led by state vice-president Prashant Pawar, set up a stage near the temple for chanting of 'Sundarkand' to counter Ranas. A heavy police bandobast was deployed at the temple premises and only after dispersal of the NCP workers after they did Aarati and chanted 'Sundarkand', the Rana couple was allowed to visit the temple after 2.10 p.m. A tensed atmosphere was palpable but no untoward incident took place during the "pujas" by both the sides. The couple's decision to chant Hanuman Chalisa in different parts of Maharashtra had earlier evoked sharp reactions across political parties. Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana were arrested by the Mumbai Police on April 23 after the couple announced they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai. The announcement was followed by a prolonged high-voltage political drama which saw protests by Shiv Sainiks outside the couple's residence. The Rana couple was returning to their constituency for the first time after being released from jail. They were given a rousing welcome at the airport by their supporters when they landed here on Saturday. Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) held graduation ceremonies for its class of 2022 Thursday and Friday. Seniors from Summit, Coconino and Flagstaff high schools walked the stage to close out their time in high school. While Summit hosted an outdoor ceremony, both Coconino and Flagstaff returned to the Walkup Skydome on the Northern Arizona University campus after two years of pandemic-altered graduations. The pandemic's effects could still be seen, however, in the table offering free masks and hand sanitizer to attendees, and in the mentions made across several addresses. "I am very proud FUSD was able to maintain in-person learning for the entire school year, and understand all of us were called on to do more to support one another and sustain student learning and school services during the surges of COVID-19 in the fall and winter months," district Superintendent Michael Penca said in an end-of-year message posted to the districts website. " ... I wish the best for all of the students and staff who will not return to FUSD next school year and thank you for sharing your time and talents with us." After each ceremony, the graduates joined a crowd of family and friends who were waiting for them with hugs, banners and bouquets. Its awesome, Im excited, Noah Burdick said of his graduation from FHS. Im excited for the future; its a great feeling. He has plans to study health and technology at Coconino Community College before transferring to an international school in Norway to receive a bachelors in health science and nursing. Its just natural to me, he said of his interest in medicine. He said his dad, who is a nurse practitioner, was one of his inspirations. I think he worked hard and hes got a big future ahead," Noah's dad, Jeremy Burdick said. "Were excited to see where he goes, how he gets there." Sandra Yazzie attended CHSs graduation to support her son, Ronando. She said the ceremony went well. Im glad he made it, even though the struggle hes been going through, she said. Im glad he toughed it out, even with the pandemic. I'm so happy. I'm so proud, Gioelys Pagan said about her graduation from Summit, the school she'd attended since eighth grade. She hopes to one day be a lawyer, because she's so good with arguing. I'm really proud of my childhood friend, said Amy Madrigal, a rising senior at FHS and Pagan's friend since second grade. Another Summit graduate, Jeremy Orduna, said he was feeling pretty good" after the ceremony. He described his time at the school as five out of five. I wouldnt have it any other way, he said. Orduna wasnt sure what he was going to do next, but planned to continue working while looking for his next job. His older sister, Jennifer Orduna, said she was proud of him. She is also a graduate of Summit. Ive seen all of his hardships that hes been through, she said of Jeremy. Im very proud of him. Summit High School Friends and families of Summit High Schools 2022 graduates gathered in the schools parking lot Thursday evening to celebrate their students. About 50 students graduated from the school this year. Graduate Jordan Lunsford gave the class address. After transferring to Summit earlier this school year, she had graduated in October. Lunsford has a 5-month-old daughter, who she said was "the reason I am here today" and "the reason I am who I am." She has changed me for the better, and I am forever grateful that I get to be her mom, Lunsford said of her daughter. She thanked her mother and boyfriend for their loyalty and assistance, especially over the past year. Although I didnt think Id be graduating high school with a 5-month-old, I would not have wanted my life to turn out any other way, she said. "So graduates, I hope by hearing my story, youll find your inspiration to overcome any challenges that you will face. Summit class of 2022, as we reach this point and go our separate ways, we must remember: although it is the end of this chapter, it is just the beginning of the rest of our lives. The faculty address was given by teacher Ray Serverian. This is the most amazing group of graduate students that I have ever been able to work with and learn with, he said. Despite COVID stealing some of that time away, it is still important that we made the most of all the time we had together and that we made it to this most important event. He advised the students on decision-making and reminded them that the school will offer them assistance. Do not be afraid to take risks . ... You cannot know whether you are making the right choice, but thoughtful examination will help you no matter the outcome. Rash decision-making leads to regret as often as not, but knowing you did your best in the moment will help you to try and find your success," he said. Flagstaff High School The Walkup Skydome was full of FHS graduates and their families, friends and teachers for Friday mornings graduation. A total of 25 of the schools graduates had participated in the AP Academy program and 11 had chosen to join the armed forces. The graduating class had earned a total of about $2 million in scholarships. Among the students who gave speeches at the ceremony were senior speaker Sydney Wooldridge and Student Senior Body President Cora Miller, who dedicated her speech to her mom. "I know that some of us think that this might be a scary, maybe even sad time right now, Miller said. Were graduating, and some people think we have it all together, but in reality, we dont ... . She continued: "Graduation is an ending, but also a beginning. A beginning to anything you want, anything you can desire in life. Its OK to make mistakes right now. Keep making them, because youre allowed to. The schools principal, Libby Miller, who had come to the district in January, acknowledged one of her predecessors in the role, Tony Cullen, as well as the work the schools staff and students had done to get to graduation. Staff, weve been through quite a year, she said, COVID, four principals and many pressing challenges ourselves, yet you still show up with a smile on your face and the dedication your students deserve. The perseverance you demonstrate daily is inspirational. Graduates, I know these last few years have not been easy for you; however, you can choose to be a victim of circumstance, or a navigator of the circumstance, she said. Having had the privilege to get to know so many of you, I know you have what it takes to become navigators. I encourage you to take this and mold into a new experience. Acknowledge what strengths you have developed because of this and use them in your coming years. Bring that into the new world. Coconino High School The Skydome was just as full Friday evening for the district's last graduation. Among the honors CHS Principal Stacie Zanzucchi listed the class as having achieved were IB diplomas, two students accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy, full-ride scholarships to a variety of schools and several who had earned a seal of biliteracy, The class had earned over $4 million in scholarships, she said. They have shown perseverance and persistence over the last few years and have brought hope and promise to CHS, she said. The ceremony included addresses from students including valedictorian Oscar Landa Samano and Trever Petersen, senior class president. Northern Arizona Distance Learning graduate and musician Avery Rhoton performed a few of her original songs to honor the school "where it all started." There was also a presentation of the senior classs gift to the school: two digital banner displays. In his speech, Landa Samano thanked his family, CHS and his home community of Sunnyside. The community that was supposed to lead me to failure was the same community where I fell in love with STEM. It's the community where I learned the value of education, he said. In this community, I learned that hard work, perseverance and commitment will enable you to achieve anything. Because of this community -- the Sunnyside community, the CHS community, the Flagstaff community -- I've become the person I am today. Two teacher dedicatees -- Lori Wright and Bryce Brother -- were recognized for their accomplishments and dedication. This is Wright's 24th year celebrating graduation at CHS and Brothers last teaching at the school, they said. As you walk across this stage and you graduate from CHS, I want you to think about life like you do an at-bat, Wright said. ... I want you to step into the box of life, and I want you to stare that pitcher down, expect a curveball. But if you get a fastball, you hit the cover off of it. 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. Moscow, May 28 : Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a conversation with French and German leaders Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz, pointed out the danger of pumping Ukraine with Western weapons. He warned European colleagues that this carries the risks of destabilization. "The Russian President also sharpened the issue of the dangerous nature of the ongoing pumping of Ukraine with Western weapons, warning in this regard of the risks of further destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis," the Kremlin's press service said, RT reported. Putin also announced Moscow's readiness to facilitate the search for options for the unhindered export of grain. It is noted that the Russian leader explained the reasons for the difficulties with food supplies, which were the result of the erroneous economic policy of Western countries. "For its part, Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports," the Kremlin said. Earlier, Putin, in a conversation with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, noted that Russia is ready to help overcome the food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, but for this it is necessary to remove politically motivated restrictions imposed by Western countries. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Patna, May 28 : A day after a massive bank robbery in Bihar's Araria, action was taken on Saturday against local police officials. Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Singh on Saturday suspended SHO, Town, Kumar Abhinav. A gang of four to five armed robbers looted a branch of Bank of India located at Bank Road at around 10 a.m. on Friday and fled with Rs 37.5 lakh cash and jewellery worth Rs 87.5 lakh from the lockers. The armed robbers burst into the bank and held the officials and customers hostage at gunpoint. They took the cash from the cash box and also taken the key of the chest and lockers from bank officials. They snatched the rifle of the security guard and also snatched mobile phones of customers and officials, who were then locked inside the washroom. Bank manager Akhilesh Kumar claimed that the robbers have taken away jewellery from 20 lockers apart from cash from the cash box. "We have suspended the SHO of the town police station due to his negligence in duty. The suspension was done in the direction of the IGP, Purnea range IGP," the SP said. "We have sealed the district borders and also alerted Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) officials deployed on the Indo-Nepal border. Efforts are on to nab the robbers," he added. Ahmedabad, May 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya, Members of Parliament, MLAs, Ministers from the Gujarat Government, and leaders of the cooperative sector were among those present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed thousands of farmers who gathered at the Mahatma Mandir. He said cooperation is a great medium for self-sufficiency of the village. It has the energy of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. He said Pujya Bapu and Patel showed us the way for bringing self-sufficiency to villages. Along those lines, today we are moving ahead on the path of developing a model cooperative village. Six villages in Gujarat have been chosen where all the cooperative-related activities would be implemented, he said. After inaugurating the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant at IFFCO, Kalol, he said that the power of a full sack of urea has come into a half-liter bottle, leading to huge savings in transportation and storage. The Plant will produce about 1.5 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. He said that 8 more such plants will be established in the country in the coming days. "This will reduce foreign dependence with regard to urea and will save the country's money. I am confident that this innovation will not remain confined to urea. In the future other nano fertilizers will be available to our farmers", he said. The Prime Minister informed that India is the second-largest consumer of urea in the world but only the third-largest producer. After the formation of the government in 2014, the government did 100 per cent neem coating of urea. This ensured that the farmers of the country got enough urea. Simultaneously, the work of restarting 5 closed fertilizer factories in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana was initiated. UP and Telangana factories have already started production, and the other three factories also will soon start working, he said. Talking about the import dependence with regard to urea and phosphate and potash-based fertilizers, the Prime Minister dwelled on high prices and lack of availability in the global market due to the pandemic and war. He said that the sensitive government did not allow the problems to be passed on to the farmers and despite the difficult situation did not let any crisis of fertilizer take shape in India. A urea bag costing Rs 3500 is made available to the farmer for Rs 300 while the government bears Rs 3200 per bag. Similarly on a bag of DAP, the government bears Rs 2500 as opposed to Rs 500 borne by the earlier governments. The Union Government gave a subsidy of Rs 1,60,000 crore last year, this year this subsidy is going to be more than Rs 2 lakh crore, the Prime Minister informed. The Prime Minister promised to do whatever was necessary in the interest of the farmers of the country. The Prime Minister said that in the last 8 years, the government has worked on both the immediate and long-term solutions to the problems being faced by the country. He cited solutions like improving health infrastructure to deal with any further pandemic shock, Mission Oil Palm to tackle edible oil problems, bio-fuel and hydrogen fuel to handle oil problems, natural farming, and nano-technology push are also results of this approach. "The example of the cooperative model of the dairy sector is before us. Today India is the largest milk producer in the world among which Gujarat has a major share. The dairy sector is also growing rapidly in the last few years and is also contributing more to the rural economy. In Gujarat, milk-based industries were widely spread because the restrictions on the part of the government were minimal in this. The government plays the role of only a facilitator here." With the objective of promoting cooperatives into the market and to bring them on the same platform, a separate ministry for cooperatives was formed at the Centre. He added that efforts are being made to encourage a cooperative-based economic model in the country. The PM greeted and met the cooperative representatives. New Delhi, May 28 : Even as half the country is receiving pre-monsoon showers, the plains of northwest India and large parts of central India are set to witness a rise of 2-3 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. "Gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius is very likely over most parts of northwest India during next three days while gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius is very likely over most parts of central India during next two days," the IMD bulletin said However, it added that: "No significant heat wave conditions are very likely over the country during next five days." The southern peninsular region is already in the countdown mode to welcome the southwest monsoon while east and NE India too are witnessing rainfall. Under the influence of westerly winds from Arabian Sea over the south peninsular India in lower tropospheric levels, widespread light/moderate rainfall with thunderstorm/ lightning is very likely over Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep Islands and isolated rainfall over Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal during next five days. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Kerala and Mahe till June 1 and over Lakshadweep on May 30. The IMD warned that squally weather (wind speed 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph) is very likely over southwest Arabian Sea during next five days, over southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area along and off south Kerala coast and Comorin area on May 29 and 30 and over northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining north Gujarat coast on May 28 and 29. Fishermen are advised not to venture into these areas. Under the influence of a trough in westerlies and southwesterly winds from Bay of Bengal to northeast India at lower tropospheric levels, scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over northeast India and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and isolated to scattered rainfall with isolated thunderstorm/ lightning/ gusty winds over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal next five days. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on May 30 and 31, over Arunachal Pradesh on June 1, over Assam and Meghalaya till June 1 and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on May 29, 31, and June 1, the IMD said. Mumbai, May 28 : Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda celebrated World Menstrual Hygiene Day by painting a wall at Ghatkopar East here on Saturday. Sharing a video on her Instagram handle of her painting the wall, Navya Naveli wrote: "Just us out here painting a wall mural on periods to celebrate World Menstrual Hygiene Day. This is our attempt to celebrate menstruation and make public places more period friendly." Sharing the picture, she captioned it: "Happy World Menstrual Hygiene Day!" After her post, her mother, Shweta Bachchan, gushingly wrote: "Navyaaaaaa. Love you and proud of you baby." Her sentiments were shared by a number of netizens, who praised Navya Naveli for spreading a positive message. Panaji, May 28 : Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday warned against religious conversion in Goa, claiming that a Christian pastor who was arrested for religious conversion earlier this week, used 'magic' to convert poor people. "Dominic used to lure poor people for conversion. The government will take strict action. We will not allow religious conversion in Goa. We will act on complaints, whenever we receive them. We respect all religious, whether Hindu, Muslim or Catholic," the Chief Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the state Bharatiya Janata Party executive meeting in Panaji. A Christian pastor who runs The Five Pillars church Dominic D'Souza and his wife Joan were booked under the the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act for allegedly using magic to convert people. Joan, however, was not arrested. The complaint was filed by a person who Dominic had allegedly tried to convert. Dominic was subsequently arrested and later released on bail on Friday. "There were two, three complaints filed (against Dominic) earlier. That he has got bail is secondary, but his house, where such activities were taking place, everything has been seized. We are investigating strongly. Religious conversions will not be allowed in Goa and strict action will be taken against those undertaking such activities," Sawant said. "As far as my information, our Home Department has done a good job with filing cases against Dominic who was accused of religious conversion. He claimed to use magic to compel people to convert themselves. There have always been complaints against him, but the police department had not acted against him in this manner," the Chief Minister added. New Delhi, May 28 : The national capital on Saturday witnessed a marginal decline in the number of daily Covid cases as 442 fresh infections were reported against 445 recorded on the previous day, as per the Delhi government health bulletin. However, no Covid related death has been reported for the second consecutive day in the city. Meanwhile, the Covid positivity rate has also slightly dropped to 2.02 per cent. The number of active cases stands at 1,641 in the capital city. With 428 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 18,78,105. The number of patients being treated in home isolation stands at 1,138. With new Covid cases, the total caseload of the city has jumped to 19,05,95, while the death toll continues at 26,208. The number of Covid containment zones stand at 393 in the city. A total of 21,914 new tests -- 14,873 RT-PCR and 7,041 Rapid Antigen -- were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,84,81,103, while 23,220 vaccines were administered -- 3,360 first doses, 10,145 second doses, and 9,715 precaution doses. The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,41,66,979, according to the health bulletin. Kathmandu, May 28 : Nepal's Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday said that his government is committed to take back the "disputed land currently occupied by India". Addressing the Parliament ahead of the Budget presentation, he said that his government is committed to protecting the land belonging to the country. Nepal and India have had boundary disputes in Kalapani area for a long time and the bilateral relations hit the bottom low after K.P. Oli government in 2020 May unveiled a new political map incorporating Kalpani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura - all Indian territories. India had rejected the unilateral territorial extension by Nepal as a "cartographic assertion" and called Nepal to settle the dispute through established diplomatic mechanisms. However, Deuba on Saturday said that since the issue related to the boundary is sensitive, the government is committed to resolve it through talks and diplomatic means, while asserting that Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal. Former Prime Minister Oli, while addressing the House on Friday, had criticised the Deuba government for failing to take back the land occupied by India. Deuba said that relations with India are multidimensional and areas of cooperation are diverse. "We are pursuing the policy of non-alignment while conducting our foreign relations. While keeping the national interest, mutual benefits and respect, the government is committed to strengthening and seeping its relations with neighbours and all friendly nations. And the government is also committed to protect the land belonging to Nepal," he said in a reply to Oli. Deuba, in his statement, also highlighted the energy cooperation between Nepal and India first signed in 2014. After Deuba came into power last July, his government has already decided to award the contract of one hydroelectric project to India and negotiations are on to develop another hydroelectric project. On the issue of submission of the report of Eminent Persons' Group on Nepal-India relations, pending for three years, Deuba asked Oli why he had not received the report three years back. Back in 2016, Nepal and India had formed an eight-member EPG mandated to review various aspects of the bilateral relations including Nepal-India Friendship Treaty 1950, and it said has worked for about three and a half years to come up with a detailed report and will submit it to Prime Ministers of Nepal and India soon. After the Indian side was reluctant to accept the report due to some reservations. Oli had criticised the Deuba government for failing to create an environment to receive the report. When the EPG report was ready, Oli was Prime Minister in Nepal. "What stopped you from receiving the report three years back? Nepal government is committed to create an environment so that the report would be submitted to both sides," Deuba told Oli. Deuba also spoke on Nepal's relations with China after Oli questioned the breach in Nepal's long standing position of respecting one-China policy. Oli said that recently a senior US official visited the Tibetan camps based in Kathmandu which has breached Nepal's one-China policy. Nepal is the house of around 15,000 Tibetan refugees and some 6,000 are deprived from documentation. The US and some Western countries have been putting pressure on the government of Nepal to provide the refugee identity cards to the rest of Tibetans who are deprived from the registration. The government is committed to one-China policy and fully aware that its land would not be used against its neighbours, said Deuba. Oli also raised Nepal's commitment towards China's BRI which Nepal signed up with Beijing-led flagship project in 2017 but not a single project has been implemented yet. But the Deuba government has put reservations over the BRI, saying that it cannot take loans to invest in the projects to be funded under it. The government will take wise decisions to implement the development assistance including the BRI and others as per the requirements of the country, capacity of the country and merits, Deuba said. Chennai, May 28 : The Consortium of Self Financing Professional Arts and Science colleges in Tamil Nadu which is a broader coalition of the engineering colleges of the state will be meeting the state Higher Education Minister, K. Ponmudi to request him for a nominal hike in fee. P. Selvaraj, secretary of the consortium, told IANS that self-financing engineering colleges of the state are in acute financial crisis and eight engineering colleges in the states have been shut down this year. It is to be noted that K. Ponmudi had ruled out Tamil Nadu accepting the new hiked fee for engineering courses announced by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Ponmudi in a statement on Friday said: "Engineering fees will not be increased in Tamil Nadu. The old fee will remain in state." Meanwhile, Selvaraj said that they would not accept the AICTE fee hike as it was very high but added that they would meet the state higher education minister requesting the government for a nominal hike in fee. The consortium secretary said: "The AICTE fee hike is too high and we don't accept it but we need a nominal hike for our survival. The representatives of the consortium of colleges will soon meet K. Ponmudi soon, and would request him a nominal hike in fees for engineering courses as we are facing acute financial crisis and eight engineering colleges in the self-financing sector in the state have already shut down this year due to financial crisis." It may be noted that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has recommended a fee hike for engineering colleges in the self-financing sector. According to the AICTE recommendation, a minimum fee of Rs 79,600 a year and a maximum fee of Rs 1.89 lakh a year can be charged for an undergraduate engineering course. In Tamil Nadu, in most of the engineering colleges, the fee is around Rs 55,000 a year which is almost half of the fee prescribed by the AICTE. The minister has come out stating that the state government will not allow the private engineering colleges fleecing the students taking into consideration the hiked fee structure of the AICTE. The minister's statement has come as a major shock to several engineering colleges in urban areas of the state that were expecting to hike the fee according to AICTE recommendations. Dhaka, May 29 : Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen on Saturday said his country is in the process of extending 200 scholarships for the family members of the war veterans from India who fought for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Momen made the remarks while speaking at a progamme in India's Guwahati city in the state of Assam. "Bangladesh and India are enjoying the best of their relations under the able leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. Momen arrived in Guwahati on Friday to attend the 3rd edition of Natural Allies in Development and Interdependence (NADI) on May 28-29. The Foreign Minister mentioned that peace and stability are the key factors that helped the development process of Assam. Momen also said that Assam and India occupy a special place in his heart, as he took shelter in Assam in 1971 during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He said the development of Bangladesh and India are complementing each other and many Indians are working in Bangladesh. Momen also mentioned the traditional linkage between the people of Assam and Sylhet, and further underscored that Assam could take advantage of Bangladesh's dynamic socio-economic growth, both as a market for their products and also as a source of quality products at a competitive price. He emphasised enhancing trade and commerce between the two countries and promoting tourism. Further, he suggested that river transportation could be an effective means for amplifying bilateral trade. Momen and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed satisfaction over the existing relationship, and hoped it will be stronger in the next 50 years. The Foreign Minister met Sarma on Friday in Guwahati. Sarma stressed that Assam is keen to engage with Bangladesh for common benefit of the the people of the two countries through the promotion of trade, commerce, connectivity and cultural activities. He appreciated the recent pace of economic development in Bangladesh under "the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina". Sarma also recalled the significant role of railway connectivity with Chattogram port city in trade during the British period. The Chief Minister said Assam is developing advanced medical and education institutions and can be a destination for the people of Bangladesh for medical treatment and study purposes. The Bangladeshi Minister also attended a dinner hosted by the Assam Chief Minister, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar where a number of Ministers from the Centre and States along with Ambassadors from ASEAN countries were present. During his visit to Guwahati, he is also expected to call on the Governor of Assam, and hold an interaction session with the members of the business community. Sunday Service, Unity of Flagstaff: May 29 Unity of Flagstaff, 1800 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Join us this weekend as we honor and remember those people, situations, joys and sorrows, fears and moments of peace that are a part of our fabric. Not only by telling their story but ACTING on the inspiration we draw from their lives. Live and Live-Streaming. (YouTube.UnityofFlagstaff.org). https://go.evvnt.com/1168184-0. The Episcopal Church of The Epiphany: May 28 The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 423 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff. 928-774-2911. 8 a.m.- May 29, 10:30 a.m., WELCOMING ALL: with Rev Alison Lee: SAT 5:30PM; SUN: 8:00AM & 10:30AM (COVID masks are required)- with organ, choir, and congregational singing; IN PERSON or on-line at epiphanyaz.org ; 5PM FLG Youth Co-op Midschoolers; TU 9 AM-Contemplative Conversation; WE 6:30PM, FLG Youth Co-op (@flagyouthcoop); 928-774-2911. https://go.evvnt.com/1167542-0. Beacon Unitarian Universalist ALL-CONGREGATION, ALL-AGES PICNIC: May 29 Bushmaster Park, 3150 N. Alta Vista Drive, Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., There will be NO LIVE SERVICE AT BEACON ON MAY 29. Dip into our Beacon YouTube library (link below) or watch the livestream of the 10:30 a.m. UU Congregation of Phoenix service. The worship Zoom link can be found on their home page: https://www.phoenixuu.org/ There will be an ALL-CONGREGATION, ALL-AGES PICNIC beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 29th at Bushmaster Park. ALL ARE WELCOME MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND NEWCOMERS. Bring some food and beverages for yourselves (and to share, as desired), and feel free to invite friends who might feel at home at Beacon. Weve reserved the ramada closest to the Thomas Drive entrance. https://go.evvnt.com/1161568-0. Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services: May 8 740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South as Rev. Joshua Walker preaches through the book of Acts. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715. Flagstaff Federated Community Church: Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Living Christ Lutheran Church: Living Christ Lutheran Church is a diverse and LGBTQ-affirming community of disciples embraced by God's unconditional love and enduring grace. You are invited to celebrate with us God's love and presence in your life, grow in your discipleship, and leave empowered to be God's hands in the world. We worship through music, teaching, prayer, and the sacraments each Sunday at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kurt Fangmeier leading. We offer worship both in-person (masks are respected, not required; encouraged for unvaccinated) and online. Learn more about us at our new website: lclcflag.org. Leupp Nazarene Church: The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Christian Science Society of Flagstaff: 619 W. Birch Ave. The Christian Science Society of Flagstaff has opened for Sunday services while continuing to have them available via Zoom for online and phone. Wednesday testimony meetings are available only via Zoom. For phone Sunday Services: Dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 369 812 794#, Passcode: 075454#. For phone Wednesday meetings, dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 971 672 834#, Passcode: 894826#. The access for Zoom on Sundays is: https://zoom.us/j/369812794. The Zoom access for Wednesdays is: https://zoom.us/j/971672834. The password to use to enter both is CSS. We welcome all to attend our Sunday Services in person, or live by Zoom, at 10:00 oclock, and to attend our Wednesday Testimony meetings live by Zoom, at 5:30 oclock. Our Reading Room will be open on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-12 noon. For further information please call 928-526-5982. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Srinagar, May 29 : Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday inaugurated the north India's first Industrial Biotech Park constructed at Ghatti near Kathua. On the occasion, the Lt Governor said that the Industrial Biotech Park at Kathua will transform the economy and enable scientists to tackle challenges of climate change. The enabling infrastructure will fuel new wave of innovation and impact various sectors, from health and agriculture to cosmetics and materials, he added. The Lt Governor observed that new Industrial Biotech Park at Kathua will provide Startups, Young Entrepreneurs and SMEs the tools that can make production cheaper, manageable and environmentally sustainable. Together with advances in data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, the biotech park will accelerate change, he said. It will be vital futuristic asset of agri-horticulture entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, youth entrepreneurs and scientists of the region, he added. With new biotech capabilities and innovation, J&K, bestowed with more than 3500 medicinal plant species, will be able to harness market advantages in the most effective way and help the farmers to generate more income, asserted the Lt Governor. Sinha further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, the new Industrial Development Scheme has enabled J&K to fetch investment of more than Rs 38,800 crore as on dates, which also includes proposals of 338 industrial units associated with the biotech sector in some way or the other. The establishment of organic based and pharmaceutical companies will definitely be successful in linking the abundant natural wealth neglected for decades with the industry, he added. The Lt Governor said that another Biotech Park at Handwara, Kupwara is under construction and the park will cost Rs. 84.66 Crore, shared between Department of Biotechnology, GoI and Science and Technology Department of the UT government. Meanwhile, Union minister Jitendra Singh said that the Biotech Park would act as hub for incubation of new ideas and will act as a robust platform to support the agri-entrepreneurs, startups, progressive farmers, scientists, scholars and students not only from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but also from nearby states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. He said that the biotechnology park at Kathua has a potential to produce 25 startups in a year which will be among its great contributions to this region. Bhopal, May 29 : A day after the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule of three-tier panchayat polls, the Opposition Congress accused the BJP-led state government of doing "grave injustice" to the other backward classes (OBCs). It claimed that the government has given only a 9-13 per cent quota to the OBCs in the panchayat elections. The allegation was made by the state Congress chief Kamal Nath, who highlighted district-wise OBC seats allocated for three-tier panchayat polls in the state. "BJP says it will give 35 per cent quota to OBCs, but in reality it has given only 11.2 per cent seats of Zilla panchayat members to the OBC community, 9.5 per cent seats for Janpad panchayat president posts, 11.5 per cent for Janpad panchayat members and only 12.5 per cent seats for sarpanchs (head of village panchayats)," he said. Nath further claimed that the OBCs have got zero posts for Zilla panchayat members in 19 districts, zero posts for Janpad panchayat presidents in 28 districts and zero posts for Janpad panchayat members in 10 districts. Earlier in the day, the state Congress claimed that OBC seats had reduced by 60 per cent (compared to previous polls of 2014-15) this time. The official handle of the party claimed that the district panchayat member posts had come down by 61 per cent and in 13 districts, OBC quota had become nil. It is noteworthy that the state government has undertaken a process for fresh reservation of seats as per Supreme Court directives, based on the report of the Madhya Pradesh State OBC Welfare Commission. The official statistics on reserved seats is not yet available in the compiled manner. The Congress has been alleging that the fresh process has only reduced the number of reserved seats for the OBC community. As per the population-based norms, scheduled tribes (STs) get 20 per cent and scheduled castes (SCs) get 16 per cent quota in the state, leaving 14 per cent quota for the OBCs (considering the 50 per cent cap on total quota set by the Supreme Court). Responding to the allegation, Urban Development Minister Bhupendra Singh said has that the Congress has been trying to dent the OBCs' rights in the state. "It was Congress that went to the court. It opposed the OBC quota and this led to the SC scrapping the OBC quota for local bodies' polls. But our government made best efforts and ensured that the local bodies' polls would be held with OBC quota." Singh claimed that OBC seats have increased in many places and it has reduced in some places. In urban local bodies, 73 seats are reserved for OBCs now for Nagar Parishad (municipal council) presidents, which is same as earlier, for Nagar Palika (municipality) presidents, the OBC seats have increased from 25 to 28 while in Nagar Nigams (municipal corporations) four seats are still reserved for OBCs. Many of the enhancements to prosthetic urology are the result of Prof. Steven K. Wilsons inventions & clinical research. Prof. Wilson is expected to contribute immensely to Rigicon's efforts to provide innovative prosthetic solutions that increase patient satisfaction. Prof. Steven K. Wilson has five decades of experience and expertise in prosthetic urology as a physician, surgeon, author, filmmaker, editor, professor, inventor (w/ patents), researcher, and innovator of new penile implant surgical techniques. Steven K. Wilson, MD, FACS, FRCS, was formerly Professor of Urology at the University of Arkansas. The Steven K. Wilson Chair of Prosthetic Urology was endowed at this University in 2007. Through 49 years of practice and over 11,000 implants, he has performed prosthesis surgery in 54 countries and has been a visiting professor at most American training programs and numerous foreign centers. He is an author of over 257 peer-reviewed publications as well as 19 textbook chapters, 32 surgical videos, and 6 prosthetic urology textbooks. He was the 2010 recipient of the St Pauls Medal of the British Association of Urologic Surgeons, which is given yearly to a single urologist outside of the United Kingdom that has contributed significantly to world urology. In 2013, the F. Brantley Scott Award of Excellence was designated to Wilson. In 2017, he received the inaugural Living Legend Award of the Society of Urologic Prosthetic Surgeons. Last year the Sexual Medicine Society of North America honored Wilson with its Lifetime Achievement Award in Sexual Medicine. Commencing in 2021, the Wilson Cup is presented yearly at the AUA to the outstanding prosthetic urologist. Prof. Steven K. Wilson is most recognized for his innovation of new surgical techniques, which have helped make the complex implantation of penile implants and sphincters less invasive. Many of the timely enhancements to the penile prosthesis and special implantation instruments/retractors are the result of Wilsons inventions & clinical research. It is expected as Rigicons global medical director, he will contribute to product enhancements, coordinate compliance/regulation, and supervise clinical research. About Rigicon Rigicon's vision is to be the trusted scientific partner in changing the practice of prosthetic urology. Rigicon is exclusively focused on designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative prosthetic solutions that increase patient satisfaction. Our mission is to offer a unique and comprehensive portfolio of products and services and deliver high-quality, innovative prosthetic urology solutions accessible to all customers. You can find out more at http://www.rigicon.com. Zuddl Studio we want to give event organizers a simple web-based tool that gives them studio-quality production while also eliminating any last-minute hiccups while streaming an event. Zuddl, an event platform provider, launched Zuddl Studio - a powerful yet simple web-based video production and streaming platform that empowers companies, agencies, and freelancers to create broadcast-quality video content themselves. With this product, Zuddl aims to enable organizers to produce and stream high-quality video content year-round rather than just for their most important events - all at a fraction of what it would cost when outsourced to an external agency. Existing cloud studio platforms are built with individual streamers and content creators in mind. Zuddl Studio, however, caters to the complex use cases of enterprises and events ensuring predictability and a stress-free live show experience. Among other capabilities, its top features include a Backstage which is a persistent virtual green room that can be used to make sure speakers are ready to go live, to coordinate show logistics and handle back to back speakers. With the Scenes feature in Studio, organizers can even pre-configure their entire show before going live. They can pre-upload videos and presentations and invite speakers and compose them into scenes that can go live with one click. They can also multiselect speakers, backgrounds and other assets and update them with one single click which means none of those choppy transitions. Talking about the value of Zuddl Studio, Bharat Varma, Co-founder & CEO of Zuddl added: Currently, high-quality video production for events is mainly achieved through external support - this involves a lot of time, effort and money. And while there are other streaming solutions available, those platforms are not customized to the needs of an event organizer. So, we want to give event organizers a simple web-based tool that gives them studio-quality production while also eliminating any last-minute hiccups while streaming an event. Zuddl Studio is compatible with multiple event and webinar platforms like Zoom, Teams & Hopin and is available for a free trial. Those interested can get beta access by joining the waitlist via this link. About Zuddl Zuddl is a unified event platform, which helps enterprises design immersive branded experiences. Large organizations across the globe such as Google, Dicks Sporting Goods, Microsoft, Kellogg's and Grant Thornton trust Zuddl to host their virtual events. In January 2022, Zuddl announced that it closed $13.35 mn in Series A funding. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.zuddl.com Coamo Mayor Juan Carlos Garcia Padilla signing a contract with Agnes Crespo Quintana, Esq., Puerto Rico Region Director, IBTS. With the MRP Program, Coamo will benefit from a roadmap that will guide their efforts as they continue to strengthen the economy and sustainability of its municipality, said Agnes Crespo Quintana, director of the IBTS office in Puerto Rico. The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) announced it has signed an agreement with the Autonomous Municipality of Coamo, Puerto Rico, to develop its Municipal Recovery Plan (MRP). The MRP Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH), allocates funds to the municipalities of Puerto Rico to carry out planning activities that address conditions created or exacerbated by the devastating hurricanes of 2017. The resulting Municipal Recovery Plans will guide the development of stronger, safer and more resilient communities. Together with its partners Estudios Tecnicos Inc., and ATCS, IBTS will provide a multidisciplinary approach to developing Coamos MRP, ensuring that community members and stakeholders have ample opportunity to participate in the process. With the MRP Program, Coamo will benefit from a roadmap that will guide their efforts as they continue to strengthen the economy and sustainability of its municipality. Community involvement is a critical component of a successful MRP. It is from the residents of Coamo that we will first learn what it was like before, during and after the hurricanes and what actions and projects are needed to recover and build resilience, said Agnes Crespo Quintana, director of the IBTS office in Puerto Rico. With IBTS, ATCS, and ETI, Coamo will have a team of experts in municipal planning, long-term community recovery, and federal grant programs, such as CDBG-DR. The IBTS team will work hand in hand with Coamo, its residents, businesses, community organizations, neighboring municipalities, and the central government of Puerto Rico to ensure a resilient recovery for Coamo and all of its people, Crespo said. Work on Coamos MRP began in May 2022 and will continue for six months. For more information about IBTS and the MRP program, visit https://www.ibts.org/mrp/. About the Municipality of Coamo Founded in 1579, Coamo is one of the oldest municipalities in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria caused significant damage to the Municipality, including numerous landslides and the destruction of more than 2,000 homes and many buildings that are integral to its economy. The MRP program will help Coamo continue its work strengthening its economic development and resilience in the face of future disasters. About IBTS IBTS is a national nonprofit organization and trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments. IBTS provides building code expertise; federal grants management; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery expertise; local government solutions; solar quality assurance; and resilience services. With a long history of providing solar energy services in Puerto Rico, IBTS established its permanent Puerto Rico Office following the 2017 hurricanes to assist with the Islands recovery. IBTS work is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governors Association, and the National League of Cities (NLC). About ATCS ATCS provides multidisciplinary engineering consulting services, specializing in full-service solutions in the fields of transportation, traffic engineering and planning, environmental, geospatial, site civil, rail and transit, buildings and facilities, air and noise, and emergency management services. ATCS has nine offices across Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina. About Estudios Tecnicos, Inc., (ETI) Estudios Tecnicos, Inc., (ETI) is the leading planning, research, market strategy, social analysis, and economic advisory consulting firm in Puerto Rico. With more than 35 years of operation on the Island, ETI staff disciplines include economics, planning, law, statistics, management, finance, marketing, communications, data analysis, programming, and geography, among others. # # # Dr. Michael Jazayeri is a board-certified plastic surgeon with offices in Newport Beach and Santa Ana, California. Patients have consistently reported feeling much greater confidence and comfort in their own skin in a wide variety of social situations, including during times when they are fully dressed. A May 26 article on EurekAlert covers a study looking at outcomes of breast reduction surgery in boys and young men suffering from gynecomastia (enlarged breasts). The study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), found that reduction procedures for young men led to significant improvement in self-esteem and almost every aspect of quality of life." Researchers also found that the participants in the study experienced these benefits even in cases where they were dealing with highly treatable minor complications. Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Jazayeri says that his experience with adult patients showed a similar pattern of success. Dr. Jazayeri notes that patients like those featured on his websites gynecomastia treatment before-and-after gallery have consistently reported feeling much greater confidence and comfort in their own skin in a wide variety of social situations, including during times when they are fully dressed. The doctor adds that a great many men, many of whom may have had weight issues as youngsters, have painful memories of being mocked or bullied due to man boobs, especially during and after puberty. When these issues linger, the sting can last well into adulthood and have real social and psychological impacts. The plastic surgeon adds that, even in a society where excess weight is widespread, men who may be otherwise comfortable being seen by a pool or at the beach with a dad bod are nevertheless likely to be excessively embarrassed if their breasts are unusually large. He adds that cruel teasing is not unheard of even among full-grown adults who should know better. Dr. Jazayeri adds that, while a lot of gynecomastia is associated with being overweight or obese, it may also occur in the most physically fit male specimens. The doctor notes that ultra-muscular superstar Dwayne the Rock Johnson has gone public with a gynecomastia procedure earlier in his career. Johnson credits the surgery with giving him greater confidence in his frequently shirtless career as a pro-wrestler and actor. The board-certified plastic surgeon notes that, perhaps because oversize breasts are such a sensitive and painful matter for many men of all body types, his male breast reduction patients are consistently thrilled and relieved by their outcomes. Readers can learn more about Dr. Michael Jazayeri by visiting his website at https://drjaz.com/ or by calling (714) 834-0101. The doctor offers his services from two Orange County locations in the cities of Newport Beach and Santa Ana. Milan Dordevic official 2022 Forbes Technology Council member I'm excited to join this community of accomplished tech leaders. This recognition and relationship with Forbes will give me the opportunity to share my ideas and expertise in product innovation and project management with a global audience Milan Dordevic, Director of Product Development at Proctorio, a leading online proctoring company, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Milan Dordevic was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Milan Dordevic into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Milan has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Milan will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Milan Dordevic will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. "I'm excited to join this community of accomplished tech leaders. This recognition and relationship with Forbes will give me the opportunity to share my ideas and expertise in product innovation and project management with a global audience," said Milan Dordevic, Director of Product Development at Proctorio Milans upcoming articles will be available on Forbes page here ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. ABOUT PROCTORIO Proctorio is a comprehensive Learning Integrity Platform that offers Identity Verification and Remote Proctoring services to over 4,000+ higher education, K-12, corporate, and federal institutions around the world. Proctorios suite of Lock Down, Recording, and Verification options allow exam administrators to customize tests for their needed level of security. Proctorio currently serves 4 million active weekly users and has proctored over 50+ million exams since 2013 while maintaining a 99.991% uptime. For more information about Proctorio, visit proctorio.com. American bison calves from the Oakland Zoo herd who will eventually head back to Montana as part of the Zoos Bison Restoration Project - Iinnii Initiative in partnership with the Blackfeet Nation Were very happy to be working with Oakland Zoo. It is so important to return this iconic animal and its historic bloodline to our culture and preserve that culture for generations to come. Thirteen American bison from the Oakland Zoo have returned to Montana to join their historic lineage. This marks the second transfer of bison as part of the Zoos Bison Restoration Project - Iinnii Initiative in partnership with the Blackfeet Nation. This historic partnership works to restore free-roaming bison to Blackfeet land and nearby National Parks. Were very happy to be working with Oakland Zoo. It is so important to return this iconic animal and its historic bloodline to our culture and preserve that culture for generations to come. For centuries, the buffalo have taken care of us. It is now our turn to take care of them, said Ervin Carlson, President of the Intertribal Buffalo Council, Blackfeet Nation. The returning group - four mothers, seven two-year-olds, and two one-year-old calves - are all descendants of the iconic Pablo Allard herd. These are the first calves born since the addition of two Yellowstone males back in 2019. The introduction of these males marked the second step in the conservation program, intended to diversify the genetics of future offspring of Oakland Zoos herd. These calves, along with their mothers, have lived for the past two years in their 13-acre habitat at California Trail and are now old enough to make the trip to Montana. Since the programs start in 2018, 30 calves have been born at Oakland Zoo, and with this latest trip, 24 bison have been returned to Montana. The Zoo welcomed four new calves earlier this month, and the Zoo expects more to come during this years mating season. This multi-pronged effort for genetic diversity ensures the health and longevity of future American bison generations; the species reached near-extinction in the early 1900s when millions were killed during the westward expansion for grasslands needed to feed livestock. Though their numbers have increased tremendously, herds in the wild, and in private and public reserves, are quite inbred. Bison have provided food and other crucial materials needed for survival on the prairie for generations, but the loss of this iconic animal also severed the spiritual connection to wildlife and the land. This conservation effort is not only significant in strengthening wild herds but also has a vital cultural significance to the Blackfeet Nation. Contact: Isabella Linares Oakland Zoo ilinares@oaklandzoo.org Erin Harrison Oakland Zoo eharrison@oaklandzoo.org ### ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA: Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850 native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community in Taking Action for Wildlife both locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums. ABOUT THE AMERICAN BISON: The bison, North Americas largest land mammal, once roamed the continent freely, helping sustain plains and prairie ecosystems as a keystone species through grazing, fertilization, trampling and other activities. Bison shaped the vegetation and landscape as they fed on and dispersed the seeds of grasses, sedges, and forbs. Several bird species adapted to or co-evolved with types of grasses and vegetation structures that had been, for millennia, grazed by millions of free-ranging bison. Bison have an important role in Americas history, culture, and economy. Before being nearly wiped from existence by westward expansion, bison roamed across most North America. In 1907, President Teddy Roosevelt and the American Bison Society began an effort to save the bison from extinction by shipping 15 animals by train from the WCS Bronx Zoo to Oklahomas Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Many Native American tribes revere bison as a sacred and spiritual symbol of their heritage and maintain private bison herds on tribal lands throughout the West. Bison now exist in all 50 states in public and private herds, providing recreation opportunities for wildlife viewers in zoos, refuges, and parks and sustaining the multimillion-dollar bison ranching and production business. ABOUT THE IINNII INITIATIVE: The Iinnii Initiative is developing a new vision for conserving the wildlands along the Rocky Mountain Front, sustaining Blackfeet culture and its unique connection with bison, and creating a homeland for iinnii (bison, or buffalo). Oakland Zoo aids in increasing the wild population of North American bison through an outbreeding and release program. This partnership allows new genes to be integrated into buffalo herds intentionally. Buffalo are brought to the zoos rolling hills habitat to roam and breed with the zoos bison population. Once old enough, offspring are returned to the Blackfeet tribal lands to roam freely. In 2016, Oakland Zoo, WCS, and the Blackfeet tribes began this partnership. The agreement allowed 88 Bison from Elk Island National Park in Canada to be relocated to their ancestral lands on the Two Medicine River in Browning, Montana. Oakland Zoo selected 11 animals from the herd to be part of the outbreeding program. The ultimate goal is for descendants from the new blended herd, including calves born at the zoo, to supply further restorations on wild landscapes in the Blackfeet Territory. The resurgence of bison, where they have been absent for a century, will significantly benefit the prairie ecosystem and other wildlife. ABOUT THE PABLO ALLARD HERD: The origins of this herd date back to 1873 when Samuel Walking Coyote of the Pend dOreille tribe and three Blackfeet companions captured between four and seven calves orphaned during a hunt on Blackfeet land. Instinctively, with their mothers killed, the calves shadowed the hunters horses for security, making them easy to capture. By 1884, Walking Coyotes herd grew to 13 bison. Ten of these were sold to Michel Pablo and Charles Allard and formed the Pablo-Allard herd on the Flathead Reservation. This herd eventually became the largest in the United States, numbering 300 head, and played a vital role in preserving bison by restocking and supplementing many public conservation herds, including those at Yellowstone National Park and the National Bison Range herd in Montana. When the U.S. Government initiated plans to open the Flathead Reservation to homesteaders in1906, Pablo sought a large grant for grazing land to graze his herd but was denied. He eventually sold his herd to the government of Canada. The animals were shipped to Elk Island National Park by train, with the last shipment sent out in June of 1912. SLCCs Culinary Program is an open-enrollment program, allowing students the flexibility to pick and choose classes that fit their schedules. Most students work while they attend the program. While larger, well known culinary programs made our list as well, one of the clear trends we noted was the abundance of smaller, more affordable programs that still set students up for success once they graduate. Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) was ranked as one of the top 20 culinary schools in an annual study compiled by KaTom Restaurant Supply. In reviewing more than 700 schools, KaTom compiled a list of 25 schools, SLCC ranking 17. Once we compiled data for each institution [using Scorecard data from the U.S. Department of Education], schools were ranked by attribute and assigned weights to determine which institutions offer students the most program flexibility at an affordable rate while still providing a strong education that will lead to job placement and financial success, stated KaTom. We are honored to be part of this recognition; its a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff and their dedication in supporting our students to reach their academic and professional goals, said Jeffrey Coker, associate dean, Culinary Arts. The list aims to inform those seeking a career as a chef or in the foodservice industry. It focused on factors such as the application process, financial investment, length of program, and employment rate. What separates us from other programs is that we are a small program that prioritizes a climate that is welcoming, professional and offers a family-style environment, Coker said. We work hard to foster the growth of each individual student. SLCCs Culinary Program is an open-enrollment program, not based on cohorts, so it allows students the flexibility to pick and choose classes that fit their schedules. Most students work while they attend the program. The culinary program is one of two programs in Utah to provide an Associates Applied Science degree in the culinary arts. Students can choose a five-semester track focusing on either the culinary arts or on baking and pastry making. For more than 25 years, SLCCs Culinary Arts Program has been preparing students for professions in the foodservice industry. Many students go on to work locally in hotels, resorts, catering companies, bakeries, in independent restaurants and as private chefs. "While larger, well known, culinary programs made our list as well, one of the clear trends we noted was the abundance of smaller, more affordable programs that still set students up for success once they graduate, said Angela Byrnes, KaToms community outreach manager. Our goal with this annual study is to highlight those programs so students have more information at their disposal when choosing their educational path." About Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake Community College is Utahs largest two-year college, proudly educating the states most diverse student body in 8 areas of study at 10 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. In 2023, SLCC will celebrate 75 years of providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the states vibrant economy and high quality of life. On May 28, Sunset Admiral Yacht Club & Marina celebrates 20 years of offering luxury yacht services as well as many water activities in Cancun. The celebration began last February when the famous Sunset World Boat Parade was held at its facilities with the fun theme of Carnival A dozen boats sailed through the Nichupte Lagoon decorated with striking motifs and colors that attracted the attention of those who saw them pass from land. Sunset Admiral Yacht Club & Marina offers private yacht rentals to enjoy an adventure or romantic journey, in addition to other activities such as snorkeling and diving tours, tours to Isla Mujeres, wave runners and flyboard, and in addition the fleet includes luxury yachts and speedboats. The Sunset Admiral Yacht Club & Marina crew is recognized for the quality of its service, offering the most authentic Mexican hospitality and great experiences on board. The Sunset Admiral Yacht Club & Marina anniversary is one of the great reasons Sunset World Group has to celebrate this 2022, commented PhD Martha Richardson, Corporate Director of Operations of Sunset World Group. Since 2002 our marina has offered fun adventures, romantic moments and luxury experiences to our members and guests; that is why we will toast next May 28, she added. Sunset World Group is a Mexican family business with more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and a sincere passion for environmental conservation, which is why it implemented an Energy Efficiency Program by substituting supply technologies in its six hotels. In addition, as of February 2020, all Sunset World hotels are supplied with clean and renewable energy produced at Mexican wind farms and geothermal plants, which has considerably reduced the company's carbon footprint. The activity and gastronomy programs in all six hotels were recently updated and expanded for the enjoyment of all family members, since Sunset World Group always focuses on providing the best vacation experiences for its members and guests. Dear EarthTalk: What kind of environmental toll is Russias war on Ukraine taking? -- James P., Philadelphia, PA Russias war on Ukraine is one of the worst humanitarian crises facing Europe since World War II. As Russian military forces continue their violent, murderous invasion, environmental organizations worldwide are raising additional concerns of the wars far-reaching devastation to the environment. Russias military activities threaten Ukraines environment through air, water and soil pollution. Toxic materials are released not only from munitions, but from the destruction of infrastructure, ranging from buildings and roads to pipelines and chemical storage sites. Ukraines highly industrialized landscape intensifies the countrys risk of toxic pollution from destruction in and around industrial facilities like fuel storage facilities and hazardous waste storage sites. The Donbas region of eastern Ukraine knows this impact all too well: That area was the site of fighting after Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, and is still suffering toxic contamination from leaking industrial facilities and munitions. Ukraine is home to Europes largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and fighting near the plant has caused fires to break out. Russian occupancy of the Chernobyl nuclear site, also located in Ukraine, is also deeply concerning. Few regions on Earth are as poorly equipped to handle military conflict as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Senior White House Correspondent Alexander Nazaryan says. Russian movement in the area has launched radioactive dust from soil into the air, spiking radiation levels within the zone. While experts say there is no immediate danger to surrounding vicinities, the potential of nuclear disaster makes this war even more dangerous to the environment. The countrys already deteriorating water infrastructure is further threatened by the war. On top of Russian forces cutting off vital water resources that civilians need for drinking and sanitation, damages to wastewater infrastructure are causing untreated sewage to pollute water supplies. On the other end of the spectrum, artillery fire compacted with dry conditions due to climate change make the region susceptible to wildfires. There is an urgent need for ecological monitoring to assess and minimize the environmental risks arising from the armed conflict, says UN Environment Program analyst Leila Urekenova. The war is impacting climate change talks as well. Since Russia is one of the top three fossil fuel suppliers in the world, some green groups worry the climate change agenda will be sidelined. Already, the crisis is showing that other countries, especially the U.S., need to be less dependent on foreign fuel, and fossil fuels in general. Climate analysts hope, if anything good can come from the war, it will be the advancement of renewable energy investment to secure energy independence from nations like Russia. In its present state, the environmental toll of the Russian war on Ukraine seems boundless. However, the full environmental impact may not be seen for generations to come. As Benjamin Franklin warned, Wars are not paid for in wartime, the bill comes later. EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dan Fesperman was already midway into a successful career as a foreign correspondent when, at age 39, the idea for his first novel came to him in a flash during a weekend in Berlin. He was a journalist for the Baltimore Sun at the time, and had just come off a reporting trip to Sarajevo. Though hed toyed with the thought of writing fiction someday, until that weekend hed always had other priorities. I was having too much fun, Fesperman says via Zoom from his home office outside of Baltimore. Then all of a sudden, this one kind of hit me in the face. I was a late starter. That first novel, Lie in the Dark, was a critical success when it was published in 1999 and launched him as a novelist. Twelve books later, Fesperman, now 66, has more than made up for his late start. A prolific writer of austere, sophisticated espionage thrillers published every few years by Knopf, Fesperman has the kind of second career most novelists can only dream of having as their first. In July, Knopf will publish Winter Work, which is set in East Berlin in 1989, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The book follows Emil Grimm, a former Stasi officer trying to trade state secrets in exchange for his familys safe harbor in the wake of the collapse of the Communist government. Winter Work has the shape and propulsive energy of a traditional thriller while also accomplishing something slightly subtler: it uses the tropes of the genre to depict a world changing so quickly that anxiety is ever present. The uncertainty of the time is as much the antagonist of Winter Work as is the Russian thug that Grimm and his compatriots must outsmart. The books tremendous realism is due to Fespermans long and successful journalism career. He started out as a general assignment reporter for the Charlotte NewsI was 22 years old. I would often work until one or two in the morning, he recallsbut hed always dreamed of becoming a foreign correspondent. A series of job changes and promotions later, in the Washington bureau of the Baltimore Sun, he got his chance. I volunteered when it looked like the Gulf War was about to start, and they sent me overseas to Jordan, where I stayed for about seven weeks, Fesperman says. We set off across the desert on the first day of the ground war and got to Kuwait City just after it was liberated He loved the work. Its a wonderful job. Youre a long way from your editor and on your own. I would go somewhere like Sarajevo during the siege. They didnt want daily stories about the body count or the progress of the war. They wanted stories about life thereabout how people were getting by, small vignettes that would show you what the bigger picture really meant. It was one of those vignettes that made Fesperman realize he could write fiction. I had done a series of stories on daily life during the siege, he says, and one of them was a story about the legal system, and how they were continuing to prosecute crimes and pursue civil suits, which was just bizarre. I thought that this would make a pretty wonderful setting for a novel: a murder mystery in the middle of this besieged city, where murder was happening on a huge industrial scale and the real killers were the ones a detective could never reach. Fesperman had entertained the idea of writing fiction for years but was always overwhelmed by the task. When I started this one, he explains, I immediately felt like: okay, this is something that I will finish. That first novel, conceived during that weekend in Berlin, became Lie in the Dark. But nearly two decades of experience as a journalist didnt mean Fespermans entry into the world of book publishing was a straight line. The only agent who expressed interest wanted to see a revision, and being young and stupid, Fesperman says, I thought: I dont need to do that. Twenty rejections followed before finally, tail between his legs, he asked the first agent what kind of revisions she had in mind. He did them, and a few months later, she sold Lie in the Dark to Soho Press. Soho was a wonderful palace, Fesperman remembers. But in those days it was basically three people doing miracles. So he was delighted when he received an offer for the paperback edition from Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, then Knopfs paperback arm. Soon, he was a Knopf author. They liked the same thing that made Lie in the Dark such a hard sell, Fesperman says. This was old-school publishing, and I think a lot of that had to do with Sonny Mehta. His philosophy of publishing was, if its a good book, we want to publish it. He became my editor, and he was just wonderful to work with. Fesperman didnt immediately realize what a rare privilege it was to be edited by the star editor and publisher, who died in 2019. It was just great to talk to him about books, he says. He was such a great reader himself. Over the next two decades, Knopf proved to be a good home for Fesperman, who continued to write espionage novels that couldnt help but be a little subtler, a little more atmospheric, a little more character based than the average thriller. His novels have taken readers to the streets of Sarajevo, to Hamburg, to Dubai, to Guantanamo, and to Berlin. They have won several international prizes for crime fiction, and have allowed Fesperman to do some work writing for television as well. But Fesperman thinks Winter Work tops them all. In part, this is because he was able to draw heavily from experiences he had when he was a journalist. In the early 1990s, in the tumultuous years after the Berlin Wall came down, he lived and worked in the German capital. Fesperman says he knew at the time that he was living through a notable period in history. It still had this atmosphere of rapid change, of people moving in, of a whole system having just collapsed, and this deep breath that everyone was taking before it all transformed. I didnt realize how lucky I was to be witnessing all of that. Which way is East Germany going to go? What is this country? What will this part of the city end up like? Whats going to happen to these people? His office at the time was in East Berlin, a place that he says has changed tremendously: Now its all cleaned up; its very nice. Then, it was still like the Wild West and freewheeling. By pitting the Winter Works protagonist against the changing tide of history, Fesperman effectively and vividly captures one of those cruxes during which everything is up for grabswhen the mistakes, missteps, and successes committed by human beings trying to navigate a changing world sow the seeds for the political climate of the decades to come. Grimm himself is a complicated hero: a former spy for one of the most feared intelligence agencies in the world, but also a deeply devoted husband who will do anything to protect the ones he loves. Working against Grimm is a team of Russian thugs, with Vladimir Putin even making a brief cameo. Though Fesperman began writing the book long before the invasion of Ukraine, and saying something about Russia was never explicitly on his mind, he notes that much of who Putin became later has roots in this period. Fesperman is drawn to periods like this one, when the future is being decided. You dont know what mistakes youre making at the time, he says, and youre not going to find out for another 10 or 20 years what your mistakes were. Winter Work bears the mark of an author who is watching the world change, but Fesperman claims his intention was never to write a novel about the world today. I would just like people to read it, he says. Like any good journalistor any good novelisthis first instinct is to tell a riveting story. Andy Kifer cowrote Mutualism: Building the Next Economy from the Ground Up with Sara Horowitz and is working on a book of narrative nonfiction about Americas secret cities. On June 19, 1865, Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, a declaration that freed all enslaved people in Texas, a distant Confederate state where the Emancipation Proclamation went unenforced, establishing Juneteenth as a day to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. On June 21, 2021, 156 years later, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holidaya long overdue national commemoration of the end of chattel slavery. The Juneteenth national holiday comes at a time of intensifying popular interest in the history of slavery, slave rebellion, emancipation, the Reconstruction era, and Jim Crow, as well as in the history and evolution of Juneteenth itself and its regional celebration over many years in a variety of African American communities beyond Texas. PW reached out to a variety of adult, childrens, and YA publishers and editors to find out more about Juneteenth (and related topics) and its significance as a publishing category for the trade and academia. The following publishers shared details about their views on the category as well as their latest Juneteenth-focused titles: Suzy Capozzi, executive editor at Union Square Kids; Susan Ferber, executive editor of American and world History at Oxford University Press; Sonali Fry, v-p, copublisher at Crown BFYR and v-p, publisher at Little Golden Books and Sesame Street; Elizabeth Mitchell, executive editor at HarperOne Group; Polly Pattullo, publisher at Papillote Press; Andrew Smith, senior v-p and publisher at Abrams Childrens; Kate Stein, v-p, sales and marketing at Casemate Group; and Nancy Toff, v-p, executive editor at Oxford University Press. A listing of new and forthcoming Juneteenth-focused and Inspired titles. Now that Juneteenth is a national holiday, is it likely to be the inspiration for new published works? Smith: Publishing vibrant stories for children by Black creators continues to be one of our top priorities at Abrams. We are committed to publishing books that sensitively showcase the complete history of enslaved people, starting well before 1619 and proceeding through Juneteenth. From creators Schele Williams and Tonya Engel, we are proud to have recently launched the picture book Your Legacy, an empowering introduction to African American history that celebrates and honors enslaved people. Candacy Taylors Overground Railroad: The Young Adult Adaption chronicles the history of the Green Book, the groundbreaking guide for Black travelers that is little taught in classrooms. Stein: There are more and more conversations in the publishing industry that have brought to light issues and stories that need to be talked about, and in many ways these conversations are a breath of fresh air. I dont think that the holiday itself will necessarily prompt changes in our publishing program, but I do think we will be inspired by these conversations to continue to push ourselves in new directions. Fry: Yes, absolutely. The subject of Juneteenth had been overlooked in mainstream discourse and thus underpublished for many, many years. We are really focused on filling gaps on our list to make sure stories about Juneteenth are in the marketplace and readily available for young readers. Mitchell: At HarperOne, we always try to publish the stories and histories that need to be told. Weve been seeing great passion and talent from our authors in filling in gaps in the telling of Black history. The national holiday of Juneteenth puts emancipation into conversations and focus. So mission, talent, and reader curiosity are converging, and what we get, as a result, are great books. Toff: Yes and yes, but the history of emancipation, Reconstruction, and Black freedom movements has been at the core of scholarship and history writing for decades now. From a publishing perspective, establishing the national holiday was a temporary booster to the longtime visibility of Black History Month. Susan Ferber: Every generation of writers and readers has found something inspirational about the formal recognition of the emancipation of the slaves. Two landmark examples are W.E.B. Du Boiss Black Reconstruction in America, 18601880, which came out in the 1930s, and Eric Foners Reconstruction: Americas Unfinished Revolution, 18631877, from the 1980s. Reconstruction did not happen all at once, on a particular day. So there are as many individual stories of what the end of enslavement looked like as there are former enslaved people: reunifying families, establishing schools, running for political office, pressing for compensation, finding new homes and work, moving, and more. In my view, the impetus for writing about this era was already happening well before the federal government established this federal holiday last year. And of course the end of slavery has long been recognized within African American communities; this holiday has brought greater awareness for nonAfrican Americans. Pattullo: Papillote Press is a small independent publishing house whose books come out of Caribbean experiences. The Caribbean does not celebrate Juneteenth, but the equivalent in the English-speaking Caribbean is Emancipation Day, which falls on August 1, the day in 1834 that all enslaved people in the British Empire were freed. Any Caribbean publishers list will necessarily and rightly reflect the history of the region and its struggle for freedom, representation, and civil rights, whether in the past or present and whatever the genre. So, I would hope that that struggle is embedded in the Papillote Press list whatever the occasion. Certainly, Black Man Listen: The Life of JR Ralph Casimir, the forthcoming biography of one of the Caribbeans greatestand least knownassociates of Marcus Garvey, fits perfectly into a celebration such as Juneteenth. The celebration of these milestonesa shared experience for both Afro-Caribbeans and African Americansmust surely contribute to a greater interest in the issues that publishers can no longer ignore. Capozzi: Its so great that Juneteenth is finally being recognized as a national holiday! Numerous authors have already written on this important piece of history in past years, such as Floyd Cooper, Carole Boston Weatherford, as well as our own author, poet, and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, who makes her debut as a picture book author with Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem, with art by Al Bostic. Her stunning free verse unpacks the story behind the celebrations and importance of this day. Her powerful words are matched by the beautifully expansive art from Bostic, an award-winning realist painter. Were bound to see more picture books on the subject, but now that the day is observed, there will be more opportunities for books around this area to be highlighted and amplified. How does the topic of Juneteenth and Reconstruction fit into your acquisition plans? Stein: As a military history publisher, we are constantly looking to tell stories that havent been told before or to tell old stories in new ways. I think this newfound importance of Juneteenth in our national consciousness has allowed us to pursue books like Robert Conners James Montgomery and othersbecause there is a desire to read about these stories. We will continue to expand by publishing new voices and new perspectives. Montgomery is a controversial figure among Union commanders, as he was known for the extreme and often violent measures he took against pro-slavery civilians. We immediately loved that it was a nuanced look at this morally gray historical figure, who has often been written about and remembered for his worst moments instead of his good intentions. We also loved that he included things that are hard to find, even in something as thoroughly written about as the Civil Warstories about Montgomerys interactions with Black soldiers and his relationships with other famous abolitionists of the time, like John Brown and Harriet Tubman. Fry: Its very centric to my publishing plans. Two of my first picture books for Crown Books for Young Readers cover slavery, emancipation, and post-emancipation. Standing in the Need of Prayer takes us from 1619 up to the present day with lyrical text from Carole Boston Weatherford and stunning illustrations by Frank Morrison. Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese, written by Glenda Armand and illustrated by Steffi Walthall, is a story about a little girl whose grandma tells her about their ancestors and African American history while they prepare their New Years Day meal. Im looking to acquire books that highlight the struggles and victories of enslaved people as well as those who came after them. Mitchell: HarperOne Group has a long legacy of publishing important works of Black fiction and nonfiction. Illustrated Black History by George McCalman is a book that fits into everything we are doing to give readers beautiful, relevant and inclusive projects across all our imprints. Toff: Reconstruction has been a core topic at Oxford University Press for decades. To take just a few examples, OUP published Allen Guelzos Reconstruction: A Concise History in 2018, and in 2020 in paperback as a Very Short Introduction, a series of concise introductions to topics designed for the general reader. Reconstruction and freedom are core to Jonathan Holloways recent The Cause of Freedom: A Concise History of African Americans, published in 2021. William Wiecek deals with the legal aspects in detail in a forthcoming book on Blacks and the Supreme Court. And we will continue to publish enthusiastically in this area, as it is critical to the development of American law, business, education, politics, and race and gender relations. Ferber: As a history editor, Reconstruction as a transition period, which spans events during the Civil War through a long and transformative moment for African Americans moving from slavery to freedom, has always been a period on which Ive acquired. So, for me, the national recognition of Juneteenth hasnt altered my acquisitions plans, but I am hoping it brings recognition to not just this event but to what in historical circles has been dubbed by Elliott West as the Greater Reconstruction, which encompasses the reunion of North and South in the east and the consolidation of national control in the west, including violence against Indians, and spans a period from the 1840s to the late 19th century. Im seeing original works mining sources and looking at them in new ways, so that makes for an exciting new generation of literature to acquire. One of my new books, R. Isabela Moraless Happy Dreams of Liberty: An American Family in Slavery and Freedom, underscores the fluidity of the period after the Civil War when there was temporarily an opportunity for a mixed-race family to try to exercise their newfound freedom, to find communities in the Midwest and the western United States that were receptive to them as neighbors, and to accrue and pass down some generational wealth. Morales showcases how even within one extended family there was no consistent experience of social and economic mobility after slavery. It really was an ongoing process. Pattullo: Based in both the Caribbean and the U.K., Papillote Press tries to spread the word about the Caribbean in the U.S. by selling its titles to North American publishers. For example, the North American rights to the 2019 book In the Forests of Freedom, by the Dominican historian Lennox Honychurch, about Dominicas maroonsescaped rebel slaveswere bought by the University of Mississippi Press, while the 2015 book Your Time Is Done Now, about the 19th-century trials of rebel maroon slaves in Dominica, was bought by Monthly Review Press. These may be niche markets, but it does suggest that the U.S. is reaching out to the Caribbean these days and recognizing that particular shared identity Smith: Our Megascope imprint, curated by comics creator and academic John Jennings, is dedicated to showcasing speculative graphic works by and about people of color. The recent YA graphic novel Across the Tracks: Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre and Black Wall Street was published as a love letter to Greenwood, Okla. It depicts the founding of the flourishing communityits businesses, people who lived there, and their achievementsand personalizes and reframes the tragedy that nearly erased it. We see the need for books that celebrate underrepresented Black voices and that foster conversation and celebration of the Black experience in present day, too. Chad Lucass middle grade novel Let the Monster Out features a cast of characters that reflect the diversity of the real world, and deftly discusses what it feels like to be the only Black family in town. What are you hearing from your publishing partnersagents, retailers, and distributorsabout books on Juneteenth, slave rebellion, emancipation, Reconstruction, and related topics? Are there trends? Are there more of these books? Is the market expanding? Smith: Our partners are hungry for stories that center Black voices and allow children to see themselves reflected on the pages. One trend were seeing is an influx of books that showcase the full breadth of African American history and ancestry, beginning in Africa long before 1619. The forthcoming title Our Story Begins in Africa [Sept.] by Patrice Lawrence and Jeanetta Gonzales tells children of the ancient origins of Black history, offering a new approach to families wanting to talk about Black history and Blackness from its very origin. Were also seeing demand for Black history and stories that expand beyond the history of enslavement to cover the contributions of Black Americans in science, art, scholarship, and more. Were currently developing a new nonfiction graphic novel series with award-winning author Tonya Bolden that celebrates these types of African American history and achievements, focusing on inspiration and innovation. Fry: Our retail partners continue to support Juneteenth with dedicated space to feature a wide selection of Black interest titles for Juneteenth. Additionally, Juneteenth has raised the baseline for Black interest titles not only in June but throughout the calendar year. In terms of new publishing, Im definitely seeing more submissions centered around Juneteenth and emancipation. Toff: There is so much good scholarship in this area, and we are working with many scholars on such titles. For example, William Chafe has been toiling in this vineyard for many years. He draws on a collection of 3,500 oral history interviews at Duke University to write Lifting the Chains: The Black Freedom Struggle since Reconstruction [July]. The issues of voting rights, the power of the Black church, and the importance of communityand of race relations more broadlyhave been core to American history for nearly two centuries. Ferber: Oxford University Press has long been a publisher of books about slavery, rebellion, and emancipation, by Black and white historiansdating back to the 1960s and 70s with such influential works as Richard Wades Slavery in the City and Leon A. Leon Higginbothams In the Matter of Color. So our commitment to works on these topics isnt new and definitely hasnt been connected to any momentary trend from retailers or distributors. From within the historical community, the importance of these books has been well established for many decades. Some of the new trends in the field are connecting to the history of capitalism, environment, reparations and justice, and cross- and trans-national trends, including considering Mexico, Canada, and Indigenous history as part of the conversation about this period. I think what agents and retailers are hoping for is to capitalize on the massive public discussion of African American history from the 1619 Project and the Black Lives Matter movement to open up a much wider audience, but this isnt the first time in American history or in the industry that there has been a resurgence of interest in these topics, and the books dont all become mass phenomena. However, these authors in the aggregate are adding important new angles and new readings of events, and that might start to change the dated stereotypes that get perpetuated about African American history. Theres going to be a significant wave of new books in the next few years. I hope they do find a readership that will buy and support this ongoing workand not just because of current events. Pattullo: Again I can only speak to the Caribbean and U.K. positionPapillote Press is based both in Dominica and the U.K. I feel that the increased interest in Caribbean literature and its many internationally recognized writers has boosted Caribbean publishing despite its fragility at many levels. I note that in the U.K. there has been much soul-searching in the publishing industry, triggeredfar too lateby the Black Lives Matter campaign on such issues as societal racial inequalities and reparations. As a result there has certainly been discussion about the number of books published by Black authors, the diversityor notin publishing, and how to reform the structure of a mainly white industry. Whereas in the past there was an ingrained assumption that books by Black authors were unlikely to sell in significant numbers, this appears to be changing. The publishing industry, I believe, is now more willing to celebrate and promote its Black authors; prizes, bestseller lists, press coverage, and so on certainly confirm this. A national holiday such as this can focus both the market and industry. With the wind in its sails, perhaps the publishing industry can demonstrate thatboth in terms of its product and in its workingsmore than just taking advantage of Juneteenth and Emancipation Day, it is taking the meaning of it to its heart as well as its bank balance. An online survey of the Ukrainian book market undertaken by Anastasiia Zagorui on behalf of Ukrainian trade publication Chytomo was conducted from March 26 to April 8. Eighty-one publishers participated in the survey, which examines how the publishing community has adapted to wartime conditions; of those, 10% said they were forced to stop their operations, including 4mamas Publishing House, Abrykos, Booksha, DIPA, Mamino, Oleksandr Savchuk, Osnova Publishing Group, and Smoloskyp. Others, such as Blym-Blym, Izhak, and Klio, have been severely compromised. The majority of publishers, 51%, continue to publish but have altered their operating models, taking such measures as reducing their working hours. Thirty-nine percent of publishers had not changed their models when the survey was taken. In one comment, the team of Creative Women Publishing said that, despite the war, they are back on track with all their projects. Despite the fact that the publishing houses employees are geographically dispersedsome have stayed in Ukraine and others are abroadeveryone keeps in touch, Creative Women reported. Many publishers responded that they continue to work normally but are allowing displaced employees to work remotely and are ramping up the production of e-books. The Nash Format publishing house told Chytomo that members of its editorial department work from different parts of Ukraine and abroad, and that the vast majority of its freelancers, including translators, are continuing to work. The publisher is focusing on titles that will be of particular interest during the war and in the postwar period. Many publishers continue working on projects they began before the invasion, including organizing readings and events. We are looking for ways to financially support our authors, said Yevheniia Lopata of the Meridian Czernowitz cultural festival. Namely, we organize our authors readings in front of German-speaking audiencesmostly online. We already have an agreement with the Vienna University of Applied Arts for a series of public talks and literary events with our authors Representatives of Ranok Publishing, based in Kharkiv, which was heavily shelled by the Russian army, told Chytomo, Our team came to an agreement with a Polish printing house to publish our books for Ukrainian refugees. They are distributed free of charge to children who are currently in Poland. The same will soon be done in the Czech Republic. Some physical bookstores in Ukrainian cities, mostly in the west of the country, told Chytomo they were resuming operations. Staryi Lev Publishing House Bookstores and Cafes were operating in Lviv, but not in Kyiv, Odesa, or Dnipro. KSD Bookclubs stores were also open. Among publishers surveyed, 55% did not move, 36% partially relocated within Ukraine, 7% fully relocated within Ukraine, and 2% moved abroad. Yakaboo publishing house transported a million Ukrainian books from its warehouse in Kyiv into western Ukraine. But several other publishers, including ACCA, IST, and Izhak had millions of copies of books marooned in warehouses in Kyiv and Kharkiv. It is not possible to sell books, as the rented warehouse is currently closed, and there are no employees left in Kyiv, representatives of the Clio publishing house told Chytomo. The war has curtailed sales, with 95% of publishers reporting that sales fell dramatically during the first month of the war. Accordingly, 17% of publishers were still paying full wages, 55% were paying reduced wages, and 28% had been unable to pay employees at all. Seeking support abroad As for working with international partners, 24.6% of publishers have established cooperation with publishers abroad, 51% plan to do so, and 24.4% say they do not know how to enter the international market. Some of this cooperation has taken the form of support on social media. From the first days of the full-scale war, we have been communicating with our foreign authors and encouraging them to support Ukraine in their social media, representatives of the Nash Format reported. Moreover, author Ryan Holiday donated about $15,000 to Ukraine. One publisher, Chas Majstriv, opened a branch in Krakow, Poland. Rodovid Publishing House is working with colleagues in Canada. Among recent deals for Ukrainian titles, Larysa Denysenkos Maya and Her Mothers will be published by Britains Bonnier Books, and the proceeds will be donated to UNICEF to support Ukrainian children. British publisher Pushkin Press will release Designland, or a Walk in the Zone by Markian Kamysh; Polands Wydawnictwo KEW will publish Daughter by Tamara Gorikha Zernia; and Romany Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesivs The War That Changed Rondo will be issued by three international houses. Also, the team of Ranok Publishing Housewith the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, the Ukrainian Institute of Education Content Modernization, and partners from the European Educational Publishing Grouphas been actively working to make Ukrainian textbooks available free of charge to all students in Europe. Lending a hand at home Among publishers surveyed, 86.6% have employees who volunteered for humanitarian efforts, and 30.5% have employees serving in combat roles. Since the beginning of the war, we have established a headquarters with our authors to coordinate the settlement of temporarily displaced artists in Bukovyna and Zakarpattia, Meridian Czernowitzs Lopata told Chytomo. Every day we welcome people from other cities of Ukraine, mostly the Kharkiv and Kyiv regions. The families of our team members help to transport humanitarian aid from Romania to Chernivtsi, where it is sorted and transferred to Ukraine. Other publishers are helping to raise funds for those displaced and to assist with logistical efforts. Several employees of Ukrainian publishers have gone missing or were killed. Unfortunately, we do not have information about many of our authors who are now in Mariupol, said representatives from Bukrek publishing house. They have not been in touch since March 2, and they are not on the evacuees lists. Among those who died as a result of the war are Mykola Kravchenko, founder of the publisher Orientir, who was killed by shelling on March 14. Historian and publicist Serhiy Deimos Zaikovsky, one of the Plomin publishing houses translators, was killed during a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army. Dmitry Yevdokymov, one of the authors of On Rights and Responsibilities: Your Handbook of Citizenship, and author Yuri Ruf, whose books were published by the Zalizny Tato, have also been killed. Keeping culture alive IST has released three new titles since the start of the war, and the publishing houses Anetta Antonenko, Knygolav, and Folio started selling books online. Others are offering free access to select books. Most publishers told Chytomo that Ukraines government actions should focus on presenting Ukrainian culture abroad, to help build a positive image of the country. In addition, publishers said they would like the government to help the industry through cultural grants, tax benefits, and with assistance in promoting the sale of foreign rights. Some publishers said theyve put their hope in European institutions, such as the International Renaissance Foundation and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Others suggested reaching out to other international organizations that could distribute books abroad. We cant lose these spheres and people, because it is vitally important to be a cultural nation, representatives from the publisher Zhorzh told Chytomo. Book publishing will not resurrect itself; help and investments are needed. One form of foreign support for Ukrainian publishers is the distribution of books to Ukrainian refugees and emigres abroad: The purchases of books for temporarily displaced persons and Ukrainians abroad will allow the book publishing industry to somehow stay afloat, said representatives from the Bukrek publishing house. Investing in e-books and libraries The survey also found a consensus to support e-books and other innovations in order to provide Ukrainians with access to books in their native language, wherever they are. Representatives from Nebo BookLab Publishing told Chytomo, Enrichment of the publishing portfolio with e-books so that Ukrainians who have moved can read is also an option. We should communicate through bloggers, etc., that the publishing house is still operating and encourage people to buy books. Anastasia Gulko, print manager at Laurus, said, Now that its clear that we need to keep going, weve focused on creating e-books. We have been planning on that for a long time, but something kept bothering us, until there were no alternatives left. We have found partners through which we will be able to distribute e-books abroad, in particular in Poland. Besides, we continue what we started before the warthat is, our electronic archives systematization and paper books publishing. There are a few projects that only need to wait for the victory to be issued. So we are waiting. Another area of agreement was the importance of the government in promoting library purchases, especially in those regions affected by the invasion, and childrens books. To direct funds to cover the costs of translation and printing, to support the program of library funds replenishment, into which school libraries could be also included, especially in those areas where Ukrainians were forced to relocate after a large-scale invasionthese are steps, that need to be taken, said representatives from Kalamar. Of course, nearly all those in the Ukrainian publishing community asserted that the world must continue to boycott Russian businesses, ban them from participating in public events, and ban the sale of foreign rights to Russian books. Representatives from Komubuk told Chytomo, Defeat the enemy! Close all the paths for Russian literature. Stop the activities of all Russian publishing houses, subsidiaries, and booksellers. This is the way we move together toward our common victory. Glee and American Horror Story alum Matthew Morrison has announced he will not judge the competition series So You Think You Can Dance as planned. ADVERTISEMENT "Having the opportunity to be a judge on So You Think You Can Dance was an incredible honor for me. Therefore, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I will be leaving the show," Morrison said in a statement to Deadline on Friday. "After filming the audition rounds for the show and completing the selection of the 12 finalists, I did not follow competition production protocols, preventing me from being able to judge the competition fairly," he added. "I cannot apologize enough to all involved and I will be watching alongside you all on what I know will be one of the best seasons yet." Variety, which also confirmed Morrison's exit from Season 17, said details about the exact nature of the protocols he violated have not been made public. He is expected to be seen in four more episodes that have already been taped. Representatives for FOX told Us Weekly Friday the network "will soon announce a new judge to the series for the next wave of the competition starting on June 15th featuring the Top 12 performing for America's vote." Morrison was announced as a new judge on the show in April. The panel also includes JoJo Siwa and Twitch. Morrison, Siwa and Twitch replaced last season's outgoing judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Laurieann Gibson. Update: 28-05-2022 | 15:14:39 On May 27, within the visit to take part in seminars on investment promotion in Australia, Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Dang Thang, Consul General of Vietnam in Sydney; and Pham Ngoc Thuan, General Director of Becamex IDC Corporation, chaired an investment promotion workshop in Sydney. Pham Ngoc Thuan, General Director of Becamex IDC Corporation, and Kiem Dinh, Chairman of the Australia-Vietnam Business Council, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation agreement between the two sides. Speaking at the workshop, Vo Van Minh, said Binh Duong is prioritizing investment in projects of green transformation, such as sustainable energy, green economy, circular economy from developed countries, the world's leading potential partners with modern management levels. Currently, Binh Duong is accelerating the construction of the Science and Technology Industrial Park and the World Trade Center of Binh Duong New City; building transport infrastructure connecting areas of the region, logistics service system, training high-quality labor resources ... Binh Duong also promises to open up many new investment opportunities for Australian businesses in general and Sydney City in particular in the province and in sectors where Australia has strengths, such as auxiliary industry, high-tech agriculture, especially in sectors that apply science technology and innovation. At the workshop, provincial leaders answered questions of businesses and investors of Sydney City about cooperation and investment opportunities in Binh Duong. On this occasion, Becamex IDC Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Australia - Vietnam Business Council. This is an important step in the comprehensive cooperation between Becamex IDC and Australian businesses. Reported by Ngoc Thanh Translated by Ngoc Huynh Porterville, CA (93257) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Update: 28-05-2022 | 16:12:49 Upholding Vietnams peace-loving tradition and implementing the Party and States policy, over the past years, the Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA) has sent officers and soldiers to participate in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, which has been supported by local people and appreciated by the UN and the international community. The spirit of dedication and responsibility of Vietnamese soldiers has helped spread the image of the country and people of Vietnam who love peace for a prosperous and progressive human community. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assessed the engagement in UN peacekeeping activities over the past 8 years as a bright spot in the multilateral diplomacy of the countrys Party, State and army. The establishment of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre and the send-off for the first two VPA officers to work as liaison officers at the UN Mission in South Sudan on May 27, 2014, marked the nation's official participation in UN peacekeeping operations. On November 13, 2020, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 130/2020/QH14 on joining the UN peacekeeping force, which clearly stipulates principles, forms, fields and forces, competence, force deployment process, guaranteed funding, regimes, policies and state management for the engagement in the UN peacekeeping force. To date, Vietnam has sent 76 individuals, including eight women, to work as liaison officers, staff officers, military observers, and intelligence analysis officers at the UN headquarters and its two missions in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Since 2020, the country has had four officers recruited to work at the Department of Peace Operations at the UN headquarters in New York and MINUSCA. In 2018, Vietnam officially sent Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 1 to conduct peacekeeping operations in Bentiu, South Sudan. To date, it has sent over 250 officers and doctors of Level-2 Field Hospitals Rotations 1, 2, 3 and 4 to South Sudan. Especially, after years of careful preparations, on November 17, 2021, Vietnam officially made debut Sapper Unit No. 1. This is the first time Vietnam has sent a sapper team to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations and also the deployment of the largest number ever, with 184 soldiers, including 21 women. According to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, participating in UN peacekeeping activities is a major policy of the Politburo and Party Central Committee to help Vietnam integrate into the world at a high level. In the coming time, Vietnams policy is to focus on developing external affairs and defence cooperation in the UN peacekeeping, attracting foreign resources to improving the capacity of the Vietnamese army in preparing and deploying other forces to get engaged in UN peacekeeping missions. Nhan Dan Online Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Update: 28-05-2022 | 11:43:16 Over the past time, the Youth Union at all levels in the province have made great efforts to promote advantages, overcome difficulties, and drastically innovate contents and modes of operation. Typical results have been clearly confirmed in the first half of 2019-2024 term under the spirit of solidarity and promotion of youths to construct their homeland. The Vietnam Youth Union of the province in collaboration with the Association of Young Doctors of the province organized the Festival of "Young doctors following President Ho Chi Minh's orders - Volunteer for public health" at Soc Bung hamlet of Thanh Phu commune in Binh Long town of Binh Phuoc province To live greatly for the community One weekend in May, the Vietnamese Youth Union of the province coordinated with the provincial Young Doctors Association to organize the Festival of "Young doctors follow President Ho Chi Minhs orders - Volunteer for public health" in Binh Phuoc province. The road from Binh Duong to Soc Bung hamlet of Thanh Phu commune in Binh Long town of Binh Phuoc province was no longer long when the whole group brought sympathy and affection to people in remote areas of great difficulties. The festival was really the joy of the disadvantaged local ethnic people who were given medical examination, medicine, ultrasound scanning, health counseling, and gifts with peace of mind for their health. On the occasion, the provincial Young Doctors Association also donated 100 boxes of medical gloves to the Medical Center of Binh Long town to assist medical examination and treatment. At the end of the festival, the whole delegation felt happy to have helped so many people in need. Since then, the association's volunteer programs and activities have become more meaningful with the volunteer hearts. Last weekend, at the Cultural House of Thanh Tuyen commune in Dau Tieng district, the Youth Union of Dau Tieng district held a festival of "I love my fatherland", "Young workers' day in Dau Tieng district" and "Young doctors follow President Ho Chi Minhs orders - Volunteering for community health". In these programs, the district's young people in different professions have participated in many useful activities for the people such as propagating the law on drug prevention and control, traffic safety, "VND 0 market fair" and free medical examination, by which, the young people examined and gave free medicine to 100 people and gave hundreds of gifts and necessities to young workers, children and people in difficult circumstances in the area. Mr. Tran Bao Lam, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Youth Union, said that in the first half of the 2019-2024 term, the Vietnamese Youth Union of the province has promoted the role of young doctors and members in activities of volunteering for public health. In addition, the Youth Union at all levels coordinated with the provincial Young Doctors Association and the Young Doctors Clubs of districts, towns and cities to organize the Festival of "Young Doctors follow President Ho Chi Minhs orders - Volunteer for the public health; on the other hand, they organize many meaningful activities aimed at diverse subjects, medical examination and free medicine distribution for more than 74,000 people and children in difficult circumstances in many localities inside and outside the province. In addition, the association also implemented the model of "Charity bus - for community health" in the form of organizing shuttle trips through districts, towns and cities to visit, examine and distribute free medicines at home for Vietnamese heroic mothers and socially privileged families. Training and devotion More than 1,900 volunteer activities for social security have been widely deployed by ministries and agencies to advocate for the establishment and orientation of activities for local volunteer squads to solve social problems as concerned by all levels of associations in the province including the SOS Team, Youth Volunteer First Aid Team, Youth Quick Responding Team, Blood Bank Club, Young Workers Connection Club in all 9 districts, towns and cities. Over the past time, by models and activities, the Youth Union at all levels in the province has awarded more than 4,100 gifts of worth more than VND 4 billion to disadvantaged children and families with meritorious services and soldiers working in border areas and islands of the country while campaigning to donate 98 charity houses, 47 "dream rooms" worth more than VND 6 billion to young people in difficult circumstances and considering giving more than 293 supporting packages worth VND 437.5 million from the fund to support young people in difficult circumstances. In the remaining half of the term, the provincial Youth Union is required to implement many synchronous and innovative solutions in terms of content and mode of operation to care for, orient, create an environment and conditions for the youth of the whole province to train and devote to the common development of the country and the province. Mr. Tran Bao Lam added that in the coming time, the association will concretize volunteering movements through the development of annual programs and activities suitable to the characteristics of each youth; especially, young workers, and promote youth expertise in participating in the implementation of political tasks in the locality of the units. In addition, the association innovates the method of organizing volunteering activities in the direction of knowledge and continues to organize and improve the performance of annual volunteer activities. The association will also promote health care activities for the people while offering free medical examination and medicine for the poor to strengthen and renew volunteering activities at grassroots level. At the same time, it raises funds to support the poor, supports social security work and pays attention to the development of branches in enterprises outside the state sector to unite and gather more young workers," Lam said. Reported by K. Tuyen Translated by Vi Bao That is the affirmation of Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong about the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) in 2021 when the ranking of the Province increased by 9 places, rising to the leading position in the country in the recently announced list. According to Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong, this result demonstrates the continuous innovative efforts in administrative reform, breakthrough thoughts in management and administration of the authorities at all levels from the Province to the grassroots; thereby, firmly consolidating the trust of people and businesses in the direction and administration of the Province. At the same time, this contributes to creating motivation for Thua Thien Hue to affirm its position in administrative reform. Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong Could you further explain why the Province first ranked high on this indicator? The Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (referred to as PAPI) is a tool to measure people's experiences and feelings about administrative activities and public service provision of local governments at all levels. The goal of the PAPI program is to improve service efficiency of local governments, improve service spirit, and increase publicity, transparency and accountability of public organizations to better respond to the increasing demands of people. With many efforts, Thua Thien Hue Province has the PAPI index of 45.86 and 44.53/80 points in 2019 and 2020 respectively, hence belonging to the group of 10 provinces and cities with the highest scores throughout the country (5th place in 2019, 10th place in 2020) Specifically, Thua Thien Hue Province is honored to be ranked first at the conference to announce the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index 2021 hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Vietnam in Hanoi on the morning of May 10th, 2022. In 2021, the composite score of the PAPI index of Thua Thien Hue reached 48,059 points. All 8 component indicators of the Province, including people's participation at the grassroots level, openness and transparency in decision-making; accountability to the people, control of corruption in the public sector; public administrative procedures, public service provision, environmental governance and e-governance, are in the group of 5 provinces and cities with the highest scores within the country, in which the index of Public service provision has the highest score in the country with 8,464 points. This represents the sharing of people's experiences about the convenience of using public service delivery, as well as the continuing maintenance of the quality and availability of basic public services from the commune, district, to provincial levels. So, what is the key solution for the Province to reach the top position, sir? Many solutions have been proposed, of which the key group of solutions is still to direct political organizations at the grassroots to participate in the implementation of grassroots democracy regulations actively and responsibly so as to ensure the full and real implementation of the motto "People know, discuss, do, monitor, and benefit". Besides, it is essential to promote the participation of all classes of people in the process of formulating, implementing and monitoring the implementation of policies, improving the quality of administration, governance and public administration of the government apparatus at all levels from the Province to the grassroots, building a transparent, effective, efficient, professional, unifying administration, and improving the service quality and reputation of the authorities at all levels to the People. It is also necessary to strictly and fully implement regulations on publicity and transparency on recruitment of civil servants and public employees in State agencies, in socio-economic development planning, in investment projects and works, in land-use planning, in compensation structures, in local budget revenues and expenditures and in contents of people's regimes and policies, etc. In addition, it is important to synchronously and effectively reform administrative procedures related to people, to organizations, and to internal work settlement processes among State administrative agencies, as well as to review and recommend reducing and simplifying administrative procedures to reduce time and costs of people and organizations. Furthermore, it is crucial to promote the implementation of administrative procedures in the electronic environment, helping people and organizations to perform online services anytime, anywhere, and via different means. People taking part in carrying out administrative procedures at the Provincial Public Administration Center In your opinion, what does the Province need to do to maintain the ranking? The Provincial People's Committee will issue an annual plan to maintain and improve the PAPI Index, in which specific tasks to focus on effectively and synchronously implementing 8 evaluation contents of PAPI will be assigned to sectors and localities, especially communes, wards and towns. According to their functions and tasks, departments, branches, and People's Committees of districts and communes will be requested to take measures and solutions to direct and improve the weak criteria and contents related to the management sectors and fields being assigned, especially at the commune and ward level which is directly in contact with the people. For the PAPI component index content groups, the Province will focus on enhancing publicity, transparency and accountability of public organizations, creating opportunities for people to participate in evaluating the performance of the government, mobilizing the government to improve the way it serves the people, and promoting self-assessment to innovate and create the culture of healthy competitiveness and learning among local governments. On top of that, it is vital to further improve the operational quality of modern public administration centers, commune-level receiving and returning departments, and strengthen the provision of online public services at levels 3 and 4. At the same time, it is pivotal to soon deploy widely the mechanism to handle administrative procedures regardless of administrative boundaries and speed up the development of e-government and digital government to better serve people and businesses. What is the challenge for Thua Thien Hue in maintaining the ranking, sir? Reaching the top is hard, but maintaining the ranking is even harder. As a result, being constantly creative and proposing many solutions to improve the operational efficiency of the government apparatus to better serve the people, as well as improve the environment to attract business investment are prime targets of provinces and cities across the country, and Thua Thien Hue is not out of that race. Although the Province is honored to rank first of the country in 2021, there is still a lot of work for the Province to do, focusing on directing and implementing. Could you share the Province's viewpoints and goals in the coming time? Provincial leaders have always been steadfast in striving for the stable maintenance of the Provinces Public Administration Reform (PAR) Index, Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), Development Readiness Index and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Transformation Index (DTI) among the top 10 leading localities in the country. Therefore, it is critical to always be decisive in leading and directing administrative reform. This process runs through provincial leaders as well as at all levels and sectors, and needs the active participation of the business community and society. Thank you very much for this exchange! By Hai Thuan Photos: Ngoc Minh, Thai Binh This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT - State Sen. Dennis Bradley and former city board of education member Jessica Martinez will be sitting together in federal court when their campaign finance fraud trial begins next week. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden denied Martinezs request to sever her case from Bradley. She is contending Bradley maneuvered her in an effort to cover up his own misconduct. Ms. Martinez has not indicated that she will present evidence of multiple instances of [Mr. Bradleys] purported lies, deceptions, and misrepresentations. Rather, Ms. Martinezs claim that Mr. Bradley maneuvered her in an attempt to cover up his misconduct appears to turn primarily on her reliance on his advice during her testimony before the grand jury, which is not necessarily prejudicial to him, the judge ruled. We are going forward with the trial and both Jessica and I will be vindicated and the truth will prevail, Bradley commented Friday. Im looking forward to continuing my fight for my district. Martinez did not return calls for comment. Last year, Bradley and Martinez were indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. In addition, Martinez was indicted for making false statements to the FBI and lying to the grand jury. The government alleges in the indictment that Bradley and Martinez, who served as his campaign treasurer for his 2018 campaign for state senate, conspired to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission, the Citizens Election Fund and the State of Connecticut by making misrepresentations concerning Bradleys compliance with state election law and the Citizens Election Programs statutory restrictions and requirements in order to fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain $179,850 in campaign grants. The criminal charges are related to an event held at Dolphins Cove on March 15, 2018. Federal prosecutors claim that the event at Dolphins Cove was a campaign event and that it should have been disclosed as such to the State Enforcement Election Commission, as the disclosure would have made the campaign ineligible for CEP funding. Jury selection for the case is scheduled to be held Tuesday with the trial to begin possibly the next day. Federal prosecutors have stated in court documents that they intend to present 33 witnesses. Included among those witnesses is Tina Manus, a volunteer for the 2018 Bradley senate campaign who earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud in the case. In her motion to sever, Martinez claimed in court documents that Bradley used his authority as her lawyer to convince her to allegedly commit fraud. Mr. Bradley had enormous power over Ms. Martinez because of their attorney-client relationship, their employer-subordinate relationship, and their personal relationship; that Mr. Bradley exercised considerable sway over Ms. Martinez; and that Ms. Martinez finds herself charged with federal crimes because Mr. Bradley maneuvered her in an effort to cover up his own misconduct, the documents state. The documents state that although Martinez held the title of campaign treasurer, her role was almost entirely nominal and the evidence at trial will show that other individuals, not Martinez, handled the actual duties of treasurer, including filings with SEEC. Ms. Martinezs defense team plans to argue that Ms. Martinez was fundamentally a victim of Mr. Bradley, the documents state. That Ms. Martinez relied on Mr. Bradleys counsel before her grand jury testimony does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that Mr. Bradley engaged in the alleged conspiracy and scheme to defraud SEEC, and Ms. Martinez has not pointed to other instances in which she will argue that Mr. Bradley used Ms. Martinez to cover up his alleged fraud, the judge stated. Indeed, to the extent Ms. Martinez intends to argue that Mr. Bradley advised her that the event at Dolphins Cove was not a campaign event, Ms. Martinezs defense is consistent with Mr. Bradleys, insofar as he asserts that he did not misrepresent or seek to intentionally misrepresent his campaign expenditures or receipt of contributions to SEEC, he ruled. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TORRINGTON Northwestern Connecticut Community College celebrated its 2022 graduates at the Warner Theatre. We are very happy to be able to provide our 2022 graduates with a traditional commencement celebration at the Warner Theatre, said Northwestern President Michael Rooke. Due to COVID we had to modify our plans for the last two years with a virtually recorded commencement message in 2020, and then last year, with a drive-through commencement at the Five Points Arts Center. The return to the Warner isnt just a new normal, Rooke added. Its getting back to our old normal. The commencement speaker was Judy McElhone, founder and executive director of Five Points Arts. She is also an alum of Northwestern and was a longtime art lecturer at the college. Graduate Jacqueline Kuns was awarded Student of the Year; she was was nominated for this distinction by staff and faculty for her exceptional academic record and her extracurricular activities on campus, according to a statement. Pottsville, PA (17901) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. From birth to death, there is oftentimes just one certainty, a nurse will be nearby. When tragedy strikes, a pandemic lingers on or a loved one falls ill; its a nurse that is first to administer care. But they do so much more. When there are questions, confusion, anxiety; a nurse is there to help. When a worldwide pandemic prevented family from being in the room with a loved one, it was nurses who relayed messages or oftentimes held the phone to make one last video chat possible, giving families a way to say I love you one last time. A nurse is there to assist a new mother after childbirth, calm a young child suffering from illness and show compassion to an elderly person who has just lose their spouse. These heroes of healthcare play a vital role within the communities they serve. For that reason, the Beatrice Daily Sun sought to honor some of the areas outstanding nurses. In partnership with Beatrice Community Hospital, the Daily Sun accepted nominations from the public for outstanding nurses. Thirty nurses from across southeast Nebraska were nominated for the honor. From there, a panel of local judges sorted through the nominations, narrowing the list to Nine Outstanding Nurses. During that same timeframe, the public was allowed to vote for their favorite nurse online, ultimately picking a Peoples Choice to round the list out to 10 honorees. There were more than 2,000 votes this year. When all the votes were tallied it was Kili Krauter, a nurse at Gold Crest Retirement Center, who finished as the Peoples Choice winner. The honorees were honored during a luncheon at Beatrice Community Hospital and each received a gift bag along with a plaque commemorating the honor. One thing that COVID has taught us is the value of compassionate nurses in all capacities -- small hospitals, larger hospitals, nursing homes, home care, schools and urgent cares, Beatrice Community Hospital CEO Rick Haraldson said. They all made a difference this past year as we continued to care for patients who were sick with COVID but also the patients suffering from many, many other illnesses and injuries. Beatrice Community Hospital was a partner sponsor with the Beatrice Daily Sun. Other sponsors included Southeast Community College and Blossom Khardt. The care that nurses provide is crucial to our community, said Daily Sun President Patrick Ethridge. They are saving lives, lending emotional support and taking care of our loved ones each and every day. We really are lucky to have so many amazing healthcare workers serving our citizens. Honorees included: Kili Krauter, Gold Crest Retirement Center Angie Roschewski, Beatrice Community Hospital Jane Thatcher, Gage County Medical Clinic Yvonne Rahe, Gage County Medical Clinic Stacey Stohs, Beatrice Community Hospital Moriah Stone, Beatrice Community Hospital Joan Schroller, Kubat Healthcare Jeff Terry, Beatrice Community Hospital Heather Kracht, Beatrice Community Hospital Crystal Phothirath, Good Samaritan Society Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 They came to China to work, but were caught after Beijing began a crackdown on undocumented labor. More than 1,000 Myanmar migrant workers are stuck in Chinese detention centers with no way to contact their families or return to their homes, current and former migrants told RFA. The migrant group consists of undocumented illegal border crossers and people who overstayed six-day tourist visas to work. Some had lost their jobs during recent outbreaks of coronavirus and were trying to return to Myanmar when authorities arrested them. More than 100 are at a detention center in the southeastern province of Guangdong, while 1,000 more are in Baoshan, Yunan province, close to the Myanmar border. Aye Moe, 26, had been in detention for seven months at a drug rehabilitation center in Baoshan prior to her release and deportation on May 20 along with 152 other detainees. She told RFAs Burmese Service there were about 1,000 Myanmar nationals at the center including 14 members of the Rakhine minority, who were still being held on charges of forging Chinese ID cards. The additional crime complicated their deportation. You can't have a job if you dont have a registration card. So the brokers gave them fake registration cards and the police found out. Those 14 Rakhines were not even allowed to fill out their immigration forms, she said. I tried to be brave one day and went to ask the police captain to help them. He said he couldnt do anything and that he didnt get the case files when they were handed over to him. He said he could only do what he was asked," she said. Hnin Hnin of Yangon, who had been working at a battery factory in Huazhou, Guangdong, told RFA that she and her husband were among 28 people arrested at the factory during a police raid last February. Since I was pregnant they sent me back to the factory, she said. They said I would be deported. I already have a confirmation letter from Myanmar authorities from four months ago, but I have not been sent back yet. I have no job and want to go home to give birth in Myanmar, Hnin Hnin added. The 36-year-old expectant mother said that eight people in the group, including her husband, were deported to Myanmar on May 19 over Chinas border with Kachin state with the help of the Myanmar Embassy. The crackdown on factories using migrant labor began in early 2021. Since then, hundreds of Myanmar migrants have been hiding in the jungles outside of the cities where they once worked. Others have tried to return to Myanmar, paying 10,000 yuan (about U.S. $1,500) to brokers who lead them on a three-day journey from Guangdong to the Myanmar border, but they were caught en route. Ye Lwin Tun, a 26-year-old resident of Kyaukphyu village in Namsang Township, northern Shan State, told RFA that three of his friends had not been freed yet. "Over 170 people have now been released. We heard they would release more than 100 people from the prisons. A few of them are Vietnamese, but the rest are Myanmar citizens, he said. There are about four or five prisons in Guangdong. They are huge ones. We were not put together in one prison but separated in different ones. Three of our villagers have not been released yet. Chinese police said all illegal immigrants who do not have COVID-19 vaccinations would be arrested. Myanmar citizens are now refused by Chinese companies because the owners do not dare hire them. If they are caught, they have to pay fines and may go to prison, he said. Ye Lwin Tun said he was arrested in October last year along with about 300 Myanmar nationals while working at a factory in Huazhou that makes shampoo caps. Kyaw Kyaw, a labor activist in Ruili, China, said it normally takes about 20 days or so for Myanmar workers to be returned to the border if they give themselves up to the Chinese police, but now have to stay in detention camps for at least three to six months. "It takes a long time for the mainland to deport them, he said. If they do not have passports, they will be released within a maximum of 20 days on grounds of COVID rules. But for those from Guangdong, they could not get past Baoshan. Whether they take a shortcut or not, it is impossible to pass that line. If arrested, they could be held for at least 3 to 6 months. Kyaw Kyaw said there are prisoners who have been detained for years who have had no contact with their families or the embassy. RFA contacted both Myanmar Embassy in Beijing and Chinese Embassy in Myanmar by email on May 25 for comments but have not received a reply. In March, the Chinese Embassy in Yangon told RFA in an e-mail that China takes the rights of foreign workers seriously and that foreigners should in turn respect Chinese laws. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Eugene Whong. State police pressure relatives of Uyghurs in exile to ensure they don't talk about abuses in Xinjiang. US-based Uyghur Kalbinur Gheni holds a photo of her sister, Renagul Gheni, who is serving a 17-year sentence in a detention center in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, January 2022. Two weeks before a visit by the U.N. human rights chief, Chinas state security police warned Uyghurs living in Xinjiang that they may suffer consequences if their relatives living abroad spoke out about internment camps in the region. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, is now on a six-day trip to China, including the coastal city of Guangzhou and Urumqi (in Chinese, Wulumuqi) and Kashgar (Kashi) in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). She began the tour on May 23. On May 12, U.S.-based Kalbinur Gheni posted a tweet asking Bachelet to meet with her sister, who is incarcerated at a womens prison in Sanji (Changji), a city next to Urumqi, capital of the XUAR. Gheni said members of Chinas state security police in Korla (Kuerle), the second-largest city in Xinjiang, visited her mother in Cherchen county the next day and pressed her to convince Gheni not to tweet more about her sisters detention. Your daughter in the United States is speaking out against the government. If you don't talk to this girl and ask her to agree to delete everything on Twitter, you will be convicted of being a two-faced person yourself, Gheni recalled the security officials told her mother. When I called my mom on the second day after my tweet, my poor mother cried and shouted saying that if I didnt delete what I had posted, she would sever her blood relationship with me, Gheni said. The agents threatened to charge her mother with the crime of being a two-faced person if she failed to persuade Gheni. The Chinese Communist Party uses the term to describe people usually officials or party members who are either corrupt or ideologically disloyal to the party. Ghenis sister, Renagul Gheni, was a primary schoolteacher in Cherchen county when authorities allegedly took her to an internment camp in 2018. Two years later she was sentenced to 17 years in prison seven years for praying during her fathers funeral and 10 years for possessing a Quran. Gheni said security officials had pressured her family over her tweets about her sister before the latest incident. The same state security official has been contacting me directly over a year now, Gheni told RFA, adding that the agent has told her that he is taking care of her family members in Xinjiang. Ghenis younger brother, who had not spoken to her for more than two years, also had left a message asking her to delete her Twitter posts. After this tweet, my brother with whom I had lost contact for over two years, left a voice message on WeChat saying, We heard that while abroad you have made anti-China statements. Will you let us live or not? Stop making these statements and delete everything you posted. On May 23, Gheni tweeted: I will keep up the fight, I wont give up on my loved ones. No Uyghur is safe U.S.-based Uyghur Gulruy Esqer told RFA that Chinese government authorities also tried to silence her by rearresting a relative in the XUAR. Esmet Behti, who was a history professor the Bingtuan Pedagogical School under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, was rearrested in May 2021 in an attempt to silence Esqer. The teacher was first arrested in 2019 and taken to a detention camp but released nine months later. I thought he had been released because of my activism in the U.S. and that he would be safe from further harm by Chinese authorities, but I was wrong, she told RFA. No Uyghur is safe from Chinese authorities. Thats what Ive now concluded. Any Uyghur on any given day or night might be taken away by Chinese authorities. Shortly before the start of Bachelets visit to the XUAR, the Chinese government launched a campaign there to protect state secrets, warning Uyghurs not to talk about or discuss state secrets, meaning the detention of Uyghurs or other measures to repress them. International human rights organizations say that Chinas efforts to silence Uyghurs abroad serve the same purpose as using propaganda to cover up the reality of rights abuses in Xinjiang. Bachelets visit coincided with release of leaked Chinese police files on Uyghurs in the XUAR published online by German researcher Adrian Zenz, director in China studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. The files detail the brutality of the Chinese authorities against Uyghurs and show top Chinese leaders direct involvement in the mass internment campaign. Translated by RFA Uyghur. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. This handout image taken and released on May 25, 2022 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) shows UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet (2nd L), OHCHR director of field operations and technical cooperation division Christian Salazar (L), China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C), and China's Vice Foreign Minister Mao Zhaoxu attending a virtual meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, in Guangzhou. A Uyghur rights group on Saturday expressed serious disappointment in the outcome of U.N. Human Rights czar Michelle Bachelets trip to Xinjiang, which it said had amounted to a propaganda opportunity for China to whitewash its crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur people. Ahead of the visit, rights groups demanded assurances that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights would have unfettered access to the region and the ability to speak freely with Uyghurs without fear of reprisal. Otherwise, they warned, her trip risked lending legitimacy to Beijings justification for a counter-terrorism campaign that has seen as many as 1.8 million members of the ethnic minority held in a network of internment camps since 2017. During a news briefing at the end of her six-day trip to China on Saturday, Bachelet said she was not in China for an official investigation of the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), although she claimed to have had unsupervised access to sources that the U.N. had arranged to meet in the region. She added that she had urged China to avoid arbitrary and indiscriminate measures in its crackdown in the XUAR and said officials in the region had assured her that the internment camps they call vocational training centers have been dismantled. But RFA and other outlets have reported in the run up to the visit that China put pressure on Uyghurs in Xinjiang and their relatives abroad to stop them from speaking about internment camps and other abuses in the region. In a statement from Germany, World Uyghur Congress (WUC) President Dolkun Isa warned that Bachelets visit the first by a U.N. rights czar in nearly two decades only strengthened Chinas narrative about its policies in the region, which Western nations say amount to a genocide of the Uyghur people. As expected, the High Commissioner has wasted a historic opportunity to investigate the Uyghur genocide and deliver justice to the Uyghur people, Isa said. The High Commissioner has ruined her offices credibility by aligning with Chinas wishes and conducting a visit that by no means adequately addressed justice for Uyghurs and accountability for those responsible. The WUC said that a recently released police list with the names of more than 10,000 allegedly detained Uyghurs known as the Xinjiang Police Files underscore exactly why an investigation into the situation in the XUAR is needed and urged Bachelets office to release her independent assessment as a show of willingness to hold the Chinese government accountable for crimes against humanity and genocide being committed. Bachelets visit was also slammed by German researcher Adrian Zenz, director in China studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., who posted a message on Twitter saying that the result was significantly worse than what had been feared. The perhaps worst human rights violation of our time is treated as a matter of internal review by the perpetrator, he tweeted. The main takeaway is that Bachelet treats the Xinjiang government as a rational actor who should undertake its own review of how its deradicalization policies may not be complying with international standards, the researcher wrote, calling the U.N. officials press briefing absolutely stunning. Call for stronger measures The end of Bachelets trip came as the WUC convened a May 26-28 summit in Munich, Germany on best practices for advocacy efforts, which Isa opened by urging the global community to adopt stronger measures if it intends to hold Beijing to account for its treatment of Uyghurs in northwestern China. In a speech to more than 200 policymakers, activists, lawyers, and members of the Uyghur diaspora gathered for the summit held just a half-hours drive from the former Dachau Nazi concentration camp Isa welcomed the international attention that the Xinjiang Police Files had drawn to the situation in the XUAR. But he warned that compiling evidence of Chinas policies targeting the Uyghurs is only part of what must be an urgent and concerted international effort to end atrocities in the region. The Xinjiang Police Files, as they are called, remind the world of the nature of the Chinese governments atrocity crimes and genocide of the Uyghurs, Isa told those in attendance at the conference hall. For us [Uyghurs], this is not breaking news it is the daily reality of our lives Millions of Uyghurs are being detained in 21st century concentration camps, where they are subjected to all forms of abuse torture, rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, [and] sterilization. While the U.S. government and the parliaments of several Western nations have declared that the situation in the XUAR constitutes genocide, the only action taken against China to date has come in the form of sanctioning Chinese officials and businesses seen as complicit in the policies. In early December, the Uyghur Tribunal, an independent peoples tribunal in London, determined that China has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, although its findings are non-binding and lack state-backing. Meanwhile, more than five years since the establishment of the camps, little has changed for Uyghurs in the XUAR. Authorities in the region use a high-tech and comprehensive surveillance system to monitor for any sign of opposition to Chinese rule, which increasingly includes any outward expression by Uyghurs of their traditional culture, such as dress, language, and religion. Isa said the onus is on global powers to demand that Beijing change course or face consequences. Over the past five years, all Uyghurs, Kazakhs, [and members of the] diaspora have tried to find any information about the whereabouts and well-being of our families in the homeland. What we have learned in these five years should already have shocked the worlds conscience, he said. With the Xinjiang Police Files being yet another reason, [the WUC] calls on the international community to end its business as usual approach to China. Summit attendees listen to a recording of the national anthem of East Turkestan, the name Uyghurs use to refer to their homeland in northwestern China, at a conference hall in Munich, Germany, May 26, 2022. Credit: RFA Forced slavery laws Legal experts at this weeks summit said new laws prohibiting the trade of goods made with forced labor could be used to make China to rethink its policies in the XUAR, where Uyghurs held in internment camps are often put to work in factories for little or no pay. During a panel on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, Nick Vetch, the Vice-chair of the Uyghur Tribunal, called for a convergence of legal, political, and business interests, which he deemed critical to influencing Beijing. The pact that [the Chinese Communist Party and the State] has made [with the people of China] is that they will not be governed by the rule of law, but by the law of rule, he said. And the reason that the people have accepted this, and why it is sustainable for the Party and the State, is because the pact is that the State will provide them with stability, it will provide them consumer goods, it will provide them with a degree of wealth and well-being, in return for which they subdue their political instincts. Vetch, who is the executive chairman of the U.K.-based Big Yellow Group, likened threats to Chinas economic stability to attacks against its political integrity, noting that in the past, such actions have led to responses which are powerful and visceral and very acutely delivered. In my view, business is the most powerful force on the planet and how business behaves will have a profound bearing on how China behaves, he said, noting that laws such as the U.K.s Anti-Slavery Act explicitly prohibit the sale of goods procured through slave labor and should be used to influence policies in the XUAR. He gave the example of solar panels, which are increasingly critical as countries around the world work to come in line with regulations governing power production amidst climate change. If 85 percent of the worlds production of solar panels is made by China and we cannot verify the source of it, but we believe as we have seen the evidence and we know that it is illegally sourced, that means that governments throughout the Western world and elsewhere, the biggest corporations on the planet, are using illegal products, he said. So, the law exists, the politicians have made the law, theyve created the framework, it just needs to be enforced now. Vetch said that such situations also present opportunities for the business world by taking away Chinas ability to offer the cheapest goods, which it has done using forced labor. If you take that imperative away, you rebalance the economics and you create an incentive for business to generate new markets, he said, adding that in addition to solar panels, the markets for cotton and tomatoes could provide similar leverage. The Uyghur community must convince businesses to work with politicians and legislators to enforce such laws, Vetch said, and in doing so raise the price of the behavior of the Chinese government. A heavy responsibility Geoffrey Nice, the chair of the Uyghur Tribunal, agreed that it is critical for the Uyghur community to investigate new ways to force change from China. Nine individuals with no special interest decided that the question of what was happening to the Uyghurs should be looked at dispassionately, objectively, according to the strictest evidential tests, and that a judgment should be returned, saying what has happened, what is happening and what may happen, and that is what we did, he said of the tribunals December ruling. But he warned that such pronouncements as well as the declarations of genocide by Western lawmakers are merely tools to be used by the Uyghur community in a wider influence campaign. Be under no illusion even if 10 other powerful nation states pronounced that what is happening in Xinjiang is genocide, the problem would not be over, he said. On the World Uyghur Congress and all other Uyghur groups rests an enormously heavy responsibility for saving an ethnic group that is your relation on the far side of the globe from killing, from all known forms of persecution, from forced assimilation of one group into another, from destruction of a culture, loss of a language, and annihilation of an identity. Ukrainian forces have had some success fighting Russians in the city of Syevyerodonetsk, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his late-night address on June 2, but the overall military situation in the Donbas region, which he previously characterized as "very difficult," has not changed. Ukrainian forces have been locked in a grinding battle for control of the city and regions in eastern Ukraine as they struggle to hold off Russian troops while they await the arrival of the advanced rockets and anti-aircraft weapons that the United States has promised to send. But the arms deliveries are possibly weeks away, meaning a prolonged period of grueling combat is likely. The war has become a war of attrition, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned on June 2 following talks with U.S. President Joe Biden. Wars are by nature unpredictable and therefore we just have to be prepared for the long haul," Stoltenberg told reporters after meeting Biden at the White House. The war most likely will end at the negotiating table, he said, adding that what happens during talks is closely linked to the situation on the battlefield. Street fighting was reported on June 2 in Syevyerodonetsk where Ukrainian forces continued to put up stiff resistance despite the Russians 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. 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 Luhansk 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 toward the key Ukrainian-held cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, where Mayor Vadym Lyakh called for the evacuation of the heavily damaged city. 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. In his nightly address Zelenskiy also slammed the "absolutely senseless shelling" of northern border regions from Russian territory. "The entire temporarily occupied territory of our state is now a zone of complete disaster, for which Russia bears full responsibility," he said. Zelenskiy also thanked Biden for promising to send missiles and said he expected good news about weapons supplies from other partners. The new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine said after presenting her credentials to Zelenskiy that the delivery of U.S. military aid is being accelerated. My understanding is that now its very quick, within days, less even, of a decision, that the hardware is in Ukrainian hands, Ambassador Bridget Brink said. But senior Pentagon officials have said the most advanced U.S. rocket systems -- the HIMARS -- that can strike targets as far as 80 kilometers away, will take at least three weeks to reach the battlefront, raising questions of whether they will arrive in time to stop Russias slow but steady gains. Zelenskiy has 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." "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 VILNIUS -- Russian President Vladimir Putins heavy-handed crackdown on dissent at home means that effective opposition to his rule can only exist outside the country, activist and former chess champion Garry Kasparov has told Current Time. Members of the opposition who have stayed in Russia have no opportunity to express their views, Kasparov said in an interview on May 23 from Riga, where he participated in a meeting organized by the Free Russia Forum to discuss the consequences of Putins decision to invade Ukraine. Political life ended long ago in Russia, he said. Over Putins more than 22 years as president or prime minister, his government has taken over or shut down nearly all independent media, banned foreign social media platforms, outlawed opposition groups, jailed leading activists, shut civil society organizations, and broadly labeled individuals or entities expressing dissent as foreign agents to discredit them. Last year, courts sentenced Aleksei Navalny, Putins most prominent political opponent, to more than two years in prison for parole violations he denied and outlawed his Anti-Corruption Foundation and other groups after the state labeled them extremist organizations, a designation he and supporters say is absurd. This March, Navalny received a new nine-year prison on charges of embezzlement and contempt. The West and human rights organizations have called the targeting of Navalny and his foundation an attempt by Putin to silence dissent. Navalnys closest associates have fled the country over the past year for fear of arrest on trumped up charges. Putin has intensified his crackdown on dissent since ordering the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, signing bills into law that criminalize independent war reporting and protesting the war. Kasparov said that political opponents of Putin who continue to operate in Russia within the strict confines set by the president only serve to legitimize his rule. Kasparov did not name any person or organization in particular but expressed disproval of opposition members running for political office. Any work within the framework of the mechanism and apparatus of Putins state -- the structure that has been built -- strengthens the regime. It convinces him of his rightness, adds legitimacy, and thereby makes the regime stronger, he said. He said opposition members should leave if they have the opportunity to do so, arguing that they can have no influence over policy at home. Kasparov, 59, is now seeking to help Russians opposed to Putins rule live abroad following sweeping Western sanctions that have made emigration more difficult. The West has largely cut flights to Russia and ended banking relationships with the country, hindering the ability of Russians to bank abroad. Kasparov said he is discussing with European officials a way to improve the rights of Russians living abroad if they sign a three-point declaration denouncing the war, calling Putins rule illegitimate, and recognizing Ukraines territorial integrity. With such a signed declaration in hand, in my opinion, it is unfair to deprive a person -- just because he has a Russian passport and was born in Russia -- of the opportunity to exercise his rights including participating in international sporting events, obtaining a residence permit, or opening a bank account, he said. Kasparov said it should be open to people who previously supported Putin, highlighting actress Chulpan Khamatova, who in 2012 recorded a video supporting the authoritarian leaders return to the presidency. Khamatova, who is living in Latvia, has taken part in anti-war protests in the Baltic country. Kasparov dominated the chess world from 1985 to 2000. A vocal critic of Putin since the early 2000s, he faced repression as he tried to build up the non-partisan, pro-democracy group United Civic Front. In a sign of what was to come a decade later, Kasparovs protests against Putins rule in the 2000s were violently broken up by police and he was questioned by investigators. He left Russia for self-imposed exile about a decade ago as repression inside Russia quickly grew with Putins return to the presidency in 2012. Russia last week added Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon, to its registry of foreign agents following their participation in the Free Russia Forum in Vilnius. Kasparov told the forum that sanctions against Russia -- which also include bans on technology critical for the functioning of the nations industry -- should remain in place until it compensates Ukraine for war damage and those guilty of war crimes are brought to justice. Written by Todd Prince based on reporting by Timofei Rozhanskiy of Current Time The worst side-effects from veteran Dylan Jeffersons exposure to toxic burn pits come at night. On one side of his body, the former Army corporal gets a needling sensation that begins to mimic stroke-like paralysis if unattended. His wife, Julia, awakes to start rubbing Jeffersons back and limbs, anything to get the midnight storm to pass so they can extract whatever rest remains in the twilight. It happens at night, when I sleep. And she wakes up, like whats wrong? And I tell her, its happening again. Jefferson explained. The burn pits. Jefferson can still smell them. It smells a lot like an electrical fire, he said, but a little more potent. It gets into everything, your BDUs (uniform), your skin. Massive pits are used to burn everything from munitions containers, medical waste, and electronics at U.S. military encampments, and have been for decades. The Department of the Defense estimates there are at least 3.5 million veterans potentially exposed, basically everyone who served after Sept. 11, 2001. There are at least 22 different health problems related to burn pit exposure, many not materializing until years later. Meeting in Billings on Friday with veterans and the media, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, estimated the number of Montana veterans exposed to toxic substances is as high as 60,000, or roughly two-thirds of the veterans living in the state today. Montanas veterans make up 10.6% of the state population, third highest in the nation as a percentage. Tester was in town to discuss a toxics exposure bill, which if Senate votes line up June 6, would grant veterans treatment for problems associated with exposure to toxic burn pits and Agent Orange for the first time. Veterans affected span 50-years of U.S. military conflicts, from the Vietnam War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would require an historic investment in health service provided by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 was named after a member of the Ohio National Guard who died from toxic exposure in 2020. The bill passed the House in March, with tepid bipartisan support. It remains to be seen whether the legislation can pass the Senate, where a 60% majority vote is a higher bar to clear. Passage will depend on at least 10 Republicans supporting the bill. Those votes arent committed yet. Tester and the Veterans Committee ranking member, Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, agreed several months ago that Tester wouldnt bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote unless Moran agreed with the bill. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have committed to the bill. Republican leadership hasnt. I will tell you theres been two augments made on this bill. Number one, some people will say the VA doesn't have the capacity, but we're giving them the capacity. And this bill, unlike the COST of War Act, there's 31 clinics in 19 different states. There's manpower that we're addressing, there's the claims issue we're addressing with manpower. And we've been working with (Denis) McDonough on this thing, the secretary of the VA, Tester said. The second argument is it just costs too much money. And, and I will tell you that we don't have a score from the Congressional Budget Office yet. It should be coming out before the sixth. It's likely to cost some money. In fact, it will cost some money, Tester said. But I point out a couple things. Short of sending money to other places to rebuild them, these folks served. They went over, they did their job. We put the cost of the war in the Middle East on a credit card. Nobody argued about that. And so, taking care of these vets is the same kind of deal. There shouldn't be a lot of argument. Its about taking care of the vets. If we have to do whatever we need to do to pay for this, it's part of our obligation to the veterans in this country. The House version of the bill would spend about $30 billion a year for 10 years. Last week, when Tester and Moran signaled that they had an agreement on the language that would advance to the Senate floor, the senator from Kansas told the Associated Press that the Senate price tags would be tens of billions of dollars less than the House version over the 10-year life of the bill. One of the caveats Moran put down earlier in the process was that the toxics exposure coverage would be phased in so that Veterans Affairs wouldnt be overwhelmed, a concern raised by committee Republicans who offered bill versions that covered fewer veterans on the grounds that the VA wouldnt be overwhelmed. Tester on Friday confirmed that the bill would be phased in if it became law. It wouldnt take much to overwhelm the VA without a bigger commitment of resources to process claims and provide care for veteran with health problems stemming from toxics exposure. The VA is short several thousand employees, Gina Grosso, Department of Veterans Affairs assistant secretary for human resources, told a Senate Veterans Affairs committee May 4. As a result, facilities like the Miles City Community Living Center are unable to provide the services guaranteed to veterans. Grosso struggled to put a number to exactly how short-staffed the VA is. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who met with Tester on Friday, including Jefferson, werent taking a no from the Senate. At VFW Post 6774 in Billings Heights there were veterans from three different wars, representing five decades of deployments, each with health issues stemming from exposure to Agent Orange or toxics burned in pits at military sites. We volunteered to serve our country. And we were proud to do so. But we never thought we would be exposed to toxins. While we never questioned our service, we do question why the VA does not cover our ailments, said Tim Peters, state VFW quartermaster. When our country sends us off to war, there's an inherent presumption that our country will take care of our wounds, whether on the battlefield, or in the future. This bill will do just that. And quite frankly, it is high time they do, Peters said. As a Gulf War veteran exposed to oil well fires and other unknown toxins, I know firsthand the effects of toxic exposure and having to live with those effects for more than 30 years. By not recognizing toxics exposure decades earlier, the federal government has offered no support to generations of veterans who have died from health complications without health coverage soldiers assumed they had, said Jeff Schepp, senior vice commander for Montana VFW. I've volunteered, as a lot of people did, but the Vietnam vets did not volunteer. They were sent over there. They were exposed to Agent Orange, those are the people that are suffering, Schepp said. We do need to get this bill passed as soon as possible. We've delayed long enough. A lot of these veterans are passing away on a daily basis. Schepp was exposed to burn pits in Iraq. He said he has family members in service now who are also being exposed burn pits. Jefferson keeps images of his burn pit experience on his phone. In frame, after frame he tends to a long, wide trench of burning garbage. Nothing could remain unburned, for fear that local children would pick through the ashes for whatever wasnt destroyed. In the photos, Jefferson is a young man, a kid who in 2002 convinced his grandmother to sign release paperwork so he could join the Army at age 17. He served three years and lives with post-traumatic stress disorder today. I was heavily exposed to burn pits, I have pictures of me inside the burn pits, lighting the fire, stuff that we didn't know was going to affect us 20, 30 years from now, Jefferson said. And I look at those pictures all the time. And I'm just like, man, you could see the fumes. You can see all the things that I was breathing in. And it's tough when I'm making progress on other things. And, and I have to deal with the stuff that hasn't been addressed that feels like we put on the backburner. Jefferson said hes thankful for the bill, then segues into a talk about the 22. Other veterans have also talked about the 22, referring to the number of veterans who commit suicide daily. With the combination of mental health and burn pits, you know, you look at that 22 veterans a day. It's more than just mental health. Its, its dealing with something like the burn pits that are really weighing us down where the only option out is. Jefferson cocks his right thumb back and raises two pointed fingers to his temple. Not one veteran in the room seemed alarmed by the corporal's truth. The burn pits. Jefferson can still smell them. It smells a lot like an electrical fire, he said, but a little more potent. It gets into everything, your BDUs (uniform), your skin. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 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. When Vladimir Putin took in a Paul McCartney concert on Red Square nearly two decades ago this month, Andrei Makarevich rocked out next to the Russian president as the ex-Beatle performed an encore of Back In The U.S.S.R. Five years later, Makarevich -- one of Russias best-known rock stars -- played a Red Square concert in support of Putin and his handpicked placeholder successor, Dmitry Medvedev, and said he truly supported the ruling duo. But since Russias seizure and occupation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula in 2014, Makarevich has become an open critic of Putins expansionism. And after the Russian leader launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, the rock star has a message for those who embrace Putins war and the Latin letter Z that the government deploys as a patriotic symbol. They can f**k off, Makarevich, founder of the legendary Russian rock band Mashina Vremeni (Time Machine), said in an interview with Current Time, the Russian-language channel run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Like several other prominent Russian entertainers, Makarevich, 68, has decamped to Israel since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Some of these celebrities -- such as Makarevichs fellow rock star Boris Grebenshchikov and showman Maksim Galkin -- have been openly critical of the war, a position now fraught with legal risks under a snowballing crackdown on dissent in Russia. The invasion, Makarevich says, became a red line for him. Before the hostilities started, before people started dying, I could fully understand that people can hold different views of the same thing. But when it suddenly turned into war, and someone shouts, Right on! -- then I just cross this person out, Makarevich said. Much Worse Than 1968 Makarevich, who says his musical career was inspired by The Beatles, founded his band Time Machine in 1969. And while the band was admired by many in the underground Soviet rock scene, it was never deemed subversive by authorities and even went on to achieve mainstream status. In a 2008 interview with RFE/RLs Russian Service, Makarevich defended his decision to play the Red Square event in support of Medvedevs presidency, calling Putins anointed candidate the most reasonable and acceptable choice. But three years later, when Putin opted to return to the presidency, Makarevich expressed disillusionment, saying Russians were being robbed of what was left of our electoral rights." Following Makarevichs criticism of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Kremlin loyalists branded him a traitor, and his concerts were canceled. While Russian officials have denounced what they call cancel culture targeting Russians and Russian culture in the West following the Ukraine invasion, Makarevich told Current Time that he has not experienced this personally since leaving Russia. I travel around the world a lot now and am invited to give concerts. Im traveling to Cyprus now. Georgia is calling. They probably wouldnt be calling if there was some kind of canceling of Russian culture, he said. Makarevich likened Russias war against Ukraine to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 but said the current war is much worse. What is happening in Ukraine is much worse in terms of the scale of misery than what happened back then in Prague, he said. Criminal Orders Amid mounting evidence of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, Makarevich said he couldnt speak on behalf of Russian soldiers but said that they should not carry out criminal orders. That is on their conscience. That is their decision, he said. Russia has denied targeting civilian areas in a war it insists on calling a special operation, though reporters -- including RFE/RL correspondents on the ground -- have documented numerous cases of such attacks. Moscow has also spread demonstrably false conspiracy theories claiming incidents involving potential war crimes were staged by Ukraine. Asked whether he envisions any scenario in which he would not return to Russia, Makarevich said: I dont even think about that. I am waiting for events to unfold that I, unfortunately, cannot influence, he said. Makarevich added that he continues to follow the news about the war. I feel the same as I did on day one [of the war]: Its disgusting, he said. Thats all I can say. Written by RFE/RLs Carl Schreck based on reporting by Andrei Tsyganov of Current Time Russian forces reportedly made further gains in the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the eastern Donbas region, as Kyiv admitted that it may have to abandon Syevyerodonetsk, one of the two main cities still under its control but which Russians appear close to surrounding. Britain meanwhile said Moscow was in acute need of a victory in the Donbas region as a political justification for its unprovoked war against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the current situation in the region "very difficult." "Russian forces have concentrated their efforts in the Donbas, using maximum artillery fire and missile strikes as Ukrainian forces protect our land in the way that our current defense resources allow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Russian troops seeking to regain momentum in the three-month-long war have been pressing a rapid advance in the Luhansk region with a focus on the cities of Syevyerodonetsk and Lysychansk. Russia's Defense Ministry said on May 28 that its forces together with Moscow-backed separatist fighters had taken Lyman, a strategic railway hub west of Syevyerodonetsk. Earlier, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence bulletin on May 28 that Russian forces had likely captured most of Lyman in what appears as a preliminary operation for the next stage of Russias offensive. In Syevyerodonetsk, the relentless and indiscriminate Russian artillery fire almost completely destroyed the city and killed hundreds of civilians, officials said. Serhiy Hayday, the governor of Luhansk, said on May 28 that he estimates there are some 10,000 Russian troops in the region and that Russians are already in parts of Syevyerodonetsk. "It is possible that in order not to be surrounded, they (Ukrainians) will have to leave," Hayday said the previous night. Syevyerodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said at least 1,500 people have been killed in his city since the start of Russia's invasion in late February. About 12,000 to 13,000 remain in the city -- down from a prewar population of about 100,000, he said. The British intelligence report estimated Russia is likely to prioritize forcing a crossing of the Siverskiy Donets River that separates Syevyerodonetsk from its twin city, Lysychansk. Moscow has made seizing the whole eastern Donbas region a key objective of the invasion after being pushed back from Kyiv. In its bulletin, Britain assessed that "if Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on May 27 that Ukraine needed long-range multiple-launch rocket systems to resist the Russian onslaught. "I'm afraid that Putin, at great cost to himself and to the Russian military, is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas," he told Bloomberg. "He's continuing to make gradual, slow, but I'm afraid palpable, progress and therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily." Ukraine is pleading for a long-range weapons system to halt the Russian advance, but Washington has so far not offered one. On the diplomatic front, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a possible prisoner swap and blocked shipments of Ukrainian grain during a phone call on May 27. Nehammer, who spoke to reporters after the 45-minute call, said Putin told him that Moscow is ready to discuss a prisoner swap with Ukraine but the question is complex. The Austrian leader said his impression during the call was that Putin wants to create facts on the ground that he can take into negotiations. Zelenskiy said earlier that he must hold talks with Putin in order to safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty and existence. Zelenskiy also accused Russia, which has said it would allow Ukraine to resume its grain exports by sea if the West lifts some sanctions imposed on it for starting the war, of weaponizing the global food supply crisis. The last known face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were held on March 29. Negotiations continued online for a while, but both sides now say they have stopped. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin informed Nehammer about actions that Russia is taking to secure safe passage for vessels in the Azov and Black seas. Putin told Nehammer that attempts to blame Russia for difficulties shipping grain worldwide were unfounded and said Western sanctions were responsible instead, according to the Kremlin. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa, CNN, and BBC Russias invasion of Ukraine has had economic repercussions around the world, and its creating a food shortage. Russia and Ukraine are both key agricultural suppliers, and the ongoing conflict has only served to highlight the fragility of the global food-supply chain when two major players are essentially taken off the market. In 2021 alone, Russia and Ukraine ranked as global export leaders for barley, corn, rapeseed, sunflower seed, and sunflower oil. Together they exported almost 30 percent of the worlds wheat supply. Russia exported 17 percent of global wheat while Ukraine accounted for 20 percent of the worlds rapeseed. However, with Russias invasion of Ukraine, the agricultural supply chain has broken down and is already compromising deliveries of food and food prices around the world. Stopping The Blockades Russia's offensive strategies include blockading and bombing ports that are vital gateways for food exports. On May 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced concern over the imminent food crisis and pleaded with international leaders to take immediate action to end the blockade of Ukrainian ports and thus allow Ukrainian wheat to get to other markets. In response, G7 foreign ministers met in Germany to discuss the urgent transit of grain, stating that Russias invasion of Ukraine had "generated one of the most severe food and energy crises in recent history, which now jeopardizes the worlds poorest countries. With its vital ports blocked, Ukraine has transported exports by rail over its western border, as well as from the countrys ports on the Danube River while these were still open. About 25 million tons of grain have been prevented from leaving ports in Ukraine over the past three months since the war began. Western Sanctions And Food Shortages Russia, meanwhile, has not paused its grain production and continues its exports via the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting of economic officials in Moscow that the country was expecting a record wheat harvest this year. However, the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West have logjammed logistics and payments, which has rendered many transactions difficult if not impossible. The sanctions could also halt Russian imports of crucial items such as pesticides and seeds, which could lead to lower yields and poor-quality crops. A global food shortage means that prices have shot up as well. Prices for every category of foodstuff had already been on the rise since late 2020, but the global cereal and vegetable oil markets in which both Ukraine and Russia play significant roles are among those most affected. The FAO Food Price Index recorded an all-time high in March 2022, at 159.3 points, which is up 12.6 percent from February, when it had already reached its highest level since the index was created in the 1990s. All of this poses a threat to food security in countries that are already economically vulnerable and highly dependent on Russian wheat, such as those in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. Alex Smith, a food and agriculture analyst with the Breakthrough Institute, said in an interview with RFE/RL that Lebanon, for example, relies on Ukraine for about 50 percent of its total wheat supply and is now facing one of the worlds worst economic crises. African countries that were already experiencing a food crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, and landslides, are now grappling with food shortages and soaring prices. World leaders have sharply criticized Russias use of grain exports in geopolitics. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on May 24 during the World Economic Forum in Davos that, on top of bombing Ukrainian grain warehouses, Moscow was storing its own food exports as a form of blackmail. "This is using hunger and grain to wield power," she said. In a debate at the United Nations Security Council, David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), demanded that world leaders take immediate action regarding the reopening of Black Sea ports to help the 276 million people around the world who are currently at risk of starvation. He added that if measures are not taken soon, the impact of inaction will be felt around the world for years to come. Ban On Exports To Central Asia In March, Russia temporarily banned grain exports to member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia until June. Belarus, which is also a member of the EEU, was notably exempted from the ban. In response, Kazakhstan banned wheat exports to its Central Asian neighbors. Kazakhstan is a sizable wheat producer but it also imports relatively affordable wheat from Russia for national consumption and to resell to other countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. These countries receive some 90 percent of their wheat imports from Kazakhstan. A contestant performs during the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Bucharest, Romania, May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Lin Huifen) The students competed in three segments featuring keynote speech, knowledge quiz and talent show, explaining their understanding of "One World, One Family", the theme of the competition, from various perspectives such as language learning, literature, film, music, and delicious food. BUCHAREST, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The 21st "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Romanian College Students, the first offline edition since the COVID-19 pandemic, was held here on Saturday. A total of 17 contestants from across the country competed in the event, with Martin Sharma, a sophomore from the University of Bucharest winning the Grand Prize. He will represent Romania in the "Chinese Bridge" global final. The students competed in three segments featuring keynote speech, knowledge quiz and talent show, explaining their understanding of "One World, One Family", the theme of the competition, from various perspectives such as language learning, literature, film, music, and delicious food. Zhao Li, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Romania, said in an opening speech that the bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges have never been interrupted over the past seven decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Romania. Expressing her appreciation that many Romanians are enthusiastic on learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture, the counselor voiced hope that the young Chinese learners in Romania will contribute to the promotion of friendship between the two countries from generation to generation. Mugur Zlotea, who once studied Chinese in China and is now Pro-rector of the University of Bucharest, delivered a speech in fluent Chinese, praising the teachers and volunteers of the four Confucius Institutes in the country for their efforts in Chinese teaching, and encouraging students to learn Chinese well. Spectators look on during the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Bucharest, Romania, May 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Lin Huifen) The 15th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Romanian Secondary School Students was held last Saturday in the Black Sea coastal city of Constanta. Mara Mereanu from the Confucius Classroom in the western city of Arad stood out from the 17 contestants and won the qualification to represent her country in the "Chinese Bridge" global final for secondary students later this year. FRIDAY, May 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Pot use among U.S. minors increases when states legalize recreational cannabis for adults, according to a new study. University of California, San Diego researchers tracked more than 6,900 youths and almost 15,000 adults, using data from a national assessment. The team found that in states where recreational cannabis use was legal for those 21 and up, young people ages 12 to 20 were more likely to use pot, even though it was illegal for those ages. Adults also had an increased likelihood of cannabis use. "Our findings provide useful information to policymakers and public health practitioners interested in understanding the consequences of legalizing recreational cannabis," said principal investigator Yuyan Shi, an associate professor at UC San Diego School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. "It's especially concerning that increased cannabis use occurs among young people because of the detrimental health effects associated with cannabis use at a young age, including impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease and adverse effects on mental health," Shi said in a university news release. Study participants came from four states with legal recreational cannabis (California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine), 11 states that allow medical cannabis and 17 states that prohibit cannabis use. States where marijuana is legal can be found here. The findings were published online in the May 26 issue of Addiction. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on marijuana and public health. SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, news release, May 26, 2022 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to injuring and robbing several people at a downtown Billings restaurant. Brandon Eugene Bird admitted to four counts of robbery and just as many counts of assault with a weapon in Yellowstone County District Court on Wednesday. Bird, who has previously been sentenced in Missoula County for robbery, stabbed several people at Jakes Downtown in November 2021 after being fired from his dishwashing job. Bird walked into Jakes Downtown on Nov. 3 after losing his job earlier that day, the Gazette previously reported. Holding two steak knives, he demanded money. The manager of the restaurant convinced him to talk in an alleyway. He then followed employees into the kitchen, stabbing several people. Bird briefly left the restaurant before returning and injuring two more people. Three police officers wrestled Bird to the ground, and at least one officer used a Taser on Bird. Birds attack ended with five people injured and three hospitalized. As a convicted felon, Bird had been living in Billings on pre-release for less than two months at the time of the assault. County prosecutors initially charged Bird with five counts of felony assault and two counts of felony robbery, and District Court Judge Ashley Harada set his bond at $1 million. Prosecutors eventually filed additional charges of robbery and resisting arrest. County prosecutors reached an agreement with Bird and his attorney, Public Defender Joseph Zavatsky, in May of this year. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped one count of resisting arrest. Appearing before District Judge Collette Davies on Wednesday, Bird pleaded guilty to the eight remaining counts. For his sentence, prosecutors have recommended that Bird spend 40 years in Montana State Prison, along with his previous sentence for the felonies he committed in Missoula. Birds attorney has recommended a sentence of 30 years in prison, with 10 suspended. Bird is scheduled to be sentenced July 25. As of Saturday, he remained in custody at Yellowstone County Detention Facility. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 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 district court judge has denied a request to file criminal charges against Hardins police chief and an officer. The charges drafted by a Big Horn County prosecutor stemmed from an arrest made by the Hardin officer in March. The denial by a judge May 23 is the latest development of tensions between city and county officials since the launch of Hardins police department at the start of the year. Attempts to sabotage this department with false accusations and ridiculous obstacles has not only made this department more technically advanced and more independent but have also proven the need for [a] more professional level of law enforcement, wrote Hardin Mayor Joe Purcell in a statement released Friday. Special Deputy Attorney David H. Sibley submitted charges against Hardin City Police Department Chief Donald Babbin and Officer Calen Curtin on May 17. Sibley alleged that when responding to a call at a gas station in Hardin on March 6, Calen used excessive force after a man half-heartedly punched him, according to court documents. Calen allegedly responded by using a Taser on the man, then punching him twice in the head while he was on the ground. The man arrested, Elery Royce Crooked Arm, was reportedly smoking inside the gas station and destroying merchandise. He is currently in custody at Big Horn County Jail and has been charged with trespassing, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer and parole violation. Crooked Arm, 40, had previously served time in prison after being convicted of rape in 2006. A complaint was filed against Curtin, which spurred an investigation by the Big Horn County Sheriffs Office and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. The day after Crooked Arms arrest, Chief Babbin allegedly threatened the person attempting to file the complaint, court documents said. The charging documents came nearly two months later. Babbin faced one count of intimidation, a felony, and one count of official misconduct. Curtin was charged with assault and official misconduct, both misdemeanors. The charging documents were submitted to Flathead County District Court Judge Dan Wilson. He denied the request to file all four charges. In the case against Babbin, Mayor Purcell wrote in his statement Friday, Wilson determined that the charging documents lacked probable cause. Previous conflicts between the city police department and county officials have included the severing of dispatch services to Hardin police and officers being denied access into the sheriffs office. Chief Babbin, who could not be reached for comment for this article, previously told the Gazette that every step for his young department has been an uphill battle. Starting in April, the City of Hardin approved the implementation of the private dispatch service iNet 911, paid for by a rural development grant. The service utilizes cell towers, and each officer and vehicle is equipped with a cell phone. Love 2 Funny 1 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. Memorial Day events in Bismarck-Mandan will see slight changes this year. There will be no program at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck as in years past. That's to streamline veterans organizations' services at cemeteries and to give veterans time to enjoy fellowship before the program at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan. That service begins at noon Monday and will last about 45 minutes, cemetery Director Pamela Helbling-Schafer said. She recommends attendees carpool and bring their own seating. Provided seats fill quickly, she said. Attendance ranges from 2,500-3,500 people, depending on weather. The ceremony includes a flyover of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters of the North Dakota National Guard; posting of the colors by area veterans organizations; remarks by Gov. Doug Burgum, Guard Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, and U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, all R-N.D.; as well as the 188th Army Band Brass Quintet and a cannon salute. The Salvation Army and Red Cross will offer refreshments. "It's important to remember those that have sacrificed in uniform for our nation's liberty, and we should do that every day, and I'm appreciative every day for their sacrifice," said ceremony co-planner Bill Prokopyk, who served 26 years in the U.S. Army and whose European parents and family were affected by World War II. "We understand the price of freedom and the price that Americans and other allies paid to free the continent of the Nazi threat, and so I was raised with a deep appreciation," he said. North Dakota National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jared Klempel, with the North Dakota State Medical Detachment, has volunteered for six years for the service, helping to organize the event and assign duties for other volunteers. The Hazelton native said he became involved to be more active within the National Guard and to "serve the men and women that are buried at the cemetery, to assure that their sacrifice won't go unnoticed, and just serve them and serve the family members and friends that come to attend the ceremony." U.S. Army Capt. Laura Kleihauer will be the program's master of ceremonies. She has volunteered at the service for four years, this being her first year as emcee. "It's a staple in our community to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and it's an honor to see all of the veterans groups come together in different capacities to support this event and make it one of the most recognizable events in our state," Kleihauer said. Parking Carpooling is ideal for attendees, Helbling-Schafer said. The only interior parking allowed on the cemetery grounds is for motorcycles, people with disabilities, dignitaries and VIPs. Other parking is outside the grounds in ditches, weather permitting, and if not, at nearby Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Shuttles will be available before and after the program for people parking in ditches or the park. Buses Buses are another option. They will arrive at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the parking lots of the Bank of North Dakota in Bismarck and Dan's Supermarket in Mandan for anyone wanting to attend the program at the cemetery. "They're opening it up to anybody that would like to come out but maybe has no way to drive all the way out here or just doesn't want to," Helbling-Schafer said. The buses will leave at 10:15 a.m. for the cemetery, and return people from the cemetery immediately after the service. Harlow's and Nightlife Limousine are providing the buses. Motorcycle ride Motorcycle riders for over 20 years have participated in a Memorial Day ride to the Veterans Cemetery, leaving from The Shop at 131 Airport Road in Bismarck. Organizer Butch Olson said 600-800 people participate in the ride honoring veterans. They're escorted by Bismarck and Mandan police. "Last couple of years, it slowed down a little bit because of COVID, but we're just waiting for the day we hit that 1,000 mark," Olson said. The ride leaves from The Shop at 11 a.m. Monday. There is no charge or sign-in. Riders disperse or continue south after the ceremony and visit Fort Rice and Solen, with a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Meet and greet A meet and greet with dignitaries will begin at 11 a.m. at the cemetery's staging area. That's a change from previous years, when a Memorial Day program was held at the North Dakota Heritage Center. There will be no Heritage Center event this year. The change helps participating veterans organizations streamline their visits to local and rural cemeteries, and allows veterans to visit with dignitaries and enjoy fellowship before the service at the cemetery, said Janette Fetch, adjutant of American Legion Lloyd Spetz Post 1. Livestream available The Memorial Day program will be livestreamed from the cemetery. Livestreaming began in 2019. The livestream will be available on YouTube, the cemetery's Facebook page and Channels 602 or 2 on Midco cable. Volunteers needed Volunteers are needed to place and later remove flags from grave sites at the cemetery. People can arrive at 8 a.m. Monday to help place flags and also at 8 p.m. to remove flags. Doughnuts will be available for morning volunteers. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State environmental officials will hold a hearing Tuesday on North Dakotas proposal for addressing regional haze, which requires the approval of federal officials who have already begun poking holes in the document. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality proposes to maintain the status quo at the states coal-fired power plants and not require any to install new technology to better control emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. The plan incorporates burner upgrades already installed at Coal Creek Station in 2020 to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, making the operation of the technology an enforceable requirement, said David Stroh, an environmental engineer with the department. The state evaluated the impact of requiring additional emissions reduction measures on several facilities and concluded that doing so would result in essentially no visibility change within two key natural areas: Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge in the northwestern part of the state. Officials looked at costly, stringent measures and other less-pricey options, as well as allowing the plants to operate without any new controls. What we found was there was no humanly perceptible change in visibility regardless of the scenario we would have selected, Stroh said. He added that its hard to justify requiring the installation of costly equipment that wont result in an improvement to visibility. Wildfires in other states account for much of the deteriorated visibility during parts of the year in North Dakota, he said. The state is projected to meet short- and long-term visibility goals, the department says in its proposed plan. Each state is going through a similar planning process, which aims to improve visibility at national parks and major wilderness areas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must sign off on states plans, or it could impose a plan of its own upon a state. The last time North Dakota submitted a plan in 2010, the agency rejected the states proposal in part and placed its own requirements upon the state. The matter ended up in court. Haze in North Dakota is monitored through a network led by the EPA, other federal agencies and research organizations. The network has monitors in the national park and at Lostwood. The state has also included data from its own air quality monitors in its proposal. Agencies weigh in Several federal agencies have weighed in already on North Dakotas plan, and they say the state ought to do more. The National Park Service said that of all states, North Dakota has the most significant influence on haze in major natural areas. North Dakota emissions are significant across the region and specifically contribute to regional haze at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota as well as Badlands and Wind Cave National Parks in South Dakota, the agency wrote in comments to the state. The park service acknowledged that visibility trends are improving overall, but it said pollution has increased on the worst visibility days in recent years. Continuous improvement will be needed to continue the downward trend in haze and meet the 2064 goals, the agency said. The EPAs regional haze program seeks to reach natural visibility conditions by that year. The Park Service wants North Dakota to require cost-effective measures to reduce pollutants from industrial facilities and impose new requirements on oil and gas infrastructure, among other requests. The U.S. Forest Service, likewise, said cost-effective controls should be considered regardless of the sources individual, or combined, impact to visibility. The agency added that small visibility improvements, even those that may be imperceptible by themselves, are essential for making progress towards the National Goal of restoring natural conditions by 2064. It said the state should reconsider its decision not to require low-cost emission controls, particularly at Coyote Station and Antelope Valley Station, which are two coal plants. The EPA has also weighed in, echoing the other agencies in comments about minor visibility improvements and oil and gas rules. It also listed a host of other recommendations. North Dakota did not make any major changes to its proposed plan as a result of the agencies feedback, but it made minor adjustments to better explain its perspective, Stroh said. The federal agencies indicated We have a very strong technical plan, but they disagree with the conclusions we came to, he said. North Dakota has responded to some of the comments, writing that it has addressed certain emissions from oil well sites already and that federal rules exist. Sites on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation fall under federal jurisdiction, the state said. The department added that the matter could be further addressed under new proposed EPA rules. Out-of-state wildfires further west have the greatest effect on visibility at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Stroh said. Last summer was particularly bad as smoke from fires in the western United States and Canada extended over North Dakota for numerous days, causing hazy skies and a significant deterioration in air quality. They completely overshadow any visibility impairment that would be caused by our sources, Stroh said. A few changes at major industrial facilities within North Dakota are expected to have a positive effect on air quality, Stroh said. Montana-Dakota Utilities shuttered its two coal units at Heskett Station north of Mandan earlier this year and is planning to add one more natural gas unit, which is expected to emit less. Hesss Tioga Gas Plant is making upgrades as well. The operators of several coal plants in North Dakota are eyeing technology to capture their carbon dioxide emissions. Such equipment is also likely to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, as the pollutant needs to be removed from exhaust gas for the rest of the capture process to function properly, Stroh said. The EPAs regional haze program is designed so that states make incremental progress over 10-year periods through 2064. Its possible North Dakota could require more emission controls at various facilities in the future, Stroh said. Its not a one-and-done thing, he said. North Dakotans react While a group representing North Dakotas coal industry has endorsed the states plan, conservation groups say it falls short. "North Dakota has some of the most egregious haze polluters in the nation, harming air quality in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and other treasured places in the Badlands," said Elizabeth Loos, executive director of the Badlands Conservation Alliance. "This new plan yet again lets North Dakotas dirtiest facilities dump haze pollution into our skies and lungs unchecked, showing that North Dakota still values polluters over people and parks." Prairie Rose Seminole, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and an Indigenous Fellow with the National Parks Conservation Association, said she can see the exhaust gas of several coal plants from her home. "It is unconscionable that our state is advancing a haze plan that does nothing to cut pollution from these facilities and other industries despite clear evidence that they are harmful to me and my family, our livestock and my native lands," she said. "The peoples of the MHA Nation and my family have been stewards of these river valleys and bottom lands for time immemorial and can recall a time of pure waters, clean air and bountiful lands that may come to only exist in our stories." The Lignite Energy Council said North Dakotas power plants have spent more than $2 billion over the past 10 years on emission controls. The state is currently well ahead of schedule in meeting EPAs visibility targets, President Jason Bohrer said. We urge the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize the states authority and discretion by approving the states implementation plan, he said. The three members of North Dakota's Public Service Commission discussed the proposed plan earlier this week, indicating they might provide comments to state environmental officials in support of the plan. They hope to ward off any actions by the EPA that could accelerate the retirement of coal plants in North Dakota, particularly amid a projected shortfall in electricity capacity within one of the power grids that operates in the state. Next steps The departments public hearing is set for Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Room 223 of its Bismarck headquarters at 4201 Normandy St. State officials are also accepting comments from the public through Wednesday. The state will prepare a document responding to the comments it receives and could incorporate feedback into the final plan it sends to the EPA. The state aims to submit the plan by Aug. 15, Stroh said. That kicks off a lengthy review process -- the EPA has six months to ensure the document is complete and another year to give it a thumbs up or down. Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Nestled between the verdant shoulder of Mount Tamalpais and a curving swath of white sand along the Pacific Ocean, Stinson Beach is a relaxing oasis that has long attracted retirees, trust-funders, surfers and second-home owners. Lately, however, a relatively new variety of beachcomber has drawn attention in Stinson Beach and similar playgrounds along the coast, in Wine Country and around Lake Tahoe: short-term renters who book their long-weekend or week-long stays online. Locals say the newcomers have fundamentally changed their communities in negative ways, pushing up rental and sales prices, making housing even more scarce for wage-earners and sometimes upsetting the tranquility that helps make these places special. Some homeowners defend short-term rentals, saying it allows them to improve their properties while allowing them to have part-time access. An undercurrent of unease is running through the sleepy beach town long a popular Bay Area getaway after the Marin County Board of Supervisors recently imposed a temporary moratorium on new short-term rentals in West Marin, including AirBnB and VRBO. Sonoma County recently passed a similar measure. The 45-day ban, which could be extended for up to two years, puts a hold on rentals lasting fewer than 30 days. Of the 5,250 residential lots in West Marin, 551 or about 10% are licensed for short-term rental, according to Marin County. In Stinson Beach, 22% of residences are registered. The numbers could be higher, however, since some parcels might contain more than one short-term rental unit. This is a small portion of Marin Countys overall housing stock. Lack of new home construction is a primary driver of high housing costs throughout the Bay Area and California. Many communities, including Marin and Sonoma counties and areas around Lake Tahoe, have restricted homebuilding over the past few decades. The Marin County board unanimously approved the moratorium on Tuesday and it took hold just days before Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer season and a time of year when nearly every Stinson Beach rental property is booked. While the ban is in effect, county officials intend to come up with a long-term plan to address short-term rentals, whose numbers have been growing with the rise of popular online booking platforms, and their impacts on the communities of West Marin. Around Stinson Beach on a gray and drippy Thursday, some locals discussed the issue in the larger context of a housing shortage and the transition of a once hippyish, beachy town into more of an exclusive seaside playground. What used to be a small, year-round community is now becoming Marthas Vineyard, said August Temer, co-owner of Breakers Cafe on Shoreline Highway, a stretch of Highway 1 and the towns main drag. Several locals made similar references to the famed affluent Massachusetts summer getaway. A Stinson resident since 1982, Temer said all of his 15 to 30 employees the number varies seasonally live out of town, facing commutes on sometimes treacherous curving and hilly roads that make the drive seem longer than the 30 to 45 minutes it takes. Most live in San Rafael, about a half hour away. Long-term rentals for people who would like to call Stinson home are in short supply, and houses for sale are nearly non-existent. A real-estate agent said Thursday there was just one house on the market. For people who want to live and work in the community, he said, theres no way. Theres no housing. Mac Bonn, general manager of Breakers, lives in Fairfax, a 45-minute drive thats a little less curvy. While he finds the drive relaxing after a day of pouring beer and serving oysters, sandwiches and tacos, he says the need to commute makes it difficult to hire and keep employees. Bonn learned to surf in Stinson at age 2, grew up there and worked in a surf shop before heading across the street to Breakers, where hes been for four years. For a few years as an adult, he lived in town, renting an in-law unit before getting pushed out when the propertys owners decided to sell. You can sell your beach shack for a million, he said. A lot of locals are being pushed out and overpriced. Temer said he supports taxes on short-term rentals If youre going to impact a community, you should get taxed but hes not sure about limiting short-term rentals since the town depends on tourism and is just starting to recover from the pandemic. Marin Countys transient occupancy tax is 10%. At the same time, he said, were losing our community. Affordable housing is needed, he said, but theres little room to build it and the towns lack of a sewer system residents and businesses need septic systems and leach fields also limits development. I dont know how you fix it, he said. Affordable housing advocates say that short-term rentals not only create a shortage by taking houses off the market but drive up long-term rentals prices. Over the last 10 years, long term rental amounts have been significantly affected by the nightly rates of short-term rentals, Evan Wilhelm of the Bolinas Community Land Trust, said in a letter to the Board of Supervisors. Homeowners who are still wanting to offer long-term rentals are pulled to rent at higher costs. The trust, which aims to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing in Bolinas and Stinson Beach, has about 200 families on its waiting list about half of whom have been displaced. Robert Kleiner, who lives in Mill Valley and owns a house looking out on Stinson Beach, said hes not convinced that limiting or eliminating short-term rentals will create more housing. He doesnt rent out his Stinson Beach house but is a landlord in southern Marin, where he said he rents out one house as affordable housing and the others below market. 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. They bought them as their own vacation rentals, a place they want to stay occasionally, he said. That doesnt necessarily mean theyll be open to long-term rentals. I can see the dilemma theyre trying to fix but Im not sure it will fix it. Those properties wouldnt necessarily become long term rentals. Linda Campbell, a rental agent at Highway One Properties in Stinson Beach, said the 50 to 60 rentals the agency books are full up for Memorial Day weekend and all but sold out for the summer. Its getting busier and busier, she said. People have been calling lately for July and August and theres slim pickings. Campbell expects to see a small bubble of new rentals from last-minute applicants will help the company make it through the summer, but said an extended moratorium would hurt the companys chances to expand its business and meet growing demand. For renters, any kind of crackdown on short-term rentals could make it tougher to find a place on the beach. A family from Nebraska, now spread out across the Midwest, decided on the Bolinas-Stinson Beach area because they wanted a peaceful place to stay for a few days after visiting Sequoia National Park and before catching flights at San Francisco International Airport. They found a place on the beach in Bolinas and rented surfboards in Stinson Beach. We wanted somewhere near San Francisco but not in downtown, said Ben Howard, traveling with his two brothers, one wife, a sister and their mother. Since the area has only a handful of motel or bed and breakfast rooms, fewer short-term rentals would likely mean fewer visitors and less income for businesses, he said. He acknowledged having mixed feelings about short-term rentals. I always feel torn on things like AirBnb and VRBO because its creating a rental commodity out of what could be someones house, he said. A lot of it depends on the community. Even though she works as a rental agency, Campbell says there are good and bad things about short-term rentals and the growing interest in them. Wed love to have more places to rent, she said, but we dont want the town to turn into a hollow place. Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan San Francisco-based primary and urgent care provider Carbon Health has partnered with COVID test manufacturer Detect to announce a new service that lets people test themselves, consult online or by phone with a doctor who can prescribe antiviral pills, if appropriate, and get the pills delivered all without leaving the house. The service brings the approach of the federal governments nationwide Test to Treat program where people can visit government-run sites to get tested and, if eligible, get prescription antiviral pills on the spot into the home. It marks a further evolution of COVID treatment as the virus continues its march toward becoming a more normal, endemic part of our lives. Just a few months ago, the antiviral pill Paxlovid was in tight supply and given only to severely immunocompromised people. In the last several weeks, that has started to change as the pills become increasingly available at pharmacies for people with a wider range of less severe medical conditions. Now, the Paxlovid rollout is starting to go down a similar path as the earlier introduction of COVID test kits: initially very hard to find, then more accessible, and ultimately available via websites and mail-order. Major players in the health care industry are making Paxlovid available for delivery, though they generally urge patients to pick up the pills at a pharmacy drive-through or send a caregiver to pick them up since thats often faster and more reliable. Paxlovid treatment needs to be started within five days of symptom onset, and only after a positive COVID test result. In California, Walgreens offers free same-day delivery for Medicaid patients. For patients on other types of insurance plans, Walgreens does same-day delivery for $10.99. CVS offers same-day delivery for $7.99 at many locations, one- to two-day delivery for $4.99, or free delivery for those with CVS loyalty program CarePass, which is $5 per month or $48 annually. Some large health care providers are also mailing Paxlovid to patients homes. UCSF, for instance, can ship Paxlovid via FedEx overnight. Kaiser can do same-day delivery to patients homes. We are going to live with COVID for years to come, and we have to learn the best ways to deal with this, said Hugo Barra, the CEO of Connecticut-based Detect. The pandemic endgame is to get people treatment as quickly as possible so they can go back to their lives. So Test to Treat at home in particular is the pandemic endgame. Making testing and treatment available fast in peoples homes is important because many patients dont live near testing centers or pharmacies that carry Paxlovid. This can prolong the time it takes to get the pills. And people whove tested positive for COVID should try to isolate and not go out in public, so the home delivery of pills solves the issue of having to go pick up a prescription in person. It comes at a cost: You have to be a Detect user to access it, which means you have to buy the companys home test components. That includes the $39 machine that processes the tests (a small tabletop reusable device), and the tests themselves, which are $49 each. Or you can buy the starter kit, which has the machine and one test, for $85. The tests are a type of rapid molecular test similar to PCR in that they amplify the genetic material of the virus many times over until its detectable. Molecular tests are more sensitive than the now-common home antigen tests and can detect the presence of the virus earlier. Detect ships the test nationwide, offering next-day, same-day, and in some places two-hour delivery. 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. If you test positive, you can use the Detect mobile app to connect with a Carbon Health doctor, who conducts a virtual visit or in-person, if you choose and can prescribe Paxlovid if warranted. Then Carbon works with a pharmacy that can mail the pills to you or provide same-day pickup. Carbon operates primary care and urgent care centers in 17 states including California, and has dozens of locations in the Bay Area. It was an early leader in coronavirus testing in the region, partnering with the city of San Francisco to run public testing sites and later making rapid molecular tests available at many of its centers before some other health care providers did. You can pay for the Detect machine and tests out of pocket, and seek at least partial reimbursement from your health insurer. The federal government requires insurers to reimburse people for up to eight home tests a month, at a rate of $12 per test roughly the retail cost of one home antigen test like the Abbott BinaxNow. The cost of the Carbon virtual visit is covered by most commercial insurers; if paying out of pocket, its $69. The Paxlovid itself is free. Catherine Ho (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho As outrage intensified Friday against police in Uvalde, Texas, who apparently waited more than an hour before confronting an active shooter inside an elementary school classroom, law enforcement officials in California said that they are trained with a starkly different approach: Go in immediately. An active shooter is a patrol-level response not SWAT, Sgt. Mario Ysit of the Tracy Police Department in San Joaquin County told The Chronicle. Officers in black-and-white cars will race to the scene and try to make an intervention, said Ysit, who serves as both a field training coordinator and department spokesperson. Nobody has to wait for backup. We hire people with the mental aptitude to make decisions. ... We have the expectation that you can do your job without explicit instructions for every task. Other experts agreed, citing the Columbine High School massacre of 1999 as an inflection point. At the time of that incident in Colorado, police were not yet accustomed to horrific bursts of gunfire on school campuses. As a result, officers in Columbine approached it as a hostage-barricade situation, establishing a perimeter and mobilizing a SWAT team, even as people died. Columbine was a game-changer, Lt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriffs Office said. There was a tremendous amount of critique ... and as a result, law enforcement departments across the nation changed their rules of engagement. We went to a fast action response team (model), in which the officers who are on scene combine into a small team, go in, find the threat and take appropriate action to stop the shooting. In short, Ysit and Kelly said, there is no time to negotiate with a suspect, or call for backup, or wait for a supervisor to arrive. You give someone a reasonable chance to obey a command, Ysit said. But if someone is actively shooting, there is no negotiating. The threat must be stopped. Police and fire agencies in Santa Clara County began putting together a joint mass casualty protocol after Columbine and have gradually refined it since then, leaning more toward a nimble, immediate, go-it-alone response if necessary. Four years ago, the South Bay departments scrapped a plan that required officers to enter mass-shooting scenes in a diamond formation, with at least four people on a team. Now, the departments try to be more agile and less formalized, San Jose Police Officer Steve Aponte said. If you hear a shooter engaging victims, you go in, and you take care of business, he explained. Because the longer we wait, the more casualties occur. San Jose police demonstrated the effectiveness of their policy and training during last years shooting at a VTA rail yard, Aponte added, noting that officers who were standing a few feet away from the site heard gunfire and quickly entered the building, announcing their presence and searching for a suspect as shots were still ringing out. The suspect wound up taking his own life as the officers were making commands, Aponte said, adding that he believes their swift action potentially saved lives. While information is still coming out about the terrifying scene at Robb Elementary School, where students evidently made multiple 911 calls while officers stood by in a hallway, officials in the Bay Area tried to make sense of the facts by pointing out distinctions between the small, rural department and their larger, urban agencies. 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. Were talking about a very rural police department in a community that doesnt have a lot of resources, said Kelly, who has been through many trainings and responded to several mass casualty events including the Oikos University shooting of 2012, in which a gunman killed seven people at a small Christian college in Oakland. In urban regions such as the Bay Area, police frequently train for violent events with multiple fatalities. Departments also provide patrol officers equipment so they can respond to these incidents right away in a small team or by themselves, if necessary. Tracys department has six active shooter kits with tourniquets, chest seals and combat gauze, along with an armored BearCat vehicle thats available to any officer who needs it. In Alameda County, each sheriff patrol car has a rifle, and deputies carry breach equipment to break doors as well as shields and tourniquets. With all the focus that California departments have placed on mass shootings, some officials expressed frustration Friday about the narrative emerging from Uvalde, fearing it would reflect poorly on other departments. A lot of the commentary coming out of Uvalde is not indicative of what law enforcement is doing nationally, Kelly said. He invoked a credo that other officials said they shared: In this profession, he said, You are going to risk your life. You are going to save children. You might die doing it. That is what you signed up for. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan Sacramento County public health officials said Friday they have identified a second suspected case of monkeypox. The case comes just days after the county reported its first case of the monkeypox virus in a person who had just returned from travel in Europe, where cases of monkeypox have been reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested the samples from that person and confirmed the monkeypox diagnosis, health officials said. This second individual was a close contact of the initial patient, and the connection was made through contact tracing, health officials said. That specimen will be sent to the CDC to confirm the diagnosis. Both individuals were isolating in their homes and are not in any contact with other people, health officials said. Symptoms of monkeypox, which is similar to smallpox but less severe, include fever, headache, muscle aches, backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. An infected person will usually develop a rash, beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body, within one to three days after spiking a fever. The incubation period of monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days but can range shorter or longer, and the illness overall can last two to four weeks, health officials said. The virus can kill up to 10% of those infected, health officials said. 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. Annie Vainshtein (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com In Encinitas, California, you'll find the one and only Neptunes Portal. It is an interactive art project that the public can participate in by peeking into a mystifying green cylinder. Jack Lampl, the creator of this project, has the green cylinder sitting on top of his mailbox outside of his house. When you look into the portal, you can press a button to record your face and leave a message. The messages are posted on the Neptunes Portal website. The project has been ongoing since 2007 and was even active during the pandemic (with safety precautions intact). Look through the archive of recordings that have taken place over the last 15 years. The Neptunes Portal artist statement from the website: "Since my intention is to make this an exploratory and interactive experience, I hesitate to say too much right now about my intentions in case this might limit the possibilities. Let me say that Neptune's Portal evolved from a kind of visionary state that combined my joy and gratefulness to be able to live at this spot with an awareness of what surrounds me/us which is not all visible on the surface and not always postcard beautiful. Each of us is a composite of what we consciously know and what lies buried beneath out of our awareness, but not without impact on our thoughts, feelings and actions. The ocean is also a good example of this phenomenon. NeptunesPortal is my invitation to all of us to stop, look inside and perhaps find something new, something hidden, something unexpected and then share it honestly and without self censorship. I know this is not an easy task and not without imagined risk. We are very used to limiting our experience to the more routine and to expressing the same thing over and over again. In reality we are always changing. NeptunesPortal is a passageway between the past and the future. A place to discover in ourselves what is true right now and each now that you pass by and feel moved to leave a message for the community. Hold down the red button and speak. I post your messages at www.neptunesportal.tv I look forward to sharing with you in this discovery. Jack" The actions or more notably, the inaction of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers have become the center of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. The attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a fourth grade classroom was the nation's deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, and for three days police offered a confusing and sometimes contradictory timeline that drew public anger and frustration. By Friday, authorities acknowledged that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. Officials said he believed the suspect was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that there was no longer an active attack. The chief's decision and the officers' apparent willingness to follow his directives against established active-shooter protocols prompted questions about whether more lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, and who should be held responsible. In these cases, I think the court of public opinion is far worse than any court of law or police department administrative trial, said Joe Giacalone, a retired New York police sergeant. This has been handled so terribly on so many levels, there will be a sacrificial lamb here or there. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. But it wasnt clear why the school chief ignored their warnings. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a news conference earlier in the week lauded the police for saving lives, said he had been misled about the initial response and promised there would be investigations into exactly who knew what, when, who was in charge and what they did. The bottom line would be: Why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there and to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children? Abbott said. Criminal charges are rarely pursued against law enforcement in school shootings. A notable exception was the former school resource officer accused of hiding during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. New York City defense attorney Paul Martin and Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, both said Saturday that they did not know of any other officers who have been criminally charged for failing to act in a mass shooting. Martin, who has represented police officers charged with murder, assault and other crimes, said he thinks what happened in Uvalde differs from Parkland because the officers who waited to confront the assailant were following orders. Martin said he doesnt think they can be charged based on decisions from their command. As for the school district police chief who decided to wait, Martin said it would be a very high bar to charge him criminally because police officers are given latitude to make tactical decisions. The families can sue the police department for failing to act. ... They can clearly be found civilly liable, he said. I think its very doubtful that they could be criminally charged. In terms of civil liability, the legal doctrine called qualified immunity, which shields police officers from lawsuits unless their actions violate clearly established laws, could also be at play in future litigation. Potential administrative punishments meted out by the department itself could range from a suspension or docked pay to forced resignation or retirement, or outright termination. The families of most of those killed or wounded in Parkland reached a $127.5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over the FBIs failure to stop the gunman, even though it had received information he intended to attack. Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson is scheduled to go to trial in September on charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, culpable negligence and perjury. He has said he did the best he could at the time. A federal judge threw out all but one of the lawsuits against the school district and sheriffs office after the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, ruling that the gunmen were responsible. The daughter of a teacher who bled to death reached a $1.5 million settlement in her lawsuit against the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office in 2002. Police were heavily criticized at the time for not going into the school sooner. What Columbine taught us is, when you have an active shooter situation, waiting for additional resources will result in people losing their lives, Wexler said. Here we are, 20 years post-Columbine and thats the same issue that continues to challenge law enforcement." He said every department should clearly spell out in their policies that a gunman must be immediately confronted in these situations. 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 Uvalde School District police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided that the group of officers should wait to confront the assailant, on the belief that the active attack was over, according to Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The crisis ended shortly after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and shot and killed Ramos. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday, and Uvalde officers were stationed outside his home, but they would not say why. Maria Haberfeld, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said the police department's policies, procedures and training will be scrutinized to see whether the officers on the ground in Uvalde followed them. If they did, and criminal charges are still brought, she said it would send a chilling message to police nationwide. "If you follow your procedures, youre still brought up on charges. So whats the point of having procedures? she said. But Jorge Colina, a former Miami police chief, wants to know more about what was going through the minds of the officers inside the school as the chief told them to wait in the hall. Did someone challenge the decision there? he said. Did someone raise an objection at least? ___ Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Uvalde, Texas; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Mike Balsamo in Washington, D.C.; and Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. ___ More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting The San Francisco Chronicle editorial board has weighed in with endorsements for the 2022 California election, including primaries for California governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state controller and more. The board has also given its recommendations on how to vote on ballot measures across Bay Area regions, in the Alameda County D.A. election, the S.F. recall against D.A. Chesa Boudin and more local races. Endorsements are made by writers and editors from the opinion pages after researching the issues and interviewing the candidates. The writers and editors involved in the news coverage of the campaigns do not participate in endorsement decisions. Bay Area races D.A. Chesa Boudin recall No on Prop. H: Chesa Boudin is many things. Incompetent isnt one of them. Recall is a last-ditch tool for emergencies, not buyers remorse. Other S.F. ballot measures Yes on Prop. A: The $400 million bond measure will be used to finance the capital projects desperately needed to modernize and enhance Muni. Yes on Prop. B: Help end graft at the Department of Building Inspection by revamping its oversight commission. No on Prop. C: San Francisco needs recall reform, but this measure contains a poison pill that makes it untenable. No on Prop. D: This measure looks good on paper but fails to address the critical needs of crime and domestic violence victims. Yes on Prop. E: A cultural shift in how philanthropy is done in San Francisco is a small price to pay to help eliminate the stink of corruption wafting through City Hall. Yes on Prop. F: San Francisco needs a stringent process for reviewing Recology rate hikes in order to fight corruption and protect San Franciscans from overcharges. Yes on Prop. G: Despite an ill-considered plan to protect workers from wildfire smoke, this measure contains essential sick and family leave protections. Alameda County district attorney Seth Steward: A thoughtful reformer who deserves the chance to make his case to voters in the general election. California offices Assembly District 17 Matt Haney: The former San Francisco supervisor is a politically savvy progressive with nuanced views on mental health, criminal justice and transportation. Governor Gavin Newsom: The governor faced a confluence of challenges in his first term that bordered on apocalyptic. And yet here California sits with a nearly $100 billion budget surplus. Lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis: The incumbent is the only candidate we are comfortable with being a heartbeat away from the governorship. Secretary of state Shirley Weber: The appointed incumbents experience and deep commitment to free, fair and informed elections make her the best candidate. Attorney general Rob Bonta: For his robust enforcement of Californias housing laws alone, Bonta has earned our endorsement. Controller Ron Galperin: The former journalist is a clear communicator who we believe will empower California residents with the tools of transparency. Insurance commissioner Marc Levine: Incumbent Ricardo Lara has faced a series of ethics scandals. We trust Levine to run a cleaner ship. Treasurer No endorsement: Incumbent Fiona Ma is qualified, but we cant currently endorse her given the gravity of the harassment accusations against her. Superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond: His first term wasnt without its struggles. But we believe he righted the ship. Board of Equalization, District Two Its complicated: Get rid of the board. U.S. Senate Alex Padilla: Padilla is an experienced legislator and a staunch supporter of voting and abortion rights. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Four San Francisco police officers fired their weapons at close range, killing two men on May 19 one of whom was threatening to stab the other, body camera footage released Friday shows. Police responded to an aggravated assault in progress under the overpass of Interstate 280 at Mariposa Street and found the two men locked in a struggle on the ground, with one, later identified as Michael MacFhionghain, 57, holding a knife over the other man, identified as Rafael Mendoza, 49. Police later saw that the other man also had a knife and they ordered both to drop their weapons before they opened fire, fatally striking both men. Details of the police shooting were released Friday during a Town Hall meeting in which police described what happened and showed police body cam video of the shooting. Police identified the officers who opened fire as: Southern Station Officer Trent Collins; Bayview Station Officer Joshua Dequis; Bayview Station Officer Aidan ODriscoll; and Southern Station Officer Daniel Rosaia. A 911 caller said a bald dark-skinned man with a skinny-to-medium build was beating the crap out of another man with two baseball-bat-sized batons. Two Bayview officers arrived at the scene at 8:01 p.m. and saw both men on the ground in an active physical struggle involving a knife next to a tarp underneath the freeway overpass. Now Playing: An SFPD body worn camera shows the scene on May 19 during which four police officers fired their weapons, killing two men engaged in a fight on the ground. Video: SFPD MacFhionghain held the knife in his right hand with the blade pointed downward over Mendoza, who was on his back and using his right hand to hold onto MacFhionghains right wrist, San Francisco Police Commander Paul Yep said. Yep said that Mendoza told arriving officers, He got me right there and I cant breathe. MacFhionghain then told officers, This man, repeatedly attacking me. The officers gave Mr. MacFhionghain numerous commands to drop the knife, Yep said, adding that a sergeant called for SFPDs Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Team and ambulances to go to the scene. Body camera footage captured one officer telling MacFhionghain, You told me that he (Mendoza) was attacking you, correct? Correct. I need you to drop the knife so we can sort this whole thing out. We dont want to hurt you, all right? the officer said. Were not going to shoot you. I dont want to shoot you. I need you to drop the knife, please. Officers deployed less-lethal rounds of bean bags and 40mm foam baton projectiles during the altercation. During the minutes-long incident, police officers can be heard ordering MacFhionghain to drop the knife, with one officer saying, Drop the knife, or youre going to keep getting hit, and another saying, My man, its not worth it. Drop the knife. Mr. MacFhionghain did not comply or stop and continued holding a knife, with the blade holding downward, over Mr. Mendoza, Yep said, adding that another officer later used pepper spray in an attempt to get MacFhionghain to comply. After a roughly nine-minute struggle, Yep said MacFhionghain suddenly climbed over the top of Mr. Mendoza and brought the knife point downward toward Mr. Mendozas upper body. Officers again ordered the man to drop the knife and discharged less-lethal weapons at MacFhionghain, but within seconds, MacFhionghain brought the knifepoint up, downward, toward Mr. Mendoza in a stabbing motion at least two times, while officers continued ordering him to drop the knife. It was at this point that four officers opened fire, Yep said. Three officers used department-issued handguns and one officer used a department-issued rifle. After a barrage of bullets, one officer can be heard yelling, Thats it! Thats it! Mendoza died from a gunshot wound and MacFhionghain died from multiple gunshot wounds, Yep said, citing medical examiner reports. Crime scene investigators recovered 11 pistol casings, one rifle casing, two bean bag casings, three 40 mm less lethal shell casings and four 40mm foam projectiles, Yep said. Officials found three fixed-blade knives at the scene. Police also found a hammer, a metal socket extender and long metal pipe among the evidentiary items at the scene. During the public comment portion of Fridays virtual meeting, residents criticized the police response, saying officers should have called in mental health professionals to build rapport with MacFhionghain to coax him to drop the knife and should have continued using less-lethal weapons instead of pointing and ultimately firing lethal weapons. Callers questioned why several officers crowded around and yelled orders at the two men, saying that approach did not appear to de-escalate the situation. During an earlier presentation, Yep said that of the officers who were on the scene, 16 completed Crisis Intervention Team Training, including the four officers who opened fire, as well as the sergeant at the scene. Two of the four involved officers also completed Critical Mindset Coordinated Response Training, Yep said. 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. One resident said that officers did not appear to face a split-second decision in this shooting like in other incidents of police killings. Prior to Friday, police officials had not disclosed whether the police gunfire struck either of the victims, whether it was the cause of their death, how many officers fired their weapons or any of the circumstances that prompted police to shoot. Two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the investigation had told The Chronicle earlier this week that police responded to a call about one man stabbing another man with a knife. After police opened fire, both men were struck by police bullets, the sources said. Officials with the California Department of Justice this week announced that they would investigate the incident. By law, the state is required to investigate all fatal police shootings that involve an unarmed civilian, though there are other circumstances that could prompt the state to investigate. Given the uncertainty regarding the (officer-involved shooting), the California Department of Justice is treating the incident as an AB 1506 qualifying event, the office said in a Monday statement, referring to the state law that gives them jurisdiction over the investigation. Officials with the San Francisco public defenders office criticized the police killing, saying that Mendoza was a former client of Deputy Public Defender Alexandra Pray. He was an unhoused father who lived a life of desperation, Pray said in a prepared statement. In all of my interactions with him, he was very sweet and gentle, even though his struggle to survive often entangled him in the criminal legal system for mostly petty and non-violent offenses. The fact that he died at the hands of police, who found him injured and being threatened by a man with a knife, is an inexcusable tragedy. Attorney General Rob Bontas office is also investigating a fatal San Francisco Police shooting at San Francisco International Airport this year. In that case, a man who was carrying what turned out to be toy guns was killed after police mistook the weapons for real firearms. The man had removed markers that would have identified the gun as a toy. Lauren Hernandez and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com; megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Vice President Kamala Harris speaks before President Joe Biden signs an executive order aimed at reforming policing practices, at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Pete Marovich/The New York Times) People view a controversial mural at George Washington High School that dates to the Great Depression. It depicts a dead Native American. (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner) California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern walk together through the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Friday, May 27, 2022. Gov. Newsom met with Ardern in Golden Gate Park "to establish a new international partnership tackling climate change." With the gradual resumption of global manufacturing activities, demand for chemicals is soaring. Given rising prices and an increasing focus on domestic chemical production, we think it could be wise to scoop up the shares of quality chemical companies Huntsman (HUN), Asahi Kasei (AHKSY), and AdvanSix (ASIX), which look undervalued at their current price levels. These stocks have an overall A (Strong Buy) or B (Buy) rating in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. Read on. The U.S. chemical industry contributes more than 25% to the nations GDP and is crucial for the countrys overall manufacturing activities. Global supply chain disruptions have driven rising prices for basic chemicals. However, despite lingering logistic hurdles, U.S. chemical production has increased 5.2% year-over-year. Demand for chemicals has increased significantly over the past few months amid the resumption of manufacturing activities. According to KingPin Market Research, the global chemicals market size is projected to grow at a 2.2% CAGR from 2021 to 2026. Therefore, we think it could be wise to add fundamentally sound yet undervalued chemical stocks Huntsman Corporation (HUN), Asahi Kasei Corporation (AHKSY), and AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) to ones portfolio now. These stocks have an overall A (Strong Buy) or B (Buy) grade in our POWR Ratings system. Huntsman Corporation (HUN) HUN in Salt Lake City, Utah, manufactures and sells differentiated organic chemical products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Polyurethanes; Performance Products; Advanced Materials; and Textile Effects. On May 20, 2022, HUN announced that its subsidiary, Huntsman International LLC, entered a new $1.2 billion senior unsecured, sustainability-linked revolving credit facility. Phil Lister, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer said, Linking our revolving credit facility to sustainability objectives supports our commitment to provide innovative solutions for a low-carbon and more sustainable economy. For its fiscal year 2022 first quarter, ended March 31, 2022, HUNs revenues were $2.39 billion, up 30% year-over-year. Its adjusted net income was $256 million, up 74.1% year-over-year, while its adjusted EPS was $1.19, up 80.3% year-over-year. Also, its adjusted EBITDA came in at $415 million, up 43.6% year-over-year. In terms of forward EV/S, HUNs 0.92x is 39.8% lower than the 1.53x industry average. Also, its 0.78x forward P/S is 37.8% lower than the 1.26x industry average. HUNs revenue is expected to come in at $9.35 billion in 2022, representing a 10.6% year-over-year rise. The companys EPS is expected to increase 24% year-over-year to $4.39 in 2022. In addition, it surpassed the Streets EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Over the past month, the stock has gained 8.6% in price to close yesterdays trading session at $36.16. It is no surprise that HUN has an overall B rating, which equates to a Buy in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 distinct factors, each with its own weighting. In addition, it has an A grade for Value and a B grade for Growth. HUN is ranked #16 out of 91 stocks in the A-rated Chemicals industry. Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for HUN (Momentum, Stability, Sentiment, and Quality). Asahi Kasei Corporation (AHKSY) Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, AHKSY manufactures, processes, and sells chemical products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Material; Homes; and Health Care. On April 19, 2022, Asahi Kasei Medical announced its agreement to acquire Bionova Scientific, LLC. The acquisition is expected to help AHKSY expand its Health Care segment with an improved bioprocess business and diversified customer reach. For the year ended March 31, 2022, AHKSYs net sales came in at 2.46 trillion ($19.39 billion), up 16.9% year-over-year. Its net income was 163.83 billion ($1.29 billion), up 99.6% year-over-year. Furthermore, its gross profit came in at 769.77 billion ($6.07 billion), up 13.1% year-over-year. In terms of forward EV/S, AHKSYs 0.79x is 48.3% lower than the 1.53x industry average. Its 0.57x forward P/S is 55% lower than the 1.26x industry average. AHKSYs revenue is expected to increase 301.7% year-over-year to $20.27 billion for its fiscal period ending March 31, 2023. Over the past month, the stock has gained 2.3% in price to close yesterdays trading session at $16.33. AHKSYs POWR Ratings reflect its promising outlook. It has an overall B rating, which represents a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. AHKSY has an A grade for Value and Stability. It is ranked #35 in the Chemicals industry. Click here to see the additional POWR Ratings for AHKSY (Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality). AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) ASIX in Morris Plains, N.J., manufactures and sells polymer resins in the United States and internationally. It offers Nylon 6, a polymer resin; caprolactam, to manufacture polymer resins; ammonium sulfate fertilizers; acetone; and other intermediate chemicals. On May 6, 2022, Erin Kane, ASIXs President and CEO, said, We continued to deploy capital to enhance shareholder value creation including the acquisition of U.S. Amines and return of cash in the form of our ongoing quarterly dividend as well as opportunistically repurchasing approximately $7 million of our stock. ASIXs sales came in at $479.07 million for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2022, up 27.3% year-over-year. Its net income was $63.07 million, up 124.2% year-over-year, while its EPS came in at $2.15, up 119.4% year-over-year. In terms of forward EV/S, ASIXs 0.76x is 50.4% lower than the 1.53x industry average. Also, its 0.61x forward P/S is 51.7% lower than the 1.26x industry average. Analysts expect ASIXs revenue to increase 22% year-over-year to $2.05 billion in 2022. Its EPS is expected to increase 72.3% year-over-year to $8.29 in 2022. Also, it surpassed EPS estimates in three of the four trailing quarters. Over the past three months, its stock has gained 17.4% in price to close yesterdays trading session at $45.45. It is no surprise that ASIX has an overall A rating, representing a Strong Buy. It has an A grade for Value and a B grade for Growth and Sentiment. It is ranked #2 out of 37 stocks in the A-rated Industrial - Manufacturing industry. Click here to see the additional ratings for ASIX (Momentum, Stability, and Quality). Click here to check out our Industrial Sector Report for 2022 HUN shares were unchanged in premarket trading Friday. Year-to-date, HUN has gained 4.25%, versus a -13.79% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period. About the Author: Riddhima Chakraborty Riddhima is a financial journalist with a passion for analyzing financial instruments. With a master's degree in economics, she helps investors make informed investment decisions through her insightful commentaries. More... The post 3 Undervalued Chemical Stocks Rated 'Strong Buy' or Buy appeared first on StockNews.com Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Cruise ships will no longer start their journeys from Charleston by the end of 2024, the South Carolina Ports Authority said. The authority decided to not renew a deal with Carnival Cruise Line that allowed cruises to begin and end from the Union Pier Terminal in downtown Charleston. Cruise ships can continue to dock at Charleston, but only for brief, same-day port of call stops, The Post and Courier of Charleston reported. The decision should cut the number of cruise passengers in Charleston down by 80%, officials said. The State Ports Authority said it will no longer work on plans to redevelop a warehouse at the Union Pier into a cruise terminal. Permits to start the project have been tied up for years by lawsuits from conservation and historical preservation groups. Instead, the authority said it will look into selling the land it owns to a private developer. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the decision by the authority will improve the quality of life in his city. Were grateful to the port for taking this critically important step, and we look forward to continuing to work with (State Ports Authority) to make Union Pier a beautiful and vibrant part of the city of Charleston, Tecklenburg said. Currently, about 70 cruises a year leave Charleston for the Bahamas and other Eastern Caribbean destinations. Carnival Cruise Line officials said they will continue to work with the authority to find options to use Charleston. In the meantime, it is business as usual, and we look forward to seeing our guests aboard Carnival Sunshine through 2024," Carnival spokesman Matt Lupoli said. After that deal is finished, the Ports Authority said it will continue to follow a voluntary limit of no more than 104 cruise ship visits a year, and no stops by ships that carry more than 3,500 passengers. After the mass shooting on Tuesday that left 21 dead in Uvalde, people from all over the Laredo community have come together in efforts to try to help those affected either directly or indirectly by the massacre. And one local organization has recently launched a new initiative for people wanting to help but who do not know how to do so. The Laredo Area Community Foundation launched the Uvalde Relief Fund, which they hope will help resources to donate to the affected community to be given to the victims and their families. The fund is intended as one of the many ways in which people from Laredo can help out the community that is still reeling from the most deadly grade school shooting since Sandy Hook. The Uvalde Fund is opened for the community members that want a way to assist the Uvalde community, as it is a special relief fund that we are opening up because of the circumstances and our board will then work together to disperse these funds to a nonprofit area that will be assisting the school or to the elementary (school), LACF Operations Manager Cynthia Cisneros said. They will get in contact with the Uvalde leaders and make the best decision as to how to disperse these funds to better assist that community. As funds come in from around the community, Cisneros states that the board will make a decision as to what is the best entity where the funds should be donated to assist those affected. There is not a deadline and there is not a benchmark that has been discussed yet, Cisneros said. We are just waiting for the pulse of the community to see if community leaders or community members or businesses of the area, if they want to make any donations. And as the contributions are coming in, that information is communicated to the board, but the board has not yet said where they will cap it. Cisneros states that it is important to help out the community as Uvalde is just a few hours away from Laredo. Many locals have ties of some kind to the city. Our community should think about giving and how we can best assist this community that is near to us, as it feels that it is right in our backyard, she said. This time we hope that our community members here in Laredo and the surrounding areas that they keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers, and think about contributing to see how we can help this small Texas community heal. Cisneros states that as the grieving process continues for the families of the victims and also for those who live in the city and survivors, people must find ways to show their support during such a tragic time that affected so many lives. She added that the donations received are 100% safeguarded and are tax-deductible as well. We do listen to our donors and take their advice so they can make sure that through the Uvalde Fund, we are going to go through the best avenue to assist the Uvalde community and that our donations are 100% safeguarded and tax-deductible, Cisneros said. You will receive a receipt for tax dedication purposes, so that is one bonus. Another good thing is that our board is well invested in the community and through businesses, so they look out for the best way for the money to be useful to other organizations in that area. Cisneros states that the LACF makes sure that the money donated and provided to the community of Uvalde goes to the people it is intended to. The operations manager said they apply a similar approach for funds collected in Laredo that go directly to schools and other organizations that are then used for scholarships, endowments, etc. Donations can be made by visiting www.laredofoundation.org or by sending a check payable to the Laredo Area Community Foundation with a memo of Uvalde Relief Fund to the Laredo Area Community Foundation at P.O. Box 450223 Laredo, TX 78045. More information can be found by visiting laredofoundation.org, emailing president@laredofoundation.org or calling 956-324-8462. The donations from individuals giving $10 to $20 and corporations pledging six figures add up to $3 million worth of commitments aimed at helping the community recover from the racially motivated mass shooting at a Tops supermarket. Now the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund is preparing to put some of that money into the hands of recipients, with $560,000 worth of grants going to 70 Black-led organizations. We felt very strongly that we needed to get out an initial round of funding with whatever support we had in hand, to support Black-led organizations that have a meaningful and long-term presence in the Jefferson Avenue community, said Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, the Community Foundations president and CEO. These have been the individuals that have been on the front lines of responding and coordinating the appropriate response from the community they are a part of. The Community Foundation and the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County are coordinating the Buffalo Together fund, which is a collaboration of 15 organizations. The funds purpose is to address community needs beyond those of the victims of the mass shooting. A separate fund, the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund, is addressing the victims needs. Nearly 50 local and national corporations and foundations have made commitments to the Buffalo Together fund, and more than 1,100 individuals have donated by check or online. Convening partners and activating resources in the face of community crisis is what United Way was built to do," said Michael Weiner, president and CEO of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. "These initial investments are the first step in a community-led process of listening, learning and rebuilding, made possible by an outpouring of generous support from our community." Fund organizers chose the 70 organizations to receive the initial grants with assistance from community representatives, elected officials and the funders existing networks. The grants range in size from $5,000 to $20,000, and will be distributed in the coming days. Those grants represent the starting point of the Buffalo Together funds work. It still has about $2.44 million worth of commitments and donations, and continues to accept contributions. Fund coordinators said three areas of attention they have identified are providing important support with a focus on Black-led organizations that are working directly in the community; ensuring availability of mental health services; and addressing longer-term, systemic issues of racial justice. The fund will take the long view in due course, and with urgency, even as we move money to the front lines right now, Dedecker said. Many of the partners in the Buffalo Together fund also worked together on the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund, which awarded over $14 million to over 400 nonprofits, she said. Henry-Louis Taylor Jr., director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo, applauded how the first wave of grants are supporting groups responding to immediate community needs brought on by the mass shooting. But these are not issues that are going to change the realities of Black Buffalo, Taylor said. Theyre not issues that are going to touch the root problems that this community is facing. Taylor said substandard housing on the East Side is an issue that ought to be at the top of that list, from poor-quality living conditions to rent gouging that consumes upward of 60% of a residents income. Those poor living conditions make it harder for school-age children to thrive, and often forces them to change residences during a school year, he said. Taylor also wants to see more green infrastructure on the East Side, in the form of trees and bushes to cleanse the air against emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles traveling through the neighborhoods, especially on the Kensington Expressway. Those conditions lead to respiratory illnesses like asthma. The East Side would benefit from more on-the-job training programs, to create clear employment pathways, he said, a publicly financed community land trust for the East Side would safeguard against speculation gentrification by developers. Grants applied to purposes like those would serve as seed money for transforming the East Side, given the massive financial commitment necessary to make far-reaching changes, Taylor said. But it has to be done by the people who live there. 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. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Four men have been sentenced in connection with the theft of 32 firearms from a gun dealer in south Louisiana, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Lafayette said Friday. The sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays ranged from 14 months to 10 years. The proposed settlement of more than $1 billion as compensation for the 98 people who died in a Florida condominium collapse is far from the largest in U.S. history. Even adding in the $96 million proposed for property owners in the Champlain Towers South disaster wouldn't bring it close to the biggest such legal deals. A judge gave initial approval to the deal on Saturday. Final approval is expected in the coming weeks for the settlements, which came out of lawsuits filed after the 12-story beachfront building tumbled down last June in Surfside. The exact causes of the collapse have yet to be determined. Other major U.S. legal settlements include: 9/11 ATTACKS A Victim Compensation Fund established after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has paid out more than $7 billion to about 5,500 individuals and families who were injured or lost a loved one. The program had been set expire in December 2020 but was renewed by Congress for the coming decades in part because so many 9/11-related illnesses do not appear right away. GULF OIL SPILL The 2010 Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig explosion that killed 11 people dumped tens of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, fouling beaches, ruining fisheries and killing birds. It resulted in a $20.8 billion settlement, the largest involving the environment in history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The money goes to a variety of programs. BP, an owner and operator of the rig, also paid $4 billion in criminal fines for Clean Water Act violations. BIG TOBACCO The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement between four cigarette makers, the federal government and 46 states requires the companies to pay $206 billion over 25 years and another $9 billion each year after that. Four states, including Florida, reached their own settlements with tobacco companies. The money largely goes to help states handle the long-term health costs of smoking. BREAST IMPLANTS In 1998, Dow Corning Corp. settled a class-action lawsuit by agreeing to pay about $3.2 billion to an estimated 170,000 women who said they suffered injuries and illnesses caused by silicone breast implants. ENRON Shareholders in the now-defunct Enron Corp. reached a $7.2 billion settlement in 2008 after a massive accounting fraud scandal was uncovered, showing how the company's earnings had been misrepresented. Enron, which once had some 29,000 employees, declared bankruptcy and essentially went out of business in December 2001. PHOENIX (AP) Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed a bill Friday that would require county recorders to launch an investigation anytime someone claims that a person's voter registration is invalid. Ducey, a Republican, said the bill could allow for subjective decisions and lead to people's voter registrations being canceled based on fiction rather than fact. Determining someone's residency under election laws can be a complicated, individualized process, he wrote. Our lawfully registered voters deserve to know that their right to vote will not be disturbed without sufficient due process, Ducey wrote in a veto letter. This provision leaves our election system vulnerable to bad actors who could seek to falsely allege a voter is not a qualified elector. The measure was opposed by recorders who said their offices are not designed to be investigative agencies and warned that the measure was poorly written with the potential to cause significant confusion. They said state and county prosecutors are best situated to investigate if there are concerns about fraudulent voter registrations. The measure, sponsored by Republican Rep. Joseph Chaplik of Scottsdale also would have required election officials to cancel voter registrations if they learn someone has obtained a driver's license in another state or is not eligible to vote on Arizona. Meanwhile, Ducey signed a bill banning automatic voter registration. There's no mechanism of Arizona law allowing people to be automatically registered, but Republican Rep. Jake Hoffman of Queen Creek, the bill's sponsor, said it's important to prevent county recorders from operating outside the law. Ducey also signed a bill prohibiting public schools and other government entities from requiring COVID-19 vaccines of minors without parental consent. NEWARK, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden told graduates Saturday at his alma mater, the University of Delaware, that now it's your hour, as he encouraged young people in the United States to help the country live up to its ideals. Speaking to more than 6,000 graduates, and with the nation mourning victims of two mass shootings in as many weeks. Biden lamented the division and hatred in the country he governs. He bemoaned a crisis of faith in U.S. institutions and he pressed graduates to work to bind up the country's wounds. Your generation, more than anyone else will have to answer the question, Who are we? What do we stand for? What do we believe? Who will we be?" Biden said. You can make the difference, you can lift the country up, you can meet the challenges of our time." Theres one message I hope you take from me today: This is no time to be on the sidelines, he added. We need all of you to get engaged in public life and the life of this nation. Biden told graduates to remember that democracy is a human enterprise. We do many things well, the president said. Sometimes we fall short. Thats true in our own lives. Its true in the life of the nation. And yet democracy makes progress possible. And progress comes when we begin to see each other again not as enemies but as neighbors." Biden spoke of the country's bitter division over Vietnam in the 1960s and the grief that followed the killings of heroes two Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr. But through those tumultuous times came progress on civil rights and voting rights, for example, the president said. Well, now its your hour. The challenges are immense, foreign and domestic, but so are the possibilities. Everything is possible in America, he said. This is a decisive decade for America at a time when we can choose the future we want, at a time when we must decide that darkness will not prevail over light. The president said this year's graduates have a head start, representing a generation that is the most generous, the most tolerant, the least prejudiced, the best educated in American history. Keep the faith and take it back," he exhorted. Please. This is yours. Take it back. We need you. Biden also referred to the recent mass shootings: 19 children and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, and on May 14, a gunman espousing racist hatred killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Too much violence. Too much fear. Too much grief, Biden said in his graduation speech. Lets be clear: Evil came to that elementary school classroom in Texas, to that grocery store in New York, to far too many places where innocents have died. The president said that "we cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can make America safer." He called on all Americans at this hour to join hands and make your voices heard, to work together to make this nation what it can and should be. Biden was presented with the university's medal of distinction before his remarks. He had previously received an honorary degree in 2004. Biden, who graduated from the university in 1965 with a double major in history and political science, served as a senator in Delaware for more than 30 years before becoming vice president. It was his fifth commencement address at the university, where the school of public policy and administration bears his name. He also spoke to graduates in 1978, 1987, 2004 and 2014. His sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, also graduated from the university. It feels like coming home because this is home," Biden said, reflecting that Some of the best and most important years of my life were spent here. From May 16 to June 5 law enforcement agencies statewide plan to focus their efforts on ensuring motorists are safely buckled while on the road during the annual Click It or Ticket campaign. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning announced the start of the campaign in a press release on May 13, explaining more officers from police departments, sheriff's offices and the Michigan State Police will be conducting seat belt enforcement across the state during the three weeks. The campaign includes Memorial Day weekend. Michigan law requires drivers, front-seat passengers and passengers 15 and younger in any seating position to be buckled up. And a ticket could cost you $65, according to the state's website. Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4'9" tall, and children under 4 years old must be in the back seat. In Michigan, the seat belt usage rate in 2021 was 92.6%, down from 94.4% in 2019. The national seat belt usage rate in 2021 was 90.4%. In 2020, 228 people killed in traffic crashes in Michigan were not wearing a seat belt. "Wearing a seat belt is the most effective thing drivers can do to reduce injuries and save lives on our roadways," Alicia Sledge, interim director for the Michigan Office of Highway Safety, said in the release. "The numbers dont lie. For decades, we have strongly encouraged everyone to buckle up, and that crucial message has saved many lives." The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning suggests these guidelines when you buckle up: The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the hips and shoulder, which are more able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body. Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach. Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm. "As the busy summer travel season gets underway, we want to remind drivers and passengers to stay safe and wear a seat belt, every trip, every time," Sledge continued in the release. During the 2020 Memorial Day weekend, 12 fatal crashes on Michigan roadways resulted in 12 fatalities. One of the 12 deaths involved a driver not wearing a seat belt. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning launched the Click It or Ticket campaign Monday, which is supported by federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration created the Click It or Ticket campaign more than 20 years ago to increase the number of young people using seat belts in the United States. The first Statewide Click It or Ticket campaign took place in North Carolina in 1993, followed by South Carolina in 2000. The success was such that the program was implemented in eight southeastern states in 2001, followed by 18 additional states across the country in 2002. The campaign became nationwide in 2003. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved 14,955 lives nationwide in 2017. "Buckling up in the front seat can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a crash by 45%," the organization stated in the release. For more information on the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit here. PHOENIX (AP) A federal appeals court has denied a request by lawyers for an Arizona man scheduled to be executed June 8 to be allowed to make new arguments in an effort to overturn his death sentence in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of an 8-year-old Tucson girl. The request on behalf of Frank Atwood, convicted in the killing of Vicki Hoskinson, was denied Friday by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Atwoods legal team wanted to make three new arguments that the aggravating factor making the crime eligible for the death penalty was invalidly applied; that authorities failed to turn over evidence that might have helped Atwoods defense; and that the recently discovered evidence supported the theory that the girl was killed by a woman. Atwood's lawyers have said that last summer they discovered an FBI memo describing an anonymous caller claiming to have seen the girl in a vehicle not associated with Atwood, but which could be linked to the woman. An Arizona assistant attorney general said during a hearing Tuesday that Atwoods lawyers did not meet the criteria to present new evidence in federal court, and a three-judge panel of the appeals court agreed in its ruling Friday. In light of witness testimony implicating Atwood and information about the woman that Atwood's defense had at the time of the trial, we cannot conclude that the disclosure of the unreported anonymous phone call would have had any effect on Atwood's trial and conviction," the panel's ruling said. The state clemency board on Tuesday rejected Atwood's claims that he is innocent of the crimes as it declined to recommend to Gov. Doug Ducey that he reduce his death sentence to a lesser punishment. Atwood is scheduled to be executed at the state prison in Florence with an injection of pentobarbital. Authorities have said Atwood kidnapped the girl, whose remains were discovered in the desert northwest of Tucson nearly seven months after her disappearance. Experts could not determine the cause of death from the remains that were found, according to court records. On May 11, Arizona executed Clarence Dixon, the first prisoner put to death by the state in nearly eight years. The states hiatus in executions that ended with Dixons death has been attributed to the difficulty of securing lethal injection drugs as manufacturers refuse to supply them and problems encountered during the July 2014 execution of Joseph Wood. Wood was given 15 doses of a two-drug combination over nearly two hours. Wood snorted repeatedly and gasped before he died. His attorney said the execution had been botched. Electric truck maker Rivian plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at 15 state parks in Michigan, right in the backyard of its closest competitors. The decision to install EV chargers at popular outdoor destinations in Michigan, such as state parks, where EV charging infrastructure has been absent will help Rivian move into the pickup truck and SUV segment that's dominated by gas-powered vehicles from Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Ram. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer celebrated the first of many charging stations opening at state parks on Thursday. Rivian installed its first charger at Holland State Park in Ottawa County and promised more to come, according to a press release issued Thursday by the governor's office. "This partnership to install charging stations in our state parks speaks to the collaborative approach we are taking to grow our economy and address climate change head-on through clean, reliable energy," Whitmer said in the release. The public charging stations in state parks come through an operating agreement with the Adopt a Charger program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at no cost to taxpayers, according to the release. The nonprofit Adopt a Charger is providing technical support and sponsorship of the Rivian charging stations at state parks. ITC, which works on electrical transmission systems, paid for two years of electricity at the charging stations while Consumers Energy paid for upgrades to the electric grid at each park, according to the release. "Our state parks charging program is how we come together with our partners to offer a solution to EV-charging gaps," Chris Nevers, senior director of public policy at Rivian, said in the release. "Were making this investment because we believe that exploring the natural world should be possible without contributing to local air pollution, climate change or damaging the environment." An estimated total of 30 chargers are scheduled to be installed at 15 parks from now through the end of 2022, according to the release. The rollout of the chargers across the state is being done in phases. Parks in the Upper Peninsula are scheduled to be part of the second phase, targeted to take place next year. Additionally, the units are compatible with most electric vehicles beyond just Rivian models. Michigan state parks receiving Rivian charging stations this year along the Lake Michigan shore include: Warren Dunes in Berrien County. Holland and Grand Haven in Ottawa County. P.J. Hoffmaster in Muskegon County. Charles Mears in Oceana County. Ludington in Mason County. Orchard Beach in Manistee County. Leelanau in Leelanau County. Young in Charlevoix County. Petoskey, Wilderness and Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County. Interlochen in Grand Traverse County. Palms Book in Schoolcraft County. Fayette in Delta County. "This project will not only benefit Michigan in the near term but will also pay dividends far into the future as we move toward a sustainable energy future," DNR Director Dan Eichinger said in the release. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) A Florida gallery owner has been arrested on federal charges for peddling fake art pieces, claiming the cheap reproductions were in fact originals by Andy Warhol, Banksy, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat and others, federal prosecutors said. A complaint filed in South Florida federal court Thursday accuses Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in his alleged scheme to sell forged copies of high-end art. Bouaziz, a French citizen of Algerian descent, was ordered released on $500,000 bail after an initial hearing Friday. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges, according to court records. He could face many years in prison if convicted. Bouaziz sold some of the forged art pieces for hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece, prosecutors said in a news release. An FBI criminal affidavit said undercover agents put $22 million down for several of the fake pieces. Claiming to be an art expert and an official appraiser, Bouaziz appraised the inauthentic artwork he sold to the victims at an increased rate, the FBI affidavit said. To give one example, the FBI says Bouaziz bought a Warhol reproduction print for $100 and sold it for $85,000. He operated two art galleries on Palm Beach's famed Worth Avenue, one of the wealthiest places in the U.S. The FBI did not observe a single transaction in those accounts in which Bouaziz or his galleries purchased high-value artwork," the affidavit says. Bouaziz purchased low-cost reproductions from online auction sites that he then resold to unsuspecting victims, as originals, at drastically increased prices. And even those were low. For example, an original Andy Warhol painting would likely sell for millions of dollars. Bouaziz, according to the FBI, sold one of Warhol's works called Superman, of which there were several versions, for just $25,000. "I buy about 200 paintings in auction every year and I guarantee my stuff. I mean I am behind my stuff," Bouaziz said in a conversation recorded by the FBI. "Im not buying things that everybody has. Thats why you dont see them in the other galleries. The affidavit does not say how many people were victimized. Bouaziz will have a plea hearing on June 15. No trial date has been scheduled. Bouaziz's temporary attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TIRANA, Albania (AP) Former Albanian President Bujar Nishani, who was often criticized for his center-right political affiliation from the leftist coalition, died following a serious health problem, the countrys presidential office said Saturday. He was 55. President Ilir Meta wrote on Facebook that he had learned with sadness and deep regret that President Bujar Nishani passed away. President Nishani will always be remembered as a personality with rare values of a leader with integrity and vision. His contribution for Albania and democracy will always be remembered respectfully, wrote Meta. No further details were released but a month ago Nishani went to Germany to seek treatment for a serious liver illness. Nishani served as president from 2012 until 2017. At 45, he was elected as the youngest and sixth president in post-communist Albania, supported only by lawmakers from the center-right Democratic party of then-Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, demanding a consensual candidate. Albanias presidents are elected in the 140-seat Parliament. Before that, Nishani served as the country's interior and justice ministers. Born in the port city of Durres, 20 miles west of capital of Tirana, Nishani graduated from the military academy and later the law faculty. He first lectured at the military academy and then worked in senior jobs in Albania's Defense Ministry. His political career started a few years before he was elected as a lawmaker in 2005. Nishani, who always kept a low profile, was often criticized by the leftist Socialist Party of being too close to the Democrats. European Albania is the greatest expectation of our citizens because a European Albania will be the country of guaranteed freedom, a European Albania will be the country where the rights are protected from law and order, the country where the free market strengthens businessmen every day, said Nishani in his inauguration speech as president. Still, there was little change in the countrys justice system during his term, even though that was always considered the countrys Achilles heel in its path toward joining the European Union. Due to the constant political bickering between Berishas Democratic Party and Edi Ramas Socialist Party, Nishani rarely attempted to reach a compromise between the two opposing political camps. His nominations of Albania's top army generals, judges and prosecutors were controversial and always in line with what Berisha wanted. Nishani was physically not fully fit after surgery in 2008 for a cerebral cavernoma, a vascular abnormality of the central nervous system, according to his physician Dr. Mentor Petrela. The illness left Nishanis left foot and arm partially non-functional. Nishani is survived by his spouse, a son and a daughter. There was no immediate word on funeral arrangements. There is no sign Payton Gendron told his friend Matt Casado he planned to slaughter Black people at a Buffalo supermarket, or was out to kill anyone. Nor is there any sign in Gendron's log that Casado questioned him about his need for new weapons and ammunition, or that Casado expressed concern when considering Gendron's suicidal ideation. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Before she sued the Church of Scientology last month for allegedly trafficking her as a child, Valeska Paris, 44, tried to pursue criminal charges. She filed a 32-page affidavit in September 2019 with the Clearwater Police Department alleging forced labor and sexual abuse as a child in England, a teenager in Clearwater and as a young adult on the churchs Freewinds ship in the Caribbean. And she told police where they could find evidence to prove it. Scientology keeps extensive documentation on its parishioners through a detailed system laid out by founder L. Ron Hubbard. The churchs one-on-one counseling or auditing sessions are transcribed and stored indefinitely. Ethics files keep track of transgressions by church staffers and parishioners. And members are encouraged to write reports about fellow Scientologists misdeeds and information that could be a threat to the church. The longer a person remains in Scientology, the more the trove of files grows as they sit for counseling and interact with others. Paris was a member for 32 years. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorneys Office denied the departments request for a subpoena in Paris case in June 2020 because the justification did not meet the criteria to compel records, according to the police report. But when police Det. Eliad Glenn requested the church provide Paris records without a subpoena, Scientology legal director Sarah Heller responded that notwithstanding any religious or privacy issues she found no documents. Since 2018, the state attorneys office did grant subpoenas in two other cases for Clearwater Police to obtain the files of former parishioners as they investigated claims of abuse, according to records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. In both instances, Scientologys legal director responded with the same language as they did in Paris case. They had no records related to the allegations. However, church policies mandate precise storage of parishioner folders and require their retention even after death so they can be retrieved in future lifetimes. The difficulty in obtaining information from Scientology, even with a subpoena, is one of many obstacles investigators and plaintiffs attorneys have faced over the years as the battle-tested organization has defeated challenge after challenge in court. When asked how it could be possible that the church did not have files on former parishioners relevant to the police investigations, Scientology spokesperson Ben Shaw told the Times that the Churchs responses to the Clearwater Police Department were complete and accurate. We fully cooperated with law enforcement and there is no more to say on the matter, Shaw said. Glenn stated his investigation could address only the allegations Paris made about her time in Clearwater from 1992 to 1996 when she was ages 14 to 18. Police closed her case in August 2020, saying the statute of limitations had expired. The report notes a lack of corroborating evidence and witnesses for child abuse and battery allegations, and it does not state police interviewed anybody else. For the child abuse allegation, it states that Paris did not name any specific suspect responsible for forcing her to do hard labor and forcing her to live in filthy conditions. Although Paris stated the evidence was in her church folders, Chief Daniel Slaughter said police had little recourse after Scientology officials said they had no documents notwithstanding any religious or privacy issues. Securing the documents would have been a difficult undertaking, Slaughter said, citing what he described as a well-crafted response by the church. It did not confirm the records existed and suggested religious and privacy issues would be an additional barrier. And in Paris case, he said, it would not have been possible to get a subpoena or a higher level of judicial intervention because the state attorneys office advised the statute of limitations had expired. Because we didnt have a prosecutable case, we didnt have a leg to stand on to push the investigation further, Slaughter said. Once I dont have an enforceable case or prosecutable case, nobody is going to give me a search warrant. He said that after closing Paris case and the two others that obtained subpoenas, he forwarded all the documents to the FBI. They dont necessarily give a formal response but it was shared with them for anything outside of our jurisdiction, he said of the federal agency. Paris joined husband and wife Gawain Baxter and Laura Baxter in the federal lawsuit against Scientology filed in Tampa on April 28, all of them alleging they were trafficked as children. As members of Scientologys military style workforce the Sea Org the three said they were heavily indoctrinated and trapped, unable financially, physically and psychologically to leave as adults. The allegations are both scurrilous and ridiculous and the lawsuit is both a sham and a scam, said Shaw, the Scientology spokesperson. Paris was born in Geneva and lived at Scientologys base in England from ages 6 to 14, where she was separated from her parents, who were in the Sea Org. Workers in the full-time religious order sign billion-year contracts and run all aspects of Scientology operations, from landscaping to surveillance. As a child, she was put to work cleaning the dormitory and taking care of newborns, according to her police report and lawsuit. At 14, she was sent to join the Sea Org at the churchs Flag Land Base in Clearwater, known as Flag, where she studied Hubbards written policies and got no formal education, according to her report. She spent her days cleaning rooms at the Fort Harrison Hotel, where parishioners stay when they visit Flag for courses and counseling. While in the Commodores Messenger Organization, a special unit in the Sea Org, she worked from 8 a.m. to midnight every day for $50 a week cleaning executives offices, doing their laundry and preparing meals. This included David Miscavige who I was scared of as he would scream nonstop at other executives and a couple of times at me when I was a kid, Paris wrote in her declaration, referring to Scientologys leader. On this unit, Paris said a fellow Sea Org member repeatedly sexually assaulted her for three months by picking her up from behind and rubbing his genitals against hers. She eventually reported him, according to her affidavit, and she was punished. We are taught very early on that if you say what is happening to you, you will be put on the meter and interrogated for your crimes, she said in the affidavit, referencing the E-meter, a device used in Scientology during auditing. We are taught that if you say you have been violated, you will get in trouble. Scientology teaches that people are entirely responsible for what happens to them and that they attract negative experiences when they do something bad in their lives. If a person wrote a report on someone who assaulted them, for example, the victim would get interrogated and punished through Scientologys ethics system, Paris explained in the affidavit. After the Sea Org member assaulted her another time, Paris wrote that she did not report him again because she felt it would be pointless. When she was 17, her mother fled the Sea Org and planned to sue Scientology to expose abuses, according to her affidavit. Paris was ordered to write her a letter stating she was essentially disowning her, according to the report. Soon after, Paris was informed she would be transferred to work on the Freewinds ship in the Caribbean, a vessel the church operates to disseminate its highest-level courses to parishioners. Paris worked for 11 years on the ship, where, she said, she was forced to do excruciating labor for little or no pay and endured mental, physical and sexual abuse. Staff on the ship surrender their passports and other identification when reporting for duty, according to accounts by former Sea Org members over the years. No phone, no bank account, no passport and nowhere to go, Paris wrote. In her affidavit, she disclosed multiple anecdotes of fellow Sea Org members who had died from lack of medical care or suicide. In 2007, she was sent to Australia to work on the Rehabilitation Project Force, a punishment rehabilitation and re-education program which is like a prison camp, she stated. You do hard (labor) all day and then five hours of getting brainwashed basically with interrogations on the meter of everything youve done wrong, she wrote in her affidavit. Following multiple requests to exit the Sea Org, Paris was permitted to leave in 2009 by going through four months of intensive interrogation, according to her lawsuit. There is precedent for acquiring information that exists in parishioners files. In 2009, former Sea Org member Laura DeCrescenzo sued Scientology in Los Angeles, alleging she was forced to work grueling hours as a child and that church officials coerced her into having an abortion at 17 to ensure she kept working. During the litigation, the court ordered Scientology to turn over 18,000 pages of documents related to DeCrescenzo, including her auditing folders. Scientology officials unsuccessfully appealed to the California State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court to fight the order. Transcriptions of her auditing sessions released in the court documents show that DeCrescenzo told her auditor that she did not want her abortion, according to court records published by Tony Ortega, who runs a blog critical of Scientology. The folders also included DeCrescenzos handwritten letters from her time in the Sea Org, which corroborated her desperation and mental state. Scientology settled the lawsuit with DeCrescenzo in 2018, weeks before the case was to go to trial. As for Paris, she said in her affidavit that it took her 10 years to come forward to police because of the indoctrination in Scientology, noting that sexual, physical and mental abuse is the norm. It shaped who I became and why I did nothing effective about the sexual abuse I endured at the church in Florida as well as other child abuse and human trafficking, Paris wrote. Why have you heard nothing about it? Because most of us didnt even know that touching a child sexually was illegal. She added: It is also in the church teachings to cover it up upon the belief it will get fixed with Scientology. LAS VEGAS (AP) In deep-red Republican rural Nevada, longtime election officials are fighting back against a right-wing conspiracy-fueled push to turn back the clock on elections and return to hand counting paper ballots. For some, the fight is paying off. For others, pleas have fallen on unsympathetic ears. Since the late 2021, seven of Nevadas 17 counties have considered either switching away from Dominion electronic voting machines, which have come under fire from election deniers following the 2020 election, or eliminating electronic voting systems altogether in favor of paper ballots and hand counting, a move that local election officials argue would only create more distrust, uncertainty and delays in the election process. Two counties, Nye and Esmeralda, are asking their clerks to conduct the 2022 elections using paper ballots and hand count the results, a move that was presented to the commissioners by Jim Marchant, a former Republican assemblyman now running for Nevada secretary of state, who has been peddling debunked voter fraud claims since losing a bid for Congress in 2020. The decision blindsided longtime Nye County Clerk Sam Merlino, a Republican and the countys top election official since 2000. I literally wanted to resign that day. After doing it for so long, youd think people would have a little trust in you, Merlino told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a recent interview. We expected that after 2020 people would say that clerks and election officials did a great job, that they got us through the pandemic and the elections. But we never heard that. Immediately they said everything was fraudulent, Merlino said. Now you dont feel like anyone respects the office anymore. Merlino isnt alone. The disinformation campaign against voting systems in Nevada is taking its toll on election officials across the state. I thought this was ridiculous from day one. I thought that it would pass. When someone loses an election, its a good excuse to blame something, and thats what happened. But its taken on a life of its own, Lyon County Clerk Nikki Bryan said. Im a Republican, but I just dont buy into that garbage, added Bryan, who chose not to run for re-election as clerk-treasurer after more than two decades in the role. Merlino and Bryan and their clerk counterparts across the state have spoken out publicly in meetings to defend the accuracy of the 2020 elections and voice their concerns with their counties considering moves to go back to hand-counting paper ballots. Nye and Esmeralda are the only two counties that have voted in favor of hand counting so far. Other rural counties, including Lyon, Lincoln and Elko, tabled the discussions after briefly considering them. Lander County decided last fall to switch from Dominion machines, which are used in 15 other Nevada counties, to ES&S Equipment, the other voting machine vendor approved by the state and used by Carson City. Merlino is not running for re-election and initially planned to retire in December 2021. But after Nevadas redrawing of legislative and congressional districts happened much later than it normally would because of the pandemic, she didnt feel right leaving her staff in such a precarious situation and told the commissioners she would fulfill her term through the 2022 election cycle. That all changed in March when the county commissioners told her they would be formally asking her to conduct the 2022 elections using hand-counted paper ballots. The notice came days before the meeting. She didnt know who would be arguing in favor of the move or what specific arguments they would make so that she could prepare her own counterpoints. Merlino informed commissioners that she would resign in early August, staying only long enough for the office to work through a routine systems check with the secretary of states office. We can only be pushed so far, she said. None of the proposed changes could take effect before the June 14 primary election, however. The earliest a switch to paper ballots could take place would be in November. And county commissioners cannot force the elected clerks to stop using electronic machines and switch to paper ballots; they are only allowed to recommend or request that they do so. PUSH FROM ELECTION DENIERS In an interview, Marchant, 65, said he doesnt trust electronic voting machines based on his background he previously owned technology companies. He said that gives him more insight into the voting machines than the clerks and their staff who work directly with the machines. He claims that hand counting is the only accurate way to tally the votes. But the clerks said Marchants claims, which are also being pushed in other states by far-right election deniers, are wildly wrong. The voting machines are not connected to the internet and do not use Wi-Fi, making it extremely unlikely that they could be hacked, Bryan said. There are also several additional safeguards in place, Bryan added. The equipment requires both a fingerprint and a password for workers to access, and the machines are tested before and after each election. The Dominion voting machines all produce a secondary paper ballot that is printed and can be reviewed by the voter to ensure its accuracy before they cast their vote. Bryan said Lyon is also required to audit four random machines after the election. Those audits include taking the paper rolls out of the machines and hand counting the totals to make sure the machine counted everything correctly. Those audits have always shown that the machines were accurate, she added. Elko County Clerk Kris Jakeman, who worked in the clerks office for nearly two decades before she was elected as the countys top election official in 2018, echoed those comments. Jakeman said Elko, like other counties, has worked with Dominion since the mid-2000s when the company was called Sequoia. We have a great partnership with Dominion. We have never found any errors or instances of discrepancies with the machines as long as Ive worked here, she said. Jakeman, a Republican, also pushed back on the notion that hand counting would somehow be more accurate than the machine tally, because hand counting could lead to human error, a point that Merlino and Bryan also noted. People get tired. They get distracted. They may have a bias. Machines dont, Jakeman said. One of Marchants Republican primary opponents in the secretary of state race, Sparks Councilman Kristopher Dahir, has been critical of Marchants push in the rural counties. Voting and counting machines, Dahir said, have helped to eliminate issues with hand counting of paper ballots that election officials in the past had to deal with. Dahir called Marchants push short-sighted and said it would only create more chaos and not help anything. We dont need to go to the dark ages in order to vote, Dahir told the Review-Journal. INSTALLED BY DEEP STATE CABAL Marchant himself is no stranger to the conspiracy theory world. He claims voter fraud led to his loss to Democratic incumbent Rep. Steven Horsford in Nevadas 4th Congressional District by more than 16,000 votes in 2020. A Clark County District Court judge rejected a Marchant lawsuit seeking a new election in the district. He dismisses the fact that election officials from both parties at state and local levels, including Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, have said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. And of the judges across Nevada who have thrown out virtually every legal challenge to the 2020 election, Marchant also said he does not trust hardly any part of the judicial system. Asked if there are any parts of Americas democracy that he does trust, Marchant said, Good question. Not a whole lot. On a Flyover Conservatives podcast in January, Marchant said Nevada hasnt elected anybody since 2006. They have been installed by the deep state cabal. Last October, Marchant was one of the featured speakers at the QAnon-linked Patriot Double Down event in Las Vegas. One of the core parts of QAnon, which started on the fringes of the internet in 2017 but has crept into mainstream right-wing politics, is a belief that a secret cabal of elites controls the deep state government. For his so-called proof of fraud and tampering in the 2020 election, Marchant has pointed to Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in Colorado, who has pushed unfounded claims that the voting machines could be manipulated and ballots could be counted more than once. Peters was indicted by a grand jury in Colorado in March on 10 charges relating to a security breach of the countys election system in 2021 that led to a public release of sensitive information. The allegations led to a Colorado judge ruling that Peters, who is also running for Colorado secretary of state, cannot supervise the primary or midterm elections in that county this year, The Associated Press reported. The Mesa County district attorneys office this past week presented a report that showed that there was extensive evidence that Peters claims were false. When you align yourself with a clerk who has been indicted by a grand jury and a grand jury is not a political entity at all and when a grand jury indicts you for seven felonies and three misdemeanors, theres a problem, Bryan, the Lyon County clerk, told the Review-Journal. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH HAND-COUNTING Merlino put together a summary of what hand-counting paper ballots would look like in real time. Each ballot would take approximately five minutes for election workers to review and tally by hand. In Esmeralda County, where there are just 615 registered active voters, hand counting might be doable. But in other, more populated rural counties, those logistics get much more complicated. Clark County, including Las Vegas, has nearly 1.27 million registered active voters, according to the secretary of state. Merlino estimated that based on her turnout estimates for the 2022 general election for Nye County and its roughly 31,000 registered voters, it would take 40 workers, each working eight-hour days, roughly 16 days to count the votes. That would create a distinct possibility that the count would not be complete in time for the votes to be canvassed within 10 days of the election as state law requires, she said. There is also a looming paper shortage that could make the logistics of moving to paper ballots nearly impossible. And the clerks have also raised issues about potentially being sued for prematurely ending their contracts with Dominion. Eliminating voting machines entirely could also violate requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, leading to even more lawsuits. The state could look to claw back money it allocated to the counties in 2017 to pay for the transition to the new Dominion machines, an idea that was brought up last month by longtime state Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas. Nye County, for example, received $217,000 from the state to make the transition. When the counties came and asked for help, we helped them. And now theyve decided they dont want that. I believe those funds need to be returned to the state if theyre not going to be used, Carlton told the Review-Journal in a recent interview. SOWING MORE DISTRUST Several groups have also come to the defense of the voting machines and systems in the state, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and former Republican Gov. Bob List, who represented Dominion for 10 years as a consultant. I was a Trump supporter, and I would like to have seen him win," List told the Elko County Commission in April. "But I also know that it was not the fault of the machines." Those arguments persuaded enough elected officials to table some of those discussions, with the county commissions in Lyon, Elko and Lincoln all dropping the proposals before even voting on them. The Washoe County Commission voted 4-1 in March to reject a similar proposal to eliminate electronic machines and move to paper ballots, an effort that Marchant was not involved with. But the damage may already be done. Bryan, Merlino and Jakeman each said that the push to discredit the current voting systems is only creating more distrust, in the public and among elected officials. And its becoming harder to break through that disinformation, they said. They dont believe what we are saying, said Bryan. They are so and Ill just call it what it is brainwashed. Bryan and Merlino had already decided against running for re-election. Jakeman, in Elko, said choosing to run for re-election was a difficult decision but she decided to do so after encouragement from her staff. Bryan said shes worried about future elections. Her office regularly gets calls from people yelling at them about the elections before hanging up. And she wonders how long this anger can continue before it erupts into violence. She said she is still hoping for the best, though, and knows that things will be done correctly by her and her staff. Whether those who already doubt the elections will trust the results is another question. Thats what is so frustrating. My whole career Ive tried to help people fix their problems, Bryan said. I just cant fix this. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FREDERICK, Md. (AP) Everyone knew each other on McKinstrys Mill Road in the 1960s. Black families lived in roughly 10 houses in the community outside Union Bridge, Barbara Thompson, 74, recalled. Children addressed elders as Mr. or Mrs. as a sign of respect. Neighbors looked out for one another. If youngsters got into mischief, any parent on the block was liable to reprimand them. Their little slice of Carroll County was close-knit, but reminders of racism were everywhere. I grew up seeing the signs Whites Only, Thompson said. Thompson, who now resides in Frederick, shared her story at the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick recently. She was one of several human books available for checkout. Instead of reading a book, library patrons sat down to hear the story straight from the sources mouths. Conversations about faith, aging, being gay, breaking glass ceilings and more filled the room. Theyre like living audio books, Mary Mannix said. Mannix manages the Maryland Room at the library, which houses a collection of local history. She said it was their second Human Library event. The first was in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily derailed plans for the second one. Mannix pointed out the conversations flowing between the human books and their readers. They want to hear your side of the story, Mannix said. They want people to understand their experiences. For Thompson, it is important to share her experiences because she feels some people shy away from discussing systemic racism. When you experience traumatic events in your childhood, it doesnt go away, she said. Thompson was a little girl when the Brown v. Board of Education decision came out. She was 10 when her mother told her she would leave her all-Black school. Thompson cried. I knew how ugly it would be, she said. Thompson was a top student at the Robert Moton School, but when she switched to Elmer Wolfe, her grades plummeted. We were looked at as less than, Thompson said, because of their skin color. She stopped raising her hand in class because when she did, the teacher pretended she was not there. Students pushed her into lockers. They hurled racial slurs. It got so bad, Thompson pretended to be sick to get out of school. When she did attend class, she did not try as hard. I know that had I been in a different kind of environment my success in life probably would have been greater than it is now, Thompson said. But like the title she gave her book in the Human Library, Thompson is Still Standing. She went on to become a lover of history. She researched her family genealogy through the centuries and made sure her children learned it. And the little girl who was scared to attend school grew up to work nearly 40 years for Frederick County Public Schools, retiring in 2012. Thompson served as an instructional assistant and administrative secretary. She said she wanted to make an impact and show she had the skills to do her job well. Though she is retired, her work is far from done. Thompson serves on the board of directors of the African American Resources Cultural and Heritage Society. She looks forward to the opening of their Heritage Center, which will tell the story of African Americans in Frederick County. Helping refugees In another corner of the library, a young boy listened to a 70-year-old man tell the story of how he went from being a refugee to helping others like him. Frederick resident Dat Duthinh hails from Vietnam. His first refugee experience came at 4 years old, when war forced him to move from the northern part of the country to the southern. What Duthinh calls the French War is also known as the First Indochina War, which ran from 1946 to 1954. At the library, Duthinh showed 7-year-old Emmett Harris, of Frederick, a photo of the ship his family took to safety, the USS Marine Serpent. Emmett wanted to know what kind of food they ate on the ship. Was it good food? he asked. Duthinh laughed. It was food, he replied. Duthinh came to the U.S. years later for college. When the Vietnam War broke out, his family left their country in 1975 to join him in America. Emmett asked if Duthinh had any fun stories. Duthinh thought for a moment. His first day in the U.S. was a strange but fun experience. He flew on a plane for the first time to New York. He asked how to get to Princeton, New Jersey, and was shocked by how long it took to get there by bus. Emmett said he probably would have played his Nintendo Switch. Duthinh did not have such luxuries. Illustrating the panic that came with war, Duthinh showed Emmett a photo of people climbing over the U.S. Embassys walls in Saigon in 1975. Duthinh searched for the right words to convey the story of refugees to a 7-year-old. War is a bad thing, Duthinh said. It causes a lot of suffering. Emmett seemed to walk away from the conversation with a little more knowledge. He was called a refugee, Emmett said. If their home isnt safe anymore, they go somewhere. Duthinh said he hoped his participation in the Human Library would spread the word of refugee support efforts. He works with the Refugee Welcoming Committee of Frederick to assist the refugees of today. The group has helped six Afghan families settle locally, Duthinh said, and Ukrainian families are soon expected. He said they need help finding housing, getting drivers licenses and bettering their English. Something as simple as navigating the grocery store can be daunting, according to Duthinh. It is a trying time, adjusting to a foreign country. He would know. For decades, business owners have understood that a companys website is the most important digital property a business has, and that investing in it is the primary way you drive customers from the internet to to your doors. This is no longer true. While your website is still very important to your business, a shift in consumer behavior in the last few years has changed this calculation. Company websites are no longer the primary site of online engagement. Search results, including digital maps and listings, are where customers engage with businesses the most, and its not even close. Related: 3 Reasons Small Businesses Crash and Burn Online According to an exclusive study of data retrieved from Yext Analytics of 20,107 business locations listings profiles across the search engines, local directories, maps and apps where their brands lives, brick-and-mortar-only businesses actually receive 2.7 times as many views of listings on maps, apps, search engines, GPS systems and social networks than they do on their own websites. In some industries this disparity was even higher. In fact, in foodservice it ranged up to 10 times more impressions in listings than on websites for some. Why? Because when you can pull out your phone to search for coffee, click a coffeeshop on the map that pops up and get directions without ever scrolling through a website, why wouldnt you? This new order has huge revenue implications, because engagement drives transactions. Seventy-six percent of location-specific searches result in a business visit within one day, and 28 percent result in a purchase, according to Google. Related: Get Prepared for the Future of SEO What does this mean for your business? Driving in-person business using online tools requires you to fundamentally re-examine your digital strategy. There are three guiding principles you need to know in order to modernize your digital strategy: 1. Embrace the decentralization of your brand. Brands dont just live on a businesss website anymore. They are defined across 100-plus different maps, apps, voice search tools, digital assistants, search engines, GPS systems and social networks. Its tempting to throw up your hands at the daunting task of maintaining your brand in all of these places, but if you dont have a strategy for updating the content on these platforms, out-of-date information will define you in the eyes of your customers. 2. Dont confuse ease of measurement with value. Customers are engaging with you in places you may struggle to measure; this does not mean these places dont matter. While interactions with customers off of company websites have historically gone unreported and underleveraged, they are only becoming more vital as customers turn to Google Maps, Yelp, Facebook and other sources to decide whether to visit you. New tools are emerging every day to shine a light on this activity and empower you to use it to grow your customer base. Related: 5 Tips to Improve Your Local SEO in 5 Hours 3. Invest in rich off-site content. You spend significant resources to have a deep, helpful website that gives your prospective customers the information they need to choose you over your competitors. But, your website is probably not where the action is; you need to do the same in search. Almost all the information you have on your website needs to be visible right in your search results, or your customers are unlikely to see it and engage with it. Search is moving away from the 10 blue links on a page we all remember and toward the structured data that shows you accurate results when you search gluten-free Italian restaurant near me open now. Accurate name, address and phone number are no longer enough; you need to have up-to-date hours, product information like food menus, customer reviews and other information in your search results, not only to convince customers to choose you, but to show up in search at all. Related: 7 SEO Mysteries Solved Why? Because the trend away from the traditional website is only accelerating. In fact, the day will come when businesses no longer need websites. In China, many businesses don't even create websites, finding that listing on WeChat, Baidu and the other dominant Chinese search platforms is the best way to reach their customers. This trend is coming to your customers, too, and your strategy needs to anticipate these changes in consumer behavior. Advances in search technology have changed the way we explore the world around us. It started with mobile search and GPS, but artificial intelligence, voice search tools like Alexa, self-driving cars, augmented reality and hundreds of other new technologies are creating a future of intelligent search in which the digital knowledge about your brand will define your business whether you control it or not. The years to come will see consumer engagement increasingly move to these new platforms. If you havent tailored your strategy to the new digital ecosystem, you are already behind. Related: Intelligent Search Drives More Customers to Your Business Than Your Website 6 Ways to Understand SEO Impacts Sooner 5 Tactics That Haven't Worked For Digital Marketers Until Now Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Florida judge on Saturday gave initial approval to a settlement of more than $1 billion to families who lost loved ones in the collapse last year of a Florida beachfront condominium building in which 98 people died. The quick settlement of the unprecedented collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South building in the early morning hours of June 24, 2021, means that potentially years of court battles will be avoided. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman, who is overseeing the lawsuits filed after the collapse, said during a hearing held remotely it was the best possible outcome given the loss of life and property in the disaster. It is a great result," Hanzman said before giving preliminary approval to the agreement, which was announced Friday. This was a very contested deal. Rachel Furst, co-chair of the attorney group representing victim families, said the agreement also means defendants insurance companies, developers, the city of Surfside and others will have complete peace that they won't be sued again. Still, some people may decide to opt out of the deal and pursue their own independent claims. This was heavily negotiated, Furst said. We believe this is an outstanding settlement. Under the agreement, people involved in the settlement directly will have until June 16 to file a notice they intend to opt out. A week later on June 23, Judge Hanzman will have a fairness hearing to allow anyone objecting to the settlement to be heard. Attorney Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver handling in the case for the judge, said notice will go out to all the family members of those who died, will be posted on the Champlain Towers South website and also will be put into the Miami Herald. We will begin immediately, Goldberg said. The total for the families who lost loved ones in the collapse is about $1.02 billion. Separately, people whose condos were destroyed and lost property such as furnishings and mementos will share about $96 million. Families of victims will have to file claims, as the money will not be split evenly. The goal is to begin distributing money by September. The money comes from several sources, including insurance companies, engineering companies and a luxury condominium that had recently been built next door. None of the parties are admitting wrongdoing. A billionaire developer from Dubai is set to purchase the 1.8-acre (1-hectare) beachside site for $120 million, contributing to the settlement. Only three survivors were found despite around-the-clock efforts by rescuers who dug through a 40-foot (12-meter) high pile of rubble for two weeks. Another three dozen people were able to escape from the portion of the building that remained standing. All 135 units were ultimately demolished, leaving a gaping hole along Surfsides beachfront. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is investigating the cause of the collapse, a process expected to take years. Champlain South had a long history of maintenance problems and questions have been raised about the quality of its original construction and inspections in the early 1980s. CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) A jury has convicted a Lake County man in the killings of a woman and two teenage boys found bludgeoned to death in 1998 in a house in northwest Indiana. James H. Higgason III, 52, of Whiting, found guilty Friday of murder and murder during the commission of a robbery, could face consecutive sentences of 45 to 65 years when he's sentenced June 24. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) A sophomore at Louisiana State University is the states first participant in a national leadership program created by the Faith & Politics Institute of Washington, D.C. Antavion Tay Moore of Ringgold will join nine other students from schools including Dartmouth College, the University of Southern California and Claflin University, as the second group of John Robert Lewis Scholars. The program is named for the late civil rights icon and longtime Georgia congressman. It aims to build a nationwide network of emerging leaders to create change through the nonviolent philosophy of the American civil rights movement. Moore said his great-grandparents instilled the principles of the civil rights movement in him. Even though I didnt physically experience it myself, I felt connected to that era, he said. Moore is an Ogden Honors College student studying political science and music. While still in high school, he earned two associate degrees from Bossier Parish Community College. As a John Robert Lewis Scholar, Moore will participate in the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage and make two trips to Washington to connect with representatives from national, state, and local governments, businesses and nonprofits engaged in social impact work. There also will be virtual sessions about racial, economic and social inequities, and each participant will have an oral history project. Throughout my life, my parents and pastor have always stressed the importance of showing faith through authentic service to my community," Moore said. He has served on the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, National 4-H Young Alumni Advisory Committee and as LSU collegiate 4-H co-president. He is the music director of Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church in Baton Rouge. Moore hopes to use his experiences and education to pursue a career in public service in Louisiana. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A suburban Portland, Oregon, man was arraigned in court Friday for allegedly placing a white-supremacist, neo-Nazi sticker near an immigrant community center in east Portland, and police said more than a dozen guns were found during a search of his car and residence. The Multnomah County District Attorneys office said Friday Jarl Rockhill, 35, is accused of committing a second-degree bias crime and third-degree criminal mischief, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. It wasnt immediately known if he has a lawyer to comment on the case. PORT GIBSON, Miss. (AP) A motion has been filed to dismiss the case involving a Mississippi man who is accused of killing his 14-month-old daughter. According to court documents, 22nd Circuit Court Assistant District Attorney Patrick E. Beasley asked Friday to dismiss charges against Morris Bevily IV without prejudice, WDAM-TV reported. WASHINGTON (AP) A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to charges that he stormed the U.S. Capitol last year to disrupt Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote, court filings show. Matthew Mark Wood pleaded guilty on Friday to all six counts in his March 2021 indictment, including a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding. The other five counts are all misdemeanors. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is scheduled to sentence Wood on Sept. 23. A day before the riot, Wood drove from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., with his grandmother and another relative. Less than a week earlier, Wood sent a text message to another person that said, If they want to raid Congress, sign me up, according to a court filing accompanying his guilty plea. After the riot erupted, Wood entered the Capitol by climbing through a window. He followed others on a path toward the Senate chamber but left the area without entering it. After rioters breached a police line in the Capitol Crypt, Wood followed others up a staircase and into the House Speakers office suite. He left the Capitol through a door more than an hour after he entered the building, the filing says. In a text message to somebody a day after the riot, Wood said he took a stand but called it extremely inappropriate." I cant believe I participated in such chaos, he added. The riot disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Wood was arrested in Winston Salem, North Carolina, last year. At a separate hearing on Friday, a Maryland man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the Capitol riot. Matthew Joseph Buckler is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21 after pleading guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Buckler, of La Plata, Maryland, entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 by climbing through a broken window. More than 800 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. At least 300 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, and nearly 200 of them have been sentenced. Approximately 100 others have trial dates. LAS VEGAS (AP) A high school honors student in Nevada said in federal court that hes being bullied by students and harassed by campus administrators who search him for a gun every time someone identifies him on a state hotline that invites anonymous reports of school threats. Im a student, not a threat, Reno High School junior Lucas Gorelick, 16, told The Associated Press on Friday. I have rights. I want people to know what is happening, and I want to ensure safety for all future students. A lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Reno argues school district officials have violated his constitutional rights to equal protection and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. He said his backpack and pickup truck were searched five times in two weeks based on anonymous tips, but no weapon was found. He also noted he has been the target of other incidents he termed bullying situations that he traced to his Jewish heritage, his work with Democratic party candidates and his school achievements. Gorelick is identified by his initials in the lawsuit. The teen, his father, Jeff Gorelick, and their attorney Luke Busby agreed in separate telephone interviews to allow AP to report his name. Jeff Gorelick characterized a state Department of Education hotline called SafeVoice established in 2017 after approval from the Legislature as an unthinking system that grants anonymity to bullies. The father compared using the system to say his son has a gun on campus to swatting, or hoax police calls that send authorities to an innocent persons home. Jeff Gorelick, who owns hunting rifles, said his son does not have a key to the gun safe or own guns of his own. It was not immediately clear Friday whether students in other states with similar tip hotlines have been targeted in the same way. Relying on anonymous calls "gives people free rein to do abusive things to other people, Jeff Gorelick said. If the purpose is to provide safe schools, which I think was the intended purpose, having a little bit of control on abuse would have been a good idea. In a Wednesday court hearing the day after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in a rural Texas school shooting, U.S. District Chief Judge Miranda Du in Reno declined to issue an immediate order telling school administrators to stop the searches. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1985 in a case from New Jersey that school officials need only reasonable suspicion that a student has violated the law or school rules to initiate a search. The Fourth Amendment requires probable cause or a warrant. Gorelick's lawsuit remains active, although he will graduate next month, a year early. Du referred in comments from the bench to school violence, saying the Washoe County School District need not stop the searches even if prior threat reports were proved false, the Reno Gazette Journal reported. School district attorney Neil Rombardo told the judge that campus administrators had a duty to take tips seriously to protect the safety of the 1,600 students at Reno High, and that SafeVoice had not determined tips about Lucas Gorelick were an abuse of the system, the newspaper said. Which one do we not believe? Rombardo asked, referring to tips received. Rombardo did not immediately respond Friday to messages from AP. Lucas Gorelick cited other examples of harassment that included his home and truck being vandalized and swastika graffiti being left on his vehicle. Gorelick campaigned for President Joe Biden; is a campaign finance intern for U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto; and is involved in the campaign of school board trustee Adam Mayberry. He served on a school safety committee, has spoken at school board meetings, and is a member of Students Demand Action, a national group aiming to end gun violence in schools. He said he intends to attend college. He did not specify which one. The Nevada Department of Education said in written statements that every SafeVoice tip is processed, taken with all seriousness and viewed as valid. Department spokeswoman Allegra Demerjian declined additional comment Friday. SafeVoice data is confidential under state law, the statement said, but a continuing false tip sequence can trigger a Nevada State Police investigation and disclosure of the identity of the reporting person. If you continue to misuse the system you may no longer be anonymous and there are potential consequences, the statement said. It did not say if there was an investigation of Gorelicks case. SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) Two people have died and three others are missing after two motorboats collided Saturday on a river in coastal Georgia at the start of the long holiday weekend, authorities said. At least four other passengers suffered minor injuries and one other person was reported airlifted by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for medical attention. The condition of that person wasn't immediately disclosed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOSTON (AP) Seaside communities in New England are providing free beach access to Native Americans as the summer season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend. Officials in Narragansett, Rhode Island, earlier this month approved free seasonal beach passes for anyone with a valid identification card from the Narragansett Indian tribe. On Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the towns of Truro and Wellfleet are also extending a similar benefit to any Native American with proof of tribal affiliation when beach permits are required in late June. The moves come after Eastham, another Cape Cod town, began offering free seasonal stickers to indigenous people in 2020 as part of its efforts to mark the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims aboard The Mayflower. Brian Weeden, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe on Cape Cod that traces its ancestry to the Native Americans that encountered the Pilgrims, commended the towns for taking the symbolic steps to recognize the importance of the ocean to their tribe's heritage. In our creation stories, we say the first Wampanoag boy was actually made out of the foam of the sea and therefore we come from the land and the water, he said. We are sea-faring people and we need the ocean to survive. Its been our sustenance for hundreds and thousands of years. Jesse Pugh, the town council president in Narragansett, hopes his proposal sparks broader discussions between town officials and the town's namesake tribe. Were not acting like were doing the biggest favor to the tribe, he said. This is just something that we thought was right and that we can do. Hopefully it adds momentum to some kind of relationship with the tribe. Narragansetts new policy allows valid tribe members, regardless where they reside, to get a free seasonal pass. The passes otherwise cost $25 and are only available to town residents. The daily rate for non-resident beachgoers is $12 and are required for anyone over the age of 12. Tribe members looking to park at the beach lots would still have to pay the separate parking fees. Pugh stressed no other additional rights or exceptions to beach rules are conferred. Open fires, for example, remain prohibited. The policy is only in place for this season so far. During council meetings, some residents spoke up against granting the free passes to nonresidents and worried about the new policys impact on overcrowding at the beaches. Pugh said Narragansett beaches are funded by revenues generated from beach fees, so they arent covered by local taxpayers in the traditional sense. And less than a dozen tribe members have so far claimed the passes, which will be required starting May 28, according to the town's parks and recreation department. The tribe, which didnt respond to emails seeking comment this week, has roughly 3,000 enrolled members, but a significant number are likely children under the age of 12 who would already be free to enter town beaches, Pugh said. Weeden, of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, hopes Massachusetts and other states can take broader efforts to codify beach access rights for tribes, rather than piecemeal efforts by individual communities. He says securing beach access is a small way to make sure tribes aboriginal rights to waterways are respected. Its definitely appreciated after 400 years of colonization and gentrification, Weeden said. Its a step in the right direction, given what theyve done to our people. At the same time, we have a long way to go. GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) Police in northeast Georgia say a homeless man shot and killed another resident of the same Gainesville homeless camp on May 13. Local news outlets report Pedro Morales-Valle, 42, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in the shooting death of Billie Lee Davis, 37. Investigators say the two men got into an argument before dawn on May 13 and Morales-Valle shot Davis twice, killing him. Morales-Valle remains in the Hall County jail without bail and The Times of Gainesville reports he has asked for a public defender. It's the second time that one homeless person has been charged with the murder of another homeless person in Gainesville in the last year. Dexter Barnard Pulliam, of Gainesville, was charged last with malice murder in the Oct. 18 death of 66-year-old Leon Hines, also of Gainesville. Hines was sometimes called The Mayor of Queen City because he did so much to help others who were on the street. Morales-Valle was ordered to seek housing through a local mental health agency in 2020 after he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for trying to stab another man, court records show. Hall County Superior Court Judge David Burroughs sentenced Morales-Valle to six years on probation, also ordering him to undergo evaluation and treatment for mental health and anger management. ELIZABETH, Pa. (AP) A small plane crashed into a wooded area of western Pennsylvania, critically injuring the pilot, authorities said. Authorities in Allegheny County and federal officials said the single-engine Aeronica 7 Champion aircraft went down in Elizabeth Township less than a mile from Rostraver Airport shortly before 7 p.m. Friday. Chief Ken Honick of the township's police force said the pilot was flown to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition. He said the pilot was conscious, alert and talking to first responders as he was transported but was in excruciating pain as you can imagine. Honick said the pilot left Finleyville airport in northern Washington County and stopped in Rostraver Airport for some touch-and-go maneuvers." Finleyville airport manager Robert Usnick said the pilot had recently purchased the older plane and it is normal procedure to practice landing and taking off when a pilot purchases a different plane. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. ATLANTA (AP) One Georgia state Senate seats and as many as 10 state House seats are headed to runoffs on June 21 after a majority of voters couldn't choose a party nominee on Tuesday. Banker Mike Hodges and former state House member Jeff Jones will contend for the Republican nomination in Senate District 3 on the Georgia coast, covering all of Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn and McIntosh counties and part of Ware County. If current results hold through certification, there could be 10 runoffs in House districts: Republican incumbent Sheri Gilligan, a sometime critic of House Speaker David Ralston, appears to have fallen short of a majority in House District 24 in southwestern Forsyth County. The Associated Press says the race is too close to call. Gilligan would face Carter Barrett if there is a runoff. In House District 28 in northern Forsyth and western Hall counties, a newly drawn open seat, Republicans Brent Cox and Julie Tressler advanced to a runoff from a six-way primary. The seat had been held by Republican Timothy Barr, who lost a congressional primary. Republican Derrick McCollum may missed a majority in House District 30 in southern Hall and northeastern Gwinnett counties in another race that's too close to call. He could be headed to runoff against Whitney Pimentel. In south Cobb County, Democrats Monica DeLancy and Terry Cummings advanced to a runoff from a five-way primary, seeking a House District 39, which has been held by retiring Democrat Erica Thomas. Republican Betsy Kramer advanced to a runoff in House District 50 in the north Fulton city of Johns Creek. Narender Reddy leads for the second spot, although its too close to call. In House District 61 in southern Fulton and northeastern Douglas counties, Democratic incumbent Roger Bruce was forced to a runoff. Rashaun Kemp leads for the second spot, although it's too close to call. Democrats Imani Barnes and Jacqueline Adams are in a runoff for an open seat in House District 86, which stretches from Clarkston into southern DeKalb County. Democrats Saira Draper and Michelle Schreiner advanced to a runoff in House District 90 in southwestern DeKalb County, including parts of Atlanta. The open seat had been held by Democrat Bee Nguyen, who is running for secretary of state, and Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams before her. Republicans Lauren Daniel and Noelle Kahaian moved to a runoff in House District 117, a newly drawn district in Henry and Spalding counties. In Glynn County, Republicans Rick Townsend and Bob Duncan moved to a runoff in a seat now held by retiring Republican Don Hogan. In a final race that's too close to call, Democratic activist Nabilah Islam holds a slim majority over state Rep. Beth Moore in a two-way contest for the nomination in state Senate District 7 in southwestern Gwinnett County. Officials will certify vote totals and winners in coming days. In other notable results, Republican incumbent Bonnie Rich of Suwanee lost to fellow Republican incumbent David Clark of Buford in House District 100 in parts of Gwinnett, Hall and Forsyth counties. Rich had headed House redistricting efforts, and thus lost a district she had drawn for herself after Clark, who had said he was stepping down, decided to run again. Clark had openly rebelled against Ralston. A series of other House Republican incumbents, including Martin Momtahan of Dallas and Alan Powell of Hartwell, easily turned back right-wing challengers. In the Snellville area of Gwinnett County, Democratic incumbent Shelly Hutchinson beat fellow incumbent Rebecca Mitchell after the two were drawn together during redistricting. Similarly, Republican incumbent Danny Mathis of Cochran beat incumbent Robert Pruitt of Eastman after the two were drawn into a new House District 149, which includes Wilkinson, Twiggs, Bleckley, Dodge counties, and part of Telfair County. ___ Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the hours and days following the fatal shooting of 19 children and their two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, authorities gave shifting and at times contradictory information of what happened and how they responded. The investigation of the massacre is ongoing, but much is already known about the nearly two hours that passed between when authorities say Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother and when police radio traffic indicated that the 18-year-old gunman was dead and the siege was over. TIMELINE Sometime after 11 a.m. Ramos shoots his grandmother in the face, according to Texas Public Safety Director Steve McCraw. Gilbert Gallegos, 82, who lives across the street from Ramos and his grandmother, heard a shot as he was in his yard. He runs to the front and sees Ramos speed away in a pickup truck and Ramos' grandmother coming toward him pleading for help. Covered in blood, She says, Berto, this is what he did. He shot me, according to Gallegos, whose wife calls the police to report the shooting. 11:27 a.m. Video shows a teacher, whom authorities haven't publicly identified, propping open an exterior door of the school, McCraw said. 11:28 a.m. Ramos crashes the pickup into a drainage ditch behind the school, McCraw said. Two men at a nearby funeral home hear the crash and run out to see what happened. They see Ramos jump out of the passenger side carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a bag full of ammunition. The men run and Ramos fires at them but doesn't hit them. One of the men falls but both make it back to the funeral home. The teacher who propped open the door meanwhile runs inside to grab her phone so she can call 911 and report the crash but as she comes back out while on her phone she realizes Ramos has a gun, according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Travis Considine. She removes the rock that had propped open the door and it closes behind her, but the door does not lock, Considine said. 11:30 a.m. 911 receives a call saying there was a crash and a man with a gun at the school, McCraw said. 11:31 a.m. Ramos begins shooting at the school from the school parking lot as police cars begin to arrive at the funeral home, McCraw said. Ramos then makes his way around the school building. The school district police officer who was working that day wasn't on campus around this time, contrary to previous reports, McCraw said May 27. The officer drives to the school immediately after getting the 911 call and approaches someone at the back of the school who he thought was the gunman. As the officer sped toward the man, who turned out to be a teacher, McCraw said the officer drove right by the suspect who was hunkered down behind" a vehicle. 11:32 a.m. Ramos fires multiple shots at the school and then makes his way toward the unlocked door, officials said. 11:33 a.m. Five minutes after crashing the pickup, Ramos enters the school and begins shooting into two adjoining classrooms, 111 and 112, McCraw said. He fires more than 100 rounds. 11:35 a.m. Three city police officers enter the school through the same door that Ramos used and are later followed by four other officers, McCraw said, putting a total of seven inside the building. Two officers receive grazing wounds from Ramos, McCraw said. 11:37 a.m. Gunfire continues, with 16 rounds being shot in total, McCraw said. Its unclear who fired the shots. 11:51 a.m. A police sergeant and other law enforcement begin to arrive, McCraw said. 12:03 p.m. A female (age unknown) calls 911 and whispers that shes in classroom 112, McCraw said. The call lasts 1 minute, 23 seconds. 12:03 p.m. Officers continue to enter the school, with as many as 19 officers in the hallway near the room where Ramos is holed up, McCraw said. 12:06 p.m. Anne Marie Espinoza, a spokeswoman for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, posts on the district's Facebook page: All campuses are under a Lockdown Status. Uvalde CISD Parents: Please know at this time all campuses are under a Lockdown Status due to gunshots in the area. The students and staff are safe in the buildings. The buildings are secure in a Lockdown Status. Your cooperation is needed at this time by not visiting the campus. As soon as the Lockdown Status is lifted you will be notified." "Thank you for your cooperation!" 12:10 p.m. The female (age unknown) who called 911 at 12:03 p.m. calls 911 again and says there are multiple dead, McCraw said. She calls again at 12:13 p.m. and then again at 12:16 p.m., when she says there are eight to nine students alive. 12:10 p.m. The first group of deputy U.S. marshals from Del Rio arrive from nearly 70 miles (113 kilometers) away to assist the various other law enforcement officers already on scene, according to the Marshals Service. 12:15 p.m. U.S. Border Patrol tactical team members arrive with shields, McCraw said. 12:19 p.m. Another girl in room 111 calls 911 and ends the call when a fellow student tells her to hang up, McCraw said. 12:21 p.m. Ramos fires his gun again and officers believe hes at one of the door of one of the adjoining classrooms, McCraw said. Police move down the hallway. 12:21 p.m. Three shots can be heard during a 911 call, McCraw said. Around this time, police are stuck in the hallway because both classroom doors are locked and they must seek keys from a school employee. 12:36 p.m. A child calls 911 for 21 seconds. Around this time, a girl calls 911 and is told to stay on the line and stay very quiet, McCraw said. The girl says, He shot the door. 12:43 p.m. The girl urges the 911 dispatcher to please send the police now. 12:46 p.m. The girl says she can hear the police next door. 12:47 p.m. She again asks 911 to please send the police now. 12:50 p.m. Officers open the doors with keys from a school employee, enter the classroom and kill Ramos, McCraw said. Shots can be heard over the 911 call. 12:51 p.m. Officers can be heard moving children out of the room, McCraw said. 12:58 p.m. Law enforcement radio chatter says Ramos has been killed and the siege is over, said Victor Escalon, regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety. ___ For more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting SYRACUSE, Utah (AP) The ninth graders who graduated from Syracuse Arts Academy this week hold a special place in science teacher Bree Borrowmans heart. Borrowman began transitioning two years ago when the students were seventh graders, and they supported her, she said, at every step in her journey. So she was especially touched when student body officers asked her to be the one to send them off on their own new journey. As as far as she can tell, she may be the first transgender person to ever speak at a graduation event in Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Each one of you is absolutely brilliant, beautiful and wonderful, Borrowman told the group of 132 ninth graders at the public charter school. However, feelings of shame and guilt from outside influences can often make us feel less than and unloved. You are not alone. I love you. And my door is always open. Parents, administrators and former students waited in a group around Borrowman after the ceremony to thank her for her speech. Some said it made them think of how they can be more supportive of their family members and friends who are LGBTQ. Borrowman, 65, grew up in Bountiful and has lived in Utah nearly all of her life. She worked in information technology for most of her career, but when her job was outsourced in 2010, she didnt know where to turn. Her friends suggested she become a teacher and after some deliberation, she applied at Syracuse Arts Academy, where shes worked for the last 11 years. She was dealing with feelings of gender incongruence, she said, before classes moved online to limit the spread of COVID-19 in spring 2020. While teaching from home, she spent a lot of time thinking about her life and realized she identified as a woman. She emailed the schools director, Dale Pfister, about her feelings and the journey she was going to set out on during the next school year. Within minutes, Pfister and the schools principal, Leigh Schwartz, were telling her that the school supported her decision. They told me, This changes nothing. If you think youre leaving the school because of this, youre wrong. Were not going to give you a letter of recommendation, Borrowman recalls with a laugh. The students matched the support that the administration offered her, Borrowman said. Students made a large poster composed of short, anonymous messages written on Post-It notes to give to teachers earlier this year. One note said, Bree, thanks for being such a good example for us closeted kids. I love finally being able to be my whole self and love that they love that whole self, Borrowman said. I feel like Im still the same person. But the part I was holding back that nobody was ever going to know about? Yeah, thats now part of me. Her students say that Borrowman is one of the kindest teachers theyve ever had. Her physics, earth science and integrated science classes are hands-on and entertaining, some said. Brooklyn Short, a recently graduated ninth grader, said that in Borrowmans classroom, students have freedom. Dare I say, its a vibe. Its really fun. While students say they always learned a lot from her teaching, Borrowmans biggest impact may have come in the moments between classes and after school. Alysha Sanderson, a former student, said that she was feeling nervous about doing her makeup before a school performance and went to Borrowman for help. I remember going to her like, I dont know what to do. Shes like, I got you. And helped me out, Sanderson said. Id go in there when I was going through tough times and just talk to her. Borrowman wants her students to feel like her classroom is a safe space for whatever theyre going through. Students have asked Borrowman to call them by a different name or different gender pronouns while theyre in her class. Borrowman has happily obliged. It opens up a little personal relationship because they know that they can trust me and I support them 100%, Borrowman said. So when they have a bad day or, you know, things arent going right they know they can just come to my room and know that Im there for them and Ill help them. Sanderson, who graduated from high school this week, said she struggled with self-confidence in junior high and was grateful for the way Borrowman listened and connected with her. After taking Borrowmans classes at Syracuse Arts Academy, Sanderson was inspired to take Advanced Placement science classes in high school. She didnt just care about our academics, Short added. She cared about us personally. And there was a few times where she did help me out personally with my issues, and I really do appreciate her for that. And I know shes done it for so many other people. Living with the fear and other feelings that came with her sense of gender incongruence, Borrowman said, put strain on her relationships. But after the last two years with her students, and after her graduation speech and while she celebrated with her former students and their families she felt like she wasnt broken anymore, she said, because her students showed that they love her whole self. The graduating ninth graders especially, Borrowman said, know her better than any other class, and I get really attached to these guys. They made it possible, Borrowman said. Thats what is special to me. That this can happen because of them. Because of the students, because of the school, because of the administration. It doesnt happen without their support and their love, their acceptance. They watched this journey as I progressed through this and theyve just been with me through this whole way. And its just theyve been great and theyre special and theyre wonderful. And I tell them that. Its been fun to share this together. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAVANGER, Norway (AP) Europes frantic search for alternatives to Russian energy has dramatically increased the demand and price for Norway's oil and gas. As the money pours in, Europe's second-biggest natural gas supplier is fending off accusations that it's profiting from the war in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who is looking to the Scandinavian country to replace some of the gas Poland used to get from Russia, said Norway's gigantic oil and gas profits are indirectly preying on the war. He urged Norway to use that windfall to support the hardest-hit countries, mainly Ukraine. The comments last week touched a nerve, even as some Norwegians wonder whether they're doing enough to combat Russias war by increasing economic aid to Ukraine and helping neighboring countries end their dependence on Russian energy to power industry, generate electricity and fuel vehicles. Taxes on the windfall profits of oil and gas companies have been common in Europe to help people cope with soaring energy bills, now exacerbated by the war. Spain and Italy both approved them, while the United Kingdom's government plans to introduce one. Morawiecki is asking Norway to go further by sending oil and profits to other nations. Norway, one of Europe's richest countries, committed 1.09% of its national income to overseas development one of the highest percentages worldwide including more than $200 million in aid to Ukraine. With oil and gas coffers bulging, some would like to see even more money earmarked to ease the effects of the war and not skimmed from the funding for agencies that support people elsewhere. Norway has made dramatic cuts into most of the U.N. institutions and support for human rights projects in order to finance the cost of receiving Ukrainian refugees, said Berit Lindeman, policy director of human rights group the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. She helped organize a protest Wednesday outside Parliament in Oslo, criticizing government priorities and saying the Polish remarks had some merits." It looks really ugly when we know the incomes have skyrocketed this year," Lindeman said. Oil and gas prices were already high amid an energy crunch and have spiked because of the war. Natural gas is trading at three to four times what it was at the same time last year. International benchmark Brent crude oil burst through $100 a barrel after the invasion three months ago and has rarely dipped below since. Norwegian energy giant Equinor, which is majority owned by the state, earned four times more in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. The bounty led the government to revise its forecast of income from petroleum activities to 933 billion Norwegian kroner ($97 billion) this year more than three times what it earned in 2021. The vast bulk will be funneled into Norways massive sovereign wealth fund the worlds largest to support the nation when oil runs dry. The government isn't considering diverting it elsewhere. Norway has contributed substantial support to Ukraine since the first week of the war, and we are preparing to do more," State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson said by email. He said the country has sent financial support, weapons and over 2 billion kroner in humanitarian aid independently of oil and gas prices. European countries, meanwhile, have helped inflate Norwegian energy prices by scrambling to diversify their supply away from Russia. They have been accused of helping fund the war by continuing to pay for Russian fossil fuels. That energy reliance provides Russia with a tool to intimidate and to use against us, and that has been clearly demonstrated now, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, told the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Russia has halted natural gas to Finland, Poland and Bulgaria for refusing a demand to pay in rubles. The 27-nation European Union is aiming to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas by two-thirds by year's end through conservation, renewable development and alternative supplies. Europe is pleading with Norway, along with countries like Qatar and Algeria, for help with the shortfall. Norway delivers 20% to 25% of Europes natural gas, vs. Russia's 40% before the war. It is important for Norway to be a stable, long-term provider of oil and gas to the European markets, Deputy Energy Minister Amund Vik said. But companies are selling on volatile energy markets, and with the high oil and gas prices seen since last fall, the companies have daily produced near maximum of what their fields can deliver, he said. Even so, Oslo has responded to European calls for more gas by providing permits to operators to produce more this year. Tax incentives mean the companies are investing in new offshore projects, with a new pipeline to Poland opening this fall. We are doing whatever we can to be a reliable supplier of gas and energy to Europe in difficult times. It was a tight market last fall and is even more pressing now, said Ola Morten Aanestad, a Equinor spokesman. The situation is a far cry from June 2020, when prices crashed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and Norway's previous government issued tax incentives for oil companies to spur investment and protect jobs. Combined with high energy prices, the incentives that run out at the end of the year have prompted companies in Norway to issue a slew of development plans for new oil and gas projects. Yet those projects will not produce oil and gas until later this decade or even further in the future, when the political situation may be different and many European countries are hoping to have shifted most of their energy use to renewables. By then, Norway is likely to face the more familiar criticism that it is contributing to climate change. ___ AP reporter Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed. SEATTLE (AP) People convicted under Washingtons longtime felony drug possession law are starting to get their records cleared, and their court-imposed fines refunded. Its a consequence of the Washington Supreme Courts groundbreaking decision to strike down the law in February 2021. But the remedy so far has been complicated, as each county sets its own course. In State v. Blake, the Washington Supreme Court found the states ban on simple drug possession to be unconstitutional. Thats because it didnt require proof that a person knowingly possessed illegal drugs. The ruling had immediate impacts police officers stopped arresting people for drug possession, and prosecutors had people released from jail that day. The more massive task underway now is to clear five decades of past convictions, re-sentence people already in custody for other violations, and refund the fines paid by people convicted under that law. In King County, prosecutors say theyve created a legal assembly line to address these cases as quickly as possible. This is happening whether you ask us to or not, its happening, Senior Attorney Laura Petregal told KUOW. Were doing it. Prosecutors are seeking judicial orders on their own, without any action by those convicted, working backward from the most recent cases. So, if you check your court file, it may show that a judge in King County Superior Court has already ordered your conviction to be vacated. We are going through and proactively dismissing those cases, and its not as simple as pushing a button, right? Petregal said. The next step is often to verify how much each person paid in fines. At that point, the person must apply to the clerks office for a refund and provide their current address. Weve had people come into the clerks office and apply for the refunds that the court order made them eligible for, said David Hackett, a senior civil deputy with the prosecutors office. And King County has issued checks for $77,342.44 over a total of 176 cases. Theres a lot more to go. Hackett estimates that there may be up to 150,000 eligible convictions going back to 1971 statewide, with 54,000 of them in King County. He said the process will be even more difficult when they get beyond the electronic court record, and have to confirm older convictions on microfiche. But Hackett said he knows that clearing these records will make a significant difference in peoples lives. An individual whos applying for a job, or whos applying for housing, or other important things dealing with life, can truthfully answer that they have never been convicted of a simple drug possession offense, he said. Hackett said King County has fewer recent cases since prosecutors have de-emphasized charging people with felony drug possession over the past decade. So he said their contact information is less up to date for the people affected by the Blake ruling. Thats one reason prosecutors are seeking to proactively clear convictions without notifying those affected. Benton County in south-central Washington has a larger number of more recent drug possession cases and has taken a different approach. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Brown said his office sent letters to people with qualifying convictions under Blake. Those people were referred to a website where they could seek to have their records cleared and their fines refunded. Benton County has issued $1.5 million in refunds so far. (This spring the state Legislature provided funding for counties to implement the process and issue the checks.) By the end of March, King County had vacated 5,040 convictions. Pierce County has vacated 3,777, according to prosecutors. Each county is now establishing its own process. Pierce County resident Matthew Seed said hes had major frustrations with obtaining his refund for fines paid to Pierce County. Seed said both Thurston and Pierce counties vacated his 15-year-old convictions this past February. And Thurston County issued his $1,200 refund shortly afterward. But Pierce County has yet to refund his $1,528 in fines. Seed said hes made repeated calls to the clerks office, which administers the refunds, but hasnt been able to get any clarification on the timeline. I feel like if I dont continue to be the squeaky wheel and say something, Im just going to get forgotten about with this, he said. Seed said hes been sober for five years. He said he needs the refund to pay for more reliable transportation to his job. I bought a truck from somebody that wasnt running when I got it. My car had broken down. I fixed it and I just want to license it, he said. The Pierce County Clerks Office responded that they have now issued Seeds refund, as part of refunds totaling $177,091.57 so far. They said their refunds were sent later than some other counties because Pierce County waited for state funding to offset those payments. Seed said hes glad for the Blake ruling. But he said the harm created by his convictions and fines far exceeded the relief hes getting now. They garnished my wages to get the money, he said, and charged me to do that! Not only that, but Ive been denied jobs because I didnt pass a criminal background check, several times. Prachi Dave is policy and advocacy director at The Public Defender Association, which filed a class-action lawsuit to seek refunds for people statewide. She said the fact that each county has its own process and timing for issuing the refunds is causing confusion. We continue to hear that, and I think its a result of the fact that this is a very patchwork system, she said. Dave said the burden on people to get their record cleared and seek their refunds is another variable. Thats a lot of work for people who already have a great deal on their plate, she said. Thats going to be hard, and these processes are not necessarily easy to navigate right now. There is a more uniform process coming eventually the states Administrative Office of the Courts will become a central clearinghouse to address the convictions and deliver refunds, but that isnt scheduled to happen until the summer of 2023. Meanwhile the state is still trying to figure out whether to penalize drug possession at all. After the Blake decision, legislators made simple drug possession a misdemeanor offense, with an emphasis on alternatives to criminal charges. But that law is also set to expire next summer. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) U.S. Army medic Sam Newey never heard the German mortar coming as he dashed through a field in Eastern France to help a wounded comrade 77 years ago. But for decades after, he carried shrapnel from the bomb with him, buried under the jagged scars on both of his arms and legs. As another Memorial Day approached, he said he remembers the pain, remembers crying out for his mother and for God as a Jeep rushed him from the battlefield. And he remembers the long months of recovery, first in liberated Paris, then in England, and all the terribly injured men around him. Newey was 20 when he was wounded on Jan. 31, 1945. He was from Chicago, the son of Assyrian immigrants from Iran, a pre-dental student who enlisted in the Army in 1942. He became a field medic but admits he felt overwhelmed by the medical challenges he would soon face in battle. I felt that I hadnt been adequately trained to take up emergency medical treatments, all the pressure and everything. He paused. We improvised. No parades Newey is now 98, retired from a long, successful real estate career. He lives on the seventh floor of an oceanfront condo in Jacksonville Beach, where for 40 years hes had views that go on for miles. During an interview at a community room in his building, he said he never talked much about his World War II experiences: No parades, nothing. I think this is the first occasion in my career that Ive talked to somebody about it. Howard Adams, building engineer at the condo, came in partway through a Times-Union interview with Newey, saying: You are interviewing one of the true heroes. Hes just solid gold. Newey deflects that kind of praise, again and again, changing subjects when any talk of wartime heroism comes up. He was often scared, he said, and was just doing what he was told. I didnt know any better, he said. They just said, Go ahead, do it. He did bring to the interview some handwritten notes on his service and medals, including a Bronze Star. He also had a 28th Infantry Division ballcap a nephew bought. He had never worn it though, and he has no old wartime photos at hand. I have a steamer trunk in a mini-warehouse with my full uniform, and here I am, 98. What am I going to do with it? Itll end up in The Salvation Army or something, he said. Really scared Newey came ashore in Normandy, France, a little less than two weeks after D-Day. It was terrifying, he said: There were still mines in the water, and he saw torn, bloated bodies and ruined boats floating as he approached the beach. He didnt have to wait long for combat. Scared s---less. Really scared, he said. He was shipped back to England for a spell after contracting severe pneumonia. After recovery, he returned to the front lines as American and French forces attacked German fighters in what was called the Colmar Pocket. It was a successful operation and drove the Germans back across the Rhine River into Germany. On the last day of January in 1945, during heavy fighting he went to help a wounded soldier, wearing Red Cross brassards on his arms. He never made it. The mortar, it lands, you dont hear it all. Just when it lands and the shrapnel gets all over, he said. Oldest guy in there After his honorable discharge following months in various hospitals, Newey went to Georgetown Universitys foreign service school and then George Washington University for grad school. He worked in the oil industry before joining the anti-narcotics division at the Federal Bureau of Narcotics back in his hometown of Chicago. Much of his work was as an undercover agent, going after dealers in marijuana and cocaine, mostly. He was recognized, once though luckily it was by a friend of his mother. I thought your son went to college? the friend asked his mother. I saw him in a bad neighborhood. Whats he doing there? His life changed in 1953 when he saw Julienne Rahall at a convention in Pittsburgh for Lebanese-Americans. She was vivacious, outgoing, he said, and they were married the next year after seeing each other for barely two weeks in total. I met her on Memorial Day, saw her two days, he said. The next time I saw her in Atlantic City, a couple of days. Then she came to Chicago to visit me for Thanksgiving. Then saw her at Christmas in St. Petersburg, where we got engaged, and the next time was in Easter. I didnt see her more than 15 days our entire relationship. She was a radio reporter for a station owned by her brother. Newey eventually left undercover narcotics work and joined her in the radio industry, which took him to Jacksonville in 1960. He later became a Realtor for a half-century and got into real estate development with partner Jordan Ansbacher on a handshake deal that lasted 40 years. They ended up building and leasing a lot of chain restaurants, among other projects, he said. The Neweys, who were long active in St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church on Bowden Road, liked to travel across America and internationally. They were married 64 years, until Julienne died on June 6, 2018. He now lives with their daughter, Pam, in the oceanfront condo he and Julienne shared for more than 35 years. He said he never thought he would live this long. Hell no, Newey said. He chuckled. Its not depressing, but its not as much fun as you think it is. At 98, this is his reality: I go church, I go to meetings and Im looking around to see if theres anybody I know, if Im the oldest guy in there. These days, he almost always is. Its not very colorful, my life, Newey said. Im just thankful. Thank God. By Nigel Duara CalMatters The man at the gun show lifted a 2.2 pound rifle and pulled back the stock with an audible "chock," presenting it to the YouTube segment's host. "When we set out to produce a small firearm for children in an AR-looking package, we were pretty sure we needed to have a 'wow factor' in the safety area," Eric Schmid, owner of Wee 1 Tactical, said in a video uploaded in January. What Utah-based Wee 1 Tactical produced was a smaller model of the AR-15, called the JR-15. Schmid was in Las Vegas in January to promote the smaller weapon, which the company pledges will look and feel "just like Mom and Dad's gun." Schmid demonstrated a safety pin intended to keep the weapon's trigger locked. He and the host noted that it would likely prevent small children from operating a firearm without their parents present. "It takes a lot of tension to be able to pull that out," said host Barret Kendrick. "Your 12-year-olds are gonna unlock it really quickly," Schmid replied. A bill that passed out of the Assembly on Thursday night would make the marketing of firearms to children and those not legally allowed to possess them a civil liability. AB 1594 would allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers based on their marketing, one of the few exemptions to a federal ban on such lawsuits. The bill is now in the hands of the Senate. Brought by San Francisco Democrat Phil Ting, the bill is an attempt to ensure that gun manufacturers can't object in state court to lawsuits that target their marketing - an argument Smith & Wesson made in a San Diego court last year. The proposal is similar to a bill passed last year in New York - one that survived a legal challenge from guns rights advocates in federal court on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, it seems like not a day goes by before there's another tragic mass shooting," Ting said. "We have guns in the hands of the wrong people and we have an industry that takes no responsibility for empowering killers in our community." The bill alleges that some gun manufacturers market and sell "increasingly dangerous new products," from ghost guns to bump stocks, which give them an unfair business advantage over "more responsible competitors." If passed, the bill would allow the Department of Justice, county attorneys, city attorneys and the public to sue over those practices. Among the practices singled out in the bill are: -Manufacturers that produce guns with features "most suitable for assaultive purposes" rather than hunting or self-defense. -Guns designed, sold or marketed in a way that "foreseeably promotes" their conversion into an illegal weapon, such as turning a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. -Guns designed, sold or marketed to children or people who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The bill is part of a larger wave of more than a dozen gun control laws proposed by California Democrats ahead of today's deadline to move bills from their house of origin. On Wednesday, one day after a man killed at least 21 people with an AR-15 in a shooting at a Texas elementary school, Gov. Gavin Newsom singled out some gun marketing tactics at a press conference rallying support for AB 1594 and other gun control measures. "You've got folks out there manufacturing and marketing an AR-15 for babies. For babies," Newsom said. "And their logo is a pacifier with the baby AR-15. These are extremists. They need to be called out." Newsom seemed to be talking about the JR-15 and Wee 1 Tactical's logo, which is two skulls with a target in one eye and a pacifier in each mouth. One skull has a mohawk and the other has pigtails. Lawsuits against gun manufacturers are prohibited by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a 2005 law that the NRA said at the time was "the most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years." President Joe Biden has said repealing the law is among his administration's top priorities, though his Justice Department continues to defend the legislation in court. The federal law allowed for six exceptions in which lawsuits are allowable against gun manufacturers. One of them is for manufacturers who violate state or federal laws governing the marketing or sales of guns. The marketing exception to the law allowed parents of children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre to successfully sue Remington Arms last year. A state lawsuit in San Diego after a 2019 shooting was allowed to proceed last year on the same basis. The survivors of the shooting at a San Diego area synagogue argued that Smith & Wesson used marketing "that attracted impulsive young men with military complexes who were particularly likely to be attracted to the unique ability of AR-15 style weapons." Smith & Wesson responded that the federal law shielded them from such lawsuits, but a San Diego County Superior Court judge disagreed, citing the marketing exception. Michael Schwartz, executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners, said the bill and others brought forward by Democrats this session are a threat to gun ownership rights throughout California. "If fully realized and implemented, it's an enormous threat to gun rights," Schwartz said. "There's no way to stop anyone from using a product illegally. But you wouldn't sue Ford for someone drinking and driving." When it comes to the JR-15, singled out by Newsom, Schwartz said marketing is still directed to the people who can purchase the guns, the parents. And, he said, previous laws around regulating the marketing of age-limited products like tobacco don't apply to guns. "I don't know what the perceived fear is, but I'm not afraid that kids are gonna get addicted to an AR-15," Schwartz said. "It's the most popular long gun in the United States because it functions in all kinds of situations." 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. OAKLAND (BCN) A female suspect stole a police car in Oakland, leading officers on a wild chase all the way to Vallejo, and was finally arrested after crashing into a pole, police said. The drama didn't end there: The vehicle burst into flames after she was arrested, according to police. Officers put the fire out, according to police. The case began around 8 p.m. in Oakland when the fully marked Oakland Police Department patrol car was stolen from the 500 block of Lake Park Avenue, police said. Oakland police and California Highway Patrol officers chased the car into Vallejo, where Vallejo police took over. After the stolen patrol car hit a pole, the suspect, a Pittsburg resident, was taken into custody, according to police. No officers were injured during the incident, police said. No information was available as whether or not the woman was injured. Investigators from the Oakland Police Department Felony Assault Unit responded to the scene for the follow-up investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Felony Assault Unit at (510) 238-3426. 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. Gov. Gavin Newsom and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a new partnership Friday to combat climate change and reduce pollution. The two executives met at the New Zealand Garden in Golden Gate Park's Botanical Garden to sign a memorandum of cooperation, outlining the state and country's goals of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and expanding the use of zero-emission transportation methods. Newsom has previously signed similar memorandums with leaders in Japan and China in an effort to strengthen their relations with the state and accelerate initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. In 2020, he issued an executive order that will require vehicle manufacturers to fully phase out the sale of new gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035. The Berkeley Police Department has arrested a man suspected of sexual assaults and kidnapping stemming from cases in Albany, Berkeley, and Oakland, the department announced on Friday. Tommy Giles, Jr., is being linked to several incidents involving victims from 9 years old to 60. On March 30, a 9-year-old victim was sexually assaulted by an unknown suspect who claimed to have a knife. The child lived in Albany and was on their way to school. On April 14, Berkeley PD responded to a kidnapping and sexual assault near the 500 block of Colusa Avenue. The suspect had taken a 23-year-old woman by threatening her with a knife and then he sexually assaulted her. Police say they recovered evidence at the scene. Two weeks later, on April 29, a 23-year-old woman was walking in Oakland when she was grabbed by the suspect, who again threatened to use his knife. He allegedly kidnapped, sexually battered her and forced her to orally copulate him. Last week, on May 21, a 60-year-old victim reported that she had been sexually battered by an unknown suspect in the area of Stannage Avenue and Cedar Street in Berkeley. She took photos of the back of the suspect and posted them on a neighborhood website, where a resident of Berkeley identified the suspect as allegedly being Giles. This was reported to the BPD on May 23, the department said. On May 24, Giles was arrested for the May 21st sexual battery case. Detectives claim that Giles admitted his involvement in the incident. Police also claim that further information and evidence from him was collected in relation to the other cases listed above. Giles is now the suspect for all five sexual assault cases. On Friday, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Giles for felony attempt oral copulation of a child under 14, felony forcible lewd acts with a child, misdemeanor indecent exposure, felony assault with attempt to commit a sex crime, felony forced oral copulation (times two), felony sexual battery by restraint, misdemeanor sexual battery, felony kidnapping to commit a sex crime or robbery, and felony lewd act upon a child. All charged include enhancements, the DA said. The Berkeley Police are seeking any additional potential victims that might want to come forward. You an do so by called the sex crimes unit at (510) 981-5735. Agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) have arrested a Petaluma man on suspicion of manufacturing and selling marijuana-infused alcohol and distilled spirits without a license, the agency reported on Friday. James Joseph Barbera, Jr., 59, was arrested on Thursday after ABC secured a warrant and searched his property in the 500 block of Williams Drive. Agents allege they discovered an illegal still and evidence of a lab producing "honey oil," also known as hash oil, with a large amount of finished honey oil products for sale. Honey oil is a concentrated resin created by soaking parts of a marijuana plant in a solvent or blasting it with butane gas in order to extract THC. Agents also allege that a still they found on Barbera's property was being used to make various high-proof distilled products which were developed with the intention to sell. According to authorities, Barbera's house is now tagged by the city as uninhabitable due to the hazardous materials inside. In general, honey oil labs are fire hazards and can be extremely volatile, ABC said. ABC agents allege that they purchased the illegally distilled spirits, marijuana infused spirits, and hash oil from Barbera prior to getting a warrant to search his house. ABC's report will be forwarded to the Sonoma County District Attorney's office for review, a spokesperson for the agency said. A Napa man pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosives the Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, the Department of Justice, Northern District of California has announced. Benjamin Rogers, 46, of Napa, was indicted along with Jarrod Copeland, 38, of Vallejo on July 21, 2021 in connection with a plan to attack targets they associated with Democrats after the 2020 presidential election, the DOJ said. Rogers pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and additional weapons violations, including one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices and one count of possessing an illegal machine gun. Copeland had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and an additional count of destruction of records. According to the men's plea agreements, they admitted that they conspired together between November of 2020 and January of 2021 to destroy the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento. Rogers and Copeland admitted that they discussed plans to attack the building with cans of gasoline, including by throwing gas cans through the front windows of the building to ignite the gasoline and burn down the building. On January 15, 2021, law enforcement searched Rogers' home and business and seized a cache of weapons, including 45 to 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs. Rogers admitted that he had constructed the pipe bombs and anticipated using them against the property of those whose political views differed from his. He also admitted to possessing at least three fully automatic machine guns and had considered using one of them in the attack on the building. After Roger's arrest in January, Copeland notified a militia group that he was a member of and they advised him to destroy evidence to prevent law enforcement from finding it. Both Rogers and Copeland face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the conspiracy charge. Rogers also faces a maximum of ten years for the weapons charges and Copeland faces another 20 years for destruction of evidence. Rogers also faces "numerous" weapons charges through the Napa County District Attorney's Office. Rogers will be sentenced on September 30 and Copeland's sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Both remain in federal custody. Two members of the Norteno criminal street gang were sentenced on Friday to serve 15 years each in prison for the attempted murder of a rival gang member, the Monterey District Attorney's Office announced. Salvador Martinez and Orlando Velasquez drove to an apartment complex on Hebbron Street in Salinas one evening in July of 2021, the DA said. They walked into the middle of an apartment complex, drew their firearms and fired several rounds in the direction of the complex. According to the DA, their target was a former member of the Sureno gang who had previously been targeted. Martinez and Velasquez walked up to the victim and challenged him by asking him where he was from. Before he had a chance to answer, Martinez and Velasquez shot at him, though he was not injured. The pair then got into a vehicle and fled the scene, according to witnesses. The victim later identified both Norteno gang members from photos, the DA said. Salinas Police allege that when they arrested Martinez he was found with a 30-round magazine and gang indicia in his car. Both men pleaded no contest to attempted murder and use of a firearm to benefit a gang. They also admitted that their intention was to retaliate against a gang rival. A virus that kills rabbits has reached California, officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced on Friday. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, or RHDV2, was found in a deceased riparian brush rabbit at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge on May 20. The riparian brush rabbit is endangered and closely monitored by wildlife agencies. "This is a discovery we hoped would never occur," said CDFW Senior Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Deana Clifford. The vet said they had planned for the virus' arrival with a proactive vaccination effort, but that "we are in the very early stages of understanding the impacts to the species now that RHDV2 has arrived at the refuge." A multi-partner team has been busily vaccinating the rabbits at the refuge and have vaxxed 638 of the little lagomorphs since August of 2020, the CDFW said. They said that live rabbits have been found elsewhere in the state where the virus has been present since 2020, which has given biologists some hope that some rabbits are surviving infection. The ultimate goal is similar to that of any pandemic-- rabbits reaching herd immunity. Or in this case, fluffle immunity, as a "fluffle" is what a group of wild rabbits is called. The vaccination efforts are part of a larger conservation effort to restore habitat and recover the population of the riparian brush rabbits. Riparian brush rabbits are found in small patches of remaining riparian forest and shrub habitat in the northern portion of the San Joaquin Valley and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. "Riparian" means located on the banks of a river. RHDV2 was first observed in wild rabbits in the southwestern U.S. in March of 2020, experts say. Since then it has spread rapidly to other states. In California, the virus has been found in Alameda, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Benito and San Diego Counties. Cases in domestic rabbits have been found in Fresno, Sonoma, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties. Saturday will be mostly cloudy in the morning before becoming partly cloudy. Highs will be in the 50s to the mid 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy before becoming partly cloudy. Lows will be around 50 degrees, and west winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Sunday will be sunny and breezy. Highs will be in the mid 50s to the upper 60s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph before increasing to west winds of 20 to 30 mph in the afternoon. 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. As Kevin Berlings birthday was approaching, he asked his employer not to celebrate his birthday because it might trigger a panic attack due to his anxiety disorder. After the employee who planned office birthday parties forgot about his request, the birthday party went forward and Berling did suffer a panic attack. Berling went to his car, ate lunch and told his manager by text that he was upset his request was ignored. He was confronted and criticized the following day and had another panic attack. Three days later, Berling was terminated. Last month, a jury awarded him $450,000 for his disability discrimination claim. Berling is one of the escalating number of employees claiming workplace discrimination based on mental health. About 30 percent of claims filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in fiscal 2021 involved mental health-related claims. EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas recently said that claims related to mental health are going to start to explode into the publics sight soon. The COVID-19 pandemic may be among the reasons for the increase in the last two years. The EEOC observed that employees with certain pre-existing mental health conditions, for example, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder ... may have more difficulty handling the disruption to daily life that has accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, anxiety and PTSD account for most of the federal mental health claims filed in 2021. The other mental health conditions include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and cumulative trauma disorder. There is no federal list of medical conditions which meet the statutes definition of disability. Rather, the condition must substantially limit a major life activity. Connecticut defines it more broadly, covering persons with a present or past history of mental disability. If the employees mental health impairment may be covered under federal or Connecticut statute, the employer might be required to provide the employee with a reasonable accommodation. There are a wide range of possible accommodations based on the employees needs, such as permitting remote work, flexible scheduling, providing a leave of absence or providing a private workspace. Nevertheless, employers should not assume there is a need for an accommodation. An employer generally will not be required to accommodate an employees mental health impairment unless his or her medical condition is disclosed with a request for some kind of adjustment or assistance as an accommodation. The COVID-19 pandemic is not the only catalyst for the increase in claims. Today, there is much greater awareness about the mental health challenges faced by employees. The stigma based on mental health has steadily declined particularly among younger employees. As a result, more employees who in the past would have remained silent now are more willing to talk about their mental health challenges. A variety of resources are available to employers. At the top of the list is the federal Job Accommodation Network. For example, JAN suggests that employers consider the following questions when seeking to accommodate those with mental health conditions. 1. What limitations is the employee experiencing? 2. How do these limitations affect the employee and job performance? 3. What job tasks are problematic? 4. What accommodations are available to reduce or eliminate these problems? 5. Once accommodations are in place, would it be useful to meet with the employee to evaluate the effectiveness of accommodations and determine if others are needed? 6. Do supervisory personnel and employees need training? As Mays Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, employers have an opportunity to invest in their employees. That investment will not just pay benefits for the one in five workers who navigate mental health challenges, it .also will enable them to increase employee engagement, reduce turnover, reduce employee burnout and increase job satisfaction. Gary Phelan is an attorney with Mitchell & Sheahan, P.C. in Stratford, Connecticut. He is co-author of Disability Discrimination in the Workplace and teaches Disability Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law. He can be reached at 203-873-0240. WFO ALBANY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Albany NY 1233 PM EDT Sat May 28 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of east central Ulster, northwestern Dutchess and southwestern Columbia Counties through 115 PM EDT... At 1233 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Kingston, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Kingston, Saugerties, Rhinebeck, Hurley, Livingston, Copake, Clermont, Red Hook, Ancram, Lake Katrine, Saugerties South, Port Ewen, West Hurley, Claverack-Red Mills, Milan, Germantown, Taghkanic, Tivoli, Rolling Meadows and Kerleys Corners. This includes Interstate 87 between exits 19 and 20. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized poor drainage flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. LAT...LON 4183 7405 4194 7414 4201 7411 4225 7367 4207 7350 4200 7366 4200 7370 4198 7370 TIME...MOT...LOC 1633Z 237DEG 24KT 4195 7402 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey... Eastern Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey... Rockland County in southeastern New York... * Until 345 PM EDT. * At 1233 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1 inch in 1 hour. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Paterson, Wayne, Hackensack, New City, Bergenfield, Paramus, Ridgewood, Monsey, Nanuet, Ramsey, Pompton Lakes, Nyack, Tappan, Hawthorne, Pearl River, Oradell, Norwood, Orangeburg, Clifton and Teaneck. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Upton NY has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Eastern Passaic County in northeastern New Jersey... Bergen County in northeastern New Jersey... Southern Westchester County in southeastern New York... Rockland County in southeastern New York... * Until 115 PM EDT. * At 1223 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Hawthorne, or over Wayne, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vehicles is possible. Expect wind damage to trees and power lines. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Hackensack and Paramus around 1240 PM EDT. Bergenfield and Oradell around 1250 PM EDT. Monsey around 100 PM EDT. Nanuet and Pearl River around 105 PM EDT. Tappan and Orangeburg around 110 PM EDT. Yonkers and New City around 115 PM EDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO LUBBOCK Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern King County in northwestern Texas... Southern Cottle County in northwestern Texas... * Until 615 PM CDT. * At 511 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Finney, or 13 miles northwest of Guthrie, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. * Locations impacted include... Grow, Finney, Delwin, Chalk and Hackberry. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 315 AM CDT Sat May 28 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON CDT /11 AM MDT/ TODAY TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * WHAT...For the Heat Advisory, temperatures up to 95 expected. For the High Wind Watch, west to southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...In New Mexico, Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County. In Texas, Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains in Texas. * WHEN...For the Heat Advisory, from noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ today to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening. For the High Wind Watch, from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. During high winds, travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on the high wind potential. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. * WHAT...Temperatures up to 108 degrees are possible across the plains, up to 98 degrees in the mountains, and up to 113 degrees through the Rio Grande Valley. * WHERE...Portions of southeast New Mexico and southwest and western Texas. * WHEN...From noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ today to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening. * WHAT...West to southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet. * WHEN...From Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather GUANGZHOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Saturday gave a briefing on the trip of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to China in an interview with the press. Ma said that at the invitation of the Chinese government, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visited China from May 23 to 28. This is Bachelet's first visit to China since she took office as well as the first such visit by a UN human rights chief in 17 years. President Xi Jinping met via video link with High Commissioner Bachelet on May 25. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with High Commissioner Bachelet, and senior officials from the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and All-China Women's Federation held talks with the High Commissioner respectively. The two sides had extensive, in-depth and candid discussions in the spirit of mutual respect and openness, Ma said, adding that the Chinese side gave the High Commissioner a comprehensive introduction on the path, philosophy and achievements of China's human rights development. The two sides exchanged views on global human rights governance, multilateral human rights work, China's cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other issues of common interest. In Guangzhou, High Commissioner Bachelet visited projects that reflect China's community-level democracy, poverty alleviation, judicial safeguard, environmental protection, people's well-being, rights protection of specific groups, and human rights education, he said. In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, High Commissioner Bachelet was presented with the measures taken and achievements made in the region on counter-terrorism and deradicalization, social and economic development, ethnicity and religion, and labor rights protection. She also had field trips in Kashgar and Urumqi where she had conversations with people from various communities, including ethnic minorities, academics, and representatives of different social sectors, Ma said. He said with the joint efforts of both sides, the visit achieved positive concrete results: First, it enhanced understanding on China's path on human rights development. Since its 18th National Congress, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has united and led the Chinese people to achieve on schedule the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and made outstanding achievements in human rights development. In his meeting with High Commissioner Bachelet, President Xi expounded on major issues regarding China's human rights development in the context of China's history and culture, and reaffirmed the principled position of the CPC and the Chinese government in upholding and protecting human rights in all areas. He stressed that, on day one of its founding, the CPC identified as its mission the pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and has been working hard for the people's interests over the past century. The people's aspiration for a better life is what we are striving for. After decades of strenuous efforts, China has successfully found a path of human rights development in keeping with the trend of the times and China's national reality. We have been advancing whole-process people's democracy, promoting legal safeguard for human rights and upholding social equity and justice. The Chinese people now enjoy fuller and more extensive and comprehensive democratic rights. In Guangzhou's countryside, High Commissioner Bachelet had a close-up view of China's whole-process democracy at the community level. At the elderly care center and rehabilitation facility for people with disabilities, she saw how high technology helps facilitate the rights protection of specific groups. At Guangzhou Internet Court, she learned about world-leading practices of the judicial protection of human rights in the digital world. In the Fushan Circular Economy Industrial Park, she learned about examples of Chinese enterprises fulfilling social responsibilities such as promoting environmental protection and sustainable development. During her speech at the Guangzhou University, she discussed with the faculty and students on respecting and safeguarding human rights. The Chinese side stressed that the historic achievements testify to the success of China's path of human rights development. We remain committed to this path which we believe will lead to an even more promising future. Second, it set forth China's proposition for global human rights governance. Under the combined impacts of major changes in the world situation and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, hegemonism, racism, protectionism and parochial nationalism are on the rise. This has dealt a heavy blow to global human rights governance as manifested by numerous practices of double standards. President Xi pointed out at his meeting with High Commissioner Bachelet that at present, it is most important to work on the following four priorities: First, putting people front and center. It is important to take the people's interests as the fundamental purpose and goal and strive to deliver a better life to the people. Second, respecting different countries' paths of human rights development, and supporting countries to explore suitable paths of human rights development in light of national realities and people's needs. Third, following a holistic approach to all categories of human rights with integrated and systematic measures. More efforts are needed to achieve development of higher quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security, so as to provide strong safeguards for the advancement of human rights. Fourth, stepping up global human rights governance. It is important to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocate humanity's common values, and steer global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, equity and inclusiveness. The Chinese side gave a comprehensive briefing to Bachelet on China's active engagement in global human rights governance. China has earnestly fulfilled its international obligations in the area of human rights. China has signed 29 international human rights instruments and is widely recognized as a role model in implementing conventions. China has served as a member state of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) five times, one of the most among all the countries. We put forward a series of proposals on promoting human rights through development, promoting human rights through cooperation, addressing the negative impact of the legacies of colonialism on the enjoyment of human rights, rejecting racism and racial discrimination, promoting the fair distribution of vaccines and rejecting unilateral coercive measures. This has received wide support from the international community, especially the developing countries. The Chinese side pointed out that the promotion and protection of human rights is a common cause for humanity. Global human rights governance must be conducted through dialogue and consultation, and the achievements of human rights development must be shared by the people of all countries. China will continue to uphold true multilateralism, stand on the right side of history, and continue active human rights dialogue and cooperation with all parties to expand consensus, reduce differences, and promote mutual learning and common progress. Third, it has strengthened China's cooperation with the OHCHR. China attaches great importance to the UN human rights affairs and stands ready to contribute to advancing the international human rights cause. During the visit, the Chinese side and the OHCHR had thorough exchange on deepening cooperation and reached broad consensus. The two sides have agreed to establish an Annual Senior Strategic Meeting, to discuss national, regional and international human rights issues of common interest. And the two sides have agreed to establish a working group to facilitate human rights cooperation in such areas as development, business, poverty reduction, counter-terrorism, minority groups, digital space, and judicial safeguard. China is willing to provide greater support to the human rights work of the United Nations. Such concrete measures not only are conducive to the cooperation between China and the OHCHR, but also represent China's new contribution to the international human rights cause. Over the recent years, there has been a tendency of politicizing and instrumentalizing the UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral human rights institutions. China made it very clear that, some Western countries, while having no self-reflection on their own notorious misdeeds, yet driven by political motives, abused multilateral human rights platforms to spread rumors and lies, using human rights to interfere with others' domestic affairs and recklessly attacking and smearing others, turning multilateral human rights institutions into arenas of "naming and shaming" and "bloc confrontation." These behaviors have gravely poisoned the atmosphere of international human rights cooperation, and must be taken seriously, and must be changed. Fourth, it provided an opportunity to observe and experience first-hand a real Xinjiang. For a period of time, certain Western countries and anti-China elements, under the disguise of human rights, have fabricated many sensational palpable lies on the so-called Xinjiang-related issues, only to fulfill their political motive of using Xinjiang to contain China. The Chinese side pointed out that essentially, Xinjiang is not at all a human rights issue, but a major issue concerning upholding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. All ethnic groups of Xinjiang belong to the family of the Chinese nation. A few years ago, in response to the serious challenge of terrorism and religious extremism in Xinjiang, we have adopted lawful measures to combat violent terrorism, protecting lives and property for all, and safeguarding human rights of all ethic groups across the region. Through unremitting efforts, the region has enjoyed security, stability, development, and prosperity, and there has been no violent terrorist attack in Xinjiang for five consecutive years. People that have visited Xinjiang all found that the Xinjiang they saw is completely different from the one demonized in the Western media. Ma said during High Commissioner Bachelet's visit in Xinjiang, the authorities of the Autonomous Region has made comprehensive presentation on China's policies on ethnic and religious affairs, as well as the measures and results of counter-terrorism and deradicalization. High Commissioner Bachelet visited the Kashgar Ancient Town, and made a trip to the cotton fields, experiencing the progress that has been made in preserving and promoting ethnic minority traditions and in improving people's livelihood. He said High Commissioner toured an exhibition on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, learning in detail the legal and policy frameworks, practices, and results of counter-terrorism and deradicalization in Xinjiang. High Commissioner Bachelet had face-to-face conversation with religious personnel on the rights of religious freedom of Muslims respected and guaranteed by law. High Commissioner also had the opportunity to hear from representatives from different social sectors, including women, health, judiciary, and labor. Clouds cannot overshadow the sun, and truth will debunk all lies. China has made clear its stern position on the so-called Xinjiang report, and resolutely opposes smearing and attacking China with lies and disinformation, Ma said, adding that it needs to be pointed out that certain Western countries, out of ulterior motives, went to great lengths to disrupt and undercut the High Commissioner's visit, their plot didn't succeed. Ma stressed in the end that in terms of human rights protection, no one can claim perfection and there is always room for improvement. China will unswervingly follow the human rights development path that suits its national conditions, and advocate the shared values of humanity, including peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. "China stands ready to cooperate with the OHCHR and others on the basis of equity and mutual respect, to actively carry out international human rights exchange and cooperation, enhance participation in global human rights governance, and jointly contribute to the sound development of international human rights and to the community with a shared future for mankind," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris wasn't scheduled to speak at the funeral for Ruth Whitfield, the last of the 10 victims of the May 14 massacre at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue to be laid to rest. But at the urging of civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, who was delivering the eulogy, she stood up from the front row where she and her husband sat between Whitfield's grieving sons and daughters and addressed the mourners at Mount Olive Baptist Church "This is a moment that requires all good people are loving people just say we will not stand for this. Enough is enough," Harris said. "We will come together based on what we all know we have in common and we will not let those people who are motivated by hate separate us or make us feel fear. So I'm here to say that we are all in this together. No one should ever be made to fight alone. We are stronger than those who try to hurt us." The vice president met privately with the Whitfield family before services began. After the funeral, Harris's motorcade stopped on Jefferson Avenue at the memorial outside the shuttered supermarket. She and her husband Douglas Emhoff laid a bouquet of white flowers at the memorial and paused to pray. Some in the crowd shouted out thanks for coming and we love you. Others peppered her with questions: "What are you going to do?" "We have a lot of work to do," Harris said three times to those who had gathered near the site, before returning to her SUV. Saturday morning, Harris and Emhoff flew in to Buffalo aboard Air Force Two earlier Saturday morning to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and traveled by motorcade to the church on East Delavan Avenue for Whitfield's service. "We grieve for this community and the ten lives lost in another senseless and horrific attack," Harris tweeted Saturday morning. Whitfield is the 10th and final victim of the May 14 massacre to be laid to rest. She is the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield Jr. She was 86 the eldest of the 10 people killed that day. Outside the church, a giant American flag fluttered between the extended ladders on two Buffalo fire trucks. There was heavy security around the building and between the airport and the church. Inside the church by the pulpit was a row of flower arrangements and a photo of Whitfield. Before going to Tops on May 14, Whitfield spent the earlier part of the day at Highpointe on Michigan Avenue, the Buffalo nursing home where she went almost every day to visit her husband, Garnell Sr., who had been a resident there for eight years. Whitfield's funeral drew an array of prominent politicians and national figures in addition to the vice president, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Sharpton of the National Action Network and civil rights attorney Ben Crump. In his eulogy, Sharpton called on the nation to "stop the hate and violence." He talked about the horrific slaughter of the 10 victims. "It became clear that this white supremacist, 18 years old, had been, he said, radicalized on social media. He's not the only racist in America. ... My mother comes from Alabama. And in her day, they would kill us. The [Ku Klux] Klan would come and put hoods on. This young man livestreamed himself. They don't even put hoods on no more. They are proud to practice racism." He spoke of other racially motivated killings across America. "There is an epidemic of racial violence that is accommodated by the gun laws that allowed people to kill us. You ain't got to love us. You shouldn't have easy access to military weapons to kill us. "The thing is since they come in after all of us together. We have to at least have enough sense to come together and fight back." He commended Buffalo's response to the killings. "The thing that has been overlooked, even with the viciousness, not one window was broken. Not one looting. Buffalo stood with peace and love in the face of that killing. And before we could even get the burials and funerals over 19 people were killed in Texas and others wounded. No violence there. So it's clear who bleeds in the violence and who bleeds in peace," Sharpton said. Just before the funeral service began, Crump, who is representing the Whitfield family, offered "a plea for justice." He spoke of the "evil" that took place inside the Tops. "What we saw on that video was white supremacy. What we saw on that video was evil and we cannot condone evil, we must protest evil," Crump said. "It is not enough for us to say oh, that was awful. Oh, that was terrible ... No, no, that is not enough. We must stand and protest against inhumanity, against hatred, against white supremacy, against evil." He called for everyone who "aided and abetted" the gunman to be held accountable including the gun manufacturer, distributor and retailer and the gunman's parents. Rev. George Woodruff of Columbus Avenue AME Zion Church in Boston, Mass., offered some words of comfort during the service and a call to action. "God, we pray that this will not just be another gathering. That this will not be just another funeral. But God, we pray when we leave this place that we will step into action to make change happen so that all men all women can live together here on Earth." A singer sang passionately about peace. "There will be peace ... We need it here in Buffalo. We need it in Texas," she sang. President Biden came to Buffalo on May 17 to meet with the families of the victims. 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. Maki Becker Chief of the Breaking News/Criminal Justice Desk I've worked at The Buffalo News since 2005. I previously worked as a reporter at the New York Daily News and the Charlotte Observer and was a special correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. Follow Maki Becker 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 Ben Tsujimoto Reporter Houghton College alum from Elma, NY. Follow Ben Tsujimoto 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 WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, May 28, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 231 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ TO 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ SUNDAY... * WHAT...For the High Wind Warning, southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. For the Heat Advisory, temperatures up to 95. * WHERE...In New Mexico, Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County. In Texas, Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains in Texas. * WHEN...For the High Wind Warning, from 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ Sunday. For the Heat Advisory, until 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM CDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...For the first Heat Advisory, temperatures up to 106 in the plains and up to 113 along the Rio Grande. For the second Heat Advisory, temperatures up to 108 expected in the plains and up to 112 along the Rio Grande. * WHERE...Pecos, Terrell and Lower Brewster Counties. * WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, until 8 PM CDT this evening. For the second Heat Advisory, from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * WHAT...Temperatures up to 108 degrees are possible across the plains, up to 99 degrees in the mountains, and up to 113 degrees through the Rio Grande Valley. * WHERE...Portions of southeast New Mexico and southwest and western Texas. * WHEN...From noon CDT /11 AM MDT/ today to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening. ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM MDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE...Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet. * WHEN...From noon to 7 PM MDT Sunday. difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Here is what Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday at the funeral of Ruth Whitfield in Mount Olive Baptist Church in Buffalo: "The pain that this family is feeling right now, and the nine other families here in Buffalo I cannot even begin to express our collective pain as a nation for what you are feeling in such an extreme way. To not only lose someone that you love, but through an act of extreme violence and hate. And I do believe that our nation right now is experiencing the epidemic of hate. And as we know from the Scripture, it teaches us when we talk about strength, the strength of personality, the strength of spirit, the strength of faith, I think we all know that a true measure of strength is not based on who you beat down. It's based on who you lift up. Who you lift up. And it means then also, in that strength and understanding, we will not allow small people to create fear in our communities. That we will not be afraid to stand up for what is right, to speak up even when it may be difficult to hear and speak. There's a through line to what happened here in Texas, in Atlanta, in Orlando, what happened at the synagogues ... and so this is a moment that requires all good people who are loving people to just say we will not stand for this. Enough is enough. We will come together based on what we all know we have in common and we will not let those people who are motivated by hate separate us or make us feel fear. So I'm here to say that we are all in this together. No one should ever be made to fight alone. We are stronger than those who try to hurt us ... We are strong. We are strong in our faith. We are strong in our belief about what is right and our determination to act, ensure that we protect all those who deserve to be protected. That we see all those who deserve to be seen, that we hear the voices of the people and that we rise up in solidarity to speak out against this and to speak to our better angels. Thank you." 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. United Spirits Ltd. (USL), Indias largest liquor company, said it will sell about 32 mass-priced brands, including Haywards, Old Tavern, White-Mischief, Honey Bee, Green Label and Romanov, to Singapore headquartered Inbrew for a total cash consideration of Rs 820 crore. The deal includes the entire business of these brands such as related contracts, permits, intellectual property rights, associated employees, and a manufacturing facility. In addition, USL and Inbrew have entered into a five-year franchise arrangement for 11 other brands, including Bagpiper and Blue Riband. USL has also granted Inbrew a right to convert the fixed term franchise arrangement into one with perpetual rights to use with a call option to acquire the brands at a pre-agreed consideration. "The transaction reflects the continued evolution of the management of the popular portfolio since 2016, when the company moved to a franchise model in many states, to enable a sharpened focus on Prestige & Above. This is a significant move to reshape our portfolio in service of our publicly stated mission to deliver sustained double-digit profitable top-line growth,' said Hina Nagarajan, CEO, United Spirits Ltd. The review, initiated over a year ago, is part of a strategy to increase profit by focusing on premium brands. The exercise by the Diageo subsidiary will exclude McDowells and Directors Special, two of its largest brands by volume. Inbrew, led by Indian entrepreneur Ravi Deol, bought the Indian unit of US brewer Molson Coors for about Rs 1,000 crore last year. As part of the deal, Inbrew acquired Molson Coors Indian beer brand Thunderbolt along with selling and distribution rights of its global brands such as Miller, Blue Moon, Carling and Cobra in India. The acquisition of these iconic brands provides Inbrew with a unique platform to extend its ambition of becoming Indias trusted household beverage company. These brands have delighted consumers over generations, and we are excited at the prospect of strengthening this legacy. Inbrew will revitalise these brands through expanded distribution, innovation and investments," said Deol, Chairman of Inbrew. The firm expects to complete the transaction by the end of the quarter ending 30 September 2022. USL reported a 19% increase year-on-year in sales value for 2021-22 and 12% in volume. Net sales of the P&A portfolio increased 24% while net sales of the popular segment rose 8%. Over the past five years, USL has moved towards the franchisee model in the popular segment with fixed-fee arrangements in more than a dozen states and this has helped expand margins. The company's P&A business now accounts for nearly three-fourths of its overall sales, up from less than half five years ago, indicating a strong focus on premium segments. Margins are low in the economy segment, where distillers have little pricing power and branding capability. The segment also includes many smaller Indian companies, which increases competition. Rival Pernod Ricard India gets a significant chunk from premium and semi-premium brands, mainly Blenders Pride, Royal Stag and Imperial Blue. 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! The new African American Veterans Monument at the Buffalo and Erie County Military & Naval Park will not be ready for Memorial Day. Work is underway, and a dream that took years to come together is expected to be unveiled with full ceremonies in September. Yet the close connection between the effort to create a monument and the mass killing that happened two weeks ago at Tops Markets is raw and obvious to Warren Galloway. He is an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War who has served as both a formal and emotional chairman of the long effort to bring this landmark to the waterfront. African Americans in the military always fought two wars, he said, meaning: Black men and women in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines provided centuries of valor and sacrifice in honor of American ideals of liberty and equality, only to return as veterans to communities where those ideals were too often denied. On Memorial Day, then amid collective shock from mass murder by an accused white supremacist on Jefferson Avenue the aching question is where does an entire grieving community, facing such loss, go from here? In stark fashion, Galloway sees the message of the memorial as unbearably reaffirmed: Generations of Black veterans risked everything to nurture and defend the absolute American essence of what a killer in body armor went to Tops to specifically disavow and take away. These 10 people who died at the store, Galloway said, they were all great citizens who led lives of great meaning despite dealing with racism throughout their lives. He zeroed in on the ultimate, monstrous contradiction. Based on a racist diatribe posted online, the 18-year-old assailant was driven by replacement theory, the poisonous and deep-seated lie that Black women and men are of lesser meaning, of lesser humanity, than white people they might somehow replace within the nation. It is madness on any level, as Galloway lays bare with a fact of history: Crispus Attucks, the first American colonist to die 252 years ago in the Revolutionary War, was of African and Native American descent. Originally brought here through duress, Black Americans have spent centuries contributing to the foundation of the American experiment, Galloway said, beginning even before the great 19th and 20th century waves of immigrants from abroad who helped shaped so many cities. Replacement, then, starts and ends at the ridiculous. But the other truth Galloway underlines is this: The lives snatched away at Tops represent a civic sweep of commitment, diligence and love, an impact evidenced by the mountain of flowers and spontaneous monuments near the store. 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. What the killer did through his ruthless assault, by throwing a spotlight of grief on each of those women and men, is to remind a nation of the fabric that holds true in the heart of Buffalo. For all those reasons, at the end of Mondays annual 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony at the military park, organizers will read these names and ring a bell after each one: There was Pearl Young, a great-grandmother, food pantry leader and volunteer who also was a passionate teacher, both as a long-term substitute in the Buffalo schools and at Sunday school. There was Katherine Kat Massey, community activist and Fruit Belt loyalist dedicated to prosperity and safety for her neighborhood, including her long quest for a federal shutdown of illegal gun trafficking that escalates city bloodshed. There was Deacon Heyward Patterson, a guy revered in his church who performed a task appreciated by anyone who ever has gone without a car: He routinely went out of his way while driving home shoppers, burdened with heavy groceries. There was Roberta Drury, a young woman of memorable warmth whose character was summarized by her decision to move to Buffalo from greater Syracuse: She came here to help her brother, in treatment for leukemia. There was Andre Mackniel, shot to death during an intimate, familiar routine: He was picking up a birthday cake for a son turning 3. There was Geraldine Chapman Talley, lauded by family and colleagues as a cook and baker, who stopped at Tops for that kind of in-and-out we all know, simply to pick up a few everyday items. There was Margus Morrison, father and school bus aide who had planned to see his mother, children and brother after stopping by the store, but did not make it home. 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. There was Ruth Whitfield, whose family including a son who served as Buffalo fire commissioner describe her as a tireless mom who would do anything for her kids, a woman devoted to an 88-year-old husband in a nursing home and a citizen mourned at her Saturday funeral by Kamala Harris, vice president of the United States. There was Celestine Chaney, grandmother and maestro of strawberry shortcake, a survivor of several serious illnesses whose jobs included helping to make hats for major leaguers at an old New Era cap factory. And there was Aaron Salter Jr. father and husband, inventor, retired police officer and security guard whose decision to exchange gunfire with the killer cost Salter his life, but almost certainly kept the list of 10 from growing even longer. The murderer, in assaulting such bedrock Buffalo, thought he would somehow make a cold-blooded point about who and what really matters. In a way contrary to everything he intended, he did. Such to-the-limit grief is now impossibly compounded. Not even two weeks after police say an 18-year-old in body armor used a semiautomatic weapon in Buffalo to commit mass murder, another teenager who reportedly purchased his own similar weapons just after his 18th birthday killed 19 girls and boys and two educators at a school in Uvalde, Texas. This happened while mourners were still dropping to their knees outside Tops. All of it, then, comes down to a choice. It would be easier, as it is always easier, to let go of this moment. It would be easier to allow all the empathy and outrage to gradually drain away and to settle back into an unfathomable status quo knowing all the forces that ignited such wrath remain in motion and that somewhere it is just a matter of time. Or, confronted by all of it, we could pivot from such hopelessness and take another route. We could think of the children and teachers of Uvalde and the grandparents and so many beloved others on a routine swing through Tops, look straight at these lives of enormity in decency and purpose, and take from them the courage to face obvious truths about escalating hatred, or the way a couple of profoundly disturbed teenagers had such easy access to weapons and armor capable of this life-rending destruction, or the vivid results of longtime patterns of civic intolerance that we have pushed away for too long. We could reflect upon the horror of everything we witnessed and make a passionate choice to move collectively and thoughtfully two words it seems we left behind us, long ago toward the kind of true American community, in practice and in law, for which Galloway reminds us that so many gave their lives. And we could embrace that path in Buffalo, as both goal and lifetime promise, even as we awaken to Memorial Day. 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. Carr said she was proud of the substantial deal secured with the Biden administration, calling it a turning point for Australia. We were actually the first infant formula manufacturer in the world to submit our application to the FDA under this new infant formula enforcement discretion policy, she said. This was a very unique opportunity. Bubs Australia CEO Founder, Kristy Carr, is proud to be able to help the US through their baby formula crisis. Credit:Chris Hopkins Carr said Bubs Australia already distributes formula for toddlers in the US, meaning the company had already been through many of the rigorous regulatory processes required to export products to the US. She said it would otherwise have taken up to three years to gain FDA approval. The US baby formula crisis evolved after a major manufacturing facility in Michigan was closed in February following reports of rare Cronobacter sakazakii bacterial infections in four infants, worsening a shortage that began with pandemic supply-chain issues. This week, were seeing reports of up to 70 per cent of brands out of stock [in the US], Carr said. This is something that the Biden administration and the FDA are all taking very, very seriously and are pulling out all measures to be able to rectify the situation very quickly. Loading If babies are not breastfed, their sole source of nutrition for their first four to six months of life comes from the formula they consume. Not being able to have access to it has caused an incredible wave of alarm amongst families [in the US], as you can imagine, Carr said. I think its a really important time for an Australian quality food manufacturer that is clean and safe and [has a] reliable supply chain to be able to step up and help relieve some of those shortages. The US has not been the only country facing extreme shortages, however. In 2018 and 2019, Australian parents struggled to purchase formula with fears the products were being purchased and on-sold for profit overseas, particularly in China. Some major supermarket chains placed purchase limits on the product, causing difficulties for families with multiple babies. Some Australian parents still struggle to access the correct baby formula for their children, particularly for those who have allergies or digestive sensitivities. In March, Novalac Allergy Infant Formula was out of stock for eight weeks. Aptimal Allepro Syneo Stage 1, a formula for babies with a cows milk protein allergy, was out of stock from January until supply began to return to normal in April. But Bubs Australia has promised that the redirection of baby formula will not affect supply levels in Australia, stating it has the capacity to triple production at the Dandenong factory to cover the formula export demand. Carr said Australia experienced some issues with supply chains, as every industry did during the COVID-19 pandemic, but not the kind of crisis faced in the US. Bubs has had no supply issues at all to service the Australian market, Carr said. We have a firm inventory forecast and cover for our Australian retail customers and other export markets, and thats to remain unchanged. Alexander and Beers excellent adventure three groups of students for nine days at a time, with only a day or two to recuperate and plan between them, followed by what Beer calls a three-week house party, with revolving doors and various friends yielded two books: Tuscan Cookbook, co-authored by the pair and eventually translated into numerous languages (including, to their delight, Italian); and Stephanies Journal, an account of a year of major upheaval in her life that included the difficult decision to close her award-winning Melbourne restaurant. Now, boutique production and distribution company Arcadia, based in Orange, NSW and responsible for the Netflix film 2067, has optioned both those books, with the plan to make a movie to be filmed, if all goes well, next year in Italy, of course. Think of it as a Best Exotic Marigold Cooking School, if you will, sprinkled with colourful guest characters but revolving around the two women and their shared love of hospitality. Its a story about how friendships transform us, says Thomson. Its a story of two women on the cusp of some very challenging decisions, set against the backdrop of Tuscany. It wont all be Chianti and laughter, though, as their bond comes under pressure from the strain of all those guests, and the looming life changes that await upon their return to Australia. Me-Mel, or Goat Island, in Sydney Harbour will finally be returned to the Aboriginal community in a significant move by the NSW government, which will spend more than $40 million on regenerating the landmark before its handed back. The island, once home to senior Eora man Woollarawarre Bennelong and later used to house convict workers in the 1800s, will be returned to Indigenous owners within four years. More than $42 million will be set aside in next months state budget for the restoration and regeneration of the small island, which lies to the west of Sydney Harbour Bridge. The NSW government will allocate more than $40 million in next months state budget to the restoration of Goat Island before it is transferred back into Aboriginal hands. Credit:Wolter Peeters NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was only right that the island be returned to its traditional owners, but it needed to be handed back in good condition after centuries of varied use. Tributes flow for Australian humanitarian worker killed in Ukraine Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Religious groups, academics and the national students union have called on organisers of an Australia-India youth event to cancel their invitation to a controversial right-wing nationalist Indian politician. Tejasvi Surya, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, who apologised last year after calling for those who had left the Hindu faith to be reconverted, will be in Australia next week for the Australia India Youth Dialogue conference. Nationalist Indian MP Tejasvi Surya. Credit: The event will take place in Sydney and Melbourne where young delegates from India and Australia engage in talks every year to strengthen relations between the two countries. The Australian Alliance Against Hate, a coalition of faith groups and academics, wrote to several partners of the event, including Monash University and the University of Sydney, asking that they withdraw their support for the conference in response to the deeply divisive and exclusionary ideology of Surya. More than a feeling Just months before budget night, Ryan, a political novice, had tentatively applied to be the candidate for Kooyong after seeing an ad in this newspaper. Ryan frames the campaign as a contest between the positivity of her volunteer army that reflected voter attitudes and a cynical Liberal Party using last centurys tactics. It was this dystopian vision of Josh looking down at you from every intersection saying keep Josh, keep Josh, and then at ground level youve got my people singing in the rain with their nice teal T-shirts and umbrellas having the time of their life, she says. The independents identify key junctures in the campaign that boosted Ryan. A front-page Herald Sun story in early March highlighting Ryans former membership of the Labor Party increased her name recognition when many voters still didnt know her. And the week of argy-bargy over timing and location of a debate with Frydenberg increased her legitimacy by elevating Ryan to an equal footing with the incumbent. The new MP said opponents did not understand the power of what we were putting together and underestimated her until she won. She confronted entitlement and condescension throughout, she says. I think [Frydenberg] thought he was just going to blow me away in the debate and that would be the end of the nice lady doctor, she said. Keep Josh: billboards at Kew Junction. Credit:Penny Stephens He said I was in bed with Labor and the Greens; to me thats offensive. He repeatedly said that I lied, he called me a fake independent, he never acknowledged my gender and for most of the campaign he wouldnt say my name. He called me they, not she I found that demeaning. But it was more than a feeling that ousted Frydenberg from office. Key to the teals success was a Climate 200 brains trust that Redbridge pollster Kos Samaras, who worked with the group, believes is almost unparalleled in Australian politics. It was led by Byron Fay, who represented Australia in negotiations for the Paris climate pact and worked on a Joe Biden-aligned political action committee, along with communications and analytics lead Claire Snyder and former Guardian Australian philanthropy head Susie Bayes. A campaign behemoth The notion of a Frydenberg-free Kooyong was fanciful when the architects of his downfall started holding Zoom meetings in the 2020 lockdowns. Campaign director Ann Capling, a 63-year-old retired Melbourne University professor, said the Kew 3101 Facebook group was initially focused on local council issues. The lockdowns spawned a political consciousness. Together with remnants of the campaign run by independent Oliver Yates at the 2019 election, the Voices for Kooyong group was formed. Frydenberg maintains his full-throated criticism of Premier Daniel Andrews during lockdowns did not harm his political fortunes. Capling disagrees: We were all really stuck at home. We didnt have jobs to go to. People were trying really hard in that lockdown and it was like he was just pissing on the community effort. This perception of Frydenberg was crystallised for Capling when a nurse from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre entered Ryans campaign office. Emotional, the woman claimed she always voted Liberal but could not vote for Frydenberg because she viewed his attacks as anti-public health. With dozens of locals, Capling helped build a campaign behemoth that Liberals acknowledge they could never match. The Climate 200 fund convened by Simon Holmes a Court contributed about $500,000 of the approximately $1.6 million in total donations. The fund provided central functions to campaigns in teal seats including data and advertising. There are obvious similarities to the role played by a major party head office but Samaras, who conducted research for the group, said Climate 200 operated more like an American super PAC (political action committee). Dr Monique Ryan the freshly-minted member for Kooyong. Credit:Joe Armao The former Labor campaigner argues the group had a single-minded adherence to data unburdened by the factionalism, patronage and personality-based considerations that pervade major parties. The Kooyong campaign rated the persuadability of each household in Kooyong and spent about $400,000 to microtarget them and put ads in front of them when they browsed YouTube, Facebook or streaming services. It identified Chinese grocery stores to display material targeting Chinese-Australians, who swung strongly against Frydenberg, booth data suggests. There were more data literate people than in any other campaign Ive worked on, Samaras says. Frydenbergs ground campaign was strong but no match for the independents. Ryans team claim to have knocked on the door of every house in Kooyong. Unlike the foot soldiers of the major parties, Ryans volunteers did not attempt to persuade voters. Instead, they asked what mattered to residents. No message The Liberals spent an estimated $2 million to $3 million on their campaign that included buying up all available advertising space, partly in a bid to deprive Ryan of opportunities to market herself. Some Liberals questioned the purpose of plastering Frydenbergs face on every street corner when he was so well-known. Fellow MPs complained they were unable to man booths because they claimed resources were diverted to Kooyong. However, Frydenberg, a huge fundraiser, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the federal campaign including $200,000 in the final week. Kew MP Tim Smith, the only state MP within the boundaries of Kooyong, told the Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald Frydenberg was well-liked but his campaign had no message. While every move in the Kooyong campaign will be pored over by political historians, it is questionable whether the colour and movement mattered very much. As in the five other seats inner-city Liberals lost to community independents, Frydenberg was pushing up against a long-term shift in voting trends and a palpable dislike for Morrison. Scott Morrison was personally unpopular in the electorates that voted teal. Credit:Getty A pre-election statistical analysis compiled for the Liberals shows Kooyong, Goldstein and Higgins would not be Liberal-held if residents voted as each seats demographic profile suggested they would. More 18 to 24 year-olds live in Kooyong than in any Victorian seat. About 5000 young people voted in their first election in Kooyong, many of whom had connections with climate-focused private school prefects, who populated the mosh pit at Ryans election party. Importantly, Kooyong has 6000 more women registered to vote than men. In focus groups, locals made clear their distaste for Morrison outweighed any determination to Keep Josh. Loading Party polling bore this out: before the last election, the Liberals primary vote was 10 per cent higher when pollsters read out Frydenbergs name compared to when he was not named. This year, quoting his name to voters had little effect on the Liberal vote. They saw the choice as Morrison vs Ryan, not Frydenberg vs Ryan. Josh did not factor into their thinking, a Liberal source said. More than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel will travel to Papua New Guinea in coming months to help the country conduct its national election, combat cyber threats and conduct joint exercises amid a growing tussle for influence between Australia and China in the region. Following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to Samoa on Saturday, the countrys government announced it had signed three deals with Wang, including an economic and technical co-operation agreement. The details of the new deals are unclear, but it comes as Australia races to stop China from signing a new regional security deal with as many as 10 Pacific island nations following the controversial pact between Beijing and Solomon Islands. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, both toured the Pacific. Credit:The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Wang arrived in Solomon Islands last week on a 10-day tour of the Pacific that also includes visits to PNG, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and East Timor. The thinking is that the party must not only win back or retain its so-called heartland seats near the city, it must also gain seats in the outer suburbs, some of which have been experiencing the fastest population growth in the nation. That means encroaching into Labor territory. And thats before even considering the plight of regional Victoria. In other words, the Liberal Party is fighting on multiple fronts. Nor does Guy have time on his side. The pandemic upended the political cycle, depriving the opposition of oxygen for the best part of two years and bleeding the budget dry, which has limited the scope for big campaign promises on both sides of the political divide. Its enough to make anyones head spin. With the federal election now out of the way, Guy has just 181 days to convince voters its time. If he is worried, he isnt showing it. Victoria is a segmented market Matthew Jason Guy, 48, is a man of considerable energy and charm, with a twinkle in his eye and a sometimes fiery temperament. He carries political baggage from his time as planning minister, but Guy 2.0, facing a second election as opposition leader, wants a calmer, more respectful, less shouty debate. He warns Australians are turned off by hurtful language, such as the comments about transgender people made by Katherine Deves, Scott Morrisons captains pick for the federal seat of Warringah. You know, maturity does that to you over time, over life, over experiences, he says. Theres always room for discussion. But when its got hurtful language attached to it, then I think thats when Australians turn off. Guy reckons Novembers state election is absolutely winnable for the Coalition, particularly if it puts in the hard yards by tackling the needs of outer electorates, where health, education and cost of living pressures are of mounting concern. Ive seen the death of political parties pronounced throughout the media for the last 30 years, he says. This time, Guy is taking comfort from the 2010 federal and state election results. At the federal election that year, held on August 21, the Coalition in Victoria suffered a 1 per cent swing against it, winning 44.7 per cent of the state two-party-preferred vote. The thinking among many at the time was that Tony Abbott was political poison in Victoria. A mere three months later, at the November 27, 2010 state election, Ted Baillieu led the Coalition to a surprise win with a two-party-preferred result of 51.6 per cent more than six percentage points above the federal result. Victoria is a segmented market. Guy concedes there were problems with the brand near the city. That has partly been driven by a long demographic shift. That idea is backed by strategists from both sides, who point to real estate and voter databases showing huge influxes of younger, more progressive voters in suburbs such as Kew and Hawthorn. Ted Baillieu (left) defied a lacklustre performance by the federal Liberals to win in Victoria in 2010. Credit:Angela Wylie Yes, we have clear issues in the inner-city areas, Guy says. Thats true. But thats not the whole state. Victoria is a segmented market, and I think what youre seeing here is that playing out. Guy also argues the state ramifications of victories by teal independents in the federal seats of Kooyong and Goldstein should not be overstated. The Liberal Party, he contends, does not face a binary choice between the affluent, leafy seats where many of its members reside, and growth area seats further afield, where vast numbers of potential voters live. Lets not get too worked up about how disastrously gone those [teal] seats are, they are not. Yes, work is required. But you know, we are not talking about a seat which is now unobtainable. We need to focus and go out and work on the ground and connect with voters in those seats like you would anywhere else. As much as anything, the election this time is about people, Guy says, whereas four years ago it was more about bricks and mortar. Voters are not only worried about health and education, they are worried about specifics, such as ambulance waiting times, the emergency call response system, hospital waiting lists, or standards in their local primary school. Guys old boss, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, agrees that the state election is winnable for the Coalition, with Daniel Andrews an increasingly unpopular figure. But he cautions there is much work still to be done. The pendulum always swings, and will do so against an increasingly unpopular premier and a government that has been corrupt since before its first victory, Kennett says. Matthew Guy at Box Hill City Oval in April with Nicole Werner (left), his candidate for the state seat of Box Hill, and Gladys Liu, who lost the overlapping federal seat of Chisholm at the May 21 election. Credit:Joe Armao But Monash University politics professor Paul Strangio contends that former prime minister Scott Morrison appeared to treat socially progressive Victorians who might have otherwise supported the Liberal Party as expendable. The party has now reaped what they sowed, Strangio says, as demonstrated by the loss of the heartland seats of Higgins, Goldstein and Kooyong: It is an outcome that strikes at the very historical identity of the party. If there was a strategy to compensate for losses of these inner-urban constituencies, it badly failed in Victoria. Most notably, there were swings to Labor in Corangamite and Dunkley, and only a relatively small swing against Labor in McEwen. Loading Indeed, the results in the outer suburbs seem to expose as a furphy the narrative that there was a build-up of resentment in those areas towards Labor due to the hard lockdown strategy of Premier Andrews, Strangio adds. Former senior Liberal political staffer Tony Barry, now a political consultant with RedBridge, says the federal election results showed that the political ground in Victoria is shifting. He sees this as a potential opportunity for the Liberal Party, suggesting Labors base is also eroding. These realignments are redefining the political conversation and the electoral math, Barry says. He contends that the state election will be won in the suburbs and regions, where Guy is already pitching his message. He believes Labors traditional base felt the brunt of lockdowns and poor access to health care services, leaving Labor politically vulnerable. Victoria is now a very fragmented constituency and the lockdowns showed we are no longer a community of shared experiences, Barry says. However, Barry is also scathing about the performance of the Liberal campaign machine in Victoria, suggesting this could act as a drag for Guy. The Victorian Liberal Party headquarters has been dysfunctional for over 10 years now and their performance on local federal campaigns over the past few months was amateur hour, Barry says. Some of the creative executions that came out of the Victorian HQ were possibly even worse than the ones they did in the 2018 state election. John Pesutto, a moderate Liberal who lost the state seat of Hawthorn (which overlaps with the federal seat of Kooyong) in dramatic fashion at the 2018 state election, says the Liberal Party was set up to win and hold government. But Pesutto warns this is a purpose that cannot be achieved by choosing to narrow the range of constituencies it represents. Success, he says, lies in restating the broad Liberal values such as free enterprise, the rule of law, responsible economic management and support for families. These values are broad, but they allow people to rally around them even when there might be reasonable differences over policy, Pesutto says. The former MP John Pesutto, who lost his seat of Hawthorn in 2018, is planning a return to politics next year. Credit:Joe Armao He says the argument that there is a choice to be made between suburbs closer to our cities and outer areas represents a false dichotomy. Paris: Novak Djokovic is optimistic about returning down under for Januarys Australian Open, saying he holds no grudges over his deportation earlier this year. The world No.1 also expressed his joy about the release of refugees from the Melbourne detention centre in which he was famously held in January. The Park Hotel in Carlton, Melbourne, where Novak Djokovic was held in January. Credit:Chris Hopkins Djokovic remains unvaccinated against COVID-19 and confirmed he was aware the federal government which made the case that his presence in Australia may disrupt civil order and undermine the nations pandemic response had lost office at last weeks election. Djokovic missed the Australian Open and was eventually deported after the prolonged visa saga that overshadowed the start of the tournament. Djokovic had been granted a controversial exemption to enter Australia but was booted out of the country at the 11th hour. Mick Charles ONeill, 47, died this week after heading to Ukraine to help in the fight against Vladimir Putins forces. Credit:Facebook An Australian man who died this week amid fighting in Ukraine has been remembered as a larrikin [and] always a battler. Father-of-three Michael Charles ONeill, 47, who lived in Hobart, was killed on Wednesday while providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Always looking for a cause, he headed to Ukraine to drive trucks helping citizens flee the country, his sister said online. He then assisted driving the wounded and injured from the front line, unfortunately meeting a sad end. PHILIPSBURG:--- As of Monday, May 16, 2022, Parliament has been displaying artwork by Ms. Maqueda Jackson. Born and raised on the island of Sint Maarten with ties to Anguilla and St. Kitts, Ms. Jackson shared that her art journey began with her parents allowing her to be expressive through art. She was given the opportunity at an early age by her devoted parents to showcase her artwork on the walls of their home, this enabled Ms. Jacksons creativity to blossom. Ms. Jackson attended the St. Maarten Academy High School where she took art classes as a subject under the Art Teacher Mr. Thomas. Ms. Jacksons passion for painting, creating, and poetry writing was never caged rather, she was always given the freedom throughout her childhood and adolescent years to express herself which she showcased through her art. She is one of the many writers published by House of Nehesi Publishers, Where I See The Sun (contemporary poetry 2013). She is also a Spoken Word Artist for The Poets Lounge. Her work has been in exhibitions in Anguilla, Sint. Maarten, and showcased for Carifesta 2008. Besides growing up creating decorations and cards as a child, Ms. Jackson was introduced to the art of crochet while attending The Methodist Agogic Centre. She created crochet and beaded jewelry along with clutches, and items for home decor, which were all made with passion and the love Ms. Jackson shared for the art of creating. Ms. Jacksons love for art has grown and evolved over the years. She often expresses that thrilling feeling of creating an idea and seeing it to come to fruition. Her passion for painting lies within the areas of imaginative, abstract, and at times suggestively sensual, with all pieces showcasing a vibrant array of colors. Her inspiration at times comes from an inwardly feeling from within and her admiration for Gods creations. Ms. Maqueda Jackson expressed that she is thankful to God for her gifts and to her parents for allowing them to cultivate. The House of Parliament is displaying eight beautiful paintings of this talented inspired creative designer, artist, and poet. Works displayed are entitled; Heliconia, Molded-In Love, Armageddon, Love Birds, Heart of Roses, Love Motions, Old Chinese Tree, and Heart Blooming. From May 2022 to November 2022, the artwork of Ms. Magueda Jackson will be prominently displayed in the lobby area, library, and conference room of the House of Parliament. The Parliament of Sint Maarten exhibits the work of different artists. Prior to Ms. Jackson, the work of artists; Sir Rolando Richardson, Roberto Arrindell, Ms. Lucina La Rich Audain, Ms. Beverly Mae, Ms. Leola Cotton, Students of the Art Cafe Foundation, Ms. Tessel Verheij, and Mrs. Lindy Jacquet were displayed. ~American University of the Caribbean and Ross University School of Medicine Graduates Help Fill Most Critical Specialties Like Primary Care, 26% are of Underrepresented Races and Ethnicities~ MIAMI:--- Adtalem Global Educations (NYSE: ATGE) medical schools, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), and Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) celebrated more than 750 medical school graduates during their commencement ceremonies in Miami. Graduates from Adtalems medical schools join a network of more than 275,000 Adtalem alumni, with 22,000 medical school alumni. AUC and RUSM combined achieved strong residency placements with a 95% first-time eligible residency attainment rate for 2021-22 graduates and expected graduates (as of April 5, 2022). AUCs rate of 96% and RUSMs of 95% are among the highest in Adtalems history and represent the fourth consecutive year at 90% or higher residency attainment. Of the combined current and former graduates at AUC and RUSM who secured residencies in 2022, 74% will enter primary care specialties helping to combat the critical physician shortage, which is expected to reach up to 124,000 by 2034. Adtalems two medical schools continue to address the challenging workforce shortages in healthcare. Promoting access to medical care and health equity are key focus areas of Adtalems medical schools, and Adtalem addresses this by increasing the diversity of its medical school students. In 2022, 26% of Adtalems medical school graduates are of a race or ethnicity underrepresented in medicine, of which more than 100 identify as Black or African American. Critical healthcare needs and disparities existed across the country before the pandemic, and with COVID-19, underrepresented populations have been disproportionately impacted, said John Danaher, MD, president, Adtalem Medical and Veterinary. We are proud of our medical schools commitment to providing a high-quality medical school education to an increasingly diverse physician workforce. Both medical school ceremonies included student speakers, including AUC graduate and prior student government leader Christina Arche-Perez, MD, a Miami native. Arche-Perez, who is the first doctor in her family, will soon begin her residency training in pediatrics at Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, her top choice program. RUSM student Uzoma Dike, MD, a Houston native, addressed his peers and will be starting his family medicine residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch this summer. Keynoting AUCs ceremony was AUC Class of 2006 alum Steven Jackson, MD, who is a program director and spinal cord injury specialist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., and a patient experience and assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His research focuses on disparities and advancing health equity, a core tenet of his education at AUC. At RUSMs commencement, Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., MD, MPH, FACS, addressed the graduates. He is a widely respected surgeon, public health expert, and founding director of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center, where he works with leaders in the city's trauma network to expand trauma care on Chicago's South Side. Dr. Rogers has published numerous articles related to health disparities and the impact of race and ethnicity on surgical outcomes. Participants in this years commencement ceremony from RUSM and AUC were born in 65 countries and 45 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C. Florida, California, and New York were among the most common states graduates hailed from. PHILIPSBURG:--- It is with great sadness that the Government of Sint Maarten received news concerning the passing of civil servant and historian Alfonso R. Blijden today, Friday, May 27. Mr. Blijden was born in 1964 in Aruba before making St. Maarten his home in 1985. He was a valued civil servant from 1987 to the present, making a difference in the lives of all who met and interacted with him. Mr. Blijden will always be remembered as hard-working, dedicated, and committed to learning and sharing the history of St. Martin. He began his career in government as an Archive Officer in 1987, under the leadership of the late Louis Duzanson who ignited a passion for archiving and history in him. Mr. Blijden continued to develop his career in government as a very knowledgeable and dedicated civil servant earning his bachelor's degree in Public Administration in 2007. As an expert in his field, he transitioned towards Senior Archive Officer and Application Manager for the Department of Records and Information Management (DIV) in 2013, a position he had a passion for up to his passing. Having developed a true passion for history, Mr. Blijden served the government of St. Maarten for the past 35-plus years. Colleagues of Mr. Blijden describe him as an outstanding civil servant with a passion for history and culture. He became a member of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean from 2015 to 2019 and was an active member of the National Monument Council, as well as many other local organizations until his passing. He will surely be missed. On behalf of the Government and people of St. Maarten, we extend deepest condolences to his wife Mrs. Blijden, his two daughters, family, and friends. The Department of Records and Information Management (DIV) and by extension St. Maarten, has lost a master historian and researcher with a drive to know more about our history. Mr. Blijden laid the groundwork for most of our archives as he also discovered and recorded a lot of information on his own. His contributions and legacy will continue to live for years to come," stated Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs. UVALDE, Texas (AP) Students trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 during this weeks attack on a Texas elementary school, including one who pleaded, Please send the police now, as officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building, authorities said Friday. The commander at the scene in Uvalde the school districts police chief believed that 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms at Robb Elementary School and that children were no longer at risk, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a contentious news conference. It was the wrong decision, he said. Fridays briefing came after authorities spent three days providing often conflicting and incomplete information about the more than an hour that elapsed between the time Ramos entered the school and when U.S. Border Patrol agents unlocked the classroom door and killed him. Three police officers followed Ramos into the building within two minutes. In the next half hour, as many as 19 officers piled into the hallway outside. But another 47 minutes passed before the Border Patrol tactical team breached the door, McCraw said. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to speak publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers inside the room. His motive remained unclear, authorities said. There was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where officers eventually killed him, but those shots were sporadic for much of the time that officers waited in the hallway, McCraw said. He said investigators do not know if children died during that time. Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including the girl who pleaded for the police, McCraw said. Young survivors of the attack said they pretended to be dead while waiting for help. Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she covered herself with a friends blood to look dead. After the shooter moved into an adjacent room, she could hear screams, more gunfire and music being blared by the gunman. Samuel Salinas, 10, who also played dead, told ABCs Good Morning America that the assailant shot teacher Irma Garcia before firing on the kids. Questions have mounted over the amount of time it took officers to enter the school to confront the gunman. It was 11:28 a.m. Tuesday when Ramos' Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Five minutes after that, authorities said, Ramos entered the school and found his way to the fourth grade classroom where he killed the 21 victims. But it was not until around 12:50 p.m. that police killed Ramos, McCraw said, when shots could be heard over a 911 call from a person inside the classroom as officers breached the room. What happened during that time frame, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge 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. According to the new timeline provided by McCraw, after crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, officials said. Contrary to earlier statements by officials, a school district police officer was not at the school when Ramos arrived. When that officer did respond, he unknowingly drove past Ramos, who was crouched behind a car parked outside and firing at the building, McCraw said. At 11:33 a.m., Ramos entered the school through a rear door that had been propped open and fired more than 100 rounds into a pair of classrooms, McCraw said. He did not address why the door was propped open. Two minutes later, three local police officers arrived and entered the building through the same door, followed soon after by four others, McCraw said. Within 15 minutes, officers from different agencies had assembled in the hallway, taking sporadic fire from Ramos, who was holed up in a classroom. Ramos was still inside at 12:10 p.m. when the first U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrived. They had raced to the school from nearly 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in the border town of Del Rio, the agency said in a tweet Friday. But the commander inside the building the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo decided the group should wait to confront the gunman, on the belief that the scene was no longer an active attack, McCraw said. The crisis came to an end at 12:50 p.m., after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and fatally shot Ramos, he said. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday. No one answered the door at his home, and he did not reply to a phone message left at the district's police headquarters. Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a Wednesday news conference lauded the police response, said Friday that he was misled, and hes livid. In his earlier statements, the governor told reporters, he was repeating what he had been told. The information that I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate, he said. Abbott said exactly what happened needs to be thoroughly, exhaustively investigated. The governor previously praised law enforcement for their amazing courage by running toward gunfire and their quick response. On Friday, Abbott had been set to attend the annual convention of the National Rifle Association, which is being held across the state in Houston. Instead he addressed the gun-rights group's convention by recorded video and went to Uvalde. At the convention, speaker after speaker took the stage to say that changing U.S. gun laws or further restricting access to firearms isnt the answer. What stops armed bad guys is armed good guys, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told those gathered in Houston. Former President Donald Trump was among Republican leaders speaking at the event, where hundreds of protesters angry about gun violence demonstrated outside, including some who held crosses with photos of the Uvalde victims. The motive for the massacre the nation's deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago remained under investigation. Authorities have said 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. 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. The many chilling details of the attack were enough to leave parents struggling with dread. Visiting a downtown memorial to those killed, Kassandra Johnson of the nearby community of Hondo said she was so worried the day after the attack that she kept her twin boys home from school. Before she sent the 8-year-olds back, she studied the school building, figuring out which windows she would need to break to reach them. And she drew hearts on their hands with marker, so she could identify them if the worst happened, Johnson said, as she put flowers near 21 white crosses honoring the victims. Those kids could be my kids, she said. Associated Press reporters Claire Galofaro in Uvalde, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Mike Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report. 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. Youre grabbing a coffee at work. Your coworker says, Hey, theres a call for you sounds important. Its your kids school. Theres been a shooting you should come immediately. As a game hunter and a registered Republican voter for over 50 years, how do I vote for Republicans in the face of recent shooting sprees? Over 250 mass shootings and the right still clings to the blood-soaked NRA and a loose interpretation of the dated Second Amendment. Our Republican politicians will fight mightily for your right to shoot 30 consecutive bullets at a time but not to protect your little child. Funny thing: seems many GOP politicians get huge NRA donations: for example, Mitch McConnell, over a million dollars; Marco Rubio and Joni Ernst each received over $3 million. But, sure, senators, lets hear more about those thoughts and prayers. No more prayers, no more thoughts, no more sympathetic statements from Republicans who consecrate guns. It is time it is past time to make it more difficult to get a gun than to get a drivers license. Joseph Weiss, PhD Clarence Madrid, 28 May 2022 (SPS) - The Spanish Congress adopted a resolution Thursday reaffirming the need to accomplish the decolonization process of Western Sahara, in full compliance with international legality and the UN resolutions, indicated a statement of the Parliament. For the second time in less than two months, the Spanish Congress has expressed its rejection of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's decision to support the Makhzen's so-called "autonomy" plan on the Western Sahara issue. Thus, the Parliament recalled that it remained on the historical line of Spain, insisting on the process of decolonization of Western Sahara within the framework of UN resolutions, stressed the statement. It urges the government to "reaffirm the need to accomplish the process of decolonization of Western Sahara, in full respect of international legality, within the framework of UN resolutions. On April 7, Spanish parliamentarians rejected Madrid's reversal of its position in favor of Morocco, and accused the head of government of abandoning a historic position of neutrality toward the conflict. They approved a proposal submitted by three parliamentary blocs denouncing the "unilateral and illegal" change of position of Sanchez regarding the conflict in Western Sahara. A proposal that calls for a "correction" of this position and to support the UN resolutions to allow the Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination. During intense debates on Western Sahara, parliamentary groups strongly denounced the position defended by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, calling it a "betrayal" of the Sahrawi people, and demanded that he sends a "clear" message to the King of Morocco that "the only framework that Spain can defend is that of international legality supporting the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. 062/T This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Five weeks after the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a remarkable story is emerging. A journalist for the Jewish Daily Forward has reported that the mother of one of the slain children asked Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to view her son's body. Veronique Pozner wanted Malloy to see what the bullets did to Noah, who was barely 6, the youngest Newtown victim. In the casket, Noah's eyes were closed, his long lashes resting on his cheeks, Naomi Zeveloff reported in the Forward. The bottom half of his face was covered by a cloth. " ... there was no mouth left," Veronique Pozner told the newspaper. "His jaw was blown away." In Noah's right hand she placed a clear stone with a white angel inside. She wanted to place one in his left hand, too, but that hand was gone. Noah was shot 11 times. Zeveloff asked Pozner why she wanted to see the damage to Noah's body. "I owed it to him as his mother -- the good, the bad, the ugly," Pozner said. "It is not up to me to say I am only going to look at you and deal with you when you are alive, that I am going to block out the reality of what you look like when you are dead. And as a little boy, you have to go in the ground. If I am going to shut my eyes to that I am not his mother. I had to bear it. I had to do it." Zeveloff asked Pozner why she wanted Malloy to see the damage. "I needed it to have a face for him," Pozner said. "If there is ever a piece of legislation that comes across his desk, I needed it to be real for him." So at the Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home in Fairfield on Dec. 17, just before the start of Noah's service, Pozner took Malloy by the arm and led him to her son's open casket. During a news conference later that day, the usually unemotional, no-nonsense Malloy wiped away tears, his voice breaking as he spoke briefly about conversations with the victims' families. A Malloy spokesman said Thursday that the governor does not want to discuss the conversations. After Sandy Hook, where a deranged young man named Adam Lanza cut down 20 first-graders and six educators using a semi-automatic assault weapon and 30-round magazines, the battle over gun control is escalating in Washington and nearly every statehouse in the nation. Pozner told the Forward she doesn't know how to stop school shootings, but if Lanza "had shown up at Sandy Hook with a knife or a less powerful weapon, he may have harmed some people, but it would not have been the mass carnage we saw." She has never been an activist, said Pozner, a 45-year-old oncology nurse, but "this topic has wings for me. It has got to take flight." More than half a century ago, another American mother decided the same thing. After her son, 14-year-old Emmett Till, was slain, Mamie Till left his casket open, too. During the funeral she allowed people to photograph the horrible damage to his body. The photos would circulate the country, even the world, and helped launch the civil rights movement. Mamie Till's son was lynched. A divorced Air Force file clerk, Mamie Till lived with Emmett in a middle-class black neighborhood in Chicago. In August 1955, while visiting relatives in Money, Miss., Emmett went into a little grocery store with his cousins to buy candy. On a dare, Emmett, who was not used to the ways of the South, flirted with the white woman who ran the store, whistling at her and by differing accounts maybe touching her hand or waist. The woman's husband found out, gathered some friends and in the middle of the night pulled Emmett from his uncle's house. The men beat Emmett, gouged out his eye, shot him in the head, tied the metal fan from a cotton gin to his neck with barbed wire and threw him into the Tallahatchie River. After Emmett's body was found, Mamie Till said she wanted the world to see what hate had done to her only child. Over four days, tens of thousands of people viewed Emmett's body in a Chicago church, and many more saw the published photographs. A month later, the two white men charged with the murder were acquitted, despite overwhelming evidence against them. An all-male, all-white jury deliberated for about an hour. Later, the accused men, protected by double jeopardy laws, told Look magazine the story of how they killed Emmett Till. Letters about the murder poured into the White House. Mamie Till asked to meet with President Dwight Eisenhower, but he refused. Then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover said there was nothing he could do. So Mamie Till went around the country making speeches, drawing huge crowds. In black communities, outrage began to build, and civil rights leaders recognized it as a time to act. Four months after Emmett Till was killed, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery city bus. When Parks was arrested for violating Alabama's segregation laws, a young minister named Martin Luther King Jr. called for a bus boycott, and the civil rights movement began. Mamie Till, who died in 2003, made the world look at what racism wrought. "People really didn't know that things this horrible could take place," she was quoted as saying. "The fact that it happened to a child, that makes all the difference in the world." Pozner told the Forward something similar. "I want people to know the ugliness of it so we don't talk about it abstractly, like these little angels just went to heaven," Pozner said. "No. They were butchered. They were brutalized." angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAMDEN Mayor Lauren Garrett called on police officers to value all human lives Saturday as she and other residents reacted to the suspended sentence handed down for former Officer Devin Eaton, who shot Stephanie Washington of West Haven in April 2019. This entire process has been troubling to me. When clear and potentially deadly violations of policy occur, we need to be able to act expeditiously to separate an officer from the police force. Waiting years for an unsatisfactorily lenient sentence underscores the need for systemic change, Garrett said in a statement. Justice delayed is justice denied. Garrett said she was struck by a potential indifference to human life, mentioned by Judge Brian Fischer as he ruled Friday, saying we collectively also saw this in Texas at Robb Elementary. We need to ensure that officers see value in every life, said Garrett. In state Superior Court on Friday, Fischer sentenced Eaton to five years in prison suspended, with three years of probation, his attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, said. Eaton had pleaded no contest to a charge of first-degree assault in January. Rhonda Caldwell, an organizer and member of the Hamden Police Commission, said Hamden Action Now was planning a protest regarding the verdict at noon Sunday at Memorial Town Hall. The charges, recommended by then-New Haven states attorney Patrick Griffin, stemmed from an incident on April 16, 2019, as Eaton was investigating a report of an alleged armed robbery. During his response, Eaton fired 13 shots into a car driven by Paul Witherspoon III, Washingtons friend, while she was in the vehicle, according to court records. VIDEO: Body camera footage of police-involved shooting in New Haven Eatons plea agreement initially would have suspended his five-year sentence after he served 18 months in prison, but the agreement allowed him to argue for a fully suspended sentence if he agreed to never seek employment in law enforcement again, records show. Washingtons attorney, Win Smith III, who is representing her in a lawsuit over the shooting, said Friday they were extremely displeased and shocked at the sentence that came down today, or lack thereof. He said Washington was struck three times by gunfire from officers not once, as Fischer stated during the sentencing. It should shock the conscience of anybody who has paid attention to this shooting, Smith said. The fact that Stephanie, an unarmed, African-American woman, was shot by the police still has bullet fragments in her was shot three times; and she has to live with that horror every day and the officer walks free, no jail time were shocked by that. Washingtons lawsuit names Eaton and the town of Hamden as defendants, along with Yale University and Yale police Officer Terrance Pollock who also fired his gun but was not charged. The clerk at a gas station who initially reported Witherspoon had a gun during an altercation before the shooting was also named in the lawsuit. Cerritelli said Friday his client has no desire to return to law enforcement. As a convicted felon, Eaton is prohibited by state and federal laws from possessing a firearm. Hes grateful for the support hes received from his friends, family and members of the law enforcement community, Cerritelli said in a phone interview, saying he has received messages describing Eaton as a wonderful person. Its really a sad irony that his career ended the way it did. He wanted nothing more than to help and serve the people of his community, Cerritelli said. Other conditions of Eatons sentence include no contact with Washington other than what is necessary for civil proceedings, and 150 hours of community service for each year of his probation, for 450 hours in total. According to officials, Witherspoons vehicle was stopped on Argyle Street in New Haven when the shooting occurred. Eaton told state police investigators he believed he saw an object possibly a gun in Witherspoons hand as he began to get out of the vehicle at officers command. No gun was found at the scene. A clerk at the Go On Gas Station on Arch Street in Hamden had reported an attempted robbery involving Witherspoon early that morning, initially saying during the 911 call that he had seen a gun, according to records. A newspaper deliveryman at the station told investigators that Witherspoon approached him as he handed papers to the clerk. Witherspoon asked him repeatedly, Do you have anything for me, records show. After the deliveryman said he did not, he said Witherspoon tried to grab the papers, holding on until the clerk yelled at him to let go. The deliveryman later told investigators he was 100 (percent) sure that Witherspoon planned to rob him. The clerk later told authorities he never saw a firearm during the incident. The police shooting drew outrage and protests from the community, with faith leaders demanding that both officers be fired. The Rev. Boise Kimber, who protested the incident at the time, said Saturday that the verdict represented more of the same in the community. Kimber expressed concern that a remorseful apology seems to be a get out jail card for police when they make mistakes and almost kill innocent unarmed black females. For our community, we dont have the same breaks in life. Justice needs to be equal, whether it is a young black male from the hood or a black cop from Hamden, said Kimber. In this case, and most others involving the police, justice is not equal. Community organizer Kerry Ellington, who also helped to lead demonstrations at the time, said in a statement Saturday she was completely devastated by the sentencing, saying that it serves as evidence to the fact that the systems of policing and the entire criminal justice system is criminal and needs to be abolished. Police do not keep Black and Brown communities safe, all police are in fact the very danger we need to be made safe from. Eaton is being given a pat on the wrist for unloading multiple rounds of gunfire on Stephanie Washington and Paul Witherspoon in a residential neighborhood, said Ellington. This decision to not sentence Eaton speaks to the interest of policing and a judicial system that is designed to operate exclusively with and only with violence and occupation. Stephanie Washington and Paul Witherspoon deserve justice and this is not justice, she said. Ellington called for working-class Black and Latinx communities organize here in New Haven and across Connecticut to create new systems of safety that actually create care, love and protection of our communities in the wake of the decision. Its time for a change, and Eaton walking free from real consequence further proves this to be true. We need to dismantle white supremacy, defund and abolish the police. We need to listen to the youth and remove cops from schools. And most importantly we still need justice for Stephanie Washington and Paul Witherspoon, Ellington said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com; Reporting from Peter Yankowski is included in this story Former Hamden police officer Devin Eaton will not serve any time in prison for the on-duty shooting of Stephanie Washington in April 2019, according to his lawyer. Washington, who is Black, was wounded during the shooting and was treated for her injuries. Eaton was given a sentence in state court Friday of five years suspended, with three years of probation, his attorney, Gregory Cerritelli, said. Eaton pleaded no contest to a charge of first-degree assault in January. The charge stems from an incident on April 16, 2019, as Eaton was investigating a report of an alleged armed robbery. During the incident, Eaton fired 13 shots into a car driven by Paul Witherspoon III, Washingtons friend, while she was in the car, according to court records. Eatons plea agreement initially would have suspended his five year sentence after he served 18 months in prison, but the agreement allowed him to argue for a fully-suspended sentence if he agreed to never seek employment in law enforcement again, records show. Washingtons attorney, Win Smith III, who is representing her a lawsuit over the shooting, said Friday they were extremely displeased and shocked at the sentence that came down today, or lack thereof. He also clarified that Washington was struck three times by gunfire from the officers not once as the judge had stated during the sentencing hearing Friday. It should shock the conscience of anybody who has paid attention to this shooting, Smith said in a phone interview. The fact that Stephanie, an unarmed, African American woman, was shot by the police - still has bullet fragments in her - was shot three times; and she has to live with that horror every day and the officer walks free, no jail time were shocked by that, he said. Washingtons suit names Eaton and the town of Hamden as defendants, along with a Yale police officer who also fired his gun and Yale Univeristy. The clerk at a gas station who initially reported Witherspoon had a gun during an altercation the morning of the shooting was also named in the lawsuit. As a convicted felon, Eaton is prohibited from state and federal laws from possessing a firearm. Cerritelli said Friday his client has no desire to return to law enforcement. Hes grateful for the support hes received from his friends, family and members of the law enforcement community, Cerritelli said in a phone interview. He said hes received messages describing Eaton as a wonderful person. Its really a sad irony that his career ended the way it did, he wanted nothing more than to help and serve the people of his community, Cerritelli said. Other conditions of Eatons sentence include no contact with Washington other than what is necessary for civil proceedings, and 150 hours of community service for each year of his probation for 450 hours in total. According to officials, Witherspoons vehicle was stopped on Argyle Street in New Haven. Eaton told state police investigators he believed he saw an object - possibly a gun - in Witherspoons hand as he began to exit the vehicle at officers command. No gun was found at the scene. A clerk at the Go On Gas Station on Arch Street in Hamden had reported an attempted robbery involving Witherspoon early that morning, initially saying during the 911 call that hed seen a gun, according to records. A newspaper delivery man at the station told investigators hed been approached by Witherspoon as he handed papers to the clerk, and Witherspoon had asked him repeatedly do you have anything for me, records show. After the delivery man said he did not, he claimed Witherspoon had tried to grab the papers, holding on until the clerk yelled at him to let go. The deliveryman later told investigators he was 100 (percent) sure that Witherspoon was going to rob him. The clerk later told authorities he never saw a firearm during the incident. Yale police Officer Terrance Pollock also fired his gun during the shooting, officials said. Pollock was not charged. The police shooting drew outrage and protests from the community, with faith leaders demanding that both officers be fired DOVER, Del. (AP) House leaders in Delaware on Friday chastised a fellow Democrat who suggested in an online discussion that those who dont support mask wearing amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases but do support gun rights should kill themselves with their guns. House leaders gave no indication, however, that they want to pursue formal disciplinary action against Rep. John Kowalko. Kowalko made the comment in a post following the Texas school shooting but later deleted his Facebook comments and apologized. Kowalko, a Newark Democrat who once described himself as your textbook liberal, progressive Dem, made the offensive comment earlier this week in an online back-and-forth with a conservative commenter over whether people should wear masks. Kowalko, who has a history of making inflammatory statements, later posted the apology for remarks that question the sincerity and intentions of those individuals who feel that their personal rights are being abrogated or threatened. House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst and Majority Whip Larry Mitchell said in a joint statement released Friday that Kowalkos comments were offensive and indefensible. We understand the circumstances surrounding his remarks were tense the ongoing issue of people arguing against wearing masks to protect against COVID, and questions about gun rights but intimating violence and self-harm against another person is not conduct that should be tolerated, the statement read. Were grateful he deleted the comments and apologized, but this behavior should not be normalized, the statement added. Lastly, suicide is something we take very seriously and should never be encouraged, even in a joking manner. Kowalkos online comments were directed at Chris Rowe, who resigned as chairman of the New Castle County Republican Party in 2020 after using a derogatory term for homosexuals in a Facebook post. In 2020, Kowalko drew fire for a profane email targeting lawmakers and others who supported minimum wage legislation that would allow employers to pay a lower wage to new hires and to young people. At a local school board meeting in 2015, Kowalko referred to state education officials and to then-Gov. Jack Markell, the nations only Jewish governor at the time, by what is widely considered to be an anti-Semitic slur. Kowalko apologized in both those instances. Kowalko has been a state representative since 2006. Now 76, he announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election. Bjoern Wylezich / TNS A Vernon man pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge Friday, after law enforcement said he dropped a bag containing a handgun during a 2020 traffic stop in Hartford. Rondell Chambers, 31, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, the U.S. attorneys office said. LGI Homes (LGIH) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.25 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.65 per share. This compares to earnings of $3.95 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 22.64%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this entry-level homebuilder in the Texas, Arizona, Florida and Georgia markets would post earnings of $4.62 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.53, delivering a surprise of -1.95%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. LGI Homes , which belongs to the Zacks Real Estate - Development industry, posted revenues of $546.05 million for the quarter ended March 2022, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.17%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $705.95 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. LGI Homes shares have lost about 36.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -12.8%. What's Next for LGI Homes? While LGI Homes has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for LGI Homes: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $4.42 on $784.23 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $17.19 on $3.04 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Real Estate - Development is currently in the bottom 38% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Howard Hughes (HHC), another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2022. The results are expected to be released on May 9. This land developer is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.58 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. Howard Hughes' revenues are expected to be $196.48 million, up 3.1% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report LGI Homes, Inc. (LGIH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Howard Hughes Corporation The (HHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. TalonWork Recognized for Innovative Approach for Securing Hybrid Work TEL AVIV, Israel, May 03, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Talon Cyber Security, provider of the first secure enterprise browser, today announced that it has been named one of 10 finalists for the RSA Conference 2022 Innovation Sandbox Contest for its work in helping customers better secure distributed workforces. On Monday, June 6, Talon will present its technology to a panel of renowned industry judges and a live in-person audience at RSA Conference 2022 in San Francisco. Since 2005, the RSAC Innovation Sandbox has served as a platform for the most promising young cybersecurity companies to showcase their groundbreaking technologies and compete for the title of "Most Innovative Startup." The competition is widely recognized as a catapult for success and the top 10 finalists have collectively celebrated 69 acquisitions and received $9.8 billion in investments over the last 17 years. Talon will have three minutes to pitch the panel of judges before a question-and-answer round. "While the cybersecurity industry contends with constant changes and challenges, these bold thinkers are the changemakers we need to protect the world against new threats," said Linda Gray Martin Vice President, RSA Conference. "For the last 17 years, RSAC Innovation Sandbox finalists have gone on to make a significant impact, and theres no doubt that this Contest year is any different. Were cheering on this years finalists to carry on the competitions legacy with their game-changing ideas and I look forward to seeing the influence they make on the future." Purpose-built for the enterprise, TalonWork empowers organizations to simplify their security programs by bringing enterprise-grade security to the browser, delivering native features like identity protection, data loss prevention, zero trust controls and more. Customers leverage Talon to gain visibility into and secure SaaS applications, web activity, corporate devices and non-corporate devices. Built on Chromium, TalonWork ensures employee privacy and delivers the consistent, high-quality user experiences needed to securely power the future of work. Story continues "The legacy approach to enabling secure access to modern applications is expensive, complex and puts enterprises at risk," said Ofer Ben-Noon, co-founder and CEO, Talon Cyber Security. "TalonWork provides a simple, seamless new first line of defense for enterprise security that drastically simplifies the technology stack. We cant wait to show the world our solution at RSA Conference and for everyone to see how we have transformed the browser into a control point and true business enabler for security and IT teams." The RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest kicks off at 12:00 p.m. PT on June 6 and winners will be announced at 3:00 p.m. the same day. The panel of renowned expert judges includes Dorit Dor, Chief Product Officer at Check Point Software Technologies; Niloofar Howe, Sr. Operating Partner at Energy Impact Partners; Paul Kocher, Independent Researcher; Shlomo Kramer, Co-founder and CEO, Cato Networks; and Christopher Young, Executive Vice President of Business Development Strategy and Ventures at Microsoft. Hugh Thompson, Program Committee Chair of RSA Conference, will return to host the contest. For more information regarding RSA Conference 2022, taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from June 6-9, please visit https://www.rsaconference.com/usa. About Talon Cyber Security Talon Cyber Security is modernizing security programs and improving user experiences for hybrid work by delivering the first secure enterprise browser. Built on Chromium, the TalonWork browser provides customers with the consistent user experiences, deep security visibility, and control over SaaS and web applications needed to simplify security for the future of work. For more information, visit Talon at https://talon-sec.com/, or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events and year-round learning for the cybersecurity community. RSAC is where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and have access to the experts, unbiased content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies advance their cybersecurity posture and build stronger and smarter teams. Both in-person and online, RSAC brings the cybersecurity industry together and empowers the collective "we" to stand against cyberthreats around the world. RSAC is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential, and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in cybersecurity today. For the most up-to-date news pertaining to the cybersecurity industry visit www.rsaconference.com. Where the world talks security. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220503006024/en/ Contacts Justin McCann Talon Cyber Security justinm@talon-sec.com ST. LOUIS COUNTY People driving on eastbound Interstate 44 at the Meramec River near Eureka should expect significant traffic delays as workers make emergency bridge expansion joint repairs, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced Saturday. Crews expected to reopen the two right lanes of eastbound 44 by Sunday morning. They will then switch and close the left lane, which should be reopened by Wednesday morning. MoDOT is urging drivers to consider alternate routes. Eastbound drivers can exit at Gray Summit and go east on Highway 11. They can also exit at Highway 109 in Eureka and then take 109 to Highway 100. Other options include Highways 30 and 21. Drivers can also check the MoDOT Traveler Information Map before heading out at http://traveler.modot.org/map/ or via their app. ST. LOUIS Thousands of former inmates could be eligible to join an ArchCity Defenders lawsuit alleging "inhumane conditions" at the St. Louis jail known as the workhouse. On Wednesday, a federal judge granted class-action certification in the lawsuit filed against St. Louis in 2017 on behalf of some former inmates at the Medium Security Institution. U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig's ruling certifies eligibility for two classes of individuals pretrial detainees and post-conviction inmates held at the facility between Nov. 13, 2012, and July 1, 2018. Her order also creates subclasses for detainees in the jail during those same dates when the jail exceeded 88 degrees Fahrenheit. ArchCity Defenders claimed inadequate ventilation, medical care and sanitation in the jail as part of its lawsuit. In December, Fleissig denied a motion from ArchCity Defenders to certify class-action status because the dates listed initially were too broad. A more focused claim, covering a more discrete time period, on behalf of a more uniform class, may well be appropriate for class certification, the court wrote. The court also acknowledged in the order that St. Louis implemented "substantial changes" to the jail over the proposed class period, including installing air conditioning units in July of 2017 and drastically decreasing the facility's population by the summer of 2021. The six plaintiffs named in the suit were incarcerated at the jail in 2017 from January to October. A judge dismissed a seventh plaintiff initially named on the suit for failing to comply with a court order. In a statement, ArchCity Defenders said a notice process would get underway soon to inform potential class members of the court's decision. Under St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, the city closed the workhouse in June but began using it again in August on a temporary basis after disturbances at the City Justice Center, the main jail downtown. City officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night. 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 The matriarch of the family who lost five members in a crash earlier this month spoke at a hearing for the suspected driver Friday afternoon, less than two hours before she was set to attend visitation for her relatives. Eleanor Simmons spoke during a bail hearing for Marshawn D. Stepney, 18, of St. Louis. He 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 in connection with the May 6 crash. Stepney appeared virtually from the City Justice Center, while Simmons was in the courtroom. She told the court she was the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of the five people killed in the crash at Delmar Boulevard and Pendleton Avenue. Through tears, she told Judge Rex Burlison that Stepney must face consequences. It is very hard for my family to wrap our heads around this, she said. I hate that this happened to (Stepney) because I wouldnt want it to happen to my children. Simmons noted her daughter Anngelique Simmons, who was driving the minivan home from a grocery store when it was hit by the stolen Jeep going 82 mph, has a twin who is devastated by the loss. Do not release this young man because he does not understand what he has done, the damage that hes done, she said. Prosecuting attorney Rob Huq told the court that police found Stepneys cellphone on the drivers side of the stolen Jeep after the crash. Police said the driver ran from the scene. Stepney was arrested and charged about a week later. Huq said that the teenager admitted to having been present at the crash and knowing the Jeep was stolen. While Stepney does not have a criminal history as an adult, Huq said, he was convicted of several charges as a minor in September. Those charges included tampering with a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. This is a serious case with serious consequences, the prosecutor told the court, asking Burlison to keep Stepney in custody without bail. Stepneys court-appointed lawyer, Eric V. Barnhart, confirmed with Stepney that he was unemployed and not in school, and asked the teen how much his mother was capable of posting for bail. Barnhart asked the judge to release Stepney on a personal recognizance bond. Burlison denied bail and scheduled Stepneys next court appearance for June 13. {div class=lee-article-text}The crash killed 11-year-old Takera Thompson; Takeras grandmother, Anngelique Simmons, 56; Takeras aunt, Rhonda Simmons, 34; and two of Takeras great-uncles, Ephriam Wayne Simmons, 47, and Luther Simmons, 43. {/div} {div class=lee-article-text}Takeras 8-year-old sister, Trinity Thompson, and a cousin, 15-year-old Anniyasha Wallace, were injured but survived. Two teenagers who were passengers in the Jeep were arrested at the scene of the crash. On Friday morning, a spokesman for the St. Louis City Family Court said one of those teens, a 17-year-old, was in custody and has been charged with five counts of second-degree murder, tampering with a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. His name has not been released because he has not been charged as an adult. The other teenager is charged with one misdemeanor and is not in custody, according to the court spokesman. He did not meet Missouris legal standards for authorities to detain him. {/div} 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 night with a statement from a St. Louis County spokesman. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A federal judge this week approved a settlement by which St. Louis County will pay $300,000 to a couple who sued after police barged into their home without a warrant in 2016. The judgment, issued Thursday, means the county must pay Jon Luer and Andrea Steinebach for an incident at their home in unincorporated St. Louis County near Ballwin on July 10, 2016, according to a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri. The couple were awakened about 3 a.m. that morning to find two armed officers in their hallway. Police had been searching the area for an intoxicated man who refused to pay his cab fare when they spotted an open side door to the Luer-Steinebachs garage. The officers took Luers stepson, who was also in the house, out to let the cab driver look at him, but left after deciding he was not the suspect. Last year, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals said the couple's lawsuit could proceed, calling the actions by county police severe, warrantless intrusion into a home." Doug Moore, a spokesman for St. Louis County, said, With the judges approval of the settlement, we believe this case was appropriately resolved. 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. CLAYTON Margaret Starks wants St. Louis County to answer for what happened to her son, Drexel Starks, a drug user who died during withdrawal in 2015, just two days after he was booked into the county jail for violating parole on a drug possession conviction. County jail staff knew Starks could suffer from drug withdrawal when he was booked into the jail. A lawsuit Margaret Starks filed in 2020 alleges jail staff neglected his obviously declining health until he was found lying on the floor of his cell, two hours before he would be pronounced dead at a hospital. But the county says it has no death report or internal affairs interviews that would help detail what exactly led to Starks death, including the approximately 29 hours between the time Starks was denied urgent care and the time he was found unresponsive in his cell. And the county has provided no explanation for why the records dont exist. It reopens the wound, Margaret Starks, 78, said in an interview. Not knowing is really the worst thing. You go to bed wondering, you wake up wondering. You just cant seem to sleep. The county admitted it had no death report only after a federal judge on Dec. 7 ordered the county to respond to Starks attorney, Mark Pedroli, who five months earlier filed court motions for key records that would identify details about Starks stay in the jail and the names of guards and nurses in charge of his care. Those records include a Morbidity and Mortality Review, which the jail is required to produce each time an inmate dies, according to a county policy established in 2000. The county also said it has no record of internal affairs interviews that would have been conducted to review what led to Starks death, and said it has no copies of revisions to the Mortality and Morbidity Review policy over the years, despite the policy noting it had been revised four times. I think it is a position to cover up the fact that (the mortality report) may not exist, that they didnt do it in the first place, and that theyre trying to hide that fact, Pedroli said. County Counselor Beth Orwick confirmed the county has no death report, but did not respond to other questions about the policy revisions or why the county delayed responding to Pedrolis discovery requests for months. There is no Morbidity and Mortality Report from this seven-year-old case, Orwick said in an email. Beyond that, I am not going to comment on this pending litigation. The developments in the lawsuit come at a time when the jail is undergoing an outside audit that stems from the deaths of six inmates in 2019 and 2020, each of whom died of a medical condition. The county has refused to release most records on the deaths, but has said that auditors have access to other investigative reports. Last year, the county agreed to pay $87,500 to settle an open records lawsuit by Pedroli after the county refused to release records in a wrongful death suit filed by the family of, Lamar Catchings, 20, who died March 1, 2019, of leukemia after a year in custody. Margaret Starks filed suit in St. Louis County Circuit Court in August 2020 alleging Drexel Starks civil rights were violated; the case was moved to federal court in April 2021. Pedroli filed motions to get internal county records Aug. 5, three days after a judge granted permission for discovery. But it took three extensions and a judge summoning county attorneys to court Dec. 16 for Pedroli to receive some documents, which did not contain any witness statements or audio interviews nor identify staff charged with Starks supervision. Starks was pronounced dead Aug. 6, 2015, at age 52, two days after he was booked into the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton and less than two hours after he was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell. He was booked into the jail the morning of Aug. 4, 2015, for allegedly violating parole from a 2011 drug possession felony. Nurses noted Starks had prior drug use in his booking record and wrote subject may withdraw from heroin when he was booked into the county jail Aug. 5, 2015. The record also noted Starks had a prior conviction of second-degree murder. In 1989, Starks was one of two men charged with setting fire to the vacant first floor of a West End building after a botched drug deal in 1988; three little girls left in a locked second-floor bedroom by their mother died of smoke inhalation. Instead of being placed in the infirmary for close medical observation, Starks was placed in a cell alone, the lawsuit says. He was given a dose at 9 p.m. that night of Clonidine, an FDA-approved drug used to treat high blood pressure and often used to alleviate alcohol or opioid withdrawal. Starks received a second dose of Clonidine at 9 a.m. Aug. 5, when a medical assistant found his blood pressure had fallen to 90/50, just below the threshold for being considered low blood pressure, and notified a nurse. Starks told jail staff he was not feeling well, complained of dehydration and requested to be taken to the infirmary, according to the lawsuit. But guards left him in his cell. Twenty-nine hours later, about 2 p.m. Aug. 6, a guard found Starks lying on the floor of his cell with a small pool of clear saliva by his face, the suit says. Guards called for a nurse, who noted Starks was breathing rapidly, had cold hands and fingers and a pulse too weak to obtain a blood pressure reading. The nurse obtained permission from a corrections supervisor to transfer Starks to the infirmary. But it took another 45 minutes to get him there, and by then his extremities were cold to the touch and [the nurse] was unable to obtain vital signs, the suit says. By 2:55 p.m., jail staff were completing paperwork to get Starks to a hospital for emergency medical treatment and he was taken to a waiting area. Two minutes later, Starks went into distress, was lowered to the floor, and appeared to be no longer breathing, according to the suit. Paramedics attempted emergency measures. Starks was pronounced dead at 3:51 p.m. at SSM Health St. Marys Hospital. His official cause of death was listed as unexpected death in patient withdrawing from heroin and cocaine with dehydration and cardiac dysrhythmia. Pedroli said he sought records that would fill in a gap between when Starks had requested infirmary care and when he was found on the floor. For whatever reason theres just a lapse, where there is no nurse that went in, he said. Theyre supposed to go in twice a day if not more. They should have called 911, they should have taken him directly to the hospital, and not just caught him laying on the ground drooling. But they didnt. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Jive Investments, Brazils largest distressed-asset manager, hired Camila Detomi from Credit Suisse Group AG in Brazil. Most Read from Bloomberg Detomi, the former head of alternative investments at Credit Suisse Hedging-Griffo Corretora de Valores SAs private bank, was named a partner who will lead the products unit, Jive said. That business creates, structures and defines selling strategies for new funds. She will also help find merger-and-acquisition opportunities, according to the alternative asset management firm. XP Inc., Brazils biggest brokerage, bought a minority stake in Jive last June, and about 20 of Credit Suisses wealthy private-banking clients also acquired shares. The partnership allows Jive to start offering less complicated distressed investments to XPs mom and pop investors and to grow more aggressively through acquisitions. Earlier this month, Jive announced a merger with asset manager Maua Capital, creating a firm with 13 billion reais ($2.7 billion) in assets under management and 350 employees. Before Credit Suisse, Detomi worked for Banco Safra SA in Brazil, HSBC Holdings Plc in London and BNP Paribas SA in Brazil. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy spoke defiantly Friday in two speeches about his countrys ultimate victory over Russian forces in both the most pressing battle in eastern Ukraine and the war, generally. Ukraine is a country that has destroyed the myth about the extraordinary power of the Russian army -- an army that supposedly, in a few days, could conquer anyone it wants, he told Stanford University students by video. Now Russia is trying to occupy the entire state but we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which will be open to the world. Later, in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy reacted to Russians capture of the eastern city of Lyman, the Donetsk regions large railway hub north of two more key cities still under Ukrainian control, and its attempt to encircle and seize the city of Sievierodonetsk, one of the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong, the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. Donbas will be Ukrainian. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Relentless: Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in east West mulls having Russian oligarchs buy way out of sanctions Russia blames the West for global food crisis as it blocks Ukraine ports US wins latest legal battle to seize Russian yacht in Fiji US general: No need to add ground forces in Sweden, Finland Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: KYIV, Ukraine The governor of the Luhansk region is denying Russian claims that their forces have surrounded the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk but said Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat. Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram Friday that the Russians have seized a hotel and bus station. The Russians will not be able to capture Luhansk region in the coming days, as analysts predict. We will have enough forces and means to defend ourselves, Haidai wrote. He added that its possible that not to be surrounded, we will have to leave. A critical supply and evacuation path, the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway, is constantly under fire, but supplies and people are still passing on it, Haidai said. KYIV, Ukraine The leaders of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine that were affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church have adopted measures declaring the churchs full independence and criticizing the Russian churchs leader for his support of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Orthodoxy, the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, is divided between churches that had been loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate and those under a separate ecclesiastical body. The council of the Moscow-connected body, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on Friday said it condemns the war as a violation of Gods commandment Thou shalt not kill! ... and expresses disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. It also adopted charter changes indicating the full autonomy and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox church. ROME Italian Premier Mario Draghi spoke by phone Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy, assuring him of the support of the Italian government in coordination with the European Union. Draghis office said the leaders also discussed the prospects for opening Ukrainian ports to allow grain exports to help combat the food crisis that is threatening the worlds poorest countries. Draghi spoke Thursday with President Vladimir Putin in a bid to reach an agreement to open the ports, and Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Italys commitment to work on a possible solution. Draghi noted after speaking to Putin that many millions of tons of grain risk rotting in Ukrainian ports if there is no agreement to allow their passage. The Kremlin-backed leader of Russias southern province of Chechnya has posted a video in which he warns that Poland could be next after Ukraine. Ramzan Kadyrov, who is famous for his bluster, said in the video he posted to his official Telegram page that Ukraine was a done deal and that if an order is given after Ukraine, well show you (Poland) what youre made of in six seconds. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has provided its neighbor with weapons and other aid since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has also welcomed in millions of Ukrainian refugees. Kadyrov later urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finally come to his senses and accept the conditions offered by our president (Vladimir Putin). Kadyrov has repeatedly used social media to boast about Chechen fighters alleged performance against Ukrainian troops and to make other unconfirmed statements about the war in Ukraine. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Ukraine should remove sea mines from areas near its ports to allow safe shipping. Putin made the statement in Fridays call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, according to the Kremlin readout of the conversation. It said that Putin and Nehammer had a detailed exchange of views on issues regarding food security with Putin rejecting Western claims that Russias action that exacerbated a global food crisis. The Kremlin noted that Putin emphasized that attempts to blame Russia for difficulties regarding shipments of agricultural products to global markets are unfounded. It added that the Russian leader gave a detailed explanation of the real roots behind those problems that emerged, in particular, because of the U.S. and the EU sanctions against Russia. The U.S. and other Western allies have rejected the Russian demand for the sanctions to be lifted and accused Moscow of blocking grain supplies from Ukraine to global markets accusations the Kremlin has denied. LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian forces are making palpable progress in eastern Ukraine, and Kyivs forces need long-range rocket launchers and other military support. Britains defense ministry said Friday that Moscows troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in the eastern Donbas region, but do not yet have full control of the region. Johnson told news agency Bloomberg that Russian President Vladimir Putin at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas, hes continuing to make gradual, slow but Im afraid palpable progress. He said that therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily. Johnson said long-range multiple-launch rocket systems, or MLRSs, would enable them to defend themselves against this very brutal Russian artillery. Britain possesses some of the systems, but Johnson did not say whether the U.K. would send any to Ukraine. PRAGUE The U.K.s top diplomat says countries supporting Ukraine have to be ready for the long haul and there should be no talk of appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said after meeting her Czech counterpart in Prague Friday that we need to make sure that Ukraine wins and that Russia withdraws and that we never see this type of Russian aggression again. She said that there should be no talk of cease-fires, or appeasing Putin. Truss says that Ukraine needs to receive more heavy weapons and gradually get upgraded to get NATO-standard equipment. She said that at the moment, theyre using a lot of ex-Soviet equipment. We need to make sure theyre able to defend themselves into the future. BUDAPEST, Hungary -- A U.S. lawmaker is urging the Biden administration to consider imposing sanctions on some Hungarian companies in an effort to pressure Budapest to agree to a European Union embargo on Russian oil. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi urged him to consider all tools including sanctions to ensure that Hungary -- a member of the EU and NATO -- gets on board with the proposal. The EU has for weeks has sought to forge a consensus on a new sanctions package that would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held up negotiations and threatened a veto of the plan, arguing it would devastate Hungarys economy and lead to energy insecurity. In his letter to Blinken, Krishnamoorthi wrote that the EUs proposed embargo would significantly increase financial pressure on Russias economy and Putins war machine. If Orban continues to stall EU negotations, he wrote, the Biden Administration should consider implementing sanctions against companies in Hungary that continue to do business with Russian oil exporters. ISTANBUL Turkeys foreign minister says Sweden and Finland must now take concrete steps to alleviate his countrys security concerns to overcome Ankaras objections to their NATO membership bid. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with Turkeys demands after a visit this week and Ankara is awaiting their answers. The countries membership bids require support from all NATO countries, but Turkey is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants that Turkey considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. Cavusoglu said that an approach of well convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies would not be correct. He insisted that these countries need to take concrete steps. He added that we understand Finland and Swedens security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkeys legitimate security concerns. ROME Italian Premier Mario Draghi has discussed the emerging food crisis in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Draghis office said that the call Thursday focused on the situation in Ukraine and ... efforts to find a shared solution to the ongoing food crisis and its serious repercussions on the worlds poorest countries. 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. Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia, seeking to shift the blame for the food crisis. BERLIN -- Germanys development minister has traveled to Ukraine to pledge further civilian support and discuss the countrys rebuilding. Svenja Schulze is the second German minister to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited on May 10 and reopened the countrys embassy in Kyiv. Schulzes ministry said she planned to meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other senior officials in Kyiv on Friday. It said the talks will address immediate aid to address the problems Ukraine faces now and strategic questions related to rebuilding the country. Schulze said in a statement that we must already lay now the foundations for internationally coordinated support for the rebuilding of a free and democratic Ukraine and Germany will contribute. MOSCOW -- Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim to have taken control of Lyman, a town in the Donetsk region. There has been no confirmation yet from Ukrainian officials. The military of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic said on Telegram that rebel forces, supported by the Russian troops, as of Friday have liberated and taken full control of 220 settlements, including Lyman. Lyman, which had a pre-war population of over 20,000, is a large railway hub in the Donetsk region, north of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, cities that remain under Ukrainian control. MOSCOW -- Russias Foreign Ministry has announced that it is expelling five Croatian diplomats in response to unfriendly steps taken by Zagreb to reduce the size of Russias diplomatic mission there. The ministry said in an statement that it summoned Croatian ambassador Tomislav Car on Friday. It said it expressed a strong protest in connection with the groundless attempts of the Croatian authorities to blame Russia for war crimes in Ukraine and the provision of military assistance by the Croatian side to the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime. Last month, Croatia expelled 18 Russian diplomats. KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraines foreign minister is pleading with Western nations to provide Kyiv with heavy weapons to enable it to push Russian forces back. Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday night tweeted a video of himself answering questions submitted on Twitter and said: We need heavy weapons. The only position where Russia is better than us its the amount of heavy weapons they have. Without artillery, without multiple launch rocket systems we wont be able to push them back. Kuleba said that the situation in the east of the country, where the Russian forces are on the offensive, is as dire as people say. He added: I would even say its even worse than people say. We need weapons. If you really care for Ukraine, weapons, weapons and weapons again, the minister stressed. KYIV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian regional governor says that four people have been killed in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk over the past 24 hours by Russian shelling. One more person was killed by a Russian shell in the village of Komushuvakha. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, wrote in a Telegram post Friday that the residents of Sievierodonetsk have forgotten when was the last time there was silence in the city for at least half an hour. He said that the Russians are pounding residential neighborhoods relentlessly. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said on Thursday that 60% of the citys residential buildings have been destroyed, and about 85-90% have been damaged and require major repairs. WELLINGTON, New Zealand The United States has won the latest round of a legal battle to seize a $325-million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nations top court. The case has highlighted the thorny legal ground the U.S. finds itself on as it tries to seize assets of Russian oligarchs around the world. Those intentions are welcomed by many governments and citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine, but some actions are raising questions about how far U.S. jurisdiction extends. Fijis Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Feizal Haniff, who represents the company that legally owns the superyacht Amadea. Haniff had argued the U.S. had no jurisdiction under Fijis mutual assistance laws to seize the vessel, at least until a court sorted out who really owned the Amadea. Haniff said he now plans to take the case to Fijis Supreme Court and will apply for a court order to stop U.S. agents sailing the Amadea from Fiji before the appeal is heard. WASHINGTON The U.S. general nominated to take over European Command has told senators that Sweden and Finlands push to join NATO wont require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Thursday that 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. Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing that The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward." He said that 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 Russias invasion. He said the increase had no ties to the more recent move by Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Since 2015, when the fighting in eastern Ukraine became a stalemate, both sides have used a lot of artillery. Until recently both Russians and Ukrainians used many of the same artillery weapons, most of Cold War (Soviet era) designs. Until 2022, air power was not a factor in Donbas because the Russia insisted on portraying the Ukrainian separatists in Donbas as a local group fighting for independence from Ukraine. That was never true and there were more and more Russian troops there, pretending to be locals. Russia could not employ air power because the separatists never had any and Russian forces were technically not involved. The separatists could claim to have some captured air defense weapons, so the Ukrainian did not use their aircraft near the combat zone. That was the ceasefire line where Ukrainian troops and volunteers halted the Russian advance. Another reason for not using aircraft near or over occupied Donbas was an incident in July 2014 when a Malaysian B-777 airliner was shot down by the Ukrainian separatists using a Russian Buk M2 (SA-17) self-propelled anti-aircraft system that could hit aircraft at altitudes up to 25,000 meters (82,000 feet). The B-777 and the 298 people aboard crashed in separatist territory and Russia claimed that the Ukrainians fired the missile. There was an international uproar and Russia was forced to allow Dutch (the aircraft was flying from Netherlands) accident investigators to recover the bodies and examine the wreckage and recover some aircraft components. That included fragments of the missile that brought down the airliner that serial numbers on some of the missile components showed it was a version of the Buk-M2 that only Russia had. Witnesses later revealed that the Russian Buk M2 had recently crossed the border and turned over to separatists who were actually Russian troops trained to use it. The Bukm2 operators thought they were firing at a Ukrainian military transport. The Russian BukM2 was driven back to Russia after the airliner was shot down. Other Russian anti-aircraft systems had shot down Ukrainian transports operating near the front line but never spotted one flying over separatist territory like the Malaysian airliner. By the end of 2014 the Ukrainians stopped operating transports or combat aircraft near the front line. Russia continued to station BukM2 vehicles on the border between Russia and separatist occupied Donbas even though there was nothing to shoot at. International airlines no longer flew anywhere near Donbas. The only aircraft still used were UAVs, and Ukraine had more of those and used them to find targets for Ukrainian artillery. From 2015 to 2022 there were a series of ceasefires in effect. These were regularly violated by the separatists or Russian artillery on the border that pretended it was firing from inside Donbas. To counter this Ukraine stationed a lot of artillery near the ceasefire line so that it could respond to violations of the ceasefire. All this demonstrated to the Ukrainians that the Russians could not be trusted and that if the war was resumed, it was better to prepare for that. That meant that by 2022 the Ukrainians had upgraded and expanded their air force and air defense systems. Also upgraded and expanded was the artillery available for use against Russian forces if there was another war. There was, and it began February 24th with the Russians using a plan that sought to avoid a protracted battle against Ukrainian artillery and air power. This daring plan involved a rapid advance on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and another northern city Kharkiv. There were smaller attacks in Donbas and in southern Ukrainian using forces based in Crimea. The Russians misjudged the determination of the Ukrainians and the main attack from the north was halted and forced to retreat. The Russians suffered heavy losses. The Donbas attack also failed. After two months of this Russia changed their strategy and concentrated on using a lot of artillery to destroy towns and cities they could not capture. The Russian attitude seemed to be; if we cant have it, neither can you. This new strategy was partially successful but then the Ukrainians demonstrated that they had carried out major upgrades to their own artillery and how it was used. In 2014 Russia and Ukraine both had a lot of artillery systems, most of them of Cold War vintage. Russia was also dismayed to discover that the upgrades to Ukrainian air-defense systems and combat aircraft prevented Russian from gaining air superiority and freely using their larger air force against Ukrainian artillery. Until 2022 Russia made frequent use of the Cold War era Tochka-U (also known as SS-21) ballistic missile and Luna-M (an unguided rocket also known as FROG-7). SS-21 has a range of 120 kilometers while unguided FROG-7 is fired in large numbers at targets up to 70 kilometers away. Another Russian favorite was the 300mm BM-30, which was introduced in the late 1980s and seen as a copy of the American MLRS system that entered service in 1982. Both systems fired unguided long range (70 kilometers) rockets, The Americans added guidance systems to their MLRS rockets in 2005 and Russia did the same by 2018, calling the guided, heavy multiple rocket launcher Tornado-S. Tornado-S began production in 2012 and only a few were available as problems with the first version were worked out. By 2017 a reliable Tornado-S was in mass production and many of the guided missiles used by Russian forces in Ukraine have been Tornado-S. For bombarding cities, the Russians prefer the smaller unguided MLRS rockets that both sides possess. For Russia the unguided rockets have the advantage of not containing any Western components. The fire control system in the launcher vehicle might but similar components are designed and manufactured in China. These are easy to smuggle into Russia. The unguided rockets come in several calibers, including the 220mm BM-27 that is fired from a sixteen-tube launcher out to 35 kilometers; warheads weigh between 90 and 100 kg while the complete rockets weigh 280 kg. The common unguided rocket is the 122mm BM-21 that showed up in the 1960s. Also using a truck mounted launcher setup that contains 40 122mm launch tubes, capable of firing a variety of rockets. That means 122mm rocket range varies from 12 to 45 kilometers. Longer range is achieved by reducing warhead weight. Both sides use a lot of 122mm unguided rockets. Since 2015 Russia has been manufacturing the highly automated Tornado-G launcher with an improved fire control system and better able to avoid Ukrainian counterbattery fire. The Ukrainians are very fast and accurate with their counterbattery fire and meant Russian artillery that could not quickly change position after firing a salvo of shells or rockets was vulnerable. As Ukraine receives more self-propelled artillery systems equipped to work efficiently with a distant counterfire radar system that quickly spots incoming shells or rockets and calculates where the fire is coming from. Ukraine has developed very quick counterbattery fire techniques, often using individual self-propelled guns that can halt, fire several shells at a location provided by counterfire radar and be moving again quickly enough to avoid any Russian counterbattery fire. Russia still uses a lot of tube artillery, most of it 152mm systems. Users prefer armored self-propelled 152mm guns because these are more resistant to damage or destruction by Ukrainian counterbattery fire. Russia has several types of these well protected guns. The most powerful one is the 2S7, which uses a T-80 tank chassis and carries a 203mm (8 inch) gun. These are Cold War era systems that were retired and in storage. After 2014 2S7 vehicles were reactivated and put to work. The 203mm gun has a range of 55 kilometers for a 100 kg rocket-assisted shell. These vehicles can fire shells weighing up to 100 kg as far as 55 kilometers with rocket assisted projectiles. Both sides used a lot of towed 122mm and 152mm artillery as well as 120mm mortars. During the first two months of the 2022 invasion the Ukrainians made heavy use of artillery because they had better communications and fire control systems than the Russians, who ignored these developments until Russian armored vehicles and supply vehicles suffered heavy losses After six weeks of this heavy personnel and vehicle losses the Russians retreated from most of northern Ukraine and changed their tactics to deal with the Ukrainian novel and devastating fire-control systemss. The new and still current plan is to use lots of unguided artillery shells and rockets to bombard urban areas, especially civilians. This massed firepower and the dwindling supply of guided weapons, especially the long-range ones, were used against military targets in the east (Donbas) and along the Ukrainian Black Sea coast. This lowered Russian casualties while increasing those of the Ukrainians. It also means slower advances as well as increasingly effective counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces. The Russian attacks on civilians led to more Ukrainians in Russian controlled areas turning to partisan warfare. This sort of thing is an ancient Ukrainian tradition that makes civilians even more of a target. That is less of an obstacle when the Russians are already killing lots of Ukrainian civilians. The Russian response against civilians believed supporting local partisans are so similar to German methods used against partisans throughout occupied Europe that the Russians are taking a major hit in their propaganda campaign to the Russian people that Russian troops are fighting Nazi Ukrainians. The partisans and their civilian supporters still have their cellphones to covertly record Russian war-crimes. The Russians realized this and made it a capital crime for Ukrainian civilians to possess a cellphone that can operate with Ukrainian cellphone networks. That doesnt stop civilians from making videos of these atrocities, it just takes a little longer for the videos to reach the outside world, including Russia, where a growing number of civilians are openly protesting the war and more are attacking the war effort, usually by setting fires to recruiting stations and storage areas for military fuel and ammunition needed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia is a major oil producer and still has large stocks of elderly (Cold War era) shells and unguided rockets that are often dangerous to use. The chemicals used in shells and rockets become unstable and unreliable as it gets older. This causes some casualties for Russian artillerymen but not so many make their job as dangerous as troops in the combat units or transportation units carrying these fuel and ammo supplies to front line troops. Some of the Russian troops handing this unstable ammo notice when shells or rockets show signs of dangerous degradation and abandon it rather than risk using it. Thats what more and more Russians want to do with the Russian misadventures in Ukraine. This document updates the previous news release, dated May 26th, 2022, to include the exchange and ticker symbol for Synex Renewable Energy Corporation. No other changes were required in the body of the release. 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 Hundreds of Aspen Dental offices to open doors for annual Day of Service, honoring veterans Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 to schedule an appointment CHICAGO, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 11, participating Aspen Dental locations nationwide will open their doors to provide free care to military veterans across the country. Now in its 8th year, the Aspen Dental Day of Service provides much-needed dental care for veterans and their families at no cost to honor their service and break down barriers to health care. Appointments are still available for veterans in Michigan, at the following Aspen Dental locations: Allen Park, Michigan Bay City, Michigan Benton Harbor, Michigan Brighton, Michigan Cadillac, Michigan Chesterfield, Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan (Walker) Lake Orion-Auburn Hills, Michigan Midland, Michigan Novi, Michigan Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 (1-844-ASPENHMM) to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment. Advance appointments are required. During the Day of Service, Aspen Dental doctors and their teams focus on treating the most urgent dental needs for veterans and their families - with a focus on getting them out of pain, from fillings and extractions to dental hygiene and basic denture repairs. Millions of Americans struggle to access dental care every year, and veterans are no exception. In fact, U.S. veterans are ineligible for dental benefits through the Veterans Administration unless they're 100% disabled, have a service-related mouth injury, or were a prisoner of war. Visit www.HealthyMouthMovement.com to learn more. About Aspen Dental Aspen Dental was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana with a simple goal in mind: to break down the barriers that doctors and patients face when it comes to dental care. Today, more than 20 years later, with nearly 1,000 Aspen Dental locations nationwide, the mission of the company remains the same to bring better care to more people. Aspen Dental is the largest group of branded dental offices in the world. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About TAG The Aspen Group TAG The Aspen Group was built on the simple idea of bringing better health care to more people. TAG and the independent health care practices it supports operate more than 1,100 locations in 45 states through its four health care support companies: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care and Chapter Aesthetic StudioSM. Combined, the companies serve more than 35,000 patients a day and more than 8 million patients each year. TAG is headquartered at 800 W. Fulton Market in Chicago. For more information, visit teamtag.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/free-dental-care-for-military-veterans-and-their-families-on-saturday-june-11-with-appointments-still-available-in-michigan-301557011.html SOURCE Aspen Dental Hundreds of Aspen Dental offices to open doors for annual Day of Service, honoring veterans Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 to schedule an appointment CHICAGO, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, June 11, participating Aspen Dental locations nationwide will open their doors to provide free care to military veterans across the country. Now in its 8th year, the Aspen Dental Day of Service provides much-needed dental care for veterans and their families at no cost to honor their service and break down barriers to health care. Appointments are still available for veterans in Pennsylvania, at the following Aspen Dental locations: Altoona, Pennsylvania Cranberry Township Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Greensburg, Pennsylvania Johnstown, Pennsylvania Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lebanon, Pennsylvania Meadville, Pennsylvania Monaca, Pennsylvania Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Red Lion) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (North Hills) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Robinson) Pottstown, Pennsylvania Quakertown, Pennsylvania Springfield, Pennsylvania Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Uniontown, Pennsylvania Washington, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (Reading) Veterans and their families can call 1-844-277-3646 (1-844-ASPENHMM) to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment. Advance appointments are required. During the Day of Service, Aspen Dental doctors and their teams focus on treating the most urgent dental needs for veterans and their families - with a focus on getting them out of pain, from fillings and extractions to dental hygiene and basic denture repairs. Millions of Americans struggle to access dental care every year, and veterans are no exception. In fact, U.S. veterans are ineligible for dental benefits through the Veterans Administration unless they're 100% disabled, have a service-related mouth injury, or were a prisoner of war. Visit www.HealthyMouthMovement.com to learn more. About Aspen Dental Aspen Dental was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana with a simple goal in mind: to break down the barriers that doctors and patients face when it comes to dental care. Today, more than 20 years later, with nearly 1,000 Aspen Dental locations nationwide, the mission of the company remains the same to bring better care to more people. Aspen Dental is the largest group of branded dental offices in the world. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About TAG The Aspen GroupTAG The Aspen Group was built on the simple idea of bringing better health care to more people. TAG and the independent health care practices it supports operate more than 1,100 locations in 45 states through its four health care support companies: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care and Chapter Aesthetic StudioSM. Combined, the companies serve more than 35,000 patients a day and more than 8 million patients each year. TAG is headquartered at 800 W. Fulton Market in Chicago. For more information, visit teamtag.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/free-dental-care-for-military-veterans-and-their-families-on-saturday-june-11-with-appointments-still-available-in-pennsylvania-301557003.html SOURCE Aspen Dental PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the continuing shortage of infant formula in the United States, Mead Johnson today provided an update on its ongoing efforts to ensure that more formula reaches store shelves and the parents who need it. Pat Sly, President of Reckitt's nutrition business, underscored the importance of the role its flagship brand Enfamil plays in providing the single source of nutrition for millions of babies and toddlers. "Over the past three months we have been doing everything possible to put more infant formula on shelves, addressing the concerns of parents across the country. We are leaving no stone unturned to increase our supply, while safeguarding the highest levels of quality. I am extremely grateful for and proud of our colleagues, and the dedication and commitment they are demonstrating in this difficult time. Our warehouse team is working through the Memorial Day weekend to ship more than 90 truckloads, and our factory teams will produce another 5 million 8-oz feedings." We are working with government and retail partners on the following measures to get more product on shelves faster: Operating our plants 24/7 Streamlined our product portfolio to maximise production capacity Working with the United States government to secure additional manufacturing inputs and to bring formula from our manufacturing sites outside the US. Partnering with retailers to expedite orders and trucks and prioritizing formula at their distribution centers to fill shelves quickly. Dispatching product as soon as it's been quality checked, rather than waiting until trucks are entirely filled, to get the product on shelves faster As a result, we shipped over 30% more infant formula in Q1 vs 2021, cut time to shelf by 40% without sacrificing quality and are currently feeding 211,000 more babies than we were prior to the shortage. We are also identifying other ways to ensure parents and infants have a steady supply of safe, high-quality formula. These include pursuing the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) import exception, which would permit us to import additional infant formula supplies into the United States from our manufacturing facilities in Singapore and Mexico. Should we receive regulatory approval, we would be able to achieve the following: Immediately provide 200 metric tons of infant formula base powder from our Tuas facility in Singapore which would be blended and packaged in the U.S. facilitated by logistics help from Operation Fly Formula. This would be the equivalent of more than 6 million 8-oz servings and could be available by June. Provide approximately 170 metric tons of infant formula per month on average from our Delicias, Mexico facility Should these requests be approved, the combined impact would enable us to feed an additional 250,000 babies. CONTACT DETAILS: MartinneGeller, Reckitt [email protected] +44 (0) 7408 801 216 About Reckitt: Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. We are a diverse global team of more than 43,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more, or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com. About Mead Johnson Nutrition: Mead Johnson Nutrition was acquired by Reckitt in 2017, merging the two company's commitments to innovation and science to continue fueling advancements in pediatric nutrition. Today, the nutrition business continues to drive innovation from its Evansville, IN site and is trusted by parents and healthcare professionals all over the world to support developing minds and bodies. We're committed to ensuring that every mom and every baby a healthy start. About EnfamilEnfamil's full product portfolio is formulated to provide optimal nutrition for infants and children through every stage of development. Their dedication to science and innovation remains vital to both their product portfolio and mission by using leading-edge technologies, a highly specialized team, and expert collaborations to benefit pediatric populations around the world. Today, the Enfamil brand is trusted by parents and healthcare professionals through their passion for innovation and delivering high quality products. * Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reckitts-mead-johnson-continues-extraordinary-steps-to-increase-access-to-infant-formula-301556982.html SOURCE Reckitt Exhibit 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY Know all by these presents that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Matthew Kaplan, Elysa R. Desa and Abby Joens-Witherow, and any of their substitutes, signing singly, as the undersigneds true and lawful attorney-in-fact to: 1. prepare, execute in the undersigneds name and on the undersigneds behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other document necessary or appropriate to obtain codes, passwords, and passphrases enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of reports require by 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 undersigneds capacity as a director and/or officer of LDH Growth Corp I (the Company), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules 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 securities 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-facts 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 each such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-facts 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 also ratifies hereby any action previously taken by each attorney-in-fact that would have been authorized by this power of attorney if it has been in effect at the time such action was taken. The undersigned acknowledges that each attorney-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigneds responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the earliest to occur of (a) undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigneds holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, (b) revocation by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact or (c) as to any attorney-in-fact individually, until such attorney-in-fact is no longer employed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of May, 2022. /s/ Alex Clavel Alex Clavel Every year ahead of Memorial Day, a soldier from the Armys 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment places a small American flag by the vault of Navy Lt. Andrew J. Chabrol, an honor accorded to every grave at Arlington National Cemetery. The thought makes Judi Farmer sick. Before the interment of Chabrols ashes at the nations most hallowed military burial ground, he was executed by the commonwealth of Virginia for the 1991 abduction, rape and murder of Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Harrington, an enlisted sailor whod reported him for stalking and harassment. For those who remember Chabrols crimes, the knowledge of his dignified resting place is an open wound an insult to her memory. Farmer, herself a Navy veteran, is determined to see the remains removed from Arlington, an act she believes will close a grim and shameful chapter of military history. Back in the early 90s, there was hardly any justice for victims of sexual assault, she said. All of the things that should have been done to give her justice when she was living didnt even occur. Though Arlington officials have said they lack legal authority to remove Chabrol, Farmer and others are unsatisfied with that answer. She hopes the militarys most senior leaders or even the commander in chief will be compelled to intervene. And in support of those efforts, Navy veterans who knew Harrington are sharing her story for the first time in more than 30 years. Harrington was 27 years old when her lifeless body was discovered rolled up in a rug inside Chabrols Virginia Beach home. According to news reports from the time and subsequent historical accounts, the 34-year-old harbored a grudge against Harrington for having complained to superiors about his intimidating and unwelcome behavior. Despite the accusation, Navy leaders allowed Chabrol to leave military service without facing any serious professional consequences. He immediately got to work plotting what was described in journal entries as Operation Nemesis, according to trial testimony, and on July 9, 1991, he brought Harrington to his home and tied her to a bed. She managed to free one of her hands and, in a final, desperate bid for survival, clobbered Chabrol as hard as she could. He went berserk and strangled her. Farmer had served as an advocate for sexual assault survivors in addition to her other military duties. She learned about Chabrols case in 2018, several years after retiring from the Navy, and, even though they did not know one another, she said that for her the case feels personal. Farmer first started an online petition to have Chabrols remains exhumed. When it failed to gain traction, she wrote to Arlington National Cemetery. The Army, which operates the facility, never responded. The 2020 murder of 20-year-old Vanessa Guillen, an Army specialist, renewed Farmers resolve, she said. Guillen, who reported being sexually harassed before her disappearance from Fort Hood in Texas, has become a symbol of the militarys broader failures in supporting sex assault victims and ensuring their perpetrators are held accountable. Earlier this year, in response to a new letter, Farmer was contacted by Renea C. Yates, director of the Office of Army Cemeteries at the Pentagon. Yates informed her that a law allowing the Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs to reconsider interments applied only to those occurring after its enactment in 2013. Farmer bristled at the explanation. If the [defense secretary] is a sexual assault prevention advocate, would he be able to find a solution to honor the hundreds of thousands of women that have served, that have been victims of sexual assault, so that perpetrator is not buried on our grounds? she said. Because those are our grounds. While Arlington National Cemetery is running out of space, and eligibility for burial is limited largely to military retirees, recipients of certain awards and those killed while conducting duties, most veterans with at least a day of service and an honorable discharge can have their ashes inurned at the cemetery. Historically, efforts to restrict eligibility for an Arlington burial have been narrowly drawn. A law barring veterans who committed federal capital crimes from being interred there wasnt passed until 1997, following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing perpetrated by Army veteran Timothy McVeigh. The 2013 review law, known as the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act, was passed with a specific provision allowing for the exhumation of Michael L. Anderson, a veteran who had been accused of Koehls 2012 murder but not convicted before his burial in Michigans Fort Custer National Cemetery. A spokesman for Arlington National Cemetery, John David Harlow, affirmed that the Army lacked the authority to disinter the remains of those buried there before the laws passage, saying only close relatives of the deceased may make such a request. Its unknown, he added, if any of the other 250,000 individuals interred in Arlington before December 2013 also committed capital crimes. Robert Taber, Chabrols brother-in-law and one of his last surviving family members, said in an interview that he had no plans to seek disinterment. I like where hes at myself, Taber said, and I dont want to change anything. Because he earned that with his service in the military. Even without a clear path forward, more people who knew Harrington - she is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, near her Norfolk, Va., home - now support a review of Chabrols case. Joe Harrington, Melissas widower and a Navy veteran, did not know the killers burial circumstances until he was approached last year by the co-author of a forthcoming book about death-row inmates. In Crossing the River Styx, co-written by Todd C. Peppers, death-row chaplain Russ Ford calls Chabrol fundamentally evil and beyond redemption. He describes observing Chabrol beam with pride and satisfaction when he received word from the Navy, shortly before his 1993 execution, that he would be buried in Arlington. The national honor elated the demoniac, Ford wrote. This monster would rest among heroes. Joe Harrington said he was stunned to learn where Chabrol was buried. A good friend of mine, who was also my division officer years ago, was over in Vietnam and got shot, said Harrington, now 63. He was a hero. He was a warrior. And hes in Arlington, and it just pisses me off that Chabrol could be there. Navy veterans who knew Harrington remain haunted by her death. Nancy Walsh, who served with her onboard the submarine service ship L.Y. Spear before Harrington moved to a Navy testing unit in Norfolk, described how they looked out for one another in a place where sexual assault was so rampant, she said, that women often walked around in pairs for safety. Walsh recalls the devastation she felt after learning of Harringtons murder. Gosh, she would give you the shirt off her back; she would do anything for you, she said. And I just, I couldnt believe this. Walsh said she learned about Chabrols burial circumstances 10 or 15 years ago. At first I thought he was buried in the same cemetery that she was buried in - that really made me cry, she said. But then they told me it was Arlington and I was like, wait a minute, how can you deserve that? In another unit, Harrington served with Kevin Gouveia, an enlisted sailor to whom she confided her fears about Chabrols intentions. Gouveia helped her report Chabrol, he said, and was dismayed when the Navy did little to address the situation, calling the burial at Arlington a slap in the face. It took a long time for me to try and move on with this, because the death of Melissa, I really took it very, very hard, Gouveia said. I was very upset at the time for not doing more to try to protect her. Farmer said she hopes that going public with Harringtons story will inspire those with influence to take interest in her cause. Maybe theres a rule or something in our way, she said. Usually, we try to find a solution: OK, how can we do the right thing? But there doesnt seem to be any appetite here to do the right thing. (Getty Images) Andy Murray overcame his Madrid Open clash with Dominic Thiem to claim his first clay court win in five years. The two-time Madrid champion won 6-3 6-4 on Monday evening. Thiem, who spent eight months on the sidelines, was playing only his fourth match this year and the Austrian -- winless in 2022 -- was far from his best. Thiem made 33 unforced errors, the majority of which came from his forehand. Murray was the sharper of the two players and after winning 6-3 6-4 the Scot -- who recovered from a hip surgery that nearly ended his career -- gave Thiem words of encouragement. "I hope you feel better soon," Murray told Thiem at the net. "Im glad to see you back. Keep going, it takes a lot of time but youll be fine." Earlier, Italian 10th seed Jannik Sinner made a great escape when he fought back from a set down and then saved three match points to dispatch American Tommy Paul 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-3 in a three-hour battle to move into the second round. "It was a very difficult situation. I was up in the first set 5-2 and then I lost it," said Sinner, who will next face Alex de Minaur. "He played a very good tiebreak. I made a couple of unforced errors at the beginning and the second set was kind of a roller-coaster also." Cameron Norrie, meanwhile, reached the second round by beating Soonwoo Kwon in a tough two-set battle. The British number one survived scares at key intervals, edging the South Korean 7-5 7-5 in just under two hours to tee up a meeting with John Isner in the next round. (Getty Images) Norrie, beaten by Australias Alex De Minaur in the quarter-finals at the recent Barcelona Open, quickly fell 3-0 down in the first set against Kwon after losing his opening service game. The Briton then fought back from 1-4 down, breaking Kwon in the seventh game before levelling at 4-4 and saving two more break points on his serve to make it 5-5. World number 11 Norrie, making his debut on the clay in Madrid, seized control in the next game by breaking Kwon to love and served out to take the first set in just under an hour. Story continues But 24-year-old Kwon, the world number 73, refused to roll over in the second set. Both players swapped breaks of serve from 3-3 and after Norrie had broken Kwon for a fourth time in the match to edge 6-5 ahead, he made no mistake on his own serve, sealing a hard-fought victory on his third match point. Additional reporting from PA UNITED NATIONS China and Russia blocked the U.N. Security Council from issuing a statement Friday expressing concern at the violence and serious humanitarian situation in Myanmar and the limited progress on implementing a regional plan to restore peace to the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation, diplomats said Friday evening. The council was briefed virtually behind closed doors Friday afternoon by Cambodias Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the special envoy for Myanmar for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and U.N. envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer on efforts to resolve the crisis in the country since the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup. When the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, it claimed with scant evidence that the general election her party won in November 2020 in a landslide was marred by widespread fraud. The coup almost immediately sparked widespread street protests that security forces tried to crush, and continuing widespread resistance to the armys takeover has resulted in what some U.N. experts have characterized as a civil war that is challenging the militarys ability to govern. The proposed British-drafted press statement, obtained by The Associated Press, stressed the central role of ASEAN in facilitating a peaceful solution to the crisis and reiterated council members calls to pursue dialogue with all parties concerned in the interests of the people of Myanmar. However, they expressed concern at the limited progress against the Five Point Consensus over a year since it was agreed, and called for concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the consensus, the proposed statement said. Council diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations were private, said China and Russia objected to parts of the text. Chinas U.N. Mission said it proposed slow progress rather than limited progress on the Five Point Consensus, saying in a statement that this wording is factual but less condescending. China said it also offered other formulations that werent accepted, and the penholder -- Britain -- simply gave up negotiating, which it called very unfortunate, saying there was only a slight difference that was not impossible to overcome. The 10-nation ASEAN group issued the Five Point Consensus on Myanmars crisis in late April 2021. It called for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation of the dialogue process by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, but has not been willing to implement the plan. Violence continues, there has been no dialogue with the opposition, and while Cambodias Sokhonn visited Myanmar in March he did not meet Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and faces more charges that her supporters and human rights groups say are an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the militarys seizure of power. ASEAN officials met in Cambodias capital, Phnom Penh, earlier this month in a new effort to organize humanitarian assistance for Myanmar, a goal that critics feel falls short of addressing the causes of the crisis in the military-run nation. The proposed Security Council statement would have underlined the important role of U.N. envoy Heyzer and encouraged close coordination with ASEANs envoy. In the blocked statement, the Security Council would also have reiterated the need to address the root causes of the crisis in Myanmars northern Rakhine state and create conditions for the return of Rohingya refugees. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Rakhine to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, when the military launched an operation aimed at clearing them from the country following attacks by a rebel group. WARSAW, Poland - Inna, 51, spotted the sign as she left the refugee center on the edge of Warsaw to go for a cigarette: Help Ukraine! Give testimony! it read. Help us punish the criminals! At first, she was not sure whether it was relevant to share what happened when her 26-year-old son left their home in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin in search of water. There were others that suffered more, she explained. Nobody was killed except for the dog. But, with the idea that her testimony could be important, she sat down to recount her ordeal to a researcher with a 46-question form. Three months since Russia began its assault on Ukraine, efforts to document war crimes committed during the conflict are hurtling ahead, both inside and outside the country. As Kyiv investigates a mammoth 11,816 suspected incidents, prosecutors in neighboring Poland have gathered more than 1,000 testimonies from refugees like Inna who could act as witnesses. France has deployed an on-the-ground forensic team with expertise in DNA and ballistics, and Lithuanian experts are scouring territory in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, last week sent in a 42-member team, the largest such contingent it has ever dispatched. All together, it amounts to an unprecedented endeavor, experts say, and its happening in real time. In no other conflict has there been such a concerted push to lay the groundwork for potential war-crimes trials from the start, said Philippe Sands, a law professor at University College London who was involved in the case against Gen. Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean dictator. But the array of investigations - involving more than a dozen countries and a slew of international and human rights organizations - has raised concerns about duplication and overlap. That could result in tension between national and international bodies over jurisdiction, according to Sands. Experts caution, too, that it could be years before any high-level decision-makers are held to account - if they ever are. The crucial question, the one that I think we ought to be focusing our attention on, is how do you get to the top table? Sands said. Its one thing to sentence a Russian soldier for killing a civilian, as a Ukrainian court did this past week. But establishing provable links between top officials and the horrors that have unfolded in places such as Mariupol and Bucha is difficult and time-consuming. This raises the specter of a situation where, years down the line, youve prosecuted a number of low-grade soldiers or conscripts for dreadful things, Sands said. But the people at the top table, who are truly responsible, got off scot-free. In an exhibition center housing more than 5,600 refugees on the outskirts of Warsaw, Inna paused to compose herself as she tearfully described her familys ordeal in Irpin, while a volunteer from the Polish governments Pilecki Institute for historical research took notes. In the first days of the war, the power went out, followed by gas and then water. By March 8, the water situation was desperate and the family had run out of everything theyd stored. Innas eldest son left to seek help from a neighbor, but he was brought back by seven or eight Russian soldiers who accused him of spying. When the family dog, Jimmy, went to greet them, a soldier shot the dog in the face, said Inna, whose last name was withheld for security reasons. His lower jaw was destroyed, she said. The soldiers refused the familys pleas to put the dog out of its misery, she said. Instead, they went inside and forced her sons and a friend staying with them to strip naked and lie down on the floor. They were kept on the floor for around two or three hours, she said. Eventually the soldiers left, after smashing phones and computers. The next day, the family risked the perilous journey out of Irpin, leaving behind Jimmy, whom they couldnt bring themselves to kill. Do you remember what they were dressed in? asks the volunteer, reading from the questionnaire. Were they in uniform? Did you notice any special badges or patches. Camouflage, she answers. She cant remember more. Can it help anything? The Pilecki Institutes Lemkin Center is gathering testimony both to serve as an oral history of the wars atrocities and, if it might relate to a war crime, for referral to Polands public prosecutor. The Polish prosecutors office said it has collected very significant testimonies from witnesses, alongside other evidence such as photographs and videos. These activities are ongoing, the office said, they are extensive in nature, not a day goes by without us reaching new witnesses. Poland is one of 18 countries that have started their own criminal investigations into war crimes in Ukraine, according to Ukraines prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova. In the United States, where the State Department has asserted that war crimes have been committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, officials have said Washington could tap into its huge intelligence apparatus to assist investigations. But with so many investigations underway, there is risk of organizations working at cross-purposes. The U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, last week praised the international mobilization but urged countries and organizations to better coordinate. Without coordination of responsibilities and of efforts between various bodies, there is a considerable risk of overlap and duplication to the detriment of the effectiveness and efficiency of investigations, Tidball-Binz said in a news release. Proper coordination can also prevent the re-traumatisation of victims and witnesses arising from being interviewed multiple times by different investigators, and ensure that interviews fit into the overall investigative strategy. To reduce that risk, the European Union is adjusting the mandate of Eurojust - the blocs agency for judicial cooperation - to allow it to maintain a bank of shareable evidence, such as satellite images, DNA profiles, and audio and video recordings. Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have also signed up to be part of a joint investigative team alongside the ICC, meaning evidence gathered by prosecutors in any of those countries can be shared for national or international prosecutions. Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also in the process of signing up, according to Venediktova. That partnership is key to building to what Venediktova describes as a judicial front in the war. But others such as Germany - which is now home to 700,000 Ukrainian refugees and therefore many potential witnesses - are not coordinating directly, Venediktova said. Always conscious of its own dark history, Germany has emerged as a hub for war-crimes trials in recent years. Using the principle of universal jurisdiction, which enables prosecution of crimes committed in other countries, Germany was the first, and so far only, nation to try an official from the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad for crimes against humanity. A second lower-level official was convicted of serving as an accessory. In those cases, trials were possible because the perpetrators had ended up in Germany. Germany has opened what it calls a structural investigation into war crimes in Ukraine, and in April, two former ministers, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger and Gerhart Baum, lodged a criminal complaint against 33 Russian officials, urging Germanys prosecutors to investigate them for war crimes. We are now urging the prosecutor to come forward very quickly, because the ICC is very slow, said Baum, formerly minister of interior, noting that the ICC only just announced warrants for three Russian commanders involved in the war in Georgia 14 years ago. Ukraine is not party to the statute that established the ICC, but its government has accepted the courts jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory and the countrys prosecutor general said her office will probably refer some cases to The Hague - whose mandate is to complement, rather than replace, national justice systems. For Ukraine, the ICCs involvement helps bolster the image of objectiveness, Venediktova said. It also can prosecute cases involving graver charges such as genocide and crimes against humanity - which cover large-scale systematic attacks, rather than individual acts. What we see in Bucha and Irpin, its crimes against humanity, she said. Thats why for me their involvement is very important. Still, experts say whether any high-level officials end up in court could depend in large part on the political situation in Russia. While the two former German ministers concede that the chances of Russian perpetrators ending up in Germany is unlikely, they said they hope international warrants might act as a deterrent on the battlefield. Others disagree. I dont think thats the logic the Russians operate on, said Andreas Schuller, head of the International Crimes and Accountability program at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. Since international sanctions have already restricted where Russian officials can go, international warrants, for now at least, would be symbolic to an extent. Schuller said his organization, which worked extensively on documenting Syrian war crimes, is still sorting out how to be most useful on Ukraine. But it is still early, he said. What matters for the moment is less who is doing working on what, but that the documentation is happening. If you dont start now, you will not have the opportunity in 10, 20, 30 years to act, if you dont do your homework, he said. While the focus has been on Russian war crimes, rights groups are also working to document potential war crimes on the Ukrainian side, including the treatment of prisoners of war. For Sands - whose 2016 book, East West Street, traces the intellectual origins of the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II back to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv - the key to getting more speedily to the top table of Russian officials revolves around prosecution of the lesser-known crime of aggression. The Nuremberg Tribunal considered it to be the supreme international crime - the crime of waging the aggressive act itself. That, Sands argues, takes away the more difficult task of proving the intent of leading figures when it comes to atrocities on the battlefield. Crimes of aggression are not under the jurisdiction of the ICC. So Sands has floated the idea of setting up an international tribunal to cover the crime. Since he wrote about it in a Financial Times column in February, the idea has taken off. On Thursday, the European Parliament voted for the E.U. to act to establish a tribunal. As things look right now, what are the chances of snaring one of the top people? No, it doesnt look likely, Sands said. But in 1942, people would have said the same thing, he added. Of course, three years later, you know, Hermann Goring was in the dock at Nuremberg, he said of the Nazi military leader sentenced to death in 1946 for war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression. The Washington Posts Vanessa Guinan-Bank in Berlin contributed to this report. KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russia asserted Saturday that its troops and separatist fighters had captured a key railway junction in eastern Ukraine, the second small city to fall to Moscow's forces this week as they fought to seize all of the country's contested Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the city of Lyman had been "completely liberated" by a joint force of Russian soldiers and the Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war in the eastern region bordering Russia for eight years. Lyman, which had a population of about 20,000 before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, serves as a regional railway hub. Ukraine's train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens during the war, and it wasn't immediately clear how the development might affect either capability. Controlling the city would give the Russian military a foothold for advancing on larger Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, Russia has concentrated on seizing the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. "If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion," the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Fighting continued Saturday around Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, twin cites that are last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that the situation in the east was "difficult" but expressed confidence his country would prevail with help from Western weapons and sanctions. "If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian," he said. On Tuesday, Russian troops took over Svitlodarsk, a small municipality south of Sievierodonetsk that hosts a thermal power station, while intensifying efforts to encircle and capture the larger city. The governor of Luhansk had warned that Ukrainian soldiers might have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded, but he said Saturday that they had repelled an attack. "We managed to push back the Russians to their previous positions," Gov. Serhii Haidai said. "However, they do not abandon their attempts to encircle our troops and disrupt logistics in the Luhansk region." The advance of Russian forces raised fears that residents would experience the same horrors as people in the southeastern port city Mariupol in the weeks before it fell. Sievierodonetsk's mayor, Oleksandr Striuk, said Friday that some 1,500 civilians have died there during the war, including from a lack of medicine or because of diseases that could not be treated while the city was under siege. Before the war, Sievierodonetsk was home to around 100,000 people. About 12,000 to 13,000 remain in the city, where 90% of the buildings are damaged, the mayor told The Associated Press. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, volunteers worked to evacuate people Friday amid a threatening soundtrack of air raid sirens and booming artillery. AP reporters saw elderly and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs in Bakhmut, a city in northeast Donetsk province. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to convince reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sieverodonetsk, returned home. "I have to know he is alive. That's why I'm staying here," Lvova, 66, said. A nearly three-month siege of Mariupol ended last week when Russia claimed the city's complete. The city became a symbol of mass destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. More than 20,000 of its civilians are feared dead. Mariupol's port reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea off the once-vibrant city. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don entered Mariupol's seaport early Saturday. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian navy said Saturday morning that Russian ships "continue to block civilian navigation in the waters of the Black and Azov seas" along Ukraine's southern coast, "making them a zone of hostilities." The war in Ukraine has caused global food shortages because the country is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame over which is responsible for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said in a Facebook post that two Russian missile carriers "capable of carrying up to 16 missiles" were ready for action in the Black Sea. It said that only shipping routes which had been established through multilateral treaties could be considered safe. Ukrainian officials pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons, especially multiple launch rocket systems. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems to Ukraine. Russia's U.S. ambassador on Saturday branded such a move as "unacceptable" called on the Biden administration to "abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine." A Telegram post published on the Russian embassy's official channel cited Anatoliy Antonov, Moscow's top diplomat in Washington, as saying that "the unprecedented pumping of weapons into Ukraine significantly increases the risks of an escalation of the conflict." In Russia on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that raises the age limits for Russian army contracts. Contractors can now first enter service until age 50 and work until they reach legal retirement age, which is 65 for men and 60 for women. Previously, Russian law set an age limit of 40 for Russians and 30 for foreigners to sign an initial contract. Russia's Defense Ministry said the Russian navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea. The ministry said the recently developed Zircon hypersonic cruise missile had struck its target about 1,000 kilometers away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Zircon,, described as the world's fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead, and is said to be impossible to stop with current anti-missile defense systems. Moscow's claims, which could not be immediately verified, came a week after Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the west of the country in response to Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO. Putin marked the annual Border Guards Day by congratulating the members of the Russian service. "The tasks you are facing are particularly important now, given the unprecedented political, economic and information pressure on our country and the buildup of NATO military capacity right at Russia's borders," Putin said. Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. 13 Albanians, others from Kosovo are repatriated from Syria By LLAZAR SEMINI Associated Press TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania's Interior Ministry said Saturday that four Albanian women and nine children, all related to Albanians who joined Islamist extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq, have been repatriated from a Syrian camp. The group, which landed at the Pristina Adem Jashari Airport in neighboring Kosovo, was joined by "other Kosovar citizens leaving the hell camps," the statement said, without disclosing the number. At least one man's blurred face was seen in a video distributed by the ministry. Speaking at the airport, Albanian Interior Minister Bledi Cuci thanked U.S. authorities and Lebanese Gen. Abass Ibrahim, who has played a key role in the repatriation efforts. Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Zvecla did not give details on the Kosovar citizens repatriated but assured that specialized institutions would take care to "rehabilitate" and "de-radicalize" them. Cuci said 43 Albanian women and children whose husbands and fathers joined Islamic State group and most often have been killed in fighting have been brought back in four missions since 2018. Cuci said Albania had a list of citizens still in the camps and would continue efforts to bring them back. Kosovo has repatriated at least 121 people since 2019. "I would like to assure Albanians that we are determined to bring back from those camps any Albanians who has remained there, every child and every woman," said Cuci. Hundreds of people from Albania and Kosovo joined the Islamic State and other groups fighting in Syria and Iraq in the early 2010s. Many were killed, and their widows and children are stuck in Syrian camps. NEW ORLEANS Seventeen years after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers has completed an extensive system of floodgates, strengthened levees and other protections. The 130-mile ring is designed to hold out storm surge of about 30 feet (9 meters) around New Orleans and suburbs in three parishes. It is "the largest civil works project in the Corps history and is the result of nearly two decades of hard work and collaboration at the local, state and federal level, Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a symbolic handoff to the state Friday. The people of New Orleans have experienced the worst Mother Nature has to offer, and with the completion of the system, theyll be protected by the best of engineering, design and hurricane protection. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, and federal meteorologists predict it will be busy. Congress provided $14.5 billion for what is formally called the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System and related projects. It includes two features the Corps describes as the worlds largest a pumping station and a 1.8-mile barrier that can be closed against storm surges. Louisiana will pay $1.1 billion, the governor's office said in an email Friday. It did not say whether that includes interest. The levees stood up to Hurricane Ida in 2021, though some suburbs outside the system flooded. By 2011, the system could protect against a storm with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, according to the Corps. Features added since then include armoring levees to prevent erosion and scouring when stronger storm surges rise above their tops, and three permanent canal closures and pumps. We know that eventually we will face a surge greater than the 1-percent elevations so we designed the HSDRRS to be overtopped, Col. Stephen Murphy, commander of the Corps' New Orleans District, said in a news release. With all of the armoring now in place, this system enters the 2022 Hurricane Season stronger than it has ever been. The state has been taking control of the system for years as components were built, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate noted. It said maintenance and operation costs are expected to run about $25 million a year for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and about $7.8 million annually for its west bank counterpart. UVALDE, Texas Students trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 during this week's attack on a Texas elementary school, including one who pleaded, "Please send the police now," as officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building, authorities said Friday. The commander at the scene in Uvalde the school district's police chief believed that 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms at Robb Elementary School and that children were no longer at risk, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a contentious news conference. "It was the wrong decision," he said. Friday's briefing came after authorities spent three days providing often conflicting and incomplete information about the more than an hour that elapsed between the time Ramos entered the school and when U.S. Border Patrol agents unlocked the classroom door and killed him. Three police officers followed Ramos into the building within two minutes. In the next half hour, as many as 19 officers piled into the hallway outside. But another 47 minutes passed before the Border Patrol tactical team breached the door, McCraw said. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to speak publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers inside the room. His motive remained unclear, authorities said. There was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where officers eventually killed him, but those shots were "sporadic" for much of the time that officers waited in the hallway, McCraw said. He said investigators do not know if children died during that time. Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including the girl who pleaded for the police, McCraw said. Young survivors of the attack said they pretended to be dead while waiting for help. Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she covered herself with a friend's blood to look dead. After the shooter moved into an adjacent room, she could hear screams, more gunfire and music being blared by the gunman. Samuel Salinas, 10, who also played dead, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the assailant shot teacher Irma Garcia before firing on the kids. Questions have mounted over the amount of time it took officers to enter the school to confront the gunman. It was 11:28 a.m. Tuesday when Ramos' Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Five minutes after that, authorities said, Ramos entered the school and found his way to the fourth grade classroom where he killed the 21 victims. But it was not until around 12:50 p.m. that police killed Ramos, McCraw said, when shots could be heard over a 911 call from a person inside the classroom as officers breached the room. What happened during that time frame, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge 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 didn't see that." According to the new timeline provided by McCraw, after crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, officials said. Contrary to earlier statements by officials, a school district police officer was not at the school when Ramos arrived. When that officer did respond, he unknowingly drove past Ramos, who was crouched behind a car parked outside and firing at the building, McCraw said. At 11:33 a.m., Ramos entered the school through a rear door that had been propped open and fired more than 100 rounds into a pair of classrooms, McCraw said. He did not address why the door was propped open. Two minutes later, three local police officers arrived and entered the building through the same door, followed soon after by four others, McCraw said. Within 15 minutes, officers from different agencies had assembled in the hallway, taking sporadic fire from Ramos, who was holed up in a classroom. Ramos was still inside at 12:10 p.m. when the first U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrived. They had raced to the school from nearly 70 miles away in the border town of Del Rio, the agency said in a tweet Friday. But the commander inside the building the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo decided the group should wait to confront the gunman, on the belief that the scene was no longer an active attack, McCraw said. The crisis came to an end at 12:50 p.m., after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and fatally shot Ramos, he said. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday. No one answered the door at his home, and he did not reply to a phone message left at the district's police headquarters. Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a Wednesday news conference lauded the police response, said Friday that he was "misled," and he's "livid." In his earlier statements, the governor told reporters, he was repeating what he had been told. "The information that I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate," he said. Abbott said exactly what happened needs to be "thoroughly, exhaustively" investigated. The governor previously praised law enforcement for their "amazing courage by running toward gunfire" and their "quick response." On Friday, Abbott had been set to attend the annual convention of the National Rifle Association, which is being held across the state in Houston. Instead he addressed the gun-rights group's convention by recorded video and went to Uvalde. At the convention, speaker after speaker took the stage to say that changing U.S. gun laws or further restricting access to firearms isn't the answer. "What stops armed bad guys is armed good guys," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told those gathered in Houston. Former President Donald Trump was among Republican leaders speaking at the event, where hundreds of protesters angry about gun violence demonstrated outside, including some who held crosses with photos of the Uvalde victims. The motive for the massacre the nation's deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago remained under investigation. Authorities have said 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. 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 can't do our jobs because you guys are interfering,'" Cazares said. The many chilling details of the attack were enough to leave parents struggling with dread. Visiting a downtown memorial to those killed, Kassandra Johnson of the nearby community of Hondo said she was so worried the day after the attack that she kept her twin boys home from school. Before she sent the 8-year-olds back, she studied the school building, figuring out which windows she would need to break to reach them. And she drew hearts on their hands with marker, so she could identify them if the worst happened, Johnson said, as she put flowers near 21 white crosses honoring the victims. "Those kids could be my kids," she said. ___ Associated Press reporters Claire Galofaro in Uvalde, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Mike Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A New Jersey man who claimed he didn't know that Congress met in the U.S. Capitol and so couldn't have intended to disrupt the electoral vote certification on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted Friday by a federal jury in Washington of felony obstruction of an official proceeding and four other misdemeanors. After the jury announced its verdict, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden said he would consider an "obstruction of justice" extension of Timothy Hale-Cusanelli's sentence because of his testimony, in which he also said he didn't know he was interfering with a police arrest on Jan. 6. "I find these claims highly dubious," the judge said. Hale-Cusanelli, 32, of Colts Neck, N.J., worked as a security guard and lived on Naval Weapons Station Earle there. In addition to being a supporter of President Donald Trump, he was an open white supremacist who supported Nazi ideology and admired Adolf Hitler, even wearing a "Hitler mustache" to work, the government said in court filings. In a video obtained by prosecutors, the former Army soldier and then-Army reservist asked in 2020, "I'm not saying Hitler did nothing wrong, but did he do anything wrong?" Those beliefs, and his expressions of support for a civil war, persuaded multiple federal judges to keep Hale-Cusanelli in jail until his trial. But McFadden said prosecutors could not introduce evidence of Hale-Cusanelli's racist beliefs, saying it would be too prejudicial for a jury and largely irrelevant to the charges of obstructing an official proceeding. Evidence of Hale-Cusanelli's desire for a civil war were permitted. The trial focused on Hale-Cusanelli's actions on Jan. 6 and his comments afterward to a roommate and federal investigators. Hale-Cusanelli attended a portion of Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipsis, then walked to the Capitol and was among the first rioters to enter the Capitol that afternoon. Surveillance video showed him climbing through a window on the west Lower Terrace at 2:13 p.m., wearing a gray suit and a red MAGA hat. Before entering, prosecutors said, he moved a bicycle rack barrier aside to enable crowds to get closer to the building, and then urged the mob forward by waving his arms and yelling: "Advance! Advance!" Once inside, photos and videos showed, Hale-Cusanelli was part of a group that overwhelmed Capitol and D.C. police in the crypt, and then attempted to pull a rioter away from police as they were arresting the other rioter. On the witness stand, Hale-Cusanelli repeatedly apologized for all of his actions. Hale-Cusanelli said he knew the electoral vote certification was happening on Jan. 6, but "I thought it was going to be in a building called 'Congress.' As stupid as it sounds, I did not realize that Congress sat in the Capitol building. . . . I didn't know the Capitol building was the same as the congressional building." Hale-Cusanelli said he previously attended the Trump inauguration in 2017 and had attended a post-election protest in Washington in December 2020. Hale-Cusanelli was trying to show that he did not have the intent to disrupt the electoral college process and thus couldn't be guilty of obstructing the proceeding, for which he faces a years-long prison sentence. He and his attorney, Jonathan Crisp, mostly did not challenge the four misdemeanor counts: entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a restricted area, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building. The misdemeanors each have a maximum one-year term. Hale-Cusanelli took videos before and during his trip through the Capitol, which lasted 40 minutes, including yelling vile comments at police outside the building. His text messages before and after Jan. 6, declaring that Joe Biden had not been legally elected, used the n-word. He said on the stand Thursday that he still felt the election needed to be investigated. Crisp told the jury at the outset that they would hear "how bombastic he can be, how antagonistic he can be. He is that guy who just wants to say things to agitate." And, Crisp said, "he was wrongfully in the Capitol. He said a lot of offensive words. And he shouldn't have been there at the end of the day. The question of why he was there, that's important. You are the gatekeepers of whether the government is overreaching." Hale-Cusanelli testified that he thought Trump would be speaking at the Capitol, after hearing the president say he would be marching with the protesters, and that he merely followed the crowd into the building. "I was wrong, I shouldn't have been there," he told the jury. He said he didn't learn that Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress were in the same building until a police officer told him. Upon his return to the naval base in New Jersey, Hale-Cusanelli described his trip to a roommate. The roommate contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which provided him with a hidden microphone to record a second conversation with Hale-Cusanelli. On cross-examination, Karen P. Seifert, an assistant U.S. attorney, pointed out the text messages Hale-Cusanelli sent after the 2020 election, detailing his analysis of elector slates, the recount in Arizona and the process leading up to the electoral vote certification, and noting that he could be heard chanting "Stop the steal" inside the Capitol. Seifert also noted that Hale-Cusanelli wrote in a February 2020 text that, in reference to liberals, that he wanted "the civil war started already." In a recorded conversation with his roommate after Jan. 6, he again said he wished for a civil war to achieve a "clean slate." Hale-Cusanelli also said, "I don't think we can fix the problems that Jews cause if you don't address all the things they do." But in both his recorded discussion with his roommate and a five-hour interview with the NCIS and FBI, Hale-Cusanelli did not say he went to the Capitol without knowing it was where the electoral vote was being certified, Seifert observed. "He would have you believe he did not know they were certifying the vote one floor up," Seifert said. At trial, the prosecutor observed, "This is the first time that he thought, 'This is what I should say.' " Crisp responded, "There are multiple Capitol buildings where the House and Senate meet. . . . He knew what they were doing, but not where." Hale-Cusanelli was the fifth Jan. 6 defendant to take his case to a jury and the fourth to challenge the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding. All five jury trials have resulted in guilty verdicts; none of those defendants have been sentenced yet. In two misdemeanor bench trials, both before McFadden, one defendant was convicted and one was acquitted. About 800 people have been charged in federal court in Jan. 6-related cases, according to Washington Post records, with 300 pleading guilty and six having been convicted at trial. Of those convicted, 179 people have been sentenced, all but 15 for misdemeanors. Of the 15 felony sentences, the average prison term handed down has been about 30.6 months, according to Post records. The three defendants who have been sentenced for obstructing an official proceeding, all after pleading guilty, received terms of eight, 33 and 41 months. Hale-Cusanelli's sentencing was set for Sept. 16. Because he took his case to trial, he will not be considered for a sentence reduction, and instead McFadden may increase his sentence. The Biden administration next week plans to begin using an overhauled system for screening migrants seeking humanitarian protection along the U.S. southern border, relying more on asylum officers instead of immigration judges to help determine who gets to stay in the country. Administration officials say the changes are expected to reduce court backlogs and make it easier for authorities to deport those who don't qualify for protection. The new system is scheduled to start Tuesday at two immigration detention centers in Texas, and officers are expected to process several hundred cases per month during the initial phase, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials describe the "Asylum Officer Rule" as their most significant border policy initiative to date, with the ability to streamline a system with a backlog of nearly 400,000 pending cases. Officials expect the new system will work faster without sacrificing fairness, because claims rejected by asylum officers will be reviewed by immigration judges as a safeguard. "Individuals who qualify for asylum will receive protection more swiftly, and those who are not eligible will be promptly removed rather than remaining in the U.S. for years while their cases are pending," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. "We are delivering justice quickly, while also ensuring due process." Opponents of the overhaul policy are trying to block it in Congress and federal courts after victories against President Joe Biden's other border policy initiatives. On Thursday, Republican senators fell a few votes short on a resolution seeking to stop the asylum rule from taking effect. Earlier in the week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, R, filed for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court, alleging the policy will accelerate illegal immigration. "Federal law requires genuine asylum and parole claims to be carefully managed and scrutinized by an immigration judge, not a bureaucrat rubber-stamping patently false claims," said Paxton, whose lawsuit is backed by America First Legal, the advocacy group founded by Stephen Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. The lawsuit puts Biden's border policies once more in the hands of U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee who sided against the administration last year when he ordered the reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" policy after a separate lawsuit filed by Paxton. That case is now pending before the Supreme Court. Biden's new policy will give asylum officers working for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services the authority to grant U.S. humanitarian protection but not to deny it - a point the president's opponents have assailed. Applicants who are rejected during screening by an asylum officer will have their cases reviewed by an immigration judge and will retain the right of appeal. Administration officials say those changes can still ease the burden on immigration judges and resolve asylum claims faster than the current system, because rejected applications will reach the courts at a more advanced stage. "By establishing a process for the efficient and thorough review of asylum claims, the new rule will help reduce existing immigration court backlogs and will shorten the process to several months," the DHS said. Biden's other recent border policy initiatives have hit snags in federal courts. Last week, the administration's plan to lift pandemic-era Title 42 border restrictions was blocked by a Trump-appointed District Court judge in Louisiana, leaving Biden locked into the policy for the foreseeable future. U.S. authorities have made record numbers of immigration arrests along the Mexican border since Biden took office, including more than 234,000 detentions last month. About half of those taken into custody are quickly "expelled" from the United States under the Title 42 restrictions, implemented in March 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus. U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays said in his ruling that the administration did not follow federal rulemaking procedures when it decided to lift the Title 42 restrictions, ordering the government to leave them in place until the case was decided. Advocates for immigrant have long opposed the Title 42 order, describing it as a Trump-era enforcement tool enacted under the guise of public health. Biden largely left the order in place after he took office, defending its importance as a public health measure. As infections declined and other pandemic restrictions eased, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1 the Title 42 order was no longer needed, setting May 23 as its expiration date. Republicans and several Democrats had urged Biden to extend the Title 42 order, warning that its removal would put even greater strains on border authorities and the U.S. immigration system. Summerhays's ruling focused primarily on the migration-related implications of lifting Title 42, not the public health rationale. The administration "spent over a year defending it as public health policy, but as soon as they tried to roll it back, it became apparent that the original intent of Title 42 as border control policy was always the real purpose," said Andrea Flores, a former immigration adviser to Biden who left the White House last fall. Biden administration officials were preparing for an even larger migration influx after the restrictions were lifted, so the ruling eased the risk of another crisis similar to last year's mass crossing of Haitian migrants that overwhelmed authorities in Del Rio, Texas. But the decision has left Biden officials locked into a policy they say has driven up the rate of repeated illegal crossings. That has left the administration in the unusual position of blaming Republicans for preventing them from implementing more-rigorous enforcement measures. "Because individuals subject to Title 42 are expelled without immigration consequences, many make repeated attempts to enter the United States unlawfully," DHS spokesman Eduardo Maia Silva said in a statement. "Only when the Title 42 public health order is no longer in place can the Department most effectively increase immigration enforcement actions to administer escalating consequences for unlawful entry," he said. The Biden administration has appealed Summerhays's ruling. But immigrant advocates say they want to see the White House do more. "If the White House truly wants to end Title 42, and is not just posturing, then the administration will seek an immediate stay of the Louisiana injunction," American Civil Liberties Union attorney Lee Gelernt said in an interview. Gelernt said the administration could also move to comply with the judge's order by quickly seeking public input on the measure, which Summerhays said the administration neglected to do. Andrew Selee, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute in Washington, said Summerhays's ruling is a "gift," in a policymaking sense, because it buys the administration more time to focus on its own border initiatives, especially the asylum overhaul. "It's a gift if they want to use it as way to build a new border management system as quickly as possible," he said. "But it's a curse if they use it as excuse to not do anything different." The new asylum screening procedures will apply to single adults as well as family groups who are facing "expedited" deportation proceedings and applying for protection, according to the DHS. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to refer the applicant to an asylum officer for what the administration describes as a "non-adversarial" screening interview. Only applicants who indicate an intent to reside in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark or San Francisco will be eligible for the asylum officer screenings during the initial phase, the DHS said. If the asylum officer decides the applicant is not eligible for asylum or another form of U.S. protection and an immigration judge concurs with the decision after an "independent" assessment, the judge will issue a deportation order "and the individual will be expeditiously removed from the United States," according to the department. Under Biden, deportations and immigration arrests in the interior of the United States - away from border areas - have slumped to their lowest levels in decades, ICE statistics show. --- The Washington Post's Maria Sacchetti contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - Attorney General Merrick Garland had long planned a May 20 Justice Department event to commemorate the first anniversary of President Joe Biden signing anti-hate crime legislation. But as if to mock seemingly futile efforts against racist violence, days before the program, a gunman identified as Payton Gendron drove three hours to a Buffalo supermarket and shot 13 people with a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle after plotting to kill Black people. Ten died. The massacre sent a defiant message to a ceremony meant to highlight the Biden administrations fight against racist violence. We now gather in the wake of a horrific and painful reminder of the urgency and importance of this task, Garland told a crowd in the departments Great Hall last week. No one in America should fear violence because of who they are, added Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. The department will not tolerate any form of terrorism, hate-based violence, or unlawful discrimination. The moment highlighted the difficulty of preventing hate crimes in a nation still rife with tension exacerbated, many anti-hate crime groups say, by former president Donald Trumps racist rhetoric. Garland used the event to present a new set of plans to tackle the persistent scourge. After citing successful prosecutions in hate crime cases, Garland announced noncriminal tools to help prevent them. One is guidance for community organizations and local governments on how increased awareness of hate incidents can be used as a tool for prevention and response. He also announced a $10 million grant program to address hate crimes through state-run reporting hotlines and community programs. If its possible to even further redouble our efforts, Garland said referring to Buffalo, something like this can only cause us to do so. But efforts are redoubled every time the nations gun violence sickness explodes with mass fatalities, sometimes with hate as the motive. And not far down Pennsylvania Avenue from Garlands speech, Senate Republicans later blocked legislation that Democrats said could have given law enforcement more tools to address racist violence. The bill would have created bureaus in the FBI, Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security charged with reporting on the threat posed by White supremacists and neo-Nazis. Under the bill, an interagency task force also would focus on white racist infiltration into law enforcement agencies and the military. Republicans opposed the measure, arguing it could be interpreted too broadly. Gendron, the 18-year-old suspect in Buffalo, left no doubt about his motive. His 180-page screed, The Washington Post reported, outlined his belief in a great replacement theory that White people would be overcome in part, in his words, by the genocide of the European people. This recalls the Jews will not replace us chants by racists at a deadly Charlottesville rally in 2017 who confronted counterprotesters. Following that, Trump comforted the white supremacists, saying there were very fine people on both sides. Reported hate crimes are rising even as reporting from law enforcement agencies is declining, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). That could indicate significant underreporting. ADLs review of FBI data says the number of hate crimes rose in 2020 to 7,759, the highest point in 12 years and a 6 percent increase over the previous year. Hate crimes reported against Black people jumped 43% to 2,755. Yet at the same time more than 60 jurisdictions with populations over 100,000 reported zero hate crimes, a circumstance ADL finds simply not credible. Jake Hyman, an ADL associate director of communications, complained by email about the persistent lack of complete and reliable data about hate crimes in this country. Data drives policy, and without an accurate assessment of the scope and nature of this problem policymakers and communities are left to develop solutions with one hand tied behind our backs. The FBI did not respond to questions about its hate crime data. Garlands toolbox to combat hate crimes does not include restraining inflammatory speech by elected officials. After noting only the perpetrator of a hate crime is responsible for the crime, Michael Lieberman, a senior policy counsel at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), had pointed words about Trumps influence. But we believe, strongly, that words matter - and words have consequences, Lieberman added by email. We believe President Trumps divisive, polarizing rhetoric and executive actions helped create a climate in which individual perpetrators could feel emboldened to act. Hyman agreed, saying Trumps words created a climate that normalized anti-Asian, Anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate, which in turn energized and emboldened people to act. But hate existed before Donald Trump and it continues to thrive even though hes out of office. In response, Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich blasted the SPLC and the media. The disgraced and discredited Southern Law Center is a hate-based scam organization that masquerades as a think tank to sow division and wage partisan battles, he said. The fact that The Washington Post amplifies SLCs agenda tells readers everything they need to know about both. Budowich said nothing about similar Anti-Defamation League comments. (Tribune News Service) An Alabama military base, one of many in the South named for Confederate leaders, is slated to be renamed for a Medal of Honor recipient from Etna, Pennsylvania, who served as a fearless combat pilot in three wars spanning 30 years. Fort Rucker is one of nine Army bases under consideration for a name change by a congressionally mandated commission set up last year. The base is named for Edmund Rucker, a Confederate brigade commander, but the commission on Tuesday recommended it be renamed for Michael Novosel Sr. The commission doesnt rename bases on its own; it will prepare a report for Congress by Oct. 1. The recommendations dont go into effect until approved by Congress and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Novosel, born in Etna in 1922, fought in World War II, served during Korea and then volunteered for Vietnam, during which he earned the Medal of Honor for a daring 1969 helicopter rescue of 29 wounded South Vietnamese soldiers pinned down by the enemy. President Nixon awarded him the medal, the nations highest, in 1971. He had lived in Enterprise, Ala., and died in 2006 after a battle with cancer. Novosel has already been honored in other ways. A stretch of Route 28 in Etna and Sharpsburg is named for him, as is the main road on the Rucker base. By any measure, he was a legendary figure. Growing up during the Depression, he graduated from Etna High School in 1940 and joined the Army. Despite his diminutive stature at 5-foot-3, he became a pilot when World War II began after the Army, desperate for combat flyers, did away with peacetime height requirements. He initially flew B-24s in gunnery training and later made bombing runs on Japan in B-29s, flying out of Tinian. After the war he was recalled for active duty in Korea, then later went to work as an airline pilot. But when he learned he had glaucoma that would ground him, he decided to sign up for duty in Vietnam at age 41. The military needed pilots and his glaucoma wasnt an issue. I knew I had the aviation skills to help, he said in a 1996 interview. I thought I should do my part and volunteer. The Air Force didnt have space for additional high-ranking officers, so he gave up his lieutenant colonel rank in the Air Force, joined the Army as a chief warrant officer in 1964 and became a medevac helicopter pilot. His most famous mission came in Kien Tuong Province on Oct. 2, 1969, at age 47, when he came to the rescue of South Vietnamese soldiers trapped by attacking North Vietnamese. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force, reads the Medal of Honor citation. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machine gun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. Enemy fire drove him off six times, but he returned each time to land and extract troops. Toward the end of the mission, his crew spotted a wounded soldier near an enemy bunker. He hovered the chopper backward while the man was pulled aboard and enemy bullets flew. A sniper shot Novosel in the leg and shrapnel perforated his hand. He momentarily lost control of the helicopter but recovered quickly and flew off under heavy fire. In all, he made 15 extractions that day and saved the lives of 29 soldiers. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit and the U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor citation reads. As harrowing as that event was, Novosel found himself in numerous other dicey situations. He saved thousands of wounded soldiers during the war, flying a total of 2,543 missions. His son, Michael Jr., also flew helicopters in Vietnam. They were the only father-and-son team of flyers in the same unit and had the distinction of saving each other during one week in 1970. Novosels chopper went down under gunfire and crashed. Michael Jr., 20 years old at the time, flew to the rescue. A week later, Michael Jr.s helicopter was shot down, and his father flew in to save him. Novosels Medal of Honor was largely overlooked at the time because Vietnam was so unpopular, but in later years he became something of a celebrity, making public appearances and speeches. He also wrote a memoir, Dustoff, published in 1999. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (c)2022 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. JUBA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's transitional unity government said Friday it will go ahead and graduate the 83,000 unified forces despite Thursday's United Nations Security Council resolution extending arms embargo until 2023. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth said Resolution 2633, adopted at the Security Council on Thursday extending arms embargo and individual sanctions until May 31, 2023, will not affect the ongoing peace process. "It is not going to affect the peace process, and it will not affect the security arrangements, we will continue with implementation of the revitalized peace agreement," he told Xinhua in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. "This is what they want. They do not want the implementation of peace. They want things to move as they are now so that they continue to benefit," he said. The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted Resolution 2633 to renew for a year an arms embargo against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities. The resolution, 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. In July 2018, the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo and individual sanctions on South Sudan following years of conflict. Makuei had previously said that the existing arms embargo was delaying the graduation of the unified forces on time to take charge of security during the current transitional period, which ends in February next year. "We are going to graduate the forces with sticks," he said. "The preparations are underway now." On Thursday, the South Sudan foreign ministry expressed "displeasure against" the latest UN Security Council resolution, saying the sanctions are counter-productive. In a statement, the foreign ministry praised China, Gabon, India, Kenya, and Russia for abstaining from the vote. "These countries understand that the United Nation's vision of world peace requires that sovereign nations respect one another as equals," the statement said. "They stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan, for whom these sanctions are a cruel policy with no clear intention." Nathan Carman appeared in court in 2018 (AP) Legal experts and law enforcement have pointed to several reasons why a Vermont man was charged with the murder of his mother on a fishing trip six years after her death. Documents unsealed in a Vermont US District Court on 10 May identified Nathan Carman, 28, as the main suspect in the 2016 death of his mother Linda Carman. The 54-year-old who died on a fishing trip off the coast of New England with her son when their boat allegedly sank. He was rescued floating adrift, and her body and the boat remain missing. Court documents unsealed earlier this month in the Vermont US District Court revealed charges on eight counts against Mr Carman, including for murder and fraud in the death of his mother. While no new evidence appeared in those filings, according to the Associated Press, legal experts and law enforcement attached to the case have expressed their opinions on the six year delay. Its very difficult to charge murder federally, said Jessica Brown, a former state and federal public defender at Vermont Law School. 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. Law enforcement officials previously tied to the case told the Associated Press that new evidence could have been behind the federal indictment, and that prosecutors in Vermont might have been able to find different evidence to those in Connecticut, where Mr Carman is fighting for a share of his mothers $7m inheritance. Nathan Carmen's mother Linda, from Middletown in the east US state of Connecticut (WTNH News8 / Youtube screengrab) He was also accused by the Vermont US District Court of fatally shooting his millionaire grandfather, John Chakalos, in 2013 in Connecticut, but does not charge him with that killing 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 Mr Chakalos was killed. And I think thats why, rightfully so, the US attorneys office took that and took responsibility for that and brought everything together. He has pleaded not guilty to both accusations and remains behind bars. Mr Carman pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and faces mandatory life in prison if convicted of murder, CNN reported. Additional reporting by the Associated Press. WASHINGTON Comedian Jon Stewart joined veterans service organizations on Saturday urging lawmakers to pass a bill that would expand eligibility for health care and benefits to all veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins. I think people think veterans go fight in our wars and you get health care for life, and it's just not the case, Stewart told a couple of hundred people gathered at RFK Stadium for a rally to push for a Senate vote on the bill. And you come home, and you've got all these issues, and we talk a good game about supporting the troops but if you're not there when they actually need support, then it's just empty. Earlier this month, Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, and Jerry Moran of Kansas, the ranking Republican on the committee, introduced the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, also known as the PACT Act. The senators called the legislation historic and they said the bill will provide long overdue health care services and benefits for all veterans exposed to toxins. The senators on Tuesday released the text of the PACT Act, which seeks to provide an easy path to health care and benefits for veterans who served near open-air burn pits, which were used throughout the 1990s and the post-9/11 wars to burn garbage, jet fuel and other materials. Veterans diagnosed with cancer, respiratory issues and lung disease at young ages have blamed exposure to the toxic fumes from these pits, but the Department of Veterans Affairs contended for years that there wasnt sufficient evidence to support their claims. The bill also would improve the VAs workforce and claims processing to speed up efforts to meet the needs of veterans and establish 31 new VA health care facilities in 19 states. Additionally, the bill would expand health care eligibility to post-9/11 combat veterans and add 23 conditions related to burn pits and other toxic exposures to the VAs list of service presumptions. It will also expand the list of presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure to include Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll, strengthen federal research on toxic exposure, and improve the VAs resources and training. The bill is named for Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder and lung cancer after serving with the Army National Guard in Kosovo and Iraq, where he experienced prolonged exposure to burn pits. He died in 2020. The PACT Act passed through the House in early March, and senators began negotiating the sweeping measure. House lawmakers were pushing the major reform bill, but senators were opting for a slower, more staggered strategy to address the problem of toxic exposure health care. In February, the Senate passed the Health Care for Burn Pit Veterans Act, which would expand health care to veterans but didnt address other benefits. The sponsors of the bill insisted the measure is just a first step in a three-phase approach that would add more benefits incrementally. The House PACT Act would increase spending by about $318 billion during the next decade, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. The Senates initial bill came with a price tag of about $1 billion. Matthew Fritz Mihelcic, commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the crowd gathered Saturday to use their cell phones and scan the QR code on display at tents and on the big screen at the event. That will send a message to your senators, your representatives, he said. It'll take you 60 seconds to do that. If everybody here does that today We can break the internet, we can send a message to everyone in Congress telling them we mean business. Marine Corps veteran Mindy Beyer spoke at the rally about serving with her friend, another Marine veteran Kate Hendricks Thomas, an outspoken advocate of the legislation and a public health official. Thomas fought for years to prove her cancer was the result of her exposure to toxic burn pits before the VA recognized the link. At the same time, she advocated for the process to change, so other veterans didnt face the same challenges. Thomas died in April at the age of 42. This is our fight now, Beyer said. We must all stand this watch. So yes, call your congressman. And then call your mom and your brother and tell your doctors and your nurses and tell your neighbor and your pastor and the grocery store cashier. Tell everyone about the sacrifice that Kate made, that many have made. That several of us here today may have already made, and we don't even know it yet. Beyer said this is not a VA problem, but a Congress problem. I think that once the VA is equipped with the resources and money that they need, that they especially under [VA Secretary Denis] McDonough are going to figure it out. I've seen really good things and I'm very optimistic at what the VA can do when given the right resources. McDonough said Wednesday at the VAs monthly news conference that the agencys budget for fiscal year 2023 did not envision the PACT Act being enacted. Nevertheless, he said it did envision a series of important modernization steps, such as the 2,094 additional VA employees. McDonough said the agency will go back to Congress throughout the year to seek additional funding. Stewart said at the rally that the bill needed six more senators to agree to vote for it. He recounted the story from Greek mythology of Sisyphus, a man condemned to push a boulder up a steep mountain nightly, though he never manages to get the boulder over the top. Instead, the boulder is found at the bottom of the mountain, and Sisyphus must start over again. Rosie and Leroy Torres [founders of the nonprofit Burn Pits 360] started at the bottom of the hill with a boulder, and [Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America] jumped in and says, Let me put a hand on it, Stewart told the crowd. And Wounded Warrior [Project] jumped in and said, Let me put a hand on it. And VFW, Let me put a hand on it. American Legion, and every organization that you see here today, and God knows we all stand on the shoulders of the Vietnam veterans because they showed the way. They knew what Agent Orange did, and they wouldn't allow this government to ignore it. And it took them decades. And the Persian Gulf War veterans were on their shoulders, and they know what this means. And they put their hands on the boulder and today we need everyone to put their hands on that boulder and put it over that mountain. On Thursday, Tester urged senators to pass the PACT Act. Now is the time, folks, Tester said on the Senate floor. Were going to get back from Memorial Day, we will all be at Memorial Day events, and we will celebrate the folks who gave the ultimate sacrifice. When we come back, we need to vote and celebrate those who have survived but yet have the impacts of toxic exposure. The Senate returns to session June 6. PITTSBURGH, PA. (Tribune News Service) On Memorial Day 31 years ago, Korean War veteran Ed Stevens of Kennedy saw a Washington politician on TV giving a speech and invoking World War I, World War II and Vietnam. But he never said a word about Korea, Stevens recalled. That slight prompted him to launch the Korean War Veterans Association of Western Pennsylvania and a long campaign to raise money for the war memorial on Pittsburghs North Shore, dedicated in 1999. All these years later, the association is dwindling as the Korean War generation fades into history. Stevens died in 2020 at age 88 and his compatriots are all in their late 80s and early 90s. Yet they still meet four times a year at a South Hills restaurant, most recently this month; they participate in parades, put out a newsletter and hold a ceremony at the memorial every summer to mark the ceasefire. Above all, they share a sense of pride for their service in what has been called the Forgotten War. We had a cause. We saved the world from communism, said Chuck Marwood, 91, of Brentwood, a Navy veteran in Korea who helped raise money for the memorial. The war ended in 1953 in a tense stalemate that remains very much in the news 70 years later. President Joe Biden visited South Korea two weeks ago, meeting with U.S. troops and pledging continued American support against the North Korean nuclear threat. The contrast between South and North could not be more stark. For veterans such as Marwood and his friend Jack Rosenberger, president of the KWVA of Western Pennsylvania, the difference is symbolized by photos taken from the international space station showing the two Koreas at night. Have you seen that image? Rosenberger asked. South Korea is brightly lit but North Korea looks like it has a total of two dim bulbs. While North Korea is busy making rockets, Marwood said, South Korea is a thriving democracy that enjoys one of the largest and most diverse economies in the world. The U.S., which maintains about 30,000 troops in South Korea, is responsible for that, veterans say. The cost was high. Some 54,000 Americans died in the war from 1950 to 1953 and another 100,000 were wounded. The South Koreans are so appreciative of the Korean War veterans, Marwood said. In Pittsburgh, that appreciation had been perhaps best illustrated by the StarKist Co. Owned by Dongwon of South Korea and until recently headquartered on the North Shore, the company held an annual lunch for local Korean War vets to say thank you for what they did. While South Korea is grateful, many Americans are entirely ignorant about the Korean War. In popular culture, the conflict is overshadowed by the epic campaigns of World War II, the so-called Good War, and later by the disastrous American slog in Vietnam. Korea is forever wedged between the two. When I came home there wasnt much mentioned about the Korean War, said Marwood. [Former President Harry] Truman didnt even call it a war. President Truman famously did not seek a declaration of war from Congress and instead referred to the fighting as a police action. To the men on the ground facing waves of Chinese soldiers, often fighting them in brutal hand-to-hand battles, it sure seemed like a war. Marwoods own role was very different from that of his Army brethren. After graduating from high school in 1948 he joined the Navy. When the war came he served as an electricians mate on the USS Sicily, an escort carrier that supported the Inchon invasion and other campaigns. Marwood was in combat for eight months, came home to get married and went back to serve on an aviation supply ship that serviced the U.S. carriers. For him, Stevens, an Army vet who saw heavy combat, was the catalyst for recognition in their later years. When that politician spoke on Memorial Day in 1991, Marwood recalled, Stevens really went bonkers. That got Ed up off his chair. The local chapter of the KWVA was one of the first in the nation. At its peak in the 1990s, it had some 700 members. Now its down to about 150. The group has tried to recruit younger vets who have served in Korea in more recent times, but Marwood said they havent shown much interest. The organization is facing its eventual extinction. Its sad. Im going to be 92 and Im what they used to say in the service, Im getting to be an old-timer, Marwood said. But its reality. Its life. For now, the group carries on. A handful of members are still active. We still do the Veterans Day parades, Marwood said. We dont have any marchers anymore. We ride in a car. The veterans used to clean the North Shore memorial themselves. Now that job is handled by a group of Korean students. But as always, the vets will be out there on July 27 for the annual ceremony commemorating the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953. Were still proud that were doing what were doing, Marwood said. (c)2022 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of the Columbus community have the chance to make an impact on local youth during Columbus Public Schools summer lunch program this year. Any individual, group or organization can write positive, inspirational messages on paper towels, which will be given to kids as napkins. The CPS summer lunch program is starting on Tuesday. At Columbus High School, Columbus Middle School and Centennial Elementary School, lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost for children 0-18 who are residents of Columbus. Adult meals are $4. The program ends June 27. According to CPS Marketing and Foundation Director Nicole Anderson, staff began writing inspirational messages on napkins following a presentation held last week. Billy Ivey spoke during the school districts employee recognition ceremony about his movement, Napkinisms, in which positive, funny and/or inspirational messages to children. His whole presentation revolved around his belief that it's not what you write, it's that you're writing and words matter. With a simple note, you can create joy, you can create a smile and can make someone's day, Anderson said. Ivey, who resides in Birmingham, Alabama, said Napkinism started to take root when he began leaving notes for his kids in their lunchboxes. That in itself is common, he noted, but he became virtual after he shared photos of the notes on social media and people started sharing them. Ivey said he was only 15-years-old when his father died from Lou Gehrig's disease, which is also known as ALS. Up until then, his father had been very engaged and shared simple things with him that have made a big difference in his life, he added. I've learned over the past few years how easy it is to encourage other people if you consistently meet those opportunities with love, if you consistently meet those opportunities and don't shy away from those opportunities but really lean in to take advantage of those warmhearted impulses, Ivey said. Ivey now shares his story with others, including the staff at Columbus Public Schools. The lunch program, which reaches kids of not only Columbus Public but any youth in the community, is a great way to help promote joy, love and smiles during the summer when we don't get to see the kids as often, Anderson said. We thought it was a great way not only for our staff to still stay connected with kids in the community but what a great opportunity potentially for our entire community to get involved. As of a May 26 press release, more than 350 messages on napkins have been written. The goal is to reach 2,000. Anderson said she has the supplies available and can work with anyone interested to give them paper towels and Sharpies. Anderson can be contacted at 402-563-7000 or andersonn@discoverers.org. With everything that's going on in our world, positive and negative every day, this is a great way to show support of youth in the community and spread joy, Anderson said, noting that writing a simple note to help spread smiles to others is heartwarming work. That's the biggest thing that anyone in our community would get from it, is knowing that they did something to share to give a smile to another person. Ivey noted his surprise in his story creating such a spark in Columbus. The fact that Columbus (Public Schools) is going to get to sort of take that baton and keep running with it and share with other people, it's fascinating to me and it's humbling to me that the very simple idea can change people's lives, he said. 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. New nationally representative research from Consumer NZ has found sentiment in the supermarket industry has taken a sharp hit over the past year, with trust plummeting. In June last year, 17 per cent of New Zealanders said they did not trust the supermarkets. Today that has nearly doubled, jumping to 32 per cent of the population. Of the 15 industries measured, supermarkets have seen the most significant decline in trust since June 2021. "It's particularly concerning that consumer trust in a sector that is essential to our well-being as a nation, and is virtually impossible for consumers to do without, is seeing such a marked decline," says Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy. The Commerce Commissions study into the grocery sector found the duopoly is consistently making profits in excess of what it should, says Jon. Couple that with cost-of-living challenges, and no wonder there has been an erosion of trust in the supermarket industry. Consumer is calling for measures to increase competition in the supermarket sector and has launched a petition to #stopthesuperprofits. The petition asks the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, David Clark, to go further than the commissions recommendations and bring about meaningful change in the sector. To date, 74,000 New Zealanders have signed the petition, and were aiming for 200,000 signatures. "The supermarkets have recently introduced measures to temporarily address high prices, says Jon. Countdown has put a temporary price freeze on 500 items over winter in response to the cost of living and Foodstuffs has returned prices on more than 110 everyday items, to 2021 levels. Some of this activity will be helpful for struggling consumers, however we dont think the supermarket giants should be applauded for their efforts. We should be asking how a lack of competition has been allowed to create this situation in the first place. Food prices were 6.4 per cent higher in April 2022 compared with April 2021. Consumers research found that New Zealanders are preparing themselves to spend more on groceries. In June 2021; a quarter (24 per cent) expected their groceries to increase. By April 2022, more than two in five (43 per cent) anticipated an uptick in grocery expenditure. Concern about the price of food has jumped significantly. Groceries went from the eighth biggest financial concern in June 2021 to third in April 2022, beaten only by rent and mortgage payments. Consumer NZ has also noted that in the last year New Zealanders are incurring an increasing proportion of debt on essential items like groceries, fuel and bills. So here we go again. Politicians of all stripes will offer their thoughts and prayers to the victims families. Special-interest groups on the right will cite the latest bloodbath as proof that we need more gun ownership. And cable television will rerun the same video clips umpteen times, fill the airways with talking ranters, and thus leave the impression that nothing else is happening anywhere in America or overseas, probably for the next week or so, until this latest massacre is flushed down the memory hole. Thats what always happens. Way back, thats what happened after two twisted kids shot up the Columbine high school on April 20, 1999. We witnessed the national wringing of hands, the convening of symposia and the ritual assignations of blame and now well do it again, of course, before settling back into our routines until the next massacre provides a temporary jolt. Before we numbly move on from one of the worst mass shootings in American history temporarily topping some of the worst mass shootings in American history, to be topped sooner or later by the next mass shootings lets do the drill we know so well: Quotes from on-the-scene survivors. Media kudos to heroes. Biographies of the dead. NRA silence. Congressional nothingness. Rinse n repeat. After all, when tragedy strikes here in the accursed land of locked n loaded, its deemed too soon to say anything else. Then, after all the deaths are tallied and the bodies are buried and weve moved on, its always too late. But what the heck, Ill go through the motions anyway: What happened this time was a terrorist act greased by a lenient gun-loving state that makes the NRA proud. Weve lost the mental and moral capacity to prevent these bloodbaths. The lawmakers quake in perpetual fear that the arms merchants will unleash their wrath on anyone who steps out of line. A nation armed to the teeth has essentially decided that the mass loss of innocents is an acceptable tradeoff for Freedom. The innocents freedom to live is deemed disposable. Conservative commentator David Frum, the former Bush speechwriter, laments: Like ancient villagers, Americans accept periodic plagues as a visitation from the gods, about which nothing can or should be done. The only permitted response is thoughts and prayers certainly never rational action to reduce casualties in future. Even to open the discussion as to whether something might not be done violates the taboos of decency: How dare you politicize this completely unpredictable and uncontrollable event! It is as if gun violence were inscrutable to the mind of man, utterly beyond human control. All we get, in lieu of substance, are worthless words from the gun lobbys hapless stooges. Its all part of the drill. I cant precisely pinpoint when America fully surrendered to benumbed insanity, but Ill put my money on Sandy Hook. Once we decided that even the slaughter of little kids was acceptable collateral damage, we crossed the line and sold our souls. The innocents are casualties of a toxic culture thats out of control. Semi-automatic weapons (known to NRA leaders as sporting arms) and high-capacity magazines are growth sectors of the gun market. Remember the NRAs unspoken message: Guns are good business. Invest your kids. Barring a great awakening, there is no going back. Regarding the mass murder of 19 kids in Texas, theres really nothing new to write. Thats why for this column, Ive merely copy-pasted passages that I have written before. Everything old is new again. Every sentence in this post has been lifted from my previous columns about the 2021 Michigan school shootings, the 2018 Parkland school shootings, the 2017 Las Vegas concert shootings, the 2012 Sandy Hook school shootings, and the 2007 Virginia Tech school shootings. Ive stitched a Frankenstein monster, as it were. More than ever, were held hostage by the pro-life American ethos: Life begins at conception and ends with a Second Amendment execution. Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. 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. It doesnt matter who you are or where youre from, anyone who happens to go by the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial in south Columbus is instantly amazed. A Columbus native, Andrew Jackson Higgins rose to prominence during World War II for his design and mass production of Higgins Boats, crafts that gave the military the ability to transport men and equipment safely to beaches during amphibious landings. Former Columbus High School teacher Col. Gerald Jerry Meyer and his history class first developed the idea for the memorial, which came to fruition with support from numerous local agencies and the creation of nonprofit, the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial Foundation. The memorial boasts a full-size steel replica of the famous Higgins Boat, a beautiful bronzed Freedom Eagle created by local artist Fred Hoppe sitting atop a steel sculpture made from recovered wreckage of the World Trade Center site following 911. A state historical sign greets guests as they enter the memorial. The United States, MIA, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with the Nebraska and Louisiana state flags, fly high above the Memorial Wall. There are also service flags of the U.S. Army Navy, Marines, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force that line the sidewalk at the entrance to the memorial. Flags from each state and territory, along with flags specially made to honor Columbus High School staff and students surround the memorial, among other things. One of the things that I think is so unique and important to our history is all the connections to the different wars, said board member Dennis Hirschbrunner, a longtime Columbus resident and successful businessman. Its a great attraction honoring the veterans who have served in all the different wars. But theres even more coming. Hirschbrunner told me during a morning meeting earlier this month at Picket Fence Cafe that last year a Humphrey family donated an authentic Higgins Boat motor. Their father was a Higgins Boat Driver in World War II. At the end of the war, the government had a surplus of equipment and stripped the boats of the motors. He bought it and used it for irrigation, Hirschbrunner said. The motor is in the process of being fully restored. He said they removed all of the pieces added for irrigation purposes and it will soon be sandblasted to get all of the rust off of it and repainted. A concrete pad will have to be constructed by the boat at the memorial before it can be added along with signage to be complete. We hope to have it done by sometime this summer, Hirschbrunner said. The focus more recently has been preparing for Memorial Day, a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. Weve had ground mowed several times, the landscaping crew has been taking care of landscaping ahead of Memorial Day, Hirschbrunner said. The memorial should be in top condition. It should be looking great for Memorial Day. The American Legion always has its annual and amazing Memorial Day program; however, go spend some time at the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial sometime this weekend and just take in its beauty. Not only is it a great reminder of our countrys military heroes, but its amazing to think about the generosity of so many individuals and businesses who helped make the memorial a reality in Columbus. All it takes is one look to know why it has become an attraction to people around the country. Its a picture of what a community can do when its proud of something and can get together, Columbus Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Katy McNeil told me. To learn more, or to buy a memorial brick or make any kind of monetary donation, visit andrewjacksonhigginsmemorialfoundation.org. Matt Lindberg is the marketing director of Parkway Plaza. Reach him via email at MLindberg41@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 China's new space telescope will identify more Earth-like planets that can be colonized. The idea of exoplanet colonization is not really new. (Photo : ESO via Getty Images) In this artist's impression supplied by the ESO (European Southern Observatory) on April 25, 2007, the planetary system around the red dwarf, Gliese 581. Various space agencies, such as NASA and SpaceX, are trying to find ways how to transform another planet into an Earth-like one. For the past few years, Mars has been the top candidate when it comes to the planet that can support life. Now, China wants to look for other planets outside the solar system that can also nourish living things. The Asian country plans to do this using its so-called CHES (Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey) telescope. China's New Space Telescope According to Live Science's latest report, CHES is a 3.9-foot-aperture space telescope. China plans to send it around 930,000 miles away from the Earth. (Photo : NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt via Getty Images) In this handout digital illustration released on September 15, 2011 by NASA, the newly-discovered gaseous planet Kepler-16b orbits it's two stars. Also Read: Space Perspective's Passenger Balloon Development Receives Million-Dollar Funding; What is Spaceship Neptune The space region it will specifically focus on is the Lagrange between the sun and Earth. This means that it will fly in the L2 Lagrange point that is also home to NASA's latest James Webb Space Telescope. "The discovery of the nearby habitable worlds will be a great breakthrough for humankind, and will also help humans visit those Earth twins and expand our living space in the future," said Ji Jianghui, a Chinese Academy Of Sciences astronomer leading the CHES project. The new CHES telescope is still under development. Involved space experts said that they might launch the new space tech as early as 2026. But, this will still depend on the issues that the new space telescope might experience. On the other hand, the new Chinese space telescope is expected to observe around 100 sun-like stars for Earth-like planets. How CHES Telescope Works The South China Morning Post reported that CHES works by measuring the "wobble" of a star. It can do this with the accuracy of 1 micro arcsecond. Ji said that they will achieve this using the so-called laser focal plane metrology. As of press time, CHES still needs to receive approval for the use of the laser focal plane metrology. Once it gets the go-signal from the Chinese government, the developers are expected to complete the new space telescope in about five years. Meanwhile, China's Tianwen-1 Mission previously celebrated its first year on Mars. On the other hand, MIT's new self-rearranging space station is expected to be better than ISS. For more news updates about CHES telescope and other new space techs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Space Cooperation To Be Enhanced by New BRICS Joint Committee With China Leading the Members This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Influencers' crypto endorsements are among the factors that significantly impacted the blockchain market's growth. Before big names entered the cryptocurrency industry, people hesitated since experts say it is not a good investment. (Photo : Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Logan Paul arrives for the screening of DAZN's "40 Days" at Belasco Theatre on November 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. But, after celebrities, such as Jake Paul, started to talk about NFTs and digital coins, people suddenly became interested in cryptocurrency investments. Even billionaires like Elon Musk also helped Dogecoin and other cryptocurrencies gain more traction from investors. However, there's one question. Can celebrities promote digital coins while hiding their financial ties? Influencer Crypto Endorsement: Can Celebrities Hide Their Financial Ties? According to The New York Times' latest report, influencers' endorsements are still being used to hype cryptocurrencies. But, if digital coins' value plummeted, some critics also blamed them. (Photo : Photo by MARVIN RECINOS/AFP via Getty Images) man protests against the circulation of Bitcoin in San Salvador on September 7, 2021. - El Salvador on Tuesday becomes the first country in the world to accept bitcoin as legal tender, despite widespread domestic skepticism and international warnings of risks for consumers. (Photo by MARVIN RECINOS / AFP) Also Read: China's State-Backed Blockchain BSN Set for International Debut with Spartan Network Now, this is where financial ties disclosure comes in. Laws involving cryptocurrencies are quite complicated. For example, the Federal Trade Commission requires all marketers to disclose their financial ties in the projects they promote. "The old-world laws still apply, and you have to follow the guidelines. Otherwise, the regulators will come calling," said David Klein, a New York lawyer. On the other hand, critics always urge influencers to disclose their financial ties with the cryptocurrencies they endorse to avoid blockchain scams. But, there are some instances when celebrities, who provide their crypto revenue status, still face legal issues. One of these people is Ms. Kardashian. The issue happened after she promoted EthereumMax, another crypto that is not linked to the actual ETH. Because of this, the celebrity and EthereumMax project founders were accused of misleading advertisements. Celebrities Criticized for Promoting Crypto Since crypto is a sensitive topic, there are celebrities who are facing backlash after they promoted their preferred digital coins. The Business of Business reported that influencers promoting cryptocurrencies can be an issue, especially if the digital tokens they are endorsing are volatile financial products. Now, here are some of the celebrities criticized after getting involved in the crypto industry: Matt Damon Floyd Mayweather Gwyneth Paltrow Reese Witherspoon Paul Pierce Previously, China's crypto production renewal happened, even though miners continue to skirt Beijing's cryptocurrency regulations. On the other hand, Europe's Central Bank said that it wants to regulate cryptocurrencies. For more news updates about crypto and other business tech topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Cryptocurrency Crash: $200B Drop in 24 Hours, Monthlong Plunge Dangerous? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX's Starlink internet service is now expanding in South East Asia. The first country in this region to have the popular broadband tech of Elon Musk is the Philippines. (Photo : Photo by Hannibal Hanschke-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. For the past few years, the Philippines has always been at the bottom of the list when it comes to internet speed. In 2021, it will be the 89th country when it comes to broadband internet performance. For the past months, the Asian country has experienced an average of 46.44 Mbps. Now, once Starlink enters the Philippines, the WiFi speed status is expected to improve. SpaceX Starlink Internet Service Expands in Southeast Asia According to Bloomberg's latest report, the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission announced that Starlink could already launch its broadband service in the country. (Photo : Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, speaks during the Satellite 2020 at the Washington Convention CenterMarch 9, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) Also Read: SpaceX Starlink Launch is a Success! 50 New Satellites in Orbit-How Far is Elon Musk From His Goal? NTC approved the company's registration on Friday, May 27. Thanks to this decision, SpaceX's subsidiary can now access the Asian country's satellite systems, as well as build its own broadband facilities. "The NTC is steadfast in helping ensure that roll-out of Starlink's internet access services will be done expeditiously and professionally," said NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba via PNA Gov. Once Starlink completely operates in the Philippines, it will be the first southeast Asian country to have its broadband service. When it comes to internet performance, Starlink is expected to offer low latency satellite WiFi between 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps. Starlink Internet Entering the Philippines NTC said that SpaceX's Starlink internet service could reach urban and suburban areas, as well as rural places. This will allow individuals in unserved and underserved areas to have faster broadband speeds. Bien Marquez, SpaceX counsel, said that NTC's approval of Starlink shows that the Philippine government is really serious in addressing connectivity needs. As of writing, many Filipinos are still relying on their broadband services to complete their online class activities and work tasks, as the global pandemic continues. Recently, Pentagon praised SpaceX Starlink's anti-Russian cyberattack efforts, saying that the U.S. should learn from the space agency. On the other hand, the daily SpaceX Starlink users in Ukraine are now more than 150,000. For more news updates about Starlink and its expansion in South East Asia, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Internet Speed Surpasses 400Mbps! Expect Better Performance as More Sats Reach Earth's Orbit This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A dangerous NASA heat shield issue has been clarified by the international space union. This detail was claimed by the website called Space Explored. (Photo : Red Huber/Getty Images) A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft sits atop a Falcon 9 rocket on launch Pad 39A ahead of the scheduled Axiom-1 launch on April 7, 2022 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. However, the giant space agency now denies this claim, saying that there's now a propellant leak during the successful Axiom Mission 1 spaceflight. Ax-1 is one of the most-awaited spaceflights of NASA. Many people are interested in this space activity since it is the first-eve all-private crewed mission that visited the International Space Station. After reaching ISS, the spacecraft used, SpaceX Dragon Endeavour, successfully splashed down off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, on April 25. Dangerous NASA Heat Shield Update: No Propellant Leak? According to Space.Com's latest report, Space Explored said that some anonymous people familiar with the works of NASA and SpaceX contacted them to explain the heat shield problem. (Photo : Red Huber/Getty Images) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch complex 39A carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a commercial mission managed by Axion Space at Kennedy Space Center April 8, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Also Read: NASA CAPSTONE Spacecraft To Fly Around the Moon, Creating an Unusual Orbit Between Earth and Its Natural Satellite The website claimed that the hypergolic propellant of Ax-1's spacecraft experienced a serious fuel leak, which affected its heat shield. "While those watching the flight would have been unaware of any complications during the launch, Space Explored has been made aware of a cascade of issues. The most seriously affected the spacecraft during its return to Earth," said the Space Explored via its official report. Now, NASA clarified the accusation, saying that Dragon's recent crew re-entry data was normal. The international space union added that there was no hypergol leak during the return of the Ax-1 mission. NASA Doubles Check Ax-1's Spacecraft NASA said that, together with SpaceX, they conducted a full engineering review of the heat shield's thermal protection system. The space company added that they did this prior to the launch of the Crew-4 mission as well. This means that if there's really a serious propellant fuel leak, SpaceX and NASA would certainly be able to identify it before completing the recent Axiom Mission 1 spaceflight. If you want to see further details about the alleged heat shield issue of NASA, you can visit this link. On the other hand, NASA James Webb Telescope identified a new exoplanet covered in lava oceans. Meanwhile, NASA Psyche Mission has been delayed because of a glitch issue. For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: NASA's Perseverance Rover Records Mars' Soundscapes - Martian Playlist Available for Listening! This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the wake of every mass killing in this country, politicians do what politicians do, which is to circle their respective wagons and offer solutions that fail to get to the heart of the issue. I dont have a dog in the gun control fight. We already have laws on the books that are designed to prevent criminals from possessing firearms. If Congress wants to strengthen those laws and ban so-called assault weapons and/or high capacity magazines, fine. But keep in mind there are plenty of firearms already in circulation. To be sure, there are immediate steps we can and should take. Author David French, in his column for the Dispatch, made a case red flag laws, which essentially would allow for, within certain parameters, the seizing of weapons of a person who demonstrates hes a threat to others or himself. It would also prevent the individual from purchasing additional weapons. You would think this is a measure on which everyone could agree. Mass shooters almost always leave a trail. According to police, the Uvalde shooter sent a series of messages: Im going to shoot my grandmother, Ive shot my grandmother, and then: Im going to shoot an elementary school, In the aftermath of Tuesdays shooting, much of the political and media attention was devoted to as it always is the method of killing rather than to the killer himself. It seems, at the very least, naive to believe that someone hell bent on mass murder will fail to follow through on his crime if he doesnt have access to a certain type of firearm. Violent criminals tend to be resourceful. The question is, Why do mass killings happen? Looking at how they were carried out or which type of weaponry was used, while not irrelevant, will only get us so far. I just returned from Germany and Poland where another professor and I took students on what the university calls the Human Dignity tour, in which we examine, among other things, the relationship between the Holocaust as a historical event and modern, contemporary issues related to human life. We toured three concentration camps, Sachsenhausen and Ravensbruck in Germany, and Auschwitz in Poland. The Nazis used a variety of techniques to kill people including but not limited to firing squads, carbon monoxide, starvation, hanging, and a cyanide-based pesticide call Zyklon B. The evidence, including gas chambers and crematoria still exists, lest anyone need to be reminded of what horrors evil can achieve. Our discussions with students and our guides organically led not so much to how these murders were committed but why. What leads human beings to have such little regard for their fellow human beings that they are willing to participate in their wholesale slaughter? Some 77 years after the Holocaust, this still seems to be the question of the moment. The answer begins with the biblical but countercultural assertion that human beings are not inherently good. Anyone who disagrees I would urge to consider the evidence, which can be found in any newspaper. In my case, all I need to do is look in the mirror. In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet says the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. In Romans, Paul reiterates the psalmist when he writes, There is no one righteous, not even one. If we begin with the premise that mankind is flawed and in need of salvation, how does such a premise inform our discussion on mass killings, suicides and violence currently playing out major American cities? Study after study indicates that young Americans are lonelier than ever. A CDC survey during the height of the pandemic in 2020 found that some 63% of young people, ages 18-24, are suffering significant symptoms of anxiety or depression. Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among young people ages 10 to 24 increased by 57%, according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General. We dont know what combination of factors led the Uvalde shooter to commit his terrible crime. We can ban all the weapons we want but unless we commit to making sense of these numbers, and combine that understanding with measures such as red flag laws and enhanced backgrounds checks, well have little chance of intervening before evil and opportunity meet. Rich Manieri is a Philadelphia-born journalist and author. He is currently a professor of journalism at Asbury University in Kentucky. You can reach him at manieri2@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HTC hasn't had an entry in quite a long time, and although fans were excited about the "metaverse" phone, company comments point towards a potential delay for its upcoming metaverse phone. The smartphone company is blaming supply chain issues as the reason behind the delay. HTC Could Delay the Launch of Its Awaited Metaverse Smartphone According to the story by Android Police, HTC was considered one of the "biggest names in Android phones" just a few years ago, but it hasn't been able to release anything new since 2018. The company's last device is called the HTC U12+, and now, four years later, it seems like the company's new phone will be delayed. The reason behind the belief that HTC's new phone could be delayed points toward comments made by the company. While the metaverse-focused smartphone should have been set for launch this year, it could take a while longer before its release. Company Blames Pandemic's Effect on the Supply Chain as Reason for the Delay As seen on Facebook, HTC Taiwan has been replying to certain comments regarding its upcoming smartphone. As seen in its replies, apparently, the company will be experiencing setbacks in its original plans. HTC points toward the pandemic's effect on the supply chain as the issue behind their decision to delay the product launch. Although the delay didn't specifically point toward the metaverse flagship phone due to being part of the company's entire lineup, it was suggested that the phone is indeed included. No Details Provided Regarding the Smartphone's Specs As of press time, not many details have been released regarding how the phone's design or function. One thing that's sure, however, is that the phone might fetch a higher price and will be packed with newer AR technologies. An article by NDTV detailed how the company planned to launch its metaverse phone. As per the article, HTC's next phone is supposed to be a high-end next-gen device capable of taking on different immersive technologies of the metaverse. Read Also: iPhone 14 Camera Leak Hints on Improved Autofocus, Wider Aperture | More Expensive than its Predecessor? No Details Regarding the Type of VR or AR Tech the Company Plans to Add Although HTC hasn't been at the top of the list when it comes to smartphones, its goal for the next device is to "recapture the early success that made them a global name." Charles Huang, the general manager for HTC's Asia-Pacific region, detailed its upcoming phone in an announcement during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022. The event was held in Barcelona, Spain, and as per Huang, the company plans to launch a new phone with characteristics of the metaverse. So far, details, specifications, and other pieces of important information haven't been released regarding the smartphone. There is also no news as to when the phone will launch and no additional detail regarding what type of VR or AR features they will be adding to the device. Related Article: Apple Asks Suppliers to Assemble 'Roughly' 220 Million iPhones in 2022 This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google Pixel 7 leak says the upcoming smartphone shares the same display specs as the Pixel 6. Although the Android maker, Google, has yet to officially launch the upcoming Pixel 7, rumors and leaks have sprouted like mushrooms online. (Photo : 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. Meanwhile, the giant wireless carrier, Verizon, reportedly removed the listing of the top-of-the-line Google flagship, the Pixel 6 Pro. Interestingly, it is still months ahead of the much-awaited launch of its successor, the Pixel 7. Google Pixel 7 Leak As per a news story by Phone Arena, the latest leak of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro mobile devices straight from Google suggests there are no display upgrades to expect, at least in terms of its specs. It appears that the successors of the Pixel 6 lineup are likely borrowing the same display that it sported. PhoneArena notes that the upcoming Pixel copies the entire display specs of the 2021 device, as well as the screen that it gets from Samsung. The latest leak predicts that the Pixel 7 is not upgrading to a buttery smooth refresh rate of 120Hz, which flagship devices, even other China-made budget phones, readily sport. It is also likely to flaunt the resolution of the previous phone, which is 2400 x 1080. (Photo : Drew Angerer/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15: The new Google Pixel 4 smartphone and cases are displayed during a Google launch event on October 15, 2019 in New York City. On the other hand, the Pixel 7 Pro shares the same display specs as the most expensive Pixel 6. It gets a 120Hz refresh rate paired with a resolution of 3120 x 1440. So, the latest specs leak of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones shows us that it carries the same refresh rate and screen resolution figures as their predecessors. Not to mention that these mobile devices are also likely getting the same Samsung S6E3FC3 and S6E3HC3 panels, which we also saw from the Pixel 6. Read Also: Google Pixel Fold Not Enough To Compete With Other Foldables? Launch Date Delayed, Again Pixel 7 Release: Verizon Removes Pixel 6 Pro The next-generation Pixel is expected to officially get the shimmer of the spotlight sometime in December. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 21: A sign is posted on the exterior of a Verizon store on July 21, 2021 in San Francisco, California. However, according to a recent report by Phone Arena, Verizon has already removed the Pixel 6 Pro with 512GB storage from its online store, surprisingly months ahead before the new Pixels come out. 9to5Google's report confirmed that the Pixel 6 Pro 512 GB vanished from the Verizon website after it has been "out of stock" for some time now. Meanwhile, Phone Arena notes that the Pixel 6 Pro (512GB) in Stormy Black color also ran out of stock on Google's website. Related Article: Google Pixel 7 Pro Case Renders Leaked Online | Here's What You Need to Know This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a recent tweet, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX's Starlink has been approved in Mozambique and Nigeria. (Photo : SpaceX-Imagery from Pixabay) Space Center Space X The launch in Africa has been around since 2021, in which the company has sent representatives to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to discuss the possibility of acquiring a license for Starlink in Nigeria. NCC has approved the license and the Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd. is obtained under the Internet Service Provider (ISP) category and will last for ten years from May 2022. Starlink operates in over 30 countries where it is legally approved and is licensed to provide internet services. Also read: SpaceX Starlink Internet Service Expands in Southeast Asia, Starting in the Philippines! NTC Gives Go Signal An Expensive Competition The arrival of Starlink in Africa will compete against telecom operators, such as MTN and Airtel that haven't improved their internet quality. However, could Starlink be the preferred ISP in the area? The problem is, that Starlink is expensive compared to these two telcos is priced at $110 for preorder and $599 for a full kit, which includes a terminal, mounting tripod, and Wi-Fi router. Still, Starlink is really fast. According to a February 22 news release, "One of Starlink's big bets is to provide ultra-fast broadband to the African Continent by the end of 2022, which will allow expansion to a greater number of people and places, with emphasis on rural reas and others not serves until today." 2023 Plans Include the World's Largest Radio Telescope in Africa? The coverage map of Starlink shows that it will expand its services through Africa by 2023. However, it was recently found that certain cities and towns, such as Upington, Ladismith, Beaufort West, and De Aar might not get the coverage. These areas are labeled as "dead zones," which are populated areas with many small towns and rural communities. The encircled area on the map may mean what is built near the center, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is located in the Meerkat National Park near the small town of Carnavaron. The SKA is also highly regarded in the scientific community for its potential to look into the deep reaches of space. Once completed, the SKA will have thousands of dishes fitted with low-frequency antennas installed over huge sections of land in South Africa and Australia, along with in other areas all over the world. When all of these are combined, they will become the world's biggest radio telescope. However, the astronomy community is concerned about the impact of Starlink on SKA's operations. According to the SKA Organisation (SKAO), it would be impossible for the telescope to remain unimpacted by Starlink, which means it could blind the SKA for periods of time. SpaceX has not responded to queries over the rings on its map and what they could mean. Related article: Elon Musk Says SpaceX Starlink Order Wait Time to Reduce as Production Ramps Up This article is owned by TechTimes Written by April Fowell 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Chinese government may have been tweaking the search results on massive social media apps, according to a new study. This concern was raised after experts noticed that Google and YouTube often give Chinese state propaganda publishers high rankings in searches on controversial political topics. Some topics include the abuse of Muslims in Xinjiang and conspiracy theories that the coronavirus originated in a military lab in the United States. Chinese Propaganda Tops Google Searches According to the report published on Friday, May 27, by the Brookings Institute and the Alliance for Securing Democracy, the Chinese state sources also rank highly on Bing searches about controversial issues. The researchers said that China had exploited the search engine results on COVID-19 and Xinjiang, two geopolitically salient subjects to Beijing. The news searchers on Google and Bing for Xinjiang, the region in China where more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims are currently locked up and tortured, have included a Chinese state-backed source within the top ten results in 88% of searches. Also Read: COVID-19 Protestors in France Rallied Against Health Pass as Conspiracy Theories Continue to Spread Meanwhile, on YouTube, around 98% of Xinjiang searchers showed a Chinese government-supported video in the top ten results, the study pointed out. The researchers conducted the study by searching the terms for four months. A Google spokesperson said in an interview with New York Post that Google actively works to combat coordinated influence and censorship operations while also protecting access to information and free expression online. The spokesperson added that third-party research shows that Google Search consistently returns high-quality results, especially compared to other search engines. Aside from denying abusing Muslims in Xinjiang, Chinese state media outlets have also aggressively pushed unfounded theories that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a military lab in the United States. A lot of these conspiracy theories center around a base in Maryland called Fort Detrick that previously hosted the US biological weapons program. On YouTube, when "Fort Detrick" is typed in, an average of five Chinese state-sponsored videos showed up within the top 10 results, according to the researchers. The news searches for United 731, which is another term related to the theory that the coronavirus leaked from a US lab, are also reportedly full of Chinese state-sponsored results. Google said that it gives its users disclaimers on YouTube with context about sources of information, including telling them when governments sponsor the media outlets. Chinese Media Backing Up Russia While the researchers of the study did not examine the search results connected to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they argued that the online reach of Chinese state sources is troubling because they are channeling Russia's talking points to audiences around the world. Microsoft, on the other hand, told The Wall Street Journal that it is reviewing the study and is looking for ways to improve its platforms. While both Google and YouTube are blocked in China, Microsoft still operates a Chinese version of Bing that censors result at the government's request. It also has thousands of workers in the country. Related Article: Google Reportedly Working On Search Engine For China That Will Censor Results This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russia's Zircon hypersonic missile was tested successfully. Based on the videos gathered from various reliable sources, the defense weapon was able to hit its target in an accurate manner. (Photo : Photo by MARIA ANTONOVA./AFP via Getty Images) A picture shows a Russian cruise missile launching from a submarine at an undisclosed location in the Mediterranean Sea on September 14, 2017. - The Russian Defence Ministry launched cruise missiles from submarines in the Mediterranean aimed at Islamic State targets in eastern Syria. (Photo by Maria Antonova. / AFP) The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation confirmed this detail on Saturday, May 28. "Today, the lead frigate of Project 22350 Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov fired a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile at a sea target position in the White Sea from the Barents Sea," said the defense department via Express UK. Russia added that the cruise rocket traveled so high that it could evade the detection of air defense systems. Russia Zircon Hypersonic Missile Completes Test According to Reuters' latest report, the advanced hypersonic Zircon cruise missile reached a distance of more than 1,000 km. The rocket traveled in a steep trajectory before hitting its target. (Photo : Photo by ALEXEI DRUZHININ/RIA NOVOSTI/AFP via Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (R) listen to explanations during their visit to the Black Sea Fleet's guards missile cruiser Moskva in the sea port of Sochi on August 12, 2014 during the Egyptian leader's first official visit to Russia. AFP PHOTO / RIA NOVOSTI / KREMLIN POOL / ALEXEI DRUZHININ (Photo by ALEXEI DRUZHININ / RIA NOVOSTI / AFP) Also Read: New Russia Peresvet Laser Test Shows It Can Burn Drone in 5 Seconds; Satellites are Not Safe Since Zircon is a hypersonic rocket, it can travel as fast as Mach 9 (nine times the speed of sound). Russian President Vladimir Putin has been testing and developing Zircon missiles for the past few years. He said that this type of defense technology is a part of the next-gen hypersonic rockets of the country. The Russian leader added that they need to work on new hypersonic missiles, as well as robotic systems and high-powered lasers that they can use to counter potential threats from other countries. Russian Hypersonic Missiles Can't Be Detected? Since Russia's hypersonic missiles are considered to be "superweapons," almost all air defense systems will have a hard time detecting them. These fast rockets are not undetectable. But, if they were detected, they would have already traveled long distances. For example, the U.S. Aegis missile interceptor system will take around 10 seconds to identify a Russian Zircon rocket. In these crucial seconds, the rocket had already traveled around 20 km. To know more details about the Russian superweapons' stealth abilities, you can visit this link. Previously, some satellite photos spotted China copying Japan's SDF aircraft. On the other hand, the Japanese government is expected to export fighter jets and missiles. For more news updates about Russian Zircon hypersonic missiles and other defense techs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Top Hypersonic Commercial Aircraft Developers 2022; Will It Really Be Possible? This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA Mars Orbiter's glitch forced the international space union to put the spacecraft under safe protective mode. This decision was made on Feb. 22. (Photo : Photo by -/ESA/MEDIALAB/AFP via Getty Images) An artist impression released 30 March 1999 by the European Space Agency (ESA) showing orbiter of Mars Express, that will be the first flexible mission in the revised ESA long-term scientific programme and is planned to be launched towards Mars in June 2003 with a Soyuz/Gregat launcher. MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) spacecraft was first launched in 2014. It was among the 20 mission investigation proposals submitted to NASA. After getting chosen, it became the 10th Mars orbiter that the international space agency sent to the Red Planet. It is specifically designed to be a relay satellite, transmitting information from other spacecraft orbiting Mars back to Earth. NASA Mars Orbiter Glitch Leads To a Protective Safe Mode Action According to Space.Com's latest report, the main antenna of MAVEN is still pointed towards Earth. NASA said that doing can help during the recovery operation. (Photo : Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images) This artist impression image released by European Space Agency (ESA) shows Mars Express in orbit around Mars. Mars Express, launched by a Soyuz fregat 02 June 2003 will eject the Beagle 2 lander 19 December 2003. Beagle 2 will make its own way to the correct landing site on the surface. Also Read: NASA CAPSTONE Spacecraft To Fly Around the Moon, Creating an Unusual Orbit Between Earth and Its Natural Satellite But, since the antenna is only pointed in one direction, it can't receive data from other Mars spacecraft. Recently, NASA was able to revive the Mars Orbiter. However, it didn't last long. Now, NASA announced the latest status of its MAVEN spacecraft. "The spacecraft is currently out of safe mode, stable and in Earth-nadir mode, pointing its high gain antenna toward Earth to facilitate high-rate communications," said NASA via its official NASAGov announcement post. NASA clarified that all the science instruments of MAVEN are still online. However, they are not receiving any data from other orbiting rockets because the main antenna is in a single position. As of writing, the international space union hasn't provided an estimated date for the complete revival of MAVEN. Will This Affect Perseverance, Curiosity Rover? Since MAVEN is the main relay orbiting system of NASA, it can affect the performance of Perseverance Rover and Curiosity Rover. Without the Mars Orbiter, the two Mars surface vehicles can't send essential information back to Earth. This means that if they capture breakthrough photos, then the Earth-based researchers will receive them a little later. If you want to see further details about the ongoing MAVEN protective safe mode status, you can visit this link. Meanwhile, NASA Hubble Space Telescope captured another gorgeous image containing a pair of star-forming galaxies. On the other hand, experts said that the NASA solar sails could soon make space ventures easier. For more news updates about NASA Mars Orbiter and other satellites, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Dangerous NASA Heat Shield Update: No Propellant Leak During Axiom Mission 1 Spaceflight, Says Space Agency This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As they celebrate being held as a physical event, Italys upcoming 67th David di Donatello Awards epitomize the ongoing shift in generations and genres that is underway in Cinema Italiano. Leading the pack this year are seasoned auteur Paolo Sorrentinos most personal film The Hand of God and young helmer Gabriele Mainettis second feature, the elegant effects-laden historical fantasy Freaks Out, which is set in 1943 Rome and involves four freaks working in a circus when the Eternal City is bombed by Allied Forces. Both pics scored 16 nominations each. More from Variety Close behind are Mario Martones classic biopic The King of Laughter, about popular early 20th-century Neapolitan actor and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta, with 14 noms. Then come Leonardo Di Costanzos subtle prison drama Ariaferma and Diabolik, an adaptation of a comic book about a charming master thief, directed by Marco and Antonio Manetti, both with 11 noms a piece. We have all the masters represented in the nominations, says film critic Piera Detassis, who heads the Italian Film Academy that runs the awards, citing Sorrentino, Martone and Giuseppe Tornatore, whose Ennio Morricone doc Ennio is also a contender in several top categories. But then there is also the younger generation that is tackling genre in the forms of fantasy and comics. This is unusual in Italian cinema, and even more so within the Davids, she notes. Detassis is quick to point out how significant and symbolic it is that the Davids as they go back to being held in-person after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic are taking place at Romes Cinecitta Studios as the famed facilities undergo a radical renewal being implemented by former Sky and Warner Bros. executive Nicola Maccanico. (See separate interview). Story continues Detassis, who is the first woman to head Italys equivalent of the Oscars, also underlines that, sadly, there are no women represented in the best picture and best director categories. On the positive side, two women directors are in the running for the first-time helmer statuette: Maura Delpero for potent drama Maternal, which is set in an Argentinian refuge for adolescent single mothers run by nuns, and Laura Samanis magical Small Body, about a woman in rural north-east Italy trying to save the soul of her stillborn baby in the year 1900. Another small but significant indicator that all hope is not lost when it comes to achieving greater gender balance in the Italian industry is the fact that most of the best actress nominees (see list) have never been in the running for an acting David before. Its clear that there is a generational shift underway, and this is more evident in the female acting category than in the male one, which is mostly made up of usual suspects, says Detassis. She also points out that if Hand of God DoP Daria DAntonio scoops the best cinematography David, this will mark the first time this prize goes to a woman. Unlike what happened at this years Oscars ceremony where honors in eight categories, including film editing, original score and production design, were awarded during off-air parts of the show and then edited into the telecast, Detassis has been adamant that during the Davids telecast all the prizes must be fully represented, she says. Accomplishing this hasnt been easy and caused discussions with pubcaster RAI, which produces and airs the Davids. Its difficult because they have a generalist audience that is keen on seeing Italian cinemas big beloved stars, while some of the other movers and shakers in the industry have less TV appeal, as Detassis puts it. So understandably shes proud because we stuck to our guns, while the Oscars had to give in. The Davids, which will be held at Cinecitta on May 3, will be celebrating the entire Italian film community at a time when, in the wake of the pandemic, Italian directors seem drawn to stories that celebrate its legacy or just the joy of spectacle in different ways. Detassis notes how a love for movies and the theater are recurring thematic elements in frontrunner films such as The Hand of God, Ennio, King of Laughter and even Freaks Out, which combines superhero elements and a 1943 Rome Open City backdrop. There is like a nostalgia for the Golden Age of cinema or, more broadly, the desire to be back in front of the big screen or in a theater for a live show, she says. Accordingly, this years David di Donatello lifetime achievement award will go to screen and stage star Giovanna Ralli, 87, who embodies Italian performing arts grandeur having worked with directors including Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini, and co-stars such as Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassman and Stefania Sandrelli, to name but a few. Significantly, Ralli, who is still active, has a role in actor Jasmine Trincas directorial debut Marcel!, which will soon be premiering in Cannes. 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. The weather on Friday: risk of thunderstorms from the southwest to the north of the country, hot and dry in the southeast An aerial view looking toward Zanesville's second and third wards. According to 2020 census data, the two wards lost nearly 400 people between them since 2010. ZANESVILLE According to the US Census Bureau, the population of the City of Zanesville dipped from 25,487 to 24,765 between 2010 and 2020, a loss of 722 people. The number has local officials concerned. Not just because a lot of grant and other funding is dependent on population, but because they don't believe the numbers are accurate. The loss of population could mean loss of funding, Zanesville Mayor Don Mason said. "Everything is always per capita, so it would jeopardize all of our funding." This includes annual funding from the state, grant programs, and things like the CARES Act. Had the census been released before the CARES Act was disbursed, the city would have lost about half a million dollars, he said. The census count also affects redistricting, a process city council has already begun. "This was not a normal census," said Matt Schley, the city's community development director. A typical census starts with a mailed questionnaire, then field workers follow up with in-person visits to homes that don't return the questionnaire or fill it out via the census website. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, "the city has been unable to confirm if and where census takers were able to go door-to-door in critical areas of the city to obtain census data," Schley said. According to material provided by the Census Bureau, Zanesville had a 63.4% overall self response rate, and a 38.7% internet response rate. Statewide, Ohio had a 70.7% response rate, and a 54.7% internet response rate. Over the last 40 years, the city's population has been trending downward, from 28,655 in 1980 to 25,586 in 2000. 1980 28,655 1990 26,778 2000 25,586 2010 25,487 2020 24,765 Since the field data was absent, the bureau filled in the gaps as best they could, Schley said. If the bureau knew there was a housing unit present, they would assign the average number of occupants to it, three, and use that information to extrapolate the city's population. But without census takers getting into the field, a large number of housing units were counted as vacant, some 1,254. Story continues More: Regional housing market boomed in 2021 amid Zanesville citywide housing shortage Zanesville Mayor Don Mason has said the lack of housing is one of the biggest issues facing the city. A housing needs assessment done for the city in 2019 found the city short of housing in all categories. "If they had said there 100 vacant housing units, I would have said they were a little high," he said. "There is no way there are more than 1,200." That would mean 10% of the city's 12,157 housing units, from apartments and condos to single family homes, are vacant. Both Mason and Schley believe the city's congregate living facilities, specifically nursing homes and assisted living facilities, are undercounted as well. The census found there was a drop of about 100 people living in those facilities, but there were two nursing homes built in the city between 2010 and 2020, and Mason believes both are full. The Oaks at Northpointe was one of those facilities. It was built to hold as many as 101 residents. Primrose Retirement Community was completed in 2013. It's 65 rooms currently hold 87 residents. Captain David Suciu runs the Muskingum County Jail. He conducted a phone interview with the census bureau in 2020, but the on-site visit was cancelled due to COVID-19. He said the jail population has been steady for the last decade, with an average daily population between 170 and 190 inmates. The population was down slightly in 2020, to about 161, due to COVID-19, but in 2021 the jail was back up to an average daily population of 194. This year the average daily population dipped again, but the jail was closed for six weeks following the fire at the neighboring Masonic Temple. Between 2010 and 2020, the Zanesville City jail averaged a daily population of about 70 people, said Ben Lambes, who oversees the jail. Recently the number has been reduced thanks to changes in Ohio law, but as of the end of April, there were about 54 people in the jail, he said. Mason said he believes the south end of the city has been undercounted. According to the census data being used to draw redistricting maps, the city's third ward lost 278 people since the last census. It is the city's smallest by area, and therefore most densely populated ward. The city's second ward lost 112 people. Both wards are south of the Licking River, and both are areas underserved by broadband, making filling out online census information more difficult, Mason said. The city's fourth ward straddles the western side of the city, from Ridge Road up to Locust Avenue and an area near Zanesville High School. It lost 47 people. The fifth ward, the most northerly, includes an area on Northpointe Drive that saw residential and commercial development over the last decade. It gained 378 people. The Sixth and First wards gained 41 and 18 respectively. The city has not demolished enough houses to account for the numbers, Schley said. To account for the third ward alone, using an average occupancy of 3, the city would have had to have demolished properties containing 92 housing units over the last ten years. The city usually demolishes 5-8 houses a year city-wide. Most of those houses have been abandoned for years, Schley said, and there is a chance that some would have been vacant for the last census. "We just demolished a house on Ridge that has been vacant for 18 years," he said. To try and reconcile what the city believes the population of the city is and number provided by the census bureau says it is, the city will request a special census in the areas the city believes is miscounted. "The city provides the census bureau a list of places we find inconsistencies with the data compared to local data," Schley said. To help, the city has contracted with Urban Decision Group of Westerville, who did the city's housing needs assessment in 2019. The company will compare data from the 2010 and 2020 censuses, and identify areas where the data, when compared to local knowledge, "doesn't add up," Schley said. They will sift through things like water accounts and compare them to the census data. Schley said water bills are a good way to determine population. A property being billed for the minimum use could be vacant, but by examining usage over time, it can be determined to a high degree of accuracy the number of people who live at a given property. The city will submit a report to the Census Bureau in 2023, the earliest allowable by federal law, and request a special census in the areas the city believes are undercounted. If they accept the data, the bureau will do another census, and give the city an amended population count. Thus the city will have a 2020 census, and a 2023 special census with an updated population count. "You start to add all these things together, you start painting this picture and start thinking maybe these numbers aren't accurate. Maybe we declined in population, maybe we grew," Schley said. "But we are fairly certain we didn't drop 700 people. That's a lot of people to lose in ten years." ccrook@gannett.com 740-868-3708 Social media: @crookphoto This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: After drop in numbers Zanesville officals questions census results During a tour of the West Jefferson High School with coronavirus precautions it can be seen that each desk in the classroom has a grey or red sticker on the top corner in Harvey, La. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Each period, students will be asked to alternate their use of desks and to clean them off after each class. The school is scheduled to open on August 26. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) The Schoolhouse Rock song gives short shrift to what actually happens while a lonely bill hopes and prays to one day become a law. Louisiana legislators filed 2,159 bills and resolutions this session, which ends a week from Monday. Historically, about 700 become law. Many bills take circuitous routes to accomplish their goals by other means. Negotiations often break down on a bills way to passage, as they did over how best to manage the nearly 1,500 persons still in prison after the U.S. Supreme Court called nonunanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional. State Rep. Randal Gaines, D-LaPlace, had spent three years trying to develop a system to manage the cases of those still incarcerated on convictions now found to have been improperly determined. Gaines withdrew his measure late Thursday as his colleagues were gathering their belongings in anticipation of a long weekend before this week's final push. +2 After DAs raise concern, those convicted by nonunanimous juries must wait for resolution The 1,500 or so inmates still serving time in prison on nonunanimous jury verdict convictions, which the U.S. Supreme Court found unconstituti The various interests had agreed on all but one point whether an unanimous decision of a special panel reviewing the cases was needed to release those convicted in the past of the most violent offenses by jurors who didnt all agree on guilt. The affected inmates will have to wait for a Louisiana Supreme Court decision, Gaines said. Even when the principals agree, the legislative process sometimes sidelines a measure. House Bill 175 sought to eliminate copays that the roughly 30,000 inmates in state prisons need to see a doctor when sick. Copays were applied years ago by the Legislature. As Louisianas prison population ages, the family who would send a few dollars for the inmates account fades away, said Ronald Marshall, who was recently released after 25 years behind bars. Like most inmates, he lived in dense-packed dormitories where one mans illness can quickly spread. The copay prevents guys from getting the help that they need, Marshall said. I could see him (a fellow inmate) coughing in the dorm, throwing up mucus, but hes not going to the infirmary. Last year, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections counted 24,573 routine sick calls and another 33,562 emergencies. The clinic didnt charge for 25,088 of those visits. Corrections collected an annual average of $169,829 from inmate copays over the past five years. The annual budget for prison medical care is $98 million. Corrections was wary about totally eliminating the copay the Legislature had ordered it but was willing to negotiate with inmate advocates, a New Orleans-based group called Voice of the Experienced. On April 19, New Orleans Democratic Rep. Mandie Landry, who sponsored HB175, and Natalie LaBorde, counsel for DOC, came to the House Criminal Justice committee hearing table with a settlement: $2 copay but only for inmates with more than $200 in their draw accounts, no copay for prescriptions. Its an all systems go moment when competing interests announce they now agree. Usually, a committee says great and advances a bill that has a good chance of becoming law. But Kenner Republican Rep. Debbie Villio objected, which led to a 6-6 vote, leaving the measure in limbo. Not dead, but not advanced either. We were totally shocked, said Will Harrell, VOTEs policy counsel. Last week, Villio said she couldnt remember the specifics after hearing so many bills. On April 6, Villio said of HB175: As criminal justice director in Jefferson Parish, I was the umbrella agency over the jail. You had inmates spending lots of money on candy, chips, you name it. Yet my budget was paying for their toothpaste, for them to watch TV, etc. I dont know why we believe they should not have to pay a copay. Landry asked that a top Corrections executive tell the committee that they were OK with the settlement. That testimony, she felt, would soften opposition and get the legislation on track. Corrections Undersecretary Thomas Bickham was set to testify on a Tuesday but got called away. To get the legislation on the committee agenda for the next day required, under parliamentary rules, approval of the full House. Such requests are routinely granted. Not this time. Landry had received word opponents would rally. She asked Committee Chair Joe Marino, No Party-Gretna, not to pursue the motion for fear that it would attract too many no votes. DOC would be nervous about it if a simple motion to suspend the rules was defeated, Landry said. The hope now is that Secretary James LeBlanc will apply the settlement in a regulation and lower inmate copays. Passionate Mars connects with larger-than-life Jupiter in your relationship sector encouraging impulsive acts. Expect a sliding-doors moment that prompts you to look before you leap. Loading Scorpio October 23 November 22 There is so much you can accomplish now that Mars has moved into your sector of industry and wellbeing. In fact, youll have so much pent-up energy that working whether its at your job or exercising is a must. Sagittarius November 23-December 20 Possessiveness could catch you unawares as hot-blooded Mars in your sector of intimacy awakens the green-eyed monster. You may also be the subject of someone elses envy. You cant control other people but try to reel in your own feelings. Capricorn December 21-January 19 Debates and laughter are in store as your domestic sector blazes with astral energy and home is the perfect place to channel it. Create a feature wall, plot a vegie patch or begin a DIY project. Aquarius January 20-February 18 You have a strong need to rock the boat! If youve been trying to effect change, whether its local political improvements or raising awareness for some sort of cultural affair, perhaps you need to be a little more proactive. Pisces February 19-March 20 If life has been a little mundane, the cosmos will turn up the heat, bringing more excitement than you could have imagined. Although most of the action will be positive, try to limit the drama. Aries March 21- April 19 Mondays new moon will encourage you to break fresh ground when it comes to reaching a specific person or audience. Youll feel quietly confident, but check your assertiveness at the door. Youll definitely win over more people with subtle persuasion. Taurus April 20-May 20 Teenager arrested in Sydney's south-west after reports of assault Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss The government has since made Temporary Humanitarian Concern (Subclass 786) visas available for Ukrainian citizens. I have no career status in Australia. After I fled Ukraine, I was officially fired but I continue to work with my team remotely, but not in the same capacity, obviously, she says. We have this expression in Ukraine when you do not understand what is happening, its called blind mowing. Im 36 years old, and I feel this way. I have always been an independent woman who has overcome many obstacles in my life and on my career path, and now I feel like a kitten - helpless and dependent on everyone else. Its very difficult to accept this feeling and this situation, particularly when my husband is defending our country and I am so far away. But our daughter is safe, she is loved and I will get through this. Alla fled Kyiv with her two children. In times of difficulty, Im used to looking for solutions, she says. Alla fled Kyiv to Australia with her two children in March. She says shes a cybernetic economist by education and a manager by vocation. For the past 12 years shes held senior positions with various companies, including as a chief operating officer managing 500 employees. My career had a really important place in my Ukrainian life. I decided to go to work four months after the birth of my daughter, Alla says. My career status in Australia can be likened to a clean slate you have to start everything from the beginning. Alla says her priority is to learn English so she can get a job here. In times of difficulty, Im used to looking for solutions. There have been bankruptcies in my life and other hardships, so this is not the worst thing thats happened. Im in a very favourable situation compared to my compatriots. Australia has provided opportunities for refugees, now its necessary to use them correctly. Maria was a dancer with the Kyiv Ballet, and is now in Australia. Maria is a trained ballerina from the Kyiv Ballet. She performed internationally for 25 years and for about 10 years she has been teaching classical ballet, contemporary, folk, modern, jazz, lyrical dancing and Pilates. She found her surroundings hard to comprehend when the war started. She left Kyiv for Sydney in March. Its hard to pick up words and describe it. In one word, its darkness. When falling asleep you dont know whether tomorrow you will wake up when brothers and sisters kill each other, when entire families are destroyed, children become orphans and its all supposedly for some idea that essentially carries nothing valuable in itself compared to human life. Even in the face of war, Maria has stayed positive. Of course, it is very sad that because of the war I had to leave absolutely everything, my home, family, friends, career, my beloved students, my beloved country all my life. But as Nicholas Roerich said, Each end is only the beginning of something even more majestic and beautiful. In my case, this is sunny Australia and Im grateful for such an opportunity. Its the difficulties in life that make you who you really are. Russian-Australian Anna Grankina is a volunteer at the Lidcombe Community Centre which helps Ukrainian refugees. While many of these women still dont have the legal right to work, volunteers like Anna Grankina are helping them learn English and integrate into Australian society. Grankina is a Russian-Australian who has lived in Parramatta for eight years. She volunteers at the Lidcombe Community Centre, which acts as a hub for Ukrainian arrivals. Most of them are mums from professional backgrounds and they want to work, Grankina says. It was so relevant to me as I had professional experience before coming [to Australia], but had to learn so much before I was able to integrate into the job market. While many Russians living abroad have experienced a backlash for the decisions of the Kremlin, Grankina says the local Russian community is going out of its way to show its support for displaced Ukrainians. She says shes never separated Russian culture from Ukrainian, as her grandparents came from both sides a common sentiment among those affected by a war between two countries with such connected histories. Loading Im so proud of my Russian friends in Australia. Most of them work full-time but they all make time to come and help displaced Ukrainians here, she says. Small businesses are really helping. A company delivered pillowcases the other day. Other people are delivering medication and food. These womens initial desire is to start earning money so that they dont put any more pressure on the people hosting them. But secondly, its their professional self-identification. If youre engaged in something useful, thats what makes your life significant. The Be Kind Sydney Appeal is raising funds for centres like the one in Lidcombe. This years target of $1.5 million will help fund more than 75 grassroots programs across the greater Sydney community. These include a special project welcoming displaced Ukrainian women and children in Sydney with housing, funding, employment, integration and empowerment. Loading Be Kind Sydney and Sydney Womens Fund chief executive Jane Jose says a womans identity is very tied up in their career. They dont belong anywhere, and we need them to belong here, Jose says. Enabling women to work really provides them with identity, a sense of achievement, greater confidence, an understanding of the world and friendships. Women gain so much from their working lives, just as men always have. Dan Andrews will be worried about the results from last weekends tumultuous federal election, but not nearly as worried as Matthew Guy. The Liberal leader has to rally his party to focus on the state campaign that effectively starts as soon as the federal dust settles. But his entire party is distracted by the fallout from being routed at the federal poll. Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has his work cut out for him ahead of Novembers state election. Credit:Joe Armao His biggest worry will be that the hard hitters in the backrooms of the Liberal Party are more concerned about rebuilding their federal prospects for 2025 than investing money or energy on the slim chance the Liberals could regain government in November 2022. Values and sentiment are the base currency of a political party. Leaders come and go as do policies, but the fundamentals never change. Remove amendment Lets not split hairs. Saying America has a mental health problem not a gun problem completely misses the point. Its the constitutional amendment thats the problem: remove it, and you remove the mindset that believes guns are the solution. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale Rationale is gone Given the seismic social changes that have occurred since 1787 and the fact that America now has a professional defence force supported by a weapons capability second to none, surely the rationale underlying the second amendment of its constitution does not reflect reality and should be amended. It is difficult to imagine that Joe Bloggs (and now Josie Bloggs) from suburbia or the backwoods of America would be called upon to take up their military-grade weapon from wherever they store it and defend the country. Their untrained efforts would probably result in unwanted mayhem. Marcia Roche, Mill Park Call it maternity Many places are now experiencing nursing shortages for pregnant women who have to go to emergency wards or other towns to give birth. The shortage of midwifery nurses is partly caused by the sexist and anachronistic term, midwifery, because few male nurses like to be called midwives. The more sensible alternative term for male and female nurses for birthing is maternity nursing. Glenn Sutherland, McKenzie Hill Housing solutions Surely, there has to be a fairer way to proceed with the housing shortage and affordability. It just does not seem right for taxpayers to be subsidising the negative gearing of properties used as AirBnBs which remain vacant for large periods of time when taxpayers are finding it hard to buy and rent houses. Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn A voice silenced Im filled with a mixture of overpowering anger and intense helplessness as I read Sherine Salamas article, Sadness behind the smile: Shireen was a voice that needed to be heard (The Sunday Age, 22/5). Her colleague, journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, was shot dead in the Israeli-occupied town of Jenin after an army raid. One sentence says it all: Shortly after arriving, Shireen was shot in the head and her colleague, Ali, in the back. If anyones tempted to excuse Israeli police brutality, they even assaulted the pallbearers of Shireens coffin. It seems that Israels brand of democracy doesnt tolerate certain voices. Kevin Burke, Sandringham Cognizant of the ever-raw emotion elicited by monumental civil unrest, Chilean producer-directors Carola Fuentes and Rafael Valdeavellano glimpse boldly into the Neoliberal structures that seemingly divided and destroyed a nations prosperity. With a lens on the uphill battle to achieve a semblance of peace amidst a global pandemic, a country makes an historic and eager leap towards progress, a new constitution and leader at the fore. More from Variety Breaking The Brick dutifully follows the pairs 2015 feature-length documentary, Chicago Boys, which interviewed authors in charge of drafting El Ladrillo, a Neoliberal free market text-turned economic model influenced by Milton Friedman and instituted by the Pinochet dictatorship. Though touted as a miraculous way to bring prosperity to Chile, the system eventually drew criticism when the public saw wealth disparities spiral. The film begins with a delicate yet forceful metaphor that equates the populace to the cells within a caterpillar that have to fight vehemently with the body surrounding them to morph into soaring butterflies. The lines are read softly aloud as brutal scenes of upheaval in the streets and police violence against protestors are shown on screen. The unsettling juxtaposition further serves to highlight the perceived urgency of the movement. Breaking The Brick - Credit: Courtesy of Chiledoc Courtesy of Chiledoc Shortly before the social explosion, this story by Deepak Chopra had come to us, which collects the thoughts of biologists and anthropologists, and compares the evolution of humanity with the processes of change in nature. They maintain that in the midst of the drama of transformation theres always a group of cells, or people, who have the ability to imagine a better future, even if they dont know it, relays Fuentes. Story continues The documentary closely scours the poignant lives of activist and teacher Mariana and unlikely ally, businessman and one of the economists in charge of creating the stifling economic climate, Ramiro. Their differences slowly diminish as both yearn for equity for all. The filmmakers dive into the precarious ease of remaining ignorant to the suffering of others. Using a bold approach that allows for introspection rather than rage, neither vilifying, excusing nor martyr-making, the subjects achieve equal and fair footing. Over the years weve stopped seeing the world in black and white. We believe that the media stereotypes that classify people as good and bad have kept us from the possibility of understanding the complexity of the social phenomena that have built our history, says Valdeavellano. He went on: In our first film, Chicago Boys, we interviewed the creators of neoliberalism. In Breaking the Brick, where we see the long-term results of that economic model, we chose characters that would allow us to record and reflect the transformation that Chile is undergoing since the social outbreak. Entrepreneurs are a large part of that process. Ramiro seemed very interesting to us: Linked to the writing of El Ladrillo, successful, and owner of a considerable fortune. Hes a businessman who, in a moment of crisis and detachment, begins to look critically not only at his past life but also at that of his peers. Ramiro can be seen as part of the system that resists change, or, as another imaginative cell that, from his own world, also pushes for a better future. The film is at once unsettling and uplifting as our subjects work tirelessly to use their varying resources to assist their communities, highlighting the struggles of those living in poverty throughout the country. Milton Friedman taught us that ambition, consumption and competition would be the engine of the free market. Judging by the long-term results, that didnt work out as expected. According to some thinkers, such as the Chilean Humberto Maturana [1928-2021], its collaboration that allows us to progress, remarks Fuentes. She went on, Around the world, when communities face a catastrophe, an earthquake or a pandemic, solidarity springs up spontaneously. People with fewer resources live in crisis every day, which is probably why they experience solidarity on a daily basis. But, as we see in the film, solidarity can also be a way of calming the conscience, for those who exercise it out of compassion. Perhaps the challenge is to leave behind this asymmetric solidarity to move on to a more horizontal collaboration, which moves away from commiseration and is reflected in respect and interdependence beyond social classes. Clips of the film will be presented at this years Hot Docs Fest in Toronto on May 1 as part of their Works-in-Progress screenings, which feature segments from projects with cinematic potential in late or post-production. Produced by Chiles La Ventana Cine, Breaking The Brick is the only Latin American film selected for the showcase, lending the enormous opportunity to connect this touching, relatable and unprecedented event to a global audience. In much of the world were rethinking what we understand by development. For decades we associated it with economic growth. Chile showed that this goal alone isnt enough. Our GDP increased but the average hid inequality and the concentration of wealth. Our exports grew but we degraded our nature. We improved our economic indicators but mental illness and indebtedness skyrocketed, muses Valdeavellano. He concludes, In October 2019, the mirage was broken and although the model was violently defended, just as it was imposed during the dictatorship, today Chileans have the possibility of imagining a new paradigm. In Chile there are thousands of people or cells with imagination that are working for that, with cutting-edge ideas such as the circular economy or green energy. For half a century we let the pre-eminence of the economy become a threat to the well-being and dignity of people, today we can correct that path. Rafael Valdeavellano & Carola Fuentes - Credit: Courtesy of Chiledoc Courtesy of Chiledoc 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. Former energy minister Angus Taylor is the frontrunner to be appointed to the shadow treasury portfolio under Peter Duttons leadership of the Liberal Party as former foreign minister Marise Payne looks to step down from the frontbench. The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age can confirm Dutton and Sussan Ley will on Monday be elected unopposed as leader and deputy leader of the party, while Senate leader Simon Birmingham and Senate deputy leader Michaelia Cash will remain in their positions. Angus Taylor is leading the race to be named shadow treasurer under Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Taylor would then likely be given the treasury portfolio under Duttons leadership, according to multiple senior party sources, but the former defence minister has not yet come to a decision and Stuart Robert is also positioning for the portfolio. It can also be revealed that Payne has told colleagues she will not put her hand up for a frontbench position. Apart from former prime minister Scott Morrison, this would make Payne the first frontbencher to voluntarily move on since last Saturdays devastating election loss. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses trip to Japan to attend the Quad summit ensured that foreign policy dominated his first week in office. While it appeared to go smoothly his banter with US President Joe Biden was a hopeful sign of a future warm relationship it did force Albanese to confront Australias ongoing tumultuous relationship with China. For some time, in a bid to minimise political attacks from the Coalition over national security, Albanese has been toughening his rhetoric on the communist state. The strategy paid off during the campaign and surprisingly backfired on the Coalition, with former defence minister Peter Duttons aggressive language over Beijing alienating many Chinese Australians. China and Australias foreign ministers Wang Yi and Penny Wong are competing for influence in the Pacific region. Credit:AP?Getty But with the election behind him, Albanese and new Foreign Minister Penny Wong have had to hit the ground running, putting into practice their strategy on dealing with China. At the same time, Chinas Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, kicked off an unprecedented 10-day trip to East Timor and Pacific island countries including Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, which has signed a controversial security pact with the communist state. It is feared that Wangs trip is laying the groundwork for 10 more nations to sign up to a Solomons-style security deal with Beijing. The Greens have won their fourth seat in federal parliament, with candidate Stephen Bates picking up Brisbane. The confirmation on Saturday that the Greens have edged ahead of Labor to secure the seat from the Liberals means the party has now won three extra seats all in inner-Brisbane to add to the seat of Melbourne. Greens winner Stephen Bates (right) walks to the press conference with the partys successful Griffith candidate, Max Chandler-Mather, at Brisbanes King George Square on Saturday afternoon. Credit:Tony Moore They have also won six Senate seats, giving them the balance of power in the upper house with 12 senators. Bates, a former retail worker, described his win as surreal, telling reporters he had just spoken with Labors Brisbane candidate, Madonna Jarrett, who told him the ALP could not win the seat on the postal voting patterns. All the bidders this time were owner-occupiers, he said. Nobody wants to start it, of course, but it worked out well, he said. All the bidders were owner-occupiers. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui That first-home-buyer market, whether thats at $500,000 or whether thats to $1.5 million as we had today, the first-home buyers are certainly out there at the moment. In Hawthorn, a two-bedroom Art Deco apartment with a courtyard also sold above its price guide to first-home buyers, fetching $950,000. Five bidders competed for 1/18 Riversdale Road, which had a price guide of $750,000 to $800,000. The reserve was set at the top end of the range. A young couple saw the home for the first time that morning and then bought it, The Agency Boroondaras Luke Saville said, adding that the vendors are stoked. AAA real estate is still performing really well, as it does in any market, he said. There is not much supply for that type of property. The properties where there is a dime a dozen of them, they are the ones that have really been hit hard. In Fitzroy North, a three-bedroom house with north-facing backyard and scope for a makeover flew at auction and sold for $2.26 million. Set on 302 square metres of land, 5 Newry Street attracted three bidders who fought intensely and eventually sold to a professional woman who would not be intimidated by the tactics of a male buyers advocate, Nelson Alexander director Arch Staver said. The home was on the market last year with another agency and Staver said it attracted an offer of about $2 million before the buyers decided they werent ready to sell. He described the market as quite patchy. Very good in some instances, extraordinarily disappointing in others. Some houses we genuinely feel are great value for money, some buyers are ignoring. In South Melbourne, eight bidders competed for a four-bedroom Victorian terrace in need of renovation that had been vacant for at least the past four years. The home at 131 Nelson Road fetched an opening offer of $1.65 million and sold for $2.24 million to a local owner-occupier after a relatively quick auction, Marshall Whites Sarah Wood said. She declined to reveal the reserve but said the proceeds would be donated to charity, including one of the major hospitals and the National Gallery of Victoria. Back on the north side, eight bidders also competed for a contemporary home in Coburg North that sold for $871,000 to an owner-occupier moving from Sydney for work. The price guide was $700,000 to $770,000 for the three-bedder at 34 Pixel Circuit, and Ray White Prestons Ian Dempsey said the seller was hoping for a price at about the top of the range. He said the recent interest-rate hike and election had proved hurdles over the past couple of weekends but he thought buyers were ready to make decisions now that the election was over. There was a lot of inspections today, a lot of attendance at auctions, he said. Loading That freeze in the market that was around, buyers have released today. They have got to buy something because their finance approval is running out. Buyers advocate Jarrod McCabe felt any post-election confidence was more on the part of sellers than buyers. He attended two auctions on Saturday that passed in on vendor bids and thought both would have attracted competition six to 12 months ago. The Wakelin Property Advisory director went to 71 Rowe Street in Fitzroy North, which he described as one of the best streets in the suburb, and said it passed in on a vendor bid of $1.65 million against a quote range of $1.6 million to $1.7 million. Some of the best-known names in journalism gathered at the Politics and Inclusion event Friday to celebrate the work of journalists of color as part of the White House Correspondents weekend. The event was hosted by CNNs Abby Phillip and Lauren Wesley Wilson, founder and CEO of ColorComm, Inc, a womens platform that aims to address inclusion and diversity in the media, communications, marketing, advertisement and digital industries. There are a lot of journalists of color who are working, honestly, in relative obscurity. And I was one of them for many years, Phillip said. And I felt like there needed to just be an opportunity for people to genuinely connect with each other, to celebrate each other. And also just to like, build a sense of awareness of just how much power and influence there is among journalists of color in Washington. The host committee included CNNs Don Lemon, Van Jones, Ana Navarro, and Jim Acosta; NBCs Yamiche Alcindor, PBS Geoff Bennett, CBSs Weijia Jiang, View co-Host Sunny Hostin, MSNBCs Alicia Menendez, and Symone Sanders, who served as the former senior advisor and chief spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris. The event took place at a dinner at Washington, D.C., restaurant Masseria. Wesley Wilson said the dinner was meant to recognize journalists of color during White House Correspondents dinner weekend. White House Correspondents weekend is oftentimes not very diverse, Wilson said. And we want to celebrate diversity and provide spaces for the journalists who do the work each and every day to celebrate it to be recognized, to bring community together. Phillip said in addition to working on the momentum that already exists there must also be a focus on coverage that is more representative of the country. Not only having people of color telling the stories, but thinking about what we cover, and making sure that that is representative of the country and the experiences of people in this country, Phillip said. We need to build on momentum because sometimes we can take a step forward and two steps backwards, she added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Cheyenne Minuteman newspaper has published its final issue. Publisher Jim Wood posted this notice on the Minuteman website (https://cheyenneminuteman.com/article/its-been-a-great-runthank-you): Publishing this newspaper and web site has been a continual opportunity for those of us involved. This has been an opportunity to use our skills to provide a communication source for Cheyennes military and veteran communities. Beyond that, we have had the good fortune to meet and get to know some great people along the way. Over the years of publishing we have worked with 18 commanders and a similar number of command chiefs of the Mighty 90. Also weve worked with a comparable number of public affairs people at F. E. Warren, not to mention the many group commanders. Then there are the 20th Air Force commanders who have come and gone. A little over 8 years ago circumstances led us to rebrand from the Warren Sentinel to Cheyenne Minuteman. This change allowed us to start including more Wyoming Army and Air Guard news and information on our pages. That, in turn, enabled us to get to know more of those members leading our Guard in and around Cheyenne. What an honor to get to know so many who serve our country honorably! It has been especially rewarding to watch, from a distance, many of these friends and acquaintances advance in their careers and move into more and more important positions guiding their respective services into the future. Ive written about it before, but it bears repeating, it has been pleasing to see plenty of those military members complete their military careers and choose to retire in Cheyenne with their families. The second careers of these solid people with heir spouses and kids, provide our community with untold leadership in business, service clubs, churches, politics, and more. Cheyenne is better for that. This newspaper has provided us the chance to work with, and learn from those leaders. It has provided us occasions to support and participate in countless military, veteran, and community causes, events and groups. For that I am truly thankful. In turn, we have tried to provide useful news and information to all of you. We have listened to your ideas, concerns, and suggestions and made adjustments along the way accordingly. Your reader feedback has made us better. I am thankful for that, too. Paying our bills and funding our paychecks has been due to the strong support we have had from Cheyennes business community. This is a military town and our advertisers have understood that, and been devoted users of our reach into the military community. Watching these businesses grow and prosper, and knowing we helped them earn and maintain military customers, has been extremely gratifying. I could fill pages with the names of all the individuals to be thanked for their help, advice and enthusiasm. But I would inadvertently leave someone out. We have been fortunate with many dedicated co-workers over the years, thank you all. But let me indulge in a public thank you to my most recent cohorts at the Minuteman by name: Monica, Janet and Art. You have been amazing! Retirement is calling and I am answering. Through this newspaper we have been extraordinarily blessed to have been a small part of all this. Thank you. Michael Barnett, center, and ex-wife, Kristine Barnett, walk out of Superior 2 after a pretrial conference with Judge Steven Meyer, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019 at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette. The Barnetts are accused of abandoning their adoptive daughter in Lafayette in 2013. LAFAYETTE, Ind. Kristine Barnett's social media posts might be construed to be a violation of the gag order in her pending neglect of a dependent case that brought international attention, according to Tippecanoe Superior 2 Judge Steve Meyer's order published Friday after Thursday's hearing. Barnett was summoned to court in February after prosecutors raised concerns about her social media posts that might be comments about her case and if so, violate the court's October 2019 gag order. Barnett, a noted author of a book about nurturing an autistic genius, and her now ex-husband, Michael Barnett, are accused of adopting Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with severe dwarfism, then abandoned her in Lafayette while the rest of the family moved to Canada. More on Barnett's social media posts: Kristine Barnett summoned to court in May to explain her Facebook posts Between the time of Natalia's adoption and the Barnetts leaving her in Lafayette, they changed her birth year by court order, making Natalia an adult. "... (T)he Court discussed the content and intent of the (gag) Order," Meyer's order states. "The Court also reviewed certain Facebook postings by Defendant and discussed how they may indeed be construed to violate the Order." The order noted that the prosecutors did not ask or seek to have Kristine Barnett held in contempt of court for her postings, so the court did not consider sanctions or whether Kristine Barnett's postings disobeyed the gag order. "Future violations will not be tolerated," Meyer's order continues. "The parties are admonished to strictly comply with the (gag) Order ... ." Prosecutors filed a motion in February indicating that Barnett violated the gag order in her neglect of a dependent case. Prosecutors indicated in February that Kristine Barnett's posts on Facebook crossed the lines established by the Oct. 28, 2019, gag order. However, Barnett's specific posts filed with the court are not open to public inspection. Story continues The case against Kristine and Michael Barnett Kristine Barnett and Michael Barnett, face four charges of neglect stemming from their treatment and abandonment of their adopted daughter, Natalia Grace, who suffers from severe dwarfism. The case initially garnered international news coverage because the Barnetts claimed Natalia was an adult posing as a 7-year-old girl when they adopted her in 2010. The initial allegation of neglect of a dependent was based on Natalia being a child, but in June 2012, a Marion County court approved the Barnetts' motion and changed Natalia's birth year on her Ukrainian records from 2003 to 1989. That made her an adult in the eyes of the courts and the law. The Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court refused to reverse the Marion County court's ruling that changed Natalia's birth year. Meyer ruled in August 2020 that the court order re-aging Natalia cannot be reversed. Therefore, the state cannot prosecute the Barnetts for the neglect if the charges are based on Natalia's age. More on the case: Cases involving Kristine Barnett, Michael Barnett filled with twists and turns Previous Barnett case coverage: Michael and Kristine Barnett's cases might be headed to Indiana Supreme Court However, if the state wanted to prosecute the Barnetts for neglect because of Natalia's crippling dwarfism, that would be permitted, according to Meyer's ruling, which was affirmed by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Prosecutors intend to go to trial on four neglect charges based on Natalia's handicaps. Meyer also ruled in August 2020 that three neglect charges that happened before July 1, 2014, were dismissed because the statute of limitations had lapsed. Meyer also cited that ruling Friday when he dismissed the fourth neglect charge against Michael Barnett. Kristine Barnett's trial is scheduled for Oct. 24. Michael Barnett's trial is scheduled for Sept. 12. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Child neglect case: Kristine Barnett ordered to follow court gag order Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. RTHK: Germany and France pressure Putin over Ukraine talks German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday asked Russia's Vladimir Putin to hold "direct serious negotiations" with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. During an 80-minute conversation with the Russian president, the two EU leaders "insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops," the German chancellor's office said. Macron and Scholz urged Putin to have "serious direct negotiations with the Ukrainian president and (find) a diplomatic solution to the conflict." The German Chancellor and the French President also "called on the Russian President to ensure an improvement in the humanitarian situation of the civilian population" in Ukraine. The two European leaders "took positive note of the Russian President's commitment to treat captured fighters in accordance with international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure unhindered access to the International Committee of the Red Cross". The global food supply, which has been hit by Russia's action in Ukraine, was also discussed. Putin assured that he "wants to allow the export of grain from Ukraine, especially by sea," the German chancellery said. The three leaders also agreed on the "central role" the United Nations has to play to guarantee exports. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-05-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (3rd R) attends the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the highest governing body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), May 27, 2022. To counter the colossal pressure from the West, the EAEU needs urgent measures to redesign its logistics, Lukashenko told an online meeting on Friday. (Xinhua) MINSK, May 27 (Xinhua) -- To counter the colossal pressure from the West, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) needs urgent measures to redesign its logistics, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told an online meeting on Friday. During the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the highest governing body of the EAEU, Lukashenko stressed that Russia and Belarus fell under sanctions pressure, the consequences of which will affect every country in one way or another. In the field of logistics, the Eurasian Agroexpress initiative of the Eurasian Economic Commission is of considerable interest as it can provide regular unimpeded deliveries of agricultural goods by rail, he said. International economic cooperation with countries and integration associations is also important, Lukashenko said, noting that "active work is underway to conclude trade agreements with Egypt and Iran." Referring to Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates as the union's potential trade partners, the president said that there is a huge potential to conclude an agreement on trade and economic cooperation with China. By the end of 2021, the total GDP of the EAEU increased by 4.6 percent and for the first four months this year, its GDP growth was around 5.4 percent, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said in his online speech at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session. Democratic nominee for District 62 Penny Githens speaks to attendees at the Democratic watch party at The Mill on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. With seats in the Indiana statehouse and in Congress up for grabs this year, some local figures are headed for the general election. Penny Githens prevails over Brad Swain Monroe County Commissioner Penny Githens fended off outgoing Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain's bid to be the Democratic nominee for state representative in District 62. Githens earned 68.85% of the vote in Monroe County and 68.2% of the vote in the entire district. More election news: Monroe County primary winners celebrate before turning toward general election "This was not just me. This was a team who did this," Githens said, thanking those who worked on her campaign as well as the various groups that extended support. Githens commended Swain for his behavior during the primary race, indicating Swain will soon join her team as she heads into the general election. Swain could not be reached for comment by the time of publication. Dave Hall beats Greg Knott Jackson County council member Dave Hall prevailed over Bloomington man Greg Knott on the Republican ticket for District 62. Hall earned 46.63% of the vote in Monroe County and 56.7% of the vote in the entire district. Hall thanked those who came out to vote on Election Day. Dave Hall, Republican candidate for Indiana House District 62 in the 2022 primary election. "I'm going to continue to run and meet with the voters in our district to hear their concerns and share my perspective," Hall said of his preparations for the general election. More in news: New hops variety patented after pre-prohibition variety discovered on Monroe County farm Knott said he was satisfied with the effort of his candidacy. "I don't think we could have run any harder than we did," Knott said. Knott said his controversial mailer, which alleged Hall was not a "proven conservative" based on his support of the large Guatemalan community in Seymour, could have negatively impacted voter support if they had only read the headline of select media reports on it. Hall joined a few local Republican party chairs in condemning Knott's message. Story continues "It's a shame when people go to that level, honestly. I think his behavior speaks for itself," Hall said, adding the election results demonstrate what voters thought of the two candidates. Githens will face Hall in November. Both said they intend to focus on their respective platform and issues rather than their opponent. Bloomington teacher Fyfe to move on to general election in Ninth Congressional District The field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to represent Indiana's Ninth Congressional District, a seat vacated by Trey Hollingsworth, included two from Bloomington. Matt Fyfe, a teacher at Bloomington High School North, won the contest, with 56.5% of the vote. Isak Nti Asare, co-director of the Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program at Indiana Universitys Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, received 29.5% of the vote. Fyfe will face Republican Erin Houchin in the general election. The newly drawn District 45, which includes Greene County, saw incumbent Republican Bruce Borders pulling ahead of challenger Jeff Ellington. Ellington is the current state representative of District 62, but he moved to Bloomfield and ran for that seat in the Statehouse. Borders received 53.3% of the vote while Ellington received 46.7%. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe County primary election state and federal race results Batavia, NY (14020) Today Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. A social media influencer and his dog were just two days away from completing a lifelong dream drive to Alaska from Brazil when they died in a car collision. Jesse Koz, a 29-year-old Brazilian national, and his golden retriever Shurastey died instantly on Monday after his 1978 Volkswagen Beetle entered into a head-on crash with a Ford Escape near Selma, Oregon. The driver of the Ford Escape, identified as 62-year-old Eileen Huss, was taken to hospital with injuries, while a toddler in the back of the vehicle was uninjured. Koz had travelled 52,000 miles and across 17 countries in his car with his pet since he first began the trip in 2017. The journey, that was set to end in Alaska, was slowed down in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and cross-border restrictions that had prevented him from driving across the US-Mexico border. He was forced to return to Brazil, but the influencer resumed his journey in January this year and crossed into the US in February. We left Mexico in September 2020 with the idea of aastaying only four months in Brazil with the hope that the Mexico-US border would open again, he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. But the months went by, and no news that this would happen, month after month after month (of) expectation was decreasing and the dream of completing the drive with the Beetle was (slipping away). The Brazilian influencer regularly shared images of his expedition with his 431,000 Instagram followers. An official Instagram page created for journalling their road trip collected 1.2 million followers. The page, called Shurastey or Shuraigow?, is a play on the name of his dog and the song Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash. A carousel of photos to hang on the wall of my country home for when Im 80 years old to remember every moment by your side, my friend! he said in an Instagram post in the Portuguese language, featuring a photo of him and his canine friend at the Lincoln Memorial earlier in April. Story continues The traveller made his last post just four days before his death. In the post, now liked over 277,000 times, Koz was seen standing in front of San Franciscos Golden Gate bridge with his beloved dog. Hercilio Luz Bridge is looking different, he had captioned the photo, in a quip comparing the San Francisco bridge and the Hercilio Luz Bridge in Brazils Florianopolis city. Kozs social media pages have been flooded with tributes from followers. The last picture... The last post, the last trip! The best trip is happening now, wrote one user. Hope Jesus Christ welcomes you with open arms in this last trip. He died as a hero living his biggest dream, commented another user. The travellers world lost a great inspiration. Sending lots of love to the whole family. 160 LA Unified School Bus Catalytic Converters Stolen This Year LOS ANGELESSchool buses in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) have become the most recent target for catalytic converter thieves, rekindling a debate over whether the district should increase its budget for school police patrols. Catalytic convertersdevices containing expensive precious metals that mitigate toxic exhaust emissionshave been stolen from about 160 LAUSD school buses since January, costing the district roughly $581,000 so far, CBS reported on May 26. While it can take the district up to four weeks to replace a buss catalytic converter, an LAUSD spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that student transportation has not been negatively affected by the unfortunate thefts. In addition, the LAUSDs transportation services division recently started a campaign to identify its catalytic converters by stenciling LAUSD and the last 5 numbers of the vehicles VIN number onto the devices to prevent theft and recover stolen equipment. Due to these proactive measures, the district has recovered eight stolen converters, the spokesperson said. The rise in catalytic converter theft comes after LAUSDs school board voted last February to cut the districts police budget by one-third in response to police brutality protests after the George Floyd killing. The board also voted last February to remove school police officers from patrolling campuses, though officers remain on standby in case of an emergency call. Before 2021, LAUSDs school police department had 510 officers, some of whom patrolled LAUSD garages overnight. LA School Police Sergeant Rudy Perez told The Epoch Times previously that many officers left as a result of those changes, which cut school police ranks to fewer than 300 from 510. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced on May 25 that he will soon update school security protocols in the wake of a Texas elementary school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. The district is currently negotiating its 202223 school year contract with local teachers union United Teachers LAwhich advocated previously to keep school police off-campus. Last March, the district purchased 10 zero-emissions school buses, which seat 72 passengers and can travel up to 155 miles on a single chargeand dont require catalytic converters. Catalytic converter theft is an issue that has swept LA in recent years. In March, the LA City Council voted to investigate catalytic converter theft prevention measures after 39 catalytic converters were stolen from city vehicles in just one weekend last December. Each catalytic converter can be sold for up to $1,200 each, according to the LA County District Attorneys Office. LA School Police Sgt. Rudy Perez, Lilia Montoya, director of LAUSDs Department of Transportation, and Daniel Kang, deputy director of LAUSDs Department of Transportation, didnt respond by press time to requests for comment. Spectators line the streets to watch a past Memorial Day Parade in downtown Monroe. At least three Memorial Day Parades will take place this year in the county. At least three parades, several services and a special meal will take place across the county on Memorial Day. The Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host a parade through downtown Monroe at 2 p.m. May 30. Line-up will begin at 1 p.m. on Jones Ave. The route will begin on S. Monroe St. and end at St. Marys Park. A ceremony on the Monroe St. bridge will honor those who died at sea. The VFW Parade Committee seeks organizations, business and individuals to take part in the parade. Volunteers also are welcome to help. For more information or to sign up, stop by the post at 400 Jones Ave. or call the post at (734) 242-0526. The Monroe Post 1138, VFW also is hosting several services on May 30. A sunrise memorial ceremony will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Heck Park/Vietnam memorial Park. A memorial service will begin at 9 a.m. at Monroe Post 1138, VFW hall. The post's Ritual Team will split up and conduct services at several cemeteries and other locations. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Marys/Old Burial Ground, Kentucky Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery. A service will begin at 10 a.m. at LaSalle Cemetery. A service will begin at 11 a.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park. A service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Park. A Memorial Day Parade will take place May 30 in Flat Rock. The event, hosted by the Flat Rock American Legion Post, will begin at 10 a.m. at the post home, 28614 Division St. The parade will proceed along Gibraltar Rd. to the Veterans Memorial at Flat Rock City Hall, Gibraltar Rd. at Evergreen St. Children are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade. The Dundee Veterans Memorial Observance will take place May 30 in Dundee. The Dundee Veterans Corporation will hold its annual observance at 10 a.m. at Wolverine Park, located behind the old Mill Museum. The parade will form at the Dundee High School parking lot and proceed to Wolverine Park via Barnum St. Those participating should be at the school at 9:30 a.m. The parade will step-off at 9:45 a.m. Story continues Our program at Wolverine Park will pay tribute to those who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces of our nation, Larry Cymbola, commander of Post 6462, Veterans of Foreign Wars, said. The Dundee High School Marching Band and the DHS Choir will be part of the ceremony. The speaker is Sgt. Keith Kamphuis, who joined the Navy in 2005 as a corpsman. He volunteered for Fleet Marine Corps Infantry and then joined the Army, serving in the medical corp. During his service, he was deployed to Iraq three times and to Afghanistan once. He medically retired from military service in 2015 and continues his service to this fellow comrades, working for the VA as a clinical outreach social worker, Cymbola said. Kamphuis and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children and moved to Dundee last year. After the ceremony the Veterans Honor Guard will go to Oak Grove, Maple Grove, Leib and Azalia Cemeteries to conduct services. The Veterans Club will hold an open house at the Veterans Hall at 1 p.m. Festivities will begin with a tribute to POWs and MIAs. The community is cordially invited to join us in honoring our comrades, Cymbola said. A Memorial Day service will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 29 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maybee, 7771 High St. Feature will be patriotic music followed by Taps and a sermon preached by the new minister, Chaplain James Puhl. Minister Puhl is a retired Purple Heart recipient of the Vietnam War. The public, especially veterans and their families, are encouraged to attend. A barbecue dinner will be offered May 30 at Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, 15275 S. Monroe St. A meal of barbecue chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli salad, will be served at 11:30 a.m. Music by DJ Manny Perez will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Attendees also can karaoke. Fruit smoothie samples also will be served. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County region to host Memorial Day parades, events May 29-30 Ukrainian former President Petro Poroshenko, sings the national anthem after a court hearing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 19, 2022. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters) RussiaUkraine War (May 28): Ukraines Former President Blocked From Leaving the Country The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, May 28. Click here for updates from May 27. Ukraines Former President Blocked From Leaving the Country Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was prevented from leaving Ukraine to take part in a meeting of a NATO body in Lithuania, his partys parliamentary faction said on Saturday. Poroshenko was stopped twice at a border crossing with Poland while he was on his way to the meeting of NATOs Parliamentary Assembly, a consultative interparliamentary organisation, the statement said. Ukrainian media reported Poroshenko could not cross the border due to technical problems with a permit allowing him to leave the country. Poroshenko had received all the formal permissions to leave the country and had been included in the official delegation of the Parliament of Ukraine for this event, his European Solidarity parliamentary faction said. Poroshenko was to have a number of high-level meetings in Vilnius, including with the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda. He was also scheduled to participate in a meeting of the European Peoples Party in Rotterdam, it said. In January, Poroshenko won a court ruling allowing him to remain at liberty while being investigated for treason in a probe he says was a politically motivated attack linked to allies of his successor, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Poroshenko is being investigated in connection with the financing of Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country through illegal coal sales in 201415. ____ Putin Says Hes Willing to Discuss Resuming Ukrainian Grain Shipments Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of France and Germany in a phone call on Saturday that Russia was willing to discuss ways to make it possible for Ukraine to resume shipments of grain from Black Sea ports, the Kremlin said. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies, while Russia is also a key global fertilizer exporter and Ukraine is a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil. For its part, Russia is ready to help find options for the unhindered export of grain, including the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports, the Kremlin said. It said he also informed French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Russia was ready to increase its export of fertilizers and agricultural products if sanctions against it were lifteda demand he has raised in conversations with the Italian and Austrian leaders in recent days. Ukraine and Western countries have accused Russia of weaponizing the food crisis created by its invasion of Ukraine, which has sent the prices of grains, cooking oils, fuel, and fertilizer soaring. Russia has blamed the situation on Western sanctions against it, and on the mining of Ukrainian ports. The Kremlin said Putin also said Russia was willing to resume talks with Ukraine. Special attention was paid to the status of the negotiations that are frozen because of Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin confirmed the Russian sides openness to resume dialogue, it said. ____ US Buys More Stingers After Missiles Success in Ukraine The U.S. Army said on Friday it has awarded a contract worth $625 million to Raytheon Technologies Corp for anti-aircraft Stinger missiles in order to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine. U.S. troops have limited use for the current supply of Stingersa lightweight, self-contained weapon that can be deployed quickly to defend against helicopters, airplanes, drones, and even cruise missilesbut the United States needs to maintain its supply while it develops the next generation of a man-portable air defense system. Since February, the United States has shipped about 1,400 Stingers to Ukraine. U.S. allies also want to restock the weapons they shipped to Ukraine in recent months. The president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Wes Kremer, said the order will help fulfill our current foreign military sale order, while replenishing Stingers provided to Ukraine and accelerating production. On May 6, the Pentagons chief weapons buyer, Bill LaPlante, said he had aimed to sign a contract by the end of May and that the intent was to replace the Stinger missiles sent to Ukraine one-for-one. The Pentagon and Raytheon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Stinger production line was closed in December 2020, the Pentagon has said. In July 2021, Raytheon won a contract to manufacture more Stingers, but mainly for international governments, according to the U.S. Army. Raytheon Chief Executive Greg Hayes told analysts during an April 26 conference call that the U.S. Department of Defense has not purchased a Stinger in 18 years. ____ G-7 Working to Resume Grain Exports From Ukraine, UKs Johnson Tells Zelenskyy British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday that international partners were working intensively to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine to avert a global food crisis. Johnson, who has spoken regularly to Zelenskyy since the beginning of the invasion, said the two leaders also discussed the importance of the international community remaining united over the war. He said that the UK would work with G-7 partners to push for urgent progress, a British readout of the call said, on the export of grain. The leaders agreed next steps and the imperative for Russia to relax its blockade and allow safe shipping lanes. ____ Ship to Take Metal From Mariupol to Russia; Kyiv Decries Looting A ship has entered the Ukrainian port of Mariupol for the first time since Russia completed its capture of the city to load metal and ship it east to Russia, TASS news agency reported on Saturday, in a move that Kyiv decried as looting. A spokesperson for the port told TASS that the vessel would be loading 2,700 tonnes of metal before traveling 160 kilometers (100 miles) east to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Monday. The spokesperson did not say where the metal being shipped had been produced. Ukraines Human Rights Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova said the shipment amounted to looting by Russia. Looting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine continues, she wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Ukraines largest steelmaker Metinvest on Friday said it was concerned that Russia may use several ships stranded in Mariupol to steal and smuggle metallurgical products belonging to the group. It accused Russia of piracy. ____ Russian Forces Blast Ukraines Sievierodonetsk After Claiming Capture of Railway Junction Town Russian forces were assaulting the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday after saying they had captured the nearby rail hub of Lyman as Moscow pressed its offensive in the eastern Donbass. Russian gains in recent days indicate a shift in momentum in the war, now in its fourth month. The invading forces appear close to seizing all of the Luhansk region of Donbass, a main Kremlin war goal, despite Ukrainian resistance. Russias defence ministry said on Saturday, its troops and allied separatist forces were now in full control of Lyman, site of a railway junction and lying west of the Siversky Donets River in the Donetsk region that neighbours Luhansk. However, Hanna Malyar, Ukraines deputy defence minister, said the battle for Lyman continued, the ZN.ua website reported. The Russian forces were likely to try to cross the river in coming days in the next phase of the Kremlins Donbass offensive, the British defence ministry said in its daily intelligence report on Saturday. Sievierodonetsk, some 60 kilometers (40 miles) from Lyman on the eastern side of the river and the largest Donbass city still held by Ukraine, is now under heavy assault from the Russians. Sievierodonetsk is under constant enemy fire, Ukraines police force said in a social media post on Saturday. Russian artillery was also striking the Lysychansk-Bakhmut road, which Russia needs to take to close a pincer movement and encircle Ukrainian forces. The governor of Luhansk, which along with Donetsk makes up the Donbass, said on Friday, Russian troops had already entered Sievierodonetsk. Ukrainian troops may have to retreat from the city to avoid capture, governor Serhiy Gaidai said. The Russian forces have been making slow but steady advances in the Donbasslarge parts of which were already controlled by Moscow-backed separatists before the war. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British intelligence report said. _____ Ukraine Receives Harpoon Missiles and Howitzers, Says Defence Minister Ukraine has started receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark and self-propelled howitzers from the United States, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Saturday, saying the arms would bolster forces fighting Russias invasion. The coastal defense of our country will not only be strengthened by Harpoon missilesthey will be used by trained Ukrainian teams, Reznikov wrote on his Facebook page. He said Harpoon shore-to-ship missiles would be operated alongside Ukrainian Neptune missiles in the defense of the countrys coast including the southern port of Odesa. Reznikov said the supplies of Harpoon missiles were the result of cooperation between several countries, saying the deliveries from Denmark took place with the participation of our British friends. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday that Denmark would provide a harpoon launcher and missiles to Ukraine. Reznikov said Ukraine had also received a range of heavy artillery pieces, including modified U.S.-made M109 self-propelled howitzers that will allow the Ukrainian military to strike targets from longer distances. Ukraine has said it wants to secure deliveries of U.S.-made long-range M270 multiple-rocket launchers (MLRS) and use them in repelling Russian troops in the east of the country. The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile that uses active radar homing and flies just above the water to evade defenses. It can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft, or coastal batteries. ___ Russia Says Eastern Ukraine Town of Lyman Is Under Its Full Control Russias defense ministry said on Saturday that the eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman had fallen under the full control of Russian and Russian-backed forces in the region. Pro-Russian separatists from the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic said on Friday that they had fully captured the town, a railway hub west of Sievierodonetsk. Ukraine said on Friday that Russia had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, a city 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest. Ukrainian and Russian forces have been fighting for Lyman for several days. In a daily update, Russia said it had used missile strikes to destroy Ukrainian command posts in Bakhmut and Soledar. Both towns lie on a strategically important road running southwest from Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk, where the main Russian offensive is now concentrated. The ministry also said it had destroyed five command and observation posts, hit areas where Ukrainian soldiers and equipment were located, and destroyed four ammunition depots near the towns of Nyrkove, Bakhmut, and Myronivka. Reuters could not independently confirm the Russian claims. ____ Ukraine Says Russian Advances Could Force Retreat in Part of East Ukrainian forces may have to retreat from their last pocket in the Luhansk region to avoid being captured, a Ukrainian official said, as Russian troops press an advance in the east that has shifted the momentum of the three-month-old war. A withdrawal could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of capturing eastern Ukraines Luhansk and Donetsk regions in full. His troops have gained ground in the two areas collectively known as the Donbass while blasting some towns to wastelands. Luhansks governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said Russian troops had entered Sievierodonetsk, the largest Donbass city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days, adding that Russian forces would not be able to capture the Luhansk region as analysts have predicted. We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. However, it is possible that in order not to be surrounded we will have to retreat, Gaidai said on Telegram. Gaidai said 90 percent of buildings in Sievierodonetsk were damaged with 14 high-rises destroyed in the latest shelling. Speaking to Ukrainian television, Gaidai said there were some 10,000 Russian troops based in the region and they were attempting to make gains in any direction they can. Reuters could not independently verify the information. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was protecting its land as much as our current defense resources allow. Ukraines military said it had repelled eight attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk on Friday, destroying tanks and armored vehicles. If the occupiers think that Lyman and Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian, Zelenskyy claimed in an address. We are tired of being so scared, he said. On the diplomatic front, European Union officials said a deal might be reached by Sunday to ban deliveries of Russian oil by sea, accounting for about 75 percent of the blocs supply, but not by pipeline, a compromise to win over Hungary and clear the way for new sanctions. ____ Russia Shows Off Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missile in Test-launch at Sea Russia successfully test-fired a hypersonic Zircon cruise missile over a distance of about 1,000 kilometers (625 miles), the defense ministry said on Saturday. The missile was fired from the Barents Sea and hit a target in the White Sea, it said. Video released by the ministry showed the missile being fired from a ship and blazing into the sky on a steep trajectory. President Vladimir Putin has described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivaled arms systems. Hypersonic weapons can travel at nine times the speed of sound, and Russia has conducted previous test launches of the Zircon from warships and submarines in the past year. Last month Russia test launched a new nuclear-capable intercontinental missile, the Sarmat, capable of carrying 10 or more warheads and striking the United States. _____ Ukrainian Negotiator Says Any Agreement With Russia Isnt Worth a Broken Penny Ukrainian presidential adviser and peace talks negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said on Saturday that any agreement with Russia cannot be trusted, and Moscow can only be stopped in its invasion by force. Any agreement with Russia isnt worth a broken penny, Podolyak wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Is it possible to negotiate with a country that always lies cynically and propagandistically? Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other after peace talks stalled, with the last known face-to-face negotiations on March 29. The Kremlin said earlier this month Ukraine was showing no willingness to continue peace talks, while officials in Kyiv blamed Russia for the lack of progress. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that President Vladimir Putin was the only Russian official he was willing to meet with to discuss how to end the war. ____ Some 10,000 Russian Troops in Ukraines Luhansk Region: Governor The governor of Ukraines Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said early on Saturday that there are some 10,000 Russian troops in the eastern region. These are the (units) that are permanently in Luhansk region, that are trying to assault, and are attempting to make gains in any direction they can, Gaidai said on Ukrainian television. Reuters could not independently verify the report. ____ Ukraines Leader Remains Defiant on Victory Over Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy spoke defiantly Friday in two speeches about his countrys ultimate victory over Russian forces in both the most pressing battle in eastern Ukraine and the war generally. Ukraine is a country that has destroyed the myth about the extraordinary power of the Russian armyan army that supposedly, in a few days, could conquer anyone it wants, he told Stanford University students by video. Now Russia is trying to occupy the entire state but we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which will be open to the world. Later, in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy reacted to the Russians capture of the eastern city of Lyman, the Donetsk regions large railway hub north of two more key cities still under Ukrainian control, and its attempt to encircle and seize the city of Sievierodonetsk, one of the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong, the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. Donbass will be Ukrainian. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Crews work the scene of a deadly explosion in a residential neighborhood in Pottstown, Penn., on May 27, 2022. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) 5 Killed, 2 Injured in Pennsylvania Explosion Five people were killed and two injured after an explosion on Thursday in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The fire department, EMS, and police were dispatched to the area of Hale Street and Butler Avenue at 8:07 p.m. local time for a house explosion. The authorities found a house had exploded with multiple victims needing medical care when they arrived on the scene. The explosion killed five people and injured two. One of the two injured people is in critical but stable condition, and the other one is in surgery for unknown injuries, Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller said. The investigation is ongoing and theres no additional information available, he added. The Pottstown Police Department confirmed on Friday that the explosion happened in the 400 Block of Hale Street. The police urged people to avoid that area. Please avoid the area of the blast as we are working with multiple agencies to investigate and clear the area, the police wrote in a social media post. According to WPVI-TV, the five victims who were killed are: Francine White, 67 Alana Wood, 13 Jeremiah White, 12 Nehemiah White, 10 Tristan White, 8 The two injured persons are: Eugene White, 44 Kristina Matuzsan, 32 The relationship between the victims has not been disclosed. Neighbors told WPVI-TV that they frequently smelled gas in the area. Officials said there are gas lines and confirmed there was a propane tank on the scene that was not destroyed. However, the authorities are still working to find out what the propane tank was being used for. 710 Freeway Expansion Dropped After Decades of Planning, Marking a Milestone for L.A. LOS ANGELESA decades-old plan to widen one of Americas busiest cargo corridors was scrapped Thursday, as the agency acknowledged it must find a new way to lessen traffic without adding lanes. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority unanimously voted to end the $6 billion expansion plans for most of the 710 Freeway, where port-bound trucks idle in traffic-choked lanes and nearby communities struggle with high rates of asthma and poor health. Its monumental that one of the biggest urban areas of the country is really thinking twice, before prioritizing goods movements over health, said Laura Cortez, an organizer and co-executive director of the East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. The local group formed about 20 years ago to fight the expansion and combat pollution from a nearby railyard. Their fight illuminated the struggles of a community living in the shadow of commerce. Billions of dollars worth of televisions, furniture and other goods from the port are shipped onto trucks that barrel along the 710 and are then loaded onto trains headed to the rest of the country. The freeway and the working-class communities ills became a potent symbol of a larger effort playing out across the state: to stop freeways that shape, divide and hurt neighborhoods, especially those where people of color live. The Los Angeles Times found that more than 200,000 people nationwide have lost their homes because of federal road projects over three decades. The largest recent highway expansions, including in California, have forced out residents in Black and Latino neighborhoods at a disproportionately high rate. Black and Latino residents make up an estimated 83 percent of the 1.2 million people who live along the 710 corridor. They endure some of the worst air quality in the country. The area accounts for about 20 percent of all particulate emissions in Southern California, according to Metro. This is a wake-up call to policymakers around the nation that we cannot solve our transportation problems with road-widening projects, said Adrian Martinez, a senior attorney for Earthjustice. Road-widening projects double down on the same failed strategy, adding even more pollution to the already overburdened communities who live alongside our nations busy freight corridors. A first-in-the-nation bill that seeks to block freeway widening in areas of the state with high levels of pollution and poverty is making its way through the Legislature. Its author, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a Democrat, lives four blocks from the 710 Freeway. She said her parents who live nearby suffer from respiratory issues. Metros vote has long been anticipated as the plans to add a lane in each direction along a 19-mile stretch of the freeway from Long Beach to East Los Angeles have been on life support for years. Amid pressure from residents, Metro, the lead agency on the plan, four years ago tabled a scheme that would have displaced hundreds and added the lanes. But planning continued. Last year federal environmental regulators struck a serious blow to any hopes of widening. They found the plan could violate the Clean Air Act, noting the region already had the worst air quality in the United States. Those findings created a domino effect and prompted the states top transportation official to drop his support of the plan, puncturing all hopes that the project would move forward. With no support from the state or federal agencies, Metro found itself abandoned after spending hundreds of hours and more than $50 million in planning on a doomed project. And while plans have been put to rest, the agency will need to grapple with what to do next. The 710 Freeway is the main artery for the nations largest port complex, through which nearly a third of the nations imported goods move. Big rigs carrying a crush of goodsas varied as electronics, auto parts and shoesoften clog the road. Activists call it the diesel death zone, but Americans with their appetite for click-shopping, have come to rely on the web of warehouses and deliveries that the port is built around. A plan by Metro board member Janice Hahn approved Thursday will shift the $750 million in funds already secured for the 710 to improvements for Southeast Los Angeles communities along the freeway. It will also rename the 710 Task Force, an advisory group for the agency, to reflect its new direction. Our 710 communities are really looking for some quality-of-life improvements, as soon as possible, she said. Were going to write a new chapter and now its time to improve our air quality, get to zero emissions with vehicle traveling along that freeway, and make our freeways, our streets safer. Already officials and residents are clamoring for projects. Air filtration in schools, sound walls, access to the Los Angeles River and new regional transit are among some of the pitches Hahn has already fielded. Cortez, who sits on the task force, said she wants the priority to be focused on residents who bear the brunt of the corridor and often depend on it. As a child, her elementary school track field abutted the freeway. And as an adult, shes dedicated her career to trying to limit the freeways damage to neighboring communities. Weve never been no to projects because a lot of our family members are the truck drivers, a lot of our family members move the produce, she said. We are talking about prioritizing the health of our workers and families. The stream of residents, activists and elected officials who spoke ahead of the vote had their own ideas of what to do with the empty land designated for the expansion. One resident suggested adding more open space and a dog park. But most decried the pollution the 710 has already wrought. Please give us clean air, one said bluntly. You are killing us here. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. All-Black Militias Leader Found Guilty of Threatening Police With Rifle LOUISVILLE, Ky.After several hours of deliberations, a federal jury on May 27 found all-black militia leader John Johnson guilty of threatening police officers with his AR-15 rifle during a Sept. 4, 2020, protest in Louisville, Kentucky. Some members of the Atlanta-based Not [Expletive] Around Coalition (NFAC) militia bowed their heads after the verdict was read, while others shed tears. Johnson remained expressionless as Judge Benjamin Beaton explained that hell remain in custody at least until his Aug. 22 sentencing hearing. Johnson faces up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of aiming his rifle at officers with the intent to assault or intimidate them during a protest against police brutality in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. I love you all, Johnson said to NFAC members as officers led him away. Black power! the NFAC said in unison, fists raised in the air. Outside the courthouse, emotions were palpable. Dont talk to any of my people, an NFAC member told reporters. Johnsons attorney, Donald Meier, declined to comment. He confirmed that he will file a written motion for appeal and retrial. The weeklong trial for Johnson centered around roughly 10 seconds of surveillance footage showing the militia leader exiting a vehicle, turning on a flashlight attached to his rifle, and scanning a nearby rooftop before walking toward a nearby park. Prosecutors said Johnson was intentionally brandishing his weapon at five officers conducting rooftop surveillance, while the defense said he was only using his flashlight to see who was up there. Johnson took the stand the afternoon of May 26 to tell his side of the story. The defendant told the jury about his background as a former radio operator for the U.S. Army, an ordained pastor who preached to prison inmates, and a social activist. He said he started his all-black militia to defend my race. Johnson stressed that the NFAC isnt affiliated with Black Lives Matter, and that one of his concerns throughout 2020 was keeping his group separate from other protestors so the NFAC wouldnt be tarred by their activities. Were not protestors. We demonstrate a military formation to send a political statement, he said. The prosecution cross-examined Johnson on May 27, pointing to inconsistencies between his testimony a day earlier and what the surveillance footage shows. Johnson told the jury that he was a passenger in the vehicle he exited before pointing his rifle at law enforcement, while the prosecution pointed out that he was, in fact, the driver of the vehicle. During closing arguments on May 27, Meier told the jury that the U.S. government was making a mountain out of a molehill by devoting federal resources toward prosecuting his client over an innocuous incident. However, prosecutors played several clips of Johnson making threatening statements toward police officers, presenting it as evidence that the black nationalist knew exactly what he was doing when he pointed his rifle at officers. After closing arguments, the jury took about two hours to reach its unanimous verdict. The dorsal surfaces of the hands of a monkeypox case patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997. (CDC) Argentina Reports 2 Cases of Monkeypox BUENOS AIRES, ArgentinaArgentina reported two cases of the monkeypox virus on Friday in men who had recently arrived from Spain, marking the first time the presence of the virus has been confirmed in Latin America during this latest outbreak. Argentinas health ministry first confirmed a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had traveled to Spain has monkeypox. Later in the day, the ministry said in a statement that a suspected case involving a resident of Spain who had arrived in Argentina earlier in the week was also confirmed positive. Argentina now becomes the latest country to confirm cases of monkeypox as part of a global outbreak that has seen the rare virus sprout up in several countries that are not usually known to have outbreaks. The sequencing of the virus in the first confirmed case revealed a high degree of similarity with monkeypox from western Africa, as has been the case with the new infections around the world, Argentinas Health Ministry said. Authorities have revealed little about the patients but said they are both in good health and are being isolated while receiving treatment for their symptoms. The first confirmed case involved a man who traveled to Spain from April 28 through May 16 and had symptoms compatible with monkeypox, including lesions and a fever, on Sunday. All of his close contacts are being monitored and none have presented any symptoms to date, the Health Ministry said. The second confirmed case involves a resident of Spain who arrived in Argentina on Wednesday and has no ties to the first case. The man, who was also in the province of Buenos Aires, presented lesions compatible with monkeypox on Thursday. The patient is in good general health, isolated, and receiving symptomatic treatment, the Health Ministry added. None of his close contacts have yet to present any symptoms. Nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have recently been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the disease, the World Health Organization said on Friday. But that looked to be an undercount. Spain has emerged as an epicenter of this recent outbreak and health authorities confirmed on Friday there were 98 confirmed cases in the country. The United Kingdom has reported 106 confirmed cases while Portugal said Friday the number of people with monkeypox had increased to 74. Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Italy, among others. By Daniel Politi People watch the Canadian documentary "Eternal Spring" in a sold-out premiere at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York on May 24, 2022. (Shi Ping/The Epoch Times) Award-Winning Documentary Eternal Spring Finishes Screening in NYC The award-winning documentary Eternal Spring had two sold-out screenings in New York this week. It will be screened in Poland at the end of May and will return to the United States in June in New Jersey and Los Angeles, California. Eternal Spring was screened at the 2022 Human Rights Watch Film Festival in New York on Monday and Tuesday. The Canadian documentary uses a combination of animation and real-person interviews to reconstruct the incident of tapping into the Chinese communist regimes TV broadcast in Changchun City (the literal meaning of the citys name is eternal spring) in northeast China 20 years ago. The media in China, all controlled by the state, have been airing hateful propaganda against Falun Gong since the regime launched its persecution of the faith in 1999. Falun Gong is a peaceful spiritual practice based on the principles of truth, compassion, and forbearance. On March 5, 2002, a group of Falun Gong practitioners risked their lives to tap into the broadcast system in Changchun to air the truth about the practice and the persecution. Most of them were subsequently arrested, tortured, and killed by the regime. Their friends from Changchun attended the premiere of the film at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center at Lincoln Center in New York on May 24. A group photo of people from Changchun with director Jason Loftus (third R) and animation artist Daxiong (third L) at the premiere of Eternal Spring in New York on May 24, 2022. (Shi Ping/ The Epoch Times) Wei Lisheng, who knew many of the participants of the Changchun incident, told The Epoch Times, Lei Ming, Liu Chengjun, Liang Zhenxing, Liu Haibo, they are all dead. I will speak for them now. Wei Lisheng said, I want to tell the people of the world about their heroic actions, and let people know the truth about the persecution of Falun Gong. Jason Loftus, the director of Eternal Spring and winner of the Peabody Award and Canadian Screen Award, and lead animation artist Daxiong came to the premiere to interact with the audience after the screening. Daxiong told The Epoch Times: The way of heaven is above the way of the human world. If the purpose of delivering the truth is to save people, that means we should have the courage to fight against the evil law. This is whats so great about the Falun Gong practitioners in the Changchun incident. I want to tell their story to more people around the world. Loftuss two other Chinese human rights films were suppressed by the Chinese regime during the making of the documentary. His contracts with mainland China were canceled. His wifes family was harassed by the regime. However, inspired by the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners who resist the persecution, he did not give up making the documentary. What I witnessed was people who were willing to sacrifice a lot more than I was facing in order to be able to speak the truth in the face of injustice. And I just figured, if we dont do the same with the freedom that we have here, then we may regret that in the long run. So I think its important that we use the freedom we have to speak up, he said. Chinese human rights lawyer Teng Biao (C) at the premiere of Eternal Spring in New York on May 24, 2022. (Shi Ping/The Epoch Times) Chinese human rights lawyer Teng Biao watched Eternal Spring for the second time. He told The Epoch Times that telling the truth is really important. And as we see in this movie, so many courageous Falun Gong practitioners and human rights defenders sacrifice their freedom, even their lives, to have the truth [told]. I was a human rights lawyer and I was kidnapped and detained and tortured a few times. But many, many of my friends are still in prison. So, we cannot take freedom for granted. To tell the truth and to remember to resist, it has power, he added. New York-based writer Steve Mackes told The Epoch Times: I really liked the way it was crafted with the animation. Therere so many things going on with China which is just repressive. People were punished for just trying to live their lives in a good way. Theyre trying to tell the truth in any way. Its very needed. Its very moving. Yeah, I thought it was great. So far, Eternal Spring has won multiple awards at film festivals around the world, such as the Movies That Matter in the Netherlands, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, and the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto. Sarah Lu contributed to the report. The ancient art of acupuncture and the U.S. military arent two things that you think would go together, but theyve developed a surprising partnership over the past 20-plus years. The United States is presently in the grip of an opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 1999, 841,000 people have died of drug overdoses. In 2019, 70 percent of overdose deaths involved an opioid. And the problem seems to be getting worse. The opioid crisis extends to the U.S. military as well. Combat puts U.S. troops and veterans at substantial risk of injury and exposure to prescription (and non-prescription) opioids. It seems that soldiers who see combat are even more susceptible to opioid addiction than service members who deployed, but never see battle, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, Did The War on Terror Ignite an Opioid Epidemic? Resul Cesur, associate professor of health care economics at the University of Connecticut and one of the studys authors, wanted to understand if the opioid epidemic in the military was because of combat or if other factors were involved. Our evidence shows that the reason why so many military people are using opiates is because they are exposed to combat, he said. To illustrate how big the problem is, between 2010 and 2016, 6,485 veterans in the Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system died of opioid-related causes. An article in the Military Times states that in 2015, VA officials reported that they had seen a 55 percent increase in opioid use disorders among veterans following combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fiscal year 2016, the VA treated roughly 68,000 veterans for opioid addiction. It seems logical that military personnel in combat situations are dealing with sometimes catastrophic injuries. Beyond combat, theyre carrying heavy equipment through rugged terrain and living in less than ideal conditions. The sheer number of military personnel who experience mental and physical injury because of military activities is significant. Many get prescriptions for opioids to help them deal with pain, but opioids are incredibly addictive and have serious side effects. Because of the problems associated with opioid addiction, the military began looking for alternatives. Battlefield Acupuncture Overmedication is a problem facing society at large, and the military is no exception. The military has recognized that service members returning from combat sustaining injuries and suffering from the devastating psychological effects of their experiences needed an alternative to drugs, including narcotics. In August 2009, the Army surgeon general directed that a pain management task force be created to make recommendations for a comprehensive pain management strategy. The resulting report, completed in 2010, makes several recommendations, and acupuncture is in the first tier of treatments. Acupuncture has been shown to help with all types of pain, and it would now be introduced to help military personnel deal with acute and chronic pain to help decrease the need for medications. In 2001, Dr. Richard Niemtzow, while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force, developed a specific protocol of auricular (ear) acupuncture points. With needles inserted into the ears, these points provide rapid and highly effective relief of all types of pain. The protocol is known as battlefield acupuncture and was conceived as a technique to deliver pain relief through acupuncture as quickly and effectively as possible in combat and other military situations. The military began testing battlefield acupuncture during air evacuations of wounded soldiers, when, until then, the approach to pain had been medication. Designers of the program thought that if they could offer service members a more natural approach for their pain, they could avoid prescribing powerful pain medication and help avoid the dangers of the adverse effects and risk of addiction later on. In Eastern medical theory, the ear is a microcosm of the entire body, meaning that every part of the body is represented and can be treated through the ear. Niemtzow said he chose points specifically that were known to influence the processing of pain in the central nervous system. Battlefield acupuncture protocol consists of five acupuncture points in the ear. There are several ways in which the points in the ears can be stimulated. Very small needles can be inserted, tiny metal balls can be stuck to the points and left until they come off on their own (one day to a few days later), or the needles that Niemtzow prefers to use, which look like tiny conical darts, are placed in the ears and can stay in for several days, falling out naturally. This allows the points to be stimulated on an ongoing basis, helping to deliver pain relief beyond the patients appointment. Below is a chart that illustrates the points used in the battlefield acupuncture protocol. Niemtzow said relief occurs in 80 to 90 percent of cases, is typically immediate, and can last anywhere from minutes to months, depending on the length of time the points are stimulated and the patients own unique pathology. He also said he has seen battlefield acupuncture work for all types of pain and in many patients who didnt respond to Western pain medication. He established a medical acupuncture clinic at Andrews Air Force Base and was the first full-time physician acupuncturist in the Armed Forces. He has given acupuncture to service members at Andrews, the Pentagon, the White House, and the National Naval Medical Center. A Commitment to Pain Management An article in the Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation states that the Defense & Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management and the Veterans Health Administration National Pain Management Program Office had completed in 2019 a three-year and $5.4 million acupuncture education training program. The program trained more than 2,800 providers of battlefield acupuncture. One of the authors of the paper said that in his VA facility, approximately 60 practitioners had been trained, and theyve treated approximately 2,500 patients with battlefield acupuncture in the past two years. Another of the papers authors said that in his experience, battlefield acupuncture has reduced pain for those suffering from headaches, acute and chronic back pain, and musculoskeletal pain, as well as neuropathic pain. As an acupuncturist, Im well aware of acupunctures beneficial effects on a wide variety of conditions. Decades of scientific studies have validated acupunctures effectiveness, and its now offered at renowned facilities such as the Cleveland Clinic, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and even at The Pentagon. Emma Suttie is an acupuncture physician and founder of Chinese Medicine Livinga website dedicated to sharing how to use traditional wisdom to live a healthy lifestyle in the modern world. Shes a lover of the natural world, martial arts, and a good cup of tea. President Joe Biden delivers the commencement address for his alma mater, the University of Delaware, at Delaware Stadium, in Newark, Del., on May 28, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Delivers Commencement Speech, Says We Can Make America Safe President Joe Biden on May 28 delivered the commencement speech at the University of Delaware, touching on the recent mass shootings in Texas and New York and repeating a falsehood about the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Biden, after recalling the time he spent at his alma mater as a student, said theres been too much violence in the United States. In the face of such destructive forces, we have to stand stronger. We must stand stronger. We cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can make America safer. We can finally do what we have to do to protect the lives of the people and of our children, Biden said. So I call all Americans this hour to join hands and make your voices heard and work together to make this nation what it can and should be, added the president, who renewed his call after the Texas shooting for commonsense gun laws such as a ban on some semiautomatic firearms. Two 18-year-olds carried out the recent shootings, according to law enforcement. One killed 10 at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. Another killed 21 at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Both were said to have obtained the firearms they used legally. So far, Biden has been unable to get enough support for legislation he supports because many Republicans favor other approaches, which have themselves been blocked by Democrats. There are ongoing negotiations in the Senate on several gun-related areas, though the exact focus is not yet clear. Despite the violence, Biden, who is planning on traveling to Uvalde on Sunday, said hes as optimistic as hes ever been, citing the generation of students graduating, describing them as the most generous, the most tolerant, the least prejudiced, the best-educated generation this nation has ever known. The president also repeated the lie that the mob that breached the Capitol in 2021 killed multiple police officers, when, in fact, it killed zero officers. Biden spoke a day after he delivered the commencement speech to graduates at the Naval Academy. The Democrat urged the graduates to be ready to adapt and lead in the years ahead. And, class of 2022, you are graduating at an inflection point not only in American history but in world history. And I mean it. The challenge we face and the choices we make are more consequential than ever, he said. Things are changing so rapidly that the next 10 years will be the decisive decade of this century, because theyre going to shape what our world looks like and the values that will guide it not just for the immediate future, but for generations to come. And that is not hyperbole, he added, citing how the pandemic triggered widespread disruption of schooling and the supply chain, as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. Biden wrapped up by thanking the graduates for their service. Jack Hurn, who died from complications of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine in June 2021, in this undated handout image. (Family handout/FCB Manby Bowdler/PA) British 26 Year-Old Died From COVID Jab Complications Following Out-of-Date Advice An inquest heard that a 26-year-old British man who died from complications of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine was given out-of-date information about the risk of blood clots on the brain. A week-long inquest into the death of Jack Hurn on May 27 recorded a narrative verdictmeaning that the coroner records only the facts without making a judgement as to who or what was to blame. According to the coroner, Hurn was informed that the risk of blood clot complications was five times lower than the actual official guidance at the time. Hurn died in June last year, less than two weeks after receiving the jab in the West Midlands. He became unwell eight days after the jab and died in hospital on June 11 despite emergency surgery. At the time, official medical guidance was that patients aged under 40 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The guidance stated that the patient could make an informed choice to go ahead with the AstraZeneca shot. However, in Hurns case, according to the coroner, he was wrongly informed of the risks. Instead of a one in 50,000 risk, as per the guidance at the time, he was told by his GP that the risk of blood clots was one in 250,000. The inquest heard that after being told the vaccination hub had no stock of the Pfizer jab, he decided to go ahead with the AstraZeneca. Area coroner for Birmingham Emma Brown said there was no doubt that Hurn had taken on board the statement that the risk was one in 250,000. She noted that at the time, the Joint Committee in Vaccines and Immunisation advised that it was preferable that adults under 40 without underlying conditions be offered an alternative to the AstraZenecabut could go ahead with the AstraZeneca if that made an informed choice. Jack was not given all of the information to make an informed choice, she said. In particular the risk of complications for his age group was understated. In a statement, Hurns family said: Jack was our world. Our family will never be complete without him and we are still struggling to come to terms with his death. All Jack wanted to do in life was to be the model son, model brother, loyal partner, best friend to many, a good citizen, and to be the best person in whatever he did. This weeks inquest, although painful, has helped us to understand more about the circumstances around what happened both at the vaccine clinic and at the hospitals in Redditch and Birmingham. But it is clear that there were failings, delays, and inconsistencies which meant Jack was not given the level of care we would have wanted him to receive. A spokesman for NHS England in the Midlands said, A number of immediate actions were taken as a result of the incident, and we will continue to work with our partners in respect to the coroners findings. PA contributed to this report. The Shyok River running through the Nubra Valley in Ladakh region, India, on May 7, 2015. (Alex Ogle/AFP via Getty Images) Bus Carrying Indian Soldiers Falls Into Remote Gorge; 7 Dead SRINAGAR, IndiaA bus carrying soldiers fell into a gorge in Indias remote Ladakh region on Friday, killing at least seven and injuring 19 others, officials said. The bus plunged off a mountainous road and rolled down the 25-meter (80-foot) -deep gorge in the frigid regions Nubra Valley, police said. The injured soldiers were flown to a military hospital in the northern city of Chandigarh, the military said. Authorities were investigating whether the accident was caused by a mechanical failure or driver negligence. The privately owned bus was hired by the military to transport soldiers in the high-altitude region. The accident occurred near an area where the borders of India, Pakistan, and China meet, in what strategic experts call the worlds only three-way nuclear-armed junction. India has the worlds deadliest roads, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and injured annually. Most accidents are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. PETERSBURG The first event held at The Iron Works in over 20 years was a huge success. Music lovers made their way to Old Towne to eat, drink, be merry and help those in need. Admission to "Eggs and Kegs" held on April 16 was free. A food drive took place for The Hope Center's food pantry. Some attendees opted to make a cash donation instead. The outpouring of support was incredible. Members of the community donated 560 pounds of food and $500. According to Scott Fisher, Downtown Churches United/The Hope Center Executive Director, the items collected are equal to approximately $1002 worth of packaged foods. Volunteer Barry Edmonds collects food items for The Hope Center food pantry at "Eggs and Kegs" community musical event held at The Iron Works in Old Towne Petersburg on April 16, 2022. Community musical event: Petersburg music venue awakens after 20 years: 'Eggs & Kegs' food drive event, four bands Your support helps keep the lights on at The Progress-Index! We are passionate about telling Petersburg's stories. Stay connected with our articles, enterprise reporting and more by clicking "Subscribe" at the top of the page. The renovated outdoor event space is a part of Appomattox Iron Works, an iron foundry complex from the 1800s. The historic location was designated a Virginia State Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Local bands took the covered stage in the following order: Tiara and Andrew, Gold Station Melody, Campbells Bridge and Bass Thumb. "We have a number of really fun events in the works for later this year," said Richard Cuthbert, Main Street Petersburg Board Member. "The next one we are planning is a summer kickoff Memorial Day weekend on May 28." "Eggs and Kegs" was sponsored by Old Towne Builders and Main Street Petersburg, a nonprofit formed to promote economic development. The Iron Works is located in the middle of a city block bordered by W. Old St, W. Bank St., Exchange Ave./Alley, and another alley/N. Market St. The address to the entrance between Buttery Baking House and Penniston's Alley Antiques and Collectibles is 30 W. Old St. Story continues If you are a musician interested in performing at The Iron Works, send an email to TheIronWorksPVA@gmail.com with your bio, links and fees. For more information, follow The Iron Works on Facebook. Read this story at progress-index.com to view the gallery and exclusive 'Eggs and Kegs' video footage. Looking for a unique dining experience?: Petersburg restaurant near VSU: Slice Pizza & Wine Bar, jungle decor with swing seating 'Postcards of Petersburg" scavenger hunt: Petersburg photographer Steven.G restores postcards to preserve history, promote tourism First responders get well-deserved kudos: Lashrecse Aird presents resolution: SVEC 'bravely, admirably' serves Petersburg 75 years Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter, @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram, and subscribe to us at progress-index.com. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: petersburg-old-towne-musical-event-venue-the-iron-works-awakens Guests from both the Carnival Freedom and Mardi Gras cruise ships went ashore as scheduled on Grand Turk on May 26, 2022, despite a fire in Freedom's funnel earlier in the morning. (Carnival Cruise Line/TNS) Carnival Freedom Catches Fire; Cruise Line to Send 2nd Ship to Bring Guests Home to Port Canaveral A Carnival Cruise Line ship that sails out of Port Canaveral became a spectacle Thursday morning with its iconic smokestack funnel engulfed in flames while docked in Grand Turk. Carnival Cruise Line officials said in a statement the ships emergency response team quickly activated and extinguished a fire inside the ships funnel while the ship was in Grand Turk. All guests and crew are safe, and the ships guests were cleared by local authorities to go ashore. Photos posted by Twitter user @AirborneJM showed black smoke and orange flames billowing out of the starboard side of the red-white-and-blue funnel. Carnival Freedom caught fire in Grand Turk while docked this morning. Praying there are no injuries and everyone will be safe, reads the post. The ship was alongside Mardi Gras, which also sails from Port Canaveral, and images and video of the incident poured in on social media. Twitter user @Budman922 said in a post, Shortly after the Carnival Freedom arrived in port next to us on the Mardi Gras, smoke and flames began to shoot out of the exhaust funnel. The crew quickly started to battle the fire to extinguish it. A partial piece of the funnel fell from the top deck while smoke and ash flew in the wind. Luckily the wind was blowing away from our ship. The crew did a great job as it appears the fire did not spread any further than where it was. While the majority of the 2,504 guests went ashore, Carnivals teams assessed the severe damage, images of which showed the charred and gutted remains of the of the funnel system with the exhaust pipes exposed. Carnivals technical team completed an initial assessment of the funnel and related features, and the shoreside team completed a plan to get our guests back to Port Canaveral, the line stated in an update. With the funnel out of commission, the cruise line is sending Carnival Conquest out of Miami so it can come to the island and return Freedoms guests to Port Canaveral. Conquests planned sailing Friday has been canceled so it can arrive to Grand Turk on Saturday for a delayed return to Port Canaveral on Monday. Once guests are transferred from Carnival Freedom, the ship will proceed to Freeport for a repair to the funnel, the line added. The need for repairs means the May 28 sailing of Freedom from Port Canaveral has been canceled. Also, Carnival Conquests Miami departure on May 30 will be delayed one day to May 31. Freedoms next available sailing on the lines website is June 2, but future sailings could also face cancellation depending on how long repairs take. Before Conquests arrival, guests can still use the rest of Freedoms services while in port as all hotel and guests services on board along with safety equipment remain fully functioning, the line stated. The ship was also sailing with 972 crew. Carnival apologized to all those guests who are impacted and offered special thanks to the crew who handled the situation on the ship effectively and according to safety protocols, the line stated. The 110,000-gross-ton, 952-foot-long ship debuted in 2007 and sails four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean voyages. It departed Port Canaveral on a five-night cruise on Monday and had been slated to return to the port on Saturday. Also Thursday morning, the cruise line was dealing with reports of a chemical smell that caused sickness on passengers on board Carnival Magic, which was sailing into Norfolk, Virginia. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the ship to investigate but said there was no immediate distress. 2022 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A medical worker in a protective suit takes a swab sample from a kitchen worker for nucleic acid testing, during the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China, May 13, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) Estimated Cost of Chinas Mass COVID-19 Testing More Than Its Military Spending: Research National medical insurance will be drained in 3 years by frequent testing Recent research results from Chinas financial securities firms show that the estimated cost of the Chinese regimes mass COVID-19 nucleic acid testing exceeded its military spending in 2021, and that it will drain Chinas national medical insurance funds within three and a half years if citizens are tested every two days as required by the regime. Mainland Chinese news portal Sina.com published the research report by the macro research team of Huachuang Securities on May 23. The report pointed out that according to unofficial statistics, combined with the changes in testing volume and unit price, since the COVID-19 outbreak, the estimated cost of nucleic acid testing has been about 300 billion yuan (about $44.7 billion), of which nearly 150 billion yuan ($22.3 billion) was spent in the first four months of this year. The research team said the premise of the calculation is that about 80 percent of the cost of regular nucleic acid testing is borne by the medical insurance that employers pay for their employees, and about 20 percent is paid by local governments, at all levels, which comes from taxpayers. The Chinese medical insurance has 3.6 trillion yuan (about $533.5 billion) in funds, which is enough to cover the cost of nationwide testing of citizens every two days for three and a half years. A health worker takes a swab sample from a man to be tested for COVID-19 coronavirus at a makeshift testing site in Zhongguancun in Beijing on April 26, 2022. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese communist regime ordered nucleic acid testing to be done regularly and become normalized starting May 9, and that nucleic acid sampling circles (testing sites) should be set up within 15 minutes walking distance in large cities. Guo Yanhong, the supervisory commissioner of the Medical Administration and Medical Administration Bureau of the regimes Health Commission, said at the State Councils press conference on May 23 that Hangzhou and Shanghai have already made sampling circle layouts. Shenzhen, Dalian, Hefei and many cities in Jiangxi and Hubei have also started setting up sampling circles. Henan Province announced on May 21 that every resident in the province must take a nucleic acid test every 48 hours. Meanwhile, an analysis article on Sina.com titled A 48-hour nucleic acid test in Henan Province is expected to cost about 82.05 billion yuan for one year attracted attention, but has since been deleted. The research report also pointed out that according to the regulations of Shenzhen, Qingdao, Suqian, and other cities, 70 to 95 percent of the testing cost are reimbursed by Chinas medical insurance, and local governments finances cover about 20 percent. Mainland Chinese media China Business Network reported on May 25 that recently, medical insurance departments in many parts of the country received a letter from the National Medical Insurance Bureau, clearly stating that using medical insurance funds to pay for large-scale nucleic acid testing is against the medical insurance policies and should be stopped immediately. However, if medical insurance does not cover the cost of nucleic acid testing, there will be a huge burden on the local governments finances. Due to the lockdowns, the fiscal revenue of more than 30 cities in mainland China declined as of April this year, says the report. People at from a residential block line up to be swabbed during a citywide COVID-19 nucleic acid testing campaign on April 1, 2022 in Shanghai, China. (Zhang Suoqing/VCG via Getty Images) Tao Chuan, chief macro analyst of Soochow Securities, published a research report earlier this month. Based on the unit price of nucleic acid testing in mainland China, he estimated that if all the major cities in China implement normalized nucleic acid testing, the monthly cost will reach 143.6 billion yuan (about $21.3 billion), or about 1.72 trillion yuan (about $255.4 billion) per year, which is 1.5 percent of Chinas nominal GDP in 2021 and 8.7 percent of public revenue. The total is higher than Chinas 1.37 trillion yuan (about $203.4 billion) 2021 military spending. However, he believes that this figure is still less than the economic damage caused by the lockdowns. Tao said that the Chinese regime may issue special bonds to cover the cost. Chinas Outflow of People and Capital Prompts Controls to Further Reduce Basic Freedoms The Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) Dynamic Zero-COVID policy seeks to contain the spread of the virus by locking down entire cities for undefined periods of time. The mounting outrage by people quarantined in Shanghai, Beijing, and beyond, has sparked a grassroots trend to consider moving abroad. The internet buzzword used to describe this trend is Run Xue. But rather than tone down its unpopular policy, the CCP decided to double down by using Mongoose Hunt 2022, a policy intended to tighten Chinas border controls and thus prevent the outflow of talent and capital. Following the CCPs lockdown of Shanghai, residents looked for ways to safely build consensus around peoples despair and dislike of Chinas zero-COVID policy. To express their concerns without fear of censorship on Chinas internet, the residents coined the term Run Xue. This term combines the English word run with the Chinese word Xue which means knowledge or wisdom. Run Xues hidden meaning suggests if you have the means to run or emigrate from China, you would be wise to do so. Sensing resistance to Chinas Zero-COVID policy and how it might provoke people to leave, Xu Ganlu, vice-minister of the Ministry of Public Security and director of the National Immigration Administration, deployed the Mongoose Hunt Operation 2022 on March 1. He said the enhanced operation would establish a network of land, sea, and air controls to crack down on illegal entry and exit activities. During a meeting on May 10, Xu Ganlu said that the latest policy of strict border control was deployed in accordance with the policy of Dynamic Zero-COVID, set by General Secretary Xi Jinping at a May 5 meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, and would be used to prepare for the CCPs 20th National Congress. The operations reference to the uncommon mongoose was somewhat strategic since this animal is known to be a natural enemy of snakes. Mongoose Hunt is a metaphor for how the CCP combats illegal entry and exit activities arranged by so-called Snakehead Organizations. These are gangs the CCP hunts to prevent their smuggling of people out of China. However, recent experiences of some Chinese citizens indicate that the CCP authorities are using this action to narrow the gates of the country and target people who want to leave China. More Controls to Restrict Emigration Recently, Chinese citizens have disclosed online and to the foreign media how authorities destroyed their passports and foreign permanent residence cards. This occurred when people attempted to leave China via airports in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Dalian. As these reports began to surface, internet censors promptly removed them and the CCPs official media began to squash such rumors. The official news included statements from airport staff and immigration officials denying there was an effort to block people from leaving China. The CCPs intense efforts to manipulate the news, dispel rumors, and silence people on the internet, combined with a new policy requiring Chinese citizens to not leave the country unless necessary, have not deterred people from wanting to move abroad. Instead, the Run Xue undercurrent in China has opened peoples eyes so they now feel the chill associated with the imminent closure of the country. Chinas emphasis on no exit unless necessary began in July 2021 when the Chinese National Immigration Bureau issued a notice that said, ordinary passports and other entry/exit documents will not be issued for non-essential and non-emergency reasons. An explanation of the terms non-essential and non-emergency was provided to the U.S. media Radio Free Asia (RFA) by the staff of the Immigration Bureaus consultation hotline. Non-essential travel includes visits with relatives, which border control officers would discourage. Essential or emergency travel was for studying abroad, employment, business, medical treatment, participating in epidemic prevention, or transporting relief supplies for disasters. Beijings border control took this explanation a step further. They said Chinese citizens with necessary reasons for traveling must present their documents and disclose their purposes for wanting to leave the country. Their authorization to leave would be dependent on the situation and a decision would be made on the spot. Thus, even if someone provides a good reason for leaving, a border control officer could block their travel without question. Emigration and Epidemic: Used to Strengthen CCP Regime Security and Reduce Basic Freedoms In April, Chinas popular internet platforms revealed an emerging trend among people wanting to emigrate or travel outside the country. Baidu, the Chinese Google-like search engine, reported a 400-times increase in the use of emigration as a search keyword. WeChat, a social media app, made this same observation. Tencent, a huge multimedia company said on April 3, the overall search index for emigrants surged to 440 percent and related video sources rose 1,455 percent. Baidus data indicates the top searches for emigration occurred in Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Guangdong Province, and Beijing. In fact, locked down Shanghai topped the list of emigration searches for the past two months. The South China Morning Post recently reported how the profits of an emigration law firm in Beijing had doubled since the end of March. The firm specializes in foreign education and emigration consulting and most clients during this recent spurt were technology professionals, not just wealthy individuals. The firms attorneys indicated its most recent clients were interested in obtaining the U.S. EB-1 visa, which is typically issued to professionals in science, business, sports, and the arts. Prior to April, clients inquired most often about the U.S. EB-5 visa, which is typically used by foreign investors. Chinas public emigration data also suggests the most popular destinations identified by technology professionals were countries known for their advanced technology, including Europe, the United States, and emerging Southeast Asian countries. This sparked concerns about the draining of Chinas talent pool and the potential need for the CCP to tighten border controls. In addition to emigration, the CCP is equally concerned about Chinas drop in foreign exchange reserves. The countrys economic downturn and lack of exports due to epidemic controls have led to a shortage of foreign exchange reserves. Citizens departing China will need to exchange yuan to a large amount of foreign currency. So, by blocking people from leaving China, the authorities greatly reduce the demand for foreign exchange. Some of Chinas commentators have speculated about another fear besides a potential talent run and loss of capital. They suggest the totalitarian CCP may use the epidemic to achieve total social control, referring to its regime security considerations. Wang Longmeng, a French commentator told RFA that the Chinese government has already achieved full social control using the need for epidemic constraint. In the early years, the CCP used national security as an excuse to impose border controls on dissidents. Later, they strictly controlled the issuance of passports to Uyghurs and Tibetans. The net result is that the Chinese people are likely to lose more of their basic freedoms. According to Wang, You can imagine where an isolated China that is closed off from the civilized world and cut off from information will go. Either the public will become slaves without ideas, or there will be a massive protest for basic freedoms. Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, attends an event at the White House in Washington on April 18, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Daily Beast Corrects Articles, Apologizes to Hunter Biden Laptop Repairman After Being Sued The Daily Beast has corrected at least two articles that claimed that the laptop owned by President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden was stolen by a computer repairman. The website published a story on Dec. 9, 2020, about the laptop that said the computer was stolen. That word was removed on May 25. An editors note was added. An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to Hunter Bidens laptop as stolen. We have removed that word, and we apologize to Mr. Mac Isaac for the error, the Daily Beast said in the note. Its not clear what evidence the outlet had cited, if any, for the stolen claim. Older versions of the article werent available. The Daily Beast did not return a request for comment. John Paul thanks the Daily Beast for coming to the table to settle this matter amicably, Brian Della Rocca, a lawyer representing John Paul Mac Isaac, who owned the shop at which Hunter Biden was said to have dropped off the laptop, told The Epoch Times in an email. Another story appeared to have been stealth edited to remove the word purloined. That story contained no evidence for the claim. Stealth editing means a story was altered with no indication given to readers as to the alteration or why the change was made. Della Rocca said the actions were taken as part of a settlement of the portion of the lawsuit he filed on behalf of Mac Isaac earlier this month. The suit noted that the Daily Beast interviewed Mac Isaac in October 2020 and published an article about the interview, so it was aware that the laptop was not stolen. Mac Isaac says that he acquired the laptop directly from Hunter Biden, who he says dropped off the computer at the store and failed to return to pick it up. The false and defamatory statements about the plaintiff by the Daily Beast accused the plaintiff of committing the crime of theft, the suit says. The false and defamatory statements made by Daily Beast were made negligently; without reasonable care as to its truth or falsity; with knowledge of its falsity; and/or with reckless disregard for the truth. Mac Isaac asked for damages in excess of $75,000 and additional punitive damages, including a public retraction of all false statements and a public apology. Politico, CNN, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) were also named in the suit. Politico has not updated the article it was sued over. The article claims dozens of former intelligence officials said the laptop was Russian disinfo[rmation], when the officials never used the word disinformation. CNN was sued over having Schiff on as a guest; Schiff said that he had confirmed the source of the laptop was Russia, when CNN had already published an article detailing how Mac Isaac said that he obtained the computer from Hunter Biden. Despite the fact that CNN knew plaintiff was the source of the information, it broadcast the interview [with] Schiff during which plaintiff was defamed, the suit says. Politico, CNN, and Schiff have not responded to requests for comment. Rita Li contributed to this report. An environmental activist with the group Extinction Rebellion DC scales the Wilson Building next to a sign that reads "No New Fossil Fuels", as part of an Earth Day rally against fossil fuels in Washington on April 22, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Eco-Anxiety and Medically Assisted Suicide: Man Seeks Death Due to Anxiety Over Climate Change A climate change activist diagnosed with eco-anxiety has requested a medically assisted death, a sign that some observers say indicates restrictions on the practice have quickly become flimsy since legalization in 2016. Howard Breen, a 68-year-old eco-activist from Ladysmith, B.C., is a member of the group Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as an international movement that uses non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the climate and ecological emergency. According to a recent article in Vice magazine, in 2017 Breens doctor diagnosed him with eco-anxiety and biosphere-related depression. He told Vice his condition had become debilitating. The depression that Im feeling around the state of things, and my inability to not be apprehensive about the future of my children specifically, is a huge concern for me, he said. Breen applied for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in February 2021, but a medical assessor told him his condition was not an acceptable, permissible malady for MAiD. Then the federal government passed revised MAiD legislationBill C-7in March 2021 stipulating that as of March 17, 2023, someone whose only medical condition is a mental illness would be eligible, so Breen is reapplying. Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, says even currently theres not much to stop MAiD for someone with mental illness if the right people can be found to approve it. Bill C-7 said that someone could die by euthanasia for mental illness alone, but the government declared that because they had no rules around this type of killing. Therefore, there would be a two-year moratorium going to March 2023, he said. The two-year moratorium is not going to stop somebody whos a radical pro-euthanasia-type doctor or nurse from doing it because theres nothing in the law that says you cant do it. As evidence, Schadenberg points to the case of a Nova Scotia man with depression and declining mental faculties who was approved for euthanasia. His wife took the case to court with the help of Schadenbergs organization, but she found no recourse. [The judge] said the law doesnt give us any ability to question. All the law says is, as long as two physicians or medical practitioners have approved, youre good to go. And it only says that they have to be of the opinion that you fit the criteria, he explained. Its just not possible to prosecute a doctor under that language. And on top of it, its going to expand becauseas you know this from euthanasia doctors who are running clinics now in Canadasome people are really into the idea. They think its a wonderful idea. No Consistent Moral Analysis Douglas Farrow, a McGill University professor of theology and ethics who is opposed to euthanasia, says society has rejected the foundational understanding that makes resisting the procedure possible. There is no way to stop this very rapid slide down that slippery slope without a major revisiting of the question of whether human life is a gift from God or not. As long as you dont want to talk about a Creator and life as a gift, theres no way to arrest the slide, Farrow said in an interview. Farrow says the removal of belief in God has left a void in the moral framework of how people interact with each other and with creation. When that order breaks down, you have irreconcilable tensions between humans and you have irreconcilable tensions between humans and the rest of the creaturely world, he said. No consistent moral analysis leads to no consistent legal analysis, and we just make up the rules as we go. And unfortunately, those rules tend to support not the preservation of human life, but the elimination of human life in many cases. Kiffer Card, an emotional distress researcher at Simon Fraser University (SFU), wants eco-anxiety acknowledged as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association and Canadian authorities. One of the challenges that we have in this field is that its about politics, that people are not legitimately distressed, or that its not a legitimate mental health condition, Card told Vice. So Id be surprised if his case gets accepted. Theres too much stigma surrounding both suicide and climate anxiety. The Epoch Times attempted to get comments from Breen and Card but didnt succeed. Contagion Breen has actively taken part in a number of high-profile Extinction Rebellion protests. This includes super-gluing himself to a log boom in Nanaimo, B.C., last June in an attempt to disrupt the forestry industry, and walking onto the tarmac at Nanaimo Airport last October with plans to spray paint the words shut down runways to shut down runaway climate extinction on the tarmac. Farrow says this context raises reasonable questions as to whether Breen might be wanting to use his death as an ultimate statement to the world about his cause. Schadenberg says he is unsure how much of Breens request for MAiD is for the cause and how much it is sincere. Either way, he is concerned that if the request is approved, eco-anxious euthanasia could become a contagion that catches on. If you look at this generation of young people who have been told a lot of things about the universe and are in total fear of the world ending sometime within their lifetime, you can see theres a lot of eco-anxiety out there, he said. Editors note: This article was updated on attempts to get comments from people mentioned in the report. On the inaugural departure of El Al Israel Airlines at Orlando International Airport, the Boeing 777 crosses the jet bridge as it prepares to take off on its first nonstop flight from Orlando to Tel Aviv on July 9, 2019. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) El Al, Israels National Airline, Relocating US Headquarters From NYC to Broward By David Lyons From South Florida Sun Sentinel El Al, the national airline of Israel, is moving its U.S. headquarters from New York to Margate in Broward County, according to the county mayor and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. In a joint telephone interview Thursday with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Mayor Michael Udine and David Coddington, senior vice president of business development for the alliance, said airline officials made their decision after closely vetting the area for suitable schools, religious facilities and the availability of local aviation industry talent. I sat in on the meetings. I watched this morph into an amazing dialogue and partnership, Udine said. The El Al people really loved what we had to offer. El Al has a special place for a lot of people in South Florida, he added. There is a vibrant Jewish community from Miami Beach up to Boca Raton and all of Broward County. Broward, not Miami Reports this week in the New York Post, Jewish Times and The Next Miami all declared the airline is shifting its operations to Miami, where El Al operates a sales office as well as several weekly flights to and from Israel out of Miami International Airport. But the alliance, which is the public-private economic development arm for Broward, said those reports were incorrect. Coddington said the airline is indeed moving to Margate from New York, and that operational departments would include all of the carriers U.S. financial, administrative and marketing functions. He and Udine did not know how many employees will be coming to South Florida and would not identify the exact location or timing of the carriers move, deferring to El Al management. I think it is going to happen quickly, Udine said. El Al representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. According to reports, the headquarters will be located in a building owned by New York health care entrepreneur Kenneth Rozenberg, the airlines majority shareholder. Rozenberg is the founder and CEO of Centers Health Care, according to a profile by the Tel Aviv business publication Globes. Cost-Cutting Move Udine said the move allows El Al to benefit from what a number of other Northeast firms are finding when they enter Florida: lower operating costs. Broward County offers them the ability to lower their expenses, he said. The prospective move reportedly would save the carrier roughly $500,000 annually. El Als arrival would mark the fourth regularly scheduled airline to locate a headquarters in Broward. Spirit Airlines, which is the subject of an intense takeover battle, has been based in Miramar for years. The regional carrier Silver Airways is based at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Recently, a new foreign carrier called Norse Atlantic Airways set up its U.S. headquarters at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Though the airline does not currently fly to Fort Lauderdale, it does run flights between Israel and Miami. El Al also serves New York, Newark, Boston, and Los Angeles. Trips to Israel out of Orlando are available via the New York area though an El Al partnership with JetBlue Airways, which operates the U.S. domestic segment. 2022 South Florida Sun Sentinel. Visit at sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Starlink logo is seen in this photo. (Benzinga) Elon Musks Starlink Gets Approval to Operate in Philippines The Philippines has approved the registration of Starlink, a satellite internet services company operated by SpaceX, making it the first Southeast Asian country to have Starlink broadband access. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved Starlink as a value-added service (VAS) provider on Thursday, allowing the company to access satellite systems, and build and operate broadband facilities. SpaceX counsel, lawyer Bien Marquez of Quinsumbing Torres, thanked NTC for issuing Starlinks VAS provider license 30 minutes after the application was submitted, the state-owned Philippine news agency reported. This shows the governments seriousness in addressing the connectivity needs of our countrymen in unserved and underserved areas. This will also prepare us in the event of natural disasters and calamities, Marquez said. Starlink approved by The Philippines https://t.co/M1xjXUl473 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 27, 2022 Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, the U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer and space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. It has more than 1,500 low-orbit satellites designed to bring broadband services to remote areas. NTC said that the swift processing of Starlinks VAS provider registration was meant to expedite the services immediate roll-out. The NTC is steadfast in helping ensure that roll-out of Starlinks internet access services will be done expeditiously and professionally, NTCs commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said. According to local reports, Starlink would offer the Philippines low-latency satellite internet access ranging from 100 to 200 megabits per second. The company is expected to start operations before President Rodrigo Dutertes term ends in June. Starlink is expected to cover villages in urban and suburban areas and rural areas that remain unserved or underserved with internet access services. The service is expected to bring cost-effective internet access in these areas, Cordoba said. Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in March that Starlink was in the process of establishing a wholly-owned Philippine subsidiary and planned to deploy three gateways in the first phase of their launch. Musk announced in a tweet on Friday that Starlink has gotten regulatory approvals in Nigeria and Mozambique, which would be the first countries in Africa with Starlink internet access. The company has been in discussion with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) since May last year to bring the satellite internet services to Nigeria. NCC confirmed that it has granted Starlink two licenses, including an International Gateway license and an Internet Service Provider license, each with a 10-year and a five-year tenure, according to a Nigerian news agency Nairametrics. Both licenses take effect from May 2022 and may be renewed after the expiration, NCC stated, adding that the company will be trading as Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd. SpaceX said on May 13 that Starlink internet service was now available in 32 nations where it had been licensed, including most western European nations, the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. On top of uproar in Beijing and Shanghai, students in another major city protested against strict COVID-19 rules, as a sensitive anniversary is around the corner. Some Chinese banks are having a hard time processing withdrawals. The issue first appeared in rural community banks but has now extended to a major bank in the countrys capital city. At least a few Americans have asked a U.S. consulate in China for airlift evacuation. But a source told NTD that the consulate has responded with a firm no so far. Should the United States reduce tariffs on Chinese goods? A group of senators, plus a few other officials, are calling on President Joe Biden not to sign off on the move. Classic fighter pilot film Top Gun gets a long-awaited sequel. The film hit theaters this week, but an image of the Taiwanese flag has sparked debatefirst vanishing in the trailer, and now reappearing on the silver screen. Topics in this episode: Beijing Banks Struggle to Process Withdrawals Americans Struggling to Leave China: Viewer in China Senators Urge Biden to Keep China Tariffs Top Gun Sequel Reverses Taiwan, Japan Flag Removal China, Australia Make Dueling Pacific Visits UN: China Misrepresented Bachelets Comments Beijing Restaurants Struggle Under COVID-19 Policies Professor: Pursuit of Happiness Is the CCPs Enemy North Korea Fires Suspected ICBM Have other topics you want us to cover? Drop us a line: chinainfocus@ntdtv.org And if youd like to buy us a coffee: https://donorbox.org/china-in-focus Subscribe to our newsletter for more first-hand news from China. Follow China in Focus on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChinaInFocusNTD Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@chinainfocus Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/chinainfocus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTDChinainFocus Gab: https://gab.com/ChinaInFocus Telegram: https://t.me/ChinainFocusNTD 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 A makeshift memorial at Robb Elementary School is filled with flowers, toys, signs, and crosses bearing the names of all 21 victims of the mass shooting that occurred on May 24, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Father Goes Viral for Standing Guard Outside Daughters Elementary School: Im Watching A picture of a father in Central Texas standing guard at his daughters elementary school where his wife also works has gone viral on social media in the wake of this weeks mass shooting incident in Uvalde. Ed Chelby, a U.S. Army veteran who has a background in security, told KWTX that he couldnt sleep after news emerged that an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School. Chelby said he contacted the schools superintendent to ask for permission to stand guard at the main entrance of Saegert Elementary School in Killeen, which is located about 180 miles northwest of Uvalde. I said I would just be out there unarmed to let people know that Im watching. Let the parents have a little bit of relief, Chelby said in an interview with the local news station. I cant let this go, he added. This is just a testament to the sleeplessness caused by the grief I experienced. The U.S. Army veteran was already in the process of becoming a volunteer at his daughters school and was undergoing a background check when the superintendent approved his application to stand guard outside. Chelby said with 11 years of experience in the U.S. Army, he isnt afraid to be in front of the school without a gun. Parents of other children at Saegert Elementary School have approached Chelby to express their gratitude for what hes doing. Ive had a lot of emotional people come up to me, he said, They didnt want to send their kids to school. They struggled with sending their kids to school. And I told them, I was like, I got them.' Eli Lopez, the principal at Saegert Elementary School, told Newsweek that another parent, identified as a veteran mother, has also volunteered to help guard the back entrance of the school. Other parents have volunteered for a safety program for the next school year, Lopez told the magazine. As I took time to check on them and express my personal appreciation, they both expressed the simple act they felt they were taking on of being present as the least they could do, said Lopez. I was humbled that they demonstrated what it is to be part of the village that cares for each other. Neither one chose this task for recognition. From NTD News Shelves for baby and toddler formula are partially empty, as the quantity a shopper can buy is limited amid continuing shortages, at a grocery store in Medford, Mass., on May 17, 2022. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) FDA Expands Collaboration With Danone to Boost Baby Formula Supply The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Thursday it has expanded its collaboration with Danones Nutricia business to boost supplies of specialized medical baby formula bottles to address its shortage among infants with certain allergies or critical health conditions. The health regulator said about 500,000 additional cans manufactured by Danone would be sent to the United States. French food group Danones logo at the company headquarters in Rueil-Malmaison near Paris on Feb. 18, 2021. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) Meanwhile, lawmakers grilled the agency officials on Wednesday over what they saw as a lack of urgency in their response to complaints about possible baby formula contamination at a now shuttered Abbott Laboratories plant that led to severe nationwide shortages. Abbott controlled 40 percent of the market before the plant closed, Christopher Calamari, president of Abbott U.S. nutrition, told lawmakers, and the plant accounted for 40 percent of Abbotts product. Rihannas Savage x Fenty retail fleet is getting bigger. On Wednesday, the mens and womens lingerie and innerwear brand revealed six new brick-and-mortar locations coming soon, including Chicago; Long Island, N.Y.; Atlanta; Detroit; St. Louis, and Newark, Del. More from WWD The six new brick-and-mortar stores follow the success of retail openings in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia and [the] Washington D.C.-metro area, the company said in a statement. The direct-to-consumer experience connects the energy of the brands highly engaged e-commerce site and social community to a vibrant space to discover, shop and interact with Savage x Fenty. In January, the digital lingerie brand which was cofounded in 2018 by Rihanna and TechStyles Fashion Group (the same firm that launched Kate Hudsons Fabletics) opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Las Vegas. Since then, stores have opened in the Los Angeles area, Houston and Washington, D.C., with plans for a fifth in Philadelphia. In February, WWD broke the news exclusively that Savage x Fenty was planning to open a flagship in west Brooklyn, N.Y.s Triangle Building near the Barclays Center. Savage x Fenty wouldnt respond to questions, regarding when the stores would open. But Christiane Pendarvis, co-president and chief merchandise officer at Savage, said during Januarys ICR 2022 virtual retail conference that: Retail will give us the opportunity to better serve our current members, as well as acquire new customers. Were taking our approach and leveraging the data that we have to build a competitive advantage with our model. So we were able to pick locations where we have a high density of existing VIPs and make sure that we have the appropriate foot traffic really to drive the top-line revenue of each new location. Story continues In addition to being able to touch and feel products, current stores help increase brand awareness. Thats because theyre tailor-made for Instagram, with things like mannequin walls and floor-to-ceiling images of the pop star. Some shoppers were even delighted to meet the larger-than-life megastar in person during Februarys Super Bowl weekend, when Rihanna, along with rapper and record producer boyfriend A$AP Rocky, surprised fans by making an unannounced appearance at the Culver City, Calif. store opening. Meanwhile, the size-inclusive lingerie brand continues to gain traction, thanks in part to Rihannas star power, the brands promise to deliver an innerwear brand for all body types and lots of investor attention. In January, it was revealed that Savage which spun off of TechStyle to become a stand-alone firm at the end of 2019 had secured an additional $125 million. The latest round, led by investment firm Neuberger Berman, comes on top of the $115 million Series B round Savage secured in early 2021, bringing the lingerie start-ups total funding to around $310 million. Police and protesters outside the U.S. Capitol's Rotunda in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Former US Army Reservist Convicted on All Counts in Jan 6. Case A former U.S. Army reservist on May 27 became the fifth person convicted by a jury on charges linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who worked as a security contractor at a Navy base when he joined the Capitol breach, was convicted of obstructing Congress, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct, and parading in a Capitol building. Juries have convicted all Jan. 6 defendants of all charges so far, with Hale-Cusanellis case continuing the streak. During the trials opening statements, a Justice Department prosecutor said Hale-Cusanelli stormed the Capitol because he wanted to kick off a civil war. Defense attorney Jonathan Crisp told jurors that groupthink and a desperate desire to be heard drove Hale-Cusanellis actions, with the lawyer describing his client as a bombastic agitator prone to making extreme statements to get attention. Crisp said Hale-Cusanelli believed then-President Donald Trumps claims that the 2020 election was stolen. But the defense attorney said Hale-Cusanelli went to Washington to peacefully protest, wearing a suit while many others wore tactical gear, before entering the Capitol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Fifield, one of the prosecutors, told the jury that this was not a peaceful protest. Jurors took issue with Hale-Cusanellis claim that he did not know Congress worked inside the Capitol. I know this sounds idiotic, but Im from New Jersey, the defendant said, WUSA-TV reported. In all my studies, I didnt know there was an actual building that was called the Capitol. Its embarrassing and idiotic. Jurors told reporters after the verdict was handed down that they did not believe the claim. Cynthia Hughes, Hale-Cusanellis adoptive aunt, said the verdict showed that there will never be a fair and impartial jury in this city. The defendant asked for his trial to be moved elsewherea request many other defendants have madearguing the trial would not be fair. But judges have rejected all of the requests so far. More than 800 people have been charged with Capitol crimes stemming from the riot. Many of them are military veterans. Hale-Cusanelli is among a few defendants who were on active duty on Jan. 6. Hale-Cusanelli was arrested less than two weeks after the attack and has remained jailed since February 2021. He was discharged from the U.S. Army Reserves and barred from the Navy base after his arrest. The arrest came after a confidential source with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, later revealed to be Hale-Cusanellis roommate, recorded a conversation with the man that had him saying he entered the Capitol and encouraged others to do so as well. Hale-Cusanelli faces sentencing on Sept. 16. He faces up to 23 years in prison. The Associated Press contributed to this report. New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives a speech at Kings Theatre, in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York on April 26, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Genius Move? NYCs Black Mayor Bucks Progressives on the Racial Chessboard of Gifted Education Mayor Eric Adams plan to save accelerated education in New York City from progressive critics begins with students like Cassy Thimes daughter: a black second-grader who would thrive in a gifted classroom that today includes few kids of color. Shes a top student and a gifted program will give her a more rigorous education and push her to excel, said Thime, who has a doctorate in education and lives in Queens. Now she has classmates who cant even read. Adams, who took office in January, is diving headfirst into a controversy over academically selective schools thats dividing communities from San Francisco to Fairfax County, Va. New Yorks second black mayor rejects the criticism that accelerated learning is racist and must be dismantled because of the low number of students of color who qualify. He believes they should strive for an elite education, too. To help them, Adams and his new schools chancellor, David Banks, are staking a middle ground that embraces both competitive academics and diversity. If this longshot strategy works, New York could influence districts across the country. As Banks sees it, the problem with selective schools boils down to scarcitythere are too few seats for advanced students in elementary, middle, and high schools for all who merit one. So the solution is pretty obvious: Create more elite schools and programs. The likely upshot is that a higher percentage of blacks and Latinos and a lower percentage of whites and Asians will be admitted into the gifted program, a racial rebalancing that has set off a backlash in other school districts. Asian parents in Fairfax County, Virginia, sued over a racial rebalancing at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and lost at the Supreme Court in April. But G&T advocates in New York are open to the rebalancing, as long as the pie is expanding for everyone and the admissions process is standardized and transparent. Chien Kwok of the Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education, an advocacy group of mainly Asian Americans, hailed Adams plan for embracing the concept that gifted kids in all communities are entitled to a rigorous education. In the past we were leaving gifted children behind, Kwok said. Now the program is expanding, its no longer a zero-sum game, so Im supportive. A Win for High Academic Standards Banks is also promising to bring a similar expansion to the citys selective middle and high schools in the future. If that happens, it would benefit tens of thousands of students in the nations largest school system and send a message nationwide that high academic standards and racial equity dont have to be at loggerheads. A lot of people are going to watch carefully to see how well this works, said Jonathan Plucker, a professor at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. And Im very confident that it will eventually evolve into something thats going to be a huge plus for the country and a big win for excellence in education. That may be a bullish view considering the obstacles ahead. Banks has been scathing in his criticism of the Department of Education he now leads, calling it a broken, top-heavy bureaucracy that has struggled to make progress over the years in its most basic tasks, such as teaching students to read at grade level. To improve the gifted program, teachersmost of whom are not certified to teach gifted studentsneed to be trained. Nor does the city have anything like a well-designed and up-to-date curriculum to challenge gifted students. Currently, gifted instruction varies greatly from school to school, and often doesnt go much beyond the general education curriculum mandated by the state. The chancellor will also have to contend with a dozen advocacy groups and parents in several of New Yorks 32 districts that are ideologically opposed to competitive academic programs that separate students by abilities. These groups, such as New York Appleseed, have lobbied for years to abolish accelerated schools and place students of wide-ranging abilitiesas much as six grade levels apartin the same general education classroom to reduce racial segregation. The advanced students will help those who are academically behind, the theory goes, and everyone wins. Progressives came close to achieving their goal, called Brilliant NYC, at the end of Bill de Blasios run as mayor last year. They are appalled that Adams rejected it in favor of a G&T redesign that they consider inherently elitist and without value to any students. The gifted and talented program is very contentious and this new administration is going backwards by expanding it, said Allison Roda, a professor of education at Molloy College who helped develop Brilliant NYC. Gifted and talented has always been used as a tool to segregate students and avoid integration. Flight From NYC Schools The mayors buildout of gifted education, announced in April, was one of his first major policy decisions, reflecting an urgency to reverse the flight of wealthier families from the school system. Even before the pandemic, according to Banks, families were leaving the troubled system in which 65 percent of black and Latino students never achieve reading proficiency. The enrollment drop has been most acute among younger, white, and affluent students, with the system losing almost 5 percent of students in pre-kindergarten through third grade in 2020-2021. That means less state funding for city schools. One hundred and twenty thousand families decided to vote with their feet and to say we are going to find other alternatives for our children, Banks said in a speech on March 2. Thats an indictment of the work that we have done. But the city is nowhere near the point of satisfying demand for accelerated education, even though G&T programs are typically no more expensive than general education classes. Today, the program reaches only a small fraction of students, with about 15,000 out of 65,000 rising kindergarten families vying for 2,400 seats, mostly in more affluent sections of the city. Manhattans upper west and east sides are rich in programs, while some low-income districts in the Bronx and Brooklyn have very few or none. The long distance that young kids in low-income or remote areas have to travel to get to a G&T program is one reason so few blacks and Latinos participate. Cassy Thime, who lives with her daughter in Rockaway Beach, Queens, is more than eight miles from the nearest program. By bringing the program to all school districts, and adding 100 new G&T kindergarten seats, Adams is taking a small first step in what needs to be a much bigger expansion if he hopes to meet the demand. The city is also creating 1,000 new seats for students in the third gradespread throughout all the districtsan age when a childs giftedness becomes more apparent. Banks said the additional seats were the baseline, not the ceiling, of a program he expects to grow. New Admissions Screening In order to be admitted to the gifted program in the past, four-year-old preschoolers had to earn a top score on a written testan approach that both sides in the G&T debate deemed inappropriate. Preschoolers have no experience with written tests, and they are far too young to understand that its a gateway to a better education through college. The other problem is that black and Latino families have been less likely than whites and Asians to register for testing, partly because gifted programs dont exist in many poorer neighborhoods and parents may not have heard about them. Banks says the screening of all kids in preschool provides the fix. Rather than giving students a test, preschool teachers will look for signs of giftedness in how children draw, read, speak, or add and subtract, and then recommend the top performers for the program. But teacher screening comes with its own issues. For starters, preschool teachers currently lack the training to identify gifted traitsa specialty in itselfas they evaluate kids for the fall program. This opens the door to a selection process filled with bias, from a teachers subjective views of what constitutes giftedness to pressures from administrators to meet diversity goals. Without deep intensive training, teachers often recommend the compliant children, not the one thats thinking out of the box, or the incessant questioner, or the one thats completely disorganized, said Elissa Brown, a former director of the Hunter College Gifted Center and co-president of GiftedNYS. So, youre going to get biased teacher ratings around who is gifted. The separate pathway into the program for third-graders is almost certain to bring in many more black and Latino kids. The top 10 percent of students in every elementary school in the city, based on their second-grade marks in four core subjects, will be invited to apply. The pipeline will draw equally from wealthier schools with many white students in places like in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and threadbare schools with mostly kids of color in areas like Harlem. This local norms approach has significantly boosted diversity in gifted programs in places like Montgomery County, Maryland, and Houston. In Colorados Aurora Public Schools, a pilot project drawing students from 10 elementary schools into a gifted program shrank the underrepresentation of Latinos to 7 percent from 17 percent, and blacks to 2 percent from 6 percent. The success of the pilot prompted the district to expand it to another 10 schools, according to Scott Peters, a professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who co-authored a paper on the use of the local norms admissions process. The Gifted Mishmash Nationwide The controversy over G&T is partly a result of Americas scattershot commitment to educating gifted children. New York is one of eight states that have no requirements around gifted instruction, which means many upstate cities like Binghamton and Buffalo ignore it, Brown said. New Jersey is one of about 25 states that require schools to offer gifted programs for students. Only 16 states, including North Carolina, also provide additional funding for such programs. As a result, G&T education is a mishmash for the estimated 10 percent or more of public school students whom researchers have identified as gifted. G&T guidelines, data collection, accountability, oversight of programs, as well as teacher training are spotty across the country and hinder efforts to make improvements, according to the 2019 report by the National Association for Gifted Children. The quality of gifted instruction also varies greatly. For elementary grades, the most common styledifferentiated instructionis also the most superficial: Advanced kids are given extra or harder worksheets in a general education classroom, or are asked to be de-facto teacher assistants to help other kids, Brown said. In increasing intensity, other approaches pull kids out of class for a few hours a week or cluster them in groups of four to six with a separate curriculum within general education classrooms. The most robust approach puts gifted students in their own dedicated classroom or entire schoolthe practice used in New York City. The concern among researchers is that popular approaches like differentiated instruction dont give gifted children anywhere near the challenge they need to thrive. The gap between the abilities of average and gifted students is too wide for a teacher to adequately instruct all of them at the same time. Consider IQ The average score in the U.S. is about 100; most gifted students score at least two to three standard deviations above that, or 120 to 130. These students are at least one or two grade levels ahead in at least one subject, she said. There are fourth graders who can handle algebra. So why are they still doing simple computation? The expansion of gifted education in New York is part of the chancellors larger turnaround attempt of the citys $38 billion-a-year Department of Education. Banks, a former school safety officer, teacher, and principal who has butt heads with the bureaucracy in the past, almost immediately eliminated the department position of executive superintendent, saving millions in salaries. He also plans to redeploy DOE bureaucrats into the classrooms where they can help understaffed schools. To convey the challenges ahead, Banks told the story of a speech he gave at the historic Tweed Courthouse, the grand Romanesque building that serves as the departments headquarters. As Banks was starting his talk, the teleprompter broke, forcing him to ad lib. Its a classic example, $38 billion, and we cant even get the teleprompter to work, he said in March at The Forum at St. Barts. There are so many pieces of the system that are dysfunctional. Its a massive turnaround. This article was written by Vince Bielski for RealClearInvestigations Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting as he sits with Christina Mitchell Busbee, 38th Judicial District Attorney and Mayor Don McLaughlin at Uvalde High School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Gov. Greg Abbott Says Hes Livid He Was Misled About Texas School Shooting Events Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said that as a result of being misled by local authorities, he gave the public inaccurate information about the massacre of school children at Robb Elementary School. I was misled. I am livid about what happened, Abbott said at a press conference in Uvalde on Friday, after two days of conflicting reports that have generated confusion about the events. The governor said that at a press conference a few days prior, he gave the public a recitation of what law enforcement and other officials told him about the shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead, and at least 17 others injured, on May 24. However, it has since come to light that a school security officer had not confronted the shooter outside the school, in contrast to what was previously reported. At a press conference on May 26 at Robb Elementary, an official from the Texas Department of Public Safety, South Texas regional director Victor Escalon, said that the shooter appeared to have walked unobstructed into a school building before the attack. As everybody has learned, the information that I was given, turned out, in part, to be inaccurate. And Im absolutely livid about that, the governor said upon return to Uvalde a few days after his last visit. A makeshift memorial at Robb Elementary School is filled with flowers, toys, signs, and crosses bearing the names of all 21 victims of the mass shooting that occurred on May 24, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Abbott laid out his expectation for law enforcement, including the Texas Rangers and the FBI, to be able to account for the very seconds of exactly what happened with 100 percent accuracy and certainty for the sake of the grieving families, community, and public. There are people who deserve answers the most, and those are the families whose lives have been destroyed. They need answers that are accurate, and it is inexcusable that they may have suffered from any inaccurate information whatsoever, Abbott said. At a prior press conference, Abbott had said that officers with the Consolidated Independent School District approached the gunman and engaged with the gunman outside the school building. The gunman then entered a back door and then went down two short hallways and then into a classroom on the left-hand side, he added. However, it is now known that at approximately 11:30 a.m., the shooter arrived at the school and fired rounds at the school, according to Texas DPS spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez, who spoke to CBS News on May 25. The school resource officerinitially said to have confronted the shooter, then reported not to be on campusactually confronted a person, but it was a teacher, not the suspect, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw. The officer drove right by the shooter. 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) Authorities identified the shooter as Salvador Ramos, 18. He was shot and killed just before 1 p.m., about 90 minutes after he arrived at the school. It was also revealed that law enforcement made the wrong decision to not engage Ramos sooner. In fact, a retired Border Patrol special operations agent who was trained for active shooter response told The Epoch Times that in those scenarios they show up to the scene and go to the sound of gunfire, even knowing somebodys going to get shot in these scenarios. On May 26, Escalon told reporters at a press conference that the on-scene commander at the time believed that it had transitioned from an active shooter to a barricaded subject. Abbott canceled a planned appearance at the National Rifle Association convention in Houston to hold Fridays press conference instead. Mimi Nguyen Ly and Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report. A firefighter from the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion administers a nasal swab to a child at a testing site for COVID-19 in Marseille, France, on Sept. 17, 2020. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) Hundreds More Cases of Severe Hepatitis of Unknown Origin Reported in Children Questions swirl about link to COVID-19 Health officials have received reports of hundreds of children across 33 countries, including the United States, diagnosed with acute hepatitis of unknown origin that is clinically more severe than previous similar cases and with a higher proportion of young patients developing liver failure. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a May 27 statement that it had received reports of 650 probable cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children between April 5 and May 26, with the reports coming as researchers theorize about a possible link to COVID-19, the disease caused by the as the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The aetiology of this severe acute hepatitis remains unknown and under investigation, the health agency said. The cases are more clinically severe and a higher proportion develops acute liver failure compared with previous reports of acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children. An additional 99 cases were pending classification as of May 26, with the potential to bring the total case count to 749, if confirmed. Nearly 60 percent of the reported cases were in Europe, with 222 from the United Kingdom alone. Of the 240 cases reported in the Americas overall, 216 cases were recorded in the United States. The flag of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva on March 5, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) It comes after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in late April issued a nationwide health alert about a cluster of nine children in Alabama identified with hepatitis and adenovirus infection, with no known cause. The children were between one and six years old, all previously healthy, with five of them admitted to hospital with significant liver injury, including some with acute liver failure. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C viruses were ruled out, the CDC said, adding that all the children tested positive for adenovirus. The agency called on physicians to be on the lookout for symptoms and to report to the local health department any suspected cases of hepatitis of unknown origin. The typical symptoms are dark urine, light stool, vomiting, and jaundice. Link to COVID-19? The CDC later issued a report saying that none of the Alabama children tested positive for COVID-19 when they were taken to the hospital. The agency also said that none of the children had a previously documented case of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the CCP virus, nor had they received the COVID-19 vaccine. Some research suggests that a previously unrecognized infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus could be behind the mysterious cases of severe hepatitis in children. Children with COVID-19 are at significantly increased risk for liver dysfunction afterward, according to a report posted recently on medRxiv, which has yet to be peer reviewed. But most of the children with acute hepatitiswhich is generally rare in that age groupdo not report a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Instead, most of them have been found to be infected with an adenovirus called 41F, which is not known to attack the liver. People walk into the Childrens Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, Ga., on Jan. 14, 2022. (Hannah Beier/Reuters) A separate team of researchers suggest in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology that its possible that the affected children, many of whom are too young to be vaccinated, may have had mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infections that went unnoticed. A theory put forward by the researchers is that lingering particles of the coronavirus in the gastrointestinal tract in these children could be priming the immune system to over-react to adenovirus-41F by producing high amounts of inflammatory proteins that then damage the liver. We suggest that children with acute hepatitis be investigated for SARS-CoV-2 persistence in stool and for other signals that the liver damage is happening because the spike protein of the coronavirus is a superantigen that over-sensitizes the immune system, the researchers said. Other experts have put forward the theory that, as a result of social distancing and other COVID-19-related countermeasures, young children have had less of a chance to be exposed to adenoviruses, which would have helped build up their immunity. In such cases, it is theorized, the childrens immune systems may respond to an adenovirus infection by over-producing inflammatory proteins. More study is required to confirm either theory, according to Dr. Rima Fawaz, a pediatric liver disease specialist from the Yale School of Medicine. Reuters contributed to this report. Lori Vallow Daybell (C) listens during a court hearing in St. Anthony, Idaho, on April 19, 2022. (Tony Blakeslee/EastIdahoNews.com via AP, Pool) Idaho Trial for Chad and Lori Daybell Delayed to January BOISE, IdahoA woman charged in Idaho with killing her two youngest children and her new husbands previous wife will be tried alongside her husband and their trial has been delayed until early next year because the judge says that will give her lawyers enough time to effectively prepare a defense. Judge Steven Boyce on Thursday ruled that delaying Lori Vallow Daybells trial another 90 days to Jan. 9 would not violate her rights for a speedy trial. Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell have pleaded not guilty and could face the death penalty if they are convicted. The Daybells are charged with murder, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Joshua JJ Vallow (L) and Tylee Ryan. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via AP) Idaho law enforcement began investigating the Daybells in November 2019 after extended family members reported the children were missing. While the children were missing, police said the couple lied about the childrens whereabouts. Their bodies were found buried later on Chad Daybells property in rural Idaho. Chad and Lori Daybell married just two weeks after his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died unexpectedly. Tammy Daybells death was initially reported as natural causes, but investigators had her body exhumed after growing suspicious when Chad Daybell quickly remarried. Lori Vallow Daybell is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in Arizona in connection with the death of her previous husband. Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori Daybells brother, Alex Cox, who claimed it was self-defense. Cox later died of what police said was natural causes. Vallow in April entered a not guilty plea and invoked her right to a speedy trial, which legally needed to take place by October. That complicated plans for a combined trial for her and her husband. On May 19, prosecutors asked that Vallows trial be postponed until Jan. 9. Prosecutors expressed concern that if Vallow was separately in October that an improper severance would happen with the couples cases. Boyce also expressed concern whether Vallows recently appointed attorneys had enough time to prepare for the trial and said the 90-day delay would give them more. He noted that prosecutors have worked on the case since 2020. Man Gets 4 Years in Prison for Robbing Banks in San Diego SAN DIEGOA Campo man was sentenced on May 27 to four years in prison for robbing two San Diego-area banks last year, as well as violating his release conditions in an unrelated case. Eric Tyler Oxenham, 27, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbing a California Bank and Trust in El Cajon and a U.S. Bank on West Washington Street in Hillcrest. Both robberies occurred within a weeks time and on each occasion, he presented demand notes to the tellers, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Oxenham made off with more than $2,000 in cash in the robberies, prosecutors said. He was arrested about a month after the second robbery, with investigators using surveillance footage to identify his getaway vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Along with the robberies, Oxenham received additional time for violating the conditions of supervised release stemming from a prior conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Menstrual Irregularities, Uterus Shedding Cases Spike After COVID Vaccine Rollout: Peer-Reviewed Study 'What we've seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg': Dr. Northrup The first of three peer-reviewed research studies on women who suffered menstrual irregularities or a decidual cast around the time COVID vaccines were rolled out begins to shed light on the sudden spike of this historically rare gynecological abnormality. A decidual cast is when the inside lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed intact, the entire lining is shed in one piece. What a decidual cast is is the sloughing off of the entire inside of the uterus all at once, generally preceded by several days of intense cramping as the uterus contracts. So what is passed is a cast of the inside of the uterus, Dr. Christiane Northrup, a co-author of the study, told The Epoch Times. Over the past 109 years, decidual cast shedding (DCS) had less than 40 reported cases in the medical literature. The event had been so rare that there are only case studies and population prevalence data doesnt exist, according to the research. In the later 7.5 months of 2021, participants of MyCycleStory.com reported 292 cases out of 6,049 women who participated in the survey. One of the authors of the study, Dr. James Thorp, is an extensively published 68-year-old physician MD board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as maternal-fetal medicine, who has been practicing obstetrics for over 42 years. Dr. James Thorp (Courtesy of James Thorp) The most common causes of DCS in pre-pandemic years include spontaneous miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and prolonged progesterone therapy. We speculate that one potential mechanism could include the hypercoagulable state and change in the blood consistency that has been well documented by many embalmers including Mr. Richard Hirschman. Thus, the large, durable post-mortem clots that the embalmers first noticed last year can be viewed in this context as arterial casts and venous casts and they do have a strikingly similar appearance to that of decidual casts, excluding the shape, Thorp said. Extreme menstrual irregularities such as DCS should not be ignored as there are potentially important implications with regard to the lipid nanoparticles that are known to concentrate in the ovaries and also syncytial antibodies that could result in miscarriage (spontaneous abortions), he added. Thorp previously told The Epoch Times that he has been seeing many, many, many complications in pregnant women, in moms and in fetuses, in children, offspring, since the COVID vaccine was widely distributed. Fetal death, miscarriage, death of the fetus inside the mom, Thorp added. What Ive seen in the last two years is unprecedented. Thorp explained that although he has seen an increase in fetal death and adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with the COVID-19 vaccination, attempts to quantify this effect are hampered by the imposition of gag orders on physicians and nurses that were imposed in September 2021, as reviewed in the publication Patient Betrayal: The Corruption of Healthcare, Informed Consent and the Physician-Patient Relationship (pdf). The study, titled COVID-19 and the surge in Decidual Cast Shedding (pdf), shows disturbing images from different women who suffered DCS. It reads: A decidual cast may occur when the cessation of progesterone levels results in loss of support for the decidualized endometrial lining. This results in a synchronized detachment of the entire decidualized layer of endometrium, and it passes from the uterus through the cervix and vagina. This tissue mass/clot is often triangular, consistent with the internal shape of the intrauterine cavity. Other less common causes of DCS include cessation of exogenous estrogen/ progesterone therapies, and use of oral contraceptives and injectable progesterone. Tiffany Parotto, the lead researcher of the study and founder of MyCycleStory, is particularly distressed about the censorship and deletion of a Facebook group of about 21,000 members where women were talking about their menstrual irregularities. The real problem Im seeing here is that its 2022 and somehow still acceptable for the voices of women to be completely erased as if they dont matter, Parotto told The Epoch Times. The fact of the matter is, tens of thousands of women are experiencing traumatic bleeding and major issues. Women know what is normal for us and what is not. We know our bodies more than any doctor or social media site to know when something isnt right. What right does big tech have to tell us our stories are not worth sharing? How are we supposed to get to the root of what the cause could be if we are left feeling like we are the only ones experiencing them? Im disgusted at the idea that our experiences are being suppressed and undermined as if suddenly listen to women only means sometimes. So we knew we had to do the work ourselves and created the study. We had to give these women their voices back and let them know that we refuse to allow them to be silenced and we will do what needs to be done to demand attention on this issue, Parotto said. Northrup, MD, a former fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, fears that there could be much more data related to reproductive damage that hasnt been discovered yet. The female menstrual cycle is considered a vital sign as important as blood pressure and body temperature when it comes to health assessment. Our initial findings of bleeding and decidual cast shedding in women who have been exposed to those who have had the experimental injection suggest that what weve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg. The reproductive effects of this shot could be far worse than weve been led to believe, Northrup said. Dr. Christiane Northrup speaks at Broadway Rally For Freedom in Manhattan, New York, on Oct. 16, 2021. (Enrico Trigoso/The Epoch Times) The authors point out that there are some limitations to this first study. First, it is an observational study of patient questionnaires and certainly subject to sample bias. Second, the decidual casts were not confirmed by pathological analysis but self-reported. Third, the pre- and post- pandemic prevalence of DCS cannot be accurately determined at the time of this writing, they state. Test tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" in an illustration taken on May 23, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Monkeypox Vaccine Being Offered to Certain Close Contacts in United States Health agencies in four U.S. states are now reportedly offering monkeypox vaccines only to at-risk close contacts as a new step in the countrys response to a string of outbreaks that has so far seen 13 cases in America and between 200 to 400 cases globally. The Bavarian Nordic-made Jynneos monkeypox vaccine is currently being offered in a limited scope to those at-risk close contact cases, mostly laboratory and healthcare workers, in Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington, CBS reported. Monkeypox is a mild viral infection considered endemic to several African countries and related to smallpox. But its emergence in countries where the virus doesnt usually spread has raised concerns. U.S. cases have been discovered in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state. Vaccine is typically only used if we are concerned about a higher risk type of exposure. Not everyone who is assessed as a contact receives vaccine, because we know that monkeypox is not as easily transmissible as other viruses like COVID-19, said Dr. Julia Murphy, a public health veterinarian for the Virginia Department of Health, in a statement to CBS News. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday it is investigating about 200 cases of monkeypox in 20 countries where it is usually extremely rare. Another 100 suspected cases are also being investigated, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs COVID-19 technical lead, according to CNBC. Dr. Sylvie Briand, WHOs director of pandemic and epidemic diseases, said that while the disease is likely containable, she expected more cases in the future, according to The Associated Press. A 1971 photo from the Center For Disease Control handout shows monkeypox-like lesions on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia. (CDC/Getty Images) Doses of the vaccine are already on their way to states from the federal governments stockpile, with a spokesperson for Colorados health department telling CBS they received their shipment Friday morning. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday published recommendations by its group of independent experts for the use of the vaccine in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Jynneos was approved in the United States in 2019 to prevent smallpox and monkeypox in high-risk adults aged 18 and older. Officials said there were over 100 million doses of an older smallpox vaccine called ACAM2000, made by Emergent BioSolutions, which has significant side effects, Reuters reported. Dependence on Foreign Energy a National Security Problem, Murkowski Challenger Kelly Tshibaka Says Alaska Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka, who is challenging Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in the states primary election in August, claims that the longtime incumbents vote to confirm Deb Haaland as interior secretary has weakened Alaska, contributing to skyrocketing gas prices and foreign dependence by impeding the production of oil, gas, rare earths, and other vital commodities. Tshibaka, who has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, made the comments in an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, a three-day meeting on geothermal, nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, and other alternative energy technologies. One crucial challenge in any green transition is the potential dependence on China. China and its state-owned enterprises dominate the mining and processing of rare earths and other materials used in solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles (EV). Even in the United States, green energy may be uniquely vulnerable to Chinese pressure. MP Materials, which owns the only rare earth mine in the United States, is itself partly owned by a Chinese firm, Shenghe Resources. MP Materials recently received a $35 million grant from the Department of Defense for its new rare-earth separation facility. In March, Murkowski described herself as worried about MP Materialss partial Chinese ownership. We should not be subsidizing out things we could be doing in America by benefiting Chinese workers, Chinese dads, and Chinese moms when were putting Americans out of work, Tshibaka said, noting that Alaskas rare earth reserves are a crucial asset to the United States. When youre dependent on a foreign enemy for an energy solution in the United States, you have created a national security problem. She said the Biden administrations actions on Alaskan oil and gas, including the cancellation of the Cook Inlet lease sale and the suspension of leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, have helped fuel the current global energy crisis and jeopardizes the well-being of everyday Alaskans. Moms cant feed their kids and workers literally cannot fill up their cars with gas because our president has declared an all-out assault against this state and specifically against our fossil fuel industry, which is the backbone of our economy, Tshibaka said. Whos directing this assault on us? Joe Biden. Whos the chief enabling officer of it all? Lisa Murkowski. Roughly a quarter of Alaskan jobs and half of its total economy ultimately stem from the oil industry, according to an analysis from the Alaska Resource Development Council. In particular, oil has historically provided an outsized share of the states general fund revenue. BPs Prudhoe Bay oil field facility in Alaska. (BP via Getty Images) The Alaska Department of Revenue projects that petroleum will be responsible for 50.6 percent of Alaskas general fund revenue this fiscal year, marking an increase from 25.4 percent the previous year. Energy Information Administration (EIA) statistics show that oil from Alaskas North Slope sold for an average of $84.94 per barrel in February 2022, up from $52.37 in February 2021. Statistics supplied to The Epoch Times by the Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy show that North Slope oil was trading at $119.71 on May 26. Thats the highest price since 2008. With the West Coast under strain and OPEC refusing to step up production, North Slope crude is some of the most expensive oil in the world. Statistics from the State of Alaska show that North Slope is producing 495,225 barrels per day. While thats an increase from early 2022, its still well below the regions output as recently as a decade ago. Even as Alaska profits from its hydrocarbon exports, many of the states most isolated and rural communities are hampered by their reliance on diesel to power the generators that provide electricity. When the temperature drops, the demand for that energy only intensifies. AAA reports that diesel is selling for an average of $5.31 per gallon, up significantly from an average of $3.09 per gallon at the same time last year. In the Alaskan village of Noatak, diesel recently hit $16 per gallon, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Tshibaka said the Biden administrations executive orders and other actions have helped create a situation where people in those locales are choosing between feeding their families and heating their homes. Speakers and vendors at the conference outlined potential solutions for such communities, which already suffer from energy vulnerabilities and scarcity during the best of times. Nuclear energy firms showcased novel microreactors, which they argued improve upon the safety of earlier designs while minimizing maintenance. One exhibitor, industry mainstay Westinghouse, has claimed that its eVinci model could operate for eight or more years prior to refueling. Microreactors such as eVinci could provide one megawatt to tens of megawatts of electric power, enough for multiple small villages. Nuclear energy companies at the conference said they anticipate their microreactors will debut in four to six years, depending in part on the pace of approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Tshibaka told The Epoch Times that she wants to cut red tape for that industry. She also wants to offer incentives to it, such as those benefiting wind, solar, biofuels, and other energy categories. Theyre asking for the same kind of tax breaks that other energy industries have, she said. Yet even as the conference highlighted possibilities from tidal power to geothermal, Tshibaka stressed the importance of traditional energy for Alaska, at least in the near term. How many green energy jobs do you see up here at this point? Yes, wed like to move into the future. This future is not our present, she said. Alaskas population has declined over the past half-decade. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the states population was 732,673 as of July 1, 2021, down from an estimated 737,625 in 2015. The states population ticked up slightly between 2020 and 2021, but not enough to offset the recent decline. There is a mass exodus out of the state right now, Tshibaka said. A view of Anchorage, Alaska. (David Mark/Pixabay) Tshibaka, who served in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, said she wants to build additional national security assets and infrastructure in Alaska. She cited its strategic location near Russia, North Korea, and China. The state already has a number of military installations, including Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. An April report from the inspector general of the Department of Defense states that U.S. bases in the Arctic arent taking the required steps to assess and improve their resilience to climate change. According to Tshibaka, as Arctic temperatures rise and previously icebound seas thaw, Alaska could capitalize on its proximity to Asian markets to ship goods that are now mostly dispatched from the West Coast. When we dont have to use icebreakers anymore, because theres no more ice, you can ship 365 days a year, she said. Tshibaka also wants to help the tech industry gain a foothold in the last frontier. She told The Epoch Times that she has spoken with information technology companies about sitting data centers in Alaska instead of in the lower 48. The reason? Those data centers need to be kept at relatively low temperaturescolder than those in much of summertime California, anyway. Alaskas naturally cold climate could meet that need without using as much energy, saving money while also reducing emissions. Tshibaka declined to name any of the companies with whom she said she had spoken. Representatives for Amazon, widely considered the worlds top spender on data centers, didnt respond to a request for comment by press time on the potential placement of data centers in such an environment. Murkowski also didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. The Department of the Interior declined to comment. In this image from House Television, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., speaks on the House floor during debate on the Democrats' expansive social and environment bill at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, in Washington. (House Television via AP) Not Valid or Lawful: McCarthy Responds to Jan. 6 Panel Subpoena in Lengthy Letter Elliot S. Berke, attorney to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), on May 27 responded to a May 12 subpoena by the controversial Jan. 6 Committee, rejecting the subpoena as being neither valid nor lawful. McCarthy, along with Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), and Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)all of whom have been outspoken critics of the panelreceived the subpoenas in an unprecedented break with House tradition, which has never seen a sitting member of Congress subpoenaed. Almost every lawmaker on the list, including McCarthy and Jordan, has in the past received and refused requests from the Jan. 6 panel to voluntarily cooperate. In a May 25 letter, Jordan publicly rejected the subpoena as a political vendetta that is in contravention of standing House rules. Now, McCarthy has followed suit in his own lengthy response to the Jan. 6 panels subpoena (pdf). While Berke acknowledged that Congress has a constitutional obligation to conduct rigorous oversight as part of this countrys founding principles of checks and balances and separation of powers, he also noted that Congresss subpoena authority is not without limitation. All valid and lawfully issued subpoenas must be respected and honored, Berke continued. Unfortunately, the words and actions of the Select Committee and its members have made it clear that it is not exercising a valid or lawful use of Congress subpoena power. In fact, Berke continued, the Select Committee is not even operating in compliance with the rules its own members voted to put in place. Specifically, he noted that the resolution authorizing the creation of the panel allowed the minority party to have five seats, selected by the minority leader. Speaker Pelosi violated 232 years of continuous precedent by refusing to allow the minority party to select its representation on the committee, Berke said. It has since engaged in a series of actions that further distance it from its authorizing resolution in violation of the House Rules and precedents. At no time in the history of the House has the majority denied the minority the right to select its representation nor constituted a Congressional committee in violation of the Rules of the House. And at no time in the history of the House has the majority failed to honor the Houses deposition and subpoena authority. The principle that a Congressional committee must adhere to its applicable rules in pursuit of the enforcement of its subpoenas has resulted in convictions for contempt of Congress being overturned. In Yellin v. United States, the Supreme Court reversed a conviction for contempt of Congress when it determined that the Congressional committee failed to adhere to its own rules regarding procuring witness testimony: The committee prepared the groundwork for prosecution in Yellins case meticulously. It is not too exacting to require that the Committee be equally meticulous in obeying its own rules. How then does the Select Committee justify its investigation considering Speaker Pelosis failure to compose the Select Committee within the confines of H.Res. 503? Berke asked. Why has the Select Committee engaged in the deprivation of minority rights to such an unprecedented nature and failed to follow the House Deposition Regulations? Berke then cited comments from Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), the only Republicans on the commissionboth of whom were appointed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)which in effect said that the committee existed to tell the story of what happened on January 6, 2021. The Supreme Court has made clear that exposure for purposes of telling a story is not a valid legislative purpose, and not a valid use of the subpoena authority granted to Congress under the Constitution, Berke noted. If those objectives qualified as valid legislative purpose, then Congresss subpoena power would be limitless. In this instance, it is clear from your correspondence that the Select Committee has exceeded its constitutional constraints to exercise its power of inquiry as decreed by our Founding Fathers as further defined by the Supreme Court, and as assigned to you by H.Res. 503, the letter continued. In light of the above-described deficiencies, it is unclear how the Select Committee believes it is operating within the bounds of law or even within the confines of the authorizing resolution, Berke added, attaching a list of questions probing the commissions legal authority to issue the subpoena. I expressly reserve Leader McCarthys right to assert any other applicable privilege or objection to the Select Committees subpoena, Berke concluded. I look forward to discussing these questions and procedural deficiencies at the earliest convenience. Since its creation, the Jan. 6 panel has been condemned by various Republicans as a partisan witch hunt for exclusively targeting Republicans and other allies of former President Donald Trumpincluding former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who wasnt even in the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) has long said he would not shy away from using the subpoena power against sitting members of Congress, an unprecedented move. However, as McCarthys letter indicates, the attempt is sure to end up in the courts, which will have the final say on the validity of the subpoenas. (Reuters) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has joined a final push to try to convince SoftBank Group Corp-backed chip designer Arm to list in London, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. Johnson has written to SoftBank executives as part of the last-ditch effort, the report said, adding ministers and executives from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) are trying to persuade the Japanese conglomerate to rethink their preference for listing in New York. Arm declined to comment on the matter, while the LSE and SoftBank did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. "Following last years record number of tech IPOs in London, we continue to work hard to support and encourage all firms to list here. We hope Arm will continue to build its business here, drawing on the UKs unrivalled mix of skills and capital," a UK government spokesperson told Reuters by email. Digital minister Chris Philp and Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone, who lead the lobbying efforts, are expected to meet SoftBank executives in the coming weeks, according to the report. However, two people familiar with SoftBank's thinking said there was very little possibility of changing plans and listing in London, the FT added. SoftBank in February shelved the sale of Arm Ltd to U.S. chipmaker Nvidia Corp in a deal valued at up to $80 billion, citing regulatory hurdles, and instead decided to list the company. (Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama, Maria Ponnezhath, Sneha Bhowmik and Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru Editing by Uttaresh.V and Mark Potter) Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the National Rifle Association, speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) NRA Vows to Protect Second Amendment Rights, Decries Evil Actions of Criminal Monster in Texas The CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday decried the evil that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Texas, while vowing to protect the constitutional right of citizens to defend themselves. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said at the associations annual convention that the NRAs members are mothers and fathers who are grieving with the nation for the young lives ruthlessly and indiscriminately extinguished in Uvalde by the actions of a criminal monster. He noted that while the NRA differed with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party on policy, they share common ground in the belief that tragedy will come again but that there are certain things we can do. Restricting the fundamental human right of law-abiding Americans to defend themselves is not the answer. It never has been, he declared. LaPierre also called for people to reject the idea that society, not the criminal, is the guilty party every time the law is broken. Its time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions. And thats why we, the NRA, will never ever stop fighting for the rights of the innocent [and] the law abiding to defend themselves against the evil criminal element that plagues our society, he said. Outside the convention, activists gathered to call for stricter gun laws, while Democratic lawmakers on Friday opened an investigation into five U.S. gun manufacturers to probe their figures on revenue, profit, marketing, and sales ahead of hearings by the House Oversight Committee on gun violence starting June 8. One common sense policy prescription that lawmakers could pursue instead of seeking to make gun laws more restrictive, LaPierre said, is a move to afford schools the same level of security measures required at stadiums and government buildings. This was echoed by former President Donald Trump, who spoke at the convention, and called for a top to bottom security overhaul at schools across the nation to protect students and teachers. He also called for a stronger justice system that keeps hardened criminals off the streets, and more funding for police, Washington Examiner reported. Each year over 1 million law-abiding men and women use a firearm to save their own lives and the lives of their loved ones, he said. That is over 1 million innocent Americans every year who owe their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, to their Second Amendment rights. Taking away their right to self defense is not the answer. A man is detained by riot police during a demonstration in a shopping mall at Sheung Shui district in Hong Kong, on Dec. 28, 2019. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Number of Political Prisoners in Hong Kong Exceeds 1,000 Amid Rapid Deterioration of Human Rights In less than three years, the number of political prisoners in Hong Kong has risen rapidly, and now exceeds 1,000, according to a new report that says this situation indicates the rapid decline of Hong Kong into an authoritarian society. The 33-page report, recently released by Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), a non-partisan, non-profit, organization headquartered in Washington, stated that from June 9, 2019, when Hong Kongs anti-extradition protest broke out, to May 10, 2022, 1,014 people have been convicted as political prisoners in Hong Kong. This exponential increase has occurred in a little under three years. The large number of political prisoners is a key indicator of the deterioration of the rule of law, judicial independence, and protections of civil and political liberties, marking Hong Kongs rapid descent into authoritarianism. The report also pointed out that with a fast growing population of political prisoners, Hong Kongs situation is as distressing as that of Belarus, Burma, and Cuba, where authoritarian governments have recently cracked down on protest movements. In few places in the world has the state of human rights deteriorated so rapidly as in Hong Kong over the past three years, with the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of expression, and political participation all indefinitely suspended, unreasonably restricted, or abolished, the report said. The 1,014 political prisoners come from all segments of Hong Kongs civil society, but young people are targeted. More than 75 percent of Hong Kongs political prisoners are under the age of 30, more than half are under 25, and more than 15 percent are minors, according to the report. In addition, remand has become a means of keeping political opponents in prolonged pretrial detention, largely due to the Hong Kong National Security Law implemented in June 2020. The number of political prisoners currently in custody has risen to 179, a record high. With 1,159 people now on trial under political accusations, the number of political prisoners, which currently stands at 1,014, is sure to increase significantly. Most of the pending trials are for so-called riot, national security law crimes, and sedition, the report said. Overall, the situation in Hong Kong constitutes a grave human rights crisis to which the rest of the world must respond more actively than it has up to now. HKDC calls on the U.S. government to sanction the Hong Kong judges and officials in charge of national security, and expedite the creation of humanitarian pathways for those Hong Kongers victimized under political persecution. Moreover, the organization implored the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to speak to the Hong Kong government and recommend that all political prisoners be immediately released. The figures presented in the report are similar to those provided by the Hong Kong Secretary for Security, Chris Tang Ping-keung, in his written reply to questions from members of the Legislative Council on April 27. Tang said in his reply that, as of Feb. 28 this year, a total of 10,277 people have been arrested by the police in relation to the anti-extradition movement, of which 2,804 have been prosecuted, 1,172 have been convicted, and 939 are still on trial at the time of his reply. As of March 31 this year, the number of people arrested in relation to Hong Kong National Security Law was 175, including 112 individuals and 5 companies that were prosecuted. In early 2019, the Hong Kong government introduced the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, commonly known as Hong Kongs new extradition law, which triggered a strong backlash from Hong Kong residents. On June 9, 2019, the Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front organized a large demonstration against the proposed bill, which is generally regarded as the beginning of the anti-extradition protest. One year later, on June 30, 2020, the Chinese communist regime forcibly passed the Hong Kong National Security Law, bypassing Hong Kong approval. Using vaguely defined terms, the law targets four categories of offences: separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign countries. A memorial for victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Official: Girl Told 911 Send the Police Now as Police Waited UVALDE, TexasStudents trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 during this weeks attack on a Texas elementary school, including one who pleaded, Please send the police now, as officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building, authorities said Friday. The commander at the scene in Uvaldethe school districts police chiefbelieved that 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms at Robb Elementary School and that children were no longer at risk, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a press conference. It was the wrong decision, he said. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw speaks during a press conference in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Fridays briefing came after authorities spent three days providing often conflicting and incomplete information about the more than an hour that elapsed between the time Ramos entered the school and when U.S. Border Patrol agents unlocked the classroom door and killed him. Three police officers followed Ramos into the building within two minutes. In the next half hour, as many as 19 officers piled into the hallway outside. But another 47 minutes passed before the Border Patrol tactical team breached the door, McCraw said. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to speak publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers inside the room. His motive remained unclear, authorities said. There was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where officers eventually killed him, but those shots were sporadic for much of the time that officers waited in the hallway, McCraw said. He said investigators do not know if children died during that time. Children pay their respects at a memorial site for the victims killed in this weeks elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 26, 2022. (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP Photo) Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including the girl who pleaded for the police, McCraw said. Young survivors of the attack said they pretended to be dead while waiting for help. Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she covered herself with a friends blood to look dead. After the shooter moved into an adjacent room, she could hear screams, more gunfire, and music being blared by the gunman. Samuel Salinas, 10, who also played dead, told ABCs Good Morning America that the assailant shot teacher Irma Garcia before firing on the children. A makeshift memorial at Robb Elementary School is filled with flowers, toys, signs, and crosses bearing the names of all 21 victims of the mass shooting that occurred on May 24, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Questions have mounted over the amount of time it took officers to enter the school to confront the gunman. It was 11:28 a.m. Tuesday when Ramos Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying a rifle. Five minutes after that, authorities said, Ramos entered the school and found his way to the fourth grade classroom where he killed the 21 victims. But it was not until around 12:50 p.m. that police killed Ramos, McCraw said, when shots could be heard over a 911 call from a person inside the classroom as officers breached the room. What happened during that time frame, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge 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. According to the new timeline provided by McCraw, after crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, officials said. Contrary to earlier statements by officials, a school district police officer was not at the school when Ramos arrived. When that officer did respond, he unknowingly drove past Ramos, who was crouched behind a car parked outside and firing at the building, McCraw said. Salvador Ramos. (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles) At 11:33 a.m., Ramos entered the school through a rear door that had been propped open and fired more than 100 rounds into a pair of classrooms, McCraw said. He did not address why the door was propped open. Two minutes later, three local police officers arrived and entered the building through the same door, followed soon after by four others, McCraw said. Within 15 minutes, officers from different agencies had assembled in the hallway, taking sporadic fire from Ramos, who was holed up in a classroom. Ramos was still inside at 12:10 p.m. when the first U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrived. They had raced to the school from nearly 70 miles away in the border town of Del Rio, the agency said in a tweet Friday. But the commander inside the buildingthe school districts police chief, Pete Arredondodecided the group should wait to confront the gunman, on the belief that the scene was no longer an active attack, McCraw said. The crisis came to an end at 12:50 p.m., after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and fatally shot Ramos, he said. A makeshift memorial for the shooting victims outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday. No one answered the door at his home, and he did not reply to a phone message left at the districts police headquarters. Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a Wednesday news conference lauded the police response, said Friday that he was misled, and hes livid. In his earlier statements, the governor told reporters, he was repeating what he had been told. The information that I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate, he said. Abbott said exactly what happened needs to be thoroughly, exhaustively investigated. The governor previously praised law enforcement for their amazing courage by running toward gunfire and their quick response. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting as he sits with Christina Mitchell Busbee, 38th Judicial District Attorney and Mayor Don McLaughlin at Uvalde High School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) The motive for the massacrethe nations deadliest school shooting since Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade agoremained under investigation. Authorities have said 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. 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. The many chilling details of the attack were enough to leave parents struggling with dread. Visiting a downtown memorial to those killed, Kassandra Johnson of the nearby community of Hondo said she was so worried the day after the attack that she kept her twin boys home from school. Before she sent the 8-year-olds back, she studied the school building, figuring out which windows she would need to break to reach them. And she drew hearts on their hands with marker, so she could identify them if the worst happened, Johnson said, as she put flowers near 21 white crosses honoring the victims. Those kids could be my kids, she said. A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center in Atlanta, Ga., in a file photo. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Over 10,000 COVID-19 Claims Removed From VAERS, 500 Death Reports Deleted, Claims Data Analyst More than 10,000 COVID-19-related reports have been deleted from the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), according to Albert Benavides, a data analyst who has been analyzing VAERS data since the COVID-19 vaccines were released for public usage. The VAERS database is an early warning system maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) used to identify vaccines that might be triggering adverse events at higher than expected rates. Anyone, including health care professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and the general public, can submit a report to VAERS. 500 death reports have already been deleted so far to date for COVID jabs. 10,000 claims have been deleted total since the rollout for COVID. Ive spot-checked 2,000 of those claims and I cannot find the duplicate because, in the fine print, it says We delete duplicates and false reports, Benavides said in an interview with the Stew Peters Network published on April 28. Deletions for COVID-19 reports are way more when compared to deletions of reports for other vaccines, the data analyst said. Of the 14,000 total reportedly deleted entries on VAERS, 10,000 are linked to COVID-19, while the remaining 4,000 were related to other vaccines. Of the 1.2 million COVID jab records on VAERS, there are roughly 27,000 deaths, which comes to around 2 percent, he said he found in his analysis. But taking into account the fact that the 10,000 deleted COVID-19 claims include 500 death reports, the deletion rate of death reports comes in at a higher ratio of 5 percent. 65 percent of all the COVID reports [in VAERS] are classified as the lowest level: not serious They dont even rise to the level of office visit, emergency, or in-patient hospital, Benavides said. But when you read them, theres thousands of cardiac arrests, strokes, pulmonary embolisms These are misclassified. Benavides also asserted that the CDC and FDA are responsible for the missing data from VAERS and is seeking transparency on the reason behind their deletion. CDC and FDA did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Last year, a similar observation was made regarding VAERS, with some saying that the agency had deleted 6,000 death reports from the database. However, the agency told Reuters that they had deleted the entries due to foreign reports getting combined with domestic reports. According to the latest VAERS data dated May 13, there were 1.268 million total COVID-19 claims in the database. There were 28,141 claims of death, 52,299 reports of permanent disability, and 31,437 instances of life-threatening events. An analysis by ABC News shows that 18.9 percent of COVID-19 deaths in August 2021 occurred among vaccinated Americans. In February 2022, this number had risen to more than 40 percent. In September 2021, only 1.1 percent of COVID-19 deaths were among U.S. citizens who had received two doses of the vaccine as well as a booster. Five months later in February, the number surged to around 25 percent. When a man from Argentina and his wife welcomed a set of twins, they were surprised to see their little girls were born with snow-white hair, as they were the first twins to have albinism in their country. Now four years later, their proud parents say theyre as healthy as can be. (Courtesy of Carlos Gabriel Paz) When Gomez Jorge Antonio, 42, and Romero Leila Judith, 39, of Tucuman province, found out in their fourth month of pregnancy that they were expecting twins, they were surprised and, at the same time, overcome with emotion. At 36 weeks of gestation, Leila gave birth to two beautiful daughters, Catalina and Virginia, on April 12, 2018. When they were just born, we found out they had albinism. We were surprised and amazed to see how they were born, Jorge told The Epoch Times. Having albino children is not unusual, but surprising, since we had never related to albino people. (Courtesy of Carlos Gabriel Paz) According to Mayo Clinic, albinism is a group of inherited disorders where there is little or an absence of the pigment melanin. The amount and type of melanin in the body helps determine the color of the skin, eyes, and hair. Thus those with albinism have light skin, hair, and eyes. After the birth of his twins, Jorge has been keen on dispelling the untruths that surround the condition. Peoples wrong thinking is to believe that albinism is a disability, and that is why bullying exists and being afraid of them when they see them, he told The Epoch Times. Sharing more about Catalina and Virginia, the father of three explained that their condition doesnt pose any major risks, but their skin still needs to be protected from exposure to the sun, and they need to wear glasses so that they dont hurt their eyes. (Courtesy of Gomez Jorge Antonio) (Courtesy of Gomez Jorge Antonio) Jorge also expressed his gratitude to God for his childrens good health. Describing both his girls as very happy and intelligent, Jorge says that their personalities have grown, with Virginia enjoying singing, and Catalina modeling. For the parents, the best moments with their girls are when they watch them playing and having fun. As parents of children with albinism, Jorge and his wife are ensuring that they take the most care with respect to their skin and eyes. A loving family, Jorge says theyll always be there for their beautifully unique daughters. (Courtesy of Gomez Jorge Antonio) (Courtesy of Gomez Jorge Antonio) Well protect and accompany them at every moment of their lives and always treat them like any other human being, Jorge said. And also share our immense joy that we have for this beautiful blessing that God and the Virgin gave us. (Courtesy of Gomez Jorge Antonio) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter AR-15 rifles are displayed for sale at the Guntoberfest gun show in Oaks, Pa., on Oct. 6, 2017. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Republican Congressman Says He Would Vote for an Assault Weapons Ban A Republican U.S. congressman on May 27 said he would vote for a ban of so-called assault weapons. I want to be completely transparent of where I am in Congress, said Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.). If an assault weapons ban bill came to the floor that would ban something like an AR-15, I would vote for it. Democrats for years have tried getting such a ban reimposed. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act included a ban on some semi-automatic guns, which it defined as assault weapons. But the ban expired in 2004 after 10 years. Rep. Chris Jacobs (R) speaks in Washington on July 21, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Following several recent mass shootings, a number of Democrats renewed calls to pass a similar ban. We need to pass common sense policies like an assault weapons ban to stop these attacks, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said in a statement. There is a lot Congress can do to prevent mass shootings: assault weapon bans, better background checks, high-capacity magazine bans, added Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Republicans have largely said that they oppose such a broad move, though some are considering making compromises with Democrats to pass gun-related legislation. 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 [to carry out the shootings]? Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters this week. Jacobs said that he is supportive of a range of ideas, including proposals that would limit the size of magazines that people can obtain and increase the age one must be to buy AR-15-style guns from 18 to 21. He also plans to write a bill that would ban civilians from buying body armor. Im speaking out because I think that its something we need to discuss because I cant in good conscience sit back and say I didnt try to do something, said Jacobs, who currently represents New Yorks 27th Congressional District and is running for another term in the newly redrawn 23rd Congressional District. Jacobs acknowledged that speaking out for reforms largely supported by Democrats could harm his chances of winning reelection, though he does not yet have a Republican challenger. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) is among the GOP members who say more restrictions on gun ownership wont necessarily solve the problem. We pass strict gun laws, people are still going to do this because were not addressing underlying problems that are causing people to be so deranged and so unstable that theyre even able to conceive these things, Tenney told WKBW. Both Jacobs and Tenney voted against H.R. 8, which would expand background checks. The Senate has not yet voted on the bill. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), running for governor, said at the briefing with Jacobs that he supports improving school safety and adding armed officers, but does not support a bill pushed by Gov. Kathy Hochul that would increase the age to purchase an AR-15. Law-abiding citizens would follow the law but if youre seeking to carry out a crime with a firearm, youre not going to be looking to honor the [law], he said. Santa Ana, Calif., photographer Aaron Moctezuma's works featuring vibrant custom cars are on display in the Made in California art exhibit at Brea Art Gallery in Brea, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times) Santa Ana Artist Celebrates Car Culture BREA, Calif.Santa Ana, California, artist Aaron Moctezuma won the Solo Show Award during the Made in California art exhibit with his photographs highlighting vibrant custom cars. The Made in California art showwhich is on display at the Brea Art Gallery until June 24annually features artwork from Californians who practice with a wide variety of art forms and materials. His display titled Carros Alterados y Rines Cromados is a photographic exploration of the kustom car culture in Southern California, according to the gallery. Santa Ana, Calif., photographer Aaron Moctezumas works featuring vibrant custom cars are on display in the Made in California art exhibit at Brea Art Gallery in Brea, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times) The 30-year-old Moctezuma told The Epoch Times he was overwhelmed when he got the call on Feb. 27 notifying him of his award. Moctezumas inspirations for the art display were drawn from Santa Anawhere he was born and raisedand its neighborhoods. He has grown up in the custom car community and was drawn to document lowriders as a part of his Latin American heritage. This time, his project featuring custom cars in Santa Ana won the Made in California Art Exhibits Solo Show Award, which was selected by a panel of jurors from submissions of up to 10 pieces of artwork from each artist that show cohesiveness. A solo exhibition on a separate title wall and a $350 cash reward are awarded to the winner. Santa Ana, Calif., photographer Aaron Moctezumas works featuring vibrant custom cars are on display in the Made in California art exhibit at Brea Art Gallery in Brea, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times) He said he wanted to show the beauty in the car community because the people involved in creating the cars might not be able to paint or write music, but that car, thats a piece of art right there and theres so many of them that get overlooked. He hopes his photos will give art gallery visitors a sneak peek into a different world that is important to the Latino community, he said. His typical audience is those in the car community, but he hopes his work can still be a positive light for those looking from the outside. Maybe itll inspire someone. I doubt it will, but you never know, he said. His journey as a photographer has been like riding a roller coaster, he said, beginning in high school when he was procrastinating on a project that required him to explore a new art category. A few years later, he became a full-time photographer for a local barber supply company. Santa Ana photographer Aaron Moctezuma stands in front of his work featured in the Made in California art exhibit at Brea Art Gallery in Brea, Calif., on April 30, 2022. (Courtesy of Omar Moncada) It wasnt until he received support from his photography professor, Juliana Rico, in community college that he began to gain more confidence in his skills. His growth as a photographer has been challenging and rewarding at the same time, he said, thanks to Professor Rico. After he received the full-time job, he left school, because it was difficult to keep up with both. He said he has grown so much since dropping out because he learned a lot more working in the field than in classes. Calling himself a true millennial, Aaron works multiple jobs besides investing in his photography career. He has noticed he doesnt catch onto his interest in a topic until he has already become regularly involvedsuch as with the car photos. Santa Ana, Calif., photographer Aaron Moctezumas works featuring vibrant custom cars are on display in the Made in California art exhibit at Brea Art Gallery in Brea, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (Julianne Foster/The Epoch Times) I didnt realize I was doing that work until someone told me I was, he said. He now finds himself in an environment of growth where he can explore new concepts and opportunities in photography while developing his career in multiple directions. In steps forward, he said he is hoping to see where photography will take himinstead of the other way around. Residents confront a representative about opening up of their compound in Jing'an district in Shanghai on May 25, 2022. (AP Photo) Shanghai Residents Under Lockdown Demand Release BEIJINGOn a balmy Sunday night, residents of an upscale Shanghai compound took to the streets to decry lockdown restrictions imposed by their community. By the following morning, they were free to leave. The triumphant story quickly spread on chat groups across the Chinese city this week, sparking one question in the minds of those who remained under lockdown: Shouldnt we do the same? By the end of the week, other groups of residents had confronted management in their complexes, and some had won at least a partial release. While its unclear how widespread they are, the incidents reflect the frustration that has built up after more than seven weeks of lockdown, even as the official number of new daily cases has fallen. They also are a reminder of the power of Chinas neighborhood committees that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) relies on to spread propaganda messages, enforce its decisions, and even settle personal disputes. Such committees and the residential committees under them have become the target of complaints, especially after some in Shanghai and other cities refused to allow residents out even after officials claimed restrictions were relaxed. More than 21 million people in Shanghai are now in precaution zones, the least restrictive category. In theory, they are free to go out. In practice, the decision is up to their residential committees, resulting in a kaleidoscope of arbitrary rules. Some are allowed out, but only for a few hours with a specially issued pass for one day or certain days of the week. Some places permit only one person per household to leave. Others forbid people to leave at all. A resident looks out from her window during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jingan district of Shanghai on May 25, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) We have already been given at least three different dates when we are going to reopen, and none of them were real, said Weronika Truszczynska, a graduate student from Poland who posted vlogs about her experience. The residential committee told us you can wait a week, we are going to reopen probably on June 1, she said. No one believed it. More than a dozen residents of her complex, many under umbrellas on a rainy day, confronted their managers on Tuesday, two days after the Sunday night breakout at the upscale Huixianju compound. The residents, who were mostly Chinese, demanded to be allowed to leave without time limits or restrictions on how many per household. After the demands were not met, some returned to protest a second day. This time, four police officers stood watch. On Thursday afternoon, community representatives knocked on the doors of each resident with a new policy: Write their name and apartment number on a list, take a temperature check, scan a barcodeand they were free to leave. We got the possibility of going out just because we were brave enough to protest, Truszczynska said of her fellow residents. The Shanghai lockdown has also prompted resistance from people being taken away to quarantine and workers required to sleep at their workplaces. Videos on social media showed what were said to be employees of a factory operated by Taiwans Quanta Computer Inc. trying to force their way out of the facility in early May. The CCPs zero-COVID campaign has been aided by an urban environment in which hundreds of millions of people in China live in gated apartment compounds or walled neighborhoods that can be easily blocked off. The front line for enforcement are the neighborhood committees that are responsible for keeping track of every resident in every urban household nationwide and enforcing CCPs orders. People with a two-three hour pass from their residential compounds speak with locked down residents during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jingan district of Shanghai on May 27, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The incident at Huixianju prompted others to speak out. In a series of videos that circulated this week, about two dozen people march toward the Western Nanjing Road Police Station, chanting Respect the law, give me back my life. Residents of a compound in Jingan district saw the gates of neighboring compounds open over the past monthyet theirs remained locked. On Wednesday, about two dozen gathered at the gate, calling out to speak with a representative. I want to understand what are the neighborhood leaders planning? one woman asks in a video of the incident. Another woman chimes in: Are you making progress? A third resident points out that they should be free by now, since the compound has been case-free for a while. Didnt they say on television that things are opening up? We saw it on television, an older man says. The next day, the community issued one-day passesresidents were allowed out for two hours on Friday, with no word on what would happen after that. Shanghai authorities have declared a June target for life to return to normal. But some people arent waiting, pushing the boundaries bit by bit. On Thursday night, more than a dozen young people gathered for a street concert in the same district where Sundays protest took place. Video of the last song, Tomorrow will be better, was shared widely on social media. A police car parked nearby with its flashing red and blue lights and headlights on. As the final song drew to a close, an officer wearing a face shield strode toward the group and said, OK youve had enough fun. Its time to go back. The crowd dispersed. Luke and Nicola Schulten attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids, Mich., on May 26, 2022. (Charlie Lu/The Epoch Times) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.For Luke and Nicola Schulten, Shen Yun Performing Arts was an absolute joy to watch. The couple, who worked in China for 30 years in the shoe industry as designers and developers, were tantalized by the performance and particularly the footwear of the dancers. Im so impressed with the costumes and the colors and the music and the drama. I just think its so beautiful, said Mrs. Schulten at the DeVos Performance Hall. New York-based Shen Yun is reviving Chinas authentic traditional Chinese classical dance and music which portray the life and values of 5,000 years of civilization. Mrs. Schulten was intrigued by the dancers footwear. I love how [the dancers] are accessorized. I noticed obviously, as a shoe designer. Im seeing that theyre wearing ballet shoes, theyre wearing the two parts soles on them with the leather on the front and the back of the pleating on the front and the backs of the shoe, she said. I was interested to see how the mens boots were constructed, actually how . theyd use [the stretch fabric] on the front of the shoe and continued up the shaft of the boot with an elastic top on. I thought it was really good how they created [the illusion] of the boots in a ballet shoe. I thought it was really excellent for the men, said Mrs. Schulten. Very, very fluid, the way that theyre created with all the detail. The fabrics are very fluid and colorful. And then of course, when [the dancers] turn youve got beautiful color underneathvery, very effective. Shen Yuns story-based dances are a reflection of ancient Chinese society, its arts, values, and spirituality. They also portray todays persecution of Falun Dafa, a meditational practice, in one of the dances, Insanity During the End of Days. This story piece revolves around the practice in China of killing people for their beliefs to supply organs for Chinas transplantation hospitals. Mr. Schulten spoke of what he knows about forced organ harvesting. I am not familiar with it but Ive heard about it Buts a very common problem, if you will, and people talk about it when Im in China and work with my colleagues there, Mr. Schulten said. It is mentioned very carefully, of course. But at the same time, that actually brings home the difference between the old China and lets say modern China, he said. Shen Yun was an amazing piece of art he said. It is so fluid. You can see that it must have been an enormous amount of work to basically get to this point and make it so easy looking. The performance is smooth. And I can see theres been a lot of training going into [the performance], said Mr. Schulten. Mrs. Schulten also commented on the dancers abilities. Its incredible skill and teamwork that makes something look easy and fluid its incredible expertise, she said. Shen Yuns orchestra, a unique combination of classical Western and traditional Chinese instruments, is renowned worldwide. The performance also features performances by vocalists who sing Chinese text using the bel canto technique. Mr. Schulten said he was particularly interested in one of the vocalist performances and the lyrics of the song, which has many spiritual themes. I thought the choice of music and the song itself was very surprising because nowadays a song like that in China you would not hear, he said. America has its religious ways of going about life, [but lyrics] like this really reach back to before the communist regime and a song like that would not be possible nowadays. From my point of view that was revealing and actually very interesting to see the connection with old China and nowadays China, he said. Mr. Schulten gave his perception of the effectiveness of the messages depicted in the dances. I think the message is very smooth. Its not overbearing, and it is not too strong. Its very subtle. And its beautiful because its done in a beautiful art form, he said. [It was] very obvious, but I have to say maybe for us, knowing China and the Chinese a little bit, we see the message and we understand the message, said Mr. Schulten. Reporting by Charlie Lu and Diane Cordemans. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Brad Walker at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater on May 26, 2022. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.Everyone has their days when they need to take a breath and step back from the world. For Brad Walker, general manager of a manufacturing company, he chose Shen Yun Performing Arts as his getaway. I really liked the whole Phoenix thing. Spiritually for me, being able to just stop and see the beauty, just stop my day, said Mr. Walker. I took the day off. I never do that. I planned this for months and turned my phone off, he said. I just wanted to experience this. So for me, its more than art. Its my little spiritual moment, my little getaway. Shen Yun is based in New York and its mission is to revive Chinas 5,000 years of civilization. Through dance and music, Shen Yun tells stories of the lessons that history has taught us. Despite its efforts to spread the beauty of Chinese culture, Shen Yun is not able to perform in China today. I think it takes you through the history Its an education, right? I wanted to learn; as people, we should always be evolving, said Mr. Walker. I think that from the culture that I got to experience today, it shows that were pretty much the same. Weve had different issues along the way as people in this country, but I think its important for us to [understand] as human beings whats going on in China, and other places around the world, he said. Take a moment and think about culture, what [it] can bring to human society and the human race. I think that if we dont take time to recognize that, were really missing out, great things like this could be erased from memory. Mr. Walker applauded how every aspect of the performance seemed to be connected. Every year, Shen Yun puts on an all-new production. Whether it be the dance, the music, the costumes, or the digital backdrops, every element of the performance is original each year. The talent is how everything just flows together in song; the music is connected to the performers and even the clothing [is] connected to the music. It all just flows together. Its fantastic. Its more than I thought it would be for me, he said. Reporting by Lily Yu and Maria Han. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. WORCESTER Five Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor took on several questions relating to the human services sector during a forum in Worcester Monday. Candidates Bret Bero of Boston, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, state Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton, state Sen. Adam Hinds of Pittsfield and state Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow took part in a forum hosted by the Providers Council, a statewide association of community-based human services organizations. The forum was held at the Beechwood Hotel. To start the forum, the candidates were asked to give their personal experience with human services. Bret Bero of Boston Bret Bero participates in a forum at the Beechwood Hotel on Monday. Bero, a Babson College professor with experience in the business world, said that he served on the board of an addiction and trauma recovery center for the better part of a decade and had family members who struggled with their mental health. In his work on the board, Bero said that he realized many of the issues in the field do not have clear, scientific solutions. "I came to know the fact that there are a whole host of problems (in human services), and they don't present usually as a single item," Bero said. "Once you have one sort of issue, it starts to spiral and have several issues." Bero said he is in favor of experimenting with potential solutions such as facility recidivism. Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll Kim Driscoll participates in a forum at the Beechwood Hotel on Monday. Driscoll said during her time as mayor of Salem and as deputy city manager of Chelsea, that she has seen what it can look like when services fail residents. "I really value what you're doing and I want to be a key partner," Driscoll said to a crowd of representatives of the human services industry. Tami Gouveia of Acton Tami Gouveia participates in a forum at the Beechwood Hotel on Monday. Gouveia grew up in Lowell with an alcoholic grandfather and would accompany her mother to drop him off and pick him up from a detoxification clinic, she said. "(I'll) really focus on health, wellbeing and dignity in the ways that we are responding to our crises and making sure that the workforce exists to support the needs of the 700,000 residents in the state of Massachusetts that rely on the work that you all do," Gouveia said. Story continues State Sen. Adam Hinds of Pittsfield Adam Hinds participates in a forum at the Beechwood Hotel on Monday. Hinds led human services organizations in Berkshire County before joining the Senate. He said he knows both sides of requesting action from the state for the industry, which has been growing in the state. "(I understand) doing it from both sides of the table to really understand the critical shifts that are happening in the industry," Hinds said. Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow Eric Lesser participates in a forum at the Beechwood Hotel on Monday. Lesser said his family is deeply involved in the human services industry including both of his parents, his sister and mother-in-law. "I hope we talk today about how a lieutenant governor in particular, how state government work to lift up your field and work to get more resources, particularly around reimbursement, training and pay for your workforce," Lesser said. Plan for staffing issues The candidates were then asked if they have a specific plan for staffing issues if the desired funding for human services staffing does not materialize. Bero said the matter is a question of whether the state will make investments in having more resources. He suggested the state start funding colleges for people who are in the human services fields as a long-term plan. Driscoll drew applause by saying that it is time to raise Chapter 257 rates reimbursement rates for human and social services. She said that businesses in communities like Salem cannot compete with such a high number of job vacancies. "We are at a time when we have historic resources. This has to be a priority. We'll have the opportunity to do that hopefully this year," Driscoll said. Gouveia said that the resources already exist in the state, but that they are not being used properly and all families and businesses are not being taxed in ways necessary to make critical investments. "We do have to get together the political will to make these critical investments because I believe that we will not be able to get our economy back on track and keep it on track if we don't invest in our people," Gouveia said. Hinds also said that Chapter 257 rates need to be adjusted. He said that the state needs to use this moment of historic funding to take on the issues of equity in the state. Loan repayment and creating debt-free college in Massachusetts are other tools to address the issue. Lesser said the state needs to do a better job valuing the human services field. He used an example of a student loan repayment proposal for human services workers on the state's American Rescue Plan Act funding bill that he championed as an example of such efforts to support the industry. "It's a disgrace that in one of the wealthiest, most progressive, or at least progressive in air quotes, states in the country, we have people leaving the professions at all of your agencies to go work at Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks because it pays more," Lesser said. How to handle NIMBY attitudes Next, the candidates were asked how to get buy-in from community members for establishing human services institutions in certain areas where a "not in my backyard" attitude exists. Bero drew from his experience in municipal committees for the town of Carlisle. He said that often the best way to accomplish such goals is through dialogue and involving residents in decision making. "I adopted a slogan when I was in those positions, which was, 'If you want to go fast, go it alone. If you want to go far, go it together,'" Bero said. Driscoll said the best way she believes communities can work with human services agencies is by seeing any new projects as an addition to already existing work in the community and not the doings of outsiders. Gouveia said every resident deserves to live in thriving neighborhoods with safe housing and access to transportation as well as adequate services. Hinds brought up his experience working on conflict negotiations for the United Nations in the Middle East and said that work informs his work in the state. "You need everyone to come to understand why are we doing this, who are we doing this for, what are the circumstances and let's lock arms and move forward together," Hinds said. Lesser said his district includes both some of the wealthiest and lowest-income communities in the state and he has worked through community resistance numerous times. A lieutenant governor is perfectly suited to hold dialogues across communities, cabinet secretaries and agencies to find common ground, Lesser said. Unemployment rate of people with disabilities The final question that the candidates were asked was how the candidates would address the unemployment rate of people with disabilities. Bero said that the state needs to develop programs to recognize the unique skills of workers with disabilities and should be more open to different employment models. Driscoll said that along with new programs, a scaffolding needs to be put in place to help employers understand what training is needed and what opportunities employees with disabilities present. Gouveia said residents need more supports in order to live independently. The state also needs to work on transportation, bringing up stories of how the MBTA's RIDE program can leave people stranded. Hinds said awareness of inclusive hiring practices is growing. He called for an audit of every state agency and organization to examine accessibility and criteria for judging applications. Lesser said the state Senate completed a commission on the future of work. He said a key takeaway from the commission was that the potential exists for all of the new advancements in hybrid and remote work that the world experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic to create transformative opportunities for people who may have accessibility issues. Other issues After the forum, Bero, Hinds and Gouveia answered questions on what issues they believed were important for Central Massachusetts. Bero, who once ran a small business in the town of Orange, said the region often gets forgotten by Beacon Hill. The economy and jobs will be major issues for the region going forward, Bero said. Bero predicted turbulent times ahead for the national and state economy and worries that small businesses could be hit. "We can't afford to have them hit. You go through any town right now and you will see empty storefronts and you're also going to see a lot of businesses that used to exist that don't exist," Bero said. The state needs to go deeper than spending money on supporting these communities, such as allowing outdoor dining for restaurants, Bero said. In addition, Bero said, investing in education is a critical issue for the state. He said that education is key for residents looking to lift themselves up and needs to be promoted at all levels including pre-school, grade school and in vocational education. Hinds said that the cost of housing is a critical issue for the region and the state at large. "It's outrageous that in this day and age, Massachusetts is one of the most expensive places to live and the most unequal," Hinds said. "We have to get our fundamentals right, whether it's housing or investments in transportation or workforce development." As the state Legislature deliberates major spending for the next administration, Hinds said that now is the time to ensure that every region of the state is looked after by the next administration. He said that the ticket needs regional balance so that it is not solely focused on the Boston area. Gouveia said housing, mental health and education are key areas of focus for Central Massachusetts. "If we have those three things and they're really functioning, we will see a stronger economy not only her in Central Mass., but in all across the commonwealth," Gouveia said. Along with loan repayment options for students, Gouveia said debt-free higher education also needs to be pursued by the state. Republican lieutenant governor candidates Kate Campanale of Spencer and Leah Allen of Peabody were invited to the forum, but did not participate. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Host of problems': See what the lt. gov. candidates have to say about the human services sector Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) 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) Solomon Islands Says China Considering Proposal to Build Police Training Center China is considering a proposal to set up a police training center in the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele said on Thursday, as Beijing seeks to bring their bilateral ties to a higher level. Manele made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who was on a 10-day trip to eight Pacific Island nations. The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) boycotted the press conference because they were only permitted to pose one question to Manele, while Wang would only respond to queries from Chinese reporters. The media of the democratic country objected to a foreign country restricting their ability to report on the event. China will further consider a proposal for a police training center and support towards police infrastructure and assets, given the countrys fragile security environment, Manele was quoted as saying by ABC News. The two countries formalized a number of development cooperation frameworks during their meeting, including a civil aviation agreement that will provide the groundwork for the airlines of both nations to open air routes. The two states initialed a civil aviation agreement. This will allow the aviation industry to do business with China and open up tourism and business market, reported the Solomon Islands Government website. Wang also visited Samoa on Friday night and met with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa for talks on climate change, the pandemic, peace and security. The two nations signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement. According to a statement issued by the Samoan government, China and Samoa signed an agreement to build a fingerprint laboratory in addition to the previously announced police academy in the country. Wangs tour encompasses seven other nations, including Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and East Timor. The Solomon Islands signed a security deal with Beijing last month, which other nations feared would allow China to establish a military base 1,700 kilometers off the Australian coast and destabilize the Indo-Pacific region. But Wang dismissed the speculation, saying that China has no intention of establishing military bases in the Pacific Islands nation. Any smears and attacks on China-Solomon Islands normal security cooperation will be a dead end and any interference and sabotage will be doomed to failure, he said in a statement. A draft communique of the China-Pacific Island Countries Common Development Vision and a five-year action plan, leaked to Reuters, has 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. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday that Washington was aware of Chinas plan to have a range of agreements with Pacific Islands nations and is concerned that the accords were negotiated in a rushed, non-transparent process. Price claimed that the security agreements were conducted with little regional consultation, provoking public concern not only in the United States but across the Indo-Pacific region. We dont believe that importing security forces from [China] and their methods will help any Pacific Island country; on the other hand, doing so could only seek to fuel regional and international tensions and increase concerns over Beijings expansion of internal, of its internal security apparatus to the Pacific, he said. Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report. U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers fire salvoes during a military exercise in the Grier Labouihi region, in Morocco, on June 9, 2021. (Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images) State Department Okays Over $3 Billion In Arms Sales to Australia, Egypt, Netherlands The State Department has announced plans for three major weapons sales to Australia, Egypt, and the Netherlands. The deals are estimated to be jointly worth some $3.1 billion, with officials saying the sales will not alter the basic military balance in the respective regions nor will they have any adverse impact on Americas defense readiness. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a series of statements on May 25 that the State Department has approved the potential deals, which are not yet final. Egypt is to be the recipient of the biggest of the sales, which involves CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and related equipment, as well as maintenance and technical assistance, with an estimated price tag of $2.6 billion. U.S. Air Force CH-47 Chinook helicopters are seen landing at the airport in Jasionka near Rzeszow, Poland, on Feb. 16, 2022. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images) DSCA said in a statement that 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. The planned sale will help Egypt, a non-NATO ally of the United States, to improve its heavy-lift capability, bolster its defenses, and deter regional threats. Boeing Helicopter Company in Philadelphia is to be the principal contractor. Implementation of the sale would involve the assignment of a handful of U.S. government and contractor representatives to Egypt, along with a 2-year deployment of five U.S. military personnel to provide field technical assistance. In a separate deal announced on May 19, Egypt is to receive TOW 2A missile systems and support, with the potential sale worth some $691 million. Besides enhancing Egypts homeland defense capability, the missiles will be used for counter-terrorism and border security against armored threats and fortified positions, DSCA said. Egypt, the most populous Arab country, is viewed by the United States as a strategic partner and a key non-NATO ally. It controls the Suez Canal, through which some 10 percent of global trade passes. Australia is expected to receive a number of rocket systems and related equipment, with an estimated cost of $385 million, DSCA said in a statement. The proposed sale to Australia covers 20 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher. It also includes guided multiple launch rocket systems, alternative warhead pods with insensitive munitions propulsion systems, and army tactical missile systems. U.S. soldiers are seen attending to an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher vehicle, during a military exercise in the Grier Labouihi region, in Morocco, on June 9, 2021. (Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images) DSCA said that the proposed sale will improve Australias capability to meet current and future threats, and will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and other allied forces. Two of the main contractors on the Australia deal will be U.S.-basedLockheed Martin and L3 Harriswhile a third, Chelton, will be British. The Netherlands is poised to expand its missile capability in a deal estimated to be worth $117 million, involving the planned purchase of AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missile systems and related equipment. This builds on a prior Dutch request for the AIM-9X missiles, which was worth around $16.8 million. The missiles will help strengthen Dutch air defense needs while improving the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF) capability to conduct regional security missions and enhancing interoperability with the United States and other NATO allies. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe, DSCA said in a statement. Tuscon-based Raytheon Missiles and Defense will be the principal contractor. Congress now has the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed sales before they become final. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting at Uvalde High School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Texas Governor Says New Laws to Be Passed After Elementary School Shooting New laws will be passed after the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on May 27. Do we expect any laws to come out of this devastating crime? The answer is yes. Absolutely yes, said Abbott, a Republican. Those laws will be in multiple different subject areas, he added. One area will be making schools safer. He also wants laws that address the array of healthcare issues that relate to those who commit gun crimes. The status quo is unacceptable. This crime is unacceptable. Were not going to be here and talking about it and do nothing about it. We will be looking for the best laws that we can get passed to make our communities and schools safer, Abbott said. Governors across the nation, and members of Congress, have discussed new legislation following the shooting, which left 21 dead, and the shooter, at Robb Elementary School on May 24. Some legislators and governors see the need for bills that curb access to guns, but Abbott suggested he isnt of the same mind. Pressed on whether hed support legislation to tighten background checks, Abbott said background checks can be avoided, pointing to how the Dimitrios Pagourtzis, a 17-year-old who carried out the shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, in 2018, took the gun he used from a parent. Anyone who suggests, well, maybe we should focus on background checks as opposed to mental health. I suggest to you is mistaken, Abbott said. The Republican also brushed aside talk about moving the legal age to buy rifles to 21, noting that 18-year-olds in Texas have been able to buy the guns for some 150 years and school shootings have only recently started happening. Salvador Ramos, the alleged Uvalde shooter, was 18 and legally bought two guns. State. Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat, interrupted the briefing to urge Abbott to call a special session so lawmakers can reconvene, and said the session should focus on gun laws. We have to do something, Gutierrez said, adding that he feels 18-year-olds shouldnt have guns. The Texas Democratic Party, meanwhile, called for a bill that would ban assault weapons, which it did not define. The Texas Democratic Party joins their call for a special session to ban assault weapons and pass life-saving legislation to end gun violence in Texas, Gilberto Hinojosa, the party chairman, said in a statement. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican, has largely aligned with Abbott, saying he thinks the focus should be on mental health legislation as opposed to bills concerning firearms. The Force Arrives in Anaheim ANAHEIM, Calif.Within the bustling resort district surrounded by towering hotels and attractions from the Disneyland theme park, a child suddenly lifted his lightsaber and lightly whacked his father as they were walking with a group of family members on Harbor Blvd. The father, wearing a navy blue t-shirt depicting a cartoon version of Baby Yoda from the Star Wars show The Mandalorian, gave his son a slight smirk as he continued walking with the group. They were just a few of the attendees at the Anaheim 2022 Star Wars Celebration taking place May 26-29 at the Anaheim Convention Center, providing avid Star Wars fans immersive exhibits, interactive showroom floors, celebrity guests, costume contests, and exclusive merchandise for sale. Most tickets were sold out even after a second round of tickets became available on March 15, and those who were able to attend the event say it was well worth the effort. Im still processing it all, David of Aurora, Colo., told The Epoch Times. I think this is the best convention we have been to, thus far. A Star Wars fan walks along Harbor Blvd. in Anaheim, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) David, who developed a passion for Star Wars at an early age, said that he was not only impressed with the exhibitswhich included a nearly life-size version of a TIE fighter space shipbut also by the incredible detail of the various costumes that were made and worn by fans. One that really stood in there was a costume we saw of a bantha, David said, referencing a woman wearing a costume of a wooly mammoth-like creature from the Star Wars planet of Tatooine. The costume was built over a shopping cart-like frame with wheels so it could be pushed around by the lady who designed it. Definitely impressed, he added. Several feet away, three Star Wars fans dressed in tan Jedi knight costumes and green wristbands prepared for their entry into the convention courtyard area by opening their bags for a checkpoint screening area manned by a staff of over a dozen security officers. A family walks towards the parking area after leaving the 2022 Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The event laid out extensive health and security guidelines upon entry that included proof of coronavirus vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, along with the requirement of wearing masks while enjoying festivities throughout the convention center. However, some Star Wars fans online said that they might hold off this year because of the regulations. Going to a con with all these restrictions would just kill the joy for me, Id rather just watch the livestream comfortably from home, one man commented on the events Facebook page. I really hope that by the time the next celebration rolls around things will be back to normal and the restrictions can be removed. But the events regulations were not enough to deter Star Wars fans from enjoying the celebration, which sold tickets ranging from single one-day passes to Jedi Master multi-day passes that were priced at $900.00 on the events webpage. Just seeing so many people that love Star Wars and so many people in costume and t-shirts, instantly its like you have something in common with everybody here, said Star Wars fan Jennifer, also from Aurora, Col. A Star Wars fan holds a light saber in Anaheim, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Its a neat community someone [was] walking through, and they gave me a fist bump about my costume. Jennifer, clad in a Jedi knight costume, also had a metallic replica of a light saber handle that would make any avid fan jealous. I took the blades off for the celebration, but it just connects here on the belt of my costume. Guests headlining the celebration ranged from Star Wars writers, Walt Disney Imagineers, Lucasfilm team members, along with actors from the T.V. and film franchise that included but were not limited to: Carl Weathers (Greef Karga), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and many others. Rupert Friend (L), Deborah Chow (2nd L), Ewan McGregor (C), Moses Ingram (2nd R) and Hayden Christensen attend the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration for Obi-Wan Kenobi in Anaheim, Calif., on May 26, 2022. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) Id love to meet Ewan McGregor, but unless we can fist-bump into each other in the hall theres a slim chance of that, Jennifer said with a smile. But well see; were here for a few more days. The 2022 Anaheim Star Wars Celebration schedule ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Although tickets are sold out, Star Wars fans may still find offers for tickets online though social media tags under #STARWARSCELEBRATION. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the National Rifle Association annual convention in Houston, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Trump Calls on Congress to Fund Safe Schools Before Sending Billions to Ukraine Former President Donald Trump said on Friday that Congress should prioritize funding for school security over military aid to Ukraine, with his remarks coming in the context of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in which a gunman shot 21 people to death. Trump began his speech at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Houston by reading out the names of the victims of the Uvalde massacre, one of the worst school shootings in the United States in a decade. The terrible murder of 19 innocent children and two adult teachers, with many badly injured, was a savage and barbaric atrocity that shocks the conscience of every single American, Trump said. Former President Donald Trump speaks during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The shooting has renewed Democrat calls for stricter gun laws, while speakers at the NRA convention, including Trump, dismissed talk of curbs on firearms. Every time a disturbed or demented person commits such a hideous crime, theres always a grotesque effort by some in our society to use the suffering of others to advance their own extreme political agenda, Trump said. Clearly, we need to make it far easier to confine the violent and mentally deranged into mental institutions, he added. Trump then called for tougher security at the nations schools. Every building should have a single point of entry. There should be strong exterior fencing, metal detectors, and the use of new technology to make sure that no unauthorized individual can ever enter the school with a weapon, he said. The former president also called for classroom doors to be hardened and for every school in America to have a police officer or an armed rescue officer on duty at all times. He also called for expanding funding, recruitment, and training at police departments, including rigorous training on active shooter protocols. There has been criticism of the law enforcement response to the shooting after it was revealed there was a long delay from when police arrived on the scene to when they finally stormed the classroom where the gunman had barricaded himself. This is not a matter of money. This is a matter of will, Trump said, adding that trillions of dollars were spent in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we got nothing in return. If the United States has $40 billion to send to Ukraine we should be able to do whatever it takes to keep our children safe at home, Trump said. Before we nation-build the rest of the world, we should be building safe schools for our own children in our own nation, Trump told the crowd, eliciting loud applause. Congressional lawmakers voted earlier in May to send nearly $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total to around $54 billion since late February, when Russian forces launched their invasion. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the National Rifle Association annual convention in Houston, Texas, on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Trump Defends Gun Rights, Calls for Security Overhaul at Schools Nationwide After Uvalde Mass Shooting 'The existence of evil is one of the best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens' Former President Donald Trump on Friday called for a top to bottom security overhaul at schools nationwide after 21 people died at a mass shooting in Texas earlier this week. Speaking at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention, the former president also spoke in support of arming law-abiding citizens to deter evil. The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens who know how to use their weapons and can protect a lot of people. The existence of evil is one of the best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens, Trump said. Trump condemned the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, calling it a heinous massacre and a savage and barbaric atrocity that shocks the conscience of every single American. He called for a brief moment of silence while he read out the names of all 21 victims who perished that day. The monster who committed this crime is pure evil, pure cruelty, pure hatred. Absolute pure hatred, Trump said. While those he slaughtered are now with God in heaven, he will be eternally damned to burn in the fires of hell. The former president denounced efforts by politicians who exploit such tragedies to push various gun control policies. Every time a disturbed or demented person commits such a hideous crime, theres always a grotesque effort by some in our society to use the suffering of others to advance their own extreme political agenda, he said. Even more repulsive is their rush to shift blame away from the villains who commit acts of mass violence and to place that blame onto the shoulders of millions of peaceful, law-abiding citizens who belong to organizations such as our wonderful NRA. He added, As always in the wake of these tragedies, the various gun control policies being pushed by the left would have done nothing to prevent the horrors that took place. Absolutely nothing. Former President Donald Trump speaks during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on May 27, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Top to Bottom Security Overhaul At Schools Trump called for a top to bottom security overhaul at schools across the nation to protect students and teachers. Every building should have a single point of entry. There should be strong exterior fencing, metal detectors, and the use of new technology to make sure no unauthorized individual can ever enter the school with a weapon, he said. No one should ever be able to get anywhere near a classroom until they have been checked, scanned, screened, and fully approved. It is so important. In addition, classroom doors should be hardened to make them lockable from the inside and closed to intruders from the outside. And above all, every school in America should have a police officer or an armed resource officer on duty at all times. The former president also said that as part of a comprehensive school safety plan, teachers who are highly trained in using firearms should be able to safely and discreetly conceal carry. He dismissed the idea of a gun-free zone. There is no sign more inviting to a mass killer than a sign that declares a gun-free zone. Statistically, it is a total disaster. Gun-free zonethey look at the sign and say that is where I am going.' What on earth is stopping democrats from immediately passing measures to ramp up school security? Trump asked. Trump said that the shooting reflects complicated issues facing the nation, including that of mental health. He encouraged people in the community to say something when they see anything of concern on social media or at school. There are always so many warning signs. Almost all of these disfigured minds share the same profile. Teachers, parents, school officials need to be recognizing and addressing these alarm bells promptly and very aggressively, Trump said. Our school discipline systems, instead of making excuses and turning a blind eye, need to confront bad behavior quickly. Second Amendment Under Siege Trump spoke in support of arming law-abiding citizens with guns to protect against danger while accusing Democrat politicians at large of wanting to confiscate guns from everyone. Lets not pretend that those on the left are talking about just limiting one class of gun or one category of ammunition. We all know they want total gun confiscation, he said. This would be a first step. Once they get the first step, theyll take the second step, the third, the fourth, and then youll have a whole different look at the Second Amendment, which is totally under siege, he said. But even if every decent and honest American gave up their guns, the criminals would never give up theirs, and they never will. They would wreak havoc like never before in our country, Trump said. The fact is that there will always be sick and demonic souls who wish to harm the innocent and wish to see malice triumph over good. Trump said that the NRAs thousands of certified firearms instructors each year train one million Americans to be safer gun owners, ready to act when the situation calls. Every day, that training is protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding the innocent, Trump said, adding later, As the age-old saying goes, the only way to stop a bad guy with the gun is a good guy with the gun. It Took Too Long Trump said the response to take down the shooter, Salvador Ramos, was too long. He called for further training in all police departments across the nation. At every police department in America, we need rigorous training on active shooter protocols to immediately locate and eliminate the target. It took too long, Trump said, referring to the response to take down Ramos. The former president reiterated his support for increasing funding for police. We need to expand funding, recruiting, and training for police departments nationwide. This is not a matter of money, this is a matter of will, he said. We will no longer defund the police and we will no longer mention it. Great American heroes. If allowed to do their job, they will do it like nobody else can. All of those crime statistics will be cut in such a big way, you will be so proud to be an American, he told the crowd. If America had a proper approach to policing and jailing, we could cut violent crime in our major cities by much more than half and it would take place almost immediately, Trump said, adding later, The most straightforward thing we can do to save lives from violence is to hire more police, arrest more violent criminals and get them into jail. A sign is posted in front of a Tesla service center in Fremont, Calif., on April 20, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) US Agency Asks Tesla for Information on Canadian Fire Incident WASHINGTONThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday it has asked Tesla Inc. for information about a recent 2021 Tesla Model Y fire in Vancouver, British Columbia, in which a driver reported struggling to exit. The NHTSA told Reuters the agency is aware of the incident and has reached out to the manufacturer for information. Electrek posted a video of the incident in which the owner said he received an error notification and then saw smoke. The driver said that to get out he had to smash the window I kicked through the window because everything stops. The power didnt work. The door didnt open. The windows didnt go down. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An Air Force father returns home from work and receives a hug from his son in an Iowa field. (Courtesy Airmen for Religious Freedom) US Military Intentionally Purging People of Faith Via COVID Shot: Liberty Counsel Military service demands sacrifice. Members must accept time away from family, discomfort during training and active duty, and they must have a willingness to give their all; lay down their life. But since 2021, military members who refused to take the COVID-19 shot for religious reasons have been told that they must also sacrifice either their faith or their career, discharge reputation, and any future benefits they may have been banking on. In the waning days of the pandemic, all branches of the U.S. military are still denying religious exemptions that would allow those who object to the shots for religious reasons to continue to serve. More than 24,000 service members have filed a Religious Accommodation Request and have been denied, according to the Liberty Counsel, which is pushing forward with a class certification for a lawsuit that will include members of all six military branches, including the Space Force. There are at least nine suits across the nation attempting to help the unvaccinated faithful keep their jobs. It is abusive. It is inhumane. It is an intentional purge of people of faith from the military by the Biden administration, Mat Staver, attorney and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, told The Epoch Times. He notes numerous ways the military has relaxed its COVID mitigation, such as housing Marines at the Parris Island barracks who are COVID negative and COVID positive together. We know across the board that youre having various platoons that are being dismantled and are not being rebuilt because they dont have people to staff. We know that recruitment is down. People are not coming into the military because the morale is at an all-time low. So thats why I say in light of all of this, why are [there] still mandates? In response to the Jan. 6, 2021 rally at the U.S. Capitol that has been characterized as an insurrection of extremists, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in February 2021, directed military leaders to address extremism within the troops. Austins office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. He wanted to purge the military. He was referring to people like those coming out of Jan. 6, but I think his definition is broader than that, Staver said. He believes people of faith are also being targeted. It has caused some military members to reevaluate who the enemy is. Weve had high ranking people tell us, We were prepared to fight the enemy. We were not prepared to fight our own government over this issue of religious exemptions. Staver says those seeking religious exemption from the shot are facing immense pressure. One client, a one-star brigadier general who has served more than 20 years, wasnt ready to retire, but she could. She doesnt want the shot for religious reasons. Instead of letting her retire with honor now, she must first take the shot. No shot would mean dishonorable discharge and a loss of benefits. We have people that are deployed in Korea or Japan, Staver said. We have many of these stories. One was sent to Korea for a year on a company deployment. He was supposed to come home in December of 2021. But because he asked for a religious exemption, theyve frozen him in Korea. They wont let him come back to see his wife and his 10-month-old son. Hes never seen his son who was born while he served far from home. His wife is very distraught. He tells us theres no end in sight for him to be able to come home. Theyre saying, Youre not going to be able to leave and go home until you take the shot. And theyre doing that all over the world. I can tell you story after story after story. Staver knows of unvaccinated people who are kicked out of the barracks. They are not getting reimbursed for housing. Some are living in their cars. And he tells of the military moving peoples belongings to the opposite coast as they were being redeployed to a different part of the country. Their furniture and other belongings end up frozen in the wrong place. This is the kind of pressure that theyre applying, Staver said. What the chaplains continue to say is theyve never seen this kind of abuse and mistreatment of service members. He says morale is at an all-time low, and many who have spent their life serving have told him they would no longer recommend a military career to young people. At a time when we need the military at its strongest, Biden has weakened it. People who have been around for 18, 20, 25 yearsyou cant replace those people very easily. Some of them are just irreplaceable. And theyre willing to kick them out. While the decision to decline the shot is personal, those who are asking for exemptions from the shot want Americans to understand their fight is a matter of liberty for all. These guys are metaphorically in a trench fighting to preserve the freedoms of being able to live out our convictions, Megan, an Air Force wife at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, told The Epoch Times. Her last name is being withheld as they are trying to keep her husbands job. These guys want to live out their convictions and still be able to do their job. Why is it a mutually exclusive thing? You can no longer serve God and your country? How did this happen? How did we get here? Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (L) in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on May 23, 2022. (Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP) US Resident Asks UN Human Rights Chief Visiting China to Confirm Her Jailed Husband is Alive in Xinjiang A Californian resident has urged UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who is visiting China, to help ascertain if her husband, who is under a 19-year prison term for his rights speech, is still alive after four years of being denied visitation, correspondence, and phone calls. Jenny Li, a Hayward-based resident, wrote to Bachelet on May 26 asking her to urgently verify that her imprisoned husband Zhang Haitao, a 51-year-old human rights advocate, is still alive, while she is in China. I desperately hope that you can help me to let me know whether my husband is alive or dead, whether he was tortured inside and whether he is healthy or not, Li wrote in her letter to the UN official. If possible, please visit him at Shaya Prison in Xinjiang. Zhang was initially held in Shaya Prison, Aksu, in the Chinese western region of Xinjiang, according to a notice of admission issued by the prison authorities, which his wife showed The Epoch Times. However, it has been 49 months since the guards blocked her and Zhangs lawyer from meeting or contacting him using a variety of excuses. In the letter to the UN commissioner, Zhangs wife expressed how she and her young son Joseph miss him every day. We are desperate for your help. Please understand the hearts of a wife and a child! Li told The Epoch Times that her 6-year-old son is eager for love and care from his father, whom he has never seen since his birth. I was barely in the third month of pregnancy when my husband was taken away by police, she said. Zhangs sister Zhang Qingzhen, who lives in China, also wrote a letter to the UN human rights chief, calling for attention to her jailed brother. Speaking of the UN officials visit to China, Li was doubtful about the odds of her traveling to a Chinese prison. I believe the Chinese government would restrict her access to re-education camps [in Xinjiang] and block her from investigating Chinas human rights situation, Li said. Observers and human rights groups warn that the Chinese regime may use Michelle Bachelets visit to whitewash its human rights abuses. Beijing Should Release Zhang Haitao Immediately: UN WGAD Looking at what my husband has suffered, she added, you may get a glimpse of the whole situation of Chinas human rights. According to Li, a Xinjiang court sentenced her husband to a 19-year term on charges of inciting subversion of state power and providing intelligence to foreign groups, based on Zhangs 69 posts on WeChat and 205 posts on Twitter advocating for human rights and acceptance of interviews from foreign media outlets. In March 2022, Li referred her husbands case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD). The WGAD replied that it believed that the Chinese governments deprivation of Zhang Haitaos freedoms violated many provisions of the International Declaration of Human Rights, and the Chinese government should release Zhang Haitao immediately. Li said she and her son Joseph fled to the United States at the end of 2017. Chinese prisoner of conscience Zhang Haitaos wife Jenny Li and their 6-year-old son Joseph Zhang in Hayward, California, on May 27, 2022. (Courtesy of Jenny Li) The communist Chinese regime has consistently denied allegations of human rights violations. Rather, it takes every opportunity to paint China as a nation committed to protecting and promoting civil liberties and rights. During Bachelets visit, Chinese state media outlets claim she said, I admire Chinas efforts and achievements in eradicating poverty, protecting human rights, and realizing economic and social development. However, such compliments were challenged by the UN spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell, according to the Guardian. Throssell said the Chinese side misquoted Bachelets words. The UN human rights chiefs exact wording was I look forward to deepening our discussions on these and other issues, and hope my Office can accompany to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights, justice and the rule of law for all without exception. Days ago, hackers leaked thousands of photos and other internal documents revealing the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) detention and torture of Uyghur Muslims and sent them to Adrian Zenz, Director and Senior Fellow in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington. The documents are believed to be the latest proof of the CCPs human rights abuses in China. The UN officials 6-day visit is scheduled to end on May 28. Shaya Prison could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts by press time. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks at the daily briefing, at the State Department in Washington, on Feb. 25, 2022. (Nicholas Kamm/Pool via Reuters/File Photo) US Sanctions 2 Russian Banks Accused of Supporting North Korea Missile Launches The United States on Friday sanctioned two Russian banks, a North Korean trading company, and one individual for allegedly aiding North Koreas nuclear weapons program, following Pyongyangs 17th round of missile launches this year on May 25. This comes after China and Russia vetoed the U.S. draft resolution on North Korea sanctions on Thursday. Russia called the resolution a path to a dead-end, while China said it may lead to negative effects and escalation of confrontation. We are taking these actions in response to [North Koreas] ongoing development of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said. The U.S. Treasury Department said the latest sanctions targeted Russian financial institutionsFar Eastern Bank and Sputnik Bankand North Koreas Air Koryo Trading Corporation (AKTC). AKTC was accused of providing support to Pyongyangs Ministry of Rocket Industry, particularly in acquiring various electrical components and dual-use goods, including transistors and hydraulic system components. Far Eastern Bank allegedly provided financial support to Air Koryo, the national airline of North Korea, while Bank Sputnik was suspected of assisting the Norths Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) and holding a Russian ruble account for FTBs front firm, Korea Ungum Corporation. Washington also sanctioned Jong Yong Nam, a Belarus-based representative of an organization subordinate to North Koreas Second Academy of Natural Sciences, which Washington had previously designated in 2010. All of their property and assets in the United States will be blocked as a result of the sanctions. The United States will continue to implement and enforce existing sanctions while urging [North Korea] to return to a diplomatic path and abandon its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said. North Korea launched three ballistic missiles off its east coast just hours after President Joe Biden ended his trip to Asia on Wednesday. South Koreas military said that Pyongyang fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile and two short-range ballistic missiles. Washington announced new sanctions against entities and individuals located in Russia, North Korea, and China for proliferation activities on that same day. It targeted Russian entities Ardis Group of Companies LLC, PFK Profpodshipnik LLC, and Russian individual Igor Aleksandrovich Michurin, as well as North Koreas SANS Foreign Affairs Bureau and North Korean individual Ri Sung Chol for transferring sensitive items to North Koreas missile program. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the sanctions intended to impede [North Koreas] ability to advance its missile program while highlighting Russias role as a proliferator to programs of concern. The United States also imposed sanctions against the Chinese entity Zhengzhou Nanbei Instrument Equipment Co. Ltd for supplying Syria with equipment controlled by the Australia group chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation regime. These determinations underscore the continuing need for all countries to remain vigilant to efforts by North Korea and Syria to advance their proliferation programs of concern, Price said in a statement. While the area was hit with severe weather on May 19, many citizens braved the weather and made their voices heard at an informal public meeting hosted by Nexgen Silica and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR.) Nexgen Silica intends to produce frack sand and/or industrial sands, moving the materials for transport on the Mississippi River at Ste. Genevieve. Those taking part in the meeting included Larry Lehman, the director of Land Reclamation Program with MDNR; DNR Chief Bill Zeaman, Industrial and Metallic Minerals Mining Unit with the Land Reclamation Program, and Colin Priest, an environmental specialist with the Land Reclamation Program. Nexgen Silica introduced Rodger Faulkner, Kory Faulkner, Kyle Faulkner, Aaron Vollrath, and Bob Gerke. Lasting a total of three hours with presentations in the first half in hopes to answer most, if not all, questions, many Ste. Genevieve County residents still had questions to ask. Vollrath spoke of the companys mission statement, with Nexgens focus is to support worldwide innovation by responsibly mining and globally distributing critical natural resources. Vollrath also spoke of the companys core values, stating them to be, safety, integrity, accountability, sustainability, philanthropy, innovation. Nexgen Silica General Manager Clark Bollinger took the podium next. Introducing himself, Bollinger stated that he has more than 30 years of experience in mining. Originally from Fredericktown, the family then moved to Festus while Bollinger was in school. Bollinger also introduced the advisory board, many of whom presented on topics like topography and watershed outfall, drilling and blasting, and crushing. The advisory board includes engineer Stan Schultz, Keith Henderson with Buckley Powder, geologist Ira Satterfied, hydrologist Mike Carlson, industrial hygienist John Jurgiel, Curtis Heider with air and water permitting, Jason Spangler, Troy Zickert with Hychem Inc., and Ron Heap with Tarmac International. Bollinger said with everyone on the advisory board, there was more than 250 years of experience. Schultz presented on how topography and watershed outfall will affect the people surrounding the plant and facility. Stating that, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, In watershed, the water conservation by rainwater harvesting is most significant as compared to the other means. The harvested rainwater can be retained for the duration of its need by designing and constructing the suitable structures in light of the same. Schultz continued on, stating that the water used by Nexgen will be caught on site from rainwater in the use of two ponds on site. The two ponds will be able to hold a total of 12 million gallons of water. Henderson provided information on the blasting and monitoring requirements. Several community members stood in line to ask questions. One of the most common type of questions asked involved the health and well-being of the people, as well as the workers. Another man inquired what will happen to the people in the area if workers have to wear safety gear. One woman asked that even though the company is planning on bringing in 25 to 30 jobs, what the company Nexgen will do to prevent pneumoconiosis (a common form of this is Black Lung Disease, or Miners Lung.) Officials from Nexgen stated that in some of the other states where silica mining takes place, such as California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the respirable crystal and silica is negligible in contribution from the mining activities. For the workers, air monitoring would be occurring, and there would be a cyclone to collect respirable crystal and silica samples to compare to the OSHA permissible level. The same woman asked if workers will be wearing respirators, and Nexgen stated that if levels are high enough, workers will be wearing respirators, but the overall goal is to keep levels low enough that the workers would not have to wear respirators. Another issue of concern that was brought up was how the facility will affect neighboring Hawn State Park. Margaret Hill, of Cape Girardeau, said Hawn State Park is a dark sky site, and was curious as how light and noise pollution would impact wildlife in the area. Lehman stated that Hill was correct, and there is no environmental regulation from the DNR when it comes to noise and light pollution. We work hard, all week, so that we can go and enjoy our natural resources, said Hill. Rev. Edward Nemeth, a pastor of the Ste. Genevieve Catholic Parish and president of the Valle Catholic School District, asked for no response for what he was about to say and asked everyone to reflect upon his questions as a community. Im a very progressive man when it comes to things of business. I believe that good business practice and good growth raises all boats, said Nemeth, however tonight I feel that this is an ill-gotten project. Nemeth said while progress is made for a profit, the abuse would be for the whole. Are we a community that is for progress without any concern for the environment, tourism, or our neighbors? asked Nemeth. Are we a community who will turn our back on our citizens to allow a few to profit? Are we a community who allow that which we have worked for, suffered for, bled for be bought and used like it is a replaceable commodity? Jillian Ditch Anslow has been working hard with a grassroots organization called Operation SAND in trying to prevent the silica mine. Constant noise, light, and vibrations are not why residents have made their homes in this area. They fear what this will mean for the foundations of their homes, their wells, and their property values. Anslow brought up that residents have concerns over air and water quality, as well as economic impacts and the quality of life. There is no way of fully understanding the long-term impacts on these young childrens health as they grow and develop while breathing the polluted air that the mine will cause. The Ste. Genevieve Commission has joined with the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department in adopting a Joint Health Ordinance regarding mining operations signed last week. The ordinance provides standards for mining facilities, definitions, an effective date, enforcement, and severability. The ordinance reads that no mining facility shall be located less than one half mile from a defined incorporated limits of a City, Town, or Village, a school or property owned and operated by any education institution, any church or place or worship, any populated area or platted subdivision, parks, ball fields, and public recreational area, or public or private wells used for purpose of supplying potable water in Ste. Genevieve County. The ordinance also reads that no mining facility shall be located less than one quarter mile from any occupied dwelling, any cave or sinkhole, any losing stream or tributary of any losing stream any stream segment of any Department-designated Outstanding State Resource Waters, or any stream segment which has a designed Beneficial Use Designation for IRR-Irrigation, LWP-Livestock & Wildlife Protection, WWH-Protection of Warm Water Habitat, Or WBC-Whole Body Contact Recreation. Danielle Thurman is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be contacted at dthurman@dailyjournalonline.com or 573-518-3616. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. US President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (L) after a press conference at the Samsung Electronic Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek on May 20, 2022. (Photo by Kim Min-hee/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) US, South Korea Strengthen Economic Ties Through Semiconductor Alliance 4 South Korean Conglomerates Pledge Nearly $470 billion in US Investment Plans New Analysis South Korea-U.S. economic ties are changing amid supply chain worries, high-tech competition, and concerns over national security. Having China as its largest trading partner, South Korea had, for over a decade, managed to mostly maintain balanced economic ties between the two powerhouses. However, recently, Seoul has made a clear shift in cementing a business partnership with Washington over Beijing. The shift appears to be driven by the destabilized global supply chains caused by the pandemic and growing threats to its economic and national security. Such a shift comes as the country has a new conservative leader, President Yoon Suk-yeol, a former prosecutor who is considered to be pro-United States. Yoon was sworn in on May 10. During his campaigning, Yoon vowed to shift the countrys economic policies from government-led growth to private sector-led growth. During U.S. President Joe Bidens recent three-day visit to South Korea, a number of South Korean conglomerates announced large-scale investments in the United States. On May 24, Samsung, Hyundai, Lotte, and Hanwha Group, pledged nearly $470 billion in U.S. investments over the next four to five years, The Korea Times reported. Meanwhile, others were preparing to release investment plans. On his first day in Seoul, on May 20, Biden toured Samsungs chip complex in Pyeongtaek, accompanied by Yoon and guided by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The complex houses some of the worlds largest chip production lines, accounting for about 15 percent of global memory chip production. President Joe Biden (left) and South Korean President Yoon Suk-youl (center) and Samsung Electronics Co. Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (right) during their visit to the Samsung Electronic Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek on May 20, 2022. (Kim Min-hee/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) During the tour, the leaders pledged to strengthen semiconductor alliances among the worlds largest chip-making countries to ease global shortages. Samsung Electronics has, thus far, made the largest U.S. investment pledge of about $360 billion over the next several years until 2026 to boost its businesses in semiconductors and various emerging industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, and next-generation communications. Samsungs investment plan comes as chip shortages continue to plague the electronics industry, and major chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics Co., Intel Corp., and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are planning further price hikes. Three companies under the Hyundai Motor GroupHyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Hyundai Mobiscollectively pledged about $50 billion in U.S. investments by 2025. On the final day of Bidens visit, the South Korean auto giant reaffirmed its $5.5 billion investment for an electric vehicle and battery factory in Georgia, with another $5 billion investment in artificial intelligence for autonomous vehicles and other technologies. Hanwha Solutions, a subsidiary of the Hanwha Group, also recently announced plans to invest about $160 million to produce high-performance solar power modules in the United States, according to Korea JoongAng Daily. Meanwhile, Lotte announced the purchase of a Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) bio plant in Syracuse, New York, for about $160 million. BMS is one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies. Shifting Supply Chains In the past two years, rising raw material costs and poor logistics prompted major South Korean firms to diversify and expand their production bases to reduce their over-reliance on China. The Russia-Ukraine war and Beijings draconian zero-COVID policy have also accelerated the supply chain restructuring and threatened South Koreas economy. Last November, Samsung Electronics announced a $17 billion investment in building a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Tyler, Texas, with construction starting in the first half of this year. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Dr. Kinam Kim, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics Device Solutions Division, announce that the chip-making company will build a $17 billion plant in Central Texas. (Courtesy of Samsung) The new facility is scheduled to start mass production in the second half of 2024, producing products based on advanced process technologies for application in areas such as mobile, 5G, high-performance computing (HPC), and AI. Last October, South Korean tech conglomerate SK Group also announced its pledge to invest $52 billion in the United States by 2030. Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, told Yonhap News Agency on May 24 that the companys U.S. investment plan is in the works and will soon be announced. Strengthened Economic Partnership During Bidens visit to South Korea, he and Yoon sought to deepen the two countries strategic economic and technology partnership as well as energy security. The two leaders agreed to protect and promote critical and emerging technologies, including leading-edge semiconductors, eco-friendly EV batteries, Artificial Intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and autonomous robotics, the U.S.-South Korea joint statement reads. As part of the economic partnership, South Korea formally announced participation in the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a framework outlining the United States key priorities to align with allies and partners to compete more effectively with communist China in the race to lead global technology development and norms. On Memorial Day, we remember those who died in service to their country and those who died since serving. But it should also be a time to reflect on what exactly their sacrifices meannot just then, but now. What is worth fighting for? Thats what we discuss with Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, a true real hero. On Nov. 11, 1966, Marine Corps pilot Captain Swindle was shot down over North Vietnam. He was captured and spent the next 6 years and 4 months as a prisoner of war, subject to unbelievable deprivation and torture, mostly at the notorious Hanoi Hilton. After the military, he continued to serve in roles including assistant commerce secretary to President Reagan and Federal Trade commissioner under two administrations. Swindle credits his upbringingteaching values like honor, honesty, commitment, responsibility, and faithwith his ability to survive as a POW. He says it was the same for the other prisoners: Every one of those men were special in every respect that I can come up with. And we just did our job: duty, honor, country. That was our job, and we knew it. Swindle says he doesnt see those same values in America today and shares his fears and hopes for Americas future. * 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 We are delighted to share with you Piano Talks special episode featuring major Russian-born pianist and conductor Vladimir Feltsman. Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at the age of 11 and attracted attention from the West at an early age as a prodigious talent. In 1979, because of his growing discontent with the restrictions on artistic freedom under the Soviet regime, Feltsman signaled his intention to emigrate by applying for an exit visa. In response, he was immediately banned from performing in public and his recordings were suppressed. After eight years of virtual artistic exile, pressure from the West finally helped gain his release in 1987. Upon his arrival in the United States, Feltsman was warmly greeted at the White House, where he performed his first recital in North America. That same year, his debut at Carnegie Hall established him as a major pianist on the American and international scene. In the last 30 years, Vladimir Feltsman has been performing and educating many young musicians around the world. In this episode of Piano Talks, Feltsman invites us into his home for a broad discussion about music and life. About Inspired Original: Inspired Original is a team of passionate filmmakers, artists, educators, and creatives who cherish universal values inherent in traditional art. We create content aimed at building a strong community to support traditional arts, culture, and education, thus reinvigorating and instilling hope and faith for generations to come. Will you join us to protect the arts for the next generation? Learn more: Inspired Original * 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 Woman Fatally Shoots Man Who Opened Fire Into Crowd Holding Party in West Virginia An armed female bystander fatally shot a man in Charleston, West Virginia, after he allegedly opened fire into a crowd of people with a semi-automatic rifle, authorities said. The Charleston Police Department said in a news release that 37-year-old Dennis Butler was found deceased late on Wednesday near an apartment complex with multiple gunshot wounds. A crowd of partygoers had gathered for a birthday/graduation celebration that evening when Butler, who has an extensive criminal history, began shooting at the group at the Vista View Apartments on Renaissance Circle. The woman, who has not been identified, was also attending the party and likely saved several lives, Tony Hazelett, a Charleston police spokesman, told a news conference on Thursday. Instead of running from the threat, she engaged with the threat and saved several lives last night, Hazelett said. No injuries were reported from those attending the party. Tyke Hunt, Charlestons police chief, told radio network MetroNews that Butler is a multi-convicted felon and had been in prison a few times. The police chief added that he personally had a run-in with him in the past. As a young police officer, I was a rookie and had about a year on, one of the most knocked-down dragged out fights I had was with Mr. Butler and he had a firearm on him at that time in 2006, Hunt said during the stations Talkline on Thursday. Hunt explained that Butler was at the apartment complex earlier that evening in his vehicle, where he was allegedly told to slow down as he sped through an area where children were playing. The chief said Butler left after the warning, but returned shortly afterward, parked in front of the housing complex, and opened fire. He was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that he shouldnt be allowed to own due to his criminal record. He returned with a rifle and fired in the direction of the crowd, Hunt said, adding that it is unclear if there was intent of where to shoot. We are still investigating the direction of the firearm and where the rounds went, all the trajectory, and pulling video from that, he said. Hazelett said the woman who fired back did not have any law enforcement background and no charges would be filed against her. Shes just a member of the community who was carrying her weapon lawfully, said Hazelett, adding that after the shooting incident, she remained at the scene and has fully cooperated with investigators. From NTD News One day after an elementary school shooter killed 21 people in a small Texas town this week, Gov. Greg Abbott appeared before a grieving nation to explain how it happened, delivering an authoritative account of law enforcement heroes facing down evil and preventing the additional loss of life with quick action. But much of that story wasn't true. Abbott was back in Uvalde, Texas, on Friday to acknowledge that key parts of what he had told the country had been disproved by the ongoing criminal investigation and to pin the errors on law enforcement officials who had briefed him Wednesday. "I was on this very stage two days ago and I was telling the public information that had been told to me," the Republican said, his voice rising at times in anger. "As everybody has learned, the information that I was given turned out in part to be inaccurate. And I'm absolutely livid about that." The dramatic appearance came as anguish grew among grieving families over the law enforcement response. It also came as Abbott - the most visible messenger in the days following the massacre - faces increasing criticism that he moved too quickly to amplify a false law enforcement narrative that aligned with his own political beliefs. Federal authorities were "flabbergasted at the amateurish communications coming from Texas," said a federal law enforcement official who, along with others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to address sensitive matters related to the shooting. Democrats in the state have begun to call for the FBI to take a greater role in the review of events, while raising questions about Abbott's decision to relay unverified information. Abbott is running ahead in polls for his reelection this year and is increasingly viewed as a possible contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. "If I were the governor, when you have something this terrible affecting so many lives, I would want to make sure my information is rock solid," said state Rep. Richard Raymon, the Democratic chairman of the committee overseeing the Texas Military Department, which works closely with the Department of Public Safety. "You can't fumble this one." Abbott has experience in such situations. Since his election as governor in 2014, he has overseen the state's response to mass shootings that, together, have killed more than 90 people, including attacks on a church in Sutherland Springs, a high school in Santa Fe and a Walmart in El Paso and a shooting rampage on the streets of Odessa, Midland and Dallas. Abbott has supported increased training and funding for school security in response but resisted efforts to impose greater restrictions on gun ownership and use. Instead, he has pushed to loosen gun regulations, signing a 2015 law that allows concealed handguns on college campuses and a 2021 law that allows Texans to carry a concealed handgun without a license or training. He signed other laws last year that allow gun owners to store firearms in hotel rooms, possess silencers and carry weapons outside of a shoulder or belt holster. He also prohibited the government from reducing gun sales during disasters and emergency. Since the Tuesday shooting, he has shown no indication that he is rethinking any of those stances. "Let's be clear about one thing," he said Friday. "None of the laws that I signed this past session had any intersection with this crime at all." Abbott was in Abilene on Tuesday afternoon, providing updates on wildfires scorching an eastern swath of his state, when he was first asked about reports of a school shooting four hours due south in Uvalde. Lawmakers flanking him at a news conference had seen only brief snippets on their phones - chaos at an elementary school, more than a dozen children killed. But the governor spoke confidently about what had just occurred, identifying the shooter and pronouncing him dead. Abbott looked burdened after his remarks in Abilene, recalled state Sen. Charles Perry, a fellow Republican who joined him at his news conference. When the news conference ended, Perry asked him, "You holding up all right?" "Hard day," was his response, the state legislator recalled. But the governor's day was far from over. Before returning to Austin, he stopped at a fundraiser in Walker County, north of Houston - a move that former aides and Republican operatives said baffled them. One said he feared a fundraiser was the reason the governor did not go directly to Uvalde on Tuesday night but was "shocked" to learn that he was right. The fundraiser's organizer, Jeff Bradley, confirmed in a text message that he had hosted the governor but did not answer other questions about the event. A spokesman for Abbott's campaign said further political activity had been postponed, and the governor, responding to a question about the fundraiser, told reporters he "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 I could continue to my collaboration with Texas law enforcement." Abbott also spoke Tuesday evening to President Joe Biden, who offered "any and all assistance," according to the White House. On Wednesday, he traveled to Uvalde, where he appeared with law enforcement and other senior state officials, as well as federal and state lawmakers, to deliver details about how the shooting had unfolded. The news conference drew headlines mainly because it was interrupted by Beto O'Rourke, the Democrat and former Texas congressman who is running against Abbott for governor. Abbott's mission was not to debate, he made clear, but to clear up misconceptions about the shooting. "Let me tell you some of the best information we have at this time," he said, stressing that the investigation was still underway. He put particular emphasis on the heroism of the police. "As horrible as what happened, it could have been worse," Abbott said. "The reason it was not worse is because law enforcement officials did what they do. They showed amazing courage by running toward gunfire for the singular purpose of trying to save lives." Crucially, he said school officers "approached the gunman and engaged with the gunman." That account echoed statements delivered by state authorities, some of whom said officers exchanged fire with the gunman. But on Thursday, state officials made clear that officers had not engaged the gunman outside the school and that a school district police officer was not on campus at the time. Abbott kept a low profile, huddling with aides in Austin. On Twitter, he shared images of a briefing with state agencies and vowed to "make available every state resource to help victims' families, teachers, and the Uvalde community as they work to heal." And on Friday, Steven McCraw, director of the Department of Public Safety, further walked back initial accounts by acknowledging that a local incident commander had made the "wrong decision" by holding officers back from entering the classroom with the gunman, believing he had shifted from an "active shooter" to a "barricaded subject." For nearly 50 minutes, children inside called 911 to beg for help from the active shooter as officers waited outside a pair of classrooms, McCraw acknowledged for the first time Friday. A spokesman for Abbott did not respond to a request for comment about where he was receiving his information and how he was verifying it. Abbott scrapped a planned appearance Friday at a meeting of the National Rifle Association in Houston in favor of prerecorded remarks in which he dismissed the notion that more gun regulations would have prevented the atrocity. "There are thousands of laws on the books across the country that limit the owning or using of firearms, laws that have not stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts on innocent people in peaceful communities," he told the gun rights group. Later in Uvalde, he declined to immediately call a special legislative session to develop solutions that might quell gun violence, while saying he did want an extensive review of state law, particularly around school safety and health care. "Let me make one thing clear. The status quo is unacceptable," he said. "This crime is unacceptable." Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said inconsistent statements from state leaders and law enforcement have "shaken Texans' confidence in state government and in the governor." The congressman also accused Abbott of making the state less safe as mass shootings piled up. "He has made the state more dangerous by making it easier for dangerous people to get a gun," Castro said. On Friday, calls for a legislative response became bipartisan, with state Sen. Kel Seliger, R, tweeting for Abbott to "call us into special sessions until we do SOMETHING." Former aides said the window for compromise in Austin has narrowed, especially in advance of the November election. And they said calling legislators back to Austin, only for talks to prove futile, could be damaging to Abbott. Wayne Hamilton, who managed Abbott's 2014 campaign, said he expects the governor, who has used a wheelchair since an accident in the 1980s, to take his time before reacting to calls for new legislation. "As someone who has experienced personal tragedy, he is very in tune and focused on being with the hurting people, and that is what you are going to see him do for the near future," Hamilton said. "You are not going to get him to talk about the policy stuff and the political stuff." After the Santa Fe shooting in 2018, he asked the legislature to explore a new red-flag law that would "identify those intent on violence from firearms" and allow the state to remove guns from their possession. But the proposal faced backlash, including from the state Republican Party, which came out against the idea in its platform that year. The proposal never became law. CHICAGO (AP) Three people were shot and wounded on Friday in Chicago, authorities said. The Chicago Police Department said a man was sitting in a parked car with a woman standing by his driver side window when both were struck with gunfire at about 10:15 p.m. in South Austin, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russia asserted Saturday that its troops and separatist fighters had captured a key railway junction in eastern Ukraine, the second small city to fall to Moscow's forces this week as they fought to seize all of the country's contested Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the city of Lyman had been completely liberated by a joint force of Russian soldiers and the Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war in the eastern region bordering Russia for eight years. Lyman, which had a population of about 20,000 before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, serves as a regional railway hub. Ukraines train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens during the war, and it wasnt immediately clear how the development might affect either capability. Controlling the city would give the Russian military a foothold for advancing on larger Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, Russia has concentrated on seizing the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Fighting continued Saturday around Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, twin cites that are last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that the situation in the east was difficult but expressed confidence his country would prevail. If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian, he said. On Tuesday, Russian troops took over Svitlodarsk, a small municipality south of Sievierodonetsk that hosts a thermal power station, while intensifying efforts to encircle and capture the larger city. The governor of Luhansk warned that Ukrainian soldiers might have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded. The advance of Russian forces raised fears that residents would experience the same horrors as people in the southeastern port city Mariupol in the weeks before it fell. Sievierodonetsks mayor, Oleksandr Striuk, said Friday that some 1,500 civilians have died there during the war, including from a lack of medicine or because of diseases that could not be treated while the city was under siege. Before the war, Sievierodonetsk was home to around 100,000 people. About 12,000 to 13,000 remain in the city, where 90% of the buildings are damaged, the mayor told The Associated Press. Ukraines police force said Saturday afternoon that the city is under constant enemy fire and civilians were wounded, but did not specify the number. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, volunteers worked to evacuate people Friday amid a threatening soundtrack of air raid sirens and booming artillery. AP reporters saw elderly and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs in Bakhmut, a city in northeast Donetsk province. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to convince reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sieverodonetsk, returned home. I have to know he is alive. Thats why Im staying here, Lvova, 66, said. A nearly three-month siege of Mariupol ended last week when Russia claimed the city's complete. The city became a symbol of mass destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. More than 20,000 of its civilians are feared dead. Mariupol's port reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea off the once-vibrant city. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don entered Mariupols seaport early Saturday. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian navy said Saturday morning that Russian ships continue to block civilian navigation in the waters of the Black and Azov seas along Ukraines southern coast, making them a zone of hostilities. The war in Ukraine has caused global food shortages because the country is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame over which is responsible for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said in a Facebook post that two Russian missile carriers capable of carrying up to 16 missiles were ready for action in the Black Sea. It said that only shipping routes which had been established through multilateral treaties could be considered safe. Ukrainian officials pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons, especially multiple launch rocket systems. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that providing rockets that could reach his country would represent a most serious step toward unacceptable escalation. He spoke in an interview with RT Arabic that aired Friday. In Russia on Saturday, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that raises the age limits for Russian army contracts. Contractors can now first enter service until age 50 and work until they reach legal retirement age, which is 65 for men and 60 for women. Previously, Russian law set an age limit of 40 for Russians and 30 for foreigners to sign an initial contract. Russia's Defense Ministry said the Russian navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea. The ministry said the recently developed Zircon hypersonic cruise missile had struck its target about 1,000 kilometers away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Zircon,, described as the worlds fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead, and is said to be impossible to stop with current anti-missile defense systems. Moscows claims, which could not be immediately verified, came a week after Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the west of the country in response to Sweden and Finlands bids to join NATO. Putin marked the annual Border Guards Day by congratulating the members of the Russian service. The tasks you are facing are particularly important now, given the unprecedented political, economic and information pressure on our country and the buildup of NATO military capacity right at Russias borders, Putin said. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) A mother and her three young children were shot to death and the suspected gunman her husband has been hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the head, a sheriff in central Michigan said Saturday. Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller said deputies responding to reports of shots fired found the mother, children and wounded man Friday afternoon in a home near Big Rapids in Austin Township, about 180 miles (290 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. Describing the shooting as heartbreaking, Miller said the children were all under the age of 10. He did not release their names. There are no words that can explain what happened, Miller told MLive.com. Miller said evidence suggests the woman's husband was responsible for the deaths. He is being treated at an Ann Arbor hospital. The killings are under investigation. Were not exactly sure what the circumstances were, Miller said. Its tragic by all accounts. The person who alerted authorities was outside the home when deputies arrived and was not shot, he said. The local school district has been notified and is expected to have crisis counseling available, Miller said. We have a very tight-knit community in Mecosta, Miller said. Theres no better place Id rather raise my kids at. The shootings have taken an emotional toll, he said. With our first-responders, almost everyone at the scene had children of their own. I can tell you they took it very hard, Miller said. We have to be there to counsel and comfort our community, he said. Its the day each year when we pause to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. But how much do you know about the Memorial Day holiday itself? Find out with this short, easy and fun quiz. 1. Memorial Day began as a way of honoring soldiers who died in what conflict? A. The Revolutionary War B. The War of 1812 C. The Civil War D. World War I 2. The holiday was originally known by what name? A. Remembrance Day B. Decoration Day C. Valor Day D. Armistice Day 3. What flower is traditionally worn to honor fallen military personnel? A. Rose B. Peony C. Daisy D. Poppy 4. Which former military commander, and later an unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate, is credited with helping make Memorial Day a holiday? A. Henry Knox B. John Black Jack Logan C. John Black Jack Pershing D. George S. Patton 5. Since 1971, Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May. But from 1868 to 1970, it was observed on what date? A. April 12 B. May 20 C. May 30 D. November 11 6. What happens to the flag on Memorial Day? A. It is not displayed. B. It is flown at half-staff. C. It is at half-staff until noon then raised to full staff until sunset. D. It is at full staff until noon then lowered to half-staff until sunset. 7. Which of the following towns has been declared the birthplace of Memorial Day? A. Columbus, Ga. B. Waterloo, N.Y. C. Columbus, Miss. D. All of the above. 8. Based on the total number of American casualties, the costliest battle in U.S. military history was: A. The Battle of Okinawa B. The Battle of Gettysburg C. The Battle of the Argonne Forest D. The Battle of Antietam 9. Several Southern states hold state holidays on different dates in the spring to remember their dead. What is that holiday called? A. Rebel Yell Day B. Secession Day C. Confederate Memorial Day D. Stonewall Jackson Day 10. At 1,045 acres, what is the countrys largest national cemetery? A. Arlington National Cemetery B. Calverton National Cemetery C. Gettysburg National Cemetery D. Andersonville National Cemetery Answers: 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-B, 5-C, 6-C, 7-D, 8-B, 9-C, 10-A In the days after Russia attacked Ukraine, there was a lot of talk among Republicans that Vladimir Putin would not have invaded had Donald Trump still been president. Trump was so difficult to predict, so impulsive, so impetuous, the thinking went, that Putin would not have risked a massive U.S. response under Trump. "The sheer unpredictability of Trump, his anger at being defied or disrespected, his willingness to take the occasional big risk (the Soleimani strike), all had to make Putin frightened or wary of him in a way that he simply isn't of Joe Biden," National Review editor Rich Lowry tweeted. The anti-Trump crowd scoffed. Trump was Putin's stooge, they said. The Russian strongman didn't need to invade Ukraine because Trump would have given him everything he wanted without all the messiness of a big war. "Trump never once showed any anger, risk-taking or unpredictability with Putin," tweeted Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Resistance fundraising group The Lincoln Project. "He showed deference, adoration, admiration, obedience, and sought to wreck NATO, Putin's highest goals. Putin didn't need to buy the cow. The milk was free." Now, though, the side skeptical that Putin would have acted had Trump been president has gotten some support from an unlikely source. Fiona Hill, the Russia expert, former senior National Security Council aide in the Trump White House and star witness against Trump in his first impeachment, appeared recently on a program sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Discussing the Ukraine war, Hill suggested that Putin waited to invade Ukraine until Biden became president, preferring Biden's "predictability" to Trump's volatility. Hill was quite critical of Trump, saying he knew nothing about matters concerning Ukraine or international relations. When Trump met with Putin, she continued, Putin found himself having to explain things to Trump. If Putin were going to launch an invasion, Hill said, "he thought that somebody like Biden, who's a 'transatlanticist,' who knows all about NATO, who actually knows where Ukraine is, and actually knows something about the history, and is very steeped in international affairs, would be the right person to engage with, as opposed to somebody you've got to explain everything to all the time." In this view, Putin saw Biden as someone he could deal with as Russia seized territory from Ukraine. But not the erratic Trump. Who knew what he might do? "[Putin] wants to have predictability in the person that he's engaging with," said Hill. Hill certainly made it sound as if Putin made the specific calculation that his brutal invasion of Ukraine would be more likely to succeed with Biden in the White House than with Trump. Of course, Hill is not the final authority on such matters. But her account lends credibility to those who argued that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine were Trump still in the White House. Meanwhile, a lot of Americans are going to see ominous undertones in a new move under consideration by the Biden administration. On Monday, The Wall Street Journal ran a story headlined, "Pentagon Weighs Deploying Special Forces to Guard Kyiv Embassy." The paper reported that U.S. officials are considering sending elite troops "for the defense and security of the [American embassy in Kyiv], which lies within range of Russian missiles." The paper added that the presence of U.S. special forces "would mark an escalation from Mr. Biden's initial pledge that no American troops will be sent into the country." Biden not only pledged that no American troops will be sent into Ukraine -- he pledged not to send the highest levels of other U.S. assistance to Ukraine, lest it draw the U.S. into the war. "The idea that we're going to send in offensive equipment and have planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews -- just understand, don't kid yourself, no matter what y'all say, that's called World War III," Biden said in early March, when he refused to facilitate the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine. More recently, on May 3, during a visit to a Lockheed Martin facility in Alabama, where the company makes the Javelin anti-tank missiles the U.S. is sending by the thousands to Ukraine, Biden told workers that, "You're making it possible for the Ukrainian people to defend themselves without us having to risk getting in a third world war by sending in American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers." And now there is a plan to send American soldiers into Ukraine, ostensibly just to protect the U.S. embassy, but also creating the risk that a Russian military action, intentionally or not, might hit Americans, drawing the U.S. further into the war. The Journal reports the special forces plan has not yet been presented to the president. But when it is, Biden -- and the United States -- will have a deeply consequential decision to make. This content originally appeared on the Washington Examiner at washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/did-putin-wait-until-biden-became-president-to-invade-ukraine. Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc or the Group), emerged winner in four major categories at the 12th annual Brand Africa 100: Africas Best Brands 2022 rankings of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands in Africa. The award is an initiative by Brand Africa aimed at driving Africas competitiveness and creating a positive image through strong brands with GeoPoll, the worlds leading mobile surveying platform, and Kantar, a well-respected consumer insights and data analytics company, as key technical partners. In the presentation ceremony held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, GTBank retained the number #1 spot as Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Africa, Most Admired Financial Services Brand in West Africa, and Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Nigeria for the second year in a row. GTBank also ranked as the Most Admired Nigerian Financial Services brand in recognition of its excellent positioning, strength, and reach beyond Africa. In an inaugural feature of the awards ceremony, Mr Segun Agbaje, the Group CEO of GTCO Plc, was conferred with the Africa Brand Leadership Excellence award for his pivotal role in inspiring brand-led excellence that drives the growth of Made in Africa brands and businesses and his long-standing contributions to the financial services industry. Mr Agbaje led GTBank through a decade of unparalleled growth and now oversees the Holding Company. The Group recently concluded the acquisition of key businesses in fund management and pension operating as Guaranty Trust Fund Managers Ltd and Guaranty Trust Pension Managers Ltd. Commenting on the awards, Mr Segun Agbaje, said: As a leading financial services company, we are always looking for new ways to meet every customer need and to do more to help our customers and communities thrive by creating faster, cheaper, safer and products for people and businesses through every stage of life. The awards are testament to our boundless innovative capacity and the power of the Guaranty Trust brand to touch and enrich lives as a Proudly African and Truly International institution. He further stated that, As we grow and expand as a Group, we remain committed to our founding values which have endeared our brand to millions of people across Africa and beyond, and which continue to drive our financial success. We will leverage the synergies within our holding company to drive Africas growth and achieve our vision of making end-to-end financial services easily accessible to every African. GTCO Plc is a diversified financial services company with over N5.1trillion in assets, providing a wide range of banking as well as non-banking financial services in Nigeria, West Africa, East Africa, and the United Kingdom. The Groups consistent year on year growth in customer base and delivery of superior value to all stakeholders is underpinned by its strong service culture, world-class corporate governance standards, efficient management, and bias for innovation. The Group is rated B and B-/B by Fitch and S&P Global, respectively, a reflection of its long-term stability and reputation of being a well-established franchise with strong asset quality and consistent excellent financial performance. Since the inception of the administration of Gen. Muhammdu Buhari, the nation has witnessed an unprecedented rise in insecurity, ranging from the activities of bandits to kidnappers, farmers/herders clashes', IPOB/ESN/Unknown Gunmen, and Boko Haram, although Boko Haram existed before his administration. The president survived an election scare and was elected for a second term in 2019 on the promise to improve the fight against insecurity and ensure the security of the people. That has not happened. Matter of fact, it has gone from bad to worse. There is no family in Nigeria today, that is not affected directly or indirectly by the insecurity prevalent in the country, including this writer who but for luck would have been on that ill-fated Kaduna bound train, and his sister was shot by bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja road. Nigerians are in awe of the inability of the president despite his experience as a former military general and the massive criticism of the former administration by him. Nigerians thought this would end their insecurity woes. Wishful thinking indeed. The 2023 Election is around the corner and politicians have been travelling around the country to garner support. Typical of their nature, they are promising to bring heaven on earth to Nigerians; sweet, and empty promises. After the delegates have chosen the candidates they want, the politicians must do more than visit the people in different parts of the country to solicit for votes. They must also visit the cemeteries around the country. At the cemetery are laymen, women, and children who have been failed by their country and leaders; there, the politicians shall find their supporters and opponents, whose lives have been cut short by the rampaging insecurity. For the 2023 elections, Nigerians must insist that a yardstick to vote anyone into an elective office, is a visit to the cemetery by the vote seeker(s). Campaigns must be conducted in the cemetery; that is where the voters are. [email protected] Tage kene-Okafor Elon Musk announced in a tweet on Friday that Starlink, the satellite internet service launched by SpaceX, his space exploration company, has been approved in Nigeria and Mozambique. This news is coming three days after Musk answered a tweet about the service launch in Africa. Yes, first countries in Africa to be announced coming soon, he tweeted. Starlink will serve everywhere on Earth that we're legally allowed to serve. Starlink operates in more than 30 countries where it is legally approved, in essence, where it has required licences to provide internet services. Its launch in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, has been in the works since 2021. Last May, SpaceX sent some representatives to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country's telecommunications regulator, to discuss the possibility of obtaining a license to operate Starlink in Nigeria. According to reports from local press, Nairametrics , the NCC has approved this license, corroborating Musk's tweet today. The publication also said the license Starlink Internet Services Nigeria Ltd. (its trading name) obtained is under the Internet Service Provider (ISP) category other service providers such as telcos and private operators fall within this category, too and will last for a decade starting from May 2022. Starlink brings much-needed competition to Nigerian telecom operators such as MTN and Airtel , who have had to compete against each other without improving their internet quality. There's one argument against Starlink, though: it's expensive. At $110 (~60,500) for preorder also its monthly price and $599 (~330,000) for a full kit, including a terminal, mounting tripod, and Wi-Fi router, Starlink's price is pricey for the average Nigerian and Mozambique user. Its premium service costs about $2,500 (~1.375 million) for the full kit and $500 (~275,000) monthly. SpaceX's Starlink prices are going up across the board TechCrunch Abbie Shull An unexploded rocket from Russia sticks out of the road in Ukraine on April 22.Photo by Mykhaylo Palinchak/Getty Images The US reportedly assesses that less than half of Russian missiles used against Ukraine are successful. Russia has fired more than 1,100 missiles at Ukraine since the invasion began. US officials say the Russian employment of missile systems is the largest in Europe since World War II. Russia has fired off more than 1,100 missiles in its ongoing war with Ukraine, according to a US defense official , and over 2,100, according to Ukraine, but many of Russias missiles have apparently either failed on launch, malfunctioned in flight, or missed their targets, according to officials familiar with the intelligence. A US official who spoke with Reuters on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information revealed that US intelligence shows Russias day-to-day missile failure rate sometimes exceeded 50% for certain types of precision-guided munitions. Two other officials said the failure rate was sometimes as high as 60%. And an anonymous US Defense Intelligence Agency official told Newsweek that the US assesses Russian missile success to be at just under 40% overall. The official told Newsweek that two to three out of every ten missiles that the Russian military fires either fail to launch or fail to reach their targets. Two out of ten experience technical problems in flight, and two to three miss their targets. And some missiles are shot down. If you look at the launches overall, the senior DIA official said, we are talking well under half of all Russian missiles hitting their aim points. For air-launched cruise missiles in particular, US intelligence indicates the failure rate on any given day ranges from 20% to 60%. Experts told Reuters that anything over 20% is cause for concern. A missile is seen in the middle of a road near Kyiv as Russian attacks continue in the city on May 16,2022Dogukan Keskinkilic/Getty Images Newer, more advanced Russian missile systems are also not performing effectively in Ukraine, US Northern Command chief Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck recently told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, according to USNI News . VanHerck told the panel that Russia has had challenges with some of their hypersonic missiles as far as accuracy, adding that they have had specific issues with the operational effectiveness of their cruise missiles. Missile strikes against Ukraine have become a key and devastating feature of Russias brutal assault on its neighbor. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian bombing of Ukraine does not cease day or night. Relentless missile strikes have hit residential areas in Ukrainian cities, including in Kharkiv, where missile strikes have escalated this week. Kharkivs regional governor, Oleh Synyehubov, told residents to take shelter and said that nine people were killed this week in missile strikes in the region. The enemy is once again insidiously terrorizing the civilian population, Synyehubov said in a post on Telegram. It is too early to relax. US officials testifying before the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee said that Russias missile use in Ukraine is the largest employment of missile systems in Europe since World War II. Read the original article on Business Insider In it is now settled First bank has confirmed that Femi Otedola is its largest individual shareholder. This is coming months after a faceoff between two billionaires Otedola and Tunde Hassan-Odukale. In its latest report, First bank shows that Otedola has amassed 7.56% of its shares and this helped him earned over over N543m on Thursday. First Bank of Nigeria Holdings (FBN) has confirmed Femi Otedola has its largest single shareholder. It revealed this in its full year result which was submitted to the Nigerian Exchange on Tuesday, 25 May 2022. According to the report, FBN report Otedola has a direct holding of 0.58% direct stake and 6.98% indirect stake. Movement of First Bank shares Credit: NGX. This brings Otedola total stake on one of Nigerias oldest bank to 7.56% making him clear of Tunde Hassan-Odukale who has 4.31% as at the end of 2021. Read more: https://www.legit.ng/business-economy/capital-market/1471802-first-bank-confirms-billionaire-femi-otedola-biggest-shareholder-n5434m-8-hours/ The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun state Command, Commandant Emmanuel Ocheja has assured the Nigerian Navy Centre of Education and Training Technology, Ile Ife of his unflinching cooperation on improved security in the State. Commandant Ocheja gave this assurance at the command headquarters, Ilesha Road, Osogbo, during a courtesy visit to his office by the Commandant Nigerian Navy Centre of Education and Training Technology Ile Ife, Navy Captain Aondowase Mnguve, mss, fss, Psc. While welcoming the Navy Captain to his office, Commandant Ocheja said the command would continue to work jointly with Nigerian Navy in safe guarding the state. He also applauded the Navy Captain for his visit. He said that there is a strong synergy among all security agencies in Osun state. This interagency cooperation has gone a long way in making the state relatively peaceful. He explained further that the civility in the way the Corps operates makes it easy for personnel to penetrate members of the public in getting proactive intelligence. Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Navy Captain Aondowase Mnguve, said the visit was to improve the existing synergy in order to further combat crimes in the State. The Captain also revealed that the Nigerian Navy Centre of Education and Training Technology, Ile Ife, was previously located in Apapa, Lagos and recently moved to Osun State. This relocation made him to pay compliment to stakeholders in the state to farmiliarize himself with the current security architecture of the state. He explained that numerous Courses are available for officers and men of the corps after due approval by the Naval Headquarters after working out the logistics with the Corps Headquarters for knowledge and combat readiness. Navy Captain Aondowase Mnguve further explained that the relocation of the school to their permanent site will help other sister agencies in acquiring knowledge for an improved service delivery. E-SIGNED: ASC II ATANDA OLABISI PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER NSCDC OSUN STATE COMMAND. The Mbonu23 Campaign Committee wishes to announce to their teeming supporters, the withdrawal of its candidate, International Consultant and PDP presidential hopeful Okey Samuel Mbonu, from the 2023 Campaign Primaries. The Campaign Committee stated three main reasons for the withdrawal of its Candidate, including: 1. The transactional nature of the Party Primaries, which by expecting Candidates to dole out massive amounts of direct cash to delegates, turns the exercise into a market for votes, instead of a race to showcase competence, and to elevate governance in Nigeria as Public Service. 2. The decision of the Partys Zoning Committee to abandon the zoning formula in the Partys Constitution; which was honoured as recently as in 2019; where the presidential ticket is supposed to rotate between the North and the South, and vice versa; per election circle. 3. The Committee also cited the Partys very high application fee; which drew a wedge between the PDP and new-generation candidates, because of the astronomically high figure. The Committee said that the quest for good governance, through good untainted candidates, who earn their livelihood via various legitimate pursuits outside of government, is defeated by the astronomically high figure. Finally, Mbonu23 Committee called on the party to retrace its steps, and to revisit its own constitution, and internal conventions, in order to build a more formidable all-inclusive party. The Committee pledged that Okey Samuel Mbonu will remain in the public arena, and work toward improving public service delivery in developing economies, such as Nigeria and other African countries. On a personal note, Presidential Hopeful Okey Samuel Mbonu wishes Nigerians luck in confronting the massive problems in the country now; including insecurity, joblessness, strife, and a massive economic recession based on current deficit-financing of the national budget. Donald Trump tried to purge two Georgia Republicans -- Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger -- for committing one unpardonable sin: standing up to the former president and telling the truth, that he lost the state to Joe Biden by more than 11,000 votes. Trump failed. Badly. And that outcome inspires a crucial question: Will it encourage other Republicans to defy Trump, to reject his Big Lie that the 2020 election was rigged against him, and seek new leadership for the party? Plenty of Republicans hope so, including Bill Palatucci, the GOP's national committeeman from New Jersey. He described Trump's embarrassing defeat to the Washington Post: "This is an important one. Him losing gives people courage to speak out." Trump remains the most ferocious force in Republican ranks, but Palatucci makes a shrewd point. Political influence is often a function of perception, not reality. Politicians treat a figure as powerful because they think others support him or fear his ability to punish them for disloyalty. But once that perception is punctured, once that fear begins to fade, calculations can start to change. That's why "the emperor has no clothes" is such a powerful myth and metaphor. That's why we remember that iconic scene when the Wizard of Oz turns out to be a little man behind a curtain, peddling his illusions as fast as he can. Trump has had plenty of success this election season. His endorsement clearly pushed two candidates to victory in crowded Republican primaries: J.D. Vance in Ohio's Senate race and Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial contest. But in backing former Sen. David Perdue to challenge Kemp in Georgia, Trump showed that he's no wizard. "David Perdue made a bad bet six months ago when he jumped in the race and thought, 'Because Donald Trump likes me, I'm going to win,'" the Republican lieutenant governor, Geoff Duncan, told The New York Times. "He bet wrong." So did Republicans who ran for gubernatorial nominations in Nebraska and Idaho with Trump's backing -- both fell short. All failed to understand a key principle: Elections are about the future, not the past, and Trump's obsessive focus on his loss in 2020 sounds outdated and off-key to a rising cohort of Republican officials and voters, even folks who backed him twice for president. "Georgia underscores one of Trump's big problems if/when he runs again," tweeted GOP strategist Brendan Buck. "He, of course, won't be able to let go of the 2020 nonsense, and nobody wants to hear his whining about it anymore." A Post reporter found plenty of disillusionment among Trump backers in Georgia. Barry Schrenk described Trump as an "excellent president," but said Kemp "had to follow the Constitution" in declaring Biden the winner in 2020. Trump, he said, "can't blame himself for losing the election. He's looking for someone to blame." Phoebe Mitchell, a special education teacher, said she voted for Trump twice, but added, "The governor doesn't have the authority to overturn the election. ... I have lost a lot of love for (Trump)." When Trump makes an endorsement now, she added, that "makes me want to vote for anyone else." Similar feelings of frustration are bubbling up in Pennsylvania, where Trump endorsed celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz in a heated primary race for an open Senate seat. The contest between Oz and hedge fund mogul David McCormick is now headed for a recount, and Trump caustically suggested the McCormick forces were rigging the election by stealing votes. That meant, of course, that he was accusing fellow Republicans of misdeeds, but the man cares about only one thing -- his own ego -- and if his candidate is losing, he automatically looks for someone to blame. Local Republican officials have reacted badly. Former Pennsylvania GOP chairman Rob Gleason said on NBC that "it's just shocking" for Trump to focus his lies on Republicans and warned, "Bitterness has been developing over a period of time. It's not just this election, but this just didn't help." Trump compounded the ill will in the governor's race by promoting Mastriano, a hardline Trumper who seems likely to lose to Democrat Josh Shapiro in November. "I was surprised by how many people said, 'I'm not voting for anyone Trump endorsed,'" state legislator Tom Marino told NBC. "They've had it with him." A growing number of Republicans share those sentiments. But how many will have the courage to act on them? How many are willing to look behind the curtain and see the wizard for the fraud he really is? Steven Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University. He can be contacted by email at stevecokie@gmail.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Food delivery driver cons security guard, steals phone PHUKET: Police are on the lookout for a food delivery driver who deceived a security guard at Thalang Technical College before driving off with his phone. Saturday 28 May 2022, 02:50PM The incident happened around midday on Wednesday (May 25) when the food delivery driver arrived at the gates of the college and explained to the security officer in the guardhouse that his phone had run out of credit but he needed to call his customer to alert them that their delivery had arrived. The driver then asked whether he could borrow the security guards phone to make the call, to which he obliged. He told me the number and I called it for him, explained 50-year-old security guard Suktawee Rattakai. A female voice answered and I passed the phone to him so he could engage in conversation with the customer. After the driver finished talking, he asked whether I had a pen and paper so he could write something down. I went to the guardhouse to get this for him and when I turned around he had driven off with my phone. Mr Suktawee reported the incident at Thalang Police Station shortly afterwards, explaining the phone was a VIVO brand, blue in colour and worth around B5,000. He described the thief as wearing a dark long-sleeved t-shirt, dark sweatpants and sandals, driving a black-gray Suzuki Smash motorcyle although he was unable to record the license plate details. Police responded by sending officers to the location and surrounding area to try and track down the thief. They also confirmed the details Mr Suktawee had provided by analysing CCTV footage at the entrance to the college, although they were unable to capture the motorcycles plate details either. Pol Lt. Col. Pativat Yodkwan, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Thalang Police Station, confirmed the search for the criminal was ongoing and they are confident of apprehending him soon. However, if anyone has information on the culprit, Pol Lt. Col. Pativat encouraged them to share with Thalang Police Station (076-313919), which is open 24 hours a day. CCTV footage revealed the suspect was carrying a green Grab delivery food bag on the back on his motorbike although it was not confirmed by police whether he is an official employee of the group. Likewise it was not confirmed whether they had spoken to the intended customer who was awaiting the food delivery in an attempt to access additional and specific information as to the order and thus delivery details. Laem Sai villagers granted permission to live on state land PHUKET: Thirty-four villagers living at Baan Laem Sai in Tambon Thepkrasattri have avoided having their homes demolished for being built on government land. natural-resourcesenvironmenteconomics By The Phuket News Saturday 28 May 2022, 10:00AM The 34 families were yesterday (May 27) handed official documents issued by the Phuket office of the Marine Department confirming they have the right to remain on the land. The permissions to stay were handed over at the Baan Laem Sai Community Hall at an event led by Thalang District Chief Bancha Thanu-in and Phuket Marine Office Director Nachapong Pranit. Joining them were Thepkasattri Tambon Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) Chief Sittichai Chantawat and Thepkrasattri Moo 5 Village Headman (Phu Yai Baan) Wichai Kraithep. Mr Nachapong explained that formal complaints had been filed against 48 households encroaching on state land in the area, which led to an order being issued for the villagers to vacate the properties or else face having them demolished. However, as the land was in close proximity to a natural waterway, the land in question was under the purview of the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, making the issue under the remit of the Marine Department to decide whether or not the villagers can stay. Of the 48 encroachers, 34 families were permitted to stay on the land, he added. Fourteen were denied permission to stay, and an order to demolish their structures built on the land has been issued, he noted. The 34 families were granted permission to stay considering their special economic circumstances, Mr Nachapong said. There has been a push from various departments to solve problems together, including local government offices, the Phuket Ombudsmans Office, the Secretariat of the Prime Minister, the Marine Department and the Ministry of Transport, and most importantly the Thepkrasattri orBorTor Council, he said. We have now issued certificates to the troubled group confirming that the Phuket Marine Office has issued permits to the Laem Sai villagers allowing them to stay, Mr Nachapong said. The villagers are to pay Thepkrasattri OrBorTor an annual fee of B5 per square metre for the areas they occupy for their homes, and double that fee for any other structures that they are granted permission to build on the land, he added. Officials aim to deter recreational weed use after June 9 legalisation BANGKOK: The Public Health Ministry has signed an agreement with eight agencies to emphasise the use of cannabis and hemp for medical, beauty and research and development use amid fears people will use it for recreational purposes when they are allowed to grow the plants at home from June 9. agriculturehealtheconomicsdrugs By Bangkok Post Saturday 28 May 2022, 05:22PM Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul tastes some cannabis tea at an exhibition that hosted a signing ceremony on cannabis and hemp yesterday among related agencies at the Public Health Ministry. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill / Bangkok Post The signatories are the Public Health Ministry, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand, The Medical Council of Thailand, Thai Traditional Medical Council, The Pharmacy Council of Thailand and the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. The signing event was observed by the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Food and Drug Administration. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday (May 27) the agreement will help improve market value and encourage product diversification into areas such as food ingredients, herbal remedies and cosmetics, as from June 9 cannabis will be officially removed from the Type 5 narcotics list, reports Bangkok Post. However, any products that contain more than a 0.2% extract of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of cannabis psychoactive effects, are still recognised as category 5 substances and regulated under laws pertaining to narcotics control and suppression. "People can grow cannabis at home for medical purposes after they register the cultivation with provincial administrative organisations, or via the mobile application Pluk Kan, developed and operated by the Food and Drug Administration. Homegrown cannabis will help save money for some patients who need to use the plant for medical treatments," he said. He said the delisting of cannabis as a narcotic did not mean that people can use it freely, especially for recreation. He said the ministry has asked the House of Representatives to hasten the passage of the bill which is expected to be deliberated in parliament this term. "Registration is required for household growing. There is no limit on the number of plants but they must have fenced enclosures for safety and to prevent them being stolen or otherwise taken by other people," he said. The Public Health Ministry will prepare guidelines for cannabis users on preventing second-hand smoke from affecting others and will propose them to the National Public Health Committee on May 30, said Mr Anutin. Old frozen vax to be tested on monkeypox BANGKOK: The Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) plans to test a freeze-dried version of a live attenuated smallpox vaccine that has been stored in Thailand for more than four decades, to see if it can effectively combat monkeypox. healthVaccine By Bangkok Post Saturday 28 May 2022, 07:57AM Photo: Bangkok Post Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the DMSC, said yesterday (May 27) the vaccine material has been kept under the supervision of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) since smallpox was eradicated in 1980. A sample has been sent to the DMSC to ensure it is uncontaminated and still usable, Dr Supakit said. There are reportedly around 10,000 doses of smallpox vaccine being kept in Thailand, reports the Bangkok Post. As soon as an infection is reported in the country, the department will culture the virus using blood from a recipient of the smallpox vaccine in 1980 in order to build immunity and see if it can safeguard people from monkeypox, he said. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the DMSC would perform the virus culture for analysis. Regarding surveillance measures imposed at airports, the DMSC said it has DNA codes that can detect the virus via the testing of bodily fluids. Any people or groups considered to be at risk will be sent to Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for examination, the agency said. Among tests conducted on foreigners at airports so far, the only virus detected has been herpes, Anutin said. However, he said authorities would remain vigilant and that screening measures would stay in place. Meanwhile, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) responded to rumours that monkeypox cases had been found on Koh Chang in Trat. The DDC said the nine people in question - including officers from Mu Koh Chang National Park and Koh Lan - had contracted malaria from two monkeys, with mosquitoes serving as the vector. Some 200 confirmed and over 100 suspected cases of monkeypox have been detected so far in upwards of more than 20 countries, according to the World Health Organization. That list now includes Finland, which got its first positive test result yesterday. Phuket Airport fires up for safety training PHUKET: Phuket International Airport held two safety seminars earlier this week (May 24 and 25) and now is getting ready for some field action with a simulated oil spill and fire to culminate the program next Tuesday (May 31). Safetytransporttourism By The Phuket News Saturday 28 May 2022, 04:08PM Fire drill is set to be held on May 31. Image: AoT Phuket On May 24, chief of Phuket International Airport for operations and maintenance Manat Sotharat presided over the opening of the training course entitled "First Aid Review" conducted at the training room of the Fire and Rescue Department of Phuket International Airport. The seminar was held to review knowledge and build understanding of first aid protocols to help injured patients in the right way and with proper efficiency, said the Phuket office of the Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket). On the next day, May 25, Phuket International Airport General Manager Monchai Tanode opened another seminar, this time on reporting and risk assessment for security personnel. The training was conducted to enhance skills, knowledge and understanding about the methods and processes of risk assessment to identify factors danger and assess safety risks effectively, AoT Phuket explained. The culmination of the training program is scheduled to take place on May 31, when Phuket International Airport fire teams and emergency-response personnel will take part in a field drill including a simulated oil spill and fire. The emergency exercise is set to be held from 10am through noon at the fire pit next to Phuket International Airport runway 27. There will be a lot of smoke during the training. We apologize for any inconvenience, AoT Phuket said in a notice on Facebook. No drills in the terminals have been announced so far. In previous years the exercises normally did not include any training in the airports buildings and never affected flights. Phuket Hospital calls for people to help identify deceased woman PHUKET: Thalang Hospital has asked Phuket residents for help with identification of a female Jane Doe patient who died on May 26. death By The Phuket News Saturday 28 May 2022, 12:00PM Thalang Hospital has posted an online plea to help with identification of a diseased woman. Image: Thalang Hospital Facebook The call for help was posted on Thalang Hospital official Facebook page on May 27 and later shared by the Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior. The publication is supported with a photo of a person with short, dark hair on a hospital bed. Medical personnel did not provide any other relevant information such as approximate age, body height or weight, prominent physical characteristics or distinguishing characteristics. Also it was not revealed where the patient came from and with what diagnoses, condition, or injury. The hospital informed that unless relatives are found by June 1 (10am) the body will be handed over to Kusoldharm Foundation. Neither Thalang Hospital nor Phuket Info Center have provided any specific phone number for people to call if they can help identify the diseased woman. Thalang Hospitals phone number for general inquiries is 076-311033 (as stated on the hospitals Facebook page and website). Phuket officials on the lookout for monkeypox PHUKET: Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), has assured that no cases of monkeypox have been detected in Phuket, and assured that officials are monitoring the situation, including travellers arriving from risk countries. healthtourism By The Phuket News Saturday 28 May 2022, 09:00AM Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO). Photo: Radio Thailand / Phuket Dr Kusak delivered his statement of assurance during a radio interview yesterday (May 27). Dr Kusak confirmed that no infections of monkeypox, a much less serious strain of the related smallpox, had been detected in Phuket. There have been 209 confirmed cases found in 22 countries. Most of them found in countries such as England, Spain, Belgium or Portugal, Dr Kusak said. Animal-to-human transmission is possible, similar to chickenpox, he added. There have been no confirmed cases in Thailand, including Phuket, even though Phuket is a province that has a lot of foreign tourists coming in now that the government has relaxed the conditions of travel to the country, Dr Kusak noted. The relevant agencies are closely monitoring the situation, including monitoring those traveling from high-risk countries, he said. The Ministry of Public Health requires all provinces to be on the lookout for the disease, especially the screening of people returning from high-risk countries, checking whether arrivals have a rash or a fever, he continued. Therefore, I would like people to know that monkeypox is contagious through close contact. If you touch a wound, or items from an infected person, or are in close proximity when an infected person coughs or sneezes, you can become infected, Dr Kusak said. Royal Gazette announces extension of emergency decree until July 31 NATIONWIDE: The extension of emergency decree imposed to to contain the spread of COVID-19 was officially announced in the Royal Gazette on May 26 giving prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha two more months of special powers. Saturday 28 May 2022, 01:00PM The announciment posted in the Royal Gazette on May 26. Image: Royal Gazette The announcement says that the emergency period is extended from June 1 until July 31 in all localities throughout the Kingdom to ensure continuity in preventing, correcting, suppressing, restoring or assisting operations for public benefit in emergency situations. The emergency decree is being imposed in the country since March 25, 2020, the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It empowers Gen Prayut to directly address an emergency situation or prevent worsening conditions without approval from other authorities. PM Prayut can in particular order bans to prevent entry to certain areas deemed prone to coronavirus infections; gatherings in crowded areas or any activity that would incite unrest. Earlier Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry, explained that the emergency decree can be lifted as soon as COVID-19 is downgraded to an endemic disease meaning the virus is no longer considered a major national threat requiring special measures. After that the decree can be replaced with the Communicable Disease Act and other acts for regulation of the post-pandemic life. Since March leading national figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, have said several times that the government expects to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease in Thailand in early July, allowing people to return to normal life as planned by the Ministry of Public Health. As explained on May 7 by Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), requirements for the endemic status include low number of COVID-19 infections and deaths as well as reaching the 60% level of vaccination among the adult population and the risk group specifically. The later is yet to be achieved in Phuket. The Cabinet on May 24 approved the extension of the emergency decree to combat the pandemic until July 31, when the criteria for endemic status is expected to have been met. Samoa signs China agreement amid South Pacific push SAMOA: Samoa signed a bilateral agreement with China today (May 28), promising greater collaboration as Beijings foreign minister continues a tour of the South Pacific that has sparked concern among Western allies. Chinese By AFP Saturday 28 May 2022, 01:21PM CEO of Samoas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peseta Noumea Simi (left) and Chinas Ambassador to Samoa Chao Xiaoliang signing one of the bilateral agreements as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (back row right) and Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa look on. Photo: Vaitogi Asuisui Matafeo / Samoa Observer / AFP The deals details are unclear, coming midway through a Chinese delegations eight-nation trip - but an earlier leaked draft agreement sent to several Pacific countries outlined plans to expand security and economic engagement. The mission has prompted Western leaders to urge regional counterparts to spurn any Chinese attempt to extend its security reach across the region. A press release from the Samoan government confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa had met and discussed climate change, the pandemic and peace and security. Local media were invited to witness the signing of a deal, but no questions were taken. The release said that China would continue to provide infrastructural development support to various Samoan sectors and there would be a new framework for future projects to be determined and mutually agreed. Samoa and the Peoples Republic of China will continue to pursue greater collaboration that will deliver on joint interests and commitments, the release said. The Chinese delegation has already visited the Solomon Islands and Kiribati this week. It arrived in Samoa last night and was to depart for Fiji this afternoon, with other stops expected to be Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. In a duel for influence, Australias new Foreign Minister Penny Wong was in Fiji yesterday, seeking to woo island states after the Solomon Islands took Canberra by surprise last month by signing a wide-ranging security pact with China. We have expressed our concerns publicly about the security agreement, Wong told reporters in the capital of Suva. As do other Pacific islands, we think there are consequences. We think that its important that the security of the region be determined by the region. And historically, that has been the case. And we think that is a good thing. At the first stop in Honiara on Thursday, Wang lashed out at smears and attacks against the security pact already signed with the Solomon Islands. While the wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan circulated to several pacific nations, both obtained by AFP, would give China a larger security footprint in a region seen as crucial to the interests of the United States and its allies. 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. 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 By Hilary Holladay It has been quite a spring for Dr. Elizabeth Chew. On April 18, she was fired from her job as executive vice president and chief curator of James Madisons Montpelier for siding with the Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) in its conflict with the Montpelier Foundations board of directors. Last Wednesday, the new board named her Montpeliers interim president and CEO. Last Thursday, she was back at work. One of Chews first acts was to rehire Director of Archaeology and Landscape Restoration Dr. Matthew Reeves and Director of Communications Christy Moriarty, who were fired the same day she was. Reeves and Moriarty were back on the job Tuesday. This whirlwind sequence of events follows the recent addition to the foundations board of 11 prominent scholars, writers, ministers and other professionals, all recommended by the MDC. In welcoming these individuals to its ranks, the board achieved its goal of structural parityco-equal sharing of powerwith representatives of the MDC, a group that includes the descendants of African Americans enslaved by the Madison family or by owners of nearby plantations. Chew said she is committed to telling the whole-truth history of Montpelier. Im honored by the trust that the board has placed in me, and Im very much committed to the next chapter at Montpelier with structural parity between the MDC and the Montpelier Foundation Board. Last Monday, the newly constituted board met for the first time and elected James French as its new chair. Frenchs selection is another surprising twist in the Montpelier saga. Previously chair of the MDC as well as a Montpelier board member, the Barboursville resident clashed repeatedly over matters related to structural parity and race relations with former board chair Gene Hickok of Richmond and Roy F. Young II, who resigned last week as Montpeliers president and CEO. Chew said it was French who called to offer her the top job on an interim basis. In a press release, French said of Chew: Elizabeth has the full confidence of Montpeliers dedicated staff. Her reputation for visionary leadership is recognized nationally. Her willingness to take the helm during this critical period will do much to help us turn the page to Montpeliers next and best chapter. Starting in late March, when news broke that Montpeliers board was rescinding its promise to allow the MDC the sole authority to nominate representatives of the descendants community, French and the board sparred in press releases and interviews, with the board largely on the losing end of the public relations battle. Numerous organizations representing museums, historians and archaeologists condemned the board for backing away from what many had perceived last June, when the board announced its goal of structural parity, as genuine progress in race relations. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which owns Montpelier, sided with the MDC and told the board to choose nine new members from a list of highly qualified individuals that the MDC had shared with the public via a virtual press conference. The National Trusts strong words, plus the angry response from many donors who withdrew their support, had an impact. Hickok rotated off the board in May, and the press release announcing Chews appointment and Youngs resignation also noted that French is stepping down from his leadership position with the MDC now that hes in charge of the Montpelier board. As for the MDCs increased representation on the board, the 11 new members whom the board chose from the MDCs list of candidates include Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, chair of the history department at The University of Texas at Austin; F. Michael Higginbotham, a law professor at the University of Baltimore; Soledad OBrien, a broadcast journalist and producer; and Dr. Nicole Thorne Jenkins, dean of the McIntire School of Commerce, and Ian H. Solomon, dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, both at the University of Virginia. The board now has 21 members with a capacity for 25, according to Krista Costello, Montpeliers director of annual giving and advancement services. Previously, the board had 16 members. In addition to French, the boards new officers are co-vice chairs Stephanie Meeks, former CEO and president of the National Trust, and Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, a civil rights scholar and historian at The Ohio State University; secretary Dr. Joshua D. Rothman, chair of the history department at the University of Alabama; and treasurer Peter McHugh, a retired travel industry executive, who previously served as a vice chair. Driving force behind The Mere Distinction of Colour A native of Augusta, Ga., Chew, 58, holds degrees in art history from Yale University (B.A.), the University of London (M.A.), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Ph.D.). Early in her career, she worked for the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art and The Phillips Collection. More recently, she worked at Monticello for 13 years, first as an associate curator of collections and then as curator. She was director of the curatorial and education division at Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, N.C., before being named Montpeliers executive vice president and chief curator in 2015. Chew was the driving force behind Montpeliers award-winning The Mere Distinction of Colour exhibition on enslaved people, which is housed in the mansions lower level. She also is the author of numerous scholarly articles and book chapters and has served as an adjunct instructor of art history at several universities, including the University of Virginia and James Madison University. Merry Foresta, a retired curator and administrator at the Smithsonian who now works as an independent curator and consultant for the arts, has known Chew throughout her career. She supervised Chew as an intern and then hired her as a project assistant for several exhibitions. The two have stayed in touch. Of Chew, Foresta commented via email, Elizabeth is that almost unique balance of academic knowledge and common-sense administrative know-how. To that, she adds a vision for how best to preserve the collections she oversees, the history they represent, and the needs of the audience she serves. Furthermore, Foresta said, At Monticello and then at Montpelier, she was inspired by the task of revealing the difficult historic truth of these plantationsnot as an indictment but as a revelation of the power such truth can yield. She has a unique ability to work with people, about people. She is a convener. Asked to comment on the challenges Chew faces in her new role, Foresta said, To start, she has the double-headed task of refocusing the board and the Montpelier staff. She has new board members to meet and a new board hierarchy to engage, and she has a staff that has been roiled by the last months and needs to be supported and re-inspired. With that, she continually needs to find new ways, new voices, new narratives to build on the discussion of slavery and the founding of the United States. Chew, a Charlottesville resident, said everything she took home from her office in April was still boxed upa matter of inertia rather than premonition. I didnt know this would happen, she said of her rehiring and promotion. I hoped it would happen. After weeks of tumult, her hope has become reality, and Chew is busy unpackingand planning the next chapter at the estate whose history she has pledged to share as fully and accurately as she can. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has categorized Albemarle County, Charlottesville, Fluvanna County, Greene County and Nelson County as high transmission areas for COVID-19 in the community as of Friday, listing Louisa County as medium. The positivity rate in the region is about 14%, which is around the same as it was at the onset of the pandemic reaching the United States in March 2020. University of Virginia Medical Center officials report treating 24 patients with COVID-19. 18 are in acute units, four are in the ICU and two are in the pediatrics unit. UVas COVID-19 tracking website shows an average of 16 new cases a week among both students and staff with a 25.6% positivity rate. The rate may be misleading as the number of at-home COVID tests kits makes it easier for people to determine if they may have the virus. Those who do not test positive are unlikely to report the test findings, meaning tests reported to the Virginia Department of Health and the CDC are skewed to positive tests. For instance, on May 25, 72 people were tested for COVID with 16 new cases reported. On Jan. 25, 550 people were tested and 57 cases were reported. Dr. Costi Sifri, director of hospital epidemiology at UVa Health, said more people are getting the more accurate tests after testing positive for COVID-19 on an at-home test. That may inflate that number, Sifri said. But the chances that somebody who has symptoms will test positive is relatively higher now than it was at other parts of the pandemic. Sifri said the good news is that the community is at a different place than it was in March 2020, with prevalence of vaccines and both at-home and PCR tests. Sifri said most stocks of at-home tests have been quickly replenished. We do have a lot more tools now than we did before. We have a widely vaccinated population, he said. According to the CDC, COVID-19 community levels ratings are the most recent tool designed to help communities and individuals decide what preventive steps to take based on the latest data. The levels come with recommended mitigation measures, including that people living in high community levels of COVID-19 transmission wear masks indoors in public, and stay up to date with vaccines testing if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness. Regardless of community levels, the CDC recommends people with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. Masks are also recommended in indoor public transportation settings. 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. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazils airport authority Infraero said Friday it has notified the Federal Police over an apparent hack into electronic displays at an airport in Rio de Janeiro. Instead of advertisements and flight information, travelers were shown pornographic movies. Video clips on social media showed travelers in the Santos Dumont airport laughing at the displays, hiding them from their kids or just stunned. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers Friday in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, officials said. The action appeared to be retaliation for Athens' assistance in the U.S. seizure of crude oil from an Iranian-flagged tanker this week in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington's crushing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The raid marks the first major incident at sea in months as tensions remain high between Iran and the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Tehran enriches more uranium, closer to weapons-grade levels than ever before, worries mount that negotiators won't find a way back to the accord raising the risk of a wider war. The Guard issued a statement announcing the seizures, accusing the tankers of unspecified violations. Nour News, a website close to Irans Supreme National Security Council, warned a short time earlier that Tehran planned to take "punitive action" over Greece assisting the U.S. in seizing oil days earlier from the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana. Greece's Foreign Ministry said it made a strong demarche to the Iranian ambassador in Athens over the violent taking over of two Greek-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf. These acts effectively amount to acts of piracy, a ministry statement said. The ministry called for the immediate release of the vessels and their crews, warning the seizure would have particularly negative consequences in bilateral relations and in Irans relations with the European Union, of which Greece is a member. An Iranian helicopter landed on the Greek-flagged Delta Poseidon in international waters, some 22 nautical miles off the coast of Iran, the ministry said. Armed men then took the crew captive, it said, adding that two Greek nationals were among the crew. A similar incident has been reported on another Greek-flagged vessel, that was carrying seven Greek citizens, close to the coast of Iran, the ministry said. A Greek official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the attack with a journalist, identified the second ship as the Prudent Warrior. Its manager, Polembros Shipping in Greece, earlier said the company was cooperating with the authorities and making every possible effort to address the situation effectively. Greek officials did not identify the nationalities of the other crew on board the vessels. Both vessels had come from Iraq's Basra oil terminal, loaded with crude, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic.com. Prudent Warrior just before had been off Qatar and likely loaded oil there as well, the data showed. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said it appeared the two ships had come close to but not into Iranian territorial waters Friday. After the hijacking, they drifted into Iranian waters. The ships also had turned off their tracking devices another red flag, the official said. However, neither had issued a mayday or a call for help, the official said. Irans seizure on Friday was the latest in a string of hijackings and explosions to roil a region that includes the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. The incidents began after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The U.S. Navy blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on vessels that damaged tankers in 2019, as well as for a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members in 2021. Iranian hijackers also stormed and briefly captured a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the United Arab Emirates last year, and briefly seized and held a Vietnamese tanker in November. Tehran denies carrying out the attacks, but a wider shadow war between Iran and the West has played out in the regions volatile waters. Tanker seizures have been a part of it since 2019, when Iran seized the British-flagged Stena Impero after the United Kingdom detained an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar. Iran released the tanker months later as London also released the Iranian vessel. Iran last year also seized and held a South Korean-flagged tanker for months amid a dispute over billions of dollars of frozen assets Seoul holds. This incident is assessed to be a retaliatory action in line with a history of Iranian forces detaining vessels in a tit-for-tat manner, maritime intelligence firm Dryad Global warned. As a result, Greek-flagged vessels operating within the vicinity of Iran in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are currently assessed to be at a heightened risk of interception and it is advised to avoid this area until further notice. Underlining that threat, Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency warned in a tweet: There are still 17 other Greek ships in the Persian Gulf that could be seized. Meanwhile, the Guard is building a massive new support ship near the Strait of Hormuz as it tries to expand its naval presence in waters vital to international energy supplies and beyond, according to satellite photos obtained by The Associated Press. Talks in Vienna over Iran's tattered nuclear deal have been stalled since April. Since the deal's collapse, Iran runs advanced centrifuges and has a rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60% purity a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% to make one nuclear weapon if it choose. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003. Building a nuclear bomb would still take Iran more time if it pursued a weapon, analysts say, though they warn Tehran's advances make the program more dangerous. Israel has threatened in the past it will carry out a preemptive strike to stop Iran and already is suspected in a series of recent killings targeting Iranian officials. ___ Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. To the Editor, So much has been said and written and broadcast about the mass-shootings in America. But these statements beg the ultimate and most important question: what can be done to forestall future such occurances? Liberals typically remark background checks, raise the age at which people can buy guns, take assault weapons out of the hands of potential shooters, and so on. So-called conservatives, on the other hand, respond reflexively to stop implementation of any law which they claim will abridge their 2nd Amendment rights, again so-called. They are guilty of invoking the inch/mile argument, whereby if you relent on allowing gun restrictions of any sort (the inch), then you will open yourself up to the inevitable confiscation of all firearms (the mile). This is, of course, both ignorant and silly. The real villain of this tale is the U.S. Senate where the Republican minority moves in lock step to prevent any meaningful anti-murder legislation. Mindful of the inch/mile principle, they say they are safeguarding the interests of their constituents - this despite the fact that 90% of Americans of voting age in fact favor some measures to deter the recurrent and seeming endless murder of children. The enablers are the Gun Lobby - the gun manufacturers, the NRA and others interested in the promulgation of weapons. They have brazenly purchased the loyalty of the aforementioned Senate who (so far) have never let them down. The Republican Senators are pro-gun to the nth degree, ever-anxious to collect political donations, free junkets and other dividends of their continued good behavior. One politician, when asked why he wouldn't vote for preemptive gun measures, answered honestly, that his voters would oust him from office, that he would be primaried. And...? Is the possession of Senatorial power so fulfilling and richly rewarding that Senators will do literally anything to prevent losing it? For the Republican Senate apparently it is. Why else would Chuck Grassley be running for another six-year term at 88 years of age? It seems almost pathological. One politician, when asked what she thought of the Texas murders, took the opportunity to excoriate Democrats for "politicizing the issue." Spoiler Alert: It IS a political issue, for political concerns determine what is (and isn't) done to prevent more Robb Elementary Schools and Buffalo grocery stores. Republican politicians are relying on America's short attention span, hoping that by the time the midterms come round this and other slaughters will by out of voters' minds. Don't let them get away with it. The most precarious ages are fast becoming 16-24 for young Black males and 10-11 for children. How do we stop it? Elect more Democrats; throw those indifferent to kids' lives from office. In this sense, vote pro-life, not just pro-birth. Bill Tope Wood River 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 Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Jail: James Scotney runs the law firm P.W. writes: On April 6, my wife and I paid 2,220 to Town & Country Law Ltd of Lincoln for legal documents including wills and a trust. On April 11, we cancelled the agreement within the cooling-off period allowed, and have the company's acknowledgement. Though we have been assured someone would contact us about a refund, we have had no word from the company. Tony Hetherington replies: Town & Country Law is an unusual company. Four of its former directors are awaiting trial on fraud-related charges, some of which involve the company itself, and its sole remaining director has a prison record of his own. Yet surprise, surprise Town & Country Law is fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority without a blemish on its record. The company is licensed by the FCA as a credit broker, but its listing on the FCA's public register gives it a seal of approval with a wider impact. It advertises: 'Town & Country Law are specialists in planning your future. We offer a range of services including wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and funeral plans.' It has offices in Lincoln, Stamford, Derby and Leeds, and offers to meet prospective clients in their own home. Company records show the business is run by its sole director James Scotney. In 2010, the then 33-year-old was a semi-professional pool player when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court and admitted to dealing in Class A drugs. In a raid on his home, police found bags of cocaine with a set of digital scales. Evidence was given that he made more than 10,000 selling drugs and he was jailed for 15 months. Several years later, Scotney was back in court when he pleaded guilty to failing to provide information about who was driving a car at the time of an offence. He was fined 550 and given six points on his driving licence. Against this background, it is odd the FCA has given Scotney and his company its blessing. And it gets odder. The FCA's online register tells the firm's clients that if they need to make a complaint, they should email 'Robynne' at Town & Country Law. This is Robynne Casswell, one of the former directors of the company, who is charged with being 'knowingly a party' to fraudulent activity at the business between 2014 and late 2016. Because she and the other accused are quite rightly entitled to a fair trial when this takes place next year, The Mail on Sunday is limited in what it can report about the allegations. So, back to the question of the 2,220 fee you paid to a salesman who came to your home. After he left, you and your wife had second thoughts. You decided the draft legal documents on offer were simply too expensive, and they may not have achieved what you wanted, so you cancelled the deal. I asked Scotney what had happened to your refund. To give him his due, he immediately looked into the delay, telling me 'it should never have happened'. The staff member involved was working from home, he explained, and she had tried to call you but got no answer. He has refunded your 2,220 and added a further 280 to make up for not repaying you earlier. I told Scotney I was aware of his prison record and the driving conviction. He replied: 'These are a source of deep regret to me.' At the time he was 'a different person' he said, adding: 'We are regulated by the FCA for any financial services, and I am the approved person.' And, according to Scotney, Casswell, the complaints contact, no longer has any role at Town & Country Law, despite what the FCA says. Watchdog is no more... it has ceased to be! No comment: FCA boss Nikhil Rathi The Mail on Sunday's revelations about Town & Country Law Ltd raise serious questions for the Financial Conduct Authority. Applicants to the watchdog have to supply details of any convictions, and the FCA has access to criminal records so its investigators can carry out checks. The FCA, which has a staff of about 4,000, even has an intelligence department that harvests information that the watchdog's bosses should know about offenders or suspicious transactions. So, was the FCA aware of James Scotney's convictions? If not, why not? And how could it tell complainants to contact Robynne Casswell if, as suggested, she is no longer at the firm and is awaiting trial? More fundamentally, was the FCA even aware before today of the charges facing those linked to Town & Country Law? On May 11, I contacted the watchdog and offered all the details published today, and more about the individuals awaiting trial and what they are alleged to have done, and I asked whether the FCA would comment. I was told someone would contact me 'so they can assist'. Nobody did. On May 18, I prodded the slumbering regulator, and offered all the details to the FCA's chief executive, Nikhil Rathi. He did not reply. I also offered all the information I had to the FCA's director of intelligence, Jessica Rusu. She did not reply. Instead, a manager at the FCA's press office asked me to hand over all my findings to her, and she would then decide 'whether we can provide you with a comment'. In short, please do our job for us and then we'll bring down the shutters by refusing to comment, just as we have done before. A few days ago, the FCA changed tack and decided to blame this newspaper for its own failings. It issued a statement saying: 'The Mail on Sunday did not share with us any of the facts of the case, despite us asking. We will therefore have to consider the details of the case once it is in print.' Well, here are the details in print, so watch this space next Sunday for the FCA's answers. The regulator has failed in so many of its consumer protection tasks that it has cost ordinary savers and investors millions of pounds through its negligence. When The Mail on Sunday names offenders, the FCA fails to act. On Tuesday there was even a protest march in London, organised by the Transparency Task Force, which describes the regulator as 'morally bankrupt'. I would go further. Stealing lines from John Cleese's dead parrot sketch, I suggest that as far as ordinary consumers are concerned, this watchdog is no more. It has ceased to be. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. Looking over the FCA's shoulder is supposedly the Treasury Select Committee. Time for it to declare this zombie organisation dead and replace it with one that actually does the job. My gas bill will rise by... 17,968 Mrs B.B. writes: I am sending you an email we received from utility company SSE advising us of an impending 18,280 rise in our energy bills. I did not dare show this to my husband as he is 91 years old and I feared it might give him a heart attack. Happy to help: Mrs B.B.'s was advised by SSE of an impending 18,280 rise in her energy bills Tony Hetherington replies: We all know gas and electricity prices are rocketing, but this is ridiculous. The email from SSE warns you that your electricity bill will rise by 312 a year, while your gas bill will climb by an amazing 17,968. I contacted Ovo, the company that owns SSE, and staff there looked back to see how the estimate was calculated. In June last year, your traditional meters were removed and smart meters were fitted. Some months before this you read your meter and gave the figures to SSE but unfortunately they included an error. The mistaken figures were spotted and not used on a bill, but they were used as the basis for estimating future bills. You can ignore the nightmare 18,280 jump in prices. SSE has corrected your account, apologised and offered you a lower rate to make up for the upset. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Fall from grace: The once lauded fund manager Neil Woodford This Friday, the nation will be into day two of a joyous four-day celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Street parties will take place, and red, white and blue bunting will be to the fore. There will be dancing and partying long into the night and over the weekend and I plan to be part of it. But June 3 will also mark another anniversary, which, for those ensnared in it, will not be a joyous one at all. There will be no celebrations, just a sense of betrayal, of being let down, of being legged over, forgotten and pleas for financial justice being met with a wall of silence. Why? Well, it will be three years to the day since Neil Woodford, at the time one of the country's most lauded fund managers, was forced to suspend dealings in his showcase investment vehicle, Woodford Equity Income. A 3.7billion fund that at its height was valued in excess of 10billion and which hundreds of thousands of investors depended upon as part of their retirement finances. And a fund that has now been dismantled as a result of possible mismanagement, crystallising 1billion of losses for some 400,000 investors. It's considered by some as one of the biggest investment scandals of our lifetime. Egged on by glowing recommendations from high-profile companies such as wealth platform Hargreaves Lansdown, investors thought that when it came to investing, Woodford, with more than 30 years of investing under his belt (most of it at Henley-on-Thames-based Invesco Perpetual), could walk on water. He couldn't. By the end, he had got too big for his boots, deluded by being made a Commander of the British Empire in 2013 for 'services to the economy' and setting up a business (Woodford Investment Management) where he could make investment decisions without being accountable to anyone. He ruled the roost, a dangerous management strategy in an industry where the challenging of investment decisions by peers is often seen as healthy, prudent and a safeguard. Woodford Equity Income was suspended because a big corporate client Kent County Council wanted its 263million stake sold and Woodford couldn't find enough liquid assets within the portfolio to meet its request. Although equity income in name, the Woodford fund had become more akin to a venture capital fund, with big holdings in start-up companies, many of them unlisted, unprofitable and impossible to sell. Sadly, June 3, 2019, was the beginning of the end for Woodford Equity Income and Neil Woodford's Oxfordshire-based Woodford Investment Management. Suspension was followed by the fund's break-up, ordered by its overseer, the authorised corporate director, Link Fund Solutions. As a result, most of the fund's assets bar an illiquid rump have now been flogged off and the proceeds passed on to the 400,000 investors. Other Woodford funds, such as investment trust Patient Capital and Income Focus, have been taken over by rival asset managers Schroders and Abrdn respectively. Yet time has healed no wounds. An investigation into the fund's suspension, initiated nearly three years ago by City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority, has (scandalously) yet to be completed. This has fuelled concerns that no one will ever be held accountable for the losses that Equity Income investors have incurred. So, Neil Woodford has yet to be censured. At best, he badly managed the fund by taking the portfolio far away from its equity income brief which was to typically invest in big UK companies such as tobacco stocks that pass on a big chunk of their profits to shareholders by way of dividends. Nor has Link Fund Solutions been held to account. Its duty was to ensure Woodford managed the fund in line with its mandate. Nor for that matter has wealth platform Hargreaves Lansdown and some financial advisers who were happy to keep backing Woodford even though it was obvious in 2018 and early 2019 that the wheels were beginning to fall off his bus. As we said in our Wealth section at the time: 'Is it time to dump Neil Woodford?' That article ran towards the end of March, 2019 and the answer from every financial expert we spoke to bar one (Hargreaves Lansdown) was that investors should run for the hills. Yet the focal point of most current criticism is the FCA. As one Woodford Equity Income investor told me last week: 'Over 1billion of investors' money in this fund has been lost, written down or paid over in fees in fund wind-up contracts. 'Yet no one has been held to account and not a single word of comment, censure or criticism has been issued by the regulator: an organisation specifically created with the objective of protecting individuals from financial malpractice.' As an aside, he also said: 'Thank you for your numerous articles in The Mail on Sunday over the past three years, holding those responsible for the break-up of Woodford Equity Income to account. 'In the current challenging financial climate, many pensioners like myself would welcome some modest compensation for the life savings we lost.' Palatial: The offices of Neil Woodford's new firm in Marlow Some investment experts are also scathing in their criticism of the FCA. Among them are highly regarded fund manager Alan Miller and tough-talking investment expert Brian Dennehy. Miller does not mince his words. 'The nasty rash that is the Woodford scandal has cost Equity Income investors more than 1billion. 'Yet the FCA has done nothing no one has been arrested, nobody has been suspended from their work and nobody has been fined. It has not conducted its enquiry in a timely manner and it has yet to set up an investor redress scheme.' Miller says the losses suffered in previous investment scandals such as Arch Cru (120million), London & Capital (230million) and the British Steel Pension Scheme (221million) are a fraction of those suffered by Equity Income investors. Yet a redress scheme or any form of compensation seems years away. His belief is that compensation is most likely to come via class actions taken by claims companies. Yet these claims could take until 2026 to be settled longer if challenged. There is more. The joint founder of asset manager SCM Direct says the scope of the regulator's investigation is far too narrow, centring on the fund's suspension when it should be far broader and go back further. For example, Miller says that at the end of 2014, the regulator ignored 'red flag warnings' in the annual accounts for Equity Income that confirmed the fund's 30 per cent exposure to illiquid assets. He believes the regulator should also be investigated. FundExpert's Dennehy also believes that the FCA is culpable. He says: 'If they had not been asleep at the wheel, the Woodford debacle would never have ended as it did. But I fear the most damaging reputational risk is not to the regulator, who is invisible to the investing public, but to the financial services industry.' He adds: 'The risk is a strike by investors, who will refuse to invest for their future with an industry whom they no longer trust.' Brian Dennehy: The risk is investors will refuse to invest for their future with an industry whom they no longer trust Dennehy reckons it is time for the Treasury Select Committee to start kicking regulatory backsides again. Early this year, chair of the committee Mel Stride, urged the FCA 'to allocate the resources required to enable as swift a conclusion to their investigation as possible'. Last week, The Mail on Sunday asked to talk to Neil Woodford. Through his former public relations adviser, we were told he 'would rather not speak'. What Woodford is actually up to at the moment remains something of a mystery. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that he had set up a new company called WCM Partners, operating out of rather grand, serviced offices in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Its role, we were told, would be to advise on the portfolio of life sciences companies acquired by US company Acacia Research in June 2020 from the wreckage of Woodford Equity Income. Clifford Press, chief executive of Acacia, said of Woodford: 'I've met a few of the really legendary investors, and when I met Neil I knew I was standing in the presence of a truly exceptional investment manager.' WCM Partners was set up with trusty colleagues from Woodford Investment Management Craig Newman and Paul Green. Yet on Friday, its website was incomplete, while no one in the Marlow offices or the managers of the property Exeid could or would confirm that Woodford still rented space there. Acacia was asked to confirm whether WCM Partners was still giving it investment advice. However, no response was forthcoming. We sought a comment from Hargreaves Lansdown on the failure of the Financial Conduct Authority to issue its report into Woodford. It said: 'No comment from us, thanks for checking.' Link Fund Solutions was invited to comment on whether its decision to break up Woodford Equity Income was, with the benefit of hindsight, the right one as well as on the FCA's ongoing investigation. It declined to comment. A wall of silence. The great wall of silence. It was the policy the City had been bracing itself for and it finally arrived last week oil and gas companies were hit with a windfall tax. While shares in oil giants BP and Shell remained steady, attention turned towards others that may be in the firing line. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he is mulling an extension of his 'energy profits levy' to utility companies, such as British Gas owner Centrica and SSE. Overheating: Deepa Venkateswaran, at stockbroker Bernstein, says the Treasury had 'grossly overstated' the potential its windfall tax could take from renewable energy generators The shares of both companies were down this week. The advice from the City seems to be: 'Don't panic.' Deepa Venkateswaran, at stockbroker Bernstein, says the Treasury had 'grossly overstated' the potential its windfall tax could take from renewable energy generators. She said the share price fall at SSE and Centrica last week was an 'overreaction' and investors should 'buy into the dip'. US bank JPMorgan criticised the effectiveness of taxing energy supply firms, saying: 'We do not believe that it would be material from a financial standpoint.' Primark set for price rises to combat costs Primark is expected to put through 'considerable' price rises this autumn to combat rising costs, according to investment bank Credit Suisse. The retailer, owned by Associated British Foods, is said to be open to altering its prices according to fluctuations at rivals. The fashion market is expected to come under huge pressure this year, with the value end especially vulnerable. But the bank forecast a return to double-digit pre-tax profit margins before its peers thanks to Primark's scale, products and supply chain. It has also pushed ahead with its digital strategy, with a website revamp and greater engagement on social media. Chief executive Paul Marchant told analysts at a new store in Milan the spring/summer 2022 range was 'as good as we've ever looked'. Who would bet against it? Hard start to life on Stock Exchange for First Tin It has been a hard start to life on the London Stock Exchange for metals firm First Tin. The UK-based company, which develops advanced hard rock tin projects, floated last month with a market value of 86million. First Tin is aiming to develop one project in Germany and one in Australia before the end of 2025, with a third German mine in the pipeline. But shares have tanked 36 per cent since listing. Time for the board to dig a little deeper, perhaps. Dr Martens investors hoping for Jubilee cheer Dr Martens investors will be hoping for some extra Jubilee cheer ahead of the bootmaker's final results, which are released on Wednesday. In its trading update in January, the British brand reported quarterly sales of 307million, up 11 per cent on the year before. In that quarter to December 31, Dr Martens opened 11 stores, including six across Italy and the US, giving it 158 stores worldwide. City analysts have forecast that annual sales will rise by about 17 per cent, but said Dr Martens was 'still playing catch up' as it would take months before post-Covid production levels could meet demand. The City will also be looking for signs that customers are continuing to splash out on its leather boots as the cost-of-living crisis bites. An American tech veteran has signalled to Ministers he is ready to step in at a British semiconductor plant after its Chinese ownership was put under review. Ron Black has written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng with assurances that he has funding for an alternative offer if the deal is blocked. His backers are understood to have 300million earmarked to buy and grow Newport Wafer Fab, Britain's biggest chip factory. It was sold last year to Nexperia, which is a European subsidiary of Shanghai-based Wingtech. Last week, Kwarteng launched a review into the takeover. Under the new National Security and Investment Act, he could thwart the deal. Looking ahead: Ron Black's backers are understood to have 300million earmarked to buy and grow Newport Wafer Fab, Britain's biggest chip factory Black's letter is believed to raise concerns about the factory's new links to China, as well as offering to discuss his plan with officials, The Mail on Sunday understands. Last night, he described his offer as a 'white knight' intervention. Black said that unless the Chinese firm could prove that its ownership poses no danger to UK or allied security, 'it should be considered a risk and as such, it should not be approved'. Black is leading a consortium of ten investors with a war chest that he says would turn Newport, which produces vital parts for semiconductors, into a leading microchip plant. He previously ran Imagination Technologies, where he and other directors resigned in protest over an attempted Chinese-led boardroom coup. Last week, Kwarteng said: 'There will now be a full assessment under the new National Security and Investment Act. We welcome overseas investment, but it must not threaten Britain's security.' The Government has 30 days to investigate the takeover. Nexperia has rejected claims of security concerns. Company executive Toni Versluijs has told The Mail on Sunday it is a 'Dutch company with primarily European heritage'. But Tom Tugenhadt MP, chair of the Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee, has said the Government should reject the takeover to protect Britain's 'industrial heartlands'. Nexperia and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy were asked for comment. Ambitious: Emma Walmsley plans to split GSK in two GSK is close to a deal to build a 400million science campus in the UK that could create 5,000 highly skilled jobs as part of a super-charged growth plan. The drugs giant has been seeking a property developer to transform 33 acres of land it owns in Stevenage into one of Europe's biggest hives for life science start-ups. It is expected to make an announcement imminently. The move to create a biotech nerve centre in the Hertfordshire town is part of an ambitious strategy drawn up by chief executive Emma Walmsley to revitalise GSK's credentials as a life science innovator. The City is eagerly awaiting the latest results of GSK's trial next month of what it hopes will be a new blockbuster vaccine. The group is in a race with America's Pfizer and France's Sanofi to launch the first vaccines for RSV, a common viral respiratory disease. GSK is the world's leading vaccine company, with widely praised innovations such as its Shingrix jab for shingles, despite falling behind in the race for Covid inoculations. Walmsley is preparing to split the company into two, separating the consumer healthcare brands from the drugs business. She wants to run the pharmaceuticals side and transform it into a vaccine and drugs powerhouse. The consumer arm, Haleon, will list on the stock exchange as a separate entity, with brands including Sensodyne and Panadol. GSK will release its prospectus for the separation within weeks. Documents will detail the financial arrangements for the break-up including how the firm's debt pile will be split between the two companies. French bank Societe Generale said the two businesses could be worth much more than previously thought, with a combined value of as much as 115billion, up from around 90billion today. It forecast that the new GSK pharmaceuticals business could be worth 18.12 per share on its own higher than the current share price for the whole group. That would still lag behind Britain's other major pharmaceuticals group, AstraZeneca, which has a market value of more than 160billion. 'Spinning off GSK Consumer in mid-July will be a catalyst for both the new listed entities,' Societe Generale said in a report. The bank believes the new RSV vaccine could be 'this decade's most material milestone for New GSK'. Construction on the research campus, which will be of national importance in Britain's race to compete globally in the sector, could begin before the end of this year. GSK has a 92-acre research and development site in Stevenage and plans to erect the new facility on unused land. The town is already the biggest cell and gene therapy research cluster in the UK and the third-largest in the world. Walmsley, who worked at L'Oreal before joining GSK in 2017, has drawn up a blueprint for consistent growth over the next five years that she hopes will silence her critics and deter predators. She has drawn criticism from activist investor Elliott Advisors, which believes the board should consider other candidates with more pharmaceutical experience for the top job. Elliott took a stake in the company after identifying a significant underperformance compared with AstraZeneca. Frustrations with GSK increased when it fell behind in the quest to produce a Covid vaccine. Haleon has already been a target for bidders and more offers could emerge after it is listed on the stock exchange. Unilever made a 50billion bid for the business and it emerged last week that Nestle has also made a bid. GSK is facing other problems, including votes in April by workers at several British plants owned by the company to go on strike over pay. Unions have criticised a 'derisory' 2.75 per cent rise as a 'substantial real-terms pay cut'. The board has also suffered an investor rebellion over executive remuneration. Nearly 40 per cent of voting shareholders opposed the company's remuneration policy following the introduction of a more generous bonus scheme for executives. Walmsley was paid 8.2million last year and has earned 34million since taking the job in 2017. The race for Oregon's 5th Congressional District seat, which represents much of Linn County, will feature not only a partisan rift but a geographic split over which side of the Cascades will be home to a new U.S. House member. Central Oregon's Jamie McLeod-Skinner is the Democratic nominee for the 5th Congressional District in November. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley in Clackamas County, near Portland, handily won the GOP primary. Seven-term U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, conceded the race Friday night following reports from the Associated Press calling the race 10 days after the March 17 primary deadline. McLeod-Skinner becomes the first primary challenger in 42 years to knock off an incumbent member of Congress in a primary in Oregon. Then-political activist Ron Wyden beat U.S. Rep. Bob Duncan in the 1980 Democratic primary for the 3rd congressional district. Wyden is now a U.S. senator. Schrader released a statement thanking his supporters for their work on the campaign and conceding to McLeod-Skinner without mentioning her name. I congratulate my opponent on her tireless efforts and successful primary campaign," Schrader said. "It has been my honor to serve as Representative for Oregons 5th congressional district for these past 14 years. In a statement Friday, May 27, McLeod-Skinner thanked Schrader for his time in Congress and said the outcome was about "our ideas and confirmation of our values." Chavez-DeRemer is the Republican nominee, having won 48% of the vote in a five-way race, with Bend businessman Jimmy Crumpacker finishing second. 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. Schrader was concerned about the outcome of redistricting in 2022 when the 5th district's radically redrawn boundaries left him with less than half of his current constituents. He briefly considered running in the new, neighboring 6th Congressional District, but several Democrats had already jumped into that race, which was won by Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego. Schrader chose to run in a district with a lot of unfamiliar political turf. "It is what it is," Schrader said in a March interview. The realigned 5th district stretches from Portland, across the Cascades, and into Deschutes County. It has a 6% Democratic voter tilt, according to the Cook Political Report. That is the smallest gap of Oregon's six congressional districts. Both 5th district candidates live just outside the district. McLeod-Skinner's home is in a portion of Crooked River Ranch in Jefferson County. Chavez-Deremer's residence is just beyond the northern boundary of the 5th district in Clackamas County. The U.S. Constitution does not require U.S. House members to live in their districts, just in the same state. In the Democratic primary, Schrader cast himself as a centrist in a party that is moving to the left. He is pro-choice and was endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. With a narrow majority in the U.S. House, Schrader was endorsed by both President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California. McLeod Skinner hammered at Schrader for being one of only two Democrats to initially vote against Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. She frequently referenced Schrader's vote against allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, which she tied to large campaign contributions to Schrader by the pharmaceutical industry. Election results were delayed more than a week by defective ballots printed by a Bend company for use in Clackamas County. Tens of thousands of ballots were printed with blurry bar codes, requiring them to be hand duplicated under the watch of bipartisan observers. Clackamas County is not only the state's third most populous, but 45% of Democrats in the 5th district live in the county. McLeod-Skinner had jumped out to a huge lead of 60% when the first vote totals were announced at 8 p.m. on May 17. But it quickly became apparent that the totals included no votes from Clackamas County. As vote counts have dribbled in over the days since, Schrader is leading in the county, but at a margin that increasingly indicated he could not make up the gap with McLeod-Skinner when all the votes were eventually counted. McLeod-Skinner's victory was her first win in three major underdog political races since 2018. She ran against U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, in 2018 in the heavily Republican 2nd Congressional District that at the time included Bend and portions of Deschutes County. After an energetic campaign crisscrossing the vast district, McLeod-Skinner lost to Walden but held him to his lowest vote percentage in 20 years. McLeod-Skinner ran for secretary of state in 2020 but was overshadowed by a Portland-area political heavyweight match in which former state senator Shemia Fagan defeated former state senator Mark Hass, with McLeod-Skinner coming in third. Chavez-DeRemer is a staunch conservative, who is backed by a GOP drive to elect Republican women, led by U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik, R-NY, the chair of the House Republican Conference, the third-highest position within the GOP's U.S. House power structure. The defeat of Schrader will likely embolden Republicans to put more resources into flipping the seat. But Kyle Kondik, a lead analyst on congressional races at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said in March that it would be a tough seat for Republicans to win. "Democrats re-drew the Oregon congressional map with an eye on winning five of the six seats," Kondik said. McLeod-Skinner is more liberal than Schrader, which could be a liability in the general election for a mostly centrist district. But Kondik said that could be balanced out by the closed Republican primary choosing a conservative ally of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-California, who has close ties with former President Donald Trump. DeRemer's ties to Stefanik, who won her position in the House after the conference dumped U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, over her vote to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. That connection could make the GOP candidate a tough sell to moderates. Kondik said history was against Republicans. The party wins the perennially Republican 2nd district in Eastern and Central Oregon. But it hasn't won a second seat since 1994. Even then, the win by Yamhill County native Jim Bunn in the 5th district lasted only one term before Democrats flipped the seat back to their column. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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 few weeks at https://www.facebook.com/groups/391673602349315/permalink/555540949295912/?sale_post_id=555540949295912. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Security forces fanned out across a wide swathe of central Khartoum on Thursday, a Reuters reporter witnessed, as police attempted to block the latest protests against military rule in seven months. Thousands of protesters, the most seen in about two months, the reporter said, marched towards the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum demonstrating for civilian leadership and against an Oct. 25 military coup. We will continue until the end, said Abdallah Mohamed, a 28-year-old protester. Either we die or we win civilian rule. Our only hope for life is to achieve democracy. The country remains without a prime minister since January, amid political deadlock and an economic spiral after military leadership removed a joint civilian and military-led government from power. An ongoing United Nations and African Union-sponsored process has yet to yield an agreement between the countrys main political factions and the military. A Reuters reporter estimated that protesters were met with about 2,000 members of police as well as the Central Reserve Forces, which have been subject to U.S. sanctions for alleged human rights violations. Security forces blanketed the residential neighborhoods around the protest route, aiming tear gas at protesters starting about 3.5 kilometers away from the palace. Protesters continued marching for about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), burning tires and tree branches to block roads along the way. Security forces could be seen chasing protesters down some side streets and some protesters were seen injured and carried away. Local authorities have often stated that the downtown area, about a kilometer away from the palace, is restricted from protests for security reasons. Barbed wire and water trucks could be seen blocking the area. At least 96 people have been killed in the protests since October by security forces, according to medics, and thousands have been injured. Lawyers say dozens of protesters and activists remain in detention. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said in a statement that tear gas was fired in front of Al-Jawda Hospital, known to treat injured protesters. SOURCE: REUTERS Ukrainian forces may have to retreat from their last pocket in the Luhansk region to avoid being captured, a Ukrainian official said, as Russian troops press an advance in the east that has shifted the momentum of the three-month-old war. A withdrawal could bring Russian President Vladimir Putin closer to his goal of capturing eastern Ukraines Luhansk and Donetsk regions in full. His troops have gained ground in the two areas collectively known as the Donbas while blasting some towns to wastelands. Luhansks governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said Russian troops had entered Sievierodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days, though adding that Russian forces would not be able to capture the Luhansk region as analysts have predicted. We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. However, it is possible that in order not to be surrounded we will have to retreat, Gaidai said on Telegram. Gaidai said 90% of buildings in Sievierodonetsk were damaged with 14 high-rises destroyed in the latest shelling. Speaking to Ukrainian television, Gaidai said there were some 10,000 Russian troops based in the region and they were attempting to make gains in any direction they can. He said several dozen medical staff were staying on in Sievierodonetsk but that they faced difficulty just getting to hospitals because of the shelling. Reuters could not independently verify the information. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine was protecting its land as much as our current defence resources allow. Ukraines military said it had repelled eight attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk on Friday, destroying tanks and armoured vehicles. If the occupiers think that Lyman and Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian, Zelenskiy said in an address. PERFORMED POORLY The General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said on Saturday Ukrainian forces had repelled eight assaults in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the previous 24 hours. Russias attacks included artillery assaults in the Sievierodonetsk area with no success, it said. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said while Russian forces had begun direct assaults on built-up areas of Sievierodonetsk, they would likely struggle to take ground in the city itself. Russian forces have performed poorly in operations in built-up urban terrain throughout the war, they said. Russian troops advanced after piercing Ukrainian lines last week in the city of Popasna, south of Sievierodonetsk. Russian ground forces have captured several villages northwest of Popasna, Britains defence ministry said. Reached by Reuters journalists in Russian-held territory on Thursday, Popasna was in ruins. The bloated body of a dead man in combat uniform could be seen lying in a courtyard. Resident Natalia Kovalenko had left the cellar where she was sheltering in the wreckage of her flat, its windows and balcony blasted away. She said a shell hit the courtyard, killing two people and wounding eight. We are tired of being so scared, she said. Russias eastern gains follow the withdrawal of its forces from approaches to the capital, Kyiv, and a Ukrainian counter-offensive that pushed its forces back from Ukraines second city, Kharkiv. Russian forces shelled parts of Kharkiv on Thursday for the first time in days killing nine people, authorities said. The Kremlin denies targeting civilians in what it calls its special military operation. Ukraines General Staff said on Saturday while there was no new attack on the city, there were multiple Russian strikes on nearby communities and infrastructure. In the south, where Moscow has seized a swath of territory since the Feb. 24 invasion, including the port of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials say Russia aims to impose permanent rule. STRUGGLING TO LEAVE In the Kherson region in the south, Russian forces were fortifying defences and shelling Ukraine-controlled areas, the regions Ukrainian governor told media. Another official said Russian forces had shelled the town of Zelenodolsk. On the diplomatic front, European Union officials said a deal might be reached by Sunday to ban deliveries of Russian oil by sea, accounting for about 75% of the blocs supply, but not by pipeline, a compromise to win over Hungary and clear the way for new sanctions. Zelenskiy has accused the EU of dithering over a ban on Russian energy, saying the bloc was funding Russias war and delay merely means more Ukrainians being killed. In a telephone call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Putin stuck to his line that a global food crisis caused by the conflict can be resolved only if the West lifts sanctions. Nehammer said Putin expressed readiness to discuss a prisoner swap with Ukraine but added: If he is really ready to negotiate is a complex question. Both Russia and Ukraine are major grain exporters, and Russias blockade of ports has halted shipments, driving up global prices. Russia accuses Ukraine of mining the ports. Russia justified its assault in part on ensuring Ukraine does not join the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. But the war has pushed Sweden and Finland, both neutral throughout the Cold War, to apply to join NATO in one of the most significant changes in European security in decades. SOURCE: REUTERS CATSKILL New census data shows the Catskills are growing after years of population loss. Each of the five counties of the Catskills Greene, Schoharie, Delaware, Ulster and Sullivan were among the top 10 counties for population growth in the state, according to the data, which tracks changes from July 2020 to July 2021. Sullivan County had the largest population gain in the state by percentage, growing 1.5 percent, or by 1,163 people, while Greene County had the second-largest, growing 1.3 percent, or by 609 people. The regions population had been declining for years. Of the five counties, only Sullivan had seen growth between 2000 and 2010, though it was at about a tenth of the pace seen in the new census data. The other counties all lost population in that time. The most dramatic was in Schoharie County, which saw its population fall from 32,749 to 29,714 a drop of more than 10 percent. The numbers quantify population shifts that occurred during the pandemic, which saw urbanites jump ship in favor of less-crowded environments. The drop in New York Citys population was dramatic. In the single year studied, the population decreased by about 305,000 people. In Manhattan alone, the population dropped 6.6 percent. In Greene County, renewed interest in the region has translated into economic growth. The county recorded $1.1 billion in sales in 2021, an 18 percent jump from the year before, in large part due to second homeowners permanently relocating to the county and a jump in tourism. Six resorts are planning to open in the Catskills this year. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. New York Citys population loss dragged the states population down as a whole, with 319,000 fewer people living in New York in July 2021 than July 2020. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy TROY An Albany firefighter has been indicted by a Rensselaer County grand jury for allegedly raping a minor on New Years Eve 2021 at the East Greenbush headquarters of a town rescue squad where he also worked, according to the indictment. The Rensselaer County District Attorneys Office issued a statement Friday that Jevonte Osterhout, 30, of Albany, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of raping and abusing a person less than 17 years old. The sealed four-count indictment was opened Wednesday. Osterhout allegedly committed the crimes on Dec. 31, 2021, at 1116 Red Mill Road, East Greenbush, the base of operations for the W.F. Bruen Rescue Squad, according to the indictment. Osterhout was a firefighter/emergency medical technician for the Albany Fire Department and an emergency medical technician for the Bruen Rescue Squad at the time of the alleged incident. He has worked as a city firefighter since March 2021 and with the rescue squad in East Greenbush since December 2018. The case was investigated by the East Greenbush Police Department. The East Greenbush Police believe this is an isolated incident but are asking anyone who may have information relevant to this investigation to please contact the East Greenbush Police detectives unit, East Greenbush Detective Sergeant Michael Guadagnino said. He also thanked the START Center for its assistance with the investigation. The Rensselaer County nonprofit advocates on behalf of child victims of abuse. The Albany firefighters union issued a statement about Osterhouts status Friday. Today we learned that serious and disturbing allegations have been reviewed by a grand jury in Rensselaer County and filed against Jevonte Osterhout, the Albany Permanent Professional Fire Fighters Association said in the statement. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. According to a news release issued by the Rensselaer County District Attorneys office, the alleged actions took place separately and apart from any duties as an Albany firefighter." Osterhout has been removed from the active duty roster and placed on administrative leave "in keeping with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the statement said. The grand jury indicted Osterhout on felony charges of first-degree rape, third-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse. Osterhout also was indicted on a single misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. Assistant District Attorney Antonia Edwards is prosecuting the case. The Times Union could not determine Friday afternoon who is representing Osterhout. COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) Capri Isidoro broke down in tears in the office of a lactation consultant. The mother of two had been struggling to breastfeed her 1-month-old daughter ever since she was born, when the hospital gave the baby formula first without consulting her on her desire to breastfeed. Now, with massive safety recall and supply disruptions causing formula shortages across the United States, she also can't find the specific formula that helps with her baby's gas pains. It is so sad. It shouldnt be like this, said Isidoro, who lives in the Baltimore suburb of Ellicott City. We need formula for our kid, and where is this formula going to come from? As parents across the United States struggle to find formula to feed their children, the pain is particularly acute among Black and Hispanic women. Black women have historically faced obstacles to breastfeeding, including a lack of lactation support in the hospital, more pressure to formula feed and cultural roadblocks. It's one of many inequalities for Black mothers : They are far more likely to die from pregnancy complications, and less likely to have their concerns about pain taken seriously by doctors. Low-income families buy the majority of formula in the U.S., and face a particular struggle: Experts fear small neighborhood grocery stores that serve these vulnerable populations are not replenishing as much as larger retail stores, leaving some of these families without the resources or means to hunt for formula. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20% of Black women and 23% of Hispanic women exclusively breastfeed through six months, compared to 29% of white women. The overall rate stands at 26%. Hospitals that encourage breastfeeding and overall lactation support are less prevalent in Black neighborhoods, according to the CDC. The Association of Womens Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses also says Hispanic and Black women classified as low wage workers have less access to lactation support in their workplaces. The racial disparities reach far back in America's history. The demands of slave labor prevented mothers from nursing their children, and slave owners separated mothers from their own babies to have them serve as wet nurses, breastfeeding other women's children. In the 1950s, racially targeted commercials falsely advertised formula as a superior source of nutrition for infants. And studies continue to show that the babies of Black mothers are more likely to be introduced to formula in the hospital than the babies of white mothers, which happened to Isidoro after her emergency cesarean section. Physicians say introducing formula means the baby will require fewer feedings from the mother, decreasing the milk supply as the breast is not stimulated enough to produce. Andrea Freeman, author of the book Skimmed: Breastfeeding, Race and Injustice, said these mothers still arent getting the support they need when it comes to having the choice of whether to breastfeed or use formula. They also may have jobs that do not accommodate the time and space needed for breastfeeding or pumping milk, Freeman said. Nobodys taking responsibility for the fact that theyve steered families of color toward formula for so many years and made people rely on it and taken away choice. And then when it falls apart, theres not really any recognition or accountability, Freeman said. Breastfeeding practices are often influenced by previous generations, with some studies suggesting better outcomes for mothers who were breastfed when they were babies. Kate Bauer, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, said she began hearing back in February about Black and Latino families in Detroit and Grand Rapids feeling stuck after finding smaller grocery stores running out of formula. Some were told to go to the local office of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, the federal program that supports low-income expectant and new mothers. Between 50% and 65% of the formula in the U.S. is bought through the program. Going to the WIC office is like a full days errand for some moms, Bauer said. She fears mothers are getting desperate enough to try foods that are not recommended for babies under 6 months. Yury Navas, a Salvadoran immigrant who works at a restaurant and lives in Laurel, Maryland, says she was not able to produce enough breast milk and struggled to find the right formula for her nearly 3-month-old baby Jose Ismael, after others caused vomiting, diarrhea and discomfort. One time, they drove half an hour to a store where workers told them they had the type she needed, but it was gone when they got there. Her husband goes out every night to search pharmacies around midnight. Its so hard to find this type, she said, saying sometimes they have run out before they can secure more formula. The baby will cry and cry, so we give him rice water. On a recent day, she was down to her last container and called an advocacy group that had told her it would try to get her some at an appointment in five days. But the group could not guarantee anything. Some mothers have turned to social media and even befriended other locals to cast a wider net during shopping trips. In Miami, Denise Castro, who owns a construction company, started a virtual group to support new moms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it's helping moms get the formula they need as they go back to work. One of them is a Hispanic teacher whose job leaves her with little flexibility to care for her 2-month old infant, who has been sensitive to a lot of formula brands. Most of the moms we have been helping are Black and Latinas, Castro said. These moms really dont have the time to visit three to four places in their lunch hour. Lisette Fernandez, a 34-year-old Cuban American first-time mother of twins, has relied on friends and family to find the liquid 2-ounce bottles she needs for her boy and girl. Earlier this week, her father went to four different pharmacies before he was able to get her some boxes with the tiny bottles. They run out quickly as the babies grow. Fernandez said she wasnt able to initiate breastfeeding, trying with an electric pump but saying she produced very little. Her mother, who arrived in Miami from Cuba as a 7-year-old girl, had chosen not to breastfeed her children, saying she did not want to, and taken medication to suppress lactation. Some studies have attributed changes in breastfeeding behavior among Hispanics to assimilation, saying Latina immigrants perceive formula feeding as an American practice. Over the last three to six weeks it has been insane, Fernandez said. I am used to everything that COVID has brought. But worrying about my children not having milk? I did not see that coming. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Seven-term U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, a centrist who was endorsed by President Joe Biden, has been ousted in the Democratic primary in Oregon by progressive challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner after results were delayed more than a week by a ballot-printing issue. The vote count in the state's 5th Congressional District was sloweed because tens of thousands of ballots were printed with blurry bar codes, making them unreadable by vote-counting machines. Workers in Clackamas County, the state's third-largest county, had to transfer votes by hand to fresh ballots so they could be tallied. That process continued Friday for other races yet to be called. McLeod-Skinner had the backing of the local Democratic parties in all four counties covered by the redrawn seat, which now leans a little less blue. In her campaign, she urged stronger action to combat climate change and complained that Schrader was too conservative. She also portrayed Schrader as a politician who. had lost touch with his party's base and in the pocket of large pharmaceutical companies on issues like prescription drug prices. McLeod-Skinner will face Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in November. Chavez-DeRemer is the former mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon. She has said she will support businesses and police and address the crisis on our southern border. In a statement on Twitter, McLeod-Skinner thanked Schrader for his years of service and said Oregon Democrats should see the contest's outcome as an evaluation of our ideas and as a confirmation of our values. From Sellwood to Sunriver, Oregonians never stopped believing we can protect our families, our climate and our civil rights, she wrote. Oregonians this is your victory. Biden made Schrader his first endorsement of the year but it didn't help the moderate Democrat in a district that now includes Bend, one of the state's fastest-growing Democratic areas where McLeod-Skinner had more name recognition. Schrader has voted against some of Bidens priorities, including a money-saving plan to let Medicare negotiate the price it pays for prescription drugs. A year ago, he was one of only two members of his party to vote against a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill because, among several reasons, he did not support including an increase to the minimum wage. Those decisions may be what cost him re-election, said John Horvick, political director at the nonpartisan public opinion firm DHM Research. Hes a moderate, but its more specific to the issues where he went against the party, he said. The big one is really his reluctance to support Democrats on prescription drugs. You can break with your party in a lot of different areas but a highly salient, deeply held position in the party that was a deal breaker." What remains to be seen is if McLeod-Skinner will compete well in the general election in a district that is split fairly evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats' hold on the seat could be at risk if moderate voters perceive her as too progressive, he 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. The Republican nominee, Chavez-DeRemer, is endorsed by the third-ranking House Republican, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York an endorsement Chavez-DeRemer highlighted in her primary campaign in a crowded field. That might play well in more conservative parts of the redrawn district that stretches from the Portland suburbs toward rural central Oregon. To me, it's a toss-up race going forward and candidate quality is going to matter, Horvick said. The opportunities for Oregon to be central in the national conversation is higher this cycle than any cycle I can think of in recent memory. ___ This story has been updated to correct the description of Oregon's redrawn 5th District. ___ Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus NEW YORK (AP) Darren Walker, Ford Foundation president and preeminent connector and advocate for artists and art institutions, joined the exclusive company of global superstars like Stevie Wonder, T.S. Eliot and Meryl Streep, in receiving France's highest cultural honor. Walker was named commander of Frances Order of Arts and Letters for his work as a benefactor of the arts on Tuesday at a Gilded Age mansion in New York owned by the French embassy. Being in this firmament is absolutely humbling, Walker told The Associated Press. Im simply a servant to the idea of art and justice in the world, because we cant have justice without art. Walker became president of the Ford Foundation, one of the largest in the U.S., in 2013. He came in with a vision to shape the organizations giving to support social justice in part through funding the arts. To symbolize that mission, Walker arranged to sell the foundations art collection of works almost exclusively from white male artists. Starting in 2017, the collection displayed at the foundations buildings was rebuilt with some 350 works of newer artists, many of whom are people of color, women and queer people. Walker has steadily built a connection with French institutions in part because of what he described as the country's parallel journeys to live up to their founding ideals of freedom or liberty for all, equality and fellowship. France, just like America, unfortunately, has engaged in the exclusion of especially the art and culture and stories of people of African descent," Walker said. And just like in America, "France is on a journey" toward great inclusion and recognition of the contributions of Black artists, he said. Under his leadership, the Ford Foundation funded an exhibition in New York at Columbia University's Wallach Art Gallery in 2018 that explored the participation of Black models painted by modernists like Edouard Manet in the creation of those works. The exhibition curated by Denise Murrell, who was a fellow at the Ford Foundation at the time, traveled to the Musee dOrsay in Paris where it made a big impression. Laurence des Cars, who is now president-director of the Louvre Museum, partnered with Walker and Murrell to bring the exhibit to Paris when she was leading the Musee dOrsay. On Tuesday, she bestowed the honor to Walker on Frances behalf in front of 50 guests in a room shimmering with mirrors that overlooks Central Park. Des Cars recalled Walker's unwavering support of the exhibition that they were told over and over would cause problems. You see what others do not see or refuse to see, and you see what could be, she said before placing a medal on a green and white stripped ribbon around Walker's neck. French ambassador Philippe Etienne listed off projects that the Ford Foundation and Walker have supported, including art residencies both in France and the U.S., and a planned exhibition highlighting the many Black American artists who spent time in France especially after World War II. As president of the Ford Foundation, he brings the foundation, of course, but he brings himself too," Etienne said, referring to Walker's expertise and knowledge, "but also a real passion, a real energy. Walker sits on the board of the National Gallery of Art, the first Black man to do so, as well as the boards of many other arts institutions and companies. 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 Washington-based organization, Americans for the Arts, invited Walker in 2017 to give an annual address where he made the case for public funding of the arts, tracing his own journey as a child in Texas raised by a single mother to a banker and now leading voice in philanthropy. Nolen V. Bivens, the organization's president and CEO, said Walker believes deeply in the power of cultural diplomacy and the power of art. Darren Walker is the most influential arts policy grant maker and I would say thought leader in America, especially in the area of diversity and equity, he said, adding that Walker's dedication to the support of the arts and certainly artists is exceptional. ___ This story corrects the name of the National Gallery of Art. It is not the National Gallery of the Arts. ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and non-profits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Breaking with the party line in a rare show of opposition to his countrys war in Ukraine, a Communist Party legislative deputy in Russias Far East demanded an end to the military operation and withdrawal of Russian forces. We understand that if our country doesnt stop the military operation, well have more orphans in our country, Leonid Vasyukevich said at a meeting of the Primorsk regional Legislative Assembly in the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Friday. His comments, which he addressed to President Vladimir Putin, were shown in a video posted on a Telegram channel emanating from the region. Another deputy followed to support Vasyukevichs views but the legislative assemblys chairman issued a statement afterward calling the remarks a political provocation not supported by the majority of lawmakers. Earlier this month, a Russian diplomat based in Geneva resigned, saying he was ashamed of the war. Russia has imposed severe penalties for publicly challenging the Kremlins narrative on the military operation in Ukraine. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Relentless: Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in east West mulls having Russian oligarchs buy way out of sanctions Russia blames the West for global food crisis as it blocks Ukraine ports US wins latest legal battle to seize Russian yacht in Fiji US general: No need to add ground forces in Sweden, Finland ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy spoke defiantly Friday in two speeches about his countrys ultimate victory over Russian forces in both the most pressing battle in eastern Ukraine and the war, generally. Ukraine is a country that has destroyed the myth about the extraordinary power of the Russian army -- an army that supposedly, in a few days, could conquer anyone it wants, he told Stanford University students by video. Now Russia is trying to occupy the entire state but we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which will be open to the world. Later, in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy reacted to Russians capture of the eastern city of Lyman, the Donetsk regions large railway hub north of two more key cities still under Ukrainian control, and its attempt to encircle and seize the city of Sievierodonetsk, one of the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong, the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. Donbas will be Ukrainian. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The governor of the Luhansk region is denying Russian claims that their forces have surrounded the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk but said Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat. Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram Friday that the Russians have seized a hotel and bus station. The Russians will not be able to capture Luhansk region in the coming days, as analysts predict. We will have enough forces and means to defend ourselves, Haidai wrote. He added that its possible that not to be surrounded, we will have to leave. A critical supply and evacuation path, the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway, is constantly under fire, but supplies and people are still passing on it, Haidai said. ___ KYIV, Ukraine The leaders of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine that were affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church have adopted measures declaring the churchs full independence and criticizing the Russian churchs leader for his support of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Orthodoxy, the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, is divided between churches that had been loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate and those under a separate ecclesiastical body. The council of the Moscow-connected body, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on Friday said it condemns the war as a violation of Gods commandment Thou shalt not kill! ... and expresses disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. It also adopted charter changes indicating the full self-sufficiency and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. ___ ROME Italian Premier Mario Draghi spoke by phone Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy, assuring him of the support of the Italian government in coordination with the European Union. Draghis office said the leaders also discussed the prospects for opening Ukrainian ports to allow grain exports to help combat the food crisis that is threatening the worlds poorest countries. Draghi spoke Thursday with President Vladimir Putin in a bid to reach an agreement to open the ports, and Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Italys commitment to work on a possible solution. Draghi noted after speaking to Putin that many millions of tons of grain risk rotting in Ukrainian ports if there is no agreement to allow their passage. __ The Kremlin-backed leader of Russias southern province of Chechnya has posted a video in which he warns that Poland could be next after Ukraine. Ramzan Kadyrov, who is famous for his bluster, said in the video he posted to his official Telegram page that Ukraine was a done deal and that if an order is given after Ukraine, well show you (Poland) what youre made of in six seconds. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has provided its neighbor with weapons and other aid since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has also welcomed in millions of Ukrainian refugees. Kadyrov later urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finally come to his senses and accept the conditions offered by our president (Vladimir Putin). Kadyrov has repeatedly used social media to boast about Chechen fighters alleged performance against Ukrainian troops and to make other unconfirmed statements about the war in Ukraine. ___ MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Ukraine should remove sea mines from areas near its ports to allow safe shipping. Putin made the statement in Fridays call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, according to the Kremlin readout of the conversation. It said that Putin and Nehammer had a detailed exchange of views on issues regarding food security with Putin rejecting Western claims that Russias action that exacerbated a global food crisis. The Kremlin noted that Putin emphasized that attempts to blame Russia for difficulties regarding shipments of agricultural products to global markets are unfounded. It added that the Russian leader gave a detailed explanation of the real roots behind those problems that emerged, in particular, because of the U.S. and the EU sanctions against Russia. The U.S. and other Western allies have rejected the Russian demand for the sanctions to be lifted and accused Moscow of blocking grain supplies from Ukraine to global markets accusations the Kremlin has denied. ___ LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian forces are making palpable progress in eastern Ukraine, and Kyivs forces need long-range rocket launchers and other military support. Britains defense ministry said Friday that Moscows troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in the eastern Donbas region, but do not yet have full control of the region. Johnson told news agency Bloomberg that Russian President Vladimir Putin at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas, hes continuing to make gradual, slow but Im afraid palpable progress. He said that therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily. Johnson said long-range multiple-launch rocket systems, or MLRSs, would enable them to defend themselves against this very brutal Russian artillery. Britain possesses some of the systems, but Johnson did not say whether the U.K. would send any to Ukraine. ___ PRAGUE The U.K.s top diplomat says countries supporting Ukraine have to be ready for the long haul and there should be no talk of appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said after meeting her Czech counterpart in Prague Friday that we need to make sure that Ukraine wins and that Russia withdraws and that we never see this type of Russian aggression again. She said that there should be no talk of cease-fires, or appeasing Putin. Truss says that Ukraine needs to receive more heavy weapons and gradually get upgraded to get NATO-standard equipment. She said that at the moment, theyre using a lot of ex-Soviet equipment. We need to make sure theyre able to defend themselves into the future. ___ BUDAPEST, Hungary -- A U.S. lawmaker is urging the Biden administration to consider imposing sanctions on some Hungarian companies in an effort to pressure Budapest to agree to a European Union embargo on Russian oil. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi urged him to consider all tools including sanctions to ensure that Hungary -- a member of the EU and NATO -- gets on board with the proposal. The EU has for weeks has sought to forge a consensus on a new sanctions package that would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held up negotiations and threatened a veto of the plan, arguing it would devastate Hungarys economy and lead to energy insecurity. In his letter to Blinken, Krishnamoorthi wrote that the EUs proposed embargo would significantly increase financial pressure on Russias economy and Putins war machine. If Orban continues to stall EU negotations, he wrote, the Biden Administration should consider implementing sanctions against companies in Hungary that continue to do business with Russian oil exporters. ___ ISTANBUL Turkeys foreign minister says Sweden and Finland must now take concrete steps to alleviate his countrys security concerns to overcome Ankaras objections to their NATO membership bid. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with Turkeys demands after a visit this week and Ankara is awaiting their answers. The countries membership bids require support from all NATO countries, but Turkey is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants that Turkey considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. Cavusoglu said that an approach of well convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies would not be correct. He insisted that these countries need to take concrete steps. He added that we understand Finland and Swedens security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkeys legitimate security concerns. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. ___ ROME Italian Premier Mario Draghi has discussed the emerging food crisis in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Draghis office said that the call Thursday focused on the situation in Ukraine and ... efforts to find a shared solution to the ongoing food crisis and its serious repercussions on the worlds poorest countries. 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. Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia, seeking to shift the blame for the food crisis. ___ BERLIN -- Germanys development minister has traveled to Ukraine to pledge further civilian support and discuss the countrys rebuilding. Svenja Schulze is the second German minister to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited on May 10 and reopened the countrys embassy in Kyiv. Schulzes ministry said she planned to meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other senior officials in Kyiv on Friday. It said the talks will address immediate aid to address the problems Ukraine faces now and strategic questions related to rebuilding the country. Schulze said in a statement that we must already lay now the foundations for internationally coordinated support for the rebuilding of a free and democratic Ukraine and Germany will contribute. ___ MOSCOW -- Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim to have taken control of Lyman, a town in the Donetsk region. There has been no confirmation yet from Ukrainian officials. The military of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic said on Telegram that rebel forces, supported by the Russian troops, as of Friday have liberated and taken full control of 220 settlements, including Lyman. Lyman, which had a pre-war population of over 20,000, is a large railway hub in the Donetsk region, north of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, cities that remain under Ukrainian control. ___ MOSCOW -- Russias Foreign Ministry has announced that it is expelling five Croatian diplomats in response to unfriendly steps taken by Zagreb to reduce the size of Russias diplomatic mission there. The ministry said in an statement that it summoned Croatian ambassador Tomislav Car on Friday. It said it expressed a strong protest in connection with the groundless attempts of the Croatian authorities to blame Russia for war crimes in Ukraine and the provision of military assistance by the Croatian side to the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime. Last month, Croatia expelled 18 Russian diplomats. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- Ukraines foreign minister is pleading with Western nations to provide Kyiv with heavy weapons to enable it to push Russian forces back. Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday night tweeted a video of himself answering questions submitted on Twitter and said: We need heavy weapons. The only position where Russia is better than us its the amount of heavy weapons they have. Without artillery, without multiple launch rocket systems we wont be able to push them back. Kuleba said that the situation in the east of the country, where the Russian forces are on the offensive, is as dire as people say. He added: I would even say its even worse than people say. We need weapons. If you really care for Ukraine, weapons, weapons and weapons again, the minister stressed. ___ KYIV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian regional governor says that four people have been killed in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk over the past 24 hours by Russian shelling. One more person was killed by a Russian shell in the village of Komushuvakha. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, wrote in a Telegram post Friday that the residents of Sievierodonetsk have forgotten when was the last time there was silence in the city for at least half an hour. He said that the Russians are pounding residential neighborhoods relentlessly. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said on Thursday that 60% of the citys residential buildings have been destroyed, and about 85-90% have been damaged and require major repairs. ___ WELLINGTON, New Zealand The United States has won the latest round of a legal battle to seize a $325-million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nations top court. The case has highlighted the thorny legal ground the U.S. finds itself on as it tries to seize assets of Russian oligarchs around the world. Those intentions are welcomed by many governments and citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine, but some actions are raising questions about how far U.S. jurisdiction extends. Fijis Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Feizal Haniff, who represents the company that legally owns the superyacht Amadea. Haniff had argued the U.S. had no jurisdiction under Fijis mutual assistance laws to seize the vessel, at least until a court sorted out who really owned the Amadea. Haniff said he now plans to take the case to Fijis Supreme Court and will apply for a court order to stop U.S. agents sailing the Amadea from Fiji before the appeal is heard. ___ WASHINGTON The U.S. general nominated to take over European Command has told senators that Sweden and Finlands push to join NATO wont require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Thursday that 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. Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing that The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward." He said that 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 Russias invasion. He said the increase had no ties to the more recent move by Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership. Will Waldron/Times Union TARRYTOWN A special police team rappelled over the side of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge on Friday morning to rescue a man standing on an edge of the massive span over the Hudson River, State Police said. At about 9:20 a.m., State Police and emergency personnel from several agencies responded to a report of a man on the bridge who had climbed over a glass barrier at an overlook and was standing on the edge, possibly threatening to jump. SCHUYLERVILLE As the debate over gun control heats up following back-to-back mass shootings, the industry has a spokesman with unparalleled access to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, the No. 3 Republican in the House: her husband. Matthew Manda works as the manager of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, based in Newtown, Conn. The trade group whose stated mission is "to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports" was among the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit seeking to block a New York law that increases potential liability for gun manufacturers. The suit was dismissed by a judge in Albany earlier this week, though an appeal is likely. Manda frequently writes for the NSSF website and other outlets about the group's events and policy stances. "Law-abiding Americans choose over and over again to take their personal safety into their own hands and purchase a firearm," he wrote in April in a piece about a "Congressional Fly-In" hosted by the group. "Congress needs to ensure the industry is free from woke corporate discrimination. The Washington, D.C., event featured "dozens of firearm, ammunition and accessories industry leaders who spoke face-to-face with elected officials, Manda wrote. Among them was Stefanik, who "added her enthusiasm to elect more Republican women to Congress is heading in the right direction as several pro-Second Amendment women will likely join the Republican conference at the start of next year." Manda's article did not mention she is his wife. Manda did not respond to a Times Union request for comment. An NSSF spokesman refused to say when Manda began working for the group, calling it "personal information." When the Times Union called Alex deGrasse, a Stefanik adviser and frequent campaign spokesman, to ask if Manda's work influences Stefaniks stance on gun rights, deGrasse called the reporter a very sick person. He then sent an email calling the Times Union sexist. The Times Union is stooping to another new low and attacking her husband, deGrasse wrote. You should ask both current Democrat challenger candidates what their positions are on Democrats' gun control proposals. He went on to say Stefanik supports the hiring of more school resource officers and noted she co-sponsored a bill that would have expanded background checks. The main goal of that bill, proposed in 2017, was to allow "concealed carry" reciprocity across state lines. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Stefanik was a strong ally of the gun industry long before her husband went to work for the NSSF. She has a A+ rating with the National Rifle Association, which launched its annual meeting in Houston on Friday. Manda is a graduate of the University of Kansas who previously worked as the communications director for Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder and as the political director for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, both Kansas Republicans. The couple met at a party Stefanik hosted in Washington in 2012. They married in 2017, when Manda was the marketing and communications director for the Virginia-based Media Group of America, which runs the conservative news website the Independent Journal Review. MEXICO CITY (AP) A group of U.S. state legislators from Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and North Carolina toured Mexico and said this week they are impressed by efforts to expand abortion access south of the border. The legislators visited the country's three largest cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey to meet with activists and Mexican legislators. They praised the efforts of Mexican activists to guarantee access for women who want an abortion, even those from U.S. states like Texas. "It is incredibly touching to see people opening their homes, opening their hearts, spending time and effort helping American women, Texas women predominantly for now, access care," said Texas state Rep. Erin Zwiener There is anecdotal evidence that women from Texas are crossing into Mexico to obtain abortion pills, and some Mexican activists want to help them. Under a 2021 law, abortions in Texas are prohibited once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before some women know theyre pregnant. Enforcement is left up to private citizens who are deputized to file civil lawsuits against abortion providers, as well as others who help a woman obtain an abortion in Texas. Zwiener said about 45% of Texas women who obtained abortion outside the state between September and December went to neighboring Oklahoma. But last week, Oklahoma lawmakers passed legislation banning abortion at conception, the strictest in the nation. Zwiener said she expects that might send Texas women to New Mexico or Louisiana. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Rebeca Ramos, director of the Mexican rights group Gire, said: One of the priorities in both countries is to guarantee safe access to abortion for those who need them, in places with legal restrictions. Mexico's Supreme Court ruled last year that it was unconstitutional to punish abortion. As Mexicos highest court, its ruling bars all jurisdictions from charging a woman with a crime for terminating a pregnancy. Statutes outlawing abortion are still on the books in most of Mexicos 32 states, however, and nongovernmental organizations that have long pushed for decriminalization are pressing state legislatures to reform them. Abortion was already readily available in Mexico City and some states. . WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, May 27, 2022 _____ AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY Flood Advisory National Weather Service Binghamton NY 502 PM EDT Fri May 27 2022 ...FLOOD ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... The Flood Advisory is cancelled for a portion of central New York, including the following counties, Cayuga, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben and Yates. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a significant threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Dutchess County through 545 PM EDT... At 503 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Red Oaks Mill, or 7 miles southeast of Poughkeepsie, moving north at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph, pea size hail, and heavy rain. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Heavy rains could cause flooding. Locations impacted include... Pleasant Valley, Amenia, Millbrook, Hopewell Junction, Red Oaks Mill, Myers Corner, Stanfordville, Dover Plains, Beekman, Smithfield, Stormville, Salt Point, Lithgow, Hoxie Corner, Clove Valley, Poughquag, Billings, Shunpike, Pleasant Ridge and Washington Hollow. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4160 7390 4195 7375 4189 7350 4186 7350 4154 7371 TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 198DEG 22KT 4165 7380 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather The proposed settlement of more than $1 billion as compensation for the 98 people who died in a Florida condominium collapse is far from the largest in U.S. history For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union. It's important for locals to watch these gunfire incidents given that we never know what might resonate with the voters or the public at large amid election season. Here's the story so far . . . "According to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, the shooting happened in the area of 7th and Prospect around 8 p.m. Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating. It is protocol for an outside agency to investigate officer-involved shootings involving the KCPD." More deets via community news . . . "According to reports, officers approached the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of the Family Dollar at 6th Street and Prospect Avenue, and one individual exited the vehicle and began shooting at officers." Most importantly for now . . . Officers returned fire and one individual was struck and taken to a local hospital. Another individual was taken into custody at the scene. The officer was not injured , according to an official. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Authorities investigating officer-involved shooting in KCMO KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday evening. Woman shot by KCPD at Family Dollar The Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP) is investigating a Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officer-involved shooting at Family Dollar near Sixth and Prospect tonight. Around 7:50 p.m., KCPD officers following up on a previous dispatch from the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department (KCKPD). Missouri State Highway Patrol investigates shooting involving KCPD officer KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a Friday night shooting by a KCMO police officer. The incident happened near East 6th Street and Prospect Avenue. It involved a car stolen earlier Friday in Kansas City, Kansas, a law officer told KSHB 41. Highway patrol investigating shooting involving KCPD officer KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting Friday night involving an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. KCPD officers were following up on a report just before 8 p.m. from the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department on an alleged armed car jacking that had occurred. Kansas City police officers shoot and wound 1 person Friday night The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting Friday night involving Kansas City police.The shooting was reported just before 8 p.m. near East Sixth Street and Prospect Avenue outside a Family Dollar store.It began with a reported carjacking in Kansas City, Kansas. Highway patrol Sgt. Developing . . . How much does it cost to fuel up in Toronto? There is a Scarborough everyone sees and another, often unseen but always there and growing, that is Indigenous. With warmer weather comes a powerful new season of theatre in Ontario. - Toronto star photo illustration President Volodymyr Zelensky is convinced that since launch of a full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian and American peoples have become closer in their sense of freedom. The leader stated this in an address to the Stanford University community, Ukrinform reports. I am confident that after this war, something will change in the relationship between you, the American people, and us. Its already changing. Weve become much closer in our feelings. We know for sure that we mean the same thing when we say the word freedom, said the head of state. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is a state that has destroyed the myth of the extraordinary power of the Russian army, which could conquer anyone it wants in a few days. He added that Ukraine is a country where the Russian army continues to wage a war that it doesnt want to end. "Now Russia is trying to occupy our whole country. But we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which is and will be open to the world," the president stressed. On February 24, Russia kicked off a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have been massively bombing and shelling Ukrainian towns and villages, having unleashed mass terror against the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories. 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 The Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council has released a selection of misinformation, fake reports, and manipulations produced by Kremlin propaganda on May 27. Thats according to the Centers Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports. In particular, local media in Bryansk, a regional center close to the border with Ukraine, spread misinformation about a nuclear strike that Ukraine was allegedly preparing to inflict. At the same time, it is emphasized that, had Russia not started a war against Ukraine, Kyiv would have used dirty radiation bombs against Belgorod, Bryansk, Rostov-on-Don, and Simferopol. In this way, the Russian media justify the launch of a war of aggressive against Ukraine, the Center stressed. Meanwhile, in the occupied city of Mariupol, the invasion forces circulate at the humanitarian aid distribution points a newspaper claiming that "Mariupol was captured without destruction and civilian deaths." At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense is spreading misinformation, accusing the United States of involvement in the monkeypox outbreaks in multiple countries: The disease was brought from Nigeria, where four American biolabs are located. At the same time, Ukraine-based laboratories were also connected with them. " As Ukrinform reported, the Kremlin, through former Italian General Leonardo Tricarico, made yet another attempt at nuclear blackmail of the world, calling for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia and ultimately surrender. The Border Committee of Belarus has restricted until the end of summer public access to the areas bordering Ukraine in three districts of Gomel region. The statement was released by the agencys press service on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "The State Border Committee informs that in order to ensure border security from June 1, 2022, to August 31, 2022, entry and temporary stay of citizens across the border zone in Bragin, Loev and Khoiniki districts of Gomel region shall be temporarily restricted," the statement reads. Also during the said period, the agency will not be issuing the relevant passes allowing access to the border strip area. It is emphasized that the restrictions do not apply to those performing official duties and protecting the state border in the specified territory. Khoiniki district borders on Kyiv region; Bragin - on Kyiv and Chernihiv regions; and Loev - with Chernihiv region. Earlier, Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus instructed that a "people's militia" be created in the country. On May 26, he announced that a new operational command, the Southern one, would be set up in the Belarusian armed forces near Ukraine's borders. Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been using Belarus' infrastructure and territory to launch strikes at Ukraine. Also, Belarus is known to be supplying Russia with weapons. Photo: dpsu.gov.ua The Russian military command is running a covert mobilization campaign in the country. Thats according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Covert mobilization measures are underway in Russia. The enemy continues to remove obsolete weapons and military equipment from mobilization deployment centers. Reservists are being trained in the Voronezh region, the war update reads. Meanwhile, Belarus is further strengthening positions at the border with Ukraine in Volyn and Polissya directions. Their army group was reinforced by electronic warfare maneuver groups operating along the state border of Ukraine. Training of reserve officers set to man units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces is underway. A division of 9K720 Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) mobile short-range ballistic missile launchers has been relocated to the Luninets district of the Brest region. The threat of strikes on Ukraines infrastructure and army bases from the territory of Belarus remains in place. In the Siversky direction, the Russians are taking measures to strengthen protection of the Ukrainian-Russian border in Bryansk and Kursk regions. No significant changes in the situation were noted over the past day. In the Slobozhansky direction, the Russians fired at the Ukrainian units to prevent their further advance in the direction of the State Border of Ukraine north and northeast of the city of Kharkiv. The enemy is also taking measures to upgrade logistics and replenish losses. No offensive operations on the part of the invasion force were reported in the Kharkiv direction. At the same time, the enemy opened fire on civilian infrastructure in the areas of Ternove, Prudyanka, Ruski Tyshky, Kutuzivka, Varvarivka, Petrivka, Mykhailivka, Korobochkino, and others. They also remotely mined the areas of the Ukrainian Armys potential advance. In the Sloviansk direction, the Russians conducted intensive reconnaissance, focusing on maintaining the occupied positions, replenishing losses and stocks, as well as creating conditions for resuming the offensive. Enemy artillery shelled civilian infrastructure in the areas of Studenok, Sviatohirsk, Bohorodychne, Karnaukhivka, and Virnopillya, while their aviation launched strikes at the village of Dovhenke. With the support of artillery, they tried to develop offensive operations in the area of Pasika, which was unsuccessful. In the Donetsk direction, the Russians acontinue active offensive operations, inflicting fire damage on the Ukrainian units along the line of contact, launching missiles and their operational-tactical and army aircraft increasing the number of sorties in the area. In the Lyman direction, the Russians continued to use mortars and MLR systems in the areas of Ozerne and Dibrova, also trying to gain a foothold in the area of Lyman. In the Sievierodonetsk direction, supported by artillery, Russian enemy conducted assault operations in the areas of Sievierodonetsk, Oskolonivka, and Toshkivka. They saw no success as the enemy suffered losses and retreated to previously occupied positions. Russian enemy is trying to develop success in the Bakhmut direction, to reach the rear of Ukrainian troops and disrupt logistics. With the support of mortar and artillery fire, they went for offensive and assault operations in the areas of Nahirne, Vasylivka, Komyshuvakha, and Vidrodzhenna, none of which were successful. In the Avdiyivka direction, Russian artillery engaged civilian infrastructure in the areas of Novobahmutivka, Novoselivka Druha, Vesele, Avdiivka, Pisky, and Krasnohorivka, as well as inflicted air strikes on civilian infrastructure in the Yakovlivka, Avdiivka, Vesely and Kamyanka districts. Russia conducted active offensive operations in the Kurakhiv direction, deploying jet and barrel artillery at the firing positions and firing on the positions of Ukraines Defense Forces and civilian infrastructure near Maryinka, Myslyvsky and Pavlivka. In the Novopavlivsk and Zaporizhia directions, the Russians fired on civilian infrastructure in the areas of Vremivka, Poltavka, Chervone, Huliaipole, Orikhiv, Kamyanske, and others. Enemy army aircraft operated near Olhivsky. The Russians suffered significant losses and retreated in the areas of the settlements of Novopil and Novodarivka. In the South Buh direction, Russian occupiers focused their main efforts on maintaining the occupied frontiers and fortifying their third line of defense. As a result of the offensive effort by Ukraines Army, the enemy suffered losses and took up defense on unfavorable positions. Firefights continue, while the invaders fired on civilian infrastructure in Osokorivka, Novovorontsovka, Blahodatne, Zorya, and Tavriyske. The enemy continue to enhance their air defense network in the Kryvyi Rih direction. To replenish losses, the obsolete decommissioned T-62 tanks are brought in. Over the past 24 hours, eight Russian enemy attacks have been repulsed in the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, where five tanks, ten armored combat vehicles, and four trucks have been destroyed, as well as an Orlan-10 UAV. The Ukrainian Air Force also engaged and eliminated a Russian tactical company group, along with the equipment. In ] Kharkiv region, an enemy Ka-52 combat helicopter was downed. Russian troops have already killed 242 children and injured at least 440 in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion started on February 24. According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said this on Telegram. "As of the morning of May 28, more than 682 children have been affected in Ukraine as a result of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation. According to official figures from juvenile prosecutors, 242 children were killed and more than 440 were injured," the statement said. The figures are not final as work is underway to establish casualties in areas of active hostilities, in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories, the Prosecutor General's Office added. Most children were affected in Donetsk region 153, Kyiv region 116, Kharkiv region 108, Chernihiv region 68, Luhansk region 51, Kherson region 49, Mykolaiv region 45, Zaporizhzhia region 28, Sumy region 17, Kyiv city 16, Zhytomyr region 15. On May 26 in Mariupol, Donetsk region, a 12-year-old boy died on the territory of a school after an enemy shell exploded. While recording criminal offenses, prosecutors established that a 15-year-old boy was wounded during Russia's shelling of Mariupol, Donetsk region, on March 15. The boy was forcibly taken to the territory of the so-called "DPR" to a medical institution. His 2-year-old brother and 14-year-old sister were taken away with him. It also became known that on February 28, a 17-year-old boy was injured in a shelling of a car by the Russian military in Kharkiv. A total of 1,888 educational institutions have been damaged in bombing and shelling of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages by Russian forces. Of them, 180 are completely destroyed. Photo: t.me/senkevichonline Ukraine's defenders killed about 30,000 Russian troops from February 24 to May 28, including 250 in the past day. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also destroyed 1,330 (+8) tanks, 3,258 (+12) armored fighting vehicles, 628 (+5) artillery pieces, 203 (+2) MLR systems, 93 (+0) air defense systems, 207 (+1) warplanes, 174 (+4) helicopters, 503 (+0) operational and tactical level UAVs, 116 (+1) cruise missiles, 13 (+0) warships/cutters, 2,226 (+0) other vehicles and tanker trucks, and 48 (+0) pieces of special equipment. The enemy suffered the greatest losses over the past day in the Avdiivka and Kryvyi Rih direction, the General Staff said. The situation in the areas of hostilities remains difficult, but it is controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Commander of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, said this in a video posted to Facebook, according to Ukrinform. While visiting Ukrainian positions, Nayev noted that Ukrainian forces are fortifying their defense lines in the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. In the Donetsk region and especially in the Luhansk region, the enemy is increasing its forces and resources every day and night in order to carry out the task of reaching designated areas with further efforts to encircle Ukrainian troops. "The military command is taking comprehensive measures to adequately respond to these intentions of the enemy. Our defenders, at the cost of their own lives and health, are deterring enemy attacks and doing everything necessary to keep control of those parts of the front line where the enemy continues to accumulate additional forces and resources," Nayev said. He stressed that the Ukrainian military is fulfilling its military duty with honor, "because the truth and great strength of spirit are on our side." Ukraine is receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles and land-based launchers to defend itself against the Russian aggressor in the Black Sea. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Ukraine is receiving ground-based launchers and a corresponding number of Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The latest weapons are being provided by Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Other countries will join this process," the statement said. According to the ministry, these missiles will defend Ukraine from the hostile Russian naval component in the Black Sea. Over the past day, Russian troops fired on 14 localities of Donetsk region. Casualties have been reported. "Over the past day, the Russians launched 21 strikes on the region. The police documented war crimes. The occupiers fired on 14 localities. There are killed and wounded. Thirty-two civilian objects residential buildings, fire station, recreation center, construction and agricultural enterprises, critical infrastructure facilities were destroyed," the National Police of Ukraine posted on Facebook. In particular, Avdiivka, Lyman, Bakhmut, Sviatohirsk, Zalizne, Mykolaivka, Krasnohorivka, Toretsk, Raihorodok, Donetske, New York, Pryvillia, Shumy, and Yahidne came under enemy fire. Russian troops opened fire from aircraft, rocket launchers, Uragan and Grad systems, heavy artillery, tanks, and small arms. Police officers worked at the sites of the shelling. The police and the Security Service of Ukraine opened criminal proceedings under Article 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. On the morning of May 28, Russian troops fired artillery on Krasnohorivka and Marinka, and launched airstrikes on Novomykhailivka and Avdiivka, Donetsk region. ol Karim Khan, a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court, expects cooperation from Russia in a probe into the war crimes committed in Ukraine. Thats according to Politiko, Ukrinform reports. Khan stressed that the invitation is there and that his door is open, so he will keep knocking on Russias door, too. As Ukrinform reported earlier, almost 14,000 criminal proceedings were initiated into the crimes committed by Russian invasion forces and their allies in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan and Ukraines Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova will deliver a joint press conference in The Hague on May 31. Photo: Ukrainian Government Portal Currently, the Ministry of Defense has no information from either the General Staff of the Armed Forces or intelligence agencies about an impending offensive on Kyiv, while such information spins may be beneficial to the enemy. This was announced by Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar, who spoke at the national telethon on Saturday, Ukrinform reports. "I reached out to the Commander-in-Chief about this issue, as well as with the head of the GUR (military intelligence) Kyrylo Budanov. As of today, we have no information that would indicate a possible offensive as soon as today. But we must understand that the threat to Kyiv and the whole territory of Ukraine prevails because we have a war going on," Maliar said. At the same time, the official noted that aggravating the situation in the media space and creating "panic waves" can most likely be beneficial to the enemy, "so they can be releasing such information in test mode." "Yesterday we were looking for the roots where it could first emerge on social networks. And it should be noted that this was, indeed, Russian sources, as well as some of our concerned citizens who made their contribution, said the Deputy Minister. According to the official, the easiest and fastest way for the enemy to establish control over the whole of Ukraine is to capture the capital. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that the country is at war and such risks always exist, said Maliar. Russian invaders attacked the border area of the Sumy region by launching unguided missiles from a warplane and firing mortars from Russian territory. The press center of the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Today, after 16:00, an enemy plane fired six unguided missiles at the border areas of the Sumy region. The missiles struck areas outside settlements," the statement said. In addition, today after 12:00, the enemy launched five mortar mines from the Russian settlement of Troebortnoe on the border area of the Shostka district. Russian troops last night fired on the border areas of the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, damaging an agricultural enterprise in the Konotop district of the Sumy region. At 10:19, observers recorded ten explosions outside the village of Boiaro-Lezhachiv (Konotop district), probably from a 120 mm mortar. Ukrainian forces have launched an offensive in the Kherson region, with Russian invaders suffering losses and defending on unfavorable positions. The press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "As a result of offensive actions by units of the Defense Forces, the enemy suffered losses and started defending on unfavorable positions near Andriivka, Lozove and Bilohirka, Kherson region. Fighting continues. The Russian occupiers fired on civilian infrastructure outside the settlements of Prybuzke, Posad-Pokrovske, Blahodatne, Osokorivka, Novovorontsovka, Novooleksandrivka and others. With the help of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, the enemy continues to strengthen its air defense," the statement said. On February 24, Russia launched a new stage of its war against Ukraine - a full-scale invasion. The invaders are shelling and bombing cities, towns and villages of Ukraine, torturing and killing civilians. The United States, the European Union and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia. Photo: ArmyInform Ukraine's Armed Forces have eliminated the commander of a Russian air assault battalion of the 104th air assault regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Dosyagaev. According to Ukrinform, the Department for Strategic Communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced this on Facebook. "The commander of an air assault battalion of the 104th air assault regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Dosyagaev, became a VIP fan of Kobzon's works. Alexander won the nomination 'Winged Infantry' at the festival 'Russian Army 2021,' but this did not help him at a meeting with Ukrainian warriors," the statement said. In early May, General David Petraeus, former CIA director and former commander of the United States Central Command, said that at least ten Russian generals had already been killed in Ukraine. From February 24 to May 28, Ukraine's Armed Forces eliminated about 30,000 Russian soldiers. A Russian aircraft launched three unguided rockets on two border localities in Sumy region at about 18:00. A woman was injured, a church and a kindergarten were damaged in the strike. "A Russian aircraft launched three unguided rockets on two border localities in Sumy region at about 18:00. A woman was injured in the strike. A church, a kindergarten, a private house, and a road were damaged," the press center of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. Today, after 16:00, an enemy aircraft launched six unguided rockets on the border areas of Sumy region. The rockets fell outside the populated localities. The enemy also fired mortars on the regions territory. ol The number of Ukrainians who have gone abroad since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion has exceeded 6.7 million. As of May 27, 6,737,208 people left the territory of Ukraine, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) informs. Most refugees almost 3.6 million people went to Poland. Almost 990,000 people went to Romania, more than 970,000 to Russia, 671,000 to Hungary, more than 477,000 to Moldova, almost 455,000 to Slovakia, and almost 30,000 to Belarus. At the same time, according to UNHCR, 2,229,500 Ukrainians have returned to their homeland since February 28. On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian invaders shell and bomb peaceful Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages, torture and kill civilians. Photo credit: Jonas Walzberg, dpa ol Today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have repulsed seven Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Fighting continues at three locations. "The enemy uses combat aircraft, multiple rocket launchers, heavy artillery, tanks, mortars of various systems along the entire line of defense and launches missile and bomb strikes on civilian infrastructure and peaceful residential areas," the Joint Forces grouping posted on Facebook. Russian invaders have fired on more than 40 localities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. "In Donetsk region alone, 15 civilian objects were destroyed and damaged, including 14 residential buildings and a coke plant. At least three civilians were killed and five more were injured in the attacks. Data on casualties, destruction and damage in Luhansk region are specified," the Joint Forces grouping noted. Read also: Ukrainian army launches offensive in Kherson region The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflict manpower and hardware losses on Russian invaders. Today, the Joint Forces units destroyed one tank and six enemy vehicles. The air defense units shot down an Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle. ol Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (Gas TSO of Ukraine) and NSJC Naftogaz of Ukraine has appealed to German regulators to review legislation as regards gas transmission through the Nord Stream 1 pipe and assess the route in terms of security of gas supplies to Europe. Thats according to Gas TSO of Ukraines press service, Ukrinform reports. On 27 May 2022 LLC Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine and National Joint Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine submitted requests to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany and Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), asking that BNetzA reconsider its decision of 20 May 2020, pursuant to which the gas interconnector Nord Stream 1 was granted a derogation from the application of German (and EU) energy regulation requiring unbundling, transparent tariffs, and third party access for a period of 20 years with effect from 12 December 2019. The derogation was granted to the operator of Nord Stream 1 based on the assumptions that the gas pipeline would strengthen the security of gas supply in Europe, increase market competitiveness, and ensure energy solidarity. However, these assumptions have subsequently been proven wrong, and significant changes in circumstances provide a legal basis for BNetzA to exercise its authority to reassess its Derogation Decision. Among the many changes in circumstances, GTSOU and Naftogaz invoked in particular the following: The gas crisis in Europe with energy prices soaring from the autumn of 2021 is, to a significant extent, the result of Gazproms abusive policy of deliberately restricting gas supplies, initiated to exert pressure on Germany and the EU countries to approve the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on anti-competitive terms, contrary to European law; On 31 March 2022, the president of the Russian Federation issued a decree requiring European gas buyers to pay for gas from Russia in rubles, and providing that gas supplies would be cut if this demand is not adhered to, based on which gas supplies to Bulgaria, Poland, and Finland were stopped; Read also: Austrian Chancellor warns Putin that Gazprom may lose important gas reservoir On 8 May 2022, Russian occupation authorities interfered with the operations of the Novopskov gas compressor station immediately downstream of the Sokhranivka Russia-Ukraine interconnection point, by rerouting and offtaking gas from the gas transit flow. Gas designated for EU customers was illegally withdrawn from the main pipeline. To comply with the sanctions, Gazprom terminated gas flows through the Yamal pipeline in Poland while continuing to transport at maximum capacity through NS1, which contradicts a key assumption for the derogation decision. Therefore, the derogation granted to Nord Stream 1 should principally be revoked, and the use of Nord Stream 1 should be suspended in full. Alternatively, GTSOU and Naftogaz consider that the derogation decision should be adjusted, limiting the use of NS1 as much as the BNetzA in its discretion finds appropriate. In both cases, new conditions should be imposed requiring a corresponding increase in the use of the Ukrainian GTS which has the necessary available capacities. As reported earlier, Gas TSO of Ukraine called on Europe to prevent Russia from further blackmailing and manipulating the gas market, and impose an embargo on Russian energy supplies to strip Moscow of profits that help it fund the war with Ukraine. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has called on the international community to demand that Moscow cease the military blockade of Ukrainian food exports. The head of Ukrainian diplomacy stated this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "Sanctions on Russia have no connection to the unfolding global food crisis. The sole reason for shortages, rising prices, and threat of hunger is the Russian military physically blocking 22 million tons of Ukrainian food exports in our seaports. Demand Moscow to end its blockade," the top diplomat said. Read also: Britain says idea of easing Russia sanctions to unblock grain exports from Ukraine off table Russia has earlier blocked all ports and trade routes through which Ukrainian grain is traditionally exported worldwide. More than 20 million tonnes of grain remain stuck in Ukrainian ports due to the blockade. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is trying to disrupt Ukrainian grain exports even via alternative routes that are being set up. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky considers that the change in the regime of Vladimir Putin and his team is still impossible in Russia. "I think that this whole team [Russian authorities] has been working for many years, they are reinforced with each other, connected by many things, many steps, many crimes. At least, they are united by the actions against us, we consider these actions to be crimes. And I doubt the change in Putin's regime right now. I think they are all afraid of him [Putin]," Zelensky said in an interview with the Nieuwsuur Dutch media outlet, Ukrinform reports. On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops bomb and shell Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages and unleash mass terror against the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories. ol The option of the European political community proposed by President of France Emmanuel Macron for countries that are not formal members of the European Union is not acceptable to Ukraine. Zelensky said this in an interview with the Nieuwsuur Dutch media outlet, Ukrinform reports. Answering the journalist's question about the acceptability of "alternative to EU membership", proposed by Macron, he said: "No, I don't think [its acceptable] ... We don't need it. We just need support from these countries, we don't want an alternative." He added that such an initiative echoed the proposals of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "I think they have their own assumptions about this, their common assumption. We don't need that," the President concluded. As reported, on May 9, President of France Emmanuel Macron announced an initiative to create a new "European political community" so that countries which are not formal members of the EU could join the new space in Europe. He mentioned Ukraine as well. On May 22, Clement Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, said that the process of Ukraine's accession to the European Union could take 15 or 20 years. ol WASHINGTON (AP) The warning signs were there for anyone to stumble upon, days before the 18-year-old gunman entered a Texas elementary schoo Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thinks Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte should speak out more clearly about his position regarding Ukraines prospects of EU membership. Thats according to Nieuwsuur, Ukrinform reports. "I said very openly to him: If you think there is no place for us in the EU, then you should say so clearly. You really help us and I am very grateful for that. But you were silent about the EU all the things we just wanted to hear," Zelensky said in an interview. Zelensky believes that his country is ready for a candidate for EU membership. We must and want to implement the reforms that are necessary for this, he says. Zelensky calls a future membership "a signal that makes us stronger in the fight we are waging against Russia at home." One of the reasons that a number of EU countries, including the Netherlands, are against accelerated membership is the persistent corruption problem in Ukraine. Ukraine ranks 122 in a list of least corrupt countries but Zelensky has his doubts about these kinds of reports. "The Russian Federation claims that we are Nazis and they base that on those 'official reports.'" The Ukrainian president also points out that 62 percent of the Dutch population supports Ukrainian EU membership in a Eurobarometer poll . That percentage is slightly higher among the entire EU population. Zelensky believes that politicians should therefore also support membership. "Politicians are elected by the people." Incidentally, the statement in the poll was: Ukraine should join the EU if the country is ready. As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Zelensky spoke with Rutte, stressing the need to increase support for Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are demanding that Russian President Vladimir Putin release about 2,500 Ukrainian troops taken prisoner at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The Elysee Palace reported this following Macron's phone call with Scholz and Putin, Ukrinform reports. "The President of the Republic and the German Chancellor have demanded the release of some 2,500 defenders of Azovstal taken prisoner by the Russian forces," the statement said. According to the statement, Macron and Scholz in talks with Putin also insisted on the urgency of lifting the blockade of Odesa in order to allow the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea in order to avoid a world food crisis. "They took note of the Russian President's promise to grant ships access to the port for the export of grain crops without it being exploited militarily by Russia and if it was first cleared of mines," the statement said. In addition, Macron and Scholz reiterated to Putin that any solution to the war must be negotiated between Moscow and Kyiv, with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. As was reported earlier, the Ukrainian military defended Mariupol for more than 80 days. The evacuation of Ukrainian defenders from the Azovstal plant, blocked by Russian invaders, began on May 16 and lasted for several days. After the withdrawal of the Ukrainian military from Azovstal, they are waiting to be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. New U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has received a Ukrainian visa. "It is a great pleasure to issue a visa and meet with my colleague, new U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. Ukraine has always had the best leaders of the American diplomatic mission who were not only highly professional diplomats but also wonderful people and examples of public service. And this time is no exception!" Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. She expressed hope for active joint work "at a crucial time in our struggle for independence and democracy." As reported, on May 19, U.S. Senate unanimously approved veteran diplomat Bridget Brink on to be the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Until recently, Brink served as the U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia. On April 25, President Joe Biden nominated her for the post of the head of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. ol Bradyn Heit was a month from his 18th birthday and his high school graduation when he fatally overdosed on fentanyl pills in July 2017. (@FahadShabbir) Rome, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th May, 2022 ) :After a tycoon bromance, Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is struggling to break up with Russia's Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war -- like many in his country, where ties with Moscow run deep. The billionaire former premier's unwillingness to speak ill of Putin is echoed by other leading Italian politicians, while in the media, there are concerns that pro-Russian sentiment has warped into propaganda. Prime Minister Mario Draghi is committed to NATO and the EU, strongly backing sanctions against Moscow, and at his urging a majority of Italy's MPs approved sending weapons to help Ukraine defend itself. But much of Draghi's coalition government -- Berlusconi's Forza Italia, Matteo Salvini's League and the once anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) -- has long pursued a "special relationship" with Moscow. Italy used to have the largest Communist party in the West, and many businesses invested in the Soviet Union in the 1960s, while Russians in turn sought opportunities here. Barely a month before the February 24 invasion, Putin spent two hours addressing top Italian executives at a virtual meeting. - Beds, hats, parties - Berlusconi, 85, has been out of office for more than a decade but remains influential both in politics and through his media interests, as founder of the Mediaset empire. He was an ardent admirer of the Russian leader, and a close chum -- they stayed in each other's holiday homes, skied together and were snapped sporting giant fur hats. "They were two autocrats who mutually reinforced their image: power, physical prowess, bravado, glitz," historian and Berlusconi author Antonio Gibelli told AFP. Putin gave Berlusconi a four-poster bed, in which the Italian had sex with an escort in 2008, according to her tell-all book. He in turn gave Putin, 69, a duvet cover featuring a life-sized image of the two men. In the months before the Ukraine war, Berlusconi continued to promote his close ties, including a "long and friendly" New Year's Eve phone call. It was not until April, two months after Russia's invasion, that he publicly criticised the conflict, saying he was "disappointed and saddened" by Putin. He has struggled to stay on message since then. Speaking off the cuff in Naples last week, he said he thought "Europe should... try to persuade Ukraine to accept Putin's demands", before backtracking and issuing a statement in Kyiv's support. "breaking the twinning with Putin costs Berlusconi dearly: he has to give up a part of his image," Gibelli said. Meanwhile, the leader of the anti-immigration League, Salvini, who has proudly posed in Putin T-shirts in the past, has argued against sending weapons to aid Ukraine. The League did condemn Russia's military aggression, "no ifs and no buts", on February 24 when Russia invaded. But an investigation by the L'Espresso magazine earlier this week found that, in the over 600 messages posted by Salvini on social media since Russia invaded, he had not once mentioned Putin by name. He did so for the first time on Thursday, saying "dialogue" with Putin was good, and encouraging a diplomatic end to the war. - 'Biased media' - Many pro-Russian figures are given significant airtime in the media, which itself is highly politicised. "Italy is a G7 country with an incredibly biased media landscape," Francesco Galietti, founder of risk consultancy Policy Sonar, told AFP. TV talk shows are hugely popular in Italy, and "one of the main formats of information" for much of the public, notes Roberta Carlini, a researcher at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom at the European University Institute. But she warns they often "obscure facts". Italy's state broadcaster RAI is being investigated by a parliamentary security committee for alleged "disinformation", amid complaints over the frequent presence of Russian guests on talks shows. Commercial giant Mediaset is also in hot water after airing an interview with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in which highly polemical claims went unchallenged. It defended the interview, saying good journalism meant listening to "even the most controversial and divisive" opinions. "RAI is a reflection of the political landscape, with its many pro-Russian parties. And Mediaset... well, Berlusconi is an old pal of Putin's, so what do you expect?" Galietti said. He also points to a decades-long culture in Italy of allowing conspiracy theories -- particularly on the interference of US spies in Italian politics -- to circulate in the media unchallenged. "You end up with a situation where Russia Today (RT) is considered as authoritative as the BBC," he said. LA PAZ, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th May, 2022 ) --:Five gold mining workers were killed after being buried by a landslide when extracting gold on the banks of a river in central Bolivia, local authorities said Thursday. The victims of the tragedy in the community of Huajchamayu, in the town of Cocapata, in central Cochabamba department, ranged in age from 20 to 40 years old, according to the police report. "The tragedy occurred on Wednesday. The doctors at the Falsuri Health Center received the information at midnight Wednesday and, along with the police, went to the site, where they verified the existence of five bodies," the regional police commander said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2022) An anonymous donor provided $175,000 to cover the funeral costs of the victims of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Governor Greg Abbott said on Friday. "(T)here was an anonymous donor who attended the meeting and provided $175,000 to ensure that every cost of every family concerning anything about the funeral services is going to be taken care of," Abbott said during a press conference. Abbott also said there are many state agencies that will provide robust resources to help families of the victims and members of the community with their needs, including mental health care. On Tuesday, 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos shot and killed 21 people at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, including 19 children, over the course of about an hour before being killed by responding law enforcement officers. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2022) Former US President Donald Trump said during the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention that President Joe Biden's remarks to blame the gun lobby for mass shootings in the United States is highly "divisive and dangerous." "When Joe Biden blamed the gun lobby, he was talking about Americans like you, and along with countless other Democrats this week, he was shamefully suggesting that Republicans are somehow okay with letting school shootings happen," Trump said on Friday. "They're not okay with it. This rhetoric is highly divisive and dangerous and most importantly, it's wrong has no place in our politics." Trump delivered several proposals to enhance security at schools in the United States in order to deter potential mass shootings. Trump said every school in the United States needs to have just one point of entry and school facilities should have strong exterior fencing, metal detectors and the use of new technology to make sure that no unauthorized individual can enter a school with a weapon. Trump also said every school in the United States should have a police officer or an armed resource officer on duty at all times. Every police department in the United States needs rigorous training on active shooter protocols so law enforcement can immediately locate and eliminate targets because the police response in the Uvalde shooting took too long, Trump added. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th May, 2022) Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries have taken positions in a kindergarten and school in the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the head of the Russian National Defense Control Center, Mikhail Mizintsev, said on Saturday. "Ukrainian armed forces units and foreign mercenaries are stationed in Bakhmut of the Donetsk People's Republic, in the kindergarten number 49 and the school number 18, while checkpoints are placed on the avenues of approach to the buildings and firing points are created," Mizintsev said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Nine peacekeepers of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were injured as a result of a car explosion on a homemade mine in eastern Mali, the mission said on Saturday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2022) Nine peacekeepers of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) were injured as a result of a car explosion on a homemade mine in eastern Mali, the mission said on Saturday. "A car of the MINUSMA force logistics convoy was blown up this morning by a homemade mine southwest of the Aguelhok village. Nine peacekeepers were injured and evacuated for medical care. MINUSMA condemns this attack and wishes them a full recovery," MINUSMA said on Twitter. Head of MINUSMA and special representative of the UN Secretary General El-Ghassim Wane wished the victims recovery and greeted the dedication of the peacekeepers on his Twitter. MINUSMA has operated in Mali since 2013, when the UN Security Council established that political stability in Mali after a 2012 armed conflict between government forces, separatists and Islamist groups required international intervention. Since its formation, MINUSMA has registered over 200 fatalities, which is one of the highest rates among the UN peacekeeping missions. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2022) Hundreds of swimming pools in the United Kingdom are at risk of closure due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a sharp increase in energy prices, Financial Times reported on Saturday. Swimming is the most popular form of physical activity in the UK, the newspaper said. However, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the national governing body for swimming in the UK, Swim England, published a report according to which almost half of the 4,000 pools in the country would close by 2030 as they became too old and expensive to upgrade, the newspaper added. With debts piling up following the pandemic and energy price rises of between 100 and 150 percent since 2019, that closure number is likely to be much higher, Jane Nickerson, the head of Swim England, told the newspaper, adding that "every pool is at risk now. " Eighty-five percent of surveyed public pool operators say they will reduce services in the next six months, while 63% say they are likely to cut staff, the newspaper noted, citing a UKActive poll. The current situation has forced the UK gym and leisure centers to take such measures as lowering pool temperatures, turning down lights, and urging swimmers to reduce showering times to save on energy costs to keep pools open, the report said. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th May, 2022) Former US President Donald Trump during a speech at the annual National Rifle Association (NRA) convention hinted that he may run for re-election in the 2024 US presidential election. "Together (Republicans) we're going to take back the House (of Representatives), we're going to take back the Senate, and in 2024 we are going to take back that great and beautiful White House that we love and cherish so much," Trump said on Friday. Trump during the speech criticized numerous actions by the Biden administration, including its handling of the US exit from Afghanistan, anti-energy policies, high gasoline prices, the decision to send $40 billion in assistance to Ukraine amid Russia's special military operation, among others. Biden has already confirmed he will run for re-election in 2024 as well. Angolas 13th National Liturgy Week has ended in the historic Diocese of Mbanza Congo with a call for liturgies that are well prepared, appealing and yet observe the Churchs liturgical norms. Anastacio Sasembele Luanda, Angola. More than 80 delegates from the various dioceses of Angola and Sao Tome recently met for a week in the historic Diocese of Mbanza Congo for the countrys XIII National Week liturgy convention. The theme of the meeting was Walking together in faith and in the way of celebrating the holy mysteries. Church music must encourage participation During the week-long discussions, one of the most discussed topics was on liturgical music. In the end, the liturgists recommended reminding clergy and the faithful to pay attention to the general norms of the Church regarding the use of sacred music. Liturgical music must correspond to the spirit of the liturgical celebration itself and should not hinder the active participation of the people. The choir must always help the faithful enter into the mystery being celebrated. Otherwise, our Churches will have religious songs but not necessarily liturgical music, said the Angolan liturgists. The liturgists nevertheless emphasised that it was possible to have lively and active liturgies without sacrificing the solemn nature of a celebration such as the Mass. A call for national liturgical structures The delegates also recommended that the episcopal conference needed to create liturgical structures at both diocesan and national levels to guide various liturgies. Archbishop Luzizila Kiala of the Archdiocese of Malanje, the chair of Angolas Episcopal Commission for Liturgy, Shrines and Ecumenism, expressed satisfaction with the meetings sharing and learning outcomes. Southern African religious women met recently to learn and share more about issues of Safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons. Paul Samasumo Vatican City. The IMBISA workshop on Safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons held at the Padre Pio Spirituality Centre in Pretoria, South Africa, attracted religious women from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa and Zimbabwe. IMBISA stands for the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa. The three-day workshop was facilitated by Sr Anna Theresa Nyadombo of Zimbabwe and Fr Adriano Jose Ukwatchali of Angola. Zero tolerance for abuse At the end of the workshop, the nuns released a brief statement calling for more awareness on issues of Safeguarding. They spoke of their satisfaction with the workshop, which they said had equipped them with information, knowledge and skills to work towards zero tolerance of any form of abuse. We are grateful for the workshop which covered the following topics: Signs and indicators of sexually abused persons; prevention of abuse; spiritual trauma and pastoral care for victims and survivors, said the IMBISA religious women. They added, We are committed to promoting the aims and vision of IMBISA in our respective countries, where everyone will operate in an inclusive approach to promote collaboration, unity in diversity, communion, participation and mission in a Synodal Church. Prevention is always better The religious sisters called on the Church leadership in the IMBISA region to ensure that all episcopal conferences have, in place, policies that address Safeguarding concerns. One of the facilitators, Sr Anna Theresa Nyadombo of the Handmaids of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (HLMC), told Vatican News that information and awareness were essential tools for preventing abuse. The Rs of Safeguarding It is also important to always understand the importance of the five Rs of Safeguarding because if you dont understand the procedure, then its difficult to deal with cases of abuse, said Sr Nyandombo. The five Rs on Safeguarding are: Recognise, Respond, Report, Record and Refer. Pope Francis greets a Buddhist delegation from Mongolia visiting the Vatican, and calls for interreligious dialogue to help humanity embrace nonviolence in every aspect of life. By Devin Watkins As the Holy See and Mongolia mark the 30th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations, a delegation of Buddhist leaders from the East Asian nation met with Pope Francis on Saturday. The group was accompanied by Bishop Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar. Pope Francis offered the delegation a warm and respectful welcome, and praised their desire to build a peaceful society through mutual understanding with the Catholic Church. Peace is the ardent yearning of humanity today. Consequently, there is an urgent need, through dialogue at all levels, to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence. This dialogue must invite all people to reject violence in every form, including violence done to the environment. At the same time, the Pope lamented that some people still seek to employ religion to justify violence and hatred. Jesus and Buddha: men of peace Pope Francis reflected on the teachings of Jesus and the Buddha, saying both men were peacemakers and promoters of nonviolence. Jesus, he said, taught His disciples to love their enemies and lived nonviolence to the point of death on the cross, whereby He became our peace and put an end to hostility. Gautama Buddha, a spiritual teacher of ancient India who lived during the latter half of the first millennium BC, founded his teaching on the core principle of nonviolence and peace. The Pope noted that the Buddha encouraged others to go beyond the categories of victory and defeat, and to discard both in the desire for self-mastery, instead of seeking to conquer others. In a world ravaged by conflicts and wars, we, as religious leaders deeply rooted in our respective religious teachings, have a duty to awaken in humanity the firm resolve to renounce violence and to build a culture of peace. Group photo Path of religious freedom and friendship As the Church marks 30 years of its formal presence in Mongolia, the Pope admitted that few Catholics live in Mongoliaaround 1,200 native Mongolian Catholics, with 6 churches, 33 priests, and 44 religious sistersbut said they are fully committed to fostering a culture of encounter. Pope Francis thus called on Mongolian Buddhists and Catholics to strengthen our friendship for the benefit of everyone. He expressed his hope that Mongolias long tradition of peaceful interreligious coexistence might lead to the effective implementation of religious freedom and the promotion of joint initiatives for the common good. Your presence here today is itself a sign of hope, he told the Buddhist delegates. With these sentiments, I encourage you to persevere in your fraternal dialogue and your good relations with the Catholic Church in your country, for the sake of peace and harmony. The National Assembly of the Central African Republic moves to abolish the death penalty with a law passed by acclamation which must now be promulgated by President Faustin Archange Touadera. By Vatican News The last official execution in the Central African Republic took place in 1981. In the intervening period, the justice system has no longer requested the death penalty against a convicted person, though the possibility of capital punishment remained. This is no longer the case after the lower house of parliament voted by acclamation on Friday to abolish the death penalty. Chad did so in 2020, and Sierra Leone in 2021. The mainly symbolic measure is unlikely to fundamentally change the security situation in the country, which is plagued by violence and fighting between rebel groups and the national army, supported by Russian mercenaries. But human rights defenders claim the abolition of the death penalty is a positive signal. Churchs opposition to the death penalty The Catechism of the Catholic Church, since the reform instituted by Pope Francis in 2018, condemns the use of the death penalty . It states that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, even in the case of a very serious crime. At the same time, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. This new formulation regarding the death penalty, approved by Pope Francis, came into effect on 1 August 2018. The Catechism thus urges the Church to work with determination for the abolition [of the death penalty] worldwide. Colombians go to the polls Sunday to choose a new President in an election that is polarized by left and right. By James Blears In the one political corner is left-winger and senator Gustavo Petro, who as a teenager joined the guerrilla group 19th April, which evolved into M19. Across the divide is Federico "Figo" Gutierrez, who has the sympathy and support of the political ruling class, which has trepidations and palpitations about a Petro victory. And then there`s 77-year-old rightest independent candidate Rodolfo Hernandez, who`s gaining in popularity, with his anti-corruption pledges. He`s recently surged from 9.6 percent to over 19 percent in the opinion polls, which puts him level with Gutierrez. They each have about twenty percent while Petro has about forty percent support. Petro is expected to win in round one, but not with the fifty percent or more needed for outright victory. Round two would be on June 19th. Then the king making, and alliances would assume a different significance and meaning. In 2018, Petro lost to Ivan Duque, who`s the outgoing President. The question which will only be answered by the Colombian people is who`s going to be their next leader in a time of flux and change. Battles rage in eastern Ukraine on the 25th anniversary of a crucial agreement between the NATO military alliance and Russia that helped ease East-West tensions after the Cold War. By Stefan J. Bos The NATO-Russia Founding Act, signed on May 27, 1997, long ensured cooperation between the military alliance and Moscow. But on Friday, the two sides edged closer to a direct confrontation. Several U.S. and European defense sources say NATO troops are even active in Ukraine to back the Ukrainian army in its battle against Russia's military. Despite these efforts, the prime minister of NATO member Britain, Boris Johnson, acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is making progress in the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine's industrial heartland. "I'm afraid that Putin, at great cost to himself and to the Russian military, is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas," he told Bloomberg television. "He's continuing to make gradual, slow, but I'm afraid palpable, progress, and therefore, it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily," Johnson added. His comments came as Russian-backed separatists claimed Friday to have taken control of the city of Lyman in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk area, which is part of the Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Donbas could be emptied of its population amid relentless Russian shelling. He warned that, "the current offensive by the occupiers in the Donbas could make the region uninhabited. They want to turn the towns of Popasna, Bakhmut, Lyman, Lysyschansk, and Sievierodonetsk into smoldering ashes. Like they did with the towns of Volnovakha and Mariupol." All this, Zelensky added, "including the deportation of our people, and the mass killings of civilians is an obvious policy of genocide pursued by Russia." World appeal The president stressed that the world should keep pressure on Russia and "not delay" with debates or "show weakness" with compromises that he claims "mean more Ukrainians will be killed." Clashes also continue elsewhere, including around Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, in the country's northeast. President Zelensky said Kharkiv was also hit, killing at least nine people, including a five-month-old child and the father, while nearly two dozen people were injured. The president said attacks are also ongoing in the region and the country's south. Additionally, at least ten people reportedly died, and more than 30 were injured overnight in the eastern Dnipro area. Officials said three missiles launched from Russia struck a military base there, and rescuers were sifting through the debris, looking for people. The latest victims added to a rising death toll in a war that is believed to have claimed at least tens of thousands of people. More than three months after Europe's most extensive battle since World War Two began, there were no signs Friday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would end any time soon. For thousands of people around the world, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February served as a rallying cry, spurring many to look for ways to travel to the front and help fight for Ukraine's freedom. New research finds that few of them ever actually made their way to Ukraine, with fewer still joining the fight on the front lines. While exact numbers of foreign fighters in the war in Ukraine have been difficult to determine, the report issued by the New York and Berlin-based Counter Extremism Project (CEP) concludes, "given the available information, it is reasonable to deduce that only a fraction of those who indicated an interest in traveling to Ukraine after February 2022 actually did so." "Their number ranges from merely several hundreds to a few thousands," the report states. "This is dwarfed by tens of thousands of Ukrainian volunteers who joined units in Ukraine's Territorial Defense Force (TDF)." Researchers say the reasons so few would-be foreign fighters ultimately took up arms are many, but one stands out. Unlike the other conflicts that drew large numbers of foreign fighters - Afghanistan in the 1980s and the Syrian civil war and the rise of the Islamic State terror group - in the case of Ukraine, the government took steps to organize and vet foreign recruits. The Ukrainian government runs a website outlining the seven-step process to join the country's international legion. And while Ukraine said as many as 20,000 people, including military veterans, volunteered to join the fight in Ukraine in the early days of the war, many never made the cut. The Ukrainian embassy told The Associated Press in early March that of approximately 6,000 Americans who signed up, about half were rejected before even interviewing with Ukrainian officials. Embassy officials further said that of the 3,000 Americans who were allowed to go through the recruitment process, as of early March, only about 100 had actually been accepted. Another reason why so few would-be foreign fighters are now in Ukraine may come down to motivation. A major driver of foreign fighters to Afghanistan and, ultimately, to Syria was ideology, whether to join the Afghan mujahedeen to defeat the Soviet Union or to fight to establish and support the Islamic State terror group's self-declared caliphate. Even an initial wave of some 17,000 foreign fighters who flocked to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine prior to 2019 were driven largely by the ideology of white supremacism. The CEP researchers found many of those who volunteered to fight in the current war lack that same type of ideological zeal. One foreign fighter who first traveled to Ukraine in 2014 told the researchers the new volunteers have little in common aside from being "concerned citizens of the world." "They are almost exclusively apolitical," the report added. Just as the overall number of foreign fighters in Ukraine is not as high as some officials and experts anticipated, the number of foreign fighters espousing either far-right or far-left extremist views who have ventured to Ukraine has also lagged. "Widespread reports about extremist foreign fighters overrunning Ukraine have been largely overplayed," according to study author Kacper Rekawek, a fellow at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo. "Their numbers pale in comparison to those recruited through official government channels, and there is no evidence that extremist causes are flourishing as a result of the invasion," he said. The report focused, in particular, on what it described as right-wing extremists in the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Poland. It found while many extremists groups in those countries spoke about joining the fight in Ukraine, only a handful decided to go. Researchers found little evidence to show more than a few far-right extremists traveled to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February. The largest contingent of such extremists seems to have come from France and Germany, each country estimating as many as 30 would-be foreign fighters made the trip. They also found some neo-Nazi Telegram channels in the U.S. actually began discouraging followers from making the trip to Ukraine, instead promoting other ways to support like-minded groups in Ukraine. Rekawek, however, warns that Western governments need to remain cautious, even if the number of extremists traveling to Ukraine remains low. "These individuals will not add significantly to Ukraine's ability to defend itself. However, they may yet present a challenge to domestic security upon their return," he said. "The combination of a violence-oriented ideology; potential combat training and experience; access to arms, ammunition and explosive material in the conflict zone; as well as improved transnational networking opportunities for these extremists is worrying." Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a once-powerful Italian prelate who long served as the Vatican's No. 2 official but whose legacy was tarnished by his support for the pedophile found of an influential religious order, has died. He was 94. The Vatican in its Saturday announcement of his death said the Sodano had died on Friday. Italian state radio said that Sodano recently had contracted COVID-19, complicating his already frail health. Corriere della Sera said he died in a Rome clinic where he had been admitted a few weeks ago. Pope Francis in a condolence telegram Saturday to Maria Sodano, the retired prelate's sister, noted that Sodano had held many roles in the Vatican's diplomatic corps, culminating in his being named secretary of state on June 28, 1991, by the then-pontiff, John Paul II. A day later, John Paul, who later was made a saint, elevated Sodano to the rank of cardinal. In the condolence message, Francis expressed "sentiments of gratitude to the Lord for the gift of this esteemed man of the church" and paid tribute to his long service as a Vatican diplomat in Ecuador, Uruguay and Chile in South America, Francis' native continent. But late in his Vatican career, Sodano's church legacy was tarnished by his staunch championing of the Rev. Marcial Maciel, the deceased Mexican founder of the Legion of Christ, a religious order, who was later revealed to be a pedophile. Maciel's clerical career was discredited by the cult-like practices he imposed on the order's members. An internal investigation eventually identified 33 priests and 71 seminarians in the order who sexually abused minors over some eight decades. Sodano for years, while secretary of state under John Paul, had prevented the Vatican from investigating sex abuse allegations against Maciel. The Holy See had evidence dating back decades that the founder of the religious order an organization that was a favorite of John Paul's for producing so many priests was a drug addict and a pedophile. The Vatican's biography, issued after Sodano died, made no mention of the scandals. Instead, it noted Sodano's accomplishment as a top Vatican diplomat, including his work for "the peaceful solution to the controversy of the sovereignty of 2 states," a reference to the territorial dispute that erupted in the 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and Britain. Speaking of Sodano's career at the Vatican, which saw him serve until 2006 as the Holy See's No. 2 official in the role of secretary of state, Francis said the prelate had carried out his mission with "exemplary dedication." In December 2019, Francis accepted Sodano's resignation as Dean of the College of Cardinals, an influential role, especially in preparing for conclaves, the closed-door election of pontiffs. Sodano had held that position from 2005. Sodano was born in Isola d'Asti, a town in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, on Nov. 23, 1927. He was ordained a priest in 1950 and obtained a doctorate in theology at the prestigious Pontifical Gregorian University and in canon law from the Pontifical Lateral University, both in Rome. He joined the Vatican's diplomatic corps in 1959, eventually representing the Holy See at foreign ministers' meetings across Europe. In 2000, Sodano played a role in ending an enduring mystery at the Vatican by disclosing the so-called third secret of Fatima. In 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children said they saw the Virgin Mary appear above an olive tree and she told them three secrets. The first two were said to have foretold the end of World War I and the start of World War II and the rise and fall of Soviet communism. Some speculated that the third, unrevealed secret, was a doomsday prophecy. While the pope was visiting the popular shrine in Fatima, Portugal, Sodano said that the "interpretations" of the children spoke of a "bishop clothed in white," who "falls to the ground, apparently dead, under a burst of gunfire." That description evoked the assassination attempt on John Paul in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981, in which the pope was gravely wounded. Sodano's funeral is to take place on Tuesday in St Peter's Basilica. It will be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, while Pope Francis will perform a traditional funeral rite at the end of the ceremony. China held a massive nationwide meeting this week to coordinate implementation of plans to stabilize and support an economy beleaguered by its zero-COVID policy. The unprecedented session was convened amid mounting evidence of the economic cost of the nations extreme measures to contain the pandemic. Lockdowns across the country, especially in the financial hub, Shanghai, have confined people to their homes, suspended factory production and disrupted supply chains. This week, the investment bank UBS cut Chinas economic growth forecast from 4.2% to 3% for this year, citing the risks from its COVID policy. JPMorgan also lowered its growth estimate to 3.7%, down from 4.3%. These estimates are significantly lower than Chinas official growth goal of around 5.5% this year. Premier Li Keqiang warned at the state council teleconference that the economy is at a critical point for determining this years economic trajectory and urged the participants to seize the time window to push the economy back on track. The challenge, to a certain extent, is even greater than the initial outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, state news agency Xinhua quoted Li as saying. Although the state media didnt specify the scale of the meeting, The Economic Observer, a Chinese outlet, reported that attendance was required of all Chinese officials at the provincial, city and county levels, totaling more than 100,000 people. The teleconference followed a state council executive meeting Monday that introduced 33 economic stimulus measures, including increased tax refunds, extended loans to small businesses, emergency loans to the aviation industry, and measures to promote auto and real estate sales. At Wednesdays meeting, Li asked the local governments to act on the 33 measures by the end of May. He said the state council would send task forces to 12 provinces to inspect the implementation of the plan starting Thursday, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Liu Meng-chun, managing director at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taipei, told VOA that local governments are facing many difficulties in implementing Beijings zero-COVID policies. Medical supply and mass COVID testing are creating large costs for local governments, straining their revenues. Many localities may have to go into debt, Liu said. Now it looks like housing prices and land prices are going down, which will further constrain their revenue. Liu added that the major reason for the central government to support small businesses is to sustain jobs. Official figures show that Chinas unemployment rate jumped to 6.7% in April, higher than the 2020 peak of 5.9%. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprise care more about access to financing. They are not well capitalized, Liu said. The city was locked down and companies can't work, but they still have to pay their employees. They can't produce finished goods even if they have raw materials piled up in their warehouses. The Democratic Republic of Congo has summoned Rwanda's ambassador and suspended Rwandair flights to Congo in response to what it says is Kigali's support for M23 rebels carrying out a military offensive in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, who advanced as close as 20 km this week to eastern Congo's main city of Goma and briefly captured the army's largest base in the area. Congo and U.N. investigators had also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during a 2012-2013 insurrection that briefly captured Goma. Rwanda denied those charges. Congo's government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, announced the suspension of flights by Rwanda's national carrier and the summoning of the ambassador late Friday night, following a meeting of the national defense council. He also said Congolese authorities had designated the M23 a terrorist group and would exclude it from on-and-off negotiations being held in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, between Congo's government and militia groups active in the east. "A warning was made to the Rwandans, whose attitude is likely to disrupt the peace process that is nearing its end with the discussions in Nairobi, where all the armed groups, except for the M23, are committed to the path to peace," Muyaya said. Rwanda's government was not immediately available for comment on Saturday. The fighting over the past week has forced more than 72,000 people from their homes, the United Nations said on Friday, compounding Africa's worst displacement crisis. Eastern Congo has experienced near constant conflict since 1996, when Rwanda and other neighboring states invaded in pursuit of Hutu militiamen who had participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide Experts say Mali's struggle against Islamist militants is putting its World Heritage sites at risk. For the first time in modern history, officials say, the annual replastering of the mud mosque in the town of Djenne in central Mali will likely be canceled because of security concerns. The concerns cast doubt onto the governments claim it is winning the fight against terrorism. The Great Mosque of Djenne is the largest mud brick building in the world and was a main attraction in Malis formerly thriving tourism industry. Each year the mosque is replastered in an event known as the crepissage. This year, the event is on the verge of cancellation for the first time, as Malis decadelong conflict has gradually moved south into the center of the country. A Djenne resident who wished to remain anonymous, speaking via a messaging app from Djenne, said that in recent weeks he saw ambulances circulating in town and military helicopters flying overhead, signs of unrest in neighboring villages. The Malian army said on its Twitter account this month that four soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb attack near the town. He said that due to insecurity, village residents have decided not to hold the crepissage this year, an event he has participated in since he was a child. Abdramane Dembele, deputy mayor of Djenne, said that the crepissage has not yet been officially canceled, but has been delayed due to insecurity. If rescheduled, it would need to be held before the rainy season begins in June. One of the objectives of the crepissage is to protect the building from rain. Abdoulaye Deyoko is an engineer and city planner and founder of Bamakos School of Engineering, Architecture, and Urbanism, and a tireless advocate for Mali's mud architecture. Deyoko explained that the mosque is built from banco, a mixture of mud and small pieces of rice bran. When it rains, he said, these small pieces have a tendency to break away. Traditionally, villagers have a celebration, a type of ritual that allows them not only to repair the mosque but to celebrate. Deyoko said that despite this, he thinks the Djenne mosque can hold up for a year or two without the crepissage, although he said the event is important for the social life of the town, not just for technical maintenance. The Djenne mosque and surrounding mud brick town is on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. Ali Daou, UNESCOs culture program director in Mali, said Djenne, like all of Malis four World Heritage sites, is in danger because of the ongoing hostilities. It is not just the threat of direct conflict, he said, but the difficulty of conducting the annual crepissage that puts the site at risk. In recent months, Malis military government has launched a highly publicized offensive against Islamists. Many locals, though, say that these military operations target civilians rather than extremists. The army claimed to have killed 200 terrorists in the village of Moura in March, while residents said the majority of those killed were innocent civilians. Iranian police used tear gas and fired shots in the air to disperse another night of protests over a deadly building collapse in the southwestern city of Abadan that officials are blaming on corruption and lax safety, Fars news agency and reports on social media said. Officials in the oil producing region of Khuzestan, where Abadan is located, said the death toll had risen to 29 people, and another 37 were injured in Monday's collapse of the 10-story residential and commercial building. So far 13 people have been arrested for building violations, they said. Authorities investigating the disaster have detained Abadan's current and past mayors and several other municipal employees, amid accusations that safety warnings were ignored. The government announced a day of national mourning on Sunday to honor the victims of the collapse, state media said. Fars agency said that a protest in Abadan on Friday night turned violent when crowds forced their way into the ruins of the building, where rescue operations were continuing. Police fired tear gas and warning shots, it said. Footage on social media showed people running for cover. Screams of "Don't shoot, don't shoot" and the sound of gunfire could be heard. Reuters could not independently authenticate the footage. Unverified video from Khuzestan's port city of Mahshahr showed protesters shouting: "They stole oil and gas, took our blood. Marches in solidarity with the Abadan protests have also been held in several nearby areas in Khuzestan as well as Shahin Shahr in central Iran and the southern city of Shiraz, according to other unverified postings on social media. First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told state television on Friday he believed that "widespread corruption" between the builder, contractor and supervising bodies was responsible for the disaster. As during earlier protests over food price rises, residents have reported disrupted internet services, an apparent attempt to stop the use of social media to organize rallies and disseminate videos. Officials deny blocking internet access. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT: 9:30 p.m.: In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said its just a matter of time before Ukraine takes back its territory. Ukraine will take everything back [from Russia]. This is an imperative, he said. Everything we do is for this. Zelensky said the situation in the Donbas remains difficult, but Above all, in terms of weapons supply, every day we are getting closer to outnumbering our enemy, he said. We will dominate the occupiers with technological and conventional striking power. A lot depends on our partners. They are ready to provide Ukraine with everything necessary to defend freedom. So I expect good news on this already, next week. 8:55 p.m.: The U.S. Womens National Basketball Players Association issued a statement Saturday calling for action on the release of Brittney Griner. The statement was released in a series of tweets. Saturday marks 100 days that Griner has been detained in Russia. 8 p.m.: Russian forces stepped up their assault on the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday after claiming to have captured the nearby rail hub of Lyman, Reuters reported. "Sievierodonetsk is under constant enemy fire," Ukrainian police posted on social media on Saturday. Sievierodonetsk is about 60 kilometers from Lyman on the eastern side of the Siverskyi Donets River and the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine. Russian artillery was also shelling the Lysychansk-Bakhmut road, which Russia must take to close a pincer movement and encircle Ukrainian forces. 7:25 p.m.: The Kyiv Independent reports on the cost of the war in Luhansk Oblast: 6:30 p.m.: Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was prevented from leaving Ukraine to take part in a meeting in Lithuania of a NATO consultive body, Reuters reported Saturday, citing a statement from his party's parliamentary faction. Ukrainian media reported Poroshenko could not cross the border due to "technical problems" with a permit allowing him to leave the country. In January, Poroshenko won a court ruling allowing him to remain at liberty while being investigated for treason in a probe he says was politically motivated. Poroshenko is being investigated in connection with the financing of Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country through illegal coal sales in 2014-15. 5:48 p.m.: 5:10 p.m.: The U.S. won the latest round on Friday in a legal battle to seize a $325 million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nation's top court, The Associated Press reported. Fiji's Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Feizal Haniff, who represents the company that legally owns the superyacht Amadea. Haniff had argued the U.S. had no jurisdiction under Fijis mutual assistance laws to seize the vessel, at least until a court sorted out who really owned the Amadea. Haniff said he now plans to take the case to Fijis Supreme Court and will apply for a court order to stop U.S. agents sailing the Amadea from Fiji before the appeal is heard. 4:19 p.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call Saturday asked Russia's Vladimir Putin to release the 2,500 Ukrainian fighters who were holed up inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol and who were taken prisoner by Russia. They also urged Putin to accept a direct exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Elysee Palace said. 3:17 p.m.: Reuters reports that Russian forces appear close to capturing all of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, a Kremlin war goal after abandoning its plan to take Kyiv after encountering Ukrainian resistance. 2:43 p.m.: Russian forces are closing in on Severodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk in Lugansk province, two key cities still under Ukrainian control. Reuters reports there are conflicting reports about the extent of the Russian advance." A Ukrainian official denies claims that Severodonetsk is surrounded by Russian troops. 2:18 p.m.: 1:56 p.m.: A senior pro-Russian official in Kherson, an occupied area of southern Ukraine, tells Reuters that fighting nearby could impact its formal petition to join Russia, which could happen "towards next year." Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-backed Kherson Military-Civilian Administration, also said the process might involve a referendum, despite previous comments that a general vote of the electorate was unnecessary. 1:04 p.m.: Released Ukrainian POWs say Russian troops tortured them, according to reporting from "The Kyiv Independent," which quoted Ukraine's top human rights official. Lyudmyla Denisova said the former prisoners of war reported being detained in basements and outbuildings before being transferred to a Donetsk detention center. During the transfer, Ukrainian soldiers were blindfolded, wearing a sack over their heads, and their hands were tied with ropes. They were tortured, threatened with murder, beaten and humiliated in captivity, 12:33 p.m.: Ukraine is accusing Russia of stealing metal from the port city of Mariupol, "The Kyiv Independent" reports. Ukraine's top human rights official, Lyudmyla Denisova, says Russia has started shipping the stolen metal, transporting 3,000 tons on the first ship to Rostov-on-Don, a port city in southern Russia. About 200,000 tons of metal and cast iron worth $170 million were housed at the port before Russia occupied the city, Denisova said, according to the English-language newspaper. 12:20 p.m.: 12:03 p.m.: Russia is pounding the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk after announcing its capture of Lyman, a rail hub nearby, Reuters reported. The Russian gains signal a shift in momentum in the war, which is now in its fourth month. Russian forces appear closer to seizing all of the Luhansk region of Donbas, which is a major goal of the Kremlin. Sievierodonetsk is the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine. 10:38 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's willing to talk about resuming grain shipments from Ukraine. In a Saturday phone call, Putin told the leaders of France and Germany that shipments of grain might be able to leave Black Sea ports if sanctions against Russia are lifted, Reuters reported. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies. The war in Ukraine, as well as Western sanctions against Russia, have disrupted supplies of wheat, fertilizer and other commodities from both countries, triggering concerns about world hunger. 10:06 a.m.: Ukraine's defense minister says his country has started receiving anti-ship missiles from Denmark and self-propelled howitzers from the United States. Oleksiy Reznikov said Saturday that the weapons will help Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invasion, Reuters reported. 9:29 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Germany and France Saturday that continuing weapons supplies to Ukraine is "dangerous." Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that sending arms to Ukraine could lead to the "further destabilization of the situation and aggravation of the humanitarian crisis," the Kremlin said, according to Agence France-Presse. 8:37 a.m.: Russia said it has successfully tested hypersonic missiles in the Arctic, according to Agence France-Presse. The defense ministry said the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile traveled 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) and "successfully hit" a target in the Arctic. 7:50 a.m.: Russia says it has seized Lyman, a strategic town in eastern Ukraine. "Following the joint actions of the units of the militia of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Russian armed forces, the town of Krasny Liman has been entirely liberated from Ukrainian nationalists," the defense ministry said in a statement, Agence France-Presse reported. Lyman is a railway hub in the Donetsk region and its capture signals a potential momentum shift in the war, helping Russia prepare for the next phase of Moscow's offensive in the eastern Donbas, Reuters reported. 5:29 a.m.: In early May, VOA Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze spoke with Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. ambassador to Poland. He says Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has united Europe. "Whats happened in Ukraine alarms everyone with the genocide that is occurring there, the attacks on civilians, the mass destruction of villages, apartments, old peoples homes, hospitals it defies any kind of human belief. And I think there is unity among all the allies in Europe about how bad this is and that something needs to be done. So, I dont want to assess whos taking it most seriously, because I dont know anyone whos not taking this seriously." 4:15 a.m.: Reuters reports that Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian peace talks negotiator, said on Telegram that any agreement with Russia "isn't worth a broken penny." "Is it possible to negotiate with a country that always lies cynically and propagandistically?" he wrote. 3:12 a.m.: The latest intelligence update from the U.K. defense ministry says most of the strategically important Ukrainian town of Lyman has likely fallen to the Russians. Lyman's the site of a major rail junction and offers access to rail and road bridges over the Siverskyy Donets River. That'll be a key point as Russian troops aim to cross the river as part of the next stage of Russia's Donbas offensive. 2:20 a.m.: Al Jazeera reports that the governor of Ukraine's Luhansk region insists that Russian forces have not surrounded the city of Severodonetsk. They have, he says, taken control of a hotel and a bus station. He said it was still possible that Ukrainian forces would have to retreat from the area. 1:13 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that a Communist Party leader in Russia's Far East has called for an end to the war with Ukraine. We understand that if our country doesnt stop the military operation, well have more orphans in our country, Legislative Deputy Leonid Vasyukevich said at a meeting of the Primorsk regional Legislative Assembly in the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Friday. 12:02 a.m.: Al Jazeera reports that Lithuanians have raised more than $3 million to buy a military drone for Ukraine. They're aiming to raise a total of $5.4 million to purchase the Bayraktar TB2 armed drone. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. More than 12 civilians were killed by members of a notorious rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Saturday, the army and Red Cross said. "We heard bullets at dawn in the village of Beu Manyama. When we arrived, it was already too late because the enemy ADF had already killed more than a dozen of our fellow citizens with machetes," army spokesman Anthony Mualushayi told AFP. Described by the so-called Islamic State as its local affiliate, the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have been accused of killing thousands of civilians in DRC's troubled east. After the attack early Saturday, in the Beni region in North Kivu province, soldiers pursued the attackers and "neutralized seven ADF" and captured another, Mualushayi said. Local Red Cross head Philippe Bonane put the civilian death toll at 21-24 and was supervising the transfer of bodies to the morgue. The massacre comes after almost a month of relative calm in Beni, where the Congolese and Ugandan armies have been conducting joint military operations against the ADF since late November. On Friday another Red Cross representative said that soldiers in the neighboring Ituri province had found 17 decapitated bodies, also believed to be victims of the ADF. More than 120 armed groups roam eastern DRC and civilian massacres are common. Both the North Kivu and Ituri have been under a "state of siege" since May last year. The army and police have replaced senior administrators in a bid to stem attacks by armed groups. Despite this, the authorities have been unable to stop the massacres regularly carried out on civilians Separated from the massacre of 19 elementary school students and two of their teachers by just three days and 500 kilometers, the most powerful gun rights organization in the U.S. opened its annual meeting Friday in Houston. With the nation still raw from the trauma inflicted by a teenage gunman who used a military-style semi-automatic rifle to bring horror to the small Texas town of Uvalde, the National Rifle Association filled the George R. Brown Convention Center with what it advertised as "14 acres of guns and gear." The organization also hosted some of its highest-profile leaders and supporters, including former President Donald Trump, NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre and, representing Texas, Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbot. The governor, who had been scheduled to make a live appearance, announced after the massacre that he would, instead, deliver prerecorded remarks. The overarching message of the day, hammered home by speaker after speaker, was that there is no need for more regulations governing the purchase of guns in the United States. Rather, they said, schools should be "hardened" with armed guards and other safeguards, and more measures should be taken to jail felons and identify the mentally ill. Calls to reschedule ignored The meeting went on despite calls from many critics to cancel it out of respect for Uvalde's victims. While those demands went unmet, the proximity of the meeting to the killings, in both time and place, seemed to cause a number of scheduled speakers to rethink their plans. Texas Senator John Cornyn and Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw, both scheduled to speak, announced scheduling conflicts. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a vocal gun rights supporter, also backed out of an appearance. A number of musical guests who had been scheduled to entertain attendees, including country music stars Lee Greenwood and Larry Gatlin, also pulled out following the tragedy. Setting the tone LaPierre, in opening remarks, acknowledged that mass shootings, like the one in Uvalde, cause "gut wrenching, unimaginable pain" and "should never happen again." But LaPierre also set the tone for the rest of the meeting, arguing that there is no need for any additional restrictions on gun ownership. Instead, he called for increasing security around schools in the United States, fixing the country's "broken" mental health system and putting more criminals in jail. He also painted a dark picture of the United States, claiming that "hate-filled vile monsters walk among us," and insisting that armed citizens are necessary to defend against an "evil criminal element that plagues our society." He said, "There can be no freedom, no security, no safety without the right of the law-abiding to bear arms for self-defense." Texas officials speak In his remarks, Abbott argued that additional gun laws would not have made a difference in Uvalde. "There are thousands of laws on the books across the country that limit the owning or using of a firearm," Abbott said. "Laws that have not stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts on innocent people in peaceful communities." When Cruz took the stage, he acknowledged the "crushing darkness" he felt from the Uvalde massacre. He also listed the various shootings sites in Texas that he has visited since taking office, naming examples of mass killings in Dallas, Sutherland Springs, Santa Fe, El Paso and the cities of Midland and Odessa. Each, he said, was "the picture of horror." However, like LaPierre and others at the event, Cruz said that more restrictions on firearm ownership are not the answer to gun violence, noting that cities with strong gun laws, like Chicago, Baltimore and Washington suffer from high rates of firearm homicide. Instead, to counter school shootings specifically, he called for every school to have a single point of entry staffed by "multiple armed police officers." Cruz also slammed the media, telling the crowd of NRA members, "The media blames you, the millions of members of the NRA, for these crimes." Trump calls for arming teachers Former President Trump began his remarks by reading the name of each of the people killed in Uvalde, with the recorded toll of a bell following each name. He then turned to attack political leaders who said that the massacre in Uvalde ought to spur action to restrict access to guns, saying, "sadly, before the sun had even set on the horrible day of tragedy we witnessed a now familiar parade of cynical politicians seeking to exploit the tears of sobbing families to increase their own power and take away our constitutional rights." In a speech that lasted about 50 minutes, Trump hit on many of the same ideas as the speakers who preceded him, and sometimes drifted away from gun-related topics into broader political commentary. But, more than any of the other speakers on Friday, he advocated the arming of American teachers. As part of broader security plans, he said, "It's time to finally allow highly trained teachers to safely and discreetly" carry weapons in school. "Let them do that. It would be so much better and so much more effective, even from a cost standpoint." 'We will leave you behind' Outside the venue, a large and vocal crowd gathered to protest the NRA's presence. Beto O'Rourke, a former Texas congressman who is challenging Abbott in the next election for governor, delivered a passionate address. O'Rourke sought to make a distinction between the NRAs leadership and its rank-and-file members, saying to the latter, "You are not our enemies; we are not yours." But toward the organization's executives, his tone was different. "To the leadership of the NRA and to those politicians that you have purchased, to those men and women in positions of power who care more about your power than using that power to save the lives of those you are supposed to serve, if you have done anything good it is the fact that you have brought us here together and that we are committing ourselves to act," O'Rourke said. "We will defeat you and we will overcome you and we will leave you behind." Gun-free zone It was not lost on the organization's critics that when the speakers took the stage in Houston, it was in front of an audience that had been meticulously screened for firearms and any other weapons before entering the hall. In an appearance on the Truth and Consequences podcast hours before the event, Shannon Watts, founder of the gun control activist group Moms Demand Action, said: "Let's keep in mind, it's not just the annual meeting," she said. "It's a huge gun sale. So, in the wake of this horrific tragedy in Texas, they are selling guns in Houston. And when the leaders speak every single year, it's in a gun-free zone because they're afraid of being shot." In early May, VOA Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze spoke with Mark Brzezinski, the U.S. ambassador to Poland. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. VOA: Ambassador Brzezinski, Poland has been very active in supporting Ukraine. Brzezinski: Absolutely. VOA: As ambassador, how do you feel? Do the European Union and other European Union countries share that drive for support for Ukraine? Brzezinski: Poland is the frontline state for NATO now when it comes to the Ukraine crisis, so it is doing the heavy lift both in terms of security and in terms of the humanitarian effort pertaining to refugees. Whats happened in Ukraine alarms everyone with the genocide that is occurring there, the attacks on civilians, the mass destruction of villages, apartments, old peoples homes, hospitals it defies any kind of human belief. And I think there is unity among all the allies in Europe about how bad this is and that something needs to be done. So, I dont want to assess whos taking it most seriously, because I dont know anyone whos not taking this seriously. There are differences in terms of tactics, and there are differences in terms of strategies. And I am impressed that President Biden has really kept together unity and consensus in the alliance, because I think thats what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin fears most. I think he would love to drive a cleavage between Poland and America or Poland and other parts of Europe, and hes not going to succeed. Through his own actions, he has united the countries of Europe and the trans-Atlantic community to do something about what he has done in Ukraine. VOA: However, Poland became now, specifically in this crisis, one of the main allies. Brzezinski: Definitely. VOA: For the United States before that, there were a lot of questions about Polish policies internally. How does it look right now? Is supporting Ukraine uniting the two countries together? Brzezinski: Well, theres no question that this crisis has driven, by necessity, a level of cooperation because it is such a huge crisis. Theres no question about that. America has always had a good relationship with Poland. We have shared interests and we have differing interests. Thats like a relationship between America and any country. But this crisis has developed a unity of purpose and a shared definition of the challenge between America and Poland and other European countries. And therefore we are working together with Poland, clearly the next-door neighbor to Ukraine, and so it is very much in the catbird seat in terms of receiving people from Ukraine and trying to support the war effort in Ukraine. So, our collaboration is intense. It is growing. Other countries recognize that this is not just a Polish problem. Its not just an American problem. Its important for them to share in and join in this crisis. And thats not just countries in Europe that recognize that, but countries around the world. When you go to Rzeszow, to the G2A Arena, to the Community of Interests meeting, you see New Zealand, you see Japan, you see Australia, countries far away at the table as well, pledging resources and committing to do something about this. VOA: You talk a lot with the Polish leadership. Obviously, this crisis and their position with Poland made them a target of Russian forces and Russian aggression as well. We heard that from the Russian leadership as well. How do you feel about the Polish government? How do they take that that threat? Brzezinski: Well, Ive heard those threats from the Russian leaders, and thats why when I go on Polish television I say, [phrase in Polish] Poland is safe and Poland is secure. And thats not just coming from me; thats coming from the president of the United States, who has said he will defend every square inch of NATO territory. And he said that while in Poland. So clearly the inference is that every square inch of Polish territory will be defended. And we have 12,500 troops here to walk the talk, as they say, when it comes to that commitment. Its an ironclad commitment. Its based on Article 5 of the NATO treaty. And we are shoulder to shoulder with the Poles in the war effort, in supporting the Ukrainian fighters, and in trying to help the Poles when it comes to the refugees. Theres no question that this is a defining moment for the government of Poland. And they are very much rising to that challenge. And we are proud to work with the Polish leadership on this effort regarding Ukraine. And today, as you saw as well, the third most powerful person in America visited Poland. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, who herself had gone to Ukraine, to Kyiv over the weekend. And she came here first and foremost, as she put it, to thank the people of Poland and to thank the government of Poland, for doing all they are doing for the refugees. No country in world history has ever had a national policy to place every arriving refugee in someones apartment and someones home. Poland has set the bar high in terms of what a country should do when theres a mass movement of people forcibly, whether by natural disaster or by warfare. We are impressed and we thank the Polish people and thank the government of Poland for what theyre doing. VOA: At the same time, Poland is asking for more NATO troops on the ground and more military support as well. Are there any plans to develop a bigger military presence? A NATO presence? Brzezinski: Well, you have to remember, Myroslava, that we have 12,500 troops here now, we have F-35s here now, we have Patriot systems here now. We are undergoing a major transfer of tanks to Poland, which the Poles just bought. The Abrams tanks, which is the best-in-class tank that we have for ground warfare. There is no question that those troops and the equipment we have here are spread out all over Poland. Theyre not just on one base or in one place, theyre purposefully everywhere so that we can cover this country in lockstep with the Polish military to defend this country. And that is what we will do. VOA: Poland is very vocal on the need for more sanctions from the European Union. Brzezinski: Right. VOA: They are pushing for a total ban on energy resources from Russia, as well as seizing Russian assets in Europe. What is the United States stance on the Polish effort? Brzezinski: Well, you know, we have sanctioned more than 400 entities and institutions close to Vladimir Putin. It is very targeted, and it is based on study, studies, data and research regarding who and what is close to Putin and who will feel the most pain through sanctions. And that is our sanctions approach. Sanctions take a while to have an effect, but we have a pretty big and growing sanctions list. It will continue. But I think its one part of a multipart effort that involves also supporting refugees, that involves supporting the Ukrainian peoples effort to resist and fight. The Russian entities under sanction will feel more of the bite of the sanctions over time because that is the way sanctions work. They take time to have an effect. VOA: This week, the European Union is discussing increasing sanctions, specifically for banning coal for import. Poland is pushing for that as well. Brzezinski: Yes. VOA: Do you think that that will happen? And what is your prediction on this on this weeks session? Brzezinski: Well, I dont really have a prediction on that. That is something that the European countries have to decide on. But I will say that we have been working assiduously with the Poles on energy security, and weve been doing this for years before this crisis began, because we knew for a while now that energy is weaponized by the Russians. We see that for the last 20 years in terms of what they have done to their customers. And by the way, who does that to their customers? Ive run a business. You can send your customers running the other direction and taking their business elsewhere, and thats exactly what the Russians have produced. Everyone is taking their business elsewhere because the Russians have weaponized their energy transactions. Poland, on the other hand, has had over the years two addictions that they themselves know that they need to get away from: coal and energy from Russia. And Im proud to say that the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. energy companies have been working very carefully with the Poles to share our technology, to talk about whats universal and transferable about that technology to Polish conditions in order to help the Poles diversify their energy production base. And were well underway with that effort. VOA: Is Poland secure right now? Because Russia is threatening to cut supplies right now. How do you feel? What is the situation? Brzezinski: I think thats a great question. Is Poland secure, and is the world secure with what Putin is doing? The answer is, it isnt. Because we have someone who is a bit of an unpredictable madman doing horrific things that are the kinds of things that you would see at the most brutal phases of one of the world wars that this earth has experienced, to being inflicted on the people of Ukraine. The more we learn, the more footage we see, the more narratives we hear from women and children in Ukraine who are these men in the Russian military that do these things? Those arent fighters. Those are people who want to inflict terror. Thats not a man of bravery and of the military in any kind of professional sense. And so if their leader is Vladimir Putin, I dont think really anyone is safe. Hence, American-Polish relations have really never been as strong as they are right now because we are dealing with an extremely serious and unpredictable crisis immediately to the east. And as a result, Poland is safe, Poland is secure, because we know that we will defend Poland. But it is worrisome in terms of what Putin will do next. VOA: Its a good segue to the question of regional security, and specifically Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, because we see that Russia is trying to put some tension in the Transnistria area and maybe get involved in Moldova as well. What kind of threats do you see in that region? Brzezinski: Well, the entire region is under threat from Russia, and we are working hard with this region to make sure that it is both secure and feels secure. Because no one wants this region to become destabilized, and I dont think that it will. And I think thats important because this region is now a border region to this crisis. But I am certain that we are conveying the confidence in terms of the security and confidence in terms of the partnership that we are also with these countries in terms of their economies. We have tremendous commercial undertakings in this part of the world. The U.S. embassy here in Warsaw recently held a massive conference in which we aligned major American and Polish businesses with Polish NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) doing much of the relief work for the refugees. And it was an exercise in advancing synchronicity. And I think that is important because we want the economies, the nonprofit sectors in this part of the world, to feel that we have their back. And thats the kind of thing that we have been doing in Poland. And I think that its having the desired effect of instilling confidence, of advancing alignments, and helping the people from Ukraine who are coming here. VOA: How do you see that? What is the key to Ukraine winning this war? What is the key to security in this region? Brzezinski: First of all, Myroslava, we know that the Ukrainians will win this war. We know that they have a fight in them. We are all impressed with the messaging of the president of Ukraine, (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, who has been able to share this story of what is happening in Ukraine, and its very local roots, and its global reach. All of us feel the fear of that mom and that daughter that are in a village that might be overtaken by the Russian military, and we are doing what we can to support the Ukrainian resistance. And you know what? Its working. The Russians are stopped in their tracks. And the Russian military is actually one of the worlds bigger militaries, and its absolutely stopped dead in its tracks. And the word dead means something, because there is a lot of dead Russians being shipped back to Russia. How tragic is that? Young Russians also deserve good lives in the end. Who is this leader sending them into this slaughter? Its a tragedy, but that is what Putin is doing. And the Ukrainians are winning in this effort, and we will continue to support them. The worlds opinion is galvanizing around the people and the leadership of Ukraine, and that will only continue to get stronger. And I think that that is a key piece of this, that this is an effort at collective response to this tragedy and that no one is alone. The Ukrainians are not alone. The Poles are not alone as well. VOA: How do you see the end to this war? Brzezinski: I see the Ukrainians winning. I see the Ukrainian people doing what they do really well, and that is fighting from the hills. The Ukrainians have a history of resistance, and the Russian military is going to tragically feel that and theyre going to see it. And I think thats unfortunate, actually, because we could have avoided so much bloodshed and destruction. I know the people of Poland absolutely have the back of their Ukrainian brothers, that this is in many ways 1939 again for the people of this part of the world. And that in itself is a galvanizing context. And we will continue to support the fighters. We will continue to support the refugees. Every day we are more organized. Every day we are more resourced. You have to remember, were still some 40 days into this war. That is an early, early stage in terms of the response. And I can report to you as chief of mission for the U.S. here in Poland, the requests to help are massive and growing. So, were just beginning, and it will not stop. VOA: This war would end in the Kremlin? Or this war would end in clearing Ukrainian territories? Brzezinski: I see the Ukrainians throwing the Russians out of Ukraine. Thank you. Swedish director Ruben Ostlund's class warfare comedy "Triangle of Sadness" won the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, giving Ostlund one of cinema's most prestigious prizes for the second time. Ostlund, whose art-world send-up "The Square" took the Palme in 2017, pulled off the rare feat of winning Cannes' top award for back-to-back films. "Triangle of Sadness," featuring Woody Harrelson as a Marxist yacht captain and a climactic scene with rampant vomiting, pushes the satire even further. "We wanted after the screening (for people) to go out together and have something to talk about," said Ostlund. "All of us agree that the unique thing with cinema is that we're watching together. So, we have to save something to talk about, but we should also have fun and be entertained." The awards were selected by a nine-member jury headed by French actor Vincent Lindon and presented Saturday in a closing ceremony inside Cannes' Grand Lumiere Theater. The jury's second prize, the Grand Prix, was shared between the Belgian director Lukas Dhont's tender boyhood drama "Close," about two 13-year-old boys whose bond is tragically separated after their intimacy is mocked by schoolmates; and French filmmaking legend Claire Denis' "Stars at Noon," a Denis Johnson adaptation starring Margaret Qualley as a journalist in Nicaragua. The directing prize went to South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook ("Oldboy," "The Handmaiden") for his twisty noir "Decision to Leave," a romance fused with a police procedural. Korean star Song Kang-ho was named best actor for his performance in Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's film "Broker," about a Korean family seeking a home for an abandoned baby. "I'd like to thank all those who appreciate Korean cinema," said Song, who also starred in Bong Joon Ho's Palme d'Or winning film "Parasite" in Cannes three years ago. Best actress went to Zahra Amir Ebrahimi for her performance as a journalist in Ali Abbasi's "Holy Spider," a true-crime thriller about a serial killer targeting sex workers in the Iranian religious city of Mashhad. Violent and graphic, "Holy Spider" wasn't permitted to shoot in Iran and instead was made in Jordan. Accepting the award, Ebrahimi said the film depicts "everything that's impossible to show in Iran." The jury prize was split between the friendship tale "The Eight Mountains," by Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix Van Groeningen, and Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski's "EO," about a donkey's journey across a pitiless modern Europe. "I would like to thank my donkeys," said Skolimowski, who proceeded to thank all six donkeys used in the film by name. The jury also awarded a special award for the 75th Cannes to Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, two-time Palme-winners and long a regular presence at the festival, for their immigrant drama "Tori and Lokita." Swedish-Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh took best screenplay at Cannes for "Boy from Heaven," a thriller set in Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque. The award for best first film, the Camera d'Or, went to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell for "War Pony," a drama about the Pine Ridge Reservation made in collaboration with Oglala Lakota and Sicangu Lakota citizens. Saturday's closing ceremony brought to a close a Cannes that attempted to fully resuscitate the annual France extravaganza that was canceled in 2020 by the pandemic and saw modest crowds last year. This year's festival also unspooled against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which sparked red-carpet protests and a dialogue about the purpose of cinema in wartime. Last year, the French body horror thriller "Titane" took the top prize at Cannes, making director Julia Ducournau only the second female filmmaker ever to win the Palme. In 2019, Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" triumphed in Cannes before doing the same at the Academy Awards. This year, the biggest Hollywood films at Cannes "Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick," "Three Thousand Years of Longing played outside Cannes' competition lineup of 21 films. But their presence helped restore some of Cannes' glamour after the pandemic scaled down the festival for the last two years. America's largest gun lobby opened its annual convention Friday in Texas, less than 500 kilometers from an elementary school where 19 children and two adults were killed by a teenage gunman with an automatic weapon just days earlier. VOA correspondent Scott Stearns has our story from Houston. Ukraine mounted a new counteroffensive Sunday to reclaim land around the southern port city of Kherson. Russian forces shelled targets in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to capture Sievierodonetsk, the last Ukrainian-controlled city in the Luhansk region. Kherson has served as a staging ground for Russian forces in southern Ukraine, the first major city to fall to Moscows forces as they swept north out of Crimea more than three months ago. But Sunday, the Ukrainian military said on Twitter, Hold on Kherson, were coming. Meanwhile, Sievierodonetsk was a main focus of Moscows offensive, and is now under heavy assault. The governor of the Luhansk region, which along with Donetsk makes up the Donbas region, said Friday that Russian troops have entered Sievierodonetsk. "If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion," the British Defense Ministry said Saturday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a rare visit outside the capital, Kyiv on Sunday to meet Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Kharkiv, a trip meant to highlight the success of Kyiv in driving Russia away from Ukraines second-largest city. Zelenskyy was briefed on current operations in the city and presented state awards to the troops. I want to thank each of you for your service, Zelenskyy said. You are risking your life for all of us and our state. Thank you for defending Ukraines independence. Take care!" Ukrainian regional military administrator Oleh Synyehubov said 31% of the Kharkiv region is still occupied by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials have signaled for weeks they hoped to launch a new southern counteroffensive to retake control of Kherson to try to cut off Russias supply routes into the city on bridges over the Dnipro River. They said their attack would depend on the delivery of more Western artillery systems. Indescribably difficult Zelenskyy, in his Saturday night address, said more weaponry was also crucial in the indescribably difficult defense of the eastern Donbas region. Every day we are bringing closer the time when our army will surpass the occupiers technologically and by firepower, he said. But that, ultimately, he said, depended on continued and increased Western support. We work every day to strengthen our defense. This is primarily a supply of weapons, he said. Of course, a lot depends on the partners, Zelenskyy said. On their readiness to provide Ukraine with everything necessary to defend freedom. The New York Times reports that Ukraine is newly armed with Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles from Denmark, as Ukraine struggles to keep Russia from taking complete control of the Donbas. Russias military says it has taken the eastern Ukrainian town of Lyman, a key railway hub in the Donetsk region. The capture could signal a shift in the momentum of the war. "Following the joint actions of the units of the militia of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Russian armed forces, the town of Krasny Liman has been entirely liberated from Ukrainian nationalists," the Defense Ministry said in a statement, using the Russian name for Lyman. The claim has not been confirmed. On Saturday, Russia also said it had successfully tested hypersonic missiles. The Defense Ministry said the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile traveled 1,000 kilometers and "successfully hit" a target in the Arctic. Taking control of Lyman would set the stage for Russia to begin the next phase of its offensive in the Donbas region. The town is located 40 kilometers west of Sievierodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukrainian forces. The eastern Donbas region is Ukraine's industrial heartland and Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of carrying out a "genocide" there. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will defend "as much as our current defense resources allow." He sounded a defiant note against Russias offensive in Ukraines east, saying, If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian." Ukraine seeks advanced rockets Ukraine has been pleading for weeks with the United States to get U.S.-made Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, or MLRS, which are more powerful and more maneuverable than the howitzers and other artillery systems Washington and the West have provided to date. Those pleas have only become louder as Russian forces have pushed ahead in eastern Ukraine, making what senior U.S. defense officials have described as incremental gains in a fight that has largely featured artillery and other so-called long-range fire. We're mindful and aware of Ukrainian asks privately and publicly for what is known as a Multiple Launch Rocket System, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters. But I wont get ahead of a decision that hasnt been made yet. Were in constant communication with them about their needs, he added. We're working every single day to get weapons and systems into Ukraine, and every single day there are weapons and systems getting into Ukraine that are helping them, literally, in the fight. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by warning that supplying Ukraine with weapons that could reach Russian territory would be a "a serious step towards unacceptable escalation." VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. U.S. President Joe Biden will be in Uvalde, in the southwestern U.S. state of Texas, Sunday, marking the second time this month he has been called to a town following a mass shooting. Nineteen schoolchildren and two teachers were killed last week in Uvalde when a teenage gunman entered Robb Elementary School and opened fire. Earlier this month, Biden visited Buffalo, New York, where a white supremacist opened fire in a supermarket, killing 10 Black people. Sunday in Uvalde, Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, will meet with families of the victims and survivors of the school shooting. They will also visit a memorial site to the victims and attend Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Saturday in Uvalde, dozens of people gathered to mourn and pay homage to the 21 people killed. Twenty-one crosses have been placed around a fountain in the citys courthouse square, one for each of the 19 fourth graders who died and their two teachers, Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles. A growing pile of flowers, stuffed animals and messages Love you, You will be missed surrounded the crosses. Dozens of candles burned like small eternal flames. Pastor Humberto Renovato, 33, who lives in Uvalde, asked everyone to join hands and pray. The investigation continued Saturday into the time it took for police to confront the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. Some 90 minutes elapsed between the time he crashed a pickup into a ditch near the school and he was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers. The gunman, carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a bag of ammunition, was in the school for 40 minutes to an hour before officers stormed in and killed him. Samuel Salinas, 10, said Ramos barged into his fourth grade classroom and said, Youre all going to die. Then "he just started shooting," Salinas told ABC News. Another student, Daniel, whose mother allowed him to speak to The Washington Post, was in a classroom down the hall. He said his teacher, who quickly locked the door and turned out the lights, saved their lives. She was shot twice when the gunman fired through the doors glass window, Daniel said. For an hour, he said, the students hid in the dark. The only sounds in the room were hushed sobs and his teacher urging the students to remain quiet. "'Stay calm. Stay where you are. Dont move,'" Daniel recalled her saying. Daniel told the newspaper that he and his classmates were rescued when police broke the rooms windows and they crawled to safety. The citys 911 call center received cries for help from at least two students in the adjoining classrooms where Ramos found his victims, Colonel Steven McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said earlier this week. "He's in Room 112," one girl whispered to a 911 operator at 12:03 p.m. She called again at 12:43 p.m., begging the operator to "please send the police now," and again four minutes later. At 12:51 p.m., a Border Patrol-led tactical team stormed in and ended the siege. Police have not yet found a motive for the shootings. Ramos, a high school dropout, had no criminal record or history of mental illness. His mother has asked the schoolchildrens parents for forgiveness. In an interview with Televisa, a CNN affiliate, a soft-spoken Adriana Martinez said in Spanish, I dont know what he was thinking. Forgive me. Forgive my son. The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety said Friday that police responding to the shooting did not enter the classroom where the shooter was because the school districts police chief believed that students were no longer at risk. At a news conference outside the school Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said the police chief thought it had become a hostage situation with time to wait for a tactical team to arrive. McGraw told reporters that with the benefit of hindsight, "it was the wrong decision" to wait to confront the shooter. McGraw identified the incident commander as Pete Arredondo, chief of police of the Uvalde Consolidated School District. Uvalde police have come under sharp criticism, and police officers from other cities, including Houston and Dallas, have come to Uvalde to support and in some cases protect the officers of the police department, the mayor and the owner of the gun shop where the gunman bought his rifles and ammunition. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday, and Uvalde officers were stationed outside his home, but they would not say why. New York City defense attorney Paul Martin and Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum in Washington, both told The Associated Press on Saturday that criminal charges are rarely filed against officers who fail to act in a mass shooting. Its a "very high bar" because police officers are given wide latitude to make tactical decisions, Martin said, but they can be found civilly liable. Biden said at a University of Delaware commencement Saturday that there has been "too much violence. Too much fear. Too much grief." "We have to stand stronger," he told the graduates. Vice President Kamala Harris echoed those thoughts Saturday as she attended the funeral of Ruth Whitfield, who was among the 10 killed in the supermarket in Buffalo on May 14. "We will not let those people who are motivated by hate separate us or make us feel fear, Harris said at the funeral for the 86-year-old. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The struggle for justice isnt over for the victims of Beiruts 2020 port explosion. Protests by families and friends of those who lost loved ones in the blast, recorded as one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, continue, as do those by families whose relatives have been arrested while awaiting trial. Observers decry the lack of accountability by the government to deal with the national disaster, even as two Lebanese lawmakers charged in connection with the catastrophe won re-election to parliament. Improperly stored ammonium nitrate at the Beirut port exploded on August 4, 2020, killing more than 215 people and wounding some 7,000, while leaving swaths of the Lebanese capital in ruins. Many Lebanese blame the explosion on security and political officials who failed to enforce safety regulations. But now, nearly two years later, no one has been held accountable. On Friday, families of those arrested in the explosion case staged a sit-in in front of the Justice Ministry, demanding an immediate fair trial to allow them to prove their innocence, according to Lebanons National News Agency. Meanwhile, families and friends of victims continue their protests to demand justice, but many accuse political powerbrokers of actively sabotaging the probe, blocking the judge appointed to investigate from doing his job and calling for an international investigation. Two Lebanese lawmakers with the Hezbollah-backed Shi'ite Amal Movement, Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter, have sought to disrupt Judge Tarek Bitar from carrying out his investigation, which is now suspended. Both are charged in connection with the explosion and yet they were both re-elected recently to parliament. Lama Fakih directs Human Rights Watch in Beirut. She recently told the Carnegie Middle East Center there that the case cannot resume until new judicial appointments are made under a new prime minister and cabinet. There is concern that this is, of course, going to take quite a long time because historically formations of government have taken more than a year," Fakih said. "There are very real obstacles to achieving justice for victims of the blast domestically. And this is why we and others, including victims families, have been calling for an international fact-finding mission to conduct an inquiry into the events. Kim Ghattas, a nonresident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says she hopes Lebanons new parliament will tackle the serious crises engulfing Lebanon, including responsibility for the port explosion. Accountability is crucial to everything, whether accountability for what happened at the port, who was responsible at the various levels, whether it comes to accountability for who brought the country to its knees economically, that is really something that should be at the heart of the work of the members of parliament," Ghattas said. Observers blame Lebanese officials for constantly recusing judges investigating the explosion and stopping procedures when summoned for questioning, thus impeding the course of justice. What is the Second Amendment? The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives Americans the right to bear arms. It states: 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. Bill of Rights The Second Amendment is one of 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, collectively called the Bill of Rights. These amendments were written to protect individual Americans from tyrannical rule and include the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, religion and press, and the Seventh Amendment, which proclaims the right of a trial by jury in civil cases. Other rights include the right to due process and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. Historical perspective When the Founding Fathers added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution in 1791, they wanted to protect individuals from potentially dangerous central and state governments. Most scholars say the Constitution might not have been ratified without the 10 amendments, as many Americans feared the power of a centralized government and military. Much of that fear stemmed from laws the British imposed in the lead-up to the American Revolution, including levying taxes that were deemed too high and depriving some colonists of the right to bear arms. A well regulated Militia Legal scholars have debated the Founding Fathers intentions with respect to the Second Amendment. Those who support gun control measures often argue that the Founders intentions was only for well-regulated forces authorized by state governments to have access to weapons, and not for all individuals to be able to bear arms. Those who oppose restrictions on gun rights say the Second Amendment protects the right of ordinary citizens to own weapons and argue that the Founders included the words a well-regulated militia as just one example of why citizens could be in need of arms. What have courts said? In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects a persons right to own firearms unconnected to military service and allows them to use those weapons for lawful purposes, including self-defense. Courts have also upheld a range of laws that put some restrictions on gun ownership, including for reasons of age, prior criminal convictions and issues of mental health. Gun culture Thirty percent of all Americans own a gun, while 42% live in a household with a gun, according to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey. Guns have long been a part of the countrys history and culture from its days fighting the American Revolution and exploring the Wild West and continue to be an enduring part of life for many people. However, the right to self-defense, while long held in the country, has in recent decades started to come under question in the wake of numerous high-profile mass shootings and a rise of gun violence that has led to guns becoming the leading cause of death among children and teens. Gun control Because of the Second Amendment and Americas long history with gun ownership, the gun control debate in the country generally focuses not on questions of whether or not citizens have the right to bear arms, but over matters of who should have access to guns and which weapons should be legal. Even those questions have been difficult for politicians to come to agreement over, with Congress unable to act on the issue for more than a decade. World comparisons America has more guns per person than anywhere else in the world, according to a 2018 report by the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based organization. U.S. gun owners possess 393.3 million weapons, higher than the countrys population of 330 million, according to the report. The Small Arms Survey says India has the second-highest number of civilian-owned firearms, with 71.1 million for its population of 1.4 billion. According to North Korea, its fight against COVID-19 has been impressive: About 3.3 million people have been reported sick with fevers, but only 69 have died. If all are coronavirus cases, that's a fatality rate of 0.002%, something no other country, including the world's richest, has achieved against a disease that has killed more than 6 million people. The North's claims, however, are being met with widespread doubt about two weeks after it acknowledged its first domestic COVID-19 outbreak. Experts say the impoverished North should have suffered far greater deaths than reported because there are very few vaccines, a sizable number of undernourished people and a lack of critical care facilities and test kits to detect virus cases in large numbers. North Korea's secretiveness makes it unlikely outsiders can confirm the true scale of the outbreak. Some observers say North Korea is underreporting fatalities to protect leader Kim Jong Un at all costs. There's also a possibility it might have exaggerated the outbreak in a bid to bolster control of its 26 million people. "Scientifically, their figures can't be accepted," said Lee Yo Han, a professor at Ajou University Graduate School of Public Health in South Korea, adding that the public data "were likely all controlled [by the authorities] and embedded with their political intentions." The most likely course is that North Korea soon proclaims victory over COVID-19, maybe during a June political meeting, with all credit given to Kim's leadership. The 38-year-old ruler is desperate, observers say, to win bigger public support as he deals with severe economic difficulties caused by border shutdowns, U.N. sanctions and his own mismanagement. "Diverse public complaints have accumulated, so it's time to [strengthen] internal control," said Choi Kang, president of Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. "Kim Jong Un has been taking the lead in the anti-epidemic efforts to show that his campaign is very successful and to reinforce his grip on power." Before North Korea on May 12 admitted to an omicron outbreak, it had maintained a widely disputed claim that it had zero domestic infections for more than two years. When the North at last publicized the outbreak, many wondered why now. It was initially seen as an attempt to exploit the outbreak to get foreign humanitarian assistance. There were hopes that possible aid by Seoul and Washington could help resume long-stalled diplomacy on Pyongyang's nuclear program. Kim has called the outbreak a "great upheaval" and launched what his propaganda teams call an all-out effort to suppress it. He's held several Politburo meetings to criticize officials, inspected pharmacies at dawn and mobilized troops to support medicine delivery. A health official explained pandemic responses on state TV, while state newspapers have churned out articles on how to deal with fever, including gargling with saltwater and drinking honey or willow leaf tea. "Honey is a rarity for ordinary North Koreans. They likely felt bad when their government asked them to drink honey tea," said Seo Jae-pyong, a North Korean defector-turned-activist in Seoul. "I have an elder brother left in North Korea and have big worries about him." Every morning, North Korea releases details about the number of new patients with fever symptoms, but not with COVID-19. Experts believe most cases should be counted as COVID-19 because while North Korean health authorities lack diagnostic kits, they still know how to distinguish the symptoms from fevers caused by the other prevalent infectious diseases. North Korea's daily fever tally peaked at nearly 400,000 early last week; it has nosedived to around 100,000 in the past few days. On Friday, it added one more death after claiming no fatalities for three consecutive days. "Our country set a world record for having no single [COVID-19] infection for the longest period ... and we've now made an achievement of reversing the tide of the abrupt outbreak in a short period," the main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Thursday. "This evidently proves the scientific nature of our country's emergency anti-epidemic steps." Medical experts question the validity of North Korea's stated fatality rate of 0.002%. Given that South Korea's mortality rate of unvaccinated people for the omicron variant was 0.6%, North Korea must have similar or higher death rates because of its low capacity to treat patients and its people's poor nutrition, said Shin Young-jeon, a professor of preventive medicine at Seoul's Hanyang University. In a study published by the Johns Hopkins University last year, North Korean ranked 193 out of 195 countries for its ability to deal with an epidemic. U.N. reports in recent years said about 40% of its people were undernourished. North Korea's free socialist public health care system has been in shambles for decades, and defectors testify that while in the North, they bought medicines at markets or somewhere else. "North Korea wouldn't really care about fatalities at all," said Choi Jung Hun, a defector who worked as a doctor in North Korea in the 2000s. "Many North Koreans have already died of malaria, measles, chickenpox and typhoid. There are all kind of infectious diseases there." Choi, now a researcher at a Korea University-affiliated institute in South Korea, said North Korea likely decided to admit to the omicron outbreak because it sees it as less lethal and more manageable. He suspected North Korea set up a scenario to raise up and then bring down fever cases so as to boost Kim's leadership. Lee, the Ajou professor, said North Korea may have overstated its earlier fever cases to give "a powerful shock" to the public to rally support for the government, but avoided releasing details of too many deaths to stave off public unrest. The outbreak could eventually kill more than 100,000, if people remain unvaccinated and die at the same death rate as in South Korea, Shin, the Hanyang professor, warned. The North Korean outbreak will likely last several months, Moon Jin Soo, director of the Institute for Health and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said. It's urgent to ship anti-viral pills and other essential medications to North Korea, rather than vaccines whose roll out would take at least a couple of months, he said. "North Korea could spend a couple more months massaging the statistics, but they could also abruptly announce their victory this weekend," said Ahn Kyung-su, head of DPRKHEALTH.ORG, a Seoul-based website focusing on health issues in North Korea. "North Korea always operates beyond your imagination. It's hard to predict what they'll do, but they do have a plan." Between the two of them, Mike (l) and Duane Shelden served Minnesotas people and natural resources for nearly seven decades. Mike Sheldens retirement on May 28 marked the first time in 51 years that one of them isnt patrolling the Alexandria station in west-central Minnesota The film festival was full of doomed protagonists, graphic murders, and children driven to crime. But a handful were hopeful, too. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos by MGM, NEON, and Loaded Films Anyone who came to Cannes in the hope of finding the next Parasite or Drive My Car is probably leaving disappointed. The 2022 edition hasnt seen any films send critics on cartwheels down the Croisette, and many of the most anticipated titles either proved divisive or underwhelming. (Claire Denis, what happened?) But of course, this is still Cannes, a two-week service at the church of cinema, where the standard of quality is higher than anywhere else. Of the dozens of films weve screened over our time in France, these are our favorites. From George Miller, the brilliantly kooky mind behind Mad Max: Fury Road and Babe 2: Pig in the City, comes this maximalist fairytale within a fairytale within a fairytale (about fairytales). Tilda Swinton stars as narratologist Dr. Alithea Binnie, a scholar who lectures on storytelling and its evolution throughout the ages. One day, she comes into contact with a being shed previously thought functioned solely as metaphor: A Djinn, popped out of an ancient bottle and played with wit and intelligence by Idris Elba. The Djinn needs Alithea to make three wishes so he can go free; Alithea knows better. As the two debate, banter, and tell each other stories about their lives, they start to fall in love. If it sounds like its all a bit much well, yes. But its George Miller, and hes so earnest and pure-intentioned here that hes able to cast a convincing spell. Rachel Handler R.M.N. One of the illuminating parts about international film festivals is seeing how the same social issues that beset the United States pop up in different ways across the globe. Take R.M.N., the latest coal-black social study from Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days), about a xenophobic backlash that stymies a local bakerys plan to hire three South Asian workers. Some of this drama is unique to Romania: The village is already divided between Romanian and Hungarian speakers, and everyone is very proud of having gotten rid of the gypsies. But theres no look-at-those-ex-Commies smugness here. An American viewer can imagine these same events playing out Stateside with surprisingly little change. Its standout scene, in which spineless compromise and firm principle both prove completely useless against bullshit from Facebook, is the last half-decade of global politics in microcosm. Nate Jones Body is Reality in David Cronenbergs latest, which he wrote more than 20 years ago but revived recently after an eight-year hiatus from filmmaking. Its difficult to sum up in a sentence or two, but lets try: Its the near future, and surgery is the new sex that is, people are slicing into each other as a recreational sport because they can no longer feel pain or get infections. Many of them, to their great bafflement, are also growing new organs; one of them, Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortenson), is taking them out in public as a performance art project with his partner, Caprice (Lea Seydoux). When the bureaucratic insects from the National Organ Registry (Kristen Stewart and Don McKellar) become fascinated by Tenser whom Stewart has described as an artistic avatar for Cronenberg things start getting even blurrier and weirder. Crimes is beautiful, funny, fucked up, and full of shots of somebody slicing open their abdomen in other words, Classic Cronenberg. R.H. Showing Up Kelly Reichardt has given us a Pacific Northwest Uncut Gems Michelle Williamss put-upon ceramic artist has a gallery show in a few days, but before she can put her sculptures in the kiln, other peoples bullshit keeps getting in the way! This is a light roast of a world where even adults on the precipice of middle age seem like overgrown children, and it features the best animal acting of the entire festival from a wounded pigeon, as well as Canness best onscreen credit: Flute by Andre Benjamin. N.J. This gut punch of a movie comes from Chie Hayakawa, a first-time Japanese filmmaker who expanded the feature from her 2018 short with the same title. The film takes place in an alternate version of Japan where, faced with a rapidly aging population thats draining financial resources, the government decides to offer everyone over the age of 75 the option to be euthanized, free of charge. Through the eyes of three characters a 78-year-old hotel maid whos just lost her job, a young and callous Plan 75 registrar, and a woman who has to stop caring for the elderly because it doesnt pay well enough and transfer to Plan 75 instead we see just how harmful this concept is, not just to those whom it affects directly but to society at large. Hayakawa was moved to write the film after Tokyos 2016 Sagamihara stabbings, where a young man killed 19 people at a care home for disabled people and said he was trying to ease the burden on their families: I was enraged and thought, if Japan were to accelerate down this path of intolerance, what would it look like? R.H. Moonage Daydream This kaleidoscopic montage of David Bowies career is best enjoyed by sitting as close as possible to the largest screen you can find. Luckily, itll be playing in IMAX. Picking up in the early 70s as Ziggy Stardust has just turned pop music on its head, Daydream remixes interviews and concert footage, visual art from Bowies archive, and snippets of his myriad influences to create an overwhelming visual symphony. Highlights include a glam cover of Love Me Do and a version of Heroes done in full arena-rock pomp. The notion of any real Bowie remains elusive throughout, but Brett Morgens film is a tribute to and illustration of his always move forward philosophy while also leaving space for the times when Bowie, like any of us, was bullshitting. N.J. One Fine Morning Nobody does character studies quite like Mia Hansen-Lve, whose latest follows Lea Seydoux as a single mother grappling with the cognitive decline of her father, raising her spunky young daughter, and falling in love with an old friend (who also happens to be married). Its a quiet, sexy little movie, full of lust, devastation, and sweetness. Its also a showcase for Seydoux, who is stunning in a role thats perhaps an exact 180-degree turn from the Cronenberg. In an interview with Variety, Hansen-Lve acknowledged that its also deeply personal: I wanted to process something that happened to me several times, where you come across the possibility to fall in love, just as you are grieving, and youre drifting away from the pain. R.H. Decision to Leave We knew Park Chan-wook could do outrageous things. (See: Oldboy and The Handmaiden.) But it turns out he can also give us something a little more classical and restrained. In Decision to Leave, Park has produced his take on a Hitchcock romance: A cop looking into the death of a mountain climber begins to suspect the mans wife. The more he investigates, the more he falls for her; the more he falls for her, the more he investigates. She seems to share his feelings, but is she sincere, or just using him? Deliciously twisty and full of Parks signature visual wit (a shot from the POV of the dead man nearly made me stand up and cheer) Decision to Leave was the most enjoyable viewing experience I had all festival. N.J. Funny Pages Ruben Ostlunds Triangle of Sadness had all the buzz, but on a pure laughs-per-minute basis, there was no funnier comedy at Cannes than Funny Pages. Directed by Owen Kline yes, the kid from Squid and the Whale, who is now a 30-year-old Safdie brothers collaborator its a coming-of-age comedy about a budding cartoonist who drops out of high school to begin a career as an outsider artist, pissing off almost everybody in his life along the way. Raucous, scabrous, and suffused with oddball energy, Funny Pages feels like the kind of movie youd be recommended by an in-the-know clerk at Kims Video. N.J. Aftersun This heartbreaking little gem of a movie gives us Paul Mescal in his Sad Dad Era, solo parenting on a Turkish resort vacation with his 11-year-old daughter in the 90s he slowly spirals into a depression. Written and directed by Scottish filmmaker Charlotte Wells in her feature directorial debut, the film also stars newcomer Frankie Corio, who is fantastic and effortless as Sophie, a girl trying to bridge the gap between herself and her father while also cajoling him into doing R.E.M. karaoke and letting her get a hair wrap. Aftersun, which is filmed as a flashback and in part on camcorder footage, is a film about memory and childhood its fuzziness, its wrenching quality, the way it can wake us up in the middle of the night 20 years later. Its also a delightfully detail-perfect 90s period piece, straight down to the wardrobe, all Adidas and billowing T-shirts and chunky wristwatches. R.H. Broker Most of the films I saw at Cannes this year were unrelentingly bleak, full of doomed protagonists, graphic murders, and small children being forced by circumstances into ill-considered criminal schemes. In this light, a gentle movie like Hirokazu Kore-edas Broker stands out. In Korea, two baby-nappers (one of them played by Parasites Song Kang-ho) go on the road, accompanied by the biological mom, hoping to sell the infant into a loving home. The trios pursued by a pair of female cops, as well as goons hired by the wife of the babys late father. That sounds like the setup for a zany, Raising Arizonastyle adventure, but if youve seen Shoplifters, which won the Palme in 2018, you know thats not Kore-edas style. He prefers sweet dramas about makeshift families, so it may not be a surprise when this band of lowlifes acquires a second kid and slowly becomes its own functional domestic unit. Broker may be too sappy for some, and at times it could be taken for pro-life agitprop, but I was warmed by its portrait of child-rearing as a communal responsibility. At the end of a stressful festival, it was exactly what I needed. N.J. The winners! Theyre winner-ing, baby! In yet another very successful episode of All Stars, this week is the Realness of Fortune Ball, which means our first design challenge! I (along with many others) have been eagerly anticipating this challenge since we have multiple iconic designers in our midst. If I had four blocks, pines Jinkx, theres four people I wouldve blocked. The camera cuts around the room, first to Shea, then to Raja and Trinity. I would also throw the Vivienne in the mix, who once created a stunning vinyl fringe piece for a design challenge across the pond on Drag Race UK. But suffice to say: Its (almost) anyones game, and the creations gracing the runway today are ones for the books. I hope youre as excited as I am. The Vivienne Despite running away with the crown in series one of Drag Race UK, the Vivienne has been flying under the radar thus far. While shes performed admirably, Viv has yet to find herself truly in consideration for a legends star, and this week is no exception. The Vivienne begins with a perfectly nice velvet wrap dress. Her Princess Diana Ross runway is quite fun too. What it lacks in specificity (besides the hair, its quite light on the Diana Ross), it makes up for in characterization. For her eleganza, Viv whips up an off-the-shoulders turquoise gown. Its chic, well fitted, and would feel right at home in an evening-wear collection. However, next to the likes of Jaida, Raja, Shea, and Trinity, she just cant compete. Perhaps its the strength of the competition in the colonies, perhaps its jet lag, but Viv will need to step up her game in the coming weeks if she wants a shot at the queen of queens title. Yvie Oddly The directive for the judges panel is to be nice this season, I suppose, but Im under no such obligation. This was a tough episode for Yvie. Then again, so was the last one. While the Vivienne is having trouble breaking out from the pack, Yvie is standing out for all the wrong reasons. Her Vanna White look is a perplexing failure, her Cardi Bea Arthur is a fun idea that falters in the execution (I dont even understand what Cardi look she was referencing, if any!), and her eleganza, which may have been safe on a standard season, is far from my favorite. While Yvie had some highs on her season (her iconic lip syncs and her unconventional materials gown), she may be the winner with the fewest. Indeed, her only win was shared with Scarlet Envy on an acting challenge, and its hard to imagine her re-creating that success on a season with the likes of Jinkx and the Vivienne. Its still early, of course, but at this stage, its difficult to imagine a top four with Yvie in it. Monet X Change Monet begins the ball with the sluttiest Vanna White youve ever done seen. She looks stunning (albeit not cable friendly) in a white gown with a side slit all the way up to her waist. Her next category? A lovely ode to her fellow Drag Race winner and Sibling Rivalry Frenemy, Bob the Drag Queen. Its fun, she looks good, and the judges are big fans of her shaky, geriatric purse first entry onto the stage. Her eleganza is yet another leg-forward, slutty addition to the Monet runway canon, capping off a perfectly respectable ball showing. But for Monet, the real fun takes place behind the scenes. As you may recall, last week Trinity and Monet cemented a twinners alliance, pledging never to block each other. This week, they decide to expand their alliance in the most conspicuous way possible. First, they approach Jinkx, who diplomatically informs them that while she wont necessarily side against them, shes unwilling to enter into a shady Werkroom pact. Not to be discouraged, Trinity approaches Shea, again explaining the deal. Shea muses to Trinity that this alliance seems to benefit Monet more than anyone else, but not before Jaida eavesdrops, therefore also getting all the deets of the Trinity-Monet pitch. At this point, half the queens know of these machinations, and the other half will probably be hearing about it at dinner an hour later. While this no longer appears to be a sound strategy for getting to the top four, I will say I am very entertained. So to Monet, I say: Go forth and scheme, queen! I support you. Jinkx Monsoon With the stakes of going home off the table, one might imagine these edited segments of contestants struggling might lose their meaning. But in fact, its kind of the opposite. Since we no longer fear for Jinkxs place in the competition, were free to partake in a bit of Schadenfreude at her expense this episode as the beloved, aesthetically challenged, narcoleptic queen struggles through sewing-machine mishaps and hot-glue fiascos. And ultimately it couldve been worse! Jinkx dons a lovely Vanna White garment that ends up matching Vanna herself no better validation than that. Her Baby Jane Fonda look is clever and on brand, if not particularly pretty. Her final eleganza is well, its not good by any means, but given the dramatic buildup, I would have imagined it to be far worse. Overall, an entertaining (and predictable) episode for Jinkx. Its my one weakness, yall! Jinkx reminds us at the end, and shes probably right. Hope the girls are ready. Shea Coulee As for Shea? Theres nary a weakness to be seen. While she only has one badge so far, Sheas domination over the competition is plain to see. Her fellow queens view her as a front-runner in almost every challenge, and for a good reason: Shes damn good at them! This week feels like deja vu, as Shea is given all the materials to re-create her iconic bridal moment from her last All Stars run. She brainstorms numerous other less repetitive concepts, but why fight it? White fabric and sheer lace always reads bridal anyway, and if it aint broke, dont fix it. The end result is fantastic: a perfectly styled veil on top of a beautiful dress with insanely detailed boned corsetry. Thats Shea for you. Her Vanna White realness is lovely as well, though as Carson correctly points out, it really doesnt read Vanna. Rounding out the looks, Sheas Gold Tooth Fairy is well executed but perhaps not the most creative concept shes ever come up with. Another good night for Shea: Though its early, her top-four prospects are hard to deny. Raja Of all the winners, Raja finds herself in the most difficult position. Back in season three, she created a legacy as the runway and design queen that has followed her to this day. Every fashion queen the show has produced since has been compared to Raja in some way, causing her legacy to grow beyond what anyone could have ever anticipated way back in Drag Races infancy. Raja has a lot to live up to. So it makes it all the more impressive that thus far, she really has. Rajas gold eleganza is a triumph. Its the best of the evening by a mile: a runway that feels destined to be etched in the annals of fan cams, Instagram mood boards, and TikTok compilations for years to come. The expert ruching of the sleeves, the sleek bodice, the plunging neckline, the opera glasses its high camp and even higher glamor. Now more than ever, its clear: Raja doesnt merely reference; she is the reference. The judges agree, so why, you might ask, isnt Raja at the top in this episode? Well, the answer comes in the form of her Before/After runway, or lack thereof. Raja chooses Olivia Newton-John Waters a fun concept but one that sorely lacks in execution. Raja enters sporting leggings, a black baby tee, and a John Waters mustache so thin as to be invisible to the naked eye. Its egregiously phoning it in, and Im absolutely certain it cost Raja her star tonight. I understand the judges decision, but if it were me staring up at Raja in all her glory on that runway? I dont think Id have been able to resist giving her the win. A SHOOT, indeed. Trinity I dont think anyone, contestant or viewer, is having a better time this season than Trinity. Even after being blocked from receiving a star last week, she seems in better spirits than half the cast. And I think Ive deduced why: Trinity isnt intimidated by any of these girls. She wants to win, of course, but I think Trinity is more confident than anyone else in the competition in her ability to make the top four. She executed her snatch games last week exactly to her vision, and this week she makes plenty of time for story producing with Monet in between finishing up her garments. And whos to say she isnt right? This week she does pretty damn well. She flexes her pageant expertise with her Vanna White look, easily one of the best of the night and almost certainly the most expensive. Her RuPaul Charles II? Cute! The details are all there, even if the impetus behind the idea is still a little puzzling. And finally, her red eleganza is quite a feat as well. The cutouts look mechanically measured, the styling of the hair and jewelry feels almost too perfect to have come together today, and the flare at the gowns bottom adds the ideal amount of drama. Trinity takes her second win in two episodes and her first legends star. The other queens may be worried, but Trinity sure isnt. Jaida Essence Hall As the founder and president of the Jaida Essence Hall Monitors, tonight was most pleasing to me. Gigi Goode may have edged Jaida out the last ball (contentiously, some might argue), but no such injustice occurs this time around. Jaidas Vanna White is the best of the bunch, and her runway commentary makes it even better. (Vanna White was the first white lady allowed in my house growing up!) And while the other girls are busy trying to be funny with their Before/After looks, Jaida is busy just being beautiful. Good for her! Finally, the piece de resistance, her eleganza. Jaidas goth, devilish black dress is a strong second place (after Raja). It fits her like a glove, its chic but edgy, and its styled to perfection. She grabs this challenge by the horns and delivers. Im overjoyed to see it. When it comes to the final showdown of the evening against Trinity, Jaida is even better. Jaida has never lost a lip sync and tonight is no exception. Its only right that she gets to perform to Queen Bey, and Green Light is the perfect track for her to show off. The multitude of fringe on her two-piece is working overtime, and its mesmerizing to watch. She drops into splits, plays off Trinitys (perhaps too hammy) comedy, all the while totally nailing the songs sexiness. Shes the clear victor and thus is given the power to block. She chooses Jinkx Monsoon! Perhaps Jinkx overplayed her hand by telling the girls her stumbling days were over because Jaida believes her. Next week is a courtroom improv-acting challenge, and that might prove to have been the savviest move Jaida could have pulled. Time will tell. Until next week! Stranger Things The Massacre at Hawkins Lab Season 4 Episode 7 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Photo: Courtesy of Netflix Oh, okay, yes, that is one way to end Volume 1. There are major reveals, a long-awaited, emotional reunion, and yeah, there is Steve Harrington biting into a Demogorgon bat. From a story standpoint, the end of episode seven offers a natural place to pause things since the overall story takes a big narrative turn by the end of it. Now we know the answer to what Vecna is, the final two episodes can focus on how to stop him. All three of the major storylines (sorry, Surfer Pizza Boys) provide big satisfying answers while also leaving us with several questions to mull over while we wait. Honestly, so many major events happened here! I am exhausted (in a good way)! Lets start with that bat thing because, babes, I did not show up to this party expecting an alternate dimension bat fight, but that is what we got, and it is awesome. When we find Steve, hes still being choked out and bitten by Demogorgon bats, Bob Newby style. Things look grim, but then Nancy Wheeler comes in hot with an oar, and she, Robin, and Eddie start fighting off an increasing number of bats to save their friend. Does Steve have to bite one off of his neck? Yes! That is the kind of hero this guy is! Anyway, they clobber these bats, but a big colony of them arrives to protect the gate in Lovers Lake, which means there is now no way for the group to get out and back to their own dimension. It will be a much longer stay in the Upside Down than they anticipated. They take shelter under the Upside Downs version of Skull Rock and begin to get an idea of what theyre up against: so many bats, lots of scary noises likely coming from other monsters, and earthquakes. Yeah, its not great. But you know what is great? Nancy bandaging up Steve and those two making eyes at each other. Anywho, they definitely need some protection and ammunition. They head for the Upside Down Wheeler house, where Nancy says she has two guns hidden. The walk there gives Eddie and Steve time to have a conversation that I am honestly obsessed with. Eddie tells Steve how Dustin worships him, which makes Steve so happy (how precious!). Steve wants to thank Eddie for coming to save him, but Eddie admits that he only did it because the girls went first and he couldnt look like a coward, which he is realizing is apparently his thing. Eddie tells Steve that Nancy didnt waste one minute before going in after him and if you ask him, that was as unambiguous a sign of true love as [his] cynical eyes have ever seen. Eddie ships Steve and Nancy, and really what else is there to know? Oh right, everyone in the Upside Down is in danger. A few wild things happen once they get to the Wheeler house. First, thanks to old chemistry flashcards (nice season one callback) and the fact that her diary ends on November 6, 1983, Nancy realizes they are actually in the past. Thats the day Will was taken the day Eleven opened the gate. That means no guns yet. The other weird thing: Steve can hear Dustin talking from somewhere. Dustin, Lucas, and Max are all at the Wheeler house in their dimension, being questioned by the cops. Thats when Nancy remembers that Will communicated with Joyce through Christmas lights, and they see this sparkly mist over all the lights in the Upside Down Wheeler house. When they touch that sparkly mist, the lights on both sides start to glow. Not to be a real nerd about it (Stranger Things is a safe place for nerds), but getting to see the mechanics of how the lights in the Upside Down work is truly exciting. I will not apologize for this! Once they get through to Dustin with an SOS signal, its game on. Dustin, Lucas, and Erica, whos been filled in on everything now, steal Holly Wheelers Lite Brite to communicate with the Upside Down squad. Nancy tells them that theyre stuck because the gate is guarded, but Dustin has figured out that Vecna, like Eleven, makes psychic connections with his victims before he kills them, which means he can make gates every time he kills. In fact, Dustin and Lucas think its why hes killing. Remember that everything in the Upside Down is part of the Mind Flayers hive mind, working for him in his mission to destroy worlds. Well, if the Mind Flayer wants to destroy this world, hes going to need more gates, so it might be useful to have someone like Vecna, his five-star general, on his team. All of that information will surely play a part in things down the road, but for now, what it means is that there is a gate at Eddies trailer where Chrissy died. In fact, weve seen it that crack in the ceiling. They can get back to their dimension that way. We get another great visual effect as we watch Dustin, Lucas, Max now out of police questioning and Erica ride their bikes toward the trailer park, and then it slowly turns upside down until we see Nancy, Steve, Robin, and Eddie doing the same. Once they get to the trailer and Dustin pokes a hole in the gate from his end, we get to see both worlds on top of each other. We! Are! Living! They throw a rope up through the ceiling to their friends, which then hangs down on their side and it should allow our stuck friends to escape. Robin goes, then Eddie, and then it is supposed to be Nancy, but something strange happens. She ends up in the Upside Down version of Steves pool. You know where Barb died! She has been put in a trance by Vecna! Steve tries to snap her out of it, but we know that is futile. In her hallucination, Vecna is taunting Nancy with her guilt over Barbs death (is this why Nancy fights her feelings for Steve? Very complicated, no?). She is going to be his next victim. Somebody needs to figure out Nancys favorite song! Hey, speaking of escaping, lets head over to Russia for a little, mmkay? Things are happening there! Demogorgon things! First, Hopper has really turned his attitude around once he realizes that the Demogorgon being alive means that El is still in trouble somewhere Hop is back, baby! Second, it turns out that Yuris meeting with the prison warden was purposely double-booked with the Demogorgons dinner time, which means that when the Joyce and Murray ruse works (!!!) and the warden lets them in the prison, they are all led out to a deck overlooking the pit where Hopper is. Joyce can see him! He is right there! It is killing her! It is killing all of us! It doesnt take long for Murray and Joyce to realize Hopper is in a gladiator pit situation and they need to save him. The doors open, and Hopper, who has wrapped the vodka-doused fabric around a spear, cant get his lighter to work at first. Murray pulls a gun on the warden and demands he stop this, but it is too late. This Demogorgon comes out and absolutely wrecks a bunch of the prisoners. While Hopper tries to fend off the Demogorgon with his spear torch which is effective Dmitri is trying to pry open the door the monster came out of in hopes they can escape that way. Meanwhile, Murray and Joyce are holding the warden hostage, trying to get the guards to open the doors for Hopper. Eventually, Murray just has to knock all of them out with his karate prowess and Joyce just presses all the buttons she can find it works! Its only Hopper and Dmitri left in the pit, but the door opens and they run in into the Demogorgons empty cage and Hopper tosses that spear directly in the Demogorgons mouth like hes some sort of javelin gold medalist, the doors close, and Hopper and Dmitri are safely inside the Demogorgons cell. When the doors on the other side finally open, everything goes into slo-mo, and Hopper sees Joyce standing there before him. She runs to him! She holds him! He rests his head on her head, and he smiles. It is relief! It is love! Listen, Im crying just thinking about it again, so if this god damn show decides to kill Hopper off at any point, I swear I will stand on the widows walk of a lighthouse until he returns to me. But wait, theres more! For the big Volume 1 finish, we need to head to that deprivation tank in Nevada. Owens and Brenner are both keenly aware that time is not on their side with getting Eleven back to superhero status before Hawkins is lost forever. And that is before they even know that Lt. Col. Sullivan has just broken Agent Wallace down enough that hes handed over Els location. They need to speed up the process, which means putting El in the big bad memory that will answer everything. Were back at that day of the massacre, but instead of Brenners point of view, its from Els. After shes attacked by Two and his cohorts, Brenner electroshocks Two in front of everyone. Our blond guy warns El that Two has vowed to kill her and that all of this has actually been set into motion by Brenner because hes scared of Elevens power. Blond guy is going to help her escape, but he cant go with her. Theres a chip in his neck that both weakens him and tracks him, so he cant run away anyway. Because Eleven is just a little girl and this man has helped her in her time of need, she offers to use her powers to get the chip out of him. This has been his plan all along. Manipulating Eleven into thinking it was her idea to set him free. Not long after she removes it, this guy reveals himself to have violent and strong powers. He is One!! He has the tattoo to prove it. And it is he who kills everyone in that Rainbow Room, not Eleven. Supervillains are gonna do what supervillains do, so what does One do next? He monologues. He monologues all about how he was always different growing up and how the humans are pests and that all he wants to do is restore balance and that he is through with being controlled, yadda, yadda, yadda. Here is the thing. While One is going on and on to Eleven, we see his entire origin story through Nancy in the Upside Down, who has now made her way into Vecnas mindlair at the Creel house. Hi, hello, big reveal here: The blonde guy is One, yes, but One is also Victor Creels son and he is also Vecna. Nancy watches the story of the Creel family again, but this time she sees what Henry is up to, how he had powers and used them on his family. We once again see that awful dinner when One kills his mother and sister. He isnt strong enough to finish off his father, and thats why Victor finds him in a coma. One says that when he woke up from that coma, he was in the care of Dr. Brenner, who only started this program with the other kids after he couldnt control One. Its all tied together! After storytime, One asks Eleven to come with him as he changes the world. She says no. The two battle. At first, she tries to summon as much power as she can with Ones hot tip about using a sad/angry memory. It isnt strong enough. Just as you think Eleven will be killed, she finds a memory deep within, a happy memory, of her mother telling her she loves her when she was born how can she remember when she was born? I dont know, but we have much bigger mysteries on this show so go with it and that is the key. A good, happy memory makes El stronger than ever. She blasts One through the mirror and against the wall. She hits One again with full force, and she sends him to the Upside Down, opening up a gate in the wall babys first gate! The blood all over her, the memory of her screaming, it turns out that she is not the monster from that memory after all shes the one trying to stop the monster. But will she be able to do it again now that she knows the key to her power? Only time and Volume 2 will tell. Placeholder while article actions load Judge rejects Trump's lawsuit against AG Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Former president Donald Trumps lawsuit against the New York attorney general which claimed that her long-term civil investigation into his business practices was an abuse of authority that needed to be stopped has been dismissed by a federal judge in Syracuse, N.Y. The former presidents attempt to halt Attorney General Letitia Jamess (D) probe into the Trump Organization and its dealings with lenders and tax authorities was rejected in a 43-page decision made public Friday by U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. In a statement, James said her office would continue this investigation undeterred, suggesting that Trump has made efforts to choose how the law applies to him. Trump attorney Alina Habba said the decision would be appealed. Habba argued in court filings that Jamess efforts were so unfair that the federal judge should have stepped in to stop it. Advertisement A state court judge, Arthur Engoron, who has overseen a number of disputes between Jamess team and Trump, has already refused to stop the investigation from proceeding. Engoron granted Jamess past requests to enforce subpoenas with which Trump and other parties did not initially comply. Shayna Jacobs House blast leaves 5 dead, 2 injured A house exploded northwest of Philadelphia, killing five people and leaving two others injured, authorities said Friday. Officials had earlier said four people died and others might be missing in Thursday evenings explosion in Pottstown but confirmed the fifth fatality as they combed through debris, Borough Manager Justin Keller said Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Two people were hospitalized, Keller said. The cause of the blast is still being investigated, Keller said. Advertisement Associated Press Detroit fire destroys landmark restaurant Fire destroyed a landmark restaurant and brewpub Friday in Midtown Detroit, but spared the neighboring Third Man Records store owned by musician Jack White as well as Shinolas flagship watch store. No one was inside Traffic Jam & Snug at the time of the blaze and the restaurant was believed to be a total loss, fire officials said. Detroit Fire Community Relations Chief James Harris told Detroit News that firefighters were called before 2 a.m. The cause wasnt immediately known. Traffic Jam was established in 1965, according to its website. Owner Scott Lowell told the newspaper that he was on a humanitarian mission at the border between Poland and Ukraine and that he was trying to return to Detroit. Associated Press GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Agatha forecast to hit Mexico as hurricane Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Agatha became the first named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season Saturday, and it is forecast to rapidly intensify into a hurricane before striking the west coast of Mexico on Monday. Hurricane watches have been posted for the southern coast of Mexico from Salina Cruz to Punta Maldonado. The storm could bring torrential rains, damaging winds and an ocean surge that could inundate coastal communities. Conditions are expected to deteriorate in the hurricane watch zone starting Sunday night. Jason Samenow Stampede at church leaves at least 31 dead in Nigeria: A stampede Saturday at a church charity event in southern Nigeria left 31 people dead and seven injured, police said. Many of the victims came for the annual "Shop for Free" program organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecostal church in Rivers state, police said. Advertisement Police fire tear gas at protesters in Iran: Iranian riot police fired tear gas and shot into the air to disperse an angry crowd of hundreds of people near the site of a building collapse in the southwestern city of Abadan, online video analyzed Saturday showed. A report by Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency also acknowledged the unrest late Friday over the disaster this past week that killed at least 29 people, with more feared still buried under the rubble of the 10-story building. First monkeypox case in Ireland confirmed: Ireland has confirmed its first case of monkeypox. A separate suspected case is also being investigated and test results are awaited, the Health Service Executive said in a statement. About 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 200 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe. Seized Greek tankers' crews are safe, Iran says: Iran's state maritime body said Saturday that the crews of two Greek tankers seized by its Revolutionary Guard on Friday had not been detained and were in good health and being cared for on board their vessels. Iranian forces seized the two Greek tankers in the Persian Gulf on Friday, shortly after Tehran warned that it would take "punitive action" against Athens over the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States from a tanker held off the Greek coast earlier in the week. Floodwaters kill at least 15 in China: At least 15 people have died in torrential rains across southern China, state media reported. Eight died in two building collapses from landslides in Fujian province, near China's east coast, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing the Wuping county information office. From news services GiftOutline Gift Article Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Book critics Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction releases. Here are their reviews. Fiction pick of the week Credit: Trespasses Louise Kennedy, Bloomsbury, $26.99 A doomed romance comes alive through subtly textured realism in Louise Kennedys Trespasses. The novel is set in 1970s Belfast during the Troubles, where Cushla, a Catholic primary school teacher, risks her life in pursuit of an affair. Her older lover, Protestant barrister Michael Agnew, is known for defending unjustly accused Catholics. Hes charming, sophisticated, has a coterie of bohemian friends and is also unfortunately married. Their clandestine amour plays out in a chiselled and striking prose style, amid an atmosphere charged with menace as violent sectarianism grips the city. The books emotional intensity is achieved through restraint, anchored as it is by acute observation and narrative discipline. Trespasses is one of the rare literary novels that compels with every sentence, and its a pleasure to read an Irish writer whose prose style is so masterfully assured. Advertisement Credit: Homesickness Janine Mikosza, Ultimo Press, $32.99 This fractured memoir from Janine Mikosza straddles the uncertain border of the fiction/non-fiction binary. It is structured around the 14 houses Janine (Jin) lived in before she turned 18 and the abuse she suffered and survived in them, but it takes up an unusual fictional technique. The subject has been split into two women one who listens and writes, another who relates her experiences and the division lends a dissociative aura to the musing critique on memory and storytelling that emerges. Its a surprisingly nimble metafictional device for grappling with questions of disrupted identity. The form also allows Mikosza to dramatise and to openly interrogate the psychological effects of both complex trauma, and the recollection of it, in a way that resists the pitfalls of misery memoir. Credit: Metronome Tom Watson, Bloosmbury, $23.99 Advertisement Authoritarian control over womens bodies has become, since The Handmaids Tale, a much-mined trope of dystopian fiction. Tom Watsons Metronome constructs a remote gulag for reproductive crime. Whitney and Aina have been sentenced to 12 years in exile after having a baby without permission from the State. Their prison lies on a remote island in the Arctic. Escape is impossible due to the lethal effects of climate change: poisonous spores have been released from the permafrost, and inmates must take prophylactic pills every eight hours or die. And yet fantasies of escape vie with obeisance to the system as their exile drags on. Tom Watson paints the surfaces of his dystopia with dark imagination, but the narrative lacks depth and fails to convince both at the level of individual character development, and in navigating a permutation of society and culture that could plausibly have led to the scenario it presents. Credit: An Unholy Alliance Kate Hamilton, $18.50 An Unholy Alliance is Australian comic crime fiction set in Nimbin. It has a Shane Moloney-like angle: Frank Phelan is a political exile a Labor man reduced to muckraking private detective work in Canberra, until he gets a call from a former Prime Minister asking for a favour. Soon Frank has been called in to track down a missing woman in Nimbin, and the trail leads him, together with dogged journalist April Moreland, into an underworld of drug-dealers and cult-like communes, where hippies and organised crime, police corruption and a natural disaster all lie in wait. Its a promising idea for a novel let down by loose execution. An Unholy Alliance isnt sharply written or witty enough to excel as comedy. The prose style is prolix; the dialogue is especially insipid and long-winded and struggles to differentiate characters through voice. Hamilton does have potential as a comic writer but will need to embrace a snappier style with fewer dead sentences to realise it. Advertisement Non-fiction pick of the week Credit: Unknown Akuch Kuol Anyieth, Text, $34.99 This is a haunting, behind-the-headlines refugee tale. South Sudanese born Akuch (her name means unknown) Kuol Anyieth, charts in measured, vivid writing a most extraordinary life from living in a refugee camp in Kenya with her family for nine years while her father was engaged in the never-ending civil war in South Sudan, to Nairobi and eventually migration to Australia in 2005, where doors opened by themselves, paradise for sure. Her descriptions of the dust, heat, violence and rape in the camp is chilling, but as much as they felt theyd escaped it all, the trauma and brutalisation followed them into suburban Melbourne (mixed with racism) especially the domestic violence caused by her brother. In many ways, shes bravely examining the contrasting worlds shes experienced, with determination and remarkable poise. Credit: The Great Experiment Yascha Mounk, Bloomsbury, $29.99 Advertisement When Yasha Mounk, associate professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins, was interviewed in Germany saying that western democracies were embarking on a unique experiment in transforming monoethnic/monocultural democracy into a multiethnic one, the hate mail he received from the alt-right was instant and massive. For him, its emblematic of the pessimism of the age, both alt-right and far left - that western democracies will not be able to effect this transformation and the mantra of the right, for example, that western democracies are surrendering to diversity will prevail. This is what he calls the Great Experiment. And it may fail. But, in treading the middle path, he remains unfashionably optimistic, stressing that democracies have made significant progress in the last 50 years. Accessible, timely and informed. Credit: The Shortest History of Greece James Heneage, Black Inc, $26.99 You might think you know Greek history, but this highly entertaining, synoptic study charts the epic sweep and complexity of it as well as being a reminder that, overall, western values come from the pagan, classical world, especially Greece. Novelist James Heneage, in taking the reader through 3000 years of history, not only takes in the major events and figures from the two-state rivalry of Sparta and Athens, the Peloponnesian War, Plato and co, the birth of democracy, through the Middle Ages to independence from the Ottoman Empire, Metaxas, juntas, Rebetiko (Greek blues), Nazi occupation, the EU and the current state of play but also introduces lesser known figures such as General Epaminondas who led the victory over Sparta, and points out that Byzantium was basically Greek. A colourful marvel of compression. Credit: Advertisement Warning: Distressing content It looked like an ordinary USB stick, the type found in office drawers all over the country. But what an Australian Federal Police technician found on it led to the rescue of 56 children and 11 animals, the arrest of 26 men and 154 referrals to international police in what was the nations biggest child abuse bust. Its gut-wrenching stuff, the whole of the material for Operation Arkstone is definitely the worst that Ive seen and on the most extreme end. It is just the worst of the worst, acting Sergeant Scott Veltmeyer said. Grant Harden will remain in prison until at least 2042. Credit:Facebook In February 2020, Operation Arkstone investigators arrived at the Central Coast home of Justin Radford, 30, courtesy of a tip from the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. When he used the word love, which was often, you knew it came from somewhere true. So many people are crook on their fellows, but I just look for the love in people, he said in his waning years. We had become friends by then, partly, I think, because hed learned my mother had been born in May 1921 - the same month and year as him. Every May hed call, asking me to pass on best wishes to your lovely mother, though he never met her. There was a courtliness to him. Among the thousands of stories about Uren, one from Brisbanes Boggo Road Prison tells much. In the heady 1960s and 70s, when protest meant taking to the streets, Uren could be found regularly at the head of marches demonstrating against everything from war to nuclear proliferation to developers who wanted to rip down beautiful old inner-city streetscapes. Queensland was under the boot those days of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, whose idea of control - apart from allowing corruption to rip - was to turn Queensland into a police state. Bjelke-Petersens decision to ban street marches by outlawing any public gathering of more than three people was akin to waving a red rag at a man like Uren. Tom Uren sits in the back of a police van after being arrested in Brisbane in January 1979, one of several encounters with the regime of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Credit:Age archive In October 1978, he headed north from his home in Sydney to lead a march through Brisbane against the northern regimes laws. Inevitably the police waded in, truncheons thumping. Uren was among those arrested and hauled off to Boggo Road, a notoriously brutal place that in the 70s doubled as a political jail. Uren didnt get the treatment Bjelke-Petersen might have hoped for. One of the guards, Stephen M. Gage, author of the 2009 publication Boggo Road Prison: Riots to Ruin 1976-2008, recalled Urens arrival. I was one of many officers on duty on the day they bought Tom Uren into the Reception Division for processing; all officers were told not to salute Mr Uren, Gage wrote. As the vehicle pulled up and Tom was ordered to stand in front of the reception window, I and many other officers saluted this man for what he stood for. The senior prison officers present could not stop the junior officers from saluting and speaking respectfully to Tom Uren, but the surprise was yet to come. The most senior officer present was the Chief Superintendent of Boggo Road Prison, Mr Clyde Lang, who was also a POW on the Burma Railway and a comrade-in-arms with Tom Uren. Later on that afternoon both Tom and Clyde left the prison to have dinner and no doubt drinks to their friendship from so many years ago. Uren wasnt any ordinary prisoner, of course. Hed been a Labor politician for 20 years by then, and would remain in federal parliament for another 12 years. Hed been deputy leader of the Labor Party from 1975 to 1977. But the years that formed him and earned him such respect were those of World War II, after hed been captured on Timor and made a slave of the Japanese on the Burma-Thailand Railway, aged 21. Like the other prisoners, he was starved, beaten and worked close to death. Fed barely enough to keep a child alive, he was forced to swing a heavy sledgehammer, a mate holding a drill, to form holes for dynamite and carve the deep mountain cutting known among the slave gangs as Hammer and Tap and, more descriptively, as Hellfire Pass. The godforsaken place looked and felt like hellfire at night as the killing work continued, the cutting lit by blazing infernos. Tom Uren (third from right) in an internment camp for Japanese prisoners of war who were used as slave labour. Credit:Age archive Initially required to drill 80 centimetres a day, Uren and his mate were forced to complete three metres each day during the dreaded speedo period of 1943, which meant no rest for up to 18 hours, seven days a week. Uren had been a heavyweight boxer back in Sydney and despite starvation, his build set him apart. I have walked part of the old death railway and visited Hellfire Pass several times, and during these excursions I met several former prisoners who told me of Uren placing his big body in front of fellow prisoners to prevent them being beaten to death by furious Japanese and Korean prison guards. Tom would take the beating for smaller men, an old man told me once as we stood in the gloom of Hellfire Pass. When, years ago, I put this to Uren, he conceded hed been knocked around, as he put it. Loading Ive been hit with open hands, closed fists, pieces of wood, iron bars and bamboo about two inches in diameter, he said, eyes closed at the memories. Towards the end of the war, Uren was shoved into the hold of a Japanese hell ship - with little food, water, ventilation or space, POW carriers earned their hell titles - and transported to Japan. There, he slaved in a copper smelter at Saganoseki and at a lead smelting works at Omuta. On August 9, 1945, he saw the sky turn an unearthly colour when the Fat Man atomic bomb was dropped on the distant port of Nagasaki. Neville Wran and Tom Uren (third from left) at a nuclear disarmament rally in Sydney in March 1986. Credit:Peter Solness If youve ever seen one of those glorious sunsets they get in northern Australia, it was about 20 times as vivid as that, he said. The bomb ended the war and freed Tom Uren from his years of torment. The POW experience destroyed the lives and nerves of many of those who survived, but Uren resolved to frame the lessons he learned into a philosophy by which to live and grow. Principal among those lessons was the effort of his commander on the death railway, the surgeon Edward Weary Dunlop, to harness the means of the entire camp for the good of all. Dunlop ordered Australian officers - who received a small allowance - to contribute to a fund to buy simple medicines and black market food for sick POWs. No such system existed among the nearby British camps, where officers stayed aloof from the ordinary men, who died at a dreadful rate. Collectivism, decided Uren, was the key to saving society. He distilled the philosophy to a single sentence. The healthy looked after the sick, the strong looked after the weak, the young looked after the old, hed tell anyone whod listen. And so, when in the early 1980s he became aware of a young Sydney University firebrand named Anthony Albanese - a leftist member of the Student Representative Council - the young man was to hear his elders anthem. In fact, Uren and the other tough men of the old NSW Labor Left Arthur Gietzelt, Jack Ferguson and Bruce Childs identified Albanese, aged 20, as a potential future leader. They knew he was raised without a father, and felt he needed the guidance of a strong male role model. Uren, then minister for local government, stepped in, gave Albanese his first real job - as a research officer - and never stepped away. Anthony Albanese with the late Labor politician Tom Uren in the Sydney seat of Mackellar in 2010. Credit:Simon Alekna In 1987, he took Albanese to South-east Asia - the young mans first trip abroad. In Thailand, Uren took Albanese to Hellfire Pass. Albanese held the big mans arm as they walked into the deep cutting, fearful Uren would faint beneath the storm of his memories. Jackson Pollocks Blue Poles may be considered the National Gallery of Australias most commercially valuable painting, but the 200 poles of the Aboriginal Memorial are now considered its most culturally important. We have our Blue Poles, but we now consider our black poles our most significant work in terms of what they mean to Australians, said Wierdi man Bruce Johnson McLean, the NGAs assistant director, Indigenous engagement. Original artist-curator, Djon Mundine poses for a portrait amongst The Aboriginal Memorial at the National Gallery of Australia. Credit:Rohan Thomson As of next Wednesday, the painted hollow log coffins will be moved from their current location near the entrance foyer to the most central gallery on level one, the heart of the NGA. The cultural significance of the move is an important moment not just for its Yolngu creators during Reconciliation Week, but also the nation as it moves towards accepting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, under the new Labor government. 2 teachers end 71 years serviceMembers of the Jackson County Education Association honored two longtime county educational personnel last week: Louise Boone of Bascom, county supervisor of elementary education; and Ida Britt of Campbellton, a kindergarten teacher in Graceville. Boone has 36 years of service to her credit and Britt has been teaching for 35 years. They were presented engraved silver trays from the association president, Mrs. E.P. Riddles of Graceville. Jackson County Floridan, Tuesday, June 5, 1973 Principal honoredLTC Gary Evins of the Marianna High School Junior ROTC program presented Principal Lowell Centers a certificate of appreciation during Fridays ROTC Awards Day. Jackson County Floridan, Tuesday, June 5, 1973 City fathers to open bidsThe Marianna City Commission will meet tomorrow in a special session to open bids for the construction and development of Jennings Field. A grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is aiding the city in establishing the park in south Marianna as a recreation center. Jackson County Floridan, Tuesday, June 5, 1973 McCloskey asks Nixon ousterA House discussion of whether President Nixons actions in the Watergate affair are grounds for impeachment has been initiated by Rep. Paul N. McCloskey Jr., R-Calif., who stated in his letter that the Presidents May 22 statement constituted grounds for impeachment. In that statement, Nixon said: Therefore, I instructed Mr. (H.R.) Haldeman and Mr. (John) Ehrlichman to ensure that the investigation of the break-in not expose either an unrelated covert operation of the CIA or the activities of the White House investigations unit McCloskey said, To take steps to ensure that criminal activities not be exposed, under ordinary rules of criminal law, is to obstruct justice, a felony. Jackson County Floridan, Tuesday, June 5, 1973 In 1966, Pvt. James Joshua Jr. of Gadsden, Alabama, left high school to become a United States Marine at the age of 18. He deployed, but never came home. His life was cut short when his company was attacked with mortars in Vietnams Quang Tri Province. You may have never heard of Pvt. Joshua, or know the names of the millions of other men and women who gave their lives for our country, but every May, we observe Memorial Day in honor of our fallen soldiers. The names of some of our heroes may not be widely known, but are forever intertwined in the fabric of Americas story. These were ordinary men and women who had extraordinary courage and patriotism, and ultimately lost their lives defending the freedoms we hold dear as a nation. Many of Alabamas sons and daughters are counted among these brave souls. The state of Alabama lost 2,500 soldiers during World War I, 5,114 soldiers during World War II, and hundreds of others in wars since. Growing up, we heard the Bible verse that greater love has no man than laying down his life for his friend. But many of our service members didnt give their lives for their friends they gave their lives for millions of Americans they will never know, so that generations can enjoy the freedoms that our country affords. When our office had the opportunity to speak with some of Alabamas families who have lost family members to war, you could feel the agony they experienced from losing a loved one too soon. Like Teresa from Huntsville, whose father was declared Missing in Action during the Vietnam War when she was only eight years old. She shared stories of the many days and sleepless nights that she and her family spent hoping for his return, and the heartbreak of growing up knowing that he wouldnt be there to teach her how to ride a bike, meet her high school boyfriends, celebrate her graduation, or walk her down the aisle at her wedding. She is one of six children whose special events were marked by their fathers absence. Then there is Danny from Elba, whose son Jason was killed in Tal Afar, Iraq, one night during a patrol when the enemy attacked his Humvee. Jason was a leader with a deep loyalty to his country. His love for country drove him to join the U.S. Army, where he climbed the ranks to become a sergeant. Danny shared that his son answered the call to join our nations military because he felt there was a need for brave men and women to willingly step up and defend America at all costs. Now, Danny drives the truck that once belonged to his son to cope with his grief. For fathers like Danny, ordinary possessions become treasures that keep their loved ones close once theyve passed. For the Alabama families who know firsthand the high price of freedom, we honor your loved ones this Memorial Day. We know that for you, holidays, special occasions, and daily activities will never be the same. As we gather with friends and family this weekend, let us remember why we are able to gather freely. The cost of our freedom has been paid for by generations of brave men and women in our military who endured sleepless battlefields, tumultuous seas, and harsh deserts. Freedom is not free. Our service members faced adversaries head-on to uphold our banner of liberty. Let us never forget the lives lost and the sacrifices made by the men and women who donned our nations uniform. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Senate Armed Services Committees. During the month of May, Sen. Tuberville is honoring the sacrifices made by current and former service members as part of Military Appreciation Month. A special thank you to the families of the fallen who graciously shared their stories with us. Today Mostly cloudy with a shower or thunderstorm possible. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a shower or thunderstorm possible. Tomorrow Clouds breaking for some sun in the afternoon, more comfortable. A shower may still be possible in the morning depending on the position of a front and low pressure. Swallows and white storks migrate to central Quang Nam Province in 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh The number of birds that migrate through Vietnam has dropped significantly in recent years and six of them are on the verge of extinction. The six species that are currently in a critical state are spoon-billed sandpiper, Nordmann's greenshank, great knot, far Eastern curlew, Chinese egret and Saunders's gull, said Nguyen Hoai Bao, representative of the BirdLife International Asia, the world's largest nature conservation partnership with 120 partners worldwide. Vietnam lies on one of nine important flight routes of migratory birds with over 300 different species, he said at a conference on bird conservation held Friday in Hanoi by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The biggest destinations are Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh Province and Cat Ba Island off Hai Phong City, both in the Red River Delta, and the Mekong Delta's Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province, Go Cong Town in Tien Giang Province, and the Tien River in Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces. According to BirdLife International, migratory birds in general and those having destinations in Vietnam are critically endangered due to habitat loss. Urbanization activities, construction works, agriculture, aquaculture and industrial development have caused the loss of migratory birds. The conversion of natural wetland areas into land for growing rice and practicing aquaculture; and the resultant overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have destroyed the ecological balance. In the last two years, worrying that birds would feed on their shrimps and fish, many farmers have sealed their farms, leaving many birds to starve to death, said Bao. In addition, the strong development of near-shore wind farms in recent years has caused many birds to die as they hit the windmills, he said. According to the Department of Nature Biodiversity Conservation under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam has 918 bird species of which 12 are endemic, 9 are critically endangered, 17 are endangered, 21 vulnerable species, and 44 endangered species. The department says there are five main threats to wild birds: shrinking habitat and foraging; hunting and trapping; trafficking and consumption; environmental pollution; and climate change. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, deputy head of the department, said the fact that fewer and fewer migratory birds are flying through Vietnam is a sign that the country is losing the balance between environmental protection and economic development. "Vietnam currently has two destinations for birds migrating between Australia and East Asia. In the coming time, we will review all other destinations to prepare plans for conservation, especially in wetland areas," she said. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed a directive on protecting migratory birds, assigning specific tasks for each unit and locality to put an end to hunting and consumption of wild birds. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. For the second time in three years, no red-crowned crane wintered at the Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta. The park in Dong Thap Muoi in Dong Thap Province is famous as a natural habitat for the large East Asian red-crowned crane, among the rarest in the world and classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The birds usually arrive from Cambodia in December and stay until May, when it is the dry season in southern Vietnam. They come to forage and mate prior to the onset of rains and floods. Until 1980 thousands of them used to come every winter, but in recent years that story has changed with only a couple of dozens visiting the park at most each year. Last December none arrived just like in 2020, Nguyen Van Lam, the park director, said. A zone in Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province where red-crowned cranes normally gather for food, May 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Tai Spread over 7,500 hectares, Tram Chim is recognized under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance, the fourth in Vietnam, and 2,000th in the world. The convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation in the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Phu My Species and Habitat Conservation Area, one of the key sites for wetland biodiversity conservation in the Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam's important bird areas and a part of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, reported a similar situation. Just a few cranes flew past this year and none touched down, Nguyen Hoai Bao, deputy director of the Center of Wetland Studies at the HCMC University of Science and a volunteer at the International Crane Foundation (ICF), said. Last year three cranes had visited Tram Chim, he said. This is evidence of the "serious degradation of the natural environment," he said. In the delta, the conversion of natural wetland areas into lands for rice cultivation and aquaculture and the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have destroyed the ecological balance, giving red-crowned cranes almost no chance to live there, he said. Besides, conversation areas tend to store water to prevent forest fires, which has reduced biodiversity and kept away the cranes, he added. A flock of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park in 2016. Photo by Nguyen Van Hung Tran Triet, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the ICF, said, "technically, Vietnam now has no red-crowned cranes." This year some of them did fly to Vietnam, but only stayed briefly before returning to Cambodia, he said. "Locals sometimes find dead cranes in their rice fields. They died of sickness, and it means the environment is having problems." According to the ICF, there are around 15,000-20,000 red-crowned cranes in the world, 8,000-10,000 of them in India, Nepal and Pakistan and the rest in Indochina. But in Vietnam and Cambodia their numbers have fallen from 850 in 2014 to 179 in 2020. A night tour of downtown Hanois Hoa Lo Prison museum allows a peek into its horrific history and highlights the resilience and fighting spirit of Vietnamese soldiers. Tran Xuan Bach, an office worker in Hanoi, recently took a night tour of the Hoa Lo Prison built by the French in 1896. Bach learnt about the tour from a post on Facebook fan page of the Management Board of Hoa Lo Prison Relic. He and some of his colleagues registered for the tour of what used to be a scary place and called "Hell on Earth." The facility was also famously dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POWs incarcerated there. Most foreigners visit the prison because of its connections to the Vietnam War. Former U.S. Senator John McCain was one of the prisoners there. Before starting the tour, each of the visitors were given their own headphones so they could easily follow the instructions. Following their tour guide, they entered the main gate of the prison and made their way to the men's collective detention camp, the male political prison camp and the dungeon. The prison space was dark and stuffy, and it was still a frightening and emotional experience. "Just standing there, I felt suffocated. I really couldn't imagine how Vietnamese soldiers lived and overcame this harshness in the past," Bach said. The group learnt how Vietnamese soldiers used bang (Indian almond) leaves to make medicine and its branches to make chopsticks and flutes during wartime. In the area of the underground sluice gates, they heard stories of escape of political prisoners and walked through a narrow, dark and humid corridor that had been used in the past. "The stories and real experiences made me understand more the steely spirit of Vietnamese soldiers during the war," Bach said. His emotions were taken to an even higher level when they stopped at the female political prisoner detention area, where they heard the story of General Vo Nguyen Giap's first wife - martyr Nguyen Thi Quang Thai. In 1942, she was arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison. During her detention, she was regularly tortured but remained steadfast in not disclosing information. In 1944, she fell ill while taking care of patients in the Hoa Lo Prison. She contracted typhoid. Bach said he was haunted by the sounds of the guillotine and the fates of people on death row. Listening to the stories of loyal, indomitable, fearless soldiers standing in front of the guillotine, he was overcome. "When I lit incense to commemorate and pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs at the memorial, I finally had some moments of quietness. I had experienced different emotional levels and surely everyone who comes here will feel the same." After the 45-minute tour, Bach and friends enjoyed a cup of tea processed with bang leaves and received a souvenir. The Hoa Lo Prison was named after coal-fired stoves once sold in surrounding streets. In 1990, the prison was shut down and most of its buildings demolished to make room for real estate projects. The remaining part of the facility and the main gate was kept. Today it is a must-visit museum for any visitor to Hanoi. It is a place that evokes reflections on the brutality of the war and thankfulness that it is over. The night tour is available on weekends for VND100,000 ($4.31) per person. A Winnipeg mother and her fourth grader are questioning an elementary schools refusal to print yearbooks that state the 10-year-old wants to be a bartender when he grows up. A Winnipeg mother and her fourth grader are questioning an elementary schools refusal to print yearbooks that state the 10-year-old wants to be a bartender when he grows up. As the academic year winds down, a teacher at Whyte Ridge School a K-4 building located in the southwest corner of the city is compiling a "memory book" for the Class of 2022. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jen Anderson and her son, Zack. Students were recently surveyed about their career aspirations, so the mementos can include photos of each pupil and a sentence about their young ambitions. In response, Jen Andersons son indicated he wants to find work as a bartender "because he would get to socialize." Anderson, who has three school-aged children, including twins in Grade 4, said she was not at all surprised when Zacks teacher alerted her about the choice in order to ensure the family was comfortable with his wording. "I thought, Well, thats cool, because weve been talking about that and all kinds of professions at home. I dont want to push my kids into traditional jobs. I want to let them explore," she said. "In this case, we felt that publishing that Zack wants to be a bartender (even though OK with his parents and for the right reasons) can be reworded in a way that does not lend itself to questions and interpretation within our community." Principal Mike Weekes The job title has come up because both Andersons brother and step-mother work in the service industry and Anderson, a family physician, paid for her undergraduate education and medical school by bartending. Zack admires the fact his uncle, who lives in B.C., can snowboard during the day and bartend at night to make a living, she said. Despite informing Whyte Ridge staff she supports the vocation, the school has suggested an alternative job title be used. "In this case, we felt that publishing that Zack wants to be a bartender (even though OK with his parents and for the right reasons) can be reworded in a way that does not lend itself to questions and interpretation within our community," principal Mike Weekes wrote in an email Thursday. Weekes suggested the school could publish "bartender" in the editions that will be printed for her sons, while the rest of the class receives copies with a more generic title that indicates her son wants to work in the hospitality sector. Alternatively, all students could receive the latter, he said. Senior administration supports the decision "to do what is best for our whole Grade 4 community," the principal added. "I thought, Well, thats cool, because weve been talking about that and all kinds of professions at home. I dont want to push my kids into traditional jobs. I want to let them explore." Jen Anderson Anderson was "floored" by the insinuation bartending a profession she said taught her valuable skills about communication and empathy that now help her provide health-care services for patients is inappropriate and should be censored. Zack said there is "no real reason" to make a change to the yearbooks. "Its a well-paying job Its also a way to show creativity," said the 10-year-old, who stayed home from school Friday because he was upset over the situation. It is not uncommon for the family to experiment with mocktails whether they are combining Sprite and syrup or adding frozen berries to a beverage, according to Anderson, who noted Zacks favourite drink is a Shirley Temple. "Everyone thinks a bar has something to do with alcohol. A bar is a counter thats about four- or five-feet high that you can serve anything on," said Avery Ross, owner of Mixmasters Bar Services, a bartending school in Winnipeg. The long-time bartender said he understands the school is likely worried about the jobs potential connection to alcohol, but sees this as an educational opportunity to talk about safe consumption rather than shy away from the subject altogether. As early as Grade 3, Manitoba students learn about substance use in the provincial health curriculum. Before entering Grade 4, pupils are expected to be able to describe the potential dangers associated with alcohol, tobacco and street drugs in the community. "Everyone thinks a bar has something to do with alcohol. A bar is a counter thats about four or fivefeet high that you can serve anything on." Avery Ross As far as Ross is concerned, every teenager should have to take a bartending course and work in a bar for six months before they turn 18, so they understand what responsible service looks like. Bartending is a great vocation that allows people to work all around the world and make a full-time wage while only working three days per week, he added. The principal of Whyte Ridge has assured Anderson there is "zero judgment" about bartending at the south Winnipeg school via email, but the mother said the yearbook decision tells her son his desired career is not acceptable. Anderson said she is worried the situation suggests it is OK to be prejudice against certain occupations. Zacks ambitions should be honoured like every other students, she added. Pembina Trails School Division declined to provide comment on the matter. In a prepared statement, superintendent Ted Fransen said the division "will not be engaging the media in any discussions about the school work of an early years child." maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Strong winds and a tornado caused widespread damage in parts of the Midwest, where officials said another round of severe weather during a stormy week left three more people dead. In Minnesota, a grain bin fell onto a car Thursday and killed a passenger near Blomkest, the Kandiyohi County Sheriffs Office said. And a person died Thursday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a result of severe weather, Mayor Paul TenHaken said, but details werent released. Also in South Dakota, Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead said Wendy Lape, 61, was traveling home to Wentworth with her husband in a vehicle about 5 p.m. Thursday when straight line-winds struck. The wall of dust and dirt and debris hit them. They slowed down to probably under 5 miles per hour because of the almost zero visibility from the blowing debris and a chunk of wood came through the window of the car, Milstead said at a briefing in Sioux Falls Friday. Lape died of her injuries Friday morning, officials said. Earlier in the week, storms brought damaging winds, heavy rain and a few reports of tornadoes to Minnesota, where a storm-chasing meteorologist from Mexico City died Wednesday in a car crash underscoring the dangers of pursuing severe weather. More storms were forecast for Friday from the Upper Great Lakes to the southern Great Plains that could bring damaging winds and hail. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued an emergency declaration and ordered state personnel and resources to affected communities. Noem said damage reports were received from 28 counties. We have had many storms before, but the amount of communities that are impacted right now we just havent seen in our state before, Noem said at the briefing. The Department of Public Safetys Office of Emergency Management has opened an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response with local government authorities. Winds gusted Thursday above 100 mph in parts of South Dakota. National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Heitkamp, in Sioux Falls, said Friday that a tornado formed around Castlewood, but elsewhere the damage was caused by the strong wind. On Thursday, a nursing home in Salem, South Dakota, sustained extensive damage when part of the roof was torn off. Residents were evacuated. The storm knocked out power to thousands of customers, including the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings. On Thursday night, Noem traveled to Castlewood, where a tornado ripped off the roof of a school and brought down walls. Castlewood High School sophomore Erowyn Funge lives across the street from the school. She said that worst part of the storm lasted about 30 minutes, the Argus Leader reported. Our table went flying off our porch. It looked completely black outside, said Funge. Uprooted trees, branches and debris were scattered around Castlewood. Power lines were down, including across highways leading to town. In Minnesotas Stevens County, winds approaching 70 mph toppled grain silos and pushed down storage sheds near Alberta. The Minnesota State Patrol closed eastbound Interstate 94 for several hours Thursday night after overturned trucks blocked the freeway. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Even after a decade of working for Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada, one thing I never tire of is witnessing our students cross the graduation finish line in their caps and gowns, diplomas in hand with glowing smiles. This celebratory moment is more than just a rite of passage for the students we case-manage, it represents a significant triumph over the challenges and adversities our students face every day. And while we focus on providing necessities such as food, clothing, counseling and more, its the relationships we build with our students, the personalized goals we help them identify and the pathway to success that make the ultimate difference. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our community partners, in-school site coordinators and Elko and Humboldt County school faculty and staff, we continue to make a difference in our students and their families lives through programs and services that provide basic but critical needs. We rely on our robust network of 100-plus community partners and nonprofits to go All In For Kids and give students whatever they need to allow them to focus on learning and stay in school. From food and hygiene products, students needs are significant, and we stand ready to fill the gaps. The adage, it takes a village, couldnt be truer than it is for Communities In Schools as we work together to help our students graduate and prepare for college, a vocation or the workforce. This year, we have continued to adapt where and when needed, resuming our trusted fundraising campaigns and partnerships with community organizations. A few of my favorite moments include: resuming our eighth annual A Nite at The Races last summer and raising more than $21,000; the return of Thanksgiving Dinner for Kids which helped feed approximately 150 families at Thanksgiving; and the 7th Annual Undie 500 presented by Ignite Life Chiropractor, which provided hundreds of new socks and underwear to Elko County students in need. Every dollar raised and donation item collected stayed in Elko and Humboldt Counties to directly help our communitys most vulnerable students. But the true superstars are our students and our site coordinators who stand by our students every step of the way. With the support of our site coordinators, our students remained on track, sought guidance and counseling and put in the extra time to complete their schoolwork with passing grades. We commend the entire class of 2022 for rising above and for showing their peers that anything is possible. And to our future students, please know that Communities In Schools is here to support and empower you to chase your dreams and realize your true potential. We look forward to continuing to work with all our partners to make sure that all students, no matter their circumstances, have the same opportunity to succeed in school and beyond. As we embrace our mission to be All In For Kids, we are part of a powerful movement of change to create equitable learning environments that benefit current and future generations. For more information, please contact Communities In Schools at 775-738-2783. Sarah Goicoechea is executive director of Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Beaver Dam High School Class of 2022 graduated with three students earning the top award of valedictorian followed by one student being named salutatorian. The valedictorians are: Sadie De Vries, Abby Davidson and Luke Diljak, and the salutatorian is Brandyn Zahs. De Vries is attending UW-Madison this fall for nursing and hopes to go into the oncology field. She also plans to go back to school in the future with the final goals of becoming an administrator at a hospital or a healthcare facility. De Vries said some of her favorite memories over the last four years were participating in sports, but she feels her part-time job as a certified nursing assistant was a great benefit as well. It made me realize that I wanted to go into nursing, De Vries said. De Vries suggested for future generations to always do their best. Small assignments can make a difference, De Vries said. Work hard and dont take anything for granted. Davidson will be studying neurobiology at UW-Madison in the fall. She urged students who are entering high school behind her to work hard. All four years do matter, Davidson said. Diljak said band was one of his favorite parts of his four-year experience, but he also loved meeting the people at Beaver Dam High School. Zahs said he will be attending Michigan State in the fall and majoring in chemical engineering. Valedictorians at Beaver Dam High School receive perfect 4.0 GPAs over the four years as students at the school. Salutatorians come in with the next highest grade. 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. A Portage historic site is preparing to bring history alive by taking visitors on a tour of life in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters will be the location of the first History Alive event on June 18 and is organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The event will cast light on different aspects of daily life in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as presentations on candle-making, blacksmithing, and school, with real artifacts that would have been used by teachers back then. Children in attendance will be invited to play period-accurate games. In the 1700s and 1800s virtually everything was handmade, unlike today, said Nancy Olson, one of the event organizers. If you wanted a nail, you went to the blacksmith, not Menards. Olson sits on a committee of eight who have been working since last year to make this event possible through the DAR. The organization is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving history, featuring women who are directly descended from prominent figures in the American Revolution. Events like these, says Olson, are perfectly in-line with the mission and values of the DAR. The DAR mission is historic preservation, education and patriotism, she said. This event will encompass all of that. The event will also include what life may have been like for a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Members of the Sons of the American Revolution a nonprofit mirroring the DAR will be on-hand to discuss uniform details and other specifics. The site of the event, she added, will serve its purpose well. The Surgeons Quarters at Fort Winnebago served as the temporary home of the forts U.S. Army Surgeons from 1834-1854. The building is stocked with early 19th century artifacts, including medical equipment, books and furniture, among other things. Also located on the site is the Garrison School, a one-room schoolhouse that in use from 1850 to 1960. Both structures will be open for visitors to learn about daily life during that time. While History Alive pertains to events that happened well over 100 years ago, its a new event for Fort Winnebago, so Olson says that many people will be on-hand that day to ensure things run smoothly. I have no idea how many people will attend, she said. Lots I hope. Overall, Olson said its her goal to bring those who do attend a higher appreciation for the way things used to be and how far the country has come. I think in order to appreciate what we have now we have to learn about what came before, said Olson. 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. BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) Thanks to its rich legacy of people-oriented thoughts, the fine traditional Chinese culture is an important source of reference for the advancement of public well-being and the protection of human rights in modern society. As the 17th-century Chinese scholar Wan Sida said: "No matter is too small if it delivers benefits to the people." These words epitomize the ideal governance philosophy prioritizing the well-being of the people. President Xi Jinping has cited the aphorism to highlight the Party's people-centered philosophy as well as to call for efforts to deliver tangible benefits to the public. The people-centered philosophy is the underpinning principle in the country's various endeavors from poverty elimination, anti-pandemic fight, to human rights protection. "It is important to take the people's interests as the fundamental purpose and goal, make continuous efforts to address the most pressing and immediate issues that concern the people the most, and strive to deliver a better life to the people. That is the biggest human right," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The Chinese people today enjoy more extensive and comprehensive democratic rights, and their human rights are guaranteed like never before. "The people's aspiration for a better life is what we are striving for," said Xi. (Source: Xinhua) ELKO Early voting in Nevadas primary election begins Saturday, May 28. Polls will be open at the Elko County Library, 720 Court St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday and June 4. Weekday voting, with the exception of Memorial Day, will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 10. All primary voters will be weighing in on the Elko County Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Dept. B races, as well as the statewide race for Board of Regents Dist. 8. Democrats and Republicans will also vote for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Dist. 2, as well as governor and some other statewide offices. Elko County Republicans will choose between two candidates for County Commissioner Dist. 4, Travis Gerber and Charles Steven Grimes. Also on the Republican ballot are two candidates for state Assembly, but only one is eligible to move on to the General Election. Nicole Sirotek was disqualified by an Elko judge after the ballots were printed, leaving Bert Gurr as the sole candidate. He will face Democrat John Doc Garrard in November. Voters also have the option of casting their ballots by mail or voting on Election Day, which is June 14. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Miah Cerrillo, a 11-year-old survivor of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, feared the gunman would come back for her so she smeared herself in her friend's blood and played dead. Almost 18,000 families across Wales used Tax-Free Childcare in the last year, HMRC reveal Almost 18,000 families across Wales received up to 2,000 towards the cost of their childcare during the 2021 to 2022 tax year. Tax-Free Childcare provides thousands of eligible working families with vital financial support towards the cost of their childcare with the government paying 240 million annually in top-up payments to families using the scheme. New statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 17,825 families in Wales received support over the last 12 months. This was up from 12,270 in the previous year. For thousands of families who use Tax-Free Childcare, the money they save each month on their childcare costs is money that goes back into their pockets. For every 8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare online account, families will automatically receive an additional 2 in government top-up, and it is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability. Families receive up to 500 every three months, per child, or 1,000 if their child is disabled, helping towards the cost of before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, holiday clubs and other approved childcare schemes. But hundreds of thousands of families could be missing out, with recent research published by HMRC estimating that about 1.3 million families could be eligible for this government support. Parents and carers are being urged to check their eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare via GOV.UK. Across the UK, 512,415 families used Tax-Free Childcare in the 2021 to 2022 tax year, compared to 374,135 in the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRCs Director General for Customer Services, said: Tax-Free Childcare can make a big difference to families, helping with the bills for things like nurseries, childminders and after school clubs. Its easy to register search Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK. The latest monthly comparisons for Wales also show that a record number of families were using their Tax-Free Childcare account in March 2022 13,575 families compared to 9,530 in March 2021 an increase of 4,045 families. The scheme offers a 20% government funded top-up on money deposited into Tax-Free Childcare accounts, which can be used to pay their childcare provider. Accounts can be opened at any time of the year and can be used straight away, and money can be deposited at any time and used when needed. For example, if parents and carers have school-aged children and use holiday clubs during school holidays, they could deposit money into their accounts throughout the year. This means they could spread the cost of childcare while also benefitting from the 20% government top-up. Any unused money that is deposited can be simply withdrawn at any time. Tax-Free Childcare is also available for pre-school aged children attending nurseries, childminders, or other childcare providers. Families with younger children will often have higher childcare costs than families with older children, so the tax-free savings can really make a difference. Childcare providers can also sign up for a childcare provider account via GOV.UK to receive payments from parents and carers via the scheme. Helen Whately, HM Treasurys Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: Its fantastic that more parents are taking up Tax-Free Childcare. This support provides a helping hand with childcare costs for working families. With over one million families eligible, I want to encourage parents to take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare and keep the extra pounds in their pocket. After months of evaluation, the National Security Agency of the United States decided in April to award a $10 billion cloud computing contract to Amazon Web Services (AWS), over an outcry from rival tech giant Microsoft. Known as Wild and Stormy, the contract is not the same as the much reported and similarly priced $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract from the Department of Defense that was also the subject of competing bids from AWS and Microsoft. That contract was scrapped in July 2021 by the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden after years of squabbling between the two contenders, in the wake of the DoDs decision under then-President Donald Trump to award the bid to Microsoft, a transparent effort to punish Amazon and its then CEO Jeff Bezos. Although the NSA originally awarded the Wild and Stormy cloud contract to AWS in the summer of 2021, a challenge from Microsoft led the Government Accountability Office to direct the agency last October to reevaluate contract proposals from both bidders. The NSA ultimately went with the original AWS bid. Commenting on the 10-year federal contract, an NSA spokesperson told Federal News Network the Wild and Stormy contract is a continuation of NSAs Hybrid Compute Initiative to modernize and address the robust processing and analytical requirements of the agency. Microsoft has said it will not challenge the decision. NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland [Photo by Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office / CC BY 4.0 The Wild and Stormy contract stipulates that AWS will be the sole bidder holding the rights to the construction of the NSAs cloud facility. This is a reversal from the governments previous decision to void the JEDI contract last year. At that time, the decision to scrap the single-provider method for a multi-vendor approach was favored because it puts the agency a little more in the drivers seat to select what they want, stated Shawn McCarthy of the government analytics firm IDC Government Insights to the FNN. The Hybrid Compute Initiative is a sweeping plan by the NSA to modernize its GovCloud environment. It aims to move massive amounts of data and computing power away from the agencys global network of internal servers to cloud networks, provided by private vendors. According to John Sherman, former Chief Information Officer of the Intelligence Community in 2020 when Hybrid Cloud Initiative was announced, such private networks would contain very significant [signals intelligence] holdings. After the September 11, 2001 attacks and the passage of laws like the Patriot Act, the Total Information Act of 2002 and similar measures gave the US government sweeping powers to spy on people around the world. The NSA suddenly found itself in need of data storage capabilities to handle the increasing amount of data it collected. A February report released by the NSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) noted hundreds of concerns that a wide swath of the agencys surveillance activities had the potential to be criminally abused. For years, the agency addressed the problem of storage by adding new servers. But by 2010 it became clear cloud computing would provide the most efficient means of sharing classified data among various intelligence agencies. This also made information discoverable by analysts performing queries in one common space. Reporting on the Wild and Stormy contract has largely been limited to government and tech-focused publications, but some commentators in and around the Democratic Party have expressed anxiety over the award. Speaking on The Hills Rising TV program earlier this month, Jacobin editor David Sirota said, We dont actually know the details of this contract. Its shrouded in secrecy due to national security reasons, Sirota complained. Other commentators have pointed to the Biden administrations alleged hypocrisy in awarding the NSA cloud contract to Amazon despite the White Houses previous pledges that it would prioritize contractors that allow their employees to join unions. Writing for Salon, journalist Chris Hedges noted Biden invited Amazon Labor Union president Christian Smalls and union workers from Starbucks and other organizations to the White House at the same time it re-awarded a $10 billion contract to the union-busting Amazon and the National Security Agency for cloud computing. In a revealing statement, Hedges continued, Withholding the federal contracts until Amazon permitted free and open union organizing would be a powerful stand on behalf of workers. Far from hypocrisy, the awarding of the contract to Amazon confirms the important role that the company plays as a part of the critical US infrastructure, as well as the military-intelligence apparatus. Hedges does not explain how helping the NSA to improve and update its surveillance tools would be taking a powerful stand on behalf of workers. The Biden administration is not promoting various trade union apparatuses at Amazon because they are pro-worker. On the contrary, it is a way to both restrain the class movement of workers in this key part of the economy, as well as a way to more closely coordinate its policies of class war at home and war with Russia and China abroad with its private sector partners. On Wednesday night, Oklahomas Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law the most stringent abortion ban in the United States, making the state the first to effectively end all access to the procedure since the leak of the Supreme Courts draft decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Oklahoma State Capitol (Photo: Wikipedia) The bill, HB 4327, takes effect immediately and allows private citizens to sue anyone who aids or abets a woman seeking an abortion at any point in her pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies or if the pregnancy was a result of rape, sexual assault or incest and was reported to law enforcement. State lawmakers approved the ban enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution, similar to a Texas law that was passed last year. According to the text of the bill, abortion means the act of using, prescribing, administering, procuring, or selling of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance, device, or means with the purpose to terminate the pregnancy of a woman. The law does not allow the woman seeking the abortion to be pursued and still allows the sale of morning-after pills and other types of emergency contraception. 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, Stitt 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. All four of Oklahomas abortion clinics announced they would stop, if they had not already, terminating pregnancies immediately upon the law taking effect. It is unclear what will happen to women who qualify under the laws exception for abortions necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman experiencing a medical emergency. State Representative Wendi Stearman, the author of the law, claimed doctors will be able to decide which women qualify for abortions in hospitals. However, many medical professionals have criticized the exception as vague and unclear. Abortion providers and reproductive rights groups have vowed to challenge the law, but Texas-style abortion bans have proved difficult to stop in the courts because they use civil enforcement rather than criminal prosecution to ban abortions. The governor's signature came as many Republican state governments pushed strict abortion measures in anticipation of the US Supreme Court overturning the right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade. Multiple states have passed so-called trigger laws that would eliminate access to abortion across much of the South immediately following a decision from the high court to reverse Roe. Earlier this month, a leaked draft opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito showed that the extreme right-wing majority court was poised to strike down the right to an abortion. The final opinion in the case is not expected until late June, but there has been no indication the court will reverse its course. The bill signed into law on Wednesday is one of at least three anti-abortion bills that have been sent to Stitts desk this year. Stitt had already signed into law two other abortion bans, including one directly modeled after Texas heartbeat bill, which bars abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. That law will take effect this summer if it is not blocked by the state Supreme Court. Another law makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Oklahoma bans would eliminate access to abortion to women and families across the South, devastating not only Oklahomans but also Texans, many of whom traveled to seek abortion care after Texas implemented its ban last September. A recent study by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project found that about 1,500 women traveled out of state every month to receive an abortion since September, with 45 percent visiting Oklahoma for the procedure. Now, many Oklahomans will have to travel out of state for the procedure and Texans may have to travel even farther. This will have a disproportionate effect on working class women, many of whom do not have the resources to travel for an abortion, potentially forcing women to seek unsafe procedures that greatly increase the risk of death or mutilation. Democratic officials have politically dominated the spontaneous protests in response to the impending Supreme Court ruling abolishing abortion rights, in an effort to contain the mass anger and opposition and to betray it. The Democratic Party has shown it will do nothing to actually oppose the assault on democratic rights. At least two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, oppose abortion rights, and leading Democrats have repeatedly stated opposition to repealing the anti-democratic filibuster. The right to abortion is a democratic right that can only be defended through the mobilization of the working class in a struggle to abolish the capitalist system. The demand must be raised for free abortion and birth control services as part of a socialist health care system guaranteeing high quality medical care for every man, woman and child. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) meets Chairwoman of the RoK Peoples Association in Vietnam Chang Eun-sook in Hanoi on May 27. (Photo: VNA) Highlighting the flourishing Vietnam - RoK relations, the host leader said more than 200,000 Korean people are living in Vietnam while there are also roughly 200,000 Vietnamese people in the Northeast Asian nation at present. On that basis, he called on the association to carry out measures for promoting bilateral cooperation in multiple spheres. Chang said to mark the 30th anniversary of the countries diplomatic ties this year, her association plans to organise a number of cultural exchanges to step up people-to-people ties, especially between the Korean community in Vietnam and the Vietnamese community in the RoK. Applauding the intention, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of the associations contributions to bilateral relations and described the two communities as important bridges for advancing their countries strategic cooperative partnership. He asked the association to help Vietnam and the RoK achieve 150 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2025, adding he will order Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localities to further coordinate with it to carry out the investments that its members plan. As Vietnam is striving to make a strategic breakthrough in developing modern socio-economic infrastructure, the President voiced his hope that Korean investors will pay attention to this field. He also recommended the association help boost cooperation in education and training, especially through social organisations of the two countries./. The May 21 election revealed an historic crisis of Australias two-party set up. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) will be discussing the election outcome and the way forward for the working class at an online public meeting Sunday, June 12 at 2 p.m. (AEST). Register now to attend this important meeting. The 2022 election produced the lowest combined vote in history for the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition, at around 68.5 percent of primary votes. This compares to around 74 percent in the 2019 election, 81 percent in 2010 and 96 percent in 1949. Labor has been installed in office despite its vote falling to a new record low of less than 33 percent. Millions of workers and young people expressed their hostility to capitalist rule. An unprecedented number of ballots, almost a third, were cast for independent and minor party candidates. This reflects, in distorted electoral terms, a political radicalisation that is already beginning to find expression in the development of working-class struggles. The vote has profound domestic and international significance. It blows apart the false political nostrums of Australian exceptionalismof a stable island continent, removed from the political turmoil of Europe or Asia. The working class is passing through immense social experiences that are connected to international developments and that directly parallel the plight of workers all over the globe. The SEP was the only party in the election that warned that whatever the shape of the next governmentCoalition, Labor or a minority governmentit would escalate the agenda of war and austerity to force the working class to pay for the massive budget deficit created by pouring billions into military spending and handouts for big business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis has been vindicated immediately since polling day. With the votes still being counted and no guarantee Labor could form a majority government, the corporate media announced Labor leader Anthony Albanese as the next prime minister. Just three hours after being sworn in, Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong boarded a plane to Tokyo for a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a US-led alliance directed at militarily and economically preventing China from challenging US global hegemony. In his very first press conference, before the rushed trip, Albanese said the Quad meeting was needed to send a message to the world. Above all, the new government was committed to the relationship with the United States as our most important. In Tokyo when US President Joe Biden declared he was willing to go to war with China over Taiwan, Albanese pledge Labors commitment to US provocations and threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Albanese is making clear Labor is the party of war. On the social front, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced that the government faces dire economic challenges and sacrifices must be made. It will convene a summit with big business and the trade unions within months to plan stepped-up pro-business restructuring directed against workers jobs, wages and conditions. The drive to war abroad will be accompanied by a war at home on the conditions of workers. This will produce mass social opposition, which has already been foreshadowed with strike action throughout the election, including from health workers, teachers, bus drivers and aged care workers. This emerging movement requires a new leadership in the working class. This was central to the SEP election campaign. We told workers the truth, that the result from May 21 would resolve nothing. What is required is a socialist perspective. At the meeting, leading members of the SEP will speak on the global context within which the election crisis occurred and outline the partys socialist and internationalist program. Ample time will be provided for questions and discussion. Register today! The baby formula crisis that is threatening the lives of infants across the US deepened this week as the out-of-stock rate for baby formula on store shelves surged to 70 percent for the week ending May 22. The shortage rate during the previous week was 45 percent, according to the retail tracking firm Datasembly. The supply shortage is so severe that there are now reports in some areas of the country of mothers attempting to purchase breast milk online from anonymous and independent sources such as Facebook and Craigslist. Pediatric nutritionists are warning that such measures are potentially very harmful to children. The crisis of powdered formula supplies, 90 percent of which are produced by four monopolies that dominate the US pediatric nutrition industry, is not a mistake or a product of unforeseen circumstances. It is the outcome of a society run by a ruling elite that, in its singular preoccupation with increasing its wealth, is totally indifferent to the lives and well-being of children. There has been a combination of criminal negligence, corporate profiteering, stock market manipulation and government complicity that have resulted in the shortage of the essential food needed by infants and toddlers, especially those from poor and working-class families. The supply shortage began almost immediately following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in February 2020 when supply chains and transportation were disrupted internationally. During the initial days of the pandemic, families stockpiled the formula and emptied shelves. This was followed by a sharp fall in sales, and manufacturers cut back on production. Now, with an uptick in births and a dramatic decline in breastfeeding rates among new mothers, demand has shot up again. The inability of the producers to adapt to fluctuations in demand is itself an expression of the anarchistic and unplanned nature of capitalist economics. The primary cause of the recent surge in the shortage stems from the shutdown in February of the baby formula factory operated by Abbott Labs in Sturgis, Michigan, the largest in the US. The plant is responsible for 25 percent of the US supply and produces the popular brand names Similac, Alimentum and EleCare. In February, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forced Abbott Labs to recall products and shut down the Sturgis facility. This action was taken only after it became clear that the conditions in the plant were so unsanitary that the federal government agency, which has a long history of collaboration with the corporations in the food and drug industries, could no longer look the other way. During congressional testimony Wednesday, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said the agencys inspection of the Sturgis operations that began on January 31 revealed conditions that were shocking and egregiously unsanitary. Dr. Califf told the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the totality of evidence obtained during the inspection caused the FDA to conclude that infant formulas manufactured at this plant were produced under insanitary conditions. He added that the formula may be contaminated with bacteria that is known to be fatal in infants. Among the unsanitary conditions uncovered at the Sturgis factory were that multiple swab samples later tested positive for the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii, cracks in the spray dryers used in the manufacturing process are an issue related to previous foodborne illness outbreak in powdered infant formula and water leaks and condensation that are known risk factors for deadly bacteria were found in areas where dry powdered formula was produced. Califf also reported leaks in the roof, standing water in the factory and two instances in the past, based on internal company documents, when finished baby formula was known to have environmental contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii. The FDA commissioner claimed that these poisoned batches, which were produced by Abbott Labs in 2019 and 2020, had been destroyed by the company. The FDA inspection was motivated in part by the fact that four infants, who had been fed nutrition products from the Sturgis factory, had been hospitalized between September and December 2021 with Cronobacter infection. Cronobacter sakazakii is a serious foodborne pathogen that can cause severe, life-threatening infections, including sepsis and meningitis as well as bowel damage. Two of the children died from their infections. The agency was also belatedly responding to a report by a whistleblower who in October 2021 disclosed details about the dilapidated conditions at the Michigan factory. The whistleblower also highlighted the retaliatory policy of company management and its firing of employees who objected to the failure to follow FDA requirements, falsification of records, releasing untested products onto retail shelves and failure of antiquated equipment at the Sturgis facility. Abbott Laboratories is a $200 billion global corporation that produces medical devices and health care products and was founded in 1888. The multinational has profited enormously over the past two years from its pandemic-related COVID testing products, while its less profitable pediatric nutritionals operations have been starved of resources. Meanwhile, the companywhose Executive Chairman Miles D. White earned $27 million and CEO and President Robert Ford earned $25 million in 2021has rewarded its investors with billions of dollars in quarterly stock buybacks while the bacterial contamination of its baby formula products was well-known. In December 2021, after the FDA had notified Abbott Labs of a planned inspection of its Sturgis facility, the company announced a $5 billion stock repurchase authorization. Throughout the bacterial contamination crisis, Abbott Labs has claimed there is no proof that its products have caused infants to become sick and die from life-threatening infections. The company has also maintained that the allegations in the 34-page whistleblower report are untrue. The belligerence of Abbott Labs in the face of facts that it has acted in a criminally negligent manner has been bolstered by the FDA and the US Justice Department, which signed a consent decree with the corporation on May 16. This agreement guarantees that Abbott Labs will not be prosecuted or held responsible for the bacterial contamination of its baby formula products, in exchange for restarting its manufacturing operations at the Sturgis plant. The fact that millions of families are now desperately searching for baby formula on empty store shelves and forced to make life and death decisions to feed their infants is proof that the corporations and the government do not care about what happens to the lives of millions of children. This fact was confirmed in the recent comment by President Bidens Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who washed his hands of the crisis, saying, The government does not make baby formula, nor should it. Companies make formula. Lets be very clear, Buttigieg said, this is a capitalist country. Precisely. While Buttigieg made this statement to justify a position that the government should do nothing, the entire crisis condemns the social and economic system that the Biden administration and the entire state apparatus defend. The formula shortagecoming in the midst of a massive surge in prices throughout the world and an ongoing pandemic that has already killed more than one million people in the United Statesis another demonstration of the urgent necessity for the socialist reorganization of society. Baby formula production and distributionand other essential products and services required to sustain the lives of millions and billions of people on the earthmust be taken out of the hands of the financial parasites who own them. The working class must transform these resources into public property and operate them based on social need and not profit. In a stunning press conference Friday afternoon, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw confirmed that at least 19 police officers waited in the hallway of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas for more an hour while 18-year-old Salvador Ramos massacred 19 children and two schoolteachers. Vincent Salazar, right, father of Layla Salazar, weeps while kneeling in front of a cross with his daughter's name at a memorial site for the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Friday, May 27, 2022 [AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills] For the third time in as many days, Texas police officials have presented an entirely different and contradictory timeline. It has become clear that the well-funded Uvalde police department, with its annual $4 million budget, some 40 percent of the entire Uvalde city budget, has been trying to cover up officers inaction. While McCraw presented a new series of alleged facts during Fridays press conference, he was unable to answer several questions posed by increasingly agitated reporters. For the second day in a row, the police, showing contempt for the local working class community, more than 80 percent identifying as Hispanic, refused to conduct the press conference in Spanish as well as English. McCraw could not answer why a school resource officer was not on the scene when Ramos crashed his vehicle and began shooting at bystanders. He also did not know why the Uvalde SWAT team did not participate in the incident, only offering the excuse that the paramilitary squad were part-time. Furthermore, McCraw was unable to answer reporters questions as to how many kids died between 12:03 p.m. and 12:51 p.m., when at least 19 heavily armed police officers and federal Customs and Border Patrol agents were alternatively inside the school and assaulting despondent parents. McCraw could not answer how many children he thought bled out while police waited in the hallway to engage the shooter. Nor could he answer why the armed school resource officer, one of six employed by the district, was not at the school when Ramos first crashed his grandmothers truck and began shooting at around 11:28 a.m. McCraw did confirm that the school cop did arrive at the school at 11:31 a.m., two minutes before Ramos entered through a side door that was apparently propped open. During this time, the officer apparently did not see Ramos shooting at the school and drove right past him in the parking lot to engage a teacher he apparently thought had something to do with the shooting. The school police officer, unlike what was claimed by police during the first 48 hours following the massacre, never shot at Ramos. While it was previously known that police were more concerned with arresting, tasering, and pepper-spraying unarmed parents than attempting to stop what would become the third deadliest mass shooting in Texas history and at least the eighth in the last 13 years, on Friday McGraw admitted for the first time that there were more than enough police to attempt to breach the school before they finally did, shortly before 1 p.m. McCraw, who has officially been the executive director and colonel of the Texas Department of Public Safety since August 2009, said Ramos first entered the school building at 11:33 a.m., seven minutes earlier than Victor Escalon Jr., a regional director at the Texas Department of Public Safety, claimed on Thursday. According to the timeline presented by McCraw, it would take another 90 minutes for militarized specially trained BORTAC agents with Customs and Border Patrol to enter the classroom and shoot Ramos. BORTAC thugs were deployed to Portland during the 2020 summer protests against police violence. While deployed in Portland, BORTAC agents in unmarked vans seized protesters and whisked them away to be interrogated without probable cause. The 90-minute delay from Ramos entering the school until police killed him, runs counter to everything that the police had been allegedly trained to do in the more than 23 years since the Columbine massacre. One of the supposed lessons learned by police was to not wait to form a perimeter outside the school while the shooter is active but to immediately follow the sound of gunfire and engage the shooter to prevent further loss of innocent life. Of course, this presupposes that the police exist to serve the interests of all of society, which under capitalism is not the case. The police are an instrument of class rule, charged with the power to shoot and kill workers and youth whenever they feel threatened. President Joe Biden, and Donald Trump before him, praise police as heroes and flood departments around the country with billions of dollars in additional funding, while money for social services evaporates. Police are provided military-grade weaponry, advanced computers, social media tracking software, body armor, advanced optics, less-lethal ammunition, and urban assault vehicles, not to risk their lives to save the children of working class families, but to protect the rich, intimidate workers, and ensure profits keep flowing to Wall Street. In attempting to explain the indefensible and reduce the question of why the police failed to respond during Tuesdays massacre to simply a bad decision, McCraw said the 19 police officers, who included Border Patrol agents, were following the directives of the incident commander, Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Chief of Police Pete Arredondo, who has refused to give any public interviews as of this writing. Attempting to explain the thinking of Arredondo, McCraw argued that the police were convinced that Ramos, who fired over 100 rounds once he entered the building, had already massacred all the children in the classrooms and that there was no rush to attempt to give aid to any of the injured that might still be alive. McCraw said, without actually naming him, that Arredondo was convinced at the time that there was no more threat to the children and that the subject was barricaded and that they had time to organize. [emphasis added] That there was no more threat to the children was immediately contradicted by McCraw when he revealed that multiple children locked inside the classroom with Ramos for over an hour continued to call 911 pleading for police assistance, to no avail. McCraw could not confirm if Arredondo was aware that children locked inside the classroom with the active shooter Ramos were calling for help for nearly an hour. McCraw said at least two different students called 911 throughout the incident; he could not confirm if all of the children who reached out to police while trapped in the room with Ramos survived, only confirming that two of them did. In the first call, received by police at 12:03 p.m., thirty minutes after Ramos entered the school, a young student told the operator she was in room 112. At 12:10 p.m. that same student called back and told the police that multiple people around her were dead. At 12:13 p.m. and 12:16 p.m. she called back again, telling police that there were still 8 or 9 people alive in the room with her. At 12:19 p.m. McCraw claimed emergency services received another call from inside the school, this time from a different student, trapped in the adjacent room, 111. Both of the rooms were connected by a unisex bathroom, allowing Ramos to walk back and forth. Despite continuing to receive phone calls from desperate children, telling police they are trapped in the classroom with Ramos, who was continuing, in the words of McCraw to sporadically fire his semi-automatic rifle at children and police, the cops refused to engage the shooter. In the words of McCraw, this was because the on scene commander ordered police to proceed as if it was a barricaded subject and not an active shooter scene. With the benefit of hindsight, of course, it was not the right decision, McCraw said. It was the wrong decision, period, he added. Why this decision was allowed to stand after repeated phone calls from children begging for help as parents pleaded with police to save their children, was not explained. By 12:15 p.m., the New York Times reported, the BORTAC team, which would go on to enter the room and kill Ramos, had arrived in Uvalde and were in the hallway of Robb Elementary. They were joined by over a dozen other police. McCraw said at this time the BORTAC team had three ballistic shields, capable of stopping bullets fired from the weapons possessed by Ramos. At 12:21 p.m. emergency services received another call from a student inside the school. On that call McCraw said one could hear three gun shots. At 12:36 p.m. the initial caller, who had been trapped inside the school with Ramos for over an hour, called back again. At 12:43 p.m. she called again, pleading, please send the police now! McCraw said it would be another 14 minutes, or 12:57 p.m. until BORTAC agents entered the classroom and shot Ramos. Since Tuesday, police have repeatedly described Ramos as being barricaded in the two classrooms. This is meant to convey an image of well-entrenched shooter who has used his surroundings to fortify his position. This description has been a lie from the beginning. As one survivor, Miah explained to CNN, when Ramos first entered her classroom, he broke the window on the door leading into the classroom, providing an access point for police. Miah, who was hit by bullet fragments, told CNN she survived the terrifying encounter by rubbing herself in the blood of her now-deceased friend and playing dead. Miah told CNN reporter Nora Neus that after Ramos killed her teacher and many of her classmates he went into the adjacent classroom, put on sad music and continued to kill. While Ramos did lock the door from the inside once he was inside the classroom, there were windows facing out that were accessible by police. McCraw could not explain why police did not attempt to engage Ramos from these windows As of this writing, it appears Ramos, who police claim brought two AR-15 style rifles, 60 magazines and over 1,600 rounds of ammunition to the school, spent nearly 90 minutes in rooms 111 and 112 where he conducted most of his killing. When a BORTAC team finally did enter the room, they did not have to contend with any elaborate traps or obstacles; all they did was use a janitors master key to unlock the door, according to a report from the New York Times. In response to growing outrage from parents and families, enraged by police inaction during the shooting, and compounded by the non-stop barrage of lies in the following day, CBS reported on Friday that several different law enforcement entities from all over Texas were called in by Uvalde police to not only assist in supplementing their police force, but to also provide extra protection to police and the mayor following heavy criticism and threats... Are you a rail worker at CP or CN? Contact the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee at cpworkersrfc@gmail.com to take up the struggle against dangerous working conditions and share your experiences. * * * Two train derailments in Canada within the past week have underscored once again the criminal disregard shown by the major rail operators for the safety of workers and the general public. A segment of the 43 derailed CP rail cars carrying potash near Fort Macleod, Alberta (KyleSzabo/Twitter) A 57-year-old man was killed Thursday near the hamlet of Edgeley, Saskatchewan, around 50 kilometres northeast of Regina when the the maintenance vehicle he was driving collided with a Canadian National (CN) Rail train, causing a derailment. The derailment is being investigated by the companys own CN Police. A CN spokesman stated that 18 rail cars left the track, causing a spillage of an unknown substance. A separate release earlier Thursday from the RCMP indicated that the train may have been carrying fuel. The deadly accident came just five days after a CP Rail train derailed near Fort Macleod, Alberta. Forty-three cars of the westbound train, heavily loaded with potash fertilzer, were left crumpled like tin cans along a stretch of track just metres from a highway. Demand for Canadian potash from buyers around world the has risen significantly since the beginning of the year due to the disruption caused by the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and far-reaching sanctions on the Russian economy. Canada is the worlds largest source of potash, accounting for nearly 32 percent of production in 2020, followed by Russia at 20 percent. Police said there were no injuries and no concerns to public safety, in spite of the close proximity to road traffic. As usual, CP Rail merely stated that the cause of the derailment was under investigation, but refused to provide further details. Derailments in Canada occur so frequently that very few actually make the news. Those that do rarely rate more than a brief mention. Rail cars can weigh 100 tons or more, and they often carry extremely hazardous freight. An accident at any speed carries enormous potential for mayhem. In the last six months, these are just a selection of the derailments that have occurred: On December 6, 2021, a CP Rail freight train including residue cars that last contained liquid sulphur, propane and anhydrous ammonia derailed in southeastern Alberta. The freight train derailed about half a kilometre north of Ensign, a hamlet in Vulcan County situated about 80 kilometres south of Calgary. Of the 39 cars that derailed, 14 were residue tank carscars containing a residue of previous contents that were empty at the time of the derailmentwith eight last containing liquid sulphur, three last containing propane and three last containing anhydrous ammonia. On December 28, 2021, just south of Craven, Saskatchewan, 26 cars of a CP Rail train carrying potash derailed blocking a local highway. At least a dozen CP Rail cars carrying corn derailed near Drinkwater, Saskatchewan on March 12, 2022. On March 20, at least two CN Rail cars containing solid sulphur derailed in North Vancouver, BC. Preliminary information indicated there was a leak contained to CN's property but there were no fires or injuries. A train carrying intermodal containers in the CP Rail yard in the heart of Winnipeg derailed on May 15. A company spokesperson claimed there were no dangerous goods involved. On April 29, the residents of Field, BC, were forced to rely on back-up power when a CP Rail freight train derailed four cars in Yoho National Park, taking out the feed to the community. The community of Field has seen multiple train derailments in recent years. In January 2021, a train carrying grain derailed about 6.5 kilometres west of Field and also temporarily knocked out power to the town. In March 2021, another train derailed in the town. The regularity of these potentially life-threatening derailments underscores the fact that the railroad operators view them as a normal part of their standard operating procedure, which is known as precision-scheduled railroading. The goal of PSR is to cut costs in all areas to maximize profits for big shareholders. The most notorious derailment associated with Field was that of CP Rail Train 301 in February 2019, which claimed the lives of conductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and conductor trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer. The train was operating in extreme cold temperatures below 25 Celsius. As a result of the danger posed by a steep stretch of track, CP Rail previously operated a rule that no train should be permitted to descend Field Hill when the temperature dropped below 25 degrees Celsius. This policy was due to the well-known fact that brakes prove less effective in extremely cold weather. CP Rail abandoned this policy after the 2015-16 season, with no explanation provided as to why. In the relentless pursuit of profits, the crew was ordered to operate in unsafe conditions. The result was tragic. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, a toothless agency which has no regulatory or enforcement powers, released a damning report on the February 2019 Field derailment which the company continues to dispute. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, the corporate lackeys who represent 16,000 rail workers, had little to say except that they were convinced that the recommendations from the TSB report would be implemented. A 2021 independent audit report for the Auditor General of Canada documented a total of 1,245 rail accidents in Canada in 2019, 694 of them derailments, which is almost two a day. The audit focused on whether Transport Canada implemented selected recommendations from a 2013 audit regarding the departments oversight of the safe transportation of people and goods on federally regulated tracks. Transport Canada was unable to show whether departmental oversight activities had contributed to improved rail safety. In addition, the department did not assess the effectiveness of the railways safety management systemsdespite the many reports over the previous 14 years recommending that Transport Canada audit and assess those systems. It was found that Transport Canada did not measure the overall effectiveness of its rail safety oversight. It failed to identify whether rail safety has improved as a result of its inspections and audits of safety management systems. It is hardly surprising that Transport Canada is so lax in its oversight duties. The two largest rail operators, CN Rail and CP Rail, each have their own police forces and conduct their own investigations. The conflict of interest is glaring but fully accepted by a political system devoted to the accumulation of private profit. Together, CN and CP represent more than 95 percent of Canada's annual rail tonne-kilometres, more than 75 percent of the industry's tracks, and three-quarters of overall tonnage carried by the rail sector. The duopoly is almost a law unto itself. With the spike in commodity prices, particularly grain and potash, due to the US-NATO proxy war against Russia, the pressure to move as much freight as quickly as possible is only going to increase. A CP Rail worker recently explained in a letter to the World Socialist Web Site that the undermining of workplace safety and protections for workers has developed over decades. Canadian Railway labour relations and public safety have been on a rapid descent, he wrote. While there was an ongoing struggle in years predating the Federal Deregulation of Railways Act of 1992, once this Act was in place the decline accelerated at a blistering pace. This process was condoned by all levels of government, which are, in the experienced view of long-tenured rail workers, acting in concert with Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board. They are collectively complicit in an arms-length do nothing approach. The ongoing series of derailments is not merely the responsibility of the rail operators, but also the Teamsters union, which has done everything to suppress rail workers struggles for improved workplace safety. In March, the Teamsters refused to act on an overwhelming strike vote at CP Rail, handing the company the initiative to lock out 3,000 engineers, yard workers and conductors. After responding to the lockout by calling a token strike, the Teamsters promptly called it off and sent all outstanding issues in dispute to binding arbitration, a process rigged in favour of the employer that robs workers of any right to vote on their future employment terms. In response to the Teamsters sabotage of the strike, workers at CP Rail formed the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee to unify rail workers across North America in a joint struggle to put an end to the corporate domination of the railroads, and secure decent-paying jobs and safe working conditions. We strongly encourage all rail workers to contact the committee at cpworkersrfc@gmail.com and participate in this crucial fight. In the face of widespread opposition, the Australian Education Union (AEU) has rammed through an enterprise agreement it hatched with the Victorian state Labor Party government, imposing real pay cuts on tens of thousands of educators and entrenching their intolerable working conditions. Victorian Education Minister James Merlino with AEU Victorian president Meredith Peace The imposition of the deal vindicates the warnings of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), a rank-and-file teachers, parents and students group that politically led opposition to the sell-out. The AEU does not represent teachers in any way. It is an anti-democratic, bureaucratic apparatus that seeks to enforce the dictates of governments and big business, against the educators it falsely claims to represent. The new agreement will not only worsen the wages and conditions of teachers. It represents a deepening of the decades-long assault on public education, which will impact the entire working class; and it establishes a new precedent for attacks on teachers in other states and for all public sector employees. It is a sharp warning of the assault to come under the new federal Labor government, which will likewise work hand-in-glove with all the trade unions, and their big business partners, to suppress workers opposition as they impose further real wage cuts and evisceration of conditions. An AEU bulletin announced on Thursday that the deal had been ratified in a ballot conducted over the previous weeks. Far from being a glowing endorsement of the agreement, the vote revealed mass hostility to the betrayal. Just 61.8 percent of teachers and staff who voted cast a ballot in favor of the agreement, with 32.2 percent registering their opposition. The one third no vote is the largest against a Victorian AEU agreement in history, comparing, for instance, with an 18 percent no vote on the last deal in 2017. The result is similar to the outcome of a delegates ballot on the same agreement last March, which saw a no vote higher than 39 percent. The most striking aspect of the final ballot, is that in the face of a barrage of misinformation and censorship from the AEU leadership, more than 20,000 teachers, education staff and principals saw through the unions lies and sought to block the sell-out. The agreement mandates an annual wage increase of just 1.5 percent. That is under conditions where official inflation has now reached 5.1 percent, and the cost of living is rising far more rapidly. Petrol prices have soared, many foodstuffs have doubled in cost and electricity prices are set to go up by 18 percent or more over the coming months. In other words, the AEU deal locks in a wage increase that is already a pay cut against inflation, which is set to worsen over the four years of the agreement. The deal also enshrines the intolerable conditions, which are themselves the product of previous AEU betrayals, as well as funding cuts to public education, imposed by governments that the union collaborated with. Under conditions where teachers are putting in hours of unpaid overtime a week, due to soaring workloads, the agreement provides for only a 1.5 hour per week reduction in face-to-face teaching time. This, however, will not be fully implemented until 2024. And it is offset by a phased elimination of professional practice days, i.e. time allocated to teachers to focus on non-teaching work. Not a single clause of the deal will address rising class sizes or inadequate classroom resourcing, while the unbearable workloads that it entrenches will continue to drive thousands of teachers out of the profession, further exacerbating a staffing crisis. The agreement does not even mention COVID, under conditions in which thousands of students and educators have been infected this year. As it was finalising the draft agreement, the AEU enforced the Labor governments mass return to in-person teaching, transforming schools into daily super-spreaders. The policy, demanded by the financial elite, was aimed solely at ensuring that parents could attend their workplaces to guarantee maximum corporate profit-making. When the draft agreement was announced in early February, it provoked an outpouring of anger. The AEU responded by removing all critical comments from its Facebook page, a practice it has maintained over the ensuing four months. In the weeks before the ballot, the AEU took its misinformation campaign to a new level. AEU Victorian president Meredith Peace ludicrously claimed that current and future inflation may be less than the 5.1 percent figure registered over the past year. She provided no evidence because there is noneall the indices and predictions in Australia and internationally are to the contrary. Peace also sent an email to all union members, declaring that they must vote yes in the general ballot, because the agreement had been narrowly ratified in the delegates vote. The statement recalls the concept of a democratic ballot advanced by dictators and autocrats. Thursdays announcement that the agreement passed has been met with considerable opposition, including scepticism regarding the bonafides of the vote. Increasing numbers of teachers have joined the CFPE Facebook page opposing the deal since the vote was announced, with dozens stating that they are quitting the union. The response demonstrates that the opposition reflected in the ballot will not go away. As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies and the agreement is implemented, the hostility will mount, along with a broader movement of the working class that is building up among educators, healthcare staff, logistics employees and other sections. The critical question is how this struggle can be taken forward. As the CFPE explained, a no vote was only the first step. Even if the general ballot had registered a majority no vote, the AEU would have called further ballots and used other anti-democratic measures to try and impose the agreement. What is required is a political fight against the state Labor government and the AEU, which are seeking to make educators and the working class pay for the budget deficit racked up by major handouts to big business during the pandemic. The same class war agenda is being implemented in every other state. At the federal level, the new Labor government, which the AEU has supported, has already announced plans to carry out budget repair, which will require that working people make sacrifices. Not a single step forward can be taken within the straitjacket of the AEU. New organisations of struggle, rank-and-file committees independent of the union, should be established at all schools. These are the only means of uniting educators and laying the foundations for a political and industrial fight against the implementation of the sell-out deal. The CFPE has outlined a series of demands to address the needs of teachers and the crisis in public education. Teachers need to turn to their colleagues, who face similar attacks across the country and internationally. Educators globally have been involved in strikes and protests, often in defiance of the unions, against low wages, overwork and exposure to the pandemic. Unified action can and should be developed with other sections of workers, including public sector staff, such as healthcare workers, who confront similar pay caps and intolerable conditions. Above all, what is posed is the need for a new socialist perspective, which rejects the subordination of education and other crucial areas of social life to the dictates of big business and the capitalist governments, both Labor and Liberal-National Coalition, which enforce it. The crisis in public education poses nothing less than the need for a reorganisation of society aimed at placing the vast resources created by the working class under public ownership and democratic workers control. To take forward this fight, we encourage teachers and education staff in Victoria and across the country to contact the CFPE today: Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout/ Twitter: @CFPE_Australia A port in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Vietnams signatory FTAs, especially recent agreements will promote trade breakthroughs and generate major trade surplus for 2022 and build momentum for 2022-23 in the process. Despite Vietnams challenges, exports recovered well in the first four months of 2022 to hit 122.4 billion USD, a year-on-year surge of 16.4 percent. The increase was attributed to business resilience and flexibility taking advantage of FTA parameters, notably the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) which took effect at the start of 2022. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), said new generation FTAs enhanced trade in Vietnams wood processing sector, pushing exports when compared to rival countries that are outside of the agreements. A survey by the Centre for Industrial Studies (CSIL) of Italy forecast the global wood products market will record growth of 4 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, Nguyen Ha, a tuna market expert of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that Vietnam earned more than 259 million USD from tuna exports in the first quarter of 2022. The growth meets a five-year high, surging 72 percent from the same period last year. This equates to a 1.6-fold increase over the same period in 2019 before COVID-19 broke out. At a tuna processing facility (Photo: VNA) Of note, the EVFTA contributed to bringing tuna exports to European nations to the tune of nearly 38 million USD, up 33 percent year on year. At present, intra-country logistics posed a challenge for Vietnamese businesses, causing some businesses to miss opportunity within the FTAs. Vietnam needs to fine-tune policies and regulations on logistics services and build fleets of major vessels and modern infrastructure to meet import-export requirements. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Agency for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, confirmed that firms must study how the trade deals benefit them to adjust procedures and material supply. This will allow them to meet certificate of origin criteria and benefit from preferential tariffs under the FTAs. Enterprises have received guidance from experts and the government on tariff and non-tariff restrictions so as to better navigate these difficult waters. Chess GM Le Quang Liem takes up challenge at Prague Masters Chess Grand Master Le Quang Lien of Vietnam will travel to Prague of the Czech Republic in June for the Prague International Chess Festival 2022, reported the Voice of Vietnam. GM Le Quang Liem wins a gold medal in team's blitz chess at the recent 31st SEA Games. He has been selected to play in the Masters tournament the most competitive of the festival, with the participation of 10 players from June 7 to June 18. Notably, he will take on Nguyen Thai Dai Van, a Czech of Vietnamese origin who was the 2013 European Youth bronze medalist and winner of the 2017 First Saturday Grandmaster tournament. Dai Van is currently the youngest Czech Grandmaster. Liems other opponents will be Vidit Gujrathi (India), Pentala Harikrishna (India), Sam Shankland (USA), Francisco Vallejo (Spain), David Anton (Spain), Parham Maghsoodloo (Iran), Salem Saleh (UAE), and David Narava (Czech Republic). The contenders will play in a round-robin format to find the winner. The Prague International Chess Festival was established in 2017 but the first iteration of the festival took place in March 2019. The main purpose of the festival is to give top Czech players, national team pretenders and aspiring juniors a chance to face the world's absolute top players on home soil. Organisers hope the festival and its format will encourage players' fighting spirit, incite their will to win, strengthen self-confidence and motivate further personal chess growth in a healthy way. Short animated Vietnamese film competes at Cannes Film Festival Giac Mo Goi Cuon, known as Spring Roll Dream in English, a short animated film by a young Vietnamese director has been nominated in the La Cinef, a category at the Cannes Film Festival which honours works by students from global film schools, reported the Voice of Vietnam. A scene in 'Giac Mo Goi Cuon' animated film The nine-minute animated piece is a graduation project created by Mai Vu, a student of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in England. It was one of 16 outstanding works to be selected from a total of 1,528 submissions. The best three short films shown in the La Cinef category will receive awards. The Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run until May 28. The stop-motion short tells the story of a Vietnamese family residing in the United States. The main character - a single mother named Linh tries to build a stable life for her son Alan, although the balance is disrupted when her father Sang visits from Vietnam. During a meal, he insists on making Vietnamese spring rolls for his grandson, but Linh prefers to eat American cuisine such as mac and cheese instead. From here, conflicts arose between Sang and Linh. At this point, Linh is confronted with the past and culture she left behind and the question of where it belongs in her family's new life. The character of Sang was inspired by a lonely old father who wants to connect with his children and grandchildren, but only knows how to express his love by cooking for them. NFTS provided a total of 9,000, equal to US$11,300, for the film, and this fund was mainly used to buy materials, pay for studio expenses, voiceovers, and collaborators. Mai Vy was originally born in Ho Chi Minh City and has been working in animation since 2011. Between 2012 and 2015 she directed more than 70 episodes of Xin Chao But Chi, also known as Hello Pencil, the first stop motion animated series produced in Vietnam. In 2020, she went to the UK to study animation at the NFTS before graduating in March this year. Vietnamese cuisines favoured by ASEAN friends in Malaysia Vietnams special cultural identities, landscape and cuisines were introduced to friends in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at an event in Malaysia on May 27. Vietnam's pho bo (beef noodle soup) (Photo: VNA) The event took place within a meeting of wives of officials and female staff of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Ladies Circle (ALC) in the country, aiming to contributing to enhancing the friendship and solidarity within the bloc. Khuat Thi Hong Hanh, spouse of Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Viet Thai and head of the ALC Vietnam, spoke highly of solidarity and mutual support of the ALC amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The ALC Vietnam brought to the event Vietnamese dishes such as pho bo (beef noodle soup) and nem (spring rolls), which received warm response and compliments from regional friends. Short films featuring the history, culture and tourist destinations in Vietnam were also screened on this occasion./. Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane Capital at the meeting (Photo: VNA) During the talks, the two sides were pleased with the recent cooperation results, especially the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the 2021-2025 period in October 2021 during the complex development of the COVID-19 situation. At the talks, the two sides agreed to soon apply solutions to concretize the high-level agreement between the two countries and the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two localities for the 2021-2025 period with specific activities. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to further promote economic exchange and connection activities; create favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to seek investment opportunities, carry out trade promotion activities, and bring local products to each other's markets; and strongly promote tourism activities in the context of the epidemic being controlled. Ho Chi Minh City will continue to provide scholarships for masters, university and vocational training for students in Vientiane and continue to implement the project "Vietnamese families with Laotian students". The two sides also agreed to strengthen the organization of exchange activities and exchange delegations at all levels; encourage and create conditions for socio-political agencies and organizations to exchange and sign cooperation agreements; take care of the training of the young generation on the history and tradition of the special and great friendship between the two parties, the two states and the two peoples; agreeing that Ho Chi Minh City will also create all favorable conditions for officials of departments and branches of Vientiane to have the opportunity to study and share experiences in the fields of education, agriculture and technology, finance, taxation, administrative reform, building e-government, digital transformation and some other fields. At the end of the talks, the representative of Ho Chi Minh City presented the capital Vientiane with a gift of 10 sets of online meeting equipment from the City Party Committee, the City People's Council, and the City Fatherland Front, while representatives of Hoa Sen University also gave Vientiane 40 bachelor's and master's scholarships. . On the same day, Mr. Nguyen Van Nen visited and talked with Lao former students who used to study in Ho Chi Minh City./. Throughout the day, the GREAT programme team and Government of Vietnam representatives discussed evidence and lessons learned from the GREAT Programme that can help inform Vietnams National Target Programmes (NTPs) implementation. The NTPs and GREAT both aspire to stronger socio-economic opportunities in Vietnams northwest region, particularly for the ethnic communities that call the region home. Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie talks to a successful woman joining the project in Son La province at the symposium. (Photo: VNA) GREAT is Australias most significant gender investment in Vietnam, totalling 33.7 million AUD (24.1 million USD). The programme works with businesses, NGOs, government and civil society partners to build more inclusive business and market systems within the agriculture and tourism sectors in Son La and Lao Cai provinces. It also works to ensure that local women and ethnic minorities actively participate in and benefit from related economic activities and growth. The GREAT Programme began in 2017 and is now entering a second phase which will see the programme extended to 2027. Nguyen Thanh Hai, from the Project Management Board in Son La, and Le Hong Phong from the Project Management Board in Lao Cai shared the experience of delivering GREAT, particularly the lessons learned in relation to improving the agriculture and tourism sectors while actively working to promote the economic empowerment of women. Over the past five years of implementing GREAT with the programme team, we have stronger evidence of what works and what needs to be improved specific to our provincial contexts, Phong said. We are now actively working to increase the participation of women in these sectors as this is good for women and their families, good for business and good for the economy. We look forward to applying the lessons from GREAT to the implementation of the NTPs. This success belongs to all GREAT partners - the Provincial Governments of Son La and Lao Cai, and the businesses, civil society organisations and communities that GREAT works with, said the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie. Today is an opportunity to look forward with joint ambition to take this success to scale. Together, we can benefit more businesses through stronger market connections and, most importantly, empower more women to participate in these markets, she added. Symposium participants also heard from successful women entrepreneurs from the two provinces, who provided advice on how governments and businesses can better support women, including those from ethnic minorities, to not only access economic opportunities, but to thrive in work and business. On the occasion, GREATs business and education partners provided an update on the establishment of business services and support for the agriculture and tourism sectors in the northwest, including improved access to finance, digital inclusion and the availability of market-driven skills training. The skills of just some of these women were shared with all in an evening market, cooking show and cultural performances. Symposium attendees had the opportunity to sample the products, produce and experiences that the governments, communities and businesses of Son La and Lao Cai aspire to harness as they pursue inclusive, sustainable economic development./. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has released an operational update on the state of warfare as of 06.00 on May 28, 2022. According to the report, certain units of the Armed Forces of the republic of belarus continue to perform tasks to strengthen the protection of the belarusian-Ukrainian border. This group was reinforced by electronic warfare maneuver groups operating along the state border of Ukraine. Training of reserve officers for the needs of manning units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces in educational institutions of the republic of belarus continues. Key points of the report: In the Slobozhansky direction, the enemy fired at units of our troops to prevent their further advance in the direction of the State Border of Ukraine to the north and northeast of the city of Kharkiv. In the South Buh direction, russian occupiers were concentrating their main efforts on maintaining the occupied frontiers and fortifying the positions of the third line of defense. As a result of the offensive actions of the units of our troops, the enemy suffered losses and took up defense on unfavorable frontiers. russia's T80BV taken from bases / Photo credit: Inform Napalm In the Donetsk direction, russian invaders are conducting active offensive operations. Continues fire damage to our units along the line of contact, strikes missiles. Increased the intensity of operational-tactical and army aviation. In the Lyman direction, russian occupiers continued shelling with mortars and multiple rocket launchers in the areas of Ozerne and Dibrova, where it struck airstrikes. It is trying to gain a foothold in the area of the Lyman settlement. In the Sievierodonetsk direction, with the support of artillery, the enemy conducted assault operations in the areas of the settlements of Sievierodonetsk, Oskolonivka, Toshkivka, had no success, suffered losses, retreated to previously occupied positions. Western artillery units show precise work / Photo credit: General Staff of Ukraine russian invaders are trying to develop success in the Bakhmut direction, to reach the rear of our troops and disrupt logistics. With the support of mortar and artillery fire, they carried out offensive and assault operations in the areas of the settlements of Nahirne, Vasylivka, Komyshuvakha, and Vidrodzhenna, but was unsuccessful. In the Avdiivka direction, the enemy used artillery on civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Novobahmutivka, Novoselivka Druha, Vesele, Avdiivka, Pisky and Krasnohorivka. Inflicted air strikes on civilian infrastructure in the Yakovlivka, Avdiivka, Vesely and Kamyanka districts. As a result of the actions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, russian occupiers suffered significant losses and retreated in the areas of the settlements of Novopil and Novodarivka. Over the past 24hrs, eight russian enemy attacks have been repulsed in the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, five tanks, ten units of armored combat vehicles and four enemy vehicles have been destroyed. Air defense units destroyed Orlan-10 UAVs. In the Kharkiv region, servicemen of the Assault Troops shot down a Ka-52 combat helicopter. Find more details in the newsfeed by Defense Express: Day 94th of War Between Ukraine and Russian Federation (Live Updates) Supporters say its a win for parents. Opponents say it stigmatizes LGBTQ students, teachers, and the broader community. Earlier this week, North Carolina Senate Republicans revealed the Parents Bill of Rights, which has brought a new level of attention to how K-12 public schools approach instruction and identity. The legislation has already cleared a pair of Senate committees as it moves toward a chamber vote. So, whats in the bill? Might it pass? And why is it being proposed now? Here are five things to know about the controversial Parents Bill of Rights: Is it a 'Don't Say Gay' bill? Perhaps the bills most contentious paragraph addresses how sexual orientation and gender identity are taught in early grades. The latest edition of the bill states: "Instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity shall not be included in the curriculum provided in grades kindergarten through third grade, regardless of whether the information is provided by school personnel or third parties. This language is similar to what Florida included in its Parental Rights in Education bill, which opponents labelled the Dont Say Gay law. We really see (the North Carolina bill) as another Dont Say Gay bill, said Craig White, who works as the supportive schools coordinator at the Asheville-based Campaign for Southern Equality. Theres some parents rights at the front (of the bill) to mask it, but if you look at what those rights are, its things like the right to receive a report card or the right to join a parent-teacher organization which are well-established common practices. White believes the bills vague language will create a chilling effect on teachers and students, thereby depriving young students of an accurate and healthy representation of the real world. Senate Republicans disagreed, arguing the ban on sexual orientation and gender identity instruction would still permit references to LGBTQ people and relationships. Story continues 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. Sharing pronouns and more Critics of the bill fear it would force schools to divulge information to parents that students wouldnt want their parents to know. One specific example is what materials they check out from school libraries. Another is a students pronouns. The bill states parents must be made aware before any changes are made to K-12 public school students names or pronouns. LGBTQ students tend to come out first in environments where they feel safest, and usually that is at home, White said. For students who feel unsafe sharing that information with their family, they may rightly recognize that they are at risk of abuse or being kicked out of the home if that information was to be shared. The bill also requires school districts to inform parents of any changes in services or monitoring related to his or her child's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, which same say is too vague and puts students in abusive families in danger. Republican leaders argue informing parents of these changes should be a basic right. Theres somehow an expectation that a medical provider at a school, whether it be a nurse or a doctor or a counselor or even a teacher, in the limited time they spend with the child, are somehow in a position to decide what is best for that child, said Sen. Ralph Hise (R-McDowell), during the Senate Healthcare Committee hearing Thursday. What treatment they should receive and the issues they're dealing with and ultimately make a determination about the home of a child being insufficient and therefore their choice for those treatments should stand without informed consent. Handling curriculum concerns North Carolina parents can currently object to any school materials, but the parental bill would require schools setup more detailed procedures on how to respond to each formal curriculum complaint and inquiry. Public schools units, including districts and charter schools, would be expected to resolve parental concerns within seven days. If the issue isnt resolved within 30 days, the public-school unit is required to provide a statement explaining why. If the schools fail to do this, parents can take their objection to the State Board of Education, which will set up a hearing with the school unit covering the costs. I think it's just an attempt to provide a little more detail to a process that can vary from one district to another, and with differing levels of inquiry, said Terry Stoops, director of education studies at the Raleigh-based conservative John Locke Foundation think tank, which provided State Republicans with a legislative outline that inspired the bill. I think a lot of parents feel challenges they are bringing to school administrators and school board members have not been met with satisfactory responses. Critics are concerned these requirements unfairly ask already time-burdened public school administrators to handle a potentially inordinate number of curriculum from parents peeved over issues like perceived left-leaning bias in history lessons, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, Critical Race Theory, and more. Education news: NC schools defy tourism industry and state over summer break law Why a parents' bill now? The parental bill of rights in North Carolina isnt unique. At least 19 other states have introduced limits on LGBTQ classroom instruction through recent bills highlighting parents rights to know what is being taught at public schools. During the virtual lessons held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, parents got an up-close look at what their children were being taught. It opened their eyes in a lot of ways, Senate leader Phil Berger said during a press conference introducing the bill. Since then, school reopenings, student masks, critical race theory, book bans, and LGTBQ-inclusive curriculums have all been at the forefront of school board meetings, and school board races. This year saw a record number of school board candidates in North Carolina, and political scientists say the GOP is accentuating school issues to win higher offices. I think the political wedge issues of critical race theory, book bans, and LGBTQ inclusion have been driven by Republican Party politics that emphasizes a couple of dynamics that benefits the party as a whole, especially in terms of critical energy for voter turnout, said Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and history at Catawba College. One prominent dynamic is the notion of in-group versus out-group, with the in-group being White, typically straight and older voters who see their hold on political power slipping. What are the chances it passes? And early indication is that the Democratic Governor isnt a fan. After the bill was unveiled, Cooper released the following statement: "Schools are grateful for involved parents and we need even more of them working together with teachers to educate our children. However, the last thing our state needs is another Republican political ploy like the bathroom bill which hurt our people and cost us jobs, so let's keep the "Don't Say Gay" culture wars out of North Carolina classrooms. Republicans dont possess the supermajority needed in the General Assembly to override a Cooper veto. To get the Parents Bill of Rights passed over Coopers objection, a handful of Democratic House and Senate members would need to cross party lines to support it. Winning over Democrats is possible, especially if the bill is modified said Terry Stoops adding, "I think this is an opportunity for Cooper to establish common ground with Republicans." Yet whether or not the bill becomes law, opponents say its already brought irrevocable damage to the classroom. My colleagues and I talk about legislation like this as harassment legislation, White said. It helps create a hostile educational environment for students in K-12 schools. Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this story. Brian Gordon is a statewide reporter with the USA Today Network in North Carolina. Feel free to email him at bgordon@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skyoutbriout This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC parental right bill called 'Don't Say Gay' bill for LGBTQ limits A meteor is seen streaking across the sky from West Virginia (Nasa) Some meteor showers have been watched in wonder by humans going back to antiquity. Others, like the upcoming Tau Herculids shower, are barely old enough to drink if they take place at all. The evening of 30 May and morning of 31 May will be the peak time for observing the Tau Herculids, which could strew the skies above North America with as many as 1,000 shooting stars per hour. Thats a rate that, if observed, would qualify the Tau Herculids as a meteor storm, not just a meteor shower. But theres a catch: Those who stay up or get up to try and catch the peak of the Tau Herculids 4.45 to 5.17am GMT or 12.45 to 1.17am EDT on Tuesday 31 May, or 9.45 to 10:17pm PDT might see nothing at all. And that has everything to do with the recent origin of this all or nothing meteor event. Many meteor showers result when Earth passes through the tail of debris left by a comet in its long orbit around the Sun. The annual Lyrid meteor shower, for instance, which lit up the skies in late April, results from the trail of dust particles left by the Comet C/1861 G1. Although the comet was discovered in 1861, records of humans watching the resulting meteor showers date back 2,700 years. The comet behind the Tau Herculids is 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, or SW3, a very faint comet discovered in 1930. But in 1995, this faint comet grew hundreds of times brighter, leading astronomers to believe it had fragmented. By the next pass of SW3s near Earth in 2006, astronomers identified more than 70 pieces of the once unitary comet, and found it was still fragmenting. That ongoing fragmentation is the key to whether or not sky watchers will get a meteor storm or a new Moon sky strewn only with stars and planets, according to Bill Cooke the head of Nasas Meteoroid Environment Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This is going to be an all or nothing event. If the debris from SW3 was traveling more than 220 miles per hour when it separated from the comet, we might see a nice meteor shower, Cooke said in a statement. If the debris had slower ejection speeds, then nothing will make it to Earth and there will be no meteors from this comet. For those willing to watch on the chance of a good show, the meteor shower radiant or point in the sky from which many of the shooting stars will appear to originate will be slightly west of the constellation Hercules. This should be above the horizon all night long for viewers in the Northern hemisphere and for many in the Southern hemisphere as well. While finding the radiant is a good way to get oriented in the sky, meteors can appear anywhere during the shower/storm, so keep an eye on the entire sky. With a new Moon, visibility should be excellent, pending local weather getting in the way. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (12951167i) Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner arrive for Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Wedding, Portofino, Italy - 22 May 2022; LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 07: Kim Kardashian attends Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Berkeley Square Gardens on June 7, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) Shutterstock; Stuart Wilson/Getty Kim Kardashian is proud to be an outfit repeater! On Saturday, the SKIMS founder revealed to her Twitter and Instagram followers that the outfit she wore for sister Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Italian wedding last weekend was actually a rewear from 11 years ago. "Fun fact about this look for the wedding!" Kim, 41, wrote on her Instagram Story. "I know you guys just saw me in my archieve [sic] on last week's episode of The Kardashians! I have every piece photographed and on an app." The mom of four continued, "So when I knew I was going to Italy (LOVE a theme for a trip) I pulled all my Dolce & Gabbana clothes to try on again and see if I could re-wear anything!" RELATED: Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Moment Between Daughter North West and Sister Kourtney After Wedding "The dress I wore to the wedding was a Dolce & Gabbana I purchased at Bergdorf Goodman in 2011 and wore it to the Glamour Awards," she explained, posting a picture of her in the sleeveless number back then. "But to make the dress more modern and more me," Kim wrote, "I wore this lace gloved Vetements dress I had in my closet for a layered lace look." * FUN FASHION FACT * pic.twitter.com/uequDCAiNL Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) May 28, 2022 Kim's rewear reveal comes right after Thursday's episode of The Kardashians where she shared a glimpse of the massive warehouse where she stores her fashion archives, consisting of an estimated 30,000 pieces from her 15 years in the public eye. "I'm on this really fun journey of just trying to figure out what my new fashion era's gonna be. I'm just hoping, honestly, to find a little bit of inspo today, because I have so much stuff and I've had so many different fashion eras," Kim said in a confessional. "I love seeing all this stuff, so I just wanna see where I've been and where I wanna go." Story continues RELATED: Pete Davidson Makes First Post-SNL Appearance Supporting Kim Kardashian at SKIMS Photoshoot in L.A. She also opened up about redefining her style amid her divorce from Kanye West, who found a style muse in Kim over their eight years of marriage. "When it comes to my style, I've always had Kanye there as like this crutch to teach me so much about fashion," she added. "And having that not be there as my crutch, to guide me, has really forced me to figure it out on my own." "The status of my relationship to Kanye hasn't really been clear to people because I was trying to figure it out too, and I'm ready to move on. But I think for so long, always depending on someone else, I forgot that I have an opinion too. And I forgot that I can make decisions too," Kim added. episode 7 Where I've Been and Where I Wanna Go hulu 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. While rummaging through her many racks and boxes of clothing, Kim reminisced about some of her memorable fashion moments with friend and publicist Tracy Romulus. "Every time I look at something, it's just like a memory," Kim explained. "The crazy thing about Kim, is you can like hold up a dress, and she'll tell you where she wore the dress, what color her eye shadow was, if she had a bang, if she had a high ponytail," Romulus said. "She has a whole story behind every outfit she wears." "Quiz me," Kim said, before recounting the looks she wore for New Year's Eve in Las Vegas after her 2011 split from ex-husband Kris Humphries, as well as her first time attending the Emmy Awards in 2009. RELATED: Kim Kardashian Replaced Kendall Jenner on March 2022 Vogue Cover: 'I Feel So Bad' A warehouse of fashion aside, Kim also noted that she really just wants to "wear sweats." New episodes of The Kardashians drop Thursdays on Hulu. May 4A man accused of breaking a car window and attempting to stab the driver was sentenced to prison Wednesday. Kevin Ray, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and a crime of violence sentence enhancer. On Wednesday, Ray was sentenced by Boulder District Judge Thomas Mulvahill to six years in the Colorado Department of Corrections followed by two years of mandatory parole. Following a pre-sentence investigation, Ray was not approved for community corrections, which limited Mulvahill's options to essentially prison or probation. While acknowledging prison would not provide Ray the type of rehabilitation he could benefit from, Mulvahill said it was the only viable option given the nature of the case and Ray's criminal history. "The conduct here is incredibly serious, and it is the tail end of a lengthy, persistent, serious criminal history," Mulvahill said. Mulvahill noted Ray now has eight felonies and 23 misdemeanor convictions on his record and was deemed a high risk to reoffend by a pre-sentence report. "I'm sorry to have to say that, but at this point even considering all of the sentencing factors, I just can't take the risk of having you in the community right now," Mulvahill said. "At this point in your life and in your criminal career, the only option I have is to sentence you to the Department of Corrections." According to an arrest affidavit, Boulder officers were dispatched the morning of Sept. 25, 2020, for a menacing call in the 4700 block of Pearl East Circle. The named victim said a man, later identified as Ray, broke his car window and pulled a knife on him, and then ran into the bushes. The man said he arrived at his job and that when he was about to exit his vehicle, Ray broke the driver side window with the back end of a black knife. The man told police Ray then reached into the vehicle with the knife "and started to thrust with stabbing motions at him." Story continues The man was not injured during the incident and was able to back his vehicle away, but said Ray followed the vehicle and threw a large tree branch at the front of the car, according to the affidavit. Boulder Deputy District Attorney Kelsey Waldorf said the named victim in the case actually did not want a prison sentence and would have liked to see Ray go to community corrections in a halfway house. But while she acknowledged mental health and substance abuse were factors in the case, Waldorf said Ray was not a fit for probation, as he has never been able to successfully complete probation on any of his previous cases. "Frankly, we also believe the facts of the case and how aggravated it was... means that a sentence to the Department of Corrections is justified and it's the proper sentence," Waldorf said. Ray spoke at the hearing, apologizing for his actions and saying that he had found religion and was getting treatment at the Boulder County Jail through its programs. "I would like to sincerely apologize for what I have done," Ray said. "I take small steps every day to make sure something like this will never happen again." Defense attorney Sam Dunn said he was "disappointed" community corrections would not accept Ray, and lobbied for probation. Dunn also pitched the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community in Las Animas, which provides recovery oriented transitional housing through the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Mulvahill said he had heard of the program and considered it, but said the fact that he could not make Ray attending the program a mandatory condition of probation was a "deal breaker." "It's a good idea, but it doesn't fit at this time and place, it just doesn't," Mulvahill said. But Mulvahill said he saw that Ray is in a better place than he was a year ago, and urged Ray to remember the facility when he gets out of prison. "I'm glad you're in a better place now," Mulvahill said. "When you come back out, I hope that you remember that Fort Lyon is there." Ray will get credit for 774 days of time served. He was remanded into the custody of the Boulder County Jail to await transfer to the Colorado Department of Corrections. IAEA head encourages Russia's acts of nuclear terrorism in Ukraine, is inactive in relation to protection of its NPP SNRIU The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) has accused the International Nuclear Safety Agency (IAEA) and its Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of encouraging acts of nuclear terrorism by Russia in Ukraine, as well as contributing to the strengthening of threats to the nuclear security of the world. "We call on Mr. Grossi to assist Ukraine in our demands for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops, military equipment and Rosatom personnel from Zaporizhia NPP site and the city of Enerhodar, which would be the greatest guarantee of the safety of its functioning, as well as the demand to stop shelling Ukraine with winged and operational tactical missiles, since they could potentially lead to a planetary catastrophe, greater in their consequences than Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents combined," according to the open appeal to the IAEA signed by SNRIU Head Oleh Korikov, posted on the inspectorate's Facebook page on May 27. The inspection called acts of nuclear terrorism, in particular, the seizure of Zaporizhia NPP by Russian troops on the night of March 3 and 4, during which they killed three Ukrainian defenders and created unprecedented threats to the nuclear safety of the station, as well as the direction of missiles to nuclear power plants. According to SNRIU, cases of overflights of cruise missiles similar to the Kalibr missiles were, in particular, recorded on April 16 over Pivdennoukrainsk NPP, on April 25 over Khmelnytsk NPP and on April 28 over Zaporizhia NPP. They also said that after the seizure of Pivdennoukrainsk NPP, the Russian occupiers, whom the SNRIU called both the military and representatives of the Russian state companies Rosatom and Rosenergoatom, constantly terrorize and directly threaten the lives of the plant personnel and residents of the occupied Enerhodar. "These acts of nuclear terrorism on the part of Russia are taking place in the absence of a clear position and effective response on the part of the IAEA to Ukraine's numerous appeals on this matter, which is why Russian representatives are convinced of their impunity and resort to even more daring actions and statements," Korikov said. As an example, he cited statements by Enerhodar's collaborating authorities with reference to the IAEA that the agency had not recorded violations of the safe operation of Zaporizhia NPP. In addition, according to the SNRIU head, the IAEA leadership, by its inaction and ambiguous position, not only contributes to the further aggravation of the situation at Zaporizhia NPP, but also relays the theses of the Kremlin propaganda, declaring before the audience of the World Economic Forum in Davos about the presence at Zaporizhia NPP occupied by Russians "30,000 kilogram of plutonium and 40,000 kilogram of enriched uranium suitable for the manufacture of nuclear weapons." "This is clear evidence that the IAEA, represented by its director general, is under the influence of Russian propaganda and does not have reliable information," Korikov said. He also categorically refuted Grossi's statements about the reserves of plutonium and enriched uranium at Zaporizhia NPP and in Ukraine as a whole, explaining that all operating Ukrainian nuclear power plants use nuclear fuel unsuitable for the manufacture of nuclear weapons in the form of fuel assemblies enriched up to 5%. "This is well known to IAEA, which annually confirms in its Safeguards Implementation Report Ukraine's compliance with its obligations for the exclusively peaceful use of nuclear material that is under its control," the head of the Ukrainian nuclear regulator said. According to him, it is technically and politically impossible for Ukraine to manufacture and store weapons-grade plutonium or uranium, even in quantities of a few grams, due to the lack of technology and a political ban on their production. He said that during the implementation of the 2010 Washington Nuclear Security Summit Camunique, Ukraine voluntarily lost all highly enriched uranium (HEU) on its territory, which was an outstanding event. "It is very sad that the impudent lies of Russian propaganda are being broadcast at the high level of a top official of the IAEA," the SNRIU head said. Memorial Day weekend kicks off in Chicagos Daley Plaza with wreath-laying, parade to remember and honor over 1.2 million American heroes Memorial Day weekend kicked off Saturday in sun-drenched Daley Plaza with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony followed by a parade, which stepped off shortly after noon. The city is blessed with pleasant weather only every few years, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said to the crowd of about 150. I feel like we go through Memorial Day here when its blazing hot, followed by at least a couple where its freezing cold, and then we get one good one every fourth year, so this is a great day, Duckworth said. The ceremony, which also included Mayor Lori Lightfoot and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and others, began about 11 a.m. and the parade marched south on State Street, featuring thousands of veterans, several local high schools, Chicago Fire Department firefighters and more. As Lightfoot spoke to the crowd, which included many Gold Star families and loved ones of those who died while serving in the military, she praised the relatives who attended. The service member serves, but so too does the family, Lightfoot said. We want to thank all the family members here in support of the men and women in uniform. Lightfoot introduced this years keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon. Loh said Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember and honor over 1.2 million American heroes. The willingness of American veterans to give their lives for something greater than even their own self-existence must be honored and will be continued to be honored, Loh said. As part of the ceremony, the city also proclaimed May 28, 2022, as Rick Murray Day, in honor of Murray, who passed away in November and was remembered for serving in the Korean War, performing jazz music around the city, taking part in the Memorial Day parade year after year and continuing to help veterans by serving on the citys Memorial Day committee, the mayors advisory council and more. Murrays daughter Candace Price, accepted the proclamation from Lightfoot on his behalf. Story continues This years recipient of the Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award was Jean Harris, of Lagrange Park, who is a support coordinator covering northern Illinois for Survivor Outreach Services. Harris said she has been attending Chicagos Memorial Day celebration for years, always to honor her son, Sgt. Joshua William Harris, who was killed Sept. 7, 2008, at 21 years old while serving in Afghanistan. Harris said she is glad the city continues to honor veterans and celebrate Memorial Day in big ways year after year and hopes the tradition stays alive. I hope that they dont stop, Harris said. Its nice for everyone, so I hope it continues for years to come. "Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News, The Morning News, the Evening Journal and the Journal-Every Evening. May 30, 1972, The Morning News Gunman kills 3, self, at N.C. political rally A calm gunman shooting at everything that moved killed three persons, wounded eight others and then killed himself outside a shopping mall where Sen. B. Everett Jordan was campaigning yesterday in Raleigh, N.C. Police discounted theories that it was an assassination attempt on the North Carolina Democratic senator who was shaking hands just inside the North Hills Shopping Center when the shooting began. Two of the wounded were little girls. Front pages of The Morning News from May 30, 1972. Witnesses said the gunman, a neatly-dressed black man identified as Harvey Glenn McLeod, 23, opened fire just as Jordan stepped through the plate glass doors. He had been chatting with two women. One was killed and the other critically wounded. The doors were shattered. Witnesses said the gunfire went on for about two minutes and virtually every shopper outside the mall when the gunman opened fire was killed or wounded. Police Chief Robert E. Goodwin said, When the first siren was heard, witnesses said he turned the gun on himself. The chief said the man was armed with a .22-caliber rifle which he had purchased a few hours earlier, and a revolver. June 1, 1889, Evening Journal An awful flood; Pennsylvania city entirely submerged A telegraph operator in the Pennsylvania railroad signal tower at Sang Hollow, 12 miles below Johnstown, says that 75 dead bodies have floated past him down the river from Johnstown. It is stated that the reservoir above Johnstown broke and the water deluged the town, sweeping away houses by scores and drowning probably hundreds of people. Wires are down, and no communication can be had with Johnstown. Front page of the Evening Journal from June 1, 1889. Pennsylvania railroad officials in Pittsburgh state that they have advices that over 200 dead bodies have been counted floating down stream at Johnstown alone, while all along the line many additional lives have been lost. Story continues Johnstown is described as wholly submerged, only two houses being entirely above the water line. HOW WILMINGTON FLOOD AFFECTED RESIDENTS: No homes for the holidays: Wilmington residents displaced by floods struggle with housing June 2, 1953, Journal-Every Evening Elizabeth crowned in ancient pomp; Millions crowd streets of London to hail monarch Britain crowned Elizabeth II today in a magnificent spectacle of ancient pomp and pageantry, before the wondering eyes of her little son Charles, heir to the throne. The thunder of guns and the pealing of bells proclaimed to millions massed in Londons streets the formal accession of Elizabeth the queen, the first coronation of a woman since Victoria, 116 years ago. Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from June 2, 1953. Crowds massed 25 to 35 deep acclaimed the queen going from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and coming home again. Only 7,500 persons were in the abbey, but millions more could see the 2 hour ceremony by television, for the first time. The 27-year-old queen, who had looked drawn near the close of the long abbey ritual and once near tears flashed her smile. The queens husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was beside her. Conquerors of Mt. Everest congratulated by Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth II took time out on her coronation day today to send congratulations to the British expedition that planted the Union Jack atop 29,002-foot Mt. Everest. The feat mans first successful attempt to scale the worlds highest peak was announced last night by Buckingham Palace. The news that two climbers in a party headed by Col. John Hunt had successfully battled their way to the icy summit in the Himalayas on May 29 was relayed to the queen first. In her message, cabled to the British minister at Katmandu, the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, the queen said: Please convey to Colonel Hunt and all members of the British expedition my warmest congratulations on their great achievement in reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. CATCH UP ON HISTORY: Pages of history: From The News Journal archives, week of March 27 June 4, 1965, Wilmington Morning News U.S. scores with Gemini space walk Astronaut Edward H. White II eased himself out of a Gemini capsule 135 miles above the Earth yesterday and floated for 20 eerie minutes in the chilling void of space. He chatted nonchalantly and darted about with a space gun. The dramatic excursion clearly was the high point of a bold celestial adventure scheduled to last four days. President Lyndon B. Johnson was among millions of Americans who watched the launch on television. Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from June 4, 1965. Whites thrilling experience in the unyielding vastness of space, where even the stars refuse to twinkle, came during the third orbit, one later than planned, as he streaked at 17,500 miles an hour through the skies above his own homeland. His feat matched that of Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov who drifted for 10 minutes outside the Voskhod 2 spaceship March 18. Dr. Charles A. Berry, the astronauts physician, in noting that White was not disoriented during his space stroll, remarked: He even walked on the spacecraft. Ed was all over Gemini 4under, behind and on top of it. The capsule was orbiting between 100 and 175 miles up. Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: News Journal archives Johnstown flood, first U.S. space walk Saudi Arabias rapidly expanding Telfaz11 Studios is teaming up with Frances Easy Riders Films to develop and produce a slate of four features directed by emerging Saudi talents with international ambitions. The first title expected to go into production is Night Courier, a comedy about a young man named Fahad who winds up in possession of six crates of illicit booze in an Arab city known for its hidden delights and dangers. This project was first presented last year at the inaugural Red Sea Film Festivals Red Sea Souk projects market. More from Variety The four-picture pact between Telfaz11 and Easy Riders was forged at the Cannes Film Festival. Founded by Alaa Yousef Fadan, Ali Al Kalthami, and Ibrahim Al Khairallah, Telfaz11 is an innovative content company that started out in the YouTube space and has since seen rapid growth in both production and distribution. They recently closed a funding pact with strategic investors. The Riyadh and Dubai-based outfit, which is known for combining elements of local culture and comedy, as well as drama, in works that target global audiences, also inked an eight-picture deal with Netflix in 2011. And they also have a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabias top theatrical exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas. Paris-based Easy Riders Films, which is headed by Nadia Turincev and Omar El Kadi, this year in Cannes just presented the doc Mariupolis by late Lithuanian director Mantas Kvedaravicius who was killed in Mariupol, Ukraine at the end of March. Turincevs credits with her former company Rouge International include Oscar-nominated Lebanese drama The Insult, by Ziad Doueiri; Raw by Frances Julia Ducournau; and Oliver Laxes Mimosas, which won the Cannes Critics Week Grand Prix 2016. Story continues 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. (AFP via Getty Images) Ivan Perisic has agreed terms on a two-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur, with sources close to the player believing the London club will beat both Chelsea and Juventus to his signature. The Croatia international is a free agent this summer, with his contract at Inter Milan expiring, and Antonio Conte has specifically named the 33-year-old as a key signing for his team. The Italian met with Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici on Friday morning and has agreed to stay on at the club for another season. Among his conditions was signings, with Perisic one of the players discussed. That has accelerated talks with Perisic, with the winger set to receive over 4m a year. While Chelsea and Juventus are set to strengthen their offers, there is a belief that Spurs are persuasive, particularly with Conte set to stay on another season. The player is expected to make a final decision on Monday. The Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich at peace talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 29, 2022. Cem Ozdel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The West is considering allowing Russian oligarchs "to buy their way out of sanctions," AP reports. The plan entails oligarchs voluntarily donating funds to Ukraine, officials told the outlet. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland pitched the idea at a G7 meeting last week. Western allies are considering a proposal that would allow Russian oligarchs "to buy their way out of sanctions," the Associated Press reports. The discussions include lifting sanctions on oligarchs who voluntarily give up their foreign assets or funds to be donated to Ukraine, according to the AP. Canada's deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, offered up the idea at a G7 conference in Germany last week, government officials familiar with the matter told the outlet. The meeting was attended by the the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors, the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Financial Stability Board (FSB). The Ukrainian prime minister and the Ukrainian finance minister attended virtually. A spokesperson for Freeland's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The Canadian deputy prime minister started out her career as a Ukraine-based freelance journalist for the Financial Times and later wrote the award-winning book "Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else." As a foreign correspondent, she was able to meet some of the now-sanctioned Russian billionaires one of whom she spoke with before pitching the proposal, an anonymous official told the AP. This isn't the first discussion of how Western governments could use the frozen funds and assets of sanctioned oligarchs to fund Ukraine's defense against Russia. The Biden Administration unveiled a plan in late April that would create a new system for selling the seized assets to fund Ukraine's defense. As of now, there are complex legal barriers that make it extremely difficult for the government to seize and sell an individual's private property, as Insider has previously reported. Read the original article on Business Insider "Partners in crime" Mark Pell and Libbey Le Fils take in the new Lemon Bluff Boat Ramp as other visitors mill about following the ribbon-cutting for the ramp on Friday, April 29. OSTEEN Whether or not a brand new boat ramp and public park was the best option for the Lemon Bluff area depends on who you ask. One thing's for certain, though it's going to be well-utilized. "Were going to love having it here," Suzanne Luczak said Friday morning while visiting the newly completed park. "Its the Bluff life and we dont want to leave it." Current and former local officials spoke about the area's natural beauty and what the boat ramp and park will do for the community along the St. Johns River at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning. "Its not every day that we get an opportunity to see projects like this come to fruition," Volusia County Councilman Danny Robins said. "Local boaters are absolutely going to love this new park." Robins said the new ramp is safer and provides easier river access compared to the old ramp located just a 10th of a mile up Lemon Bluff Road. The new ramp also includes a kayak and canoe launch. Robins said the old ramp doesn't have sufficient parking, lighting or restrooms. The $2.3 million ramp was funded with contributions from Volusia County park impact fees, the ECHO program, the Florida Inland Navigation District and the Florida Boating Improvement Fund. The Volusia County Council awarded the construction contract to the Ormond Beach-based Saboungi Construction, Inc., in June 2020. The new Lemon Bluff boat ramp in Osteen officially opened Friday, April 29. The ramp includes a launch for kayaks and canoes onto the St. Johns River. Former longtime Volusia County Council member Pat Northey recalled working "diligently to spearhead this mission and provide the local community with a fantastic park and boat ramp." She said she hopes the ample parking for the new facility, located about 4 miles southeast of State Road 415, will mean less noise and traffic congestion for local residents. "The St. Johns River is one of our greatest natural wonders and the only American Heritage River in Florida that features pristine waters, an abundance of native wildlife, recreational opportunities, wonderful plant life and, of course, some of the best bass fishing in the area and actually probably the nation," Northey said. Story continues Save the St. Johns: Marvels of river come alive during tour aimed at protecting it Full steam ahead: Steamboats on the St. Johns River Longtime area resident Lee Giddens said the ramp will be nice for pontoons and other larger boats, but he otherwise didn't share in the excitement. "Weve been against this project from the very beginning because it creates so much activity on the weekend," Giddens said. In 2012 Volusia County purchased the land by the ramp for $605,000 with funds from a special tax for environmental, cultural, historic and outdoor projects. In addition to demolishing the old fish camp, "No parking" signs were installed along the road and deputies were tasked with ticketing violators. An RV park where some stayed for extended periods of time also was torn down and used as overflow parking for the original ramp. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: St. Johns River boat ramp and park ready for boaters in Osteen From music to modern art to fiddling on the roof and stomping around with push brooms, unusual paths are being taken this week in the Connecticut arts scene. Cacophony and eggs Sky Casper Entertainment is serving up another of its singular Pink Eggs and Glam drag brunches, starring Cacophony Daniels on May 22 at 11 a.m. at The Social Bar + Kitchen, 208 Bank Street, New London. skycasper.com. Sunday serenades Members of Hartford Symphony Orchestra play music by Igor Stravinsky, Bohuslav Martin, Marc Mellits and Carlos Simon as a soundtrack for the vibrant paintings of Milton Avery for the latest Sunday Serenades concert on May 22 at 2 p.m. at the Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main St., Hartford. Enter through the Avery Lobby. Erin Monroe, who co-curated the Avery exhibition for the Wadsworth, gives a talk before the concert. $30, $25 for HSO subscribers and Wadsworth members. hartfordsymphony.org. Straight White Men Young Jean Lee writes strikingly modern, uncompromising dramas that dissect difficult social realities. Her 2014 play, Straight White Men, is at Westport Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport from May 24 to June 5, directed by Mark Lamos. westportplayhouse.org. Nothings special Cloud Nothings, the hard-charging indie pop band from Cleveland, Ohio, is now 13 years and nine albums old (plus a live album and a bunch of EPs). Known for some cool animated videos, theyre just as watchable live. Cloud Nothings play May 25 at 8 p.m. at the Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden, with Sunburned Hand of the Man and Mountain Movers. $17-$20. spaceballroom.com. Allies and adversaries The Agitators is a two-person play by Mat Smart about the decades-long friendship between two radical voices of the 19th century: Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. They were both activists for the abolition of slavery and shared other fights as well. May 25-June 12 at Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford. playhouseonpark.org. Story continues Karla Bonoff live The superb singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff released her first album in 1977. Her songs have been recorded by the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Wynonna Judd, but the best versions are probably her own. See Bonoff perform May 26 at 8 p.m. at Infinity Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk. $35-$50. infinityhall.com. New world rising Hartford Symphony Orchestras From the New World concert, a diverse night of Burleighs Traditional Spirituals, Florence Prices Concerto in One Movement for Piano and three works by Dvorak (From the New World and two sections of Slavonic Dances) was planned for January then postponed due to COVID. Its finally happening May 26 at 7:30 p.m. for a single performance at the Bushnells Mortensen Hall instead of the usual three performances in the smaller Belding Theater. $35-$68. hartfordsymphony.org. Brad Paisley is back Country star Brad Paisley intended to play Mohegan Sun Arena in November. He makes good on the postponed May 27 at 7:30 p.m. Jackson Dean opens. $49-$69. mohegansun.com. Stomping ground Stomp, that modernist mishmash of percussive movement and janitorial services, stomps again at The Bushnell May 27-29. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. $35-$115. bushnell.org. Sunrise, sunset The latest round of the long-running tour of Fiddler on the Roof the Bart Sher-directed Lincoln Center revival of the Russian shtetl musical based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem diddy-diddy-dums May 27-29 at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket. Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. $45-$75. foxwoods.com. Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com. OTTAWA, Ont. Canada will ban Huawei and ZTE from the countrys fifth-generation wireless network over national security concerns, a long-awaited decision it announced Thursday after years of pressure from allies. The threats to Canadians are greater than ever, and we will protect them, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters in Ottawa. There are many hostile actors who are ready to exploit vulnerabilities in our defenses we must redouble our efforts. The Trudeau governments move to block gear and services from the Chinese telecoms may be more about symbolism than anything else. With other countries imposing prohibitions of their own on Huawei and ZTE, major telecom players in Canada have been making decisions in anticipation of a ban. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne acknowledged Thursday that the vast majority of Canadas 5G and even 4G networks already exclude products and services from the two companies. Champagne told companies using Huawei and ZTE equipment to stop doing so and rip it out. He stressed that telecoms will not be compensated for losses. The Trudeau government also announced Thursday that it plans to introduce legislation to protect Canada's critical infrastructure in areas of finance, telecommunications, energy and transportation. Ottawas announcement was delayed for years, likely amid testy bilateral tensions over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, which was followed by Chinas detentions of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. The resolution of their cases last September and the safe return home of the Canadians opened the door for ban. The Canadian government launched a national security review on telecommunications three years ago, a process that began before Chinese authorities rounded up Kovrig and Spavor. Asked about the delay, Champagne said, this has never been a race, this is about making the right decision. Until Thursdays announcement, Canada had been the only member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance which includes the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand yet to announce if it would allow the Chinese telecom giant to participate in its 5G. Story continues Canada had been under pressure for years especially from the U.S. to block Huawei. Last fall, top U.S. senators urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during face-to-face meetings to move quickly on his decision. One of the things I stressed to him, which he did not push back on, was the fact that the Huawei issue needs to be resolved sooner rather than later, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) told POLITICO in November on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum. The other four of the Five Eyes have all jumped on board on that. And all over the world, people have jumped on board. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who was with Risch in Halifax and also met with Trudeau, said at the time: Now that the two Michaels have been released, we are very hopeful there's going to be significant forward progress in this particular aspect of U.S.-Canada relations. In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to help push Huawei and ZTE out of American telecommunications networks by blocking broadband subsidies from companies that refused to rip out gear made by the two Chinese telecom firms. The Trudeau governments move comes as it takes steps to re-establish ties with China, Canadas second-largest trading partner. This week, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told POLITICO shes focused on rebuilding Ottawas damaged relations with Beijing. Canada is likely bracing for a strong reaction to Thursday's telecom decision. Lu Shaye, Chinas then-ambassador to Ottawa, warned of repercussions shortly after Mengs arrest, if Canada were to exclude Huawei gear from its 5G network. But following Mengs release, the Chinese government softened its tone somewhat. Cong Peiwu, Chinas current top diplomat to Canada, said in December that Ottawas decision on Huawei would have business-related impacts. I'd like to suggest someone (is) trying to politicize the issue and to try to abuse and overstretch the concept of national security, Cong told a virtual event hosted by the Centre for International Governance Innovation. And that is not conducive for people doing business here in Canada. That will be sending out a very wrong signal to the Chinese companies (and to) the companies of other countries as well. Mendocino, when asked Thursday about potential retaliation from China, said the government continues to be vigilant against the ever-evolving threats to Canadas national security. We remain very much on high alert against belligerent actors, he said. The litigation finance industrys growing investment in patent and IP cases is testing whether justice can be treated as a for-profit financial instrument in the United States. Without action from Congress or the judiciary, the answer may very well be yes. Business is booming for patent litigation finance. Not even a multi-year global pandemic could slow down the private equity, hedge funds and foreign sovereign wealth funds that bankroll non-practicing entities also known as patent trolls and their abusive lawsuits against American businesses. Funders look for patent trolls whom they can weaponize for their own profit. The trolls then target everyone from major manufacturers to small businesses on Main Street, threaten them with a lawsuit, and then kick back the settlement money or their litigation winnings to their funders. Its yet another tactic in a long line of high-risk investment schemes that leaves well-intentioned innovators and businesses as collateral damage. Rather than using patents to promote and protect American innovation, these investors use them to extract profits from companies that actually make things because to them, patents are just lottery tickets that can result in a massive settlement or jury verdict. For the litigation finance industry, its not about protecting a novel idea or a business, because patent trolls dont actually make or produce anything. The goal is simply to game the system in the hopes of a big return for investors. A report released in March showed that last year, out of the entire litigation finance industry, patent litigation accounted for about 30% of all capital commitments. Thats more than a 60% increase from the previous year. A separate analysis by Bloomberg shows that patent law became the second most active segment of litigation finance last year, largely due to increased investments and favorable settlements, often at large sums. For example, Americas largest semiconductor manufacturer Intel was ordered to pay $2 billion to patent troll VLSI Technology LLC over what the USPTO deemed a likely invalid patent. And Apple was recently ordered to pay more than $300 million to patent troll Personalized Media Communications LLC (PMC). That money doesnt go to inventors studies have shown that even if the original inventors are part of a litigation finance deal with a troll, the inventors get very little of the proceeds. Story continues The current lack of transparency in our patent system advantages the bad actors that want to exploit it. Patent trolls often misleadingly present themselves as small businesses or scrappy startups, when in fact they are shells inhabited by the investors who are funding them. Right now, a defendant must engage in litigation that is both expensive and time-consuming just to find out whos really behind the lawsuit against them. There shouldnt be such a massive barrier to transparency. But some judges believe that American courts should be open and transparent. And one judge is pulling back the curtain on this secretive industry. In a critical move just last month, Delaware Chief District Judge Colm Connolly announced a standing order that requires plaintiffs to disclose when litigation is being funded by a third party as well as any conditions tied to the funding. Going further, Judge Connolly ordered that entities like LLCs must disclose the names of "every owner, member and partner of the party, proceeding up the chain of ownership until the name of every individual and corporation with a direct or indirect interest in the party has been identified." No more hiding behind shell companies if you want to benefit from patent litigation. This is the type of transparency that is sorely lacking but increasingly necessary. Federal courts in California, New Jersey, and Ohio have adopted similar disclosure requirements. But while these are welcome developments that should be replicated elsewhere, we cant just rely on a patchwork of judicial standing orders to solve this problem. The federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules should adopt a long-pending proposal to mandate disclosure of third-party litigation finance agreements in all civil cases. In addition, Congress can and must act to bring transparency to our patent system. Luckily, this isnt a partisan issue. Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., introduced the Pride in Patent Ownership Act, which would allow the public to know the true owner of a patent, including those being targeted by litigators. Furthermore, Sens. Leahy and Tillis also correctly point to the national security implications of a more open patent system. More than half of all U.S. patents are issued to foreign inventors. This era of global competition demands additional transparency so that American businesses, innovators, and juries know exactly who is filing the infringement claims. If left unchecked, the bustling litigation finance industry will continue to grow and do real harm to American innovators. Its in the best interest of our economic and national security for judges across the nation to look to Delawares example, and for Congress to come together to bring more transparency and accountability to our patent system. The patent system is intended to promote invention if we dont fix it, it will just become one more investment for private equity, hedge funds and foreign sovereign wealth funds to profit from. Joshua Landau is patent counsel at the Computer & Communications Industry Association. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware courts provide model for finance transparency LAS CRUCES - For pot shop patrons in Las Cruces, 4:20 will come twice a day. That's because the Las Cruces City Council voted May 2 to preserve the city as a place where cannabis businesses have no set hours of operation. Unlike other major cities in the state, Las Cruces didn't set parameters for when cannabis businesses, such as dispensaries and consumption areas, can be open within city limits when it passed zoning rules last year. As a result, several Las Cruces dispensaries made a show of opening their doors just after midnight April 1, the first day of legal sales in New Mexico, to become some of the first retailers in the state to legally sell recreational cannabis. At a council meeting Monday, councilors took up a resolution which would have established operating hours, but the council voted it down 6-1 after advocates, including representatives from the local cannabis industry, argued it could stem the industry's growth. Mayor Ken Miyagishima was the only councilor to vote yes. With the council's decision, retailers could sell cannabis to adults over 21 at any hour of the day, and a Las Cruces cannabis consumption lounge could theoretically operate 24/7. City staff had proposed operating hours which mirrored the hours for businesses selling alcohol. Per state law, liquor stores can be open between 7 a.m. and midnight, and bars can sell alcohol for on-site consumption between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. the following day. The hours proposed were also in line with Dona Ana County's established operating hours for cannabis businesses. More: 'Got dank?' Here's where to buy legal weed in Las Cruces, Dona Ana County Throughout the process of zoning cannabis businesses, the city's stated goal has been to treat cannabis the same as alcohol in most regards. But most councilors called the association between cannabis and alcohol problematic, arguing that alcohol is a more dangerous substance. Cannabis users at Sol Cannabis, a cannabis consumption lounge in Las Cruces, are pictured April 20, 2022. "I personally don't want to continue supporting the narrative that associates cannabis with alcohol," District 4 Councilor Johana Bencomo said. "I don't want this industry to just survive. I want it to thrive, and I think in order for us to do that, we have to separate (the two)." Story continues "There's a bit of a tendency to add additional scrutiny to cannabis retailers," District 5 Councilor Becky Corran said. "I think considering cannabis as something that we should make a moral judgment on, which this feels like in creating a parity with alcohol, is problematic." RELATED: Cannabis sales at pharmacy next to New America school denied by Las Cruces zoning board Local New Mexico governments have individual control over where and when they allow cannabis businesses to operate within their jurisdictions. Towns, counties and cities can't completely opt out, however, like in some other states which have legalized cannabis. Proponents argued overregulating the market won't help the nascent industry thrive and declining to set operating hours would further discourage black market sales. For patients who use cannabis for medical conditions, proponents also said they should have access at all hours. "What we're trying to do as an industry is we're trying to end the stigma on cannabis," said Chad Lozano, a cannabis lead tech grower with Knarly Farmers. "Us treating (cannabis) like alcohol isn't helping anybody." Las Cruces could maximize its excise tax revenue and boost its national recognition by declining to set operating hours, Lozano argued. Sylvia Herrera, drug court programs manager with the 3rd Judicial District, argued to the council that medical use of cannabis differs from recreational use. She supported operating hours. "It is a mind-altering substance," Herrera said. "It is more than just for medical use If a person has a prescription, normally they'll keep enough medication with them so that they don't need to go and pick up medication at 2 or 3 in the morning when maybe they're already under the influence of it." Following the vote, Lozano said he was surprised at the council's decison. "I'm also relieved that they (voted it down)," Lozano said. "I'm very excited for the industry here, and that just proves that (the city council) are going to be supportive in the future." Michael McDevitt is a city and county government reporter for the Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces votes down operating hours for cannabis businesses Zelensky answers question that graduating seniors answer before gaining admission to Stanford: What matters most and why? President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the most important thing for him today is weapons, sanctions, finances, the blocking and confiscation of all Russian assets, a fair tribunal for war criminals, an updated effective security architecture and a complete restoration of peaceful life. So, speaking Friday via video link to the Stanford University community, he answered the question that students usually answer before gaining admission to Stanford: "What matters most and why?" "I have been answering this question for a very long time, more than 93 days, when I try to give my country everything it needs so that we can survive, defend our freedom and, in the end, win," he said. "Here is my answer. Pragmatic. Weapons that will help overcome the technical and quantitative superiority of the Russian army. Sanctions that will stop the flow of money for Russian terror. Finances that will allow Ukraine to maintain social normalcy while the war continues," he said, continuing: "Blockade and confiscation of all Russian assets in foreign jurisdictions that should be used to rebuild everything that this Russian army has destroyed. A fair tribunal against all war criminals who killed, tortured, raped and deported our citizens. Updated efficient security architecture that will prevent such new wars in the world. And, of course, a complete restoration of normal peaceful life in our country." He said that "on February 24, a full-scale war against Ukraine began, when 18-year-old Russian guys, military men, entered our country and entered the homes of our people. To kill, torture, rape... And exactly three months later, on May 24, on the other side of the globe, in Texas, an 18-year-old guy entered a regular school to kill 19 children and 2 adults." "We live in a terrible time when Americans express condolences to Ukrainians over the deaths in war. And Ukrainians express condolences to Americans over the deaths in peace. Please accept my condolences," he said. "Our cities are destroyed. Our sea is still blocked. But we remain free," Zelensky said. On a Sunday afternoon in June 1965, research scientist Caryl Haskins addressed 1,038 University of Delaware graduates sitting in folding chairs on the campus mall. Among the graduates was Joseph R. Biden Jr., a history and political science major. Haskins encouraged the graduates to explore the new careers proffered by the scientific revolution while warning of the potential pitfalls of a world too far adrift from spiritual values and "humanistic endeavor." Senator Tom Carper (left) and President Joe Biden share a laugh at the start of the University of Delaware's 2022 Commencement at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Biden's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, sits behind them. Fifty-seven years later Biden returned to Newark in Haskins' place, addressing Blue Hen graduates for the first time as the 46th president of the United States. His message Saturday to the class was one often recited at graduation ceremonies but delivered with the force of the White House seal. They are entering the world at a pivotal moment and have the power to decide "who we are" as a nation. President Joe Biden briefly greets graduates after the University of Delaware's 2022 Commencement at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, May 28, 2022. "The challenges are immense, foreign and domestic, but so are the possibilities," Biden said. Biden took the stage at Delaware Stadium south of the university's main campus to loud applause sporting his signature aviator sunglasses under sunny skies. The morning's presenters filled their remarks with references to Biden's career accomplishments and many made note that any of the 6,411 graduates could be the second UD alum to become president. In the course of his 28-minute speech, Biden told the story of a small-town Delaware kid who barely made it through school and was never pegged as the nation's next leader. His Claymont family struggled to meet the $300 tuition for him and his sister, Valerie, he said. President Joe Biden delivers the main address during the University of Delaware's 2022 Commencement at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Of his sister, who now chairs the public policy institute at UD that bears their family name, Biden said, "she graduated with honors, I graduated." The Archmere Academy alum, who once spent his days rehearsing lines about the Phillies to use on his paper route to work through a stutter, said his time at UD gave him the confidence to seek public office and begin making changes during the civil rights era. Story continues Today, Biden said, America faces many similar challenges as "forces of evil" impede progress on many fronts. Graduates lean into the selfie being taken from the platform by University President Dennis Assanis with President Joe Biden during the University of Delaware's 2022 Commencement at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Biden made reference to the recent shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people died, including 19 children, and at The Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people were killed. Related: Innocents lost: Uvalde attack leaves broken lives, fractured public trust in law enforcement "In the face of such destructive forces, we have to stand stronger," Biden said. "We cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can make America safer." Biden recalled how after his son Beau died from brain cancer in 2015, he had no interest in running for president in 2016. He said the following year, when white supremacists marched through Charlottesville, Virginia, with torches, uttering Nazi phrases from decades earlier, he decided he needed to do something. "This is no time to be on the sidelines," he said Saturday. Biden had been UD's commencement speaker four times previously. Saturday, he became the first sitting president to give the address. In 1918, William Howard Taft spoke at the ceremony for Delaware College five years after the end of his presidency. President Joe Biden gestures to the crowd during the University of Delaware's 2022 Commencement at Delaware Stadium, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Biden on Friday spoke at the Naval Academy's graduation and commissioning ceremony. He's scheduled to travel to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to meet with the families of victims of Tuesday's shooting. "No generation gets to choose what world they graduate into," Biden said in his closing remarks. "None. But a few generations enter at a point in history where they have the power to change the trajectory of a nation. "And you can. When I sat where you are in the mid-'60s, I believed we could." Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Biden in University of Delaware speech says graduates are entering pivotal moment SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched Us, they May 24 series finale episode of This Is Us. Though the series finale of This Is Us gave fans a chance to say goodbye to almost every member of the extended Pearson family in some way or another, Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) played the most pivotal part of any character in the shows final installment. More from Variety In the future timeline set on the day of Rebeccas (Mandy Moore) funeral, Randall was finding out hes going to have a grandson by his daughter Deja, who plans to name the baby William after Randalls biological father (played by Ron Cephas Jones), making the decision along with his wife Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) that he will run for President of the United States, and promising his siblings Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) they will all stay connected. In the past, Randalls younger self (Lonnie Chavis) and Kevin learn to shave from his father Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) on a lazy day in, and little Randall looking at Jack, as Jack looks at his family, is the last frame of the entire series. That shot comes immediately after one of older Randall watching his whole family spending time together after Rebeccas funeral. Variety spoke with Brown about shooting the final episode, where it leaves Randall, and why he thinks This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman chose to focus a large portion of the ending on his characters future. What was it like seeing that scene between you and Ron Cephas Jones as William that was filmed back in Season 1 and banked for the finale? Watching it as an actor was like, Oh, my God, we shot that Season 1. It sort of, like, took my breath away and made me appreciate this dude named Fogelman all that much more in that he was able to find a way and a theme to incorporate that scene that made sense. Theres this continuation of life and William fits into that as well; he was the grandfather for his children and now hes gone. And now Randall is about to be the grandfather for his daughter, who didnt even get a chance to meet William, but she knew him because she knows me. I feel that sometimes when I look at my children, Im like, I know you guys have never met my dad, but youve met me. So in some shape or form or fashion, you have met him. It just goes back to [Kevins] whole painting thing again, and how everybody imprints upon your life, and even though they are physically gone, their imprint is still there. Story continues What was your reaction to the news that Randall is having a grandson? Im so happy for that dude. It was something he was sort of excited about when they were first looking to adopt. And the research that we did found its an easier transition bringing someone in of the same sex than bringing someone of the opposite sex because your natural-born children could have this feeling, if theyre both of the same sex, that maybe Dad feels incomplete in us and that he needed something in a boy. So it was actually in their research, which Randall and Beth obviously did, that this was actually a more seamless transition, in terms of us opening up our family. So I was so excited for him. And I think it was something in the air. Dan just had a little boy, Mandy just had a little boy, Chris Sullivan just had a little boy. How great would it be for this real-life father of two boys, TV-dad of three girls to finally have a little testosterone in the crib. I was very excited. Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, Sterling K. Brown as Randall in This Is Us Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC - Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC Ron Batzdorff/NBC Randall tells his siblings he and Beth are deciding if theyll go for the deep-fried Oreos at the Iowa State Fair, a clear indication hes considering running for president and meeting with the key players in the midwest that could help him get elected and the Democratic National Committee. What did you think of the end of Randalls journey being a bid for the presidential race, and do you think hell win that election? The arc is really exciting for someone who has always wanted to be of service. Specifically to the Black community, but I think hes the kind of person who just cares about people and peoples well-being. So that type of person occupying public office in the highest office encourages me because I think he is relatively egoless. Relatively. It still takes a little bit of chutzpah to say, I should run this country. Thats probably just a healthy sense of self, and an appropriate one in the case of Randall. Not one that Sterling K. Brown shared, not a job I want by any stretch of the imagination. But for Randall Pearson, that excites me. Do I think hell win? He had that conversation with his mom where he said, If I run for Senate, and if I win, I dont know where itll end. And she said, I know exactly where it would end. So I have hope that the people at the Iowa State Fair may take a shine to this quirky, yet charismatic dude and recognize that he has the best intentions of the country at heart. I would like to say, yes. Id like to say yes and if, somewhere down the road, we happen to revisit the Pearson family in some shape or form or fashion, well get a chance to find out the answer to that question firsthand. The finale has a large focus on Randall, including the final frame being Young Randall looking at Jack in the past. Why do you think Randall was the key member of the Big Three for the series finale? A lot of Season 6 was about Kate and her relationship with Toby, and then finding closure in that, and then this new relationship that she has with Phillip; and then for Kevin, officially releasing Madison to find love for herself and then be like, OK, who is it that I want to share my life with now? Those were two huge storylines, and Im hoping that folks are satisfied. A lot of folks were upset about how Katoby ended, but I think knowing that theyre still a part of each others lives and that just because that relationship ended didnt mean that the love went away, hopefully folks can find some sort of solace in that. Randall, at this point in time, the nature of his relationship with his mom, and the fact that he has been the parent for the longest period of time sort of made it a fitting encapsulation of, if Jack was the patriarch of this family and its inception even though, all respect to Miguel, but he is part of our most critical and founding moments then Randall is sort of the patriarch in modern times. Even though Kevin has his kids now, Randalls been doing it for a little bit longer to the point where he can now have a grandchild. I think thematically, his storyline and the space that he occupies in the family sort of helps to bring the fullness of the circle of life into realization for the show. He is watching his mother pass away, as he is also watching his daughter in the presence of baking and cooking and creating life. The dichotomy of old and new life is very present for Randall here. What was the final scene you shot with Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth and Randall? The last worst-case scenario was the last scripted scene, which Susan kills. Literally had me crying from laughing so hard. That was the last scripted scene. Then the last scene between us was at the funeral house, and Randall is sitting by himself and he looks about to exit, and his wife is waiting for him in the back of the church and they hold hands and they leave together. That was the last, last scene. And it was pretty fitting, because we spent a lot of time just holding hands. And any time Sterling as Randall held Sues hand as Beth, I just felt loved. And so it was a wonderful time to receive that love, saying goodbye to your mom. What does it feel like for This Is Us to be over? I watched Episode 618, and I cried like a baby because I thought the show was good and I thought we ended well. And thats what you hope for as somebody who remembers different series finales, fondly and otherwise, you hope to be in the category of the former. And so I had that feeling and then I had this feeling of like, its all done, Ill never get a chance to do this again. And I felt painfully sad. And I called Dan and just told him, You did it. You actually got a chance to see something through from beginning to end, and said, How do you feel? And I think he may have still had a few edits and post-production things, like VFX scenes to put in, but he said, I feel good. I got a chance to do what I wanted to do. But hes already told us, and you hear it echoed in the show, just appreciating what it is while youre still in the presence of it, so that you dont spend all your time thinking, I wish I had actually enjoyed that more. I think it made us all collectively, especially for the last four or five episodes, be like, Weve got to soak this shit in. And so I feel like we did that, and Im still real sad. I love everybody that I got a chance to go to work with for the past six years and the story that we collectively got to tell. Theyll still be a part of my life, but not like its been. Im sad. I really am sad. I miss everybody. I miss reading his words. And as Im working on something new, I think its possible to be in two places at the same time. Like Randall was mourning his moms passing and celebrating his grandsons arrival, Im working on something else and Im so happy to be creating and putting something new into the world, and Im just plain sad that my show is over. This interview has been edited and condensed. 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. Sen. Becky Whitley (center right), a Hopkinton Democrat, speaks in opposition to HB 1431, which would require public schools to inform parents of changes to their childs gender expression or identity. Gov. Chris Sununu vowed to veto a controversial parental rights bill Thursday, arguing that it could cause challenges to children, hours after Republican Senate and House negotiators had agreed to advance it. In a statement, Sununu expressed concerns over the legislation, which would require public schools to notify parents if their child brought questions about their gender identity to a staff member. This bill as written creates numerous challenges for kids, Sununu said. I share the concerns of the Attorney General and as such, will veto the bill if it reaches my desk. The statement came after a series of dramatic twists and turns for the bill, which had appeared to fall apart in negotiations Tuesday. On Thursday, House and Senate Republican leaders maneuvered to revive the bill, sending it on a potential path to Sununus desk. In its latest version, House Bill 1431 would require schools to develop policies to inform parents promptly about a number of developments with their child, including any action taken around gender expression or identity. That language mirrors a version of the bill passed by Senate Republicans weeks ago. But the new version, introduced as an amendment Thursday, also includes a severability clause that allows sections of the bill to still stand if certain portions are challenged in court and struck down. That provision could protect less controversial pieces from falling if the matter is litigated. And it features language that one Senate Republican, Sharon Carson of Londonderry, said would address concerns that information identifying victims of domestic violence could be disclosed under other sections of the bill that require schools to provide certain records. The bill has been opposed by the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office, LGBTQ+ rights groups, civil rights advocates, and teachers unions, who noted that the legislation would require schools to out trans students to their parents. They argued that doing so could be dangerous for some students and might discourage others from seeking help at school. Story continues At an earlier committee of conference meeting between House and Senate lawmakers this week, House Republican negotiators also expressed opposition to the bill, citing advocates concerns for the safety of LGBTQ children. The chambers had appeared to reach an impasse Tuesday. But on Thursday, House Speaker Sherman Packard, a Londonderry Republican, replaced two of the House negotiators on the committee with himself and House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, an Auburn Republican. The new negotiators agreed to accept the Senate amendment presented, allowing the bill to advance. Discussion in the final meeting Thursday morning was brief but heated. Sen. Becky Whitley of Hopkinton, the lone Democrat on the committee, said the new changes to the bill did not address concerns raised by LGBTQ+ advocates, and warned that the bill could have harmful effects on children whose parents are less accepting. I think that this bill is antithetical to all the work we have done in the state to ensure that individuals in this community, in the LGBT community, can live a life free from discrimination and be safe in all communities, Whitley said. Osborne responded by summarizing House and Senate Republicans position. I think its pretty clear that when children need help, their best chance of getting it is when a parent knows whats going on, he said. One House Republican, Rep. Debra DeSimone of Atkinson, appeared to reverse her position on the bill from earlier in the week. On Tuesday, DeSimone had expressed similar concerns as Whitley that the bill would put children whose parents dont accept their gender expression or identity in a harmful position. She warned it could lead to an increase in teen suicides. But on Thursday, she voted to accept the Senates position, noting to the committee that she did so begrudgingly. I think there needs to be more work done to protect the kids who do not have what every kid deserves in a parent, DeSimone said in an interview after the vote. Other House Republican members who opposed the bill, including Rep. Kimberly Rice of Hudson, were removed and replaced on the negotiating committee by Packard. The amended bill now heads back to the full House and Senate, which will vote on May 26 whether to send the bill to Gov. Chris Sununus desk. This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sununu vows veto of parental bill of rights Symone Woolridge has been named anchor of the noon and 4 p.m. newscasts at WTMJ-TV (Channel 4). Symone Woolridge has been named anchor of the noon and 4 p.m. weekday newscasts at Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV (Channel 4). Woolridge, an Evanston, Illinois, native, will join Channel 4 at the end of March, and begin her anchoring duties in mid-April, the Milwaukee NBC affiliate said in announcing her hiring Monday. Woolridge is coming to Milwaukee from WREG-TV in Memphis, Tennessee, where she was the breaking news anchor on that station's morning newscasts. Before joining WREG in 2018, she worked at stations in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Carterville, Illinois. Related: Morning news anchor Pauleen Le leaves Milwaukee's WDJT-TV (Channel 58) for a reporter job in Minneapolis Related: Veteran broadcasters Dan Needles and Terry Sater retire from WISN-TV (Channel 12) Channel 4 largely has been rotating news anchors in its noon and 4 p.m. newscasts; among them was Vince Vitrano, the morning news anchor who left television last month to host "Wisconsin's Morning News" on WTMJ-AM (620). As with many moves in TV news, proximity to family appeared to be a factor in Woolridge's decision to join Channel 4. My family still lives in Illinois and, after pursuing my career hours away from them, I now get to continue doing what I love with them right here with me as they watch and support me from a front-row seat," Woolridge said in a statement released by the station. "This move means a lot to them and to me. Its certainly a full-circle moment. Im back near where I started and who I started with. Contact Chris Foran at chris.foran@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cforan12. THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. Help us share the knowledge by buying a gift subscription. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Symone Woolridge joining Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV (Channel 4) as anchor A lawsuit filed Tuesday morning is taking aim at Wisconsin Republicans who submitted their own slate of presidential electors after the 2020 presidential campaign and asking a judge to declare that action unlawful. The lawsuit, which was filed in state court in the state capital, Madison, by Democratic presidential electors and another Wisconsin voter, names the defendants as 10 GOP electors and two others "who conspired with, aided, and abetted them." The complaint says that the defendants "helped lay the groundwork for the events of January 6, 2021" and "helped lay the foundation for a nationwide scheme to override the results of the 2020 election" when they submitted a Republican slate of presidential electors on December 14, 2020. "They did so even though they knew that Biden and Harris had won the election in Wisconsin; even though those results had been recounted and certified; and even though Trump and Pence had exhausted all available legal mechanisms for challenging the outcome," the complaint alleged. "The Wisconsin fraudulent electors and their counterparts in the other swing States purported to cast electoral votes for Trump and Pence because they hoped to lay the foundation for Pence and Congress to count their ballots on January 6, 2021, and to reject those cast by the real electors who had won the popular vote." The plaintiffs allege that the act of submitting a false slate of electors was part of an attempt by Trump and his allies "to overturn the election results by assembling slates of fraudulent presidential electors in select swing States where he had lost." Pence rejected the theory that the alternate electors could be counted instead of legally-cast electors. Congress ultimately certified the election for President Biden in the early hours of January 7, 2021, hours after Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol and delayed the count. The plaintiffs are asking a Wisconsin judge to declare that submitting the slate of electors was unlawful. They also want the individuals to be banned from being involved with the presidential elector process again in Wisconsin because they say there's a chance that the defendants or people inspired by them "will violate these criminal prohibitions again in the future." Story continues "The individuals named in this case schemed to hijack Wisconsin's role in selecting the president of the United States and to override the will of the voters," Jeff Mandell, president of the liberal firm Law Forward and an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. "These fraudulent electors crossed a line. Their disregard for the law helped lay the groundwork for the insurrection of January 6th. We can't allow this to ever happen again." Shortly after the GOP electors met in Madison that day, the Wisconsin Republican Party released a statement saying that the group had met to preserve legal options for the Trump campaign. "While President Trump's campaign continues to pursue legal options for Wisconsin, Republican electors met today in accordance with statutory guidelines to preserve our role in the electoral process with the final outcome still pending in the courts," former Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt said in a statement on Dec. 14, 2020. The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously concluded in March that the GOP electors didn't violate any laws because those involved said publicly and in legal filings "that they were meeting to preserve legal options while litigation was pending." CBS News has attempted to contact the defendants and will update with any responses. CBS News previously reported that Michigan GOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock said at an event earlier this year that "the Trump campaign asked us" to submit a document claiming that the state's 16 Electoral College votes should go to Trump. Wisconsin and Michigan were two of several battleground states that sent slates of electors falsely claiming that Trump won those states. The liberal advocacy group American Oversight posted copies of those documents last year. The Wisconsin Republicans met in December 2020 shortly after the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected an attempt by the Trump campaign to challenge the results of the state's recount, which showed Mr. Biden had won the state by more than 20,600 votes. The Trump campaign challenged that ruling at the U.S. Supreme Court, but the petition was denied in February 2021. The lawsuit cites two memos written by defendant Kenneth Chesebro to Jim Troupis, who represented Trump's campaign in the recount and is also named as a defendant, in which Cheseboro laid out steps for Republicans to take "so that the votes might be eligible to be counted if later recognized (by a court, the state legislature, or Congress) as the valid ones that actually count in the presidential election." The complaint alleges that the GOP electors took those steps "because they intended for their purported votes to be counted, even though they knew they were not the lawfully elected presidential electors for the State of Wisconsin." The lawsuit alleges the actions by the electors also paved the way for a partisan investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin and eroded trust in elections among some voters in the state. The investigator leading that review suggested in March that the state legislature should "look very hard at the option of decertification of the 2020 election," even though the legislature's nonpartisan attorneys have said that isn't possible. The House Committee investigating the January 6 attack has issued subpoenas to people who participated as "alternate electors" during the 2020 election. A federal judge in March ruled that conservative attorney John Eastman, who was a driving force behind the plan to reject electoral votes in key battleground states, had to turn over a batch of emails to the House committee. Eastman has fought to shield another 3,200 documents from that committee. Rob Legare, Ellis Kim, Zak Hudak and Melissa Quinn contributed reporting High school student runs sub-4 minute mile, breaking record set in 1965 Biden says "hate will not prevail" after meeting with victims' families in Buffalo President Biden, first lady pay their respects after Buffalo shooting FILE - Tourists in traditional Japanese kimonos walk in Asakusa district in Tokyo, July 27, 2020. Japan will reopen its borders to foreign tourists June 10, 2022, but only to package tour participants for now, officials said Thursday, as the country starts to cautiously open its borders to foreign tourism for the first time in about two years. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) TOKYO 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, the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore. That experiment, which involves only 50 people who received special visas, not tourist visas, is to end May 31. NEW ZEALAND, LAOS, MYANMAR: Countries continue to relax COVID-19 restrictions for globetrotters GET READY, GAMERS: Super Nintendo World is coming to the US next year Free and active exchange of people is the foundation of economy and society, as well as that of Asias development, Kishida told his speech at a Tokyo hotel Thursday. Japan, while watching the infection situation, will gradually accept more tourists in stages to the level of arrivals before the pandemic, he added. 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. It will take some time before foreign visitors can come to Japan for individual tourism, Shimoaraiso said. THEY FELT LIKE AN OUTSIDER IN THE U.S.: Now they explore self-expression in Japan Story continues THIS IS AMERICA: The cultural significance behind some emojis People walk along a pedestrian crossing in the tourist district of Asakusa, near the landmark Tokyo Skytree tower in Tokyo, Japan on July 31, 2021. Japan this week also eased requests for mask wearing. While masks are still requested on public transportation, hospitals and other public facilities, people can take off masks outdoors where others are not around or talking. Despite the easing, most Japanese so far are seen sticking to wearing masks in public. Japans tourism industry, hit hard by the border controls, is eager for foreign tourism to resume. COVID-19 infections have slowed in Japan since earlier this year and the government is gradually expanding social and economic activity. Kishida said during a visit to London earlier this month that he planned to ease the border controls as early as June in line with the policies of other Group of Seven industrialized countries, but gave no further details. Foreign tourist arrivals fell more than 90% in 2020 from a record 31.9 million the year before, almost wiping out the pre-pandemic inbound tourism market of more than $31 billion. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan reopening to some tourists starting in June: Who can visit An ongoing Department of Commerce investigation into whether China is circumventing tariffs on its solar energy products is slowing the expansion of solar power capacity in the U.S., according to industry and outside experts. In the blink of an eye, were going to lose 100,000 American solar workers and any hope of reaching the presidents clean energy goals, Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energies Industry Association (SEIA), said in a statement late last month. On March 25, James Maeder, the deputy assistant secretary of commerce for anti-dumping and countervailing duty operations, announced an investigation into whether crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam that use components from China violate tariffs on Chinese solar imports. Pending the outcome of that investigation, tariffs could be applied even retroactively, for recent purchases to solar panels from those four Southeast Asian countries. Solar panel installers anxious not to run up what could potentially be a huge tax bill are therefore avoiding buying panels from those major suppliers and are often unable to fulfill orders. A worker assembles a solar battery at Irex Energy JSC's manufacturing facility in Vung Tau, Vietnam, in 2019. (Yen Duong/Bloomberg via Getty Images) As a result, on April 27, after surveying its members on the effect the investigation is having, the SEIA cut by 46% its forecast for new solar installations in 2022 and 2023. A May 10 analysis by Rystad Energy, an independent energy research consulting company, found a potentially even more dramatic contraction in the solar industry, concluding that 64% of the 27 gigawatts of new solar capacity that was to be installed in this year is in jeopardy. With new tariffs potentially being imposed in August, clean energy advocates and experts say the problems may only grow worse in the months ahead. Imports have fallen off, projects are being canceled, and projections of growth are being revised radically downward, David Roberts, host of the podcast Volts, said Wednesday. The tariffs could be anywhere from 30%-250%, which would radically change the economics of big solar projects, and, if applied, will be retrospective over the last two years, which means even existing contracts are in jeopardy. The uncertainty has cast a pall over the entire sector. Story continues President Biden is publicly committed to expanding solar capacity as quickly as possible to combat climate change. The White House has issued press releases and fact sheets touting its administrative moves to encourage the installation of wind turbines and solar panels on federal lands and waters, and the president has proposed tens of billions of dollars in subsidies for rooftop solar panels in his budget reconciliation package. In June 2019, while running for president, Joe Biden walks past solar panels at the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative in Plymouth, N.H. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) The administration is caught between its climate goals and its desire to protect American manufacturers from unfair trade practices. If China can produce cheaper solar panels, with or without a government subsidy, it benefits American consumers and helps speed up the replacement of fossil fuels that cause greenhouse gas emissions. But allowing a rival to dominate the supply chain of growing U.S. energy sources could be risky, as Europe has seen with its reliance on Russian oil and gas. Every president wants to create domestic manufacturing jobs, which tend to pay relatively well, especially for those without a college degree. In 2012, the Obama administration imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panel components increasing the cost by 24% to 36% when it found that, in violation of trade agreements, Chinese manufacturers were unfairly undercutting American competitors by using loans from the Chinese government to produce more panels at lower prices. (Tariffs have since increased to as much as 250%.) The measure was supposed to bolster American solar manufacturing, but it didnt work out that way. In March 2012, President Barack Obama tours Sempra's Copper Mountain Solar 1 facility in Boulder City, Nev. (Julie Jacobson/AP) What happened was not that American domestic manufacturing flourished. What happened was: The same Chinese manufacturers decided to locate some of their supply chain in other countries, Marcelo Ortega, an analyst at Rystad Energy who produced its recent report, told Yahoo News. Those countries include the four in Southeast Asia at issue in this case. As U.S. imports of solar panels from China fell, imports from these other countries rose just as fast. In February, Auxin Solar, a U.S. manufacturer of solar modules, filed a complaint with the Commerce Department, which is responsible for enforcing the tariffs, claiming that the solar manufacturers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are making an end run around the tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic cells. Imports from those countries accounted for 85% of all imported U.S. solar power capacity installed in 2021 and 99% of solar imports in the first two months of this year, according to Rystads analysis. Companies that provide solar panels to U.S. customers say their business has been thrown for a loop. It makes deploying solar simply just more difficult and more expensive, Gabe Phillips, CEO of Catalyst Power, a retail energy provider and solar developer, told Yahoo News. On the distributed solar side, the pricing's all over the place. They can't commit to pricing. They'll give me a price, with the caveat that it's contingent on the outcome of this case. Its stymieing the sales process. Employees in Nantong City, in China's Jiangsu province, work on the solar panel production line at a workshop of Jiangsu Fox Group on April 18. (Zhai Huiyong/VCG via Getty Images) Apart from the uncertainty in pricing, the process of providing a customer with solar energy has become slower and less reliable. Suppliers dont want to take the risk of being slapped with a potential 100% import tariff, Ortega said. When the SEIA surveyed its members, 83% reported that purchases had recently been canceled or delayed. At the moment, the products we're seeking to market have been pushed back at least a quarter, Phillips said. There's less expectation of panel availability, and therefore dates for projects are being pushed back. The White House declined to comment on the record, noting that it does not get involved in legal proceedings such as the current Commerce Department investigation, but it reiterated the presidents commitment to deploying solar power. "While we cannot comment on an ongoing, independent judicial investigation, the process cannot factor in policy or our solar strategy, a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity wrote in an email. President Biden remains committed to standing up clean solar energy across the country to lower energy bills for families, create good-paying union jobs, and grow our clean energy economy. As the president has made clear from the earliest days of the campaign, solar power is at the heart of his agenda for cutting energy costs for American families, creat[ing] good jobs, and fight[ing] the climate crisis that is already causing unprecedented harm to our economy and national security. Electricians install solar panels at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, N.Y., in November 2021. (Mary Altaffer/AP) The solar industrys answer is to build up American solar manufacturing without resorting to jacking up the price on imports. I understand the detriment to American manufacturing that dumping causes, Phillips said. However, Im not sure that I have a problem with the Chinese government subsidizing American renewable energy development. There are other ways that we could support our own domestic manufacturing of solar panels, other than sticking a tariff on someone else's solar panels. We could do what China does and subsidize [it]. There must be tools that are available. The Department of Commerce did not respond to a request for comment. Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention on May 27, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Donald Trump headlined a conference for the NRA just 72 hours after the massacre in Uvalde, Texas. The former president offered solutions on school safety, rather than gun control measures. He called out Greg Abbott for not attending the conference in person. Donald Trump mocked Texas Governor Greg Abbott for not appearing in person at a National Rifle Association conference in Houston Friday just days after the deadly shooting in the governor's home state. The former president and several other Republican politicians appeared at the event, which happened despite the tragic events in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school. Abbott backed out of his scheduled appearance, instead, appearing in a pre-recorded video and later giving a press conference in Uvalde. "Unlike some, I didn't disappoint you by not showing up," Trump said. The former president's remarks lasted nearly an hour, often shifting from the topic of guns to his past presidency. He also read the name of the victims killed in the Robb Elementary massacre while a gong chimed in the background. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas also attended the conference, which drew scores of protestors, including many children, calling for gun reform measures. Two Texas Republicans Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Sen. John Cornyn said Wednesday they could no longer attend the conference. Crenshaw is currently in Ukraine with fellow Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and won't make it back in time, while Cornyn said he had an "unexpected change in his schedule." A statement from the NRA said the shooting was a product 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 added. Read the original article on Business Insider An illegally dumped debris heap, which included numerous scrap tires, recently was removed from a vacant site in the 2000 block of Central Avenue SE in Canton Township. CANTON TWP. An illegally dumped debris heap, which included dozens of scrap tires, has been removed from a vacant site in the 2000 block of Central Avenue SE. Law enforcement authorities are estimating the junk was dumped between early January and early March. "I don't see anything listed as witnesses or suspects right now," said Chief Deputy John Oliver of the Stark County Sheriff's Office. "It is trespassing and littering. It is a criminal act." More: Canton Township files suit over property filled with junk More: Former Malvern restaurant among structures targeted for demolition in Carroll County Tack Enterprises is property owner The site is about just south of the Canton border. Tack Enterprises, a Jackson Township-based limited liability company, is the listed property owner, according to Stark County real estate records. However, township officials identify the property owner as local business operator Anthony Codispoti. "When we contacted him about this, he got it resolved fairly quickly," township Zoning Inspector Michael Hanshaw said. "I don't know specifically who cleaned it up." Attempts to contact Codispoti were not successful. The lead agent for Tack Enterprises is Vincent Codispoti, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. When asked to provide an estimate of how many tires were discarded at the site, Hanshaw said, "anywhere from 200 to 250. That would be conservative." Normally, when an exorbitant amount of scrap tires is illegally discarded, the health department in the respective county participates in the cleanup. Efforts to contact key officials with the Stark County Health Department were not successful. "It is unfortunate to see tires and debris dumped anywhere in Canton Township," township Trustee Mark Shaffer said. "I thought we were on a better trajectory. This was on purpose." Reach Malcolm at 330-814-4717 or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com Story continues On Twitter: mhallREP An illegally dumped debris heap, which included numerous scrap tires, recently was removed from a vacant site in the 2000 block of Central Avenue SE in Canton Township. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Illegal debris, tires dumped on Central Avenue SE in Canton Township Experts are questioning whether having the U.S. military haul hundreds of thousands of pounds of baby formula from Europe to America can make a dent in the critical shortage. On Wednesday, first lady Jill Biden and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy were at Dulles International Airport to meet the second military flight carrying infant formula from overseas. The symbolic gesture, part of Operation Fly Formula the program President Biden launched last week to expedite shipments of formula to mitigate the national shortage may be more of a sign than a solution, said Peter Pitts, a former associate commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration. On the one hand, its political theater because the president wants to be seen to be doing something and so I appreciate that [but] its actual impact is limited, said Pitts. The U.S. military on Sunday delivered the first shipment of baby formula from Switzerland to Indiana to help alleviate the nationwide shortage, largely caused by supply chain issues and recent recalls of several products over contamination concerns. Our team is working around the clock to get safe formula to everyone who needs it, Biden tweeted alongside photos of the cargo, noting that it weighed more than 70,000 pounds. The shipment, which included three types of formula for children allergic to cow milk proteins, accounts for about 15 percent of needed specialty formula, with more on the way, according to National Economic Council director Brian Deese. And Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the shipment would provide enough formula to feed 9,000 babies and 18,000 toddlers for a week. The second shipment on Wednesday, to be distributed from a Nestle facility in Pennsylvania, weighed 100,000 pounds and is expected up the total formula supply to the equivalent of 1.5 million eight-ounce bottles. But the two shipments alone are not enough to quell demand, Nada Sanders, a professor of supply chain management at Northeastern Universitys DAmore-McKim School of Business, told The Hill. Story continues I did not see this as this gesture as much as I saw that the only way it could possibly have any meaning is to actually be the beginning of a number of shipments that would be coming, Sanders said, noting that the combined 170,000 pounds of formula is nothing to quell current demand and the military would need to facilitate many more of the flights. However, its my understanding that this is just going to be the beginning, she added. Pitts, who is now president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, also said the specific, hypoallergenic type of formula delivered in the first and second shipment though important will do little to mitigate the limited supply availability across the board. I think if the president had said, you know, this is not the solution to the problem, but its something we can do right now for those infants most at risk, I think that would have been [better] than a grand announcement thats going to have significant but limited impact for the majority of American parents, he said. The Biden administration has scrambled to fix a major shortage that seemed to catch it by surprise. Jill Biden on Wednesday said theres more to do, to address the crisis, and said the shipments are only one part of the strategy. I am here today to say to parents: You arent alone, she said in remarks. At the highest levels of Joes Administration, he and his team understand what you are going through. They wont stop until every parent can get the formula their child needs. And FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on Thursday estimated that within two months formula supply in America should be beyond normal. Sanders, however, predicted it would take upwards of three months to get production back on track and alleviate the shortage. I think the best-case scenario, if . . . everything was functioning perfectly, it would really take two to three months to get the production process, deliveries to be functioning, she said. The U.S. formula market is largely controlled by four manufacturers: Abbott, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Nestle USA and Perrigo. The companies make 90 percent of the infant formula sold in the U.S., with Abbott taking the lions share at 40 percent. A recall and closure at Abbotts facility in Michigan this year threw a wrench into the U.S. supply chain, which was already strained since 2021 by supply chain shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Another issue, Sanders pointed out, is supplies of a major ingredient in some formulas, sunflower seed oil, has been hampered by Russias attack on Ukraine. About 50 percent of the worlds supply of the oil comes from Russia and Ukraine, she explained, and if the shortage continues, we could end up with another thing that is slowing down availability of formula because substituting ingredients in baby food is not something that you can do on the fly. In addition to the military shipments, Biden last week invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA), a Cold Warera law that gives the commander-in-chief major emergency authority to control domestic industries. Pitt, however, said the DPA enactment was largely a symbol, as the act isnt meant to facilitate the delivery of already made formula from outside the U.S. into the country. What the Defense Production Act does is prioritize delivery to baby formula manufacturers all the ingredients that they need, and those ingredients are largely corn syrup, rice, starch, and protein derived from cows milk commodities, he told The Hill. Not one serving of baby formula has been delayed because of ingredients supply chain issues with those companies. He added that the act hasnt been necessary, but could be in the future if there are shortages in ingredients. But youre dealing with commodities of which there are no shortage. . . this country has enough corn syrup to to fill the Atlantic Ocean. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The combat losses of the Russian occupation army over the past day amounted to about 250 personnel, and since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have amounted to about 30,000 people, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has reported. According to a report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, the total combat losses of the enemy from February 24 to May 28 were approximately: personnel - about 30,000 (250 more) people liquidated, tanks - 1330 (8 more) units, armored combat vehicles - 3258 (12 more) units , artillery systems - 628 (5 more), MLRS - 203 (2 more) units, air defense systems - 93 (0) units, aircraft - 207 (1 more) units, helicopters - 174 (4 more) units. , UAVs of the operational-tactical level - 503 (0), cruise missiles - 116 (1 more), ships / boats - 13 (0) units, automotive equipment and tankers - 2226 (0) units, special equipment - 48 (0). "The greatest losses of the enemy (last day) were observed in the Avdiyivka and Kryvy Rih directions," the General Staff said. At the same time, the General Staff said that the data are being specified. DURANGO The Perins Peak Fire has been downsized a bit by fire managers, but fire officials say that despite progress made on establishing fire lines and the arrival of two additional hotshot crews they arent taking any chances. "The Perins Peak Fire saw no growth during yesterdays operational period, and it was mapped at 102 acres," a Thursday morning news release from the Bureau of Land Management Colorado Southwest District said. "Firefighters made good progress working with multiple single engine airtankers and helicopters to construct and secure fireline. Engine crews installed a hose lay to the heel of the fire and patrolled the Rockwood neighborhood." Perins Peak Public Meeting, May 25, 2022 Fire officials said in an online update Wednesday night that evacuation orders remain in effect despite the fact the fire did not spread. The fire began Tuesday afternoon two miles west of Durango on Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands and quickly spread to what was first estimated at 105 acres. More: Perins Peak Fire northwest of Durango has charred 100 acres; pre-evacuation plans posted UPDATE: Perins Peak Fire northwest of Durango reaches 36% containment Thursday evening No cause has yet been determined. The cause of the fire is under investigation and is suspected to be a human-caused ignition," a Bureau of Land Management news release stated Wednesday. Fire managers said the fire can only be reached on foot. "Hot shot crews hiked into the fire early this morning to continue line construction," the BLM news release said. "Heavy aircraft usage will continue today as crews work to secure the fireline prior to the incoming Red Flag conditions. Fire managers expect to show some containment on the incident by the end of shift today." A Chinook helicopter drops water on the Perins Peak Fire. Red streaks of retardant from air tankers line the fire's flanks in a photo released by the Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch on their Facebook page May 25. The #PerinsPeakFire saw no growth today, and has been mapped at 100 acres, fire managers said in Wednesday night's online update. Ground crews made progress putting in direct containment line with support of helicopters and single engine air tankers, the release said. Story continues On Thursday morning Operations Section Chief Brad Pietruszka announced the arrival or two new hotshot crews and said they would be flown up the mountain to work on fire lines while others made their way to the fire site from below. "No growth overnight, things are looking really mellow out here," Pietruszka said in a video update posted to the Durango Fire & Rescue Facebook page Thursday morning. Fire managers said the threat of the blaze becoming more active still exists as a result of heavy, dry fuels and continued dry weather. More: Fire restrictions to go into effect soon on Navajo Nation Perins Peak Fire northwest of Durango has charred 100 acres; pre-evacuation plans posted On Wednesday crews reported on the Inciweb site there was moderate fire behavior with uphill runs and some short-range spotting. Information posted on the Inciweb site also indicates that winds may be a factor Thursday and beyond. Winds begin shifting to southwest and increasing (Thursday), fire managers said when assessing the fire's outlook. They said a fire weather watch was "issued for Friday/Saturday, potentially through the weekend and into early next week for low humidity and strong southwest winds. Fire managers projected that winds will next begin shifting westward, which will test control lines on the east flank of the fire. Significant shale outcrops exist which will slow spread of the fire to the east. Trails closed, drones banned and pre-evacuation orders still in effect for Perins Peak Fire Pre-evacuation orders established Tuesday when the fire was rapidly spreading are still in place, fire officials said. Areas affected are: County Road 208 and the Dry Fork and Rock Ridge subdivisions County Road 206 to Highway 160. Go to the La Plata County website or call 970-385-8700 for additional information. Authorities on Tuesday advised people to go to https://tinyurl.com/bdcv9s6a to find a map and information on pre-evacuations. Are there fires near me? Track burning Colorado, New Mexico smoke and wildfires on this map. Fire managers reminded the public that Durangos city government has closed access to the Overend Mountain Park and Twin Buttes trails to allow emergency workers to have unfettered access if needed. The existing seasonal closure of Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Durango Perins Peak State Wildlife Area is also in effect. Perins Peak Fire morning update from Operations Section Chief Brad Pietruszka. Posted by Durango Interagency Fire Dispatch on Thursday, May 26, 2022 USDA Forest Service - San Juan National Forest Junction Creek Campground remains open and outside of the pre-evacuation area, the release said. They also noted that the fire scene is a no-fly area for drones, which interfere with aerial firefighting operations. The InciWeb sites fire map is available to the public for regular updates on wildfires at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8120/ Contact John R. Moses at 505-564-4624, or via email at jmoses@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Work continues to contain Perins Peak Fire near Durango, Colorado An overwhelming majority of respondents in a new poll close to 60 percent say they would back Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) should the Republican primary be held today. Polling released by boutique consulting firm ARW Strategies showed that Kemp received 59.4 percent of support among respondents in comparison to Republican gubernatorial challenger, former Sen. David Perdues (R-Ga.) 21.5 percent. The polling also found that Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R-Ga.) would receive 58.5 percent of the vote should the Republican primary be held today. The next highest percentage received by a Republican candidate is Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black at 9.7 percent. The development comes just weeks ahead of the gubernatorial May 24 primary as recent polling continues to show Kemp outpacing Perdue. A InsiderAdvantage/FOX 5 Atlanta poll published on Monday shows Kemp receiving 54 percent support compared to Perdues 38 percent. Kemps campaign confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday that former Vice President Mike Pences former chief of staff, Marc Short, had joined the governors campaign as a senior adviser, illustrating how seriously Republicans are taking the Peach States governors race. Kemp has previously drawn former President Trumps ire for refusing efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Pence has also broken with Trump over the former presidents assertions that the former vice president had the authority to overturn the election. The ARW Strategies poll was conducted between April 30 and May 1 with 600 respondents surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. They are the little flying skunks at the picnic. Sure, mosquitoes don't smell funny, but they are heck-bent on drinking your blood, with a side dish of driving you nuts. Why do they do it? So they can fuel another generation of rotters who will do the same thing. Ah, nature! You may be wondering: is there a way to predict when mosquitoes will be at their worst? After all, we're wired up with weather forecasts on our phones and TVs. Sometimes those prognosticators even get it right, as they peer into gizmos and atmospheric entrails. Are there tools that could be applied to mosquitoes? The folks from OFF! insect repellents think so. At the beginning of May, they rolled out the OFF!Cast Mosquito Forecast, an online tool that, according to a news release "accurately predicts mosquito behavior and mosquito populations in specific geographical locations." Bart Morris, assistant superintendent of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project, heads into the soggy wilderness off Bound Brook Island to apply larvicide on May 24. It's easy to use the tool and the science behind it is pretty cool. You plug in your Zip code and up pops a seven-day mosquito forecast. So far, I've only seen "Low" and "Moderate" mosquito days predicted for various locales on the Cape, but when I plugged in a Florida Everglades Zip code it produced a "Severe" prediction for the next seven days. More: Swarm buster: Mosquito control gets larvicide permit to battle biters in Wellfleet The mosquito forecasting tool uses an algorithm that includes weather and mosquito trap data and research information from the the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science (OFF is a brand of S.C. Johnson & Son, a multinational consumer products corporation). The forecasting model "is applied to the lifecycle of a mosquito, starting from when it lays eggs to when it could bite a human," according to the release. Gabrielle Sakolsky, superintendent of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project, was intrigued by the forecasting tool, but not familiar enough with it to offer a review. But she shared a handy maxim that Cape Codders can use to figure out when more mosquitoes might come calling. "Rain increases habitat," Sakolsky said. Story continues Here's how gnarly it can get for Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project crews in the field. Bart Morris, assistant superintendent of the project, cracks his way into an almost impenetrable thicket off Bound Brook Island and sprays larvicide on May 24. Cape Cod Mosquito Control crews have been spraying larvicide in areas around the Cape since April, and Sakolsky said conditions are "quite dry" in swampy areas, meaning some already-laid mosquito eggs haven't been ignited to life by water. The dry conditions have also allowed crews to better access areas that might be hard to get to after a big storm fills things up. When asked if this means a mellow mosquito season all summer on Cape Cod, Sakolsky said "you can't make long-term predictions." That's because a big rain event, perhaps coupled with astronomical high tides, could fill low areas with water. Mosquito eggs, which can last for 10 years, are patiently awaiting that water, and a population boom could ensue. More: Mosquito control gets larvicide permit to battle bugs in Wellfleet On the plus side, Sakolsky was cautiously optimistic that mosquito conditions will be better this summer in the Herring River basin of Wellfleet, based on early trap data and the considerable amount of clearing and larvicide application that mosquito control crews have done out there in the past months. Sakolsky also offered concrete advice on how Cape Codders can keep mosquito numbers down around their homes. It's all about removing sneaky standing water around the outside of the property. "It can be anything," he said. "Tarps, boats, kayaks, containers and even rain gutters that are clogged or have a little dip in them." It's also a good idea to change water frequently in birdbaths. Opportunistic mosquitoes can use standing water to lay hundreds of eggs (or more), and in a week or so, a new generation of pests can arise, looking for blood. For folks who have undrainable standing water on their property, like a fountain or small pond, Sakolsky recommended a product called Mosquito Dunks. They sort of look like little larvicide doughnuts, last for 30 days, and can be broken up into pieces for small areas. More: Barnstable County tick guru touts treated clothing to beat parasite threat Mosquito Dunks "utilize a naturally-occurring type of bacteria to control mosquitoes before they become flying, biting, potentially disease-carrying adults." Dunks can be slightly irritating to bare skin, so don't get them in your eyes and wash up after using them, according to the New York State Department of Health. There was also this stunner from the health website: "Mosquitoes can breed in small pockets of water as small as a bottle cap!" So, while we don't know whether big rain events might cause mosquito population booms during the summer, there are ways to fight the standing-water battle around your home, especially after a downpour. Keep your eyes to the sky and keep things dry! This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: How to predict mosquitoes on Cape Cod: OFF! app, rain, water Endicott police said a 15-year-old made a threat on social media and will be charged Thursday with a felony after an investigation. The Endicott Police Department said a Union-Endicott High School student received a message Wednesday on social media indicating the school would be the target of an unspecified threat. Police said a similar threat was also posted on a separate social media post. Police determined the threat was a prank and the student who received the threat was not involved. Increased police patrols were put in place in the district on Thursday, with assistance from the Broome and Tioga County Sheriffs Offices and the New York State Police. The 15-year-old was released to guardians and will be charged with making a terroristic threat in Broome County Family Court, according to police. Police did not release the teenager's name. Threat deemed 'not credible': Possible school threat against Broome-Tioga BOCES investigated, determined 'not credible' Teen charged: Social media post sparks lockout at Gananda schools, teen charged Buffalo shooter indicted: Accused Buffalo shooter Payton Gendron appears in court, indicted in mass shooting On Wednesday, a 17-year-old high school student in the Gananda Central School District, Wayne County, is facing the same felony charge after allegedly posting a picture on social media that displayed what appeared to be an assault weapon, according to New York State Police. Both incidents occurred one day after 19 students and two teachers were shot to death inside an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, the deadliest shooting at a U.S. grade school since the 2012 attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut. On May 18, four days after a white 18-year-old Conklin man opened fire at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 and wounding three others in a racially motivated attack, Broome-Tioga BOCES investigated a possible threat that was eventually deemed not credible. Follow Emily Barnes on Twitter @ByEmilyBarnes. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Union-Endicott school threat leads to charge for teenager Pope Francis has said that hes willing to visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the countrys ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera published Tuesday, the pope said that nearly three weeks into the conflict, he asked a top Vatican official to send a message to the Russian leader. I wanted to make a clear gesture for the whole world to see and for this I went to the Russian ambassador, Francis told the newspaper. I asked them to explain, I said please stop. And then I asked Cardinal Parolin, after twenty days of war, to send Putin the message that I was willing to go to Moscow. The pope added that he recently spoke with Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in a 40-minute Zoom call on the matter in March. Francis noted that Kirill used 20 minutes of the call to read from prepared notes justifying the Russian invasion. Francis reportedly told Kirill in the Zoom call that he cannot turn into Putins altar boy, according to the newspaper. I listened and told him: I dont understand anything about this. Brother, we are not clerics of state, we cannot use the language of politics, but that of Jesus. We are shepherds of the same holy people of God, Francis said. For this we must seek ways of peace, to put an end to the firing of weapons. Francis has called for peace in Europe amid the brutal invasion of Ukraine, which is now on its third month. Francis has also called the killing of Ukrainian children barbarianism. Putin announced in late February that Russian forces were conducting a special military operation in Ukraine and has claimed, among other things, that Russia is engaging in the denazification of the former Soviet state. The invasion has prompted an international response against Russia with both countries governments and private companies taking disciplinary measures following the countrys invasion of Ukraine. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LAS CRUCES - In his signature cap, dress shirt and necktie, Roque Garcia welcomed guests to take bottles of water as they found their seats in the beaming sun Thursday morning in Las Cruces. In front of the downtown headquarters of Southwest Counseling Center, a ribbon-cutting officially marked the reopening of the behavioral services provider one year after the center resumed its work following a hiatus of several years. Garcia, the CEO, used the occasion to celebrate Southwest's return and plans to expand its assistance to the community, while also decrying actions by the state of New Mexico nine years ago that devastated the state's behavioral health network. "It's important that the community knows that we're back in business, and we do good work," he said before a small crowd that included city and state elected officials, members of Southwest's board and of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce, among others. Southwest Counseling Center CEO Roque Garcia speaks during the Southwest Counseling Center reopening event on Thursday, May 26, 2022. In the summer of 2013, New Mexico abruptly cut off Medicaid funding for 15 behavioral health providers statewide, including Southwest, following an audit that found potential overbilling and fraud. The freeze precipitated a crisis across New Mexico as services were shut down, affecting tens of thousands of residents, while providers sought evidence and retrieved records of claims matching their reimbursements. The crisis drove some providers out of business altogether. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration welcomed providers from Arizona in an effort to meet the state's needs, but all of them eventually withdrew. One, La Frontera, leased Southwest's offices on West Griggs Avenue. By 2016, all of the New Mexico providers including Southwest had been exonerated of Medicaid fraud by the state Attorney General Hector Balderas. Meanwhile, the state paid out millions of dollars in claims brought by the providers after it was revealed the actual amount overbilled or unaccounted was a fraction of what had been claimed. Story continues Southwest Counseling Center CEO Roque Garcia speaks during the Southwest Counseling Center reopening event on Thursday, May 26, 2022. "It never had to happen, never should have happened, and never will happen again," Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, a Silver City Democrat, said in an interview at Thursday's event. Southwest was among five providers who shared a $10 million settlement with the state Human Services Department, one of a series of payments to agencies it had accused. "They had this conspiracy theory that there was a lot of fraud in the behavioral health system," Garcia recalled during an interview earlier in the week. "It didn't matter that there was no evidence of anything." Garcia himself was personally accused by Martinez and other state officials of financial improprieties involving the use of his personal airplane to transport company administrators and staff to conferences and single-day meetings in other parts of New Mexico. Garcia, a licensed pilot, said it was more efficient for him and his staff to fly to northern New Mexico than to drive and stay in hotels. New Mexico Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces, speaks during the Southwest Counseling Center reopening event on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Martinez's successor, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, signed a law in 2019 guaranteeing due process for providers accused of overbilling or fraud before the state takes action. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces. Southwest ceased activity until 2018. During those five years, Garcia said the organization focused on defending itself against the Martinez Administration's claims and researching the records of its claims and payments sifting through 1,000 boxes full of paper records. The Las Cruces Sun-News attempted to reach Martinez through her official website but did not get a response. In the end, out of $2.8 million in overpayment claims, Southwest produced records justifying all of the charges except for "three or four" lost records amounting to $484.87. Ultimately, the company reimbursed $390 to the state. "We were guilty until we proved our innocence," Garcia declared during his speech Thursday. Southwest Counseling Center CEO Roque Garcia listens to speakers during the Southwest Counseling Center reopening event on Thursday, May 26, 2022. After La Frontera left, La Clinica de Familia leased the building until it completed construction of LCDF's new building on Miranda Street. By then, Southwest had merged with Border Area Health Partners and Southern New Mexico Human Development, with Garcia as CEO. They resumed seeing patients a year ago, Garcia said, but plans for a public event were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With cases and hospitalizations climbing in New Mexico since April, Thursday's event took place outdoors followed by an open house inside. At the time it closed, Souhwest had a staff of 140 serving 3,000 individual patients. Today, Garcia said a staff of 40 are already serving 2,300, thanks in part to an expansion of its telemedicine services, in which patients may consult with a clinician remotely. The center offers management of prescription medications, therapy and comprehensive community support services. Its Silver City location offers psychosocial rehabilitation for adults with psychiatric disabilities. In his Thursday remarks, Garcia mentioned plans to expand staff further, potentially adding substance abuse treatment and a residential rehab setting. An additional feature of the center is the presence of an in-house pharmacy, operated by Genoa Healthcare, organized to obtain approvals and fill prescriptions while patients are on site, eliminating extra trips. "We know that when somebody is battling mental health issues, getting out the door, getting to the next place to get medication, is a challenge all on its own," state Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces, said at the event. Hamblen was there in her capacity as the Green Chamber of Commerce's director, with a large pair of shears ready to cut the symbolic ribbon near the front entrance. "When the behavioral health system was dismantled, it was done so for political reasons," Morales said during an impassioned speech. "It was done so to attack, and those that were impacted by that were the people that needed those services the most." Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico Howie Morales speaks at the Southwest Counseling Center reopening event on Thursday, May 26, 2022. "When we saw suicide numbers that went up, and when we saw the increase in homelessness that has taken place, and the increase in substance abuse that has been unfortunately plaguing our state, it was directly related to that decision," he continued. Morales also used the opportunity to highlight public health measures approved by Lujan Grisham, such as increased funding for suicide prevention programs and the elimination of copays for insured patients seeking behavioral health services. Tears came to Garcia's eyes when he addressed the May 24 murders at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. In his speech, Garcia called out a tendency to scapegoat mental illness as an explanation for frequent mass shootings in the United States, referring to the narrative as "a one-legged stool" while calling for "real reform, with gun safety." "I want to save kids from being massacred," he said. After the ribbon was cut and some guests congregated inside for refreshments, Morales said he wished Jose Frietze could have been there. Frietze was a former Las Cruces City Council member and the founder of Families and Youth Inc., another provider accused of fraud and later vindicated. Frietze died of leukemia in 2016, one month after the state Attorney General's Office exonerated the organization. Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter. Keep reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Southwest Counseling Center celebrates reopening at Las Cruces event Texas governor Greg Abbott will not be attending the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention in Houston following the school shooting this week, his office said late on Thursday, and will instead visit Uvalde again. Mr Abbott was set to speak at the NRA leadership forum on Friday, but a new advisory issued by his office late on Thursday did not mention the convention. Instead, it said the governor will be going to the town where Tuesdays shooting took place, and holding a press conference on states ongoing efforts to support the Uvalde community. Mr Abbott will hold the news conference at 3.30pm, the governors office announced. The National Rifle Associations spokesperson has said that the governor will still pre-record remarks on video to be aired at the gun groups event, according to the Dallas Morning News. The governor will be addressing the NRA through pre-recorded video, said spokesman Mark Miner. The NRAs online schedule for the event still shows Mr Abbott as a speaker and does not specify it as a recorded speech. The second visit of the governor to the grieving southern city will come amid increasing calls for new gun controls in the US after an 18-year-old shot and killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School there on Tuesday. Several other Republican politicians have also cancelled their visit to the NRA event under mounting public pressure. Senator John Cornyn and representative Dan Crenshaw, two other high-profile Texas Republicans who were also slated to attend the event, have backed out. They claimed this was due to a scheduling conflict. A number of top Republicans are still due to speak, including former president Donald Trump, senator Ted Cruz of Texas and South Dakota G=governor Kristi Noem. Mr Trump said in a statement on Wednesday that he would keep his longtime commitment to speak in Texas at the NRA Convention and deliver an important address to America. Mr Abbott, who is seeking a third term this year, has been a supporter of gun rights like many conservatives. However, the stance is coming increasingly under fire with rising incidents of school shootings in the US. A UN official says millions of tons of grain are blocked at Ukraine's ports due to Russia's invasion, according to a report Ukraine exported more than $140 million of wheat to the US before the pandemic, with latest disruptions adding to price woes. AP Almost 4.5 million tons of grain are stuck at Ukraine's ports, a WFP official told DPA Martin Frick warned that Ukrainian grains are essential to help alleviate a global food crisis. With sea routes blocked, plans are underway to export Ukrainian grain via rail. Millions of tons of grain are stuck in Ukraine as the ongoing conflict with Russia prevents safe transit from the country's ports, a UN official warned. "Currently, almost 4.5 million tons of grain are stuck in Ukrainian ports and on ships and cannot be used," Martin Frick, the Germany director of the UN World Food Programme told German news agency DPA. "Ukraine's food is urgently needed in the world," Frick told the agency, adding that Ukrainian shipments were critical to help tackle a "global food crisis." Ukraine is a significant exporter of grains such as wheat and corn, accounting for 12% and 17% of global supply, respectively. Prices of the commodities surged in the wake of Russia's invasion, as conflict curtails production and export of the grains, with blocked shipping routes proving a major obstacle. "Food needs to get to the trapped and suffering people in Ukraine, but equally it needs to get out of the region and into the world to alleviate a global food crisis," Frick told the newswire. The WFP has provided food assistance to 2.5 million people fleeing the conflict. Nearly 8 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine, according to the WFP, and more than 5 million people have fled the country. Frick also told DPA that the WFP needed humanitarian access in Ukraine so that exports could restart. "Hunger must not be a weapon," he said. Plans are underway to develop a "grain bridge" for blocked supplies of grain to be exported out the country through trains instead of the sea, which would involve the cooperation of Ukrainian Railways and its neighboring countries, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, the Guardian reported. Story continues Hundreds of seafarers on dozens of vessels have been stranded in the region as a result of the conflict, the International Maritime Organization and International Transport Workers' Federation previously told Insider. According to NATO, floating mines have been found and deactivated in the western Black Sea by authorities of countries that border the waterway. The organization also said that "threat of collateral damage or direct hits on civilian shipping" in parts of the Black Sea remains high. Read the original article on Business Insider Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com Click here and subscribe today. Assistant West Melbourne City Manager Tim Rhode is in line for promotion to replace retiring City Manager Scott Morgan, who will step down at the end of August. Tuesday night, the West Melbourne City Council chose Rhode over a field of 43 external applicants to become the next city manager. "Our internal candidate for city manager is my No. 1 pick," Mayor Hal Rose said. Rhode has worked for the city since September, managing day-to-day operations of the public works and human resources departments. Previously, he was the chief administrator at five smaller communities in Wisconsin and Iowa. Next, West Melbourne officials will conduct a thorough background check and enter employment contract negotiations with Rhode. West Melbourne Assistant City Manager Tim Rhode. 'Trending in the right direction': Americas Best Value Inn & Suites police incidents drop in West Melbourne amid crackdown Single-engine plane crash: Plane crashes and flips in West Melbourne, pilot transported to hospital End to panhandling?: Brevard County borrows playbook from Melbourne and effectively bans panhandling In another move, Council Member Daniel Batcheldor plans to move to upstate New York. He was elected in November 2018, and he has resigned, effective June 1. The remaining six City Council members will appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of his unexpired term, which lasts through Nov. 22. "Our family has decided to relocate for personal reasons, and our decision is in no way a reflection on the city of West Melbourne," Batcheldor said while announcing his resignation during the April 19 City Council meeting. "The city is run incredibly well, with a dedicated and talented staff providing the best services that it is possible to deliver," Batcheldor said. West Melbourne residents have until 5 p.m. May 30 to apply to replace Batcheldor. Hopefuls must be fingerprinted and submit a notarized application, authorization for a criminal history check, and a current resume. Story continues The City Council is scheduled to appoint Batcheldor's replacement on June 7. To apply, contact City Clerk Cynthia Hanscom at 321-837-7774 or chanscom@westmelbourne.gov. West Melbourne City Council Member Daniel Batcheldor. What's more, Police Chief Richard Wiley will retire at the end of September, Morgan said. A recruitment brochure will be released soon to attract applicants, and a new police chief should be on the job by Oct. 1. "My retirement and the chief's retirement had been planned for a long time," Morgan said. "I think it's exciting for some new blood to come in and provide some additional reinvigoration of the organization and the community," Morgan said. "We're trying to leave it better than we found it, which I think is pretty clear. And then, (for) the next people to take it to the next level is the goal." Measuring 10.76 square miles, the population of fast-growing West Melbourne has swelled from 18,355 residents in 2010 to 28,127 residents today. "West Melbourne is the long-standing fastest-growing municipality by percentage in Brevard County, and among the top quintile in Florida. It is now 80% built out, and a comprehensive plan update is currently underway, with an ultimate city population projection of 41,000 around 2035," the city manager application brochure said. The city employs 141 full-time and six part-time workers, with a $47.9 million total annual budget. Major future projects include: Construction of three planned mixed-use developments at Space Coast Town Center west of Interstate 95. Planning for a new water plant slated to debut in 2026, replacing the city's water supply agreement with neighboring Melbourne. Possible formation of a fire department, with a potential 2025 target date. The advertised city manager salary range is $105,607 to $168,972, and benefits include a city vehicle for business and personal use, and a monthly $250 business expense allowance. West Melbourne City Manager Scott Morgan, right, holds a golden shovel during D.R. Horton's December 2013 groundbreaking ceremony for the future Sawgrass Lakes subdivision off Minton Road. Also pictured, from left, are D.R. Horton Division President Keith Williams, Mayor Hal Rose and the late Brevard County Commissioner Andy Anderson. Morgan who has worked in city and county government since 1978 previously served as city manager of Anderson, California, from 1997 to 2009. He started on the job in West Melbourne on July 20, 2009, and his planned retirement date is Aug. 31. It will end up being over 13 years. And I certainly feel, as a team, we've accomplished a great deal," Morgan said during a phone interview. As we told our kids, who were competitive swimmers in high school, Finish hard to the wall. So I'm not taking a victory lap yet. Ive got four months to try to get more accomplished," Morgan said. "I feel a great deal of love for this community, and my wife and I are staying here in retirement," he said. Highlights from Rhode's resume: Village administrator in Hartland, Wisconsin, from January 2020 to June 2021. Town administrator in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, from May 2016 to December 2019. City administrator in St. Francis, Wisconsin, from May 2011 to May 2016. Village administrator/clerk in Butler, Wisconsin, from February 2006 to May 2011. City administrator in Monticello, Iowa, from March 2004 to February 2006. West Melbourne Police Chief Rick Wiley speaks during a June 2020 community dialogue event at the Grant Street Community Center in Melbourne. Tuesday's City Council vote to select Rhode was 6-1, with Batcheldor voting no. He preferred to scrutinize job finalists during an ongoing search process led by retired Rockledge and Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and International City/County Management Association Senior Adviser Ken Parker. It very well may be that Mr. Rhode is the best candidate, based on his trajectory, based on his performances that youve been able to take a deep dive on. But there are candidates here that deserve to have a closer look. And they may well be a better fit," Batcheldor said. "But we will not know until we take a closer look at them, until we provide a finer filter on these candidates, he said. An astrophysicist, Batcheldor formerly headed the Florida Institute of Technology's Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences. He now is a subject matter expert in physics for the Southeastern Universities Research Association. "Dan, I've got to tell you, our political views probably don't always align. But I will tell you, you've brought something here. And I'm not just saying this, I've told people this you're one of the most intelligent people I've ever met in my life," Council Member John Dittmore said during the April 19 meeting. Likewise, Deputy Mayor Andrea Young praised Batcheldor's time on the dais. "Your insight on things made me look at things from a different point of view. It's been an honor and a pleasure to serve with you," Young said. Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1 Support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Melbourne may hire Tim Rhode city manager Batcheldor City Council You are the owner of this article. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will address the leaders of the European Union as part of a special meeting to be held May 30-31 in Brussels via video link. As a high-ranking European diplomat told reporters on the eve of the meeting, Zelensky's address is scheduled for the first day of the meeting, which starts in the second half of Monday. The leaders are expected to speak about the war Russia is waging against Ukraine and its consequences. "In particular, we will talk about humanitarian, financial and military assistance," the diplomat said. According to him, EU leaders will give the green light to new macro-financial assistance to Ukraine for 2022 in the amount of EUR 9 billion, as previously announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. After approval at the highest level, the European Commission is to prepare an appropriate official proposal. The leaders will also discuss the issue of confiscation of frozen Russian assets. "We must find a way for confiscation. This is a national prerogative, but there is a consensus that this money should be directed to the reconstruction of Ukraine, and this reconstruction should be connected with the European path of Ukraine," the diplomat said. In addition, the leaders will discuss further military support for Ukraine. Speaking about the possible adoption of a decision on the sixth package of sanctions, which provides for an oil embargo, the diplomat said that consultations are still ongoing. At the same time, he did not rule out such a development of events, in which the 26 EU member states "go further" (with a ban on oil, without Hungary, which opposes). "I don't see any other solution," he said. He also said that the issue of granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership will not be considered at this meeting, as it is scheduled for June. By then, the European Commission is expected to provide its conclusions, which were previously requested by the European Council. The second block of discussion for Monday is the energy issue high energy prices and an energy transition to "quickly end dependence on Russian fossil fuels." On Tuesday, EU leaders will also be joined via video link by African Union Chairperson Macky Sall to discuss the implications of military aggression on global food security, given acute vulnerability of African countries to food insecurity. On the same day, the meeting participants will discuss the issue of European defense. Ukrainian soldiers released from captivity reported facts of torture and ill-treatment by Russian invaders, captives were forced to have sexual intercourse, torture was used with particular cruelty against officers of the Armed Forces and Azov fighters, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova has said. "During a monitoring visit to a healthcare institution where the Ukrainian military released from captivity are located, they reported the facts of torture and ill-treatment by the occupiers. Most of the Ukrainian military personnel were taken prisoner by the occupiers near Mariupol. First they were kept in basements and outbuildings. Then they were transferred to guardhouse, pretrial detention center in Donetsk and penal colony No. 120, which are located in the temporarily occupied territory," she wrote on Facebook. Subsequently, the Ukrainian military was transferred to the pretrial detention centers in Taganrog and Voronezh. At this time, they wrapped their eyes with tape, put a bag over their heads and tied their hands with ropes. "With particular cruelty, torture was applied to the officers of the Armed Forces and the fighters of the Azov special forces detachment. During interrogations, Ukrainian prisoners of war were put on their knees, beaten with a machine gun butt on their toes and open wounds. They used pliers, threw a noose around their necks and strangled them. In addition, they were tortured with electric current, beaten using hammers and kicking them," the ombudsman said. According to her, the occupiers injected the prisoners with unknown drugs starting with the letter "M," after which they lost consciousness and lost their memory. "The invaders forced Ukrainian soldiers to learn the poem "Forgive us, dear Russians," the anthem of the Russian Federation, the history of the creation of the coat of arms and the flag of the Russian Federation, otherwise they used torture. Ukrainian female prisoners of war, who were kept in the Donetsk pretrial detention center, said that there were at least 17-20 of them in cells designed for 2-3 people. Instead of a bathroom there was a bucket," the ombudsman said. Also, captives were forced to have sexual intercourse. Medical assistance to the wounded Ukrainian servicemen was not provided. The doctor examined them only before being transferred to the POW camp in Sevastopol, where assistance was provided by representatives of the ICRC. "Ukrainians were not given water, only 1.5 liters per 30-40 people, they were limited in nutrition on the territory of CADO, the daily ration consisted of a piece of bread and salo. Sometimes, giving meat, the occupiers mocked and said that it was "human," Denisova said. In addition, the Ukrainian servicemen were deprived of the opportunity to contact their relatives. The ICRC Central Tracing Agency's identity cards for informing his family, as required by Article 70 of the 1949 Geneva Convention, to be sent immediately after capture, were filled out only immediately before the exchange. "I appeal to the UN Commission to Investigate Human Rights Violations during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of Russian violations of the rights of citizens of Ukraine," the ombudswoman said. After a malicious hack of the Brazils airport's screen, travellers were taken by shock when the airport screen intended to display flight-related information started playing porn. Infraero, Brazil's airport body, said that it had contacted the Federal Police about an alleged intrusion of electronic displays at a Rio de Janeiro airport. Travellers were shown pornographic movies instead of commercials and flight information. Video recordings on social media showed passengers at the Santos Dumont airport laughing, hiding the displays from their children, or simply being shocked by them. The airport authority's statement said that its information services are outsourced to another company, which it has also notified. "We stress that the content shown on our media screens is a responsibility of the companies who have advertisement rights," said Infraero. It said its partners use their own systems of publication, which have no connection with Infraero's flight information system. Infraero said it turned off the screens that had been hacked. Also read: DGCA slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on IndiGo for not allowing specially-abled teen to board This is not the first time this kind of incident occurred at an airport. Previously, a similar incident took place at Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh back in 2010. The incident at the Hazrat Shahjalal Airport took the authorities by surprise with the display of pornographic content on a big screen. Initially, the authorities launched a probe in the incident. The incident at Dhaka Airport was followed by another such incident at Lisbon airport in 2015. The clip of the incident with porn playing on a big screen went viral on the internet. At the time, the authorities handled the situation well, promptly correcting the mistake. Similarly, as per an incident of porn playing on an airport screen was reported at the Taipei Taoyuan Airport of Taiwan. The incident occurred in the airports TV lounge, based on the reports. The incident was later on investigated by the concerned authorities. With inputs from AP A California woman was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for punching a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the face during a flight, fracturing her teeth. A federal judge in San Diego ordered Vyvianna Quinonez to pay roughly $26,000 (around Rs 20 lakh) in restitution and a $7,500 (around Rs 5.92 lakh) fine for the attack on a Southwest trip between Sacramento and San Diego on May 23, 2021. The 29-year-old Sacramento woman is prohibited from flying for three years while she is on supervised release and must participate in anger management classes or counselling. Quinonez last year pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, admitting she punched the flight attendant in the face and head with a closed fist and grabbed her hair. Neither she nor her attorney could be reached for comment Tuesday. During the flight's final descent, the attendant had asked Quinonez to buckle her seat belt, stow her tray table, and put on her face mask properly. Also read: Top Gun: Maverick All the fighter jets shown in Tom Cruise starrer movie, a treat for avgeeks Instead, Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said. The assault was recorded on another passenger's cellphone. The plea agreement said that the flight attendant suffered three chipped teeth, two of which needed crowns, along with bruises and a cut under her left eye that needed stitches. "Attacks on flight crew members, who perform vital jobs to ensure passenger safety, will not be tolerated," U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in a statement after the sentencing. FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy said, "the sentence should send a very strong message to air travellers; the FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who assaults or interferes with flight crews." The incident was part of an escalation in unruly behavior by airline passengers amid the coronavirus pandemic and led the president of the flight attendants' union to ask for more federal air marshals on planes. Airlines in 2021 reported more than 5,000 incidents of unruly passengers to the Federal Aviation Administration. Most passengers refused to follow the federal requirement for passengers to wear face masks while on planes, but nearly 300 involved intoxicated passengers, the FAA said. With inputs from AP Indian air travellers are become increasingly frustrated with the nation's airline services, as revealed by a recent survey. The unhappiness of the flyers is a result of deteriorating services and air staff's bad behaviour, as per Bloomberg's survey. The survey findings are not surprising considering the incidents of the misbehaviour with the passengers and reports of tardiness in services. The survey by Bloomberg analyses many other aspects of air travelling in the post-Covid-19 world, highlighting the facts above. LocalCirceles (a social media platform) conducted the groundwork of the survey. The sample size of the survey consisted of 15,000 airline passengers, 79 per cent of which believed "carriers in India are compromising on passenger comfort and cutting corners as a result of the pandemic." Passengers feel that the airline employees' deteriorating standard of customer service came post-pandemic. The survey covers all the airlines and ranks them in the order of unsatisfied subjects in their sample size. Based on the list, 28 per cent of the people in the survey were dissatisfied with Spicejet putting it on top of the list. The airline was followed by IndiGo and Air India in second and third positions, respectively. Also read: Brazil airport plays graphic porn video on screen, leaves travellers shocked! It is to be noted that following the recent incidents and controversies, India's aviation regulator, DGCA, has announced several directives and warnings for the airlines. The most notable of the incidents remain the incident of Indigo mishandling a specially-abled child. Moreover, DGCA recently warned airlines against providing unserviceable seats to passengers resulting in inconvenience. The reason for the lack of good services can be explained by the number of air travellers dropping at the time of the pandemic. Airlines that lacked adequate cash reserves, government backing, or a strong private player were the first to succumb to mounting pressures. However, it is not only the airlines that have changed. Returning customers expect them to adapt to their changing travel habits following COVID while still providing good service in exchange for competitive fares Furthermore, the airlines are currently grappling with a substantial staff shortage, and existing employees are overworked as a result of the rapid increase in passenger volume. And, with airlines grappling with the growing fuel prices while also keeping an eye on ticket pricing, customer service appears to have slipped down the priority list. The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has approved Indian Badminton star Lakshya Sen's proposal to train with World No. 1 Victor Axelson in Dubai. Sen was part of the Indian men's team that won the prestigious Thomas Cup this month. He is set to train With Axelson in Dubai from May 29 till June 5 (8 days) and then head out to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 19th to train at the Malaysian Training Centre from 19th till 26th June (8 days). Both the training proposals were approved by MOC in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Our young #ThomasCup2022 champ @lakshya_sen gifted Almora's famous 'Baal Mithai' to Hon. PM Sh. @narendramodi during the team's interaction at his residence on 21 May He was encouraged by Hon. PM's gesture & said he wants to keep winning medals for India#IndianSports pic.twitter.com/4Uvr3sRROV SAI Media (@Media_SAI) May 22, 2022 The sanctioned amount will cover the cost of his and his physio's air travel, boarding and lodging, and out-of-pocket allowance among other expenses. Alongside Lakshya's proposal, the MOC Committee also cleared badminton player and Olympic Silver medallist PV Sindhu's proposal for financial assistance towards her fitness trainer M Srikanth Madapalli to accompany her for multiple upcoming tournaments was also approved. Srikanth is set to accompany Sindhu during Indonesia Masters (7-12 June), Indonesia Open (14-19 June), Malaysia Masters (28 June to 3 July), Malaysia Open (5-10 July), and Singapore Open (12-17 July). New Delhi: After the humongous success of The Kashmir Files, which raked in Rs 350 crores worldwide, director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and his producer-actor wife Pallavi Joshi are set to embark on the Humanity Tour. The phenomenal response to the all-time blockbuster has inspired the duo to start this journey. While Vivek and Pallavi had travelled to the USA last year to showcase The Kashmir Files at special screenings before its release, the director-actor duo has consciously decided to travel across multiple locations abroad for a month and spread the culture of India through the Humanity Tour. Scheduled from 28th May to 26th June 2022, the Humanity Tour will travel to various prominent places across the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands including Nehru Centre London, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge University, Oxford University, Leicester University, Birmingham Community, Parliament Of UK, Babylon Theatre Berlin, Community Meet Berlin, Salzachlieder Frankfurt and Global Human Rights Defence The Hague among other renowned places. Talking about the same, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri says We did a very successful right to justice tour in the US for a month and there came a demand from the people in Europe. So we decided to take this humanity tour by travelling to some of the prestigious places like the British Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Human Rights Organisation, and the top universities of the world such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial. We also visited humanitarian organizations like the Jews and the holocaust in Germany. We thought that it is very important for the world to know that if any solution to terrorism and hate is possible, it is possible only through fundamental indict, principles, and values. So Pallavi and I are in this very hectic Europe tour to spread the Indian message of humanity, and why India is going to play a major role in world peace. He also added, "Also, it was important that The Kashmir Files have proved to the world how we have tolerated the violence of terrorism with peaceful messages and therefore it is a great opportunity for Indians to showcase themselves as a peaceful and humanitarian society." With the vision to give back to the society and mankind, the makers of the truth-teller movie have decided to call it Humanity Tour as their agenda is to spread love and awareness about Indias rich culture and highlight 5000 years of emotions and peace messages across the world through their inspiring speeches. The Humanity Tour will have a few impactful screenings, also including a visit to Jewish Museum. Shedding light on the Humanitarian Tour, Pallavi Joshi said, "When I decided to produce The Kashmir Files, the cause of humanitarianism was in my mind. Not only have we managed to bring the truth out but have also sent out a very strong message of humanitarian, peace, and zero tolerance for terrorism. I am extremely proud of the fact that this message has reached far and wide and hence institutions, and popular universities have invited us for a lecture series worldwide. This endorses peace and humanity for the entire world." Pallavi Joshi makes films under her production house, I Am Buddha Foundation. The EV fire incidents have now got a trail of brand names attached to them. Ather Energy's got its name added to the list most recently after a fire broke out at electric scooter manufacturer Ather Energy`s experience centre in Chennai. Reporting, the incident itself through Twitter the company informed in a tweet that there has been a minor fire incident on its premises in Chennai. "While some property and scooters got affected, thankfully all employees are safe and things are under control. The experience centre will be operational shortly," the EV company said. Before you hear it from others, there has been a minor fire incident at our premises in Chennai. While some property and scooters got affected, thankfully all employees are safe and things are under control. The experience centre will be operational shortly. Ather Energy (@atherenergy) May 27, 2022 It, however, did not reveal what caused the fire incident. The company was awaiting a report from the local fire brigade officials.This was the first time Ather Energy came in news for a fire incident as several top EV players are facing government inquiry over battery explosions and fire incidents across the country. Also read: EV fire: Hero Electric Photon charred in Odisha while charging, company blames short circuit A Hero Photon Electric scooter in Odisha caught fire this week while it was being charged. The incident left the scooter partially damaged. "When contacted, the customer explained that he heard abnormal cracking sounds and discovered that fumes were coming from the electric switchboard of the home, adjacent to the e-scooter and sparks were continuously falling onto the floor and a can of paint lying nearby," the company said in a statement. "By the time he went on to switch off the mains and get back to try and put off the fire, it spread and burnt the rear part of the scooter and some household belongings," it added. EV makers such as Ola Electric, Pure EV, Jitendra EV Tech and Okinawa have been involved in earlier EV fire incidents. Meanwhile, a government panel probing EV fire incidents is set to submit its report next week. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) that was tasked with investigating EV fire incidents by the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, has found serious defects in the batteries, including designs of the battery packs and modules. These defects occur because the electric two-wheeler manufacturers like Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors may have used "lower-grade materials to cut costs". The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) at the DRDO has submitted its fact-finding report to the Ministry. Earlier this month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry, sent notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors after their e-scooters exploded in April. The consumer watchdog is also examining more cases of e-scooter fires and will serve similar notices to other EV makers too. With inputs from IANS The Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi has announced that close to 1 lakh commuters travelled on their newly launched electric bus service in the last three days. The Delhi govt launched electric bus services in the City after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had flagged off 150 e-buses on May 24. A three day free travel for everyone was also announced from May 24 to 26 to promote clean mobility. According the government's data, the e-buses have received a bumper response from Delhiites and out of 1 lakh travellers, 40 per cent were women. .@ArvindKejriwal Govt's e-buses get Bumper Response from Delhiites 1 LAKH commuters hop on Delhi's brand new Electric Buses for Free in 3 days Social media flooded with selfies of commuters for the #iRideEBus campaign Share your selfie to win an iPad pic.twitter.com/IZ7QuQNHYt AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 27, 2022 About 12 thousand people travelled on the first day on 24 May, followed by 28 thousand people on May 25. Along with this, on May 26, about 52 thousand people travelled for free. MLAs, along with the top brass of the Delhi, took rides in the e-buses over the last three days to witness & review the facilities as well. The biggest feature of electric buses is that they are pollution free and along with zero emission, these buses are zero noise. In addition, they are equipped with GPS devices, ramps for the differently-abled, panic buttons, CCTV cameras and other security related facilities. We ride electric! Delhi government put 150 brand new E-buses on the road. Sebastian & Zainab from the German Embassy took a test drive - feels good! Until tomorrow, everyone can hop on for free - bravo! #IrideEbus #switchdelhi pic.twitter.com/h0kM11koMG German Embassy India (@GermanyinIndia) May 25, 2022 Out of 150 busses, 51 are running from the Mundelakan depot, and 99 buses are running from Rohini Sector-37 depot. Also read: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal flags off 150 electric buses; free travel for 3 days CM Arvind Kejriwal had also kicked off a selfie competition to spread the word about the e-buses by taking a selfie in the new electric bus fleet. This competition will run till 30th June. The selfie contest is being run on social media, where passengers will post a selfie while travelling in an electric bus. The three most liked and shared contestants will be selected for felicitation by the Delhi Government and will get an iPad as a reward. With inputs from ANI Live TV #mute The cause of a Tesla fire in Vancouver garnered attention after the driver battled to evacuate the vehicle. The incident is being investigated by the Canadian auto safety commission. Following a Tesla Model Y fire in Vancouver on May 20, 2021, Transport Canada said it had its outsourced collision and defect investigation team " locate and secure the vehicle." The agency added it "notified Tesla of the incident and is currently making arrangements for a joint inspection of the vehicle in an effort to determine the cause of the fire. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Reuters it "is aware of the incident and has reached out to the manufacturer for information." According to the auto-tech website Electrek, Jamil Jutha was driving in his 2021 Tesla Model Y that he bought just eight months ago when he claims that the vehicle pushed an error notification and then powered down. Also read: Tesla Model Y electric car catches fire in Canada, driver smashes window to save himself: Watch video The Electrek website posted a video of the incident in which the owner said he received an error notification and then saw smoke. The driver said that to get out, he "had to smash the window. ... I kicked through the window because everything stopped. The power didn`t work. The door didn`t open. The windows didn`t go down." Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. While it is true that the primary way to operate the doors in a Tesla vehicle is through the electronic releases, which do not work in case of a loss of power, every door is also equipped with a manual release in plain view, the report said. In fact, it is often a problem for people who are not familiar with the car as they use the manual release instead of the electronic release, which enables the windows on the frameless door to go down before enabling the door to be pushed open -- ensuring a safer opening of the doors, it added. With inputs from Reuters Russian occupiers inflicted 21 strikes on Donetsk region per day, 32 civilian objects destroyed, dead and wounded reported During the day, the Russians launched 21 strikes on Donetsk region, the invaders fired at 14 settlements, dead and wounded are reported, the National Police of Ukraine has said. "A total of 32 civilian facilities were destroyed residential buildings, a fire station, a recreation center, construction and agricultural enterprises, critical infrastructure. Under enemy fire were the following settlements - Avdiyivka, Lyman, Bakhmut, Sviatohirsk, Zalizne, Mykolayivka, Krasnohorivka, Toretsk, Raihorodok, Donetsk, New York, Pryvillia, Shumy, Yahidne," the Facebook post said. Russian troops delivered strikes from aviation, rocket launchers, Uragan and Grad multiple launch rocket systems, heavy artillery, tanks, and small arms. The police and SBU opened criminal proceedings under Article 438 (violation of the rules of warfare) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. After reports of Tesla's top management moving out of India after deadlock with the government to reduce import duties, the Supremo of the electric car making company has finally spoken on the issue and as usual, chose Twitter to deliver his message across. While replying to a user of his plans to put up a manufacturing facility in India and make electric cars domestically, Elon Musk replied saying "Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in any location where we are not allowed first to sell & service cars". The reply was a direct dig at the Indian government, who is pushing Musk to make cars in India to avail duty benefits. Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in any location where we are not allowed first to sell & service cars Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 27, 2022 Elon Musk, who is trying to enter the Indian market since 2016 and even took bookings for some of its electric vehicles says that the US-based company wants to enter India first with imported vehicles, set up a base and then will look out for possibilities to make cars in India. However, high import duties on cars in India is delaying the India launch for the world's most valued auto brand. Nitin Gadkarri, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has earlier clarified that the government wants Tesla in India, but they won't go out of the way to reduce import duties and allow Tesla to sell China-made cars in India. Currently, Tesla is making cars either in the United States or at Shanghai based facility in China. Given the distance constraint, it seems like Tesla will import vehicles from China to enter the Indian market, if it happens in the future. Also read: Iconic Hindustan Motors Ambassador to make a comeback in India as electric vehicle? Back in 2021, Tesla went full throttle to start India ops, with Elon Musk officially confirming on Twitter that they are starting India operations soon. The company got themselves a corporate office in Mumbai, and reports indicated them setting up its first showroom in Mumbai. In the past year or so, we have seen multiple Tesla cars enter India for homologation purposes, and Tesla's trademark Superchargers were also spotted in India. Live TV #mute Srinagar: Amarnath Shrine Board has made Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags compulsory for devotees taking the Yatra this year. The board has decided entry will not be given to Amarnath Yatra pilgrims without RFID tags. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shrine Board Nitishwar Kumar, said that security is one of their top priorities and added that the government has decided to provide RFID tags. The identification tags would help the authorities to track a pilgrim and know about their whereabouts and thus help in securing all the pilgrims taking the Yatra. Nitishwar Kumar, the CEO of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board said, The RFID tags would help in tracking a pilgrim and tell where the person is. RFID has lots of benefits and among them, the most important one is that it would find out if there are any unauthorized persons, which would help the security agencies to identify them. The authorities also said that for pilgrims who would come for yatra through flights or trains, the facilities pertaining to the provision of RFID tags would be kept at the Airport and Railway Station. Even the ponywalla, those looking after langer sewa and others would be provided with these RFID tags. The local traders who set up shops will also be provided with these tags. The authorities also appealed to all those taking the yatra this year to comply with the new rule of securing RFID tags. The authorities say it is for the security of the Pilgrims. Amarnath Yatra will start on June 30 and will go on till August 11. The government expects 8 lakh pilgrims to take part in the Yatra this year. The Amarnath yatra is being conducted after two years as it was earlier suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic. ALSO READ: LG Manoj Sinha fixes June 15 deadline for completion of Amarnath Yatra works Aryan Khan drug case: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Saturday demanded justice for Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan, who was arrested months ago in a drug case by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after he was given clean chit the infamous Drugs on cruise case, ANI reported. The leader called for strict actions against ex-NCB officer Sameer Wankhede for his shoddy investigation of the case. "The decision of the judiciary has come. There was no truth in the allegation against Aryan Khan and that is why his name has been removed from the charge sheet. I think that the Center has also taken cognizance of this whole matter," said Patil. "There is also information about action against the concerned officer. If anyone is falsely implicating an innocent person, then action should be taken against them. I think the action will be taken against Sameer Wankhede," said Patil. Drugs on cruise case | There was no truth in allegations against Aryan Khan, so his name has been removed from chargesheet. I think Centre has also taken cognizance of this matter & given info about action against the concerned officer: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil pic.twitter.com/2Cf3BTTx7k ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2022 Centre on Aryan Khan case The Central Government on Friday directed the competent authority to take appropriate action against the former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official Sameer Wankhede for his shoddy investigation into the cruise drug bust case involving Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The Centre`s action came soon after the NCB gave a clean chit to Aryan Khan and five others and has not filed any charge sheet against them citing the lack of evidence. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday filed a 6,000-page charge sheet against 14 accused in the cruise drug bust case which excludes the name of five others, including Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan`s son Aryan Khan, who was earlier arrested in the case. The NCB had dropped drugs charges against Aryan Khan in the drugs case citing a lack of evidence against him. NCB chief, SN Pradhan said that WhatsApp chats without physical evidence hold "no value". Meanwhile, former NCB official Sameer Wankhede refuted to comment on the latest development in the case, saying that he is not a part of this drugs law enforcement agency anymore and will only give a written reply if asked about the matter. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: SSC job seekers staged a protest in front of the Mayukh Bhawan in Kolkatas Salt Lake demanding appointment letters within a month. This time, left students and youth organisations protested in Karunamayi against the allegations of corruption in SSC. There was a lot of tension in the area before the program started. Several people were arrested. The protesters later clashed with the police. The march broke through the police barricades. Left leader Meenakshi Mukherjee was dragged away. She alleged that, "useless police had become agents of the government." On Friday, a protest was organised at the SSC building by the Left Students and Youth Organisations. The name of the program is given - 'Chor Dhoro, Jail-a Bhoro' (Catch the thieves, Sent them to jail). They were supposed to march to the SSC building i.e. Acharya Sadan. The police action in the karunamayi square around that programme was a sight to behold. The police, RAF, combat force are brought in with water cannons. Those accused in the SSC corruption case should be arrested immediately. Apart from this, those whose recruitment process is stalled, should be given jobs quickly. When activists and supporters of left-wing students and youth organisations gathered at Karunamayi roundabout on these demands, the police immediately showed up. They began to arrest them. The protesters claim that the police are very active. They wanted to have a peaceful movement without provocation. After that, there was a lot of tension in front of Indira Bhavan. Left leader Meenakshi Mukherjee was dragged away by the police. Some of the protesters alleged that "police raj" was going on. Faridabad: A man filed a police complaint on Friday alleging that he was duped of cash and valuables worth Rs 12 lakh by a woman who married him in 2020, but later turned out to be a "con bride". Police said they have filed an FIR at Adarsh Nagar police station based on a complaint by Ajay Kumar, who said he met the woman online through an app and lured him into the marriage. "She told me that she wanted to live a good life in Delhi. I took loans from banks and bought household articles. I also set up a small clothes business. She told me that she had three children and insisted on bringing them," he said. He further said the woman did not have any documents of divorce from earlier husband. "She fled in August 2021 with everything," Kumar said in his complaint. After she fled, Kumar said, he checked her background only to find that she had allegedly conned others as well in a similar fashion. He said he also traced her previous husbands and one of them allegedly threatened to kill him. Kumar claimed that he tried to file police complaints in Delhi and Faridabad but she was let off after questioning. An FIR has been registered against the woman and others, said Inspector Sandeep Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of Adarsh Nagar police station. ALSO READ: Nigerian man who duped over 300 Indian women on marriage pretext arrested in Delhi New Delhi: Durgesh Pathak will be the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate in the upcoming Delhi by-election from Rajinder Nagar assembly constituency, senior leader and party MP Sanjay Singh said on Saturday (May 28). Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters in Delhi, Sanjay Singh also dared Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta to contest against Pathak in the bypolls. Singh said a "formal announcement" announcing Pathak as the bypoll candidate will be made by the party soon, reported PTI. Referring to a media report, the AAP MP said, "Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta and Tajinder Singh Bagga have run away from the election. Both of the BJP heavyweights who keep hurling abuses and making false accusations all the time have refused to contest from the Rajinder Nagar seat." Claiming the BJP heavyweights are scared of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's governance model, Singh challenged Adesh Gupta to fight against Pathak. "I challenge BJP state president Adesh Gupta to contest election from Rajinder Nagar seat. Our MCD in-charge and AAP leader Durgesh Pathak will be the candidate from there. You are the BJP state president, come and contest elections from there if you dare," he was quoted as saying by PTI. On May 25, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for by-election to three Lok Sabha and seven assembly seats across six states. The by-election to these seats will be held on June 23 and the counting of votes for the parliamentary and assembly bypolls will take place on June 26, the poll body had said. Delhis Rajinder Nagar assembly constituency will also go to the polls. The seat has been empty since AAPs Raghav Chadha became a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab recently. Raghav Chadha was elected as an MLA from Rajinder Nagar in 2020. (With agency inputs) Noida: A fire broke out at a multi-storey residential-cum-commercial building in Noida on Friday (May 27, 2022) night, officials said. No individual was injured in the fire which broke out around 10 PM in the crowded Bhangel area, prompting deployment of firefighters and local police at the spot immediately, they said. The fire is suspected to have started from an ATM kiosk on the ground floor before spreading into the other floors of the four-storey building which has some flats in the upper half and shops in the lower half, the officials said. "Fire service officials along with water tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire was brought under control in half an hour. A large part of the building was saved from destruction as the fire was contained to the outer side of the building," a fire official said. #WATCH | UP: A short circuit prompted fire had broken out at an ATM* in Police Station Phase 2 area of Noida, around 10 pm last night. Large portion of the fire has been brought under control, remaining to be doused soon. No casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/OaRZ8hCnWJ ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 27, 2022 No individual was hurt in the incident and the firefighters prevented it from spreading into adjoining buildings also, the official added. Over 600 incidents of fire have been reported in Gautam Buddh Nagar till April end this year, with the Fire Service department holding more than 100 awareness campaigns across Noida and Greater Noida, according to official figures. Ghaziabad: Two dreaded criminals wanted in dozens of cases lodged across the NCR region were killed in separate encounters in the early hours on Saturday, police said. Senior Superintendent of Police Muniraj G said, "Avneesh, alias Billoo Dujana, was surrounded by a police team in the Indirapuram police station area around 4 am. The accused was on a bike and opened fire on seeing the police team. He was injured in retaliatory firing." Avneesh, who carried an award of Rs 1 Lakh on his head, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. A police constable, Sandeep, also got injured in the crossfire while SP (Crime) Deeksha Sharma and two other officials had a narrow escape. The trio had bullets hit their bullet-proof jackets, according to police. They escaped unhurt. Over 27 criminal cases, including that murder and extortion, had been lodged against Dujana. Hardly an hour later, two bike-borne criminals opened fire at a police team near a police check post under the Madhuban Bapudham police station area, some 15 kilometers away. The additional police force was called to the spot that surrounded the area. In the crossfire that ensued, one of the bikers received a gunshot injury. Rakesh was taken to a hospital, where he died during treatment. The other accused managed to flee. A police constable, Neeraj, was injured. Rakesh Dujana had been booked in 15 criminal cases, said the officer. New Delhi: The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) is going to announce the GSEB Class 10 and Class 12 Arts, Commerce results soon. The Gujarat Board will release the results on its official website - gseb.org and gsebeservice.com. As per the GSEB officials, the GSEB SSC Result 2022 will be declared sometime after June 10. It may be mentioned that the GSHSEB has already released the Gujarat HSC Science exam results on May 12. The Class 10 SSC and Class 12 HSC Arts and Commerce results will be displayed on the Gujarat GSHSEB board's official website. Students are advised to keep a check on the official GSEB website gseb.org for latest notices related to GSEB Results 2022. GSHSEB Class 10 SSC and Class 12 HSC board exams were held from March 28, 2022. As per the GSEB rules, candidates needs to obtain at least a Grade 'D' in all the subjects to be considered qualified. Students scoring Grade 'E1' or Grade 'E2' in the subjects have to improve their performances through supplementary exams. It is estimated that more than 7 lakh students appeared for the GSEB SSC Exams 2022 from March 28 to April 9, 2022. Last year, due to the Covid pandemic, the GSEB cancelled the Class 10, 12 board exams and all students were declared pass. Idea Fest 2022: Zee News, a name that has been synonymous with credibility, has once again been honoured for its trustworthy journalism. In the Idea Fest 2022, Zee News has been recognised with Indias Most Trusted Channel' award while Zee Media CEO and eminent journalist Sudhir Chaudhary was honoured with the Most Trusted CEO award. Zee News has always adhered to the principles of ethical journalism and thats why it has always been the first choice of the viewers. Thanking the audience for their trust, Zee News CEO Sudhir Chaudhary at the Idea Fest 2022 said that for a media house, the biggest honour is its audience. When our viewers meet us anywhere and say that they like to watch our channel - that is the biggest reward for us," said Chaudhary. He added that he does not believe too much in awards because "I feel that this method is not very transparent. Zee Media is the oldest media organisation in the country and was also the first to launch a satellite channel in India. Now, Zee Media has one of the largest media portfolios in the country and the world. The spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has opened in Vilnius (Lithuania), First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Kornienko has said. "The leadership of the Ukraine-NATO Inter-Parliamentary Council and the Ukrainian delegation started work at the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius," Kornienko wrote on Facebook on Saturday. According to him, the discussion at the session will focus on the war in Ukraine, global security in the new conditions, economic issues, food and cyber security. The first deputy chairman recalled that the session was supposed to be held in Kyiv, but after Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, the Lithuanian Seimas proposed to organize the spring session in Vilnius. A day after the Kerala High Court took a strong position and directed the government to take firm action against those responsible for a ten-year-old child raising provocative slogans against non-Muslims at a Popular Front of India (PFI) rally in Alappuzha on May 21, the police on Saturday took into custody the boy`s father. Confirming this, a top police official said he was picked up from his house here and has been handed over to the Alappuzha police. But the father of the boy said that none had tutored the boy and he did it on his own. "This same slogans have been aired a few times in the past and surprisingly, when no action took place then, how come this time it has turned out to be like this," asked the boy`s father before he was taken away by the police. When the police arrived at the house of the boy, a good number of PFI activists were present and they shouted slogans against the police. On Friday around 18 people, who took part in the rally held at Alappuzha sloganeered, was arrested. The boy, who lives at Thoppumpady near here, was identified, a few days back but the police failed to find anyone in the house as it was locked, when they came. Meanwhile the police are looking into if the boy needs to be sent for counselling and are also contemplating on what needs to be done to his mother, as guardians have been held responsible. As the video of the incident went viral, there were numerous protests against it following which the police swung into action and the High Court took up the matter early this week and on Friday the court came down heavily against this act and asked for strong action to be taken. The boy`s father was earlier identified as a known PFI activist who had participated in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests. Live TV Aizawl: Mizoram Police rescued 468 exotic animals suspected to be smuggled from Myanmar in Champhai district, an officer said. Acting on specific inputs, police rescued the animals at Khawkawn check gate in Champhai district bordering Myanmar and arrested five persons for smuggling the wildlife species. The rescued animals included four tortoises, 11 snakes, 442 lizards, four-toed sloths, two beavers, four pattos and one wild cat, the officer said on Thursday. The rescued animals and the arrested five persons were handed over to the Custom preventive force. Meanwhile, the Mizoram Police has told all SPs to activate district wildlife crime control sub-units to curb smuggling of wildlife species, another officer said on Friday. A meeting of Lunglei district wildlife control sub-unit was held on Thursday. The meeting convened by the SP was attended by the district forest officer, commanding officer of 3 Assam Rifles, Honorary Wildlife Warden Lunglei and representatives from Environment Forest and Climatic Change Department and Custom Preventive Force in Lunglei. The meeting extensively deliberated upon strengthening of cooperation among the members for prevention, detection and investigation of wildlife crimes. Police said that a dire need is felt to activate district wildlife crime control sub-units across the state headed by SPs in the wake of recent seizures of smuggled exotic wildlife species. New Delhi: With spike in monkeypox cases around the world, the governments medical body, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on Friday (May 27, 2022) informed that children are more at risk of getting infecting with the monkeypox virus. Many countries have reported an unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox, however, an ICMR scientist said no cases have been reported in India so far, adding that the country is prepared in view of increasing infections in the non-endemic countries. In an interview with news agency ANI, Dr Aparna Mukherjee, ICMR scientist said, Kids are more susceptible to the monkeypox infection. The elderly people would be vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine. After the 1980s, people who did not get the smallpox vaccine that gives cross-immunity to fight against the infection, so the younger people will be more susceptible. She also said that people should not get panic and avoid close contact who test positive for monkeypox. "People should not get panic about this disease, its symptoms as it usually spreads by very close contact. There are set guidelines for it which have already been published from ICMR- NIV," the ICMR official stated. The ICMR scientist further listed unusual symptoms which people should keep a close watch on, especially those who have a travel history from the monkeypox-infected countries. 5 unusual Monkeypox symptoms: Body ache Rashes High fever A lot of lymphadenopathies Large lymph nodes Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation official said that countries should take the right measures to contain Monkeypox cases easily and also share data about their vaccine stockpiles. "We don`t know the extent of the disease. But as I said, we as a country should be more vigilant, so that we detect more cases. We think that if we put in place the right measure now, we probably can contain this easily. So that`s why, we are making this briefing today and we are trying to raise the awareness because we are at the very, very beginning and it`s we have a good window of opportunity to stop the transmission now," said Sylvie Briand, WHO director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness. On the risk to the community spread, she said, "We are afraid that it will be spread in the community but currently it is very hard to assess this risk." "We have a number of cases in many countries more than 20 in a few days and we have also many unknowns about this disease because we don`t know if this unusual situation is due to a virus change. It doesn`t seem so because of first sequencing of the virus shows that the strain is not different from the strain we can find in endemic countries and it`s probably more due to a change in human behaviour. But we are also investigating this and trying to understand the origin of this sudden outbreak of monkeypox in non-endemic countries," said Sylvie Briand on the spread of monkeypox in non-endemic countries. (With agency inputs) There is growing concern around the world about the transmission of MonkeyPox ( Moneypox). In Argentina (Argentia), two people have been infected. Monkey pox has spread mainly to countries in Europe and North America. According to the World Health Organization, 200 cases of infection have been reported so far. They have been found in countries where monkeypox infections are not usually found. Monkeypox India In this situation, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed that India is fully prepared for this situation of increasing infections. An ICMR official said that monkey pox has not been busted in India so far. The ICMR told ANI that India is ready for the infection as it is spreading to Europe, THE US and other countries as well. There has been no news in India yet. Monkeypox Cases Maria van Kerkhove, covid-19 technical head of the World Health Organization, said that more cases of monkeypox infection will come to the fore if more surveillance is started. However, he said the infection could be prevented. He has given a message to the countries to monitor them more. Monkeypox symptoms and causes Experts say that monkey pox can spread the infection from bites of animals infected. It can also spread from the blood, hair, plasma of infected animals. Even if the meat of the infected animal is not cooked according to the proper method, there is a possibility of getting infected with monkey pox. They also say that monkey pox can be spread to another person from the clothes, bed, towels of the infected person. In the meantime, tomato flu has been seen in the country. At least 80 children are already affected by the fever in Kollam district of Kerala. It is known that it is mainly in the child's body. Almost all of the affected children are reported to be under the age of 5. There are similarities with the symptoms or symptoms of diseases like pox, chikungunya. There are symptoms such as pain, high fever, fatigue. Kolkata: Demanding online examinations, students demonstrated at the Calcutta University (CU) on Friday. Around 200 students demonstrated outside the varsity's main campus at College Street, claiming that two months of classroom teaching was not enough for finishing the syllabus of a six-month semester and holding offline examinations. "Classes were held on campus only for two months and we are expected to write papers based on the whole syllabus. This is possible only if exams are held in an open book format like the last two years," said Arijit Saha, a student of CU-affiliated Bangabasi College. Similar protests were held twice in the last one week at the varsity's main campus. Kolkata| Students of Calcutta University hold protest, demand online exams Today's protest is for rights of students. Classes of only 1 month have been held. Syllabus hasn't even been completed, we do not have any study material & they have announced exams: Kishanu, Mcom student pic.twitter.com/FRYueIEsAI ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2022 Two high-power committees formed by CU have recommended the undergraduate and post-graduate end-semester examinations be held in the offline mode. However, principals of colleges have been asked to give their feedback on the recommendation. Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee told PTI on Thursday that the varsity will take the final decision after getting opinions from all stakeholders. ALSO READ: Calcutta University's students hold protest, demand online examinations A CU official said that while the faculty is overwhelmingly in favour of offline exams, a section of students, including the students' unions, want the online examination system to continue. Trinamool Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankur Bhattacharya said general students were demanding online examinations. Live TV Gurugram: Residents of an upscale, gated housing complex in Gurugram are in a state of panic as nearly 100 people fell ill after allegedly drinking contaminated water. The district health department examined 200 people and treated 96 people for nausea and vomiting at DLF Westend Heights condominium in Sector 53 of Gurugram, an official said. A two-year-old child has been rushed to hospital in a serious condition, he said. "We conducted a home-to-home survey at the residential complex. We also took samples of water and the report will be out in 72 hours. We have given medicines to 96 people for nausea and vomiting, while a two-year-old child is hospitalised," CMO Virender Yadav told PTI. Meanwhile, the residential society has barred all residents from using regular water for drinking and also closed the swimming pool. "A majority of people residing in the society started falling ill Thursday (May 26) night. People were vomiting and had diarrhea and stomach ache. They rushed to doctors and by Friday morning, every house had at least one ill person," Ritu Bhariok, a resident of the condominium, said. "We have stopped using regular water and got mineral water cans as of now. While many were checked by the health department team, others rushed to private hospitals," she was quoted by PTI. The society's RWA president Rajiv Sant refused to comment on the matter, saying he was out of town. According to a health department official, the condominium has 370 flats where around 1,500 people live. Priti Anand, the residents welfare association secretary, told media outlets that her domestic help had fallen sick and as she was vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea, they had initially assumed that it was a case of food poisoning. But she said that when she found out that several residents of the society were showing similar symptoms, she realised that something was amiss and they informed the authorities. (With PTI inputs) Atkot (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Gujarat, where he has his schedule packed. Modi has inaugurated the newly-built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Atkot, Rajkot. Now, he is addressing a public rally in Rajkot, the PM said that for eight years, his government has been doing its best to serve the people of India. He also highlighted the government's effort in ensuring vaccine reach as India battled Covid-19, like the rest of the world. "When people's efforts connect with government's efforts, our strength to serve increases. This modern hospital (KDP Multispeciality Hospital) in Rajkot is a major example of this," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi added, "In 8 years, we made honest efforts to build India of the dreams of Bapu and Sardar Patel. Bapu wanted an India that would empower the poor, Dalit, tribals, women; where hygiene and health become a way of life; whose economic system has indigenous solutions." He added that in these eight years, he hasn't done anything that will make people feel ashamed. "In last eight years, I have not done any such work that will make people hang their heads in shame," the PM said. Watch PM Modi's speech here: Addressing a programme at Atkot. Watch. https://t.co/NiPfsl6Tq5 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2022 Here are some key points of Modi's speech: - When the pandemic began, the poor began facing a food crisis. We opened the food grain stores for the people of the country. For a life of dignity for women, a direct transfer was made to Jan Dhan bank accounts. Money was transferred to the bank accounts of farmers. - We also arranged free gas cylinders so the kitchens of the poor. When the challenges of medical treatment increased, we eased the testing and treatment facilities for the poor. When vaccines came, we ensured free vaccines for every Indian. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will attend the seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, where he will also inaugurate the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol at a cost of around Rs 175 crores. The ultramodern Nano Fertilizer Plant has been established keeping in mind the increase in crop yield through the use of Nano Urea. The Plant will produce about 1.5 lakh bottles of 500 ml per day. (With inputs from Agencies) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Gujarat on Saturday morning (May 28) to address a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions and other inaugural activities. On his arrival, he inaugurated the newly-built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Rajkot which is managed by Shree Patel Seva Samaj. It will make available high-end medical equipment and provide world-class healthcare facilities to the people of the region. News agency ANI shared pictures of the inaugural event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gujarat | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Atkot, Rajkot. pic.twitter.com/M92aXgpDWF ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2022 Gujarat | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates and inspects the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital in Atkot, Rajkot. pic.twitter.com/xFbILC9nvD ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2022 Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public rally shortly at Atkot, Rajkot in Gujarat. Earlier, he inaugurated the newly built Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital here. pic.twitter.com/bj1ZC2Kx7R ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2022 During his visit, PM Modi will also visit and inaugurate a Nano Urea (liquid) plant in Kalol. As per a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Prime Minister will address the public after the hospital inauguration. ALSO READ: PM Modi pays tribute to 'hard-working son of mother Bharti' Veer Savarkar on birth anniversary Prime minister will also address the seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on the subject 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar at 4 pm today, and later on inaugurate a Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant built at IFFCO, Kalol. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gujarat on Saturday (May 28, 2022) to address a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions. During his visit, PM Modi will also visit a newly-built hospital and inaugurate a Nano Urea (liquid) plant in Kalol. As per a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the prime minister will visit the newly built Matushri K D P Multispeciality Hospital at Atkot in Rajkot at around 10 am, followed by his address at a public function at the venue. Prime minister will also address the seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on the subject 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar at 4 pm today, and later on inaugurate a Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant built at IFFCO, Kalol. PM Modi will visit Gujarat on 28 May to address a seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' & inaugurate the Nano Urea Plant constructed at IFFCO,Kalol He will also visit Matushri K.D.P. Multispeciality Hospital in Rajkot & address an event pic.twitter.com/OGz52jmGbM ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2022 PM Modi to address seminar PMO said that the cooperative sector of Gujarat has been a role model for the entire nation. There are over 84,000 societies in the cooperative sector in the state with about 231 lakh members. In yet another step towards further strengthening the cooperative movement in Gujarat, a seminar on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' attended by leaders of various cooperative institutions will take place at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The statement added that over 7,000 representatives from various cooperative institutions of the state will participate in the seminar. PM Modi to inaugurate Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant To further provide farmers with the means to boost productivity and help increase their income, the prime minister will inaugurate the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol at a cost of around Rs 175 crore. The ultramodern Nano Fertilizer Plant has been set up keeping in mind the increase in crop yield through the use of Nano Urea. The plant will produce about 1.5 lakh 500-ml bottles daily. PM Modi to visit newly-built hospital The Matushri KDP Multispeciality Hospital, which is being visited by the prime minister in Rajkot, is managed by Shree Patel Seva Samaj. It will make available high-end medical equipment and provide world-class healthcare facilities to the people of the region. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Attacking the Gandhi family at the BJP`s `Tridev Sammelan` held in the city of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday (May 27)said the chants of `Shri Ram` must reverberate with the Gandhi family in Delhi, Amethi and Kerala from the hill state. Union minister's statement came ahead of the BJP`s aim of `Mission repeat` in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election and galvanise the party workers. Attacking the Nehru-Gandhi family, she added that the former delayed the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya for decades while being in power. "It is the same Gandhi family which is working to disturb the peace in the country." Objecting to Rahul Gandhi`s recent statement about other democracies Irani said that the Gandhi family never had faith in India`s democracy and have always believed in dividing the country. The Union Minister raised the slogan of `Shri Ram` while praising the `Tridevs`, saying that today there are BJP governments in most of the states of the country only due to their contribution. Smriti Irani said the `Tridevs` (Booth Adhyaksh, Booth Palak and Booth Agent) are the biggest strength of the party organisation, adding that it is their hard work that has helped the BJP emerge as the party with the largest party workers in the country and the world. BJP government will come back to power in Himachal Pradesh and the party workers at the ground level have contributed towards strengthening the party organisation, Smriti Irani said. Parties such as the Congress which are involved in anti-national activities will be rejected by the people of Himachal Pradesh, she added. Referring to the military credentials of Himachal Pradesh, Irani said that Himachal Pradesh is the `City of Gods` where the Indian Army received the Param Vir Chakra for the first time in the country. The valiant people of Himachal Pradesh will show the door to those parties which disrespect the armed forces. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, BJP MLAs and a large number of party workers attended the Tridev Sammelan. Live TV Israeli police arrested dozens of Palestinians but no Jews during a nationalist march through Jerusalem this week in which crowds of Jews chanted racist slogans, assaulted Palestinians and vandalized Palestinian property, an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday. Colombo: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe took to Twitter to express his gratitude and appreciation for India's efforts to help the island country amid the ongoing economic crisis and expressed a desire to strengthen ties between the two nations further. "I expressed our country`s appreciation for the support India has extended during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening ties between our nations," the Sri Lankan PM tweeted on Friday (May 27). In another tweet, Wickremesinghe also said he is grateful for the response from India and Japan on the proposal made for the Quad to take the lead in setting up a foreign aid consortium to assist Sri Lanka. "Assistance from India and Japan: I am grateful for the positive response from India and Japan to the proposal made for the Quad members (United States, India, Japan, and Australia) to take the lead in setting up a foreign aid consortium to assist Sri Lanka," he said. 1. Assistance from India and Japan: I am grateful for the positive response from India and Japan on the proposal made for the Quad members (United States, India, Japan, and Australia) to take the lead in setting up a foreign aid consortium to assist Sri Lanka. Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) May 27, 2022 Earlier this month, India and Japan had agreed to cooperate with each other in light of the current economic crisis and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the country. Wickremesinghe`s appreciation of India came on the same day when its neighbour donated 25 tons of drugs and other medical supplies valued at close to SLR 260 million. The medical consignment was donated in response to requests by various organizations and hospitals spread across different parts of the country. The Indian High Commission said these humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Indian government`s ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply, etc. "These efforts testify to Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s `Neighbourhood First` policy which places people-to-people engagement at its core," the high commission said in a statement, reported ANI. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The body of a girl, reported missing 11 days ago, was found with her limbs tied in a well in Uttar Pradeshs Bhadohi, PTI reported. The UP police said the body of the 16-year-old was found after some villagers noticed a foul smell coming from the well on Friday (May 27) night. Superintendent of Police (SP) Anil Kumar told mediapersons today (May 28) that some people in a village falling under Unjh police station detected a foul smell arising from the well that belongs to a farmer known as Amar Pal Singh. The SP said a sack was pulled out of the well, wherein the girl's body was found with her hands and legs tied. Further, he said the body seemed to be thrown in the well almost 10-12 days ago. On May 16, a missing report was lodged at Gopiganj police station by the girls father, as per the SP. The father had told the police that the girl left their house at 8 pm on May 16 to answer nature's call but never came back. "It seems that someone who knew the girl killed her and threw her body in the well, which is located 20 kms from her house," Kumar said, adding that he does not rule out the possibility of rape. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. A case has been registered against unidentified persons in the matter and a probe has been launched in the case. (With PTI inputs) ALSO READ: Nigerian man who duped over 300 Indian women on marriage pretext arrested in Delhi New Delhi: Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar will soon be seen entering the showbiz world with Yash Raj Films first historical, Samrat Prithviraj, which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan. Akshay Kumar is essaying the role of the legendary warrior who fought valiantly to protect India from the merciless invader Muhammad of Ghor. The ethereally gorgeous Manushi is playing the role of Prithvirajs beloved Princess Sanyogita and her debut is definitely one of the most awaited launches of 2022! MANUSHI CHHILLAR'S HEAVY MAKE-UP FOR WEDDING SCENE Manushi reveals that the wedding sequence in the film was her most elaborate shot as 25 people comprising costume, jewellery, hair, make-up, tailors, etc dressed her in tandem for 3 straight hours! She says, So, the makeup would take 20 mins max because my director wanted to portray Princess Sanyogita as natural as possible and hair and costume would take hours. I would be the first one to enter the set, it would still be dark! For the wedding sequence, though it is a short one, it took a really long time for me to get ready! There was an army of people working on me to get me ready and look the way I do on screen! She said, It was like someone putting alta on my hands, someone is putting alta on my feet, someone stitching my costume, someone fixing my hair, someone fixing my makeup, someone is putting jewellery on me. There were countless people trying to put layers and layers of clothes and jewellery on me. That took a while! Manushi further added, "What I loved about the costumes of Prithviraj is that they kept it very authentic. But they were heavy, the jewellery was very heavy. There was a duppata for my Swayamvar which went on my head. It was really heavy and I had a proper head neck and upper back issue. I couldnt keep my head straight. So, every time we would stop shooting for a scene 2 people would come and lift the duppata so that the weight is not all on my head." SAMRAT PRITHVIRAJ RELEASE DATE Manushis dream debut Prithviraj has been directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who is best known for directing the television epic Chanakya and the critically acclaimed film Pinjar. The film is set to release on June 3 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. AKSHAY KUMAR STARRER'S PRITHVIRAJ TITLE CHANGE The title of Bollywood star Akshay Kumar's upcoming film 'Prithviraj' has been changed and the film is now called 'Samrat Prithviraj', according to a letter issued by Yash Raj Films. The letter has been sent to Shree Rajput Karni Sena. The move comes after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Shree Rajput Karni Sena, through Advocate Raghavendra Mehrotra. NEW DELHI: Actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who is under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, has got the court's permission to travel abroad from May 31 to June 6. Jacqueline, who wants to attend the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi, had approached the Patiala House court, seeking its nod for her visit to the UAE, France, and Nepal. The ED has interrogated Jacqueline multiple times and recorded her statement after her alleged friendship with Chandrashekhar came to light. In the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving Chandrashekhar, the ED had last month attached gifts and properties worth Rs 7 crore given to the Sri Lankan actress, terming them proceeds of crime. In February this year, the agency had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who had introduced him to the actress. It has been alleged that Irani used to choose costly gifts for Jacqueline and later dropped them at her house after the payments were made by Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. Live TV New Delhi: A residence in the United States that allegedly witnessed paranormal activity depicted in the 2013 horror film The Conjuring is being sold for $1.525 million(Rs 11,63,65,125), which is 27% higher than the asking price. The deal is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Jenn and Cory Heinzen, paranormal investigators, had purchased the home in 2019 for $439,000 and had set the asking price at $1.2 million. Meanwhile, Andrea Perron, 63, who resided at the Rhode Island house from 1971 to 1980, says her family had horrific encounters in the farmhouse erected in 1736 during that time. Carolyn Perron, now 82, was once seen levitating in a chair, she told the Wall Street Journal. Perron was terrified that her mother would be killed when she was flung 20 feet and struck her head on the floor. Perron said her mother recovered an hour later and had no recollection of the incident. Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators, volunteered to assist the Warren family after learning of the incidents. The Conjuring, a 2013 horror film, was based on their work. Perron believes the house chose the new buyer, Jacqueline Nuez, a 58-year-old Boston real-estate entrepreneur. "I feel Jacqueline was chosen by the house in the same manner that we were. Perron told the Wall Street Journal, "It wants her brightness." When Jenn and Cory Heinzen offered the nearly 3,100-square-foot home for $1.2 million in September 2021, they had more than ten offers, according to the publication. It included an anonymous cash offer that was significantly higher than the asking price, which the couple turned down. Jenn Heinzen told the Wall Street Journal, "We got a number of absurd bids, but the folks declined to be interviewed." The Henzens also insisted that the buyer not dwell in the house, claiming that this was done to guarantee the buyer's safety. The concept will work well for the house's new owner, Jacqueline Nuez, who plans to collaborate with the Perrons for special events. Nuez told the publication, "I'm not terrified of the house," but joked, "ask me again in a year." New Delhi: The government on Saturday said it will develop a framework to keep a check on fake reviews posted on e-commerce websites to protect consumer interest. The consumer affairs ministry along with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) held a virtual meeting on Friday with stakeholders, including e-commerce entities, to discuss the magnitude of fake reviews on their platforms. Fake reviews mislead consumers into buying online products and services. According to an official statement, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) will develop these frameworks after studying the present mechanism being followed by the e-commerce entities in India and best practices available globally. Consumer forums, law universities, lawyers, FICCI, CII and consumer rights activists, among others, participated in the meeting to discuss the magnitude of the problem and roadmap ahead for fake reviews on websites. Since e-commerce involves a virtual shopping experience without any opportunity to physically view or examine the product, consumers heavily rely on reviews posted on platforms to see the opinion and experience of users who have already purchased the good or service. "Traceability by ensuring the authenticity of the reviewer and the associated liability of the platform are the two key issues here. Also e-commerce players must disclose as to how they choose the 'most relevant reviews' for display in a fair and transparent manner," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said. All stakeholders agreed that the issue deserves to be monitored closely and appropriate framework governing the fake reviews should be developed for protection of consumer interest, the statement said. Stakeholders from e-commerce companies claimed they have frameworks in place by which they monitor fake reviews and would be pleased to take part in developing a legal framework on the issue, it added. Nidhi Khare, additional secretary and Anupam Mishra, joint secretary in the Department of Consumer Affairs also attended the meeting. Manisha Kapoor, CEO, ASCI highlighted the categories of fake and misleading reviews and their impact on consumer interest. Also Read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India discuss economic cooperation The issues discussed in the meeting included how paid reviews, unverifiable reviews and absence of disclosure in case of incentivised reviews make it challenging for consumers to recognise genuine reviews. Also Read: 7th Pay Commission: DA hike coming in July? Check latest update on dearness allowance New Delhi: Apple ID is Apple's version of a Google account, which is required practically everywhere. Apple device owners must enter their Apple ID data practically every time they use their devices, from purchasing a new software to accessing their iCloud account to making Apple Music payments. One might think that using the Apple ID password so regularly would make it memorable. However, you do have a tendency to forget your Apple ID password. If you find yourself in this circumstance, here is a step-by-step instruction to resetting your Apple ID password. How to reset your Apple ID password on iPhone, iPad Step 1: On your iPhone or iPad, go to the Settings app and open it. Step 2: Now tap your name at the top of the screen, then select Password and Security. Step 3: Then select Change Password from the drop-down menu. Step 4: You'll be requested to enter your device's passcode if you're signed into iCloud and have a passcode enabled. Step 5: To change your password, follow the instructions on the screen. How to reset your Apple ID password on Mac or MacBook Here's how to reset your Apple ID if you have a Mac PC or MacBook laptop. Step 1: To begin, go to the Apple menu at the top of the screen. Step 2: Then go to System Preferences and select Apple ID from the drop-down menu. Step 3: Then select Password and Security from the drop-down menu. Step 4: If your Apple ID password is requested, select "Forgot Apple ID or Password" and follow the onscreen instructions. Step 5: Now select Change Password from the drop-down menu. Step 6: Now type in the password that you use to open your Mac, and you're finished. However, if you are unable to alter or reset your Apple ID password, there is another method of resetting your Apple ID password. All you have to do now is follow the steps below. Step 1: Go to iforgot.apple.com to recover your password. Step 2: Now you'll need to enter your Apple ID. Step 3: Then choose the option to reset your password, followed by the choice to continue. Step 4: Choose how you want to respond to your security questions. After that, you will receive an email with all of the information. You can also type in your recovery code. Step 5: Finally, reset your password by following the onscreen instructions. New Delhi: Tech giant Google is working on two built-in snores and cough detection features that will let it detect if users snore or cough in their sleep. The tech giant is reportedly working on these features for Pixel and Android, 9To5Google reported. The tech website spotted lines of code in the installation file of the Google Health Studies app. It revealed that the company is conducting a study called aSleep Audio Collection` that is only available to Google employees. "You must be a Full-Time Googler with an Android phone to participate in this study," the report said. "Environmental conditions required for this study are to have no more than one adult sleeper in the same room who does not work for a competitor company," it added. Google explained that its "Health Sensing team is actively working to bring an advanced suite of sensing capabilities and algorithms to Android devices to provide users with meaningful insight into their sleep". This audio collection "supports this mission by providing data necessary to validate, tune, and develop such algorithms". Also Read: Garena Free Fire redeem codes for today, May 28: Check website, steps to redeem FF rewards These "Cough and Snore algorithms" will translate into a "bedside monitoring" feature on Android devices that works in a "privacy-preserving, on-device" manner for acenocturnal cough and snore monitoring." Also Read: New cyber security rule to make doing business in India tougher, say global tech bodies New Delhi: A baby with a rare genetic condition Ayla Summer Mucha has caught the attention of netizens after her South Australian parents Cristina Vercher and Blaize Mucha began a TikTok account dedicated to spreading awareness about her codition which currently only effects 14 people worldwide. According to a New York Post report, soon after Ayla's birth, her condition was apparent and doctors later termed it as bilateral macrostomia, a condition where the corners of the mouth don't fuse together properly. Blaize and I were not aware of this condition nor had I ever met someone born with a macrostomia, Vercher, a South Australia resident, told Jam Press as quoted by New York Post. In the beginning the young parents were quite worried about their daughter's condition as it was so rare. As per a 2007 study in Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, only 14 cases around the world have been reported with the condition. Dedicated to spread awareness on their daughter's condition, the couple opened a TikTok account centered about their daughter to spread awareness and fight stigma against cosmetic disorders. Patients with macrostomia are often advised to undergo surgery to improve their facial functionalities. Ayla's parents aren't sure how they will go ahead with the transformative surgery and its aftereffects. Live TV Colombo: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda in New Delhi and discussed the way forward to cope with the economic crisis in the island nation. Taking to Twitter, the Sri Lankan Embassy in India wrote, "Following his meeting in mid-April, High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda again met with the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman today (27) to evaluate the status of ongoing economic cooperation and to discuss the way forward." Following his meeting in mid-April, High Commissioner @MilindaMoragoda again met with the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India @nsitharaman today (27) to evaluate the status of ongoing economic cooperation and to discuss the way forward. #lka pic.twitter.com/jXlWqK0eZt Sri Lanka in India (@SLinIndia) May 27, 2022 The 37th Board Meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation was also held on Friday in New Delhi under the co-chairmanship of Moragoda and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. Sri Lanka is now facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka economic crisis: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe thanks India for support amid 'difficult period' It left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, fuel, and gas. In February, New Delhi provided a short-term loan of USD 500 million to Colombo for the purchase of petroleum products through the Ministry of Energy and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. India in November 2021 gave 100 tonnes of nano nitrogen liquid fertilisers to Sri Lanka as their government stopped the import of chemical fertilisers. The total fuel delivered to the people of Sri Lanka, over the last 50 days, amounts to nearly 200,000 MT, including a consignment of 40,000 MT, by Indian Oil Corporation, outside the line of credit facility, in February 2022. Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge thanked the Government of India for the fuel consignments. India announced another USD 1 billion as a credit line to Sri Lanka to help shore up the sinking economy of the island nation. New Delhi also provided the stock of 11,000 MT of rice to Colombo. Live TV Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, which won the Eurovision this year, has auctioned its trophy for a $900,000 donation to a foundation that helps the Ukrainian army. Uvalde: The suspects in the shootings at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school and a Buffalo, New York, supermarket were both just 18, authorities say, when they bought the weapons used in the attacks too young to legally purchase alcohol or cigarettes, but old enough to arm themselves with assault weapons. The Buffalo suspect was taken to a hospital last year for a mental health evaluation, but the incident didn't trigger New York's "red flag" law and he was still able to purchase a gun. The Texas suspect's mother told ABC he gave her an "uneasy feeling" at times and could "be aggressive ... If he really got mad." But authorities say he had no known criminal or mental health history. The state has no such red flag law. They are just the latest suspected US mass shooters whose ability to obtain guns has raised concerns. In some cases shooters got guns legally under current firearms laws, or because of background check lapses or law enforcement's failure to heed warnings of concerning behavior. After the shootings, which together left 31 people dead, President Joe Biden renewed calls for stronger gun laws and questioned whether people as young as 18 should be allowed to purchase firearms. In the past, Biden has called for banning assault weapons and expanding background checks. Many Republicans oppose the measures. A look at how suspects in recent mass shootings obtained guns, based on police accounts, court documents and contemporaneous reporting: Uvalde, Texas: May 24, 2022. 21 dead. Salvador Ramos legally purchased two guns in the days before the attack that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. An AR-style rifle from a federally licensed gun dealer in the Uvalde area on May 17 and a second rifle on May 20. Ramos made the purchases just days after turning 18, the minimum age under federal law for buying a rifle. He also purchased several hundred rounds of ammunition. At least one of the rifles was a DDM4, made by Daniel Defense and modeled after the U.S. Military's M4 carbine rifle, though without the M4's ability to switch to fully automatic or fire a three-round burst. "The idea that an 18-year-old kid can walk into a gun store and buy two assault weapons is just wrong, "Biden said hours after the shooting Tuesday. "What in God's name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone". Ramos was killed at the school by a Border Patrol team. Buffalo, New York: May 14, 2022. 10 dead. Payton Gendron legally purchased the Bushmaster XM-15 E2S used in the attack on Tops Friendly Market from a federally licensed gun dealer near his home in Conklin, New York, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Buffalo. In a personal, online diary that surfaced after the attack, Gendron said he bought the AR-15-style weapon in January, bought a shotgun in December and received a rifle as a Christmas present from his dad when he was 16. Last year, Gendron was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation under a state mental health law after writing "murder-suicide" in response to a teacher's question. New York is one of 19 states with red flag laws that allow courts to take guns from people posing immediate danger, but that didn't happen with Gendron, who was 17 at the time. State police described his threat as "general in nature" and said it didn't "specifically mention shooting or firearms." After the shooting, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order underscoring the need for red flag interventions and said she would seek to bar people under 21 from buying some semi-automatic weapons in the state. A similar law in California was ruled unconstitutional. Gendron is charged with murder. Boulder, Colorado: March 22, 2021. 10 DEAD. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa bought a Ruger AR-556 pistol, a semi-automatic weapon with a capacity of up to 30 rounds, six days before the shooting at King Soopers grocery store, police said. Alissa was prone to sudden rage and was convicted of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to probation for attacking a high school classmate. Colorado has a universal background check law covering almost all gun sales, but that misdemeanor would not have prevented him from buying a weapon, experts said. Had it been a felony, federal law would've barred his purchase. Days before the shooting, a judge struck down city ordinances banning assault rifles and high-capacity magazines in Boulder, citing a state law prohibiting local gun bans. The NRA backed the lawsuit challenging the ordinances. A judge ruled last month that Alissa is mentally incompetent to stand trial. San Jose, California: May 26, 2021. 9 Dead. Samuel James Cassidy legally purchased the three 9 mm handguns he used to kill co-workers and then himself at a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority rail yard. He also stockpiled a dozen guns and 25,000 rounds of ammunition at his home, which he set ablaze before the shooting, and had high-capacity magazines that may have been illegal under California law, depending on when they were purchased. Santa Clara's district attorney said authorities would've sought to take Cassidy's weapons away under the state's red flag law had U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed them of a "Significant Encounter" with Cassidy upon his return to California from a trip to the Philippines in 2016. Customs agents said in a report that Cassidy harbored "dark thoughts about harming" two specific people and had a memo book in which he expressed his hatred of the transit agency. Atlanta: March 16, 2021. 8 Dead. Robert Aaron Long purchased a 9 mm handgun just hours before going on a shooting rampage at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area, police said. A lawyer for the gun shop said it complies with federal background check laws. Georgia, like the majority of states, has no waiting period to obtain a gun. Long claimed to have a "sex addiction," police said, and he spent time at an addiction recovery facility last year. Federal law bans guns for people who are "unlawful users of or addicted to a controlled substance" or who've been court-ordered to a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility, but doesn't mention treatment for other compulsions as a barrier to ownership. Long is serving a sentence life without parole. ___ Midland, Texas, August 31, 2019. 7 Dead. Seth Aaron Ator purchased an AR-style rifle through a private sale, allowing him to evade a federal background check, and fired it indiscriminately from his car into passing vehicles and shopping plazas. He also hijacked a mail truck, killing the driver. Ator had been blocked from getting a gun in 2014 after his background check was flagged because a court determined he was mentally ill, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. Private sales, which account for up to 40% of all gun sales according to some estimates, are not subject to a federal background check and private sellers aren't required to determine if a buyer is eligible to own a gun. Ator was killed by police. Dayton, Ohio: August 4, 2019. 9 Dead. Connor Betts' classmates said he was suspended in high school for compiling a "hit list" and a "rape list," but authorities said nothing in his background prevented him from purchasing the AR-15-style pistol used in the shooting at Ned Peppers Bar. Ohio law requires that sealed records of any juvenile crimes be expunged either after five years or once the offender turns 23. Betts, who was 24 at the time of the shooting, bought the gun online from a Texas dealer. It was then shipped to a Dayton-area firearms dealer, in accordance with federal law. Betts was killed by police. El Paso, Texas, August 3, 2019. 23 Dead. Patrick Crusius bought an AK-47-style rifle and 1,000 rounds of hollow-point ammunition online 45 days before he walked into a Walmart store and opened fire, killing 23 people and injuring two dozen others, before confessing that he had been targeting Mexicans, according to prosecutors. A Crusius family lawyer said his mother raised concerns about the purchase in a call to police on June 27. Police said she asked if Crusius, who was 21 at the time, was old enough to buy a gun. Police said she was assured he was and that he'd qualify if he passed a background check. Police said she expressed concern only about his safety and said she'd seen no recent change in his behavior. Crusius posted a racist screed online just before the attack and appeared to target Mexicans. He's charged with capital murder in Texas and federal hate crimes and firearms offenses. Virginia Beach, Virginia: May 31, 2019. 12 Dead. Former Virginia Beach city employee DeWayne Craddock legally purchased six firearms in the three years before he opened fire on a municipal building, including the two .45-caliber pistols used in the attack. An independent review of the shooting, commissioned by the City of Virginia Beach, found that Craddock displayed no warning signs or "prohibited behaviors associated with a pathway to violence," and that he had no known history of mental health treatment. Craddock was killed by police. Thousand Oaks, California: November 7, 2018. 12 Dead. Ian David Long, a former Marine machine gunner who served in Afghanistan, used a legally purchased .45-caliber pistol with an extended magazine in the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill. California tried to outlaw high-capacity magazines, but a federal judge reversed that after a pro-gun group sued. Months before the shooting, sheriff's deputies called to Long's home found him acting irrationally, but a mental health specialist didn't feel he needed to be involuntarily committed. California has a red flag law, but there's no indication authorities sought a court order to take away Long's guns. Long killed Live TV Buenos Aires: Argentina reported two cases of the monkeypox virus on Friday in men who had recently arrived from Spain, marking the first time the presence of the virus has been confirmed in Latin America during this latest outbreak.Argentina's health ministry first confirmed a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had traveled to Spain has monkeypox. Later in the day, the ministry said in a statement that a suspected case involving a resident of Spain who had arrived in Argentina earlier in the week was also confirmed positive. Argentina now becomes the latest country to confirm cases of monkeypox as part of a global outbreak that has seen the rare virus sprout up in several countries that are not usually known to have outbreaks. ALSO READ: Monkeypox Virus Outbreak: Unlock all concrens related to THIS disease The sequencing of the virus in the first confirmed case revealed a high degree of similarity with monkeypox from western Africa, as has been the case with the new infections around the world, Argentina's Health Ministry said. Authorities have revealed little about the patients but said they are both in good health and are being isolated while receiving treatment for their symptoms. The first confirmed case involved a man who traveled to Spain from April 28 through May 16 and had symptoms compatible with monkeypox, including lesions and a fever, on Sunday. All of his close contacts are being monitored and none have presented any symptoms to date, the Health Ministry said. The second confirmed case involves a resident of Spain who arrived in Argentina on Wednesday and has no ties to the first case. The man, who was also in the province of Buenos Aires, presented lesions compatible with monkeypox on Thursday. "The patient is in good general health, isolated and receiving symptomatic treatment," the Health Ministry added. None of his close contacts have yet to present any symptoms. Nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have recently been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the disease", the World Health Organization said on Friday. But that looked to be an undercount. Spain has emerged as an epicenter of this recent outbreak and health authorities confirmed on Friday there were 98 confirmed cases in the country. The United Kingdom has reported 106 confirmed cases while Portugal said Friday the number of people with monkeypox had increased to 74. Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Italy, among others. Live TV Ireland has confirmed its first case of monkeypox, the country's health agency said on Saturday (May 28), reported Reuters. The report adds that a separate suspected case is also being investigated and test results are awaited, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said in a statement. Argentina reported two cases of the monkeypox virus on Friday in men who had recently arrived from Spain, marking the first time the presence of the virus has been confirmed in Latin America during this latest outbreak, reported AP. Argentina's health ministry first confirmed a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had travelled to Spain has monkeypox. Later in the day, the ministry said in a statement that a suspected case involving a resident of Spain who had arrived in Argentina earlier in the week was also confirmed positive. Ireland and Argentina have now become the latest countries to confirm cases of monkeypox as part of a global outbreak that has seen the rare virus sprout up in several countries that are not usually known to have outbreaks. Around 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 200 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe. Spain has emerged as an epicenter of the recent outbreak and health authorities confirmed on Friday there were 98 confirmed cases in the country. The United Kingdom has reported 106 confirmed cases while Portugal said on Friday that the number of people with monkeypox had increased to 74. Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, France and Italy, among others. Monkeypox: NOT a sexually transmitted infection According to the top official of the World Health Organization (WHO), most of the cases that have been detected in non-endemic areas are among populations of men having sex with men, that identify as men having sex with men, but it not necessarily will be only exclusive to that group."So, we want to make sure that we don't stigmatize anyone related to this. This is about raising awareness. This is not a sexually transmitted infection. We do know that Monkeypox does transmit primarily from physical contact, skin to skin contact and that includes sexual contact," Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead of COVID-19 response at the WHO's Emergency Diseases Unit said. Monkeypox is not the same as Covid-19 The WHO official noted that Monkeypox is not the same as Covid-19 and "we are not seeing that type of expansion". Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms very similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. According to WHO, Monkeypox typically presents clinically with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from 2 to 4 weeks. (With inputs from Agencies) Colombo: Sri Lankan police on Saturday fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse anti-government protestors here as the ongoing agitation demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the worst economic crisis intensified as it entered its 50th day. Sri Lanka is near bankruptcy and has severe shortages of essentials from food, fuel, medicines and cooking gas to toilet paper and matchsticks. For months, people have been forced to stay in long lines to buy the limited stocks. Sri Lanka's economic crisis has created political unrest with a protest occupying the entrance to the president's office demanding his resignation continuing for the past 49 days. The crisis has already forced prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the elder brother of the president, to resign on May 9. There has been an intense call for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to also resign however, he has refused to do so. Saturday marks the 50th day of the "Go Rajapaksa" protest which has also seen the death of a parliamentarian. The Sri Lankan police have on occasions used force to control the unrest. "The continuous protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reached its 50th day today. The day is to be marked with protest marches with wider participation," the organisers said. News website newsfirst.Lk reported that tear gas and water cannons were fired by police to disperse protestors near the World Trade Centre in Fort, Colombo. According to the Colombo Gazette newspaper, a protest was staged near the residence and office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, disrupting traffic along Flower Road. The protest was staged by "No Deal Gama", it said. Sharing a video of the protest in which the agitators were seen carrying black flags and shouting anti-government slogans, the Daily Mirror newspaper tweeted, "50 days of the Galle Face Struggle - People's Representatives and many civil activists march from Kollupitiya Junction to Galle Face." The protest against the government started on April 9 when agitators walked into the Galle Face promenade central Colombo and camped there blocking the entry gate to Rajapaksa's presidential office. They expanded activities at the site by naming it GGG 'Gota Go Gama (village)'. A reference library, a theatre, a political podium with cultural and religious events have been set up at the protest site. Volunteers delivered food and drink at the site as numbers swelled in participation with every passing day. The chorus for the resignation of Rajapaksa gathered momentum as people came to be hit by the ongoing worsening economic conditions - long queues at fuel pumps and cooking gas stores, scarcities of essentials, businesses slumping, extended hours of power cuts. The participants feared a crackdown on the protest on a few occasions. But the backing of the legal community saw authorities restraining themselves against physically attacking the site for fear of facing rights abuse charges. However, on May 9, a group of government supporters did attack the site injuring the protesters. A backlash followed with forcing the country into an island wide curfew. In the violence ensued at least 10 people died. Properties of some 78 ruling party politicians were attacked or suffered arson. On the same evening, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned and Ranil Wickremesinghe, an Opposition politician, replaced him. Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son Namal and several seniors are still being quizzed on the violence. At least two ruling parliamentarians are remanded for their responsibility to attack the peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, police said they had obtained a court order preventing the protesters from entering certain key roads of the central Colombo's Fort area. "Our struggle would only end when the Rajapaksa family leaves the political arena and be hauled before the people's court for all the wrongs they have done," Chameera Jeewantha, a protester who has been at the site all 50 days said. ALSO READ: FM Nirmala Sitharaman, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India discuss economic cooperation Sudanese women's activist Amira Osman Hamed has won a Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, the organisation announced Friday. The activist and engineer, now in her forties, has advocated for Sudanese women for two decades and was detained this year in a crackdown following the country's latest military takeover. She was among defenders from Afghanistan, Belarus, Zimbabwe and Mexico who also received the 2022 award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. Osman "never deterred from her mission," Dublin-based Front Line Defenders said in its awards announcement, "consistently (advocating) for democracy, human rights, and women's rights." After first being charged for wearing trousers in 2002, she drew international support in 2013 when she was detained and threatened with flogging for refusing to wear a headscarf. Both charges fell under morality laws during the rule of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir who took power in an Islamist-backed coup. Osman told AFP that the morality laws had "changed Sudanese women from victims to criminals" and targeted "the dignity of Sudanese people." In 2009 she established "No to Women Oppression", an initiative to advocate against the much-derided Public Order Law. It was finally repealed in 2019 after Bashir's ouster following a mass uprising. Women were at the forefront of protests that toppled Bashir, and hopes were high for a more liberal Sudan as restrictions that had stifled their actions and public lives were removed. But many fears for the hard-won liberties gained since his ouster after the October takeover led by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule. A crackdown on civilian pro-democracy figures has followed, with at least 96 people killed in protests and hundreds detained. In late January 2022, Osman's team told AFP that "30 masked armed men" had stormed into her house in Khartoum in the middle of the night, "taking her to an unknown location." The United Nations mission to Sudan called for her release, tweeting that "Amira's arrest and pattern of violence against women's rights activists severely risk reducing their political participation in Sudan." She was freed in early February and an AFP correspondent saw her participating in a demonstration, kneeling on crutches due to a prior back injury. The award has honoured human rights defenders annually since 2005. Search Keywords: Short link: Ahram Online talked to Anna Dorangricchia, gender equality expert in the Civil and Social Affairs Division of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), on equality, capacity building and the challenges women face in society and workplace. On 18 May, UfM member states concluded their fifth Ministerial Meeting on Employment and Labour, hosted by Morocco. Participants discussed pressing labour market challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region and ensuring an inclusive, green, digital and sustainable recovery for the most vulnerable groups, especially youth and women. Ahram Online spoke to Dorangricchia after the conclusion of the meeting via Zoom. Ahram Online: What are the main psychological and deep-rooted misconceptions that are directly linked with the problem of gender inequality? Anna Dorangricchia: Unfortunately, women are described and labeled as vulnerable. So the main stereotype is women as weak, thus they do not get equal rights and pay. It leads to many challenges. When they ask for loans, the reaction is: women are not reliable; this is something other than violence in the work place, and harassment and such. Also, the issue of binding quotas and obligations of including women in percentages in entities is debatable with supporters and opposers. AO: Does gender equality stem from regulations and governments, or rather from society itself? AD: Both together. Public policy should be mobilised, and there is much work to be done in regards to society and cultural education, including all sectors of society, to recognise that womens rights are human rights. In the conference, we discussed a recent UN study about Arab countries encompassing a survey of 11,000 men and women between the age of 14 to 24. 40 percent of male respondants said they took part at least once in online harassment, and when asked why, they said: because they could. Womens human rights should be acknowledged more, especially in younger generations. AO: Can we pinpoint important challenges that face women when it comes to equality in labour that are specific to countries in the region? AD: Gender equality is an objective yet to be reached by almost all countries in the world. We always say that the situation is worse in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, but actually that is not entirely true. In MENA, womens participation in the labour market is 20 to 25 percent compared to 40 percent elsewhere. There is a big challenge in terms of mismatching between skills, because in the MENA we have many women who graduated from STEM (scientific universities), but cannot be present in the labour market because legislation does not tackle all the barriers that women face when they look for a job in the field, also because we still suffer from gender stereotypes, and lack of data that help empower women in that regard. Women are the ones with less access to resources and capital and to bank systems, also they have less access to technology. When we talk about green economy and agriculture, we are faced by the unfortunate fact that women in MENA rural areas have more complicated problems. AO: What about strides and improvements already accomplished? AD: There are a lot of improvements and strides already taken in terms of legislation. Most countries in the MENA are working on a gender-equality agenda and strategy, like the case in Morocco, Jordan and Egypt. Also there are improvements in including women on boards of private companies and government sector, and better legislation in terms of protection, but still women in the entrepreneurship sector have less access to capital because of gender stereotypes and banks giving them the lowest rates when they ask for loans. Egypt is one of two countries, together with Jordan, to sign an agreement with the World Bank and the European Bank for Construction and Development to launch initiatives to close the gender gap. It includes a bundle of initiatives in many fields that invest a lot of funds to support women through capacity building, training and financial aid. There are plans undergoing, but unfortunately we have to recognize that MENA is going to suffer greatly because of Ukrainian war. AO: To what extent was COVID a setback to efforts of equality, and how will the war further hinder the efforts? AD: I always say that crisis are never gender neutral, and COVID and war are no exception. In terms of COVID, the number of jobs lost because of lockdown were huge and impacted women foremost. The UN and World Bank forecast that in the MENA during COVID about 700 million jobs were lost. About the war, main impact is on food and energy sectors, and women suffer most because they feed families and are more likely to lose jobs. Egypt and Morocco have robust economies so they may be less damaged, but women in all societies pay the biggest price. AO: What testimonies from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisations (UNIDO) actions to empower women have been the most impressive and inspirational? AD: UNIDO has been working in the MENA region for almost 15 years now based on a specific methodology. They provide trainings, capacity building, mentoring and incubations. They provide networking capacity building as well. In an initiative with UNIDO, we provided thousands with information and networks to improve their skills. We also provided women with help to improve in technology in an initiative called symbol of water. In Morocco, we trained women to get jobs in their field as well as how to propose requests for loans and financial aid, which are hindered by stereotyping AO: Finally, what gives you motivation along the way and what are your hopes and aspirations for the future in that regard? AD: I always say that in my life I faced all obstacles a woman can face when it comes to problems of gender stereotypes regarding equality and labor. First of all, I am a woman. I come from Sicily, meaning a southern part of Italy where macho culture is strongly present, and I am an immigrant because I moved outside of my native country to work. I always say I am not a woman, but rather a person. I have been working with passion for that all my life, and it has not been easy. I am 52 years old and still face stereotypes, especially in countries of the Mediterranean. There is always bias, and if you are a woman you always have to prove yourself and do double the work. But along the way I met amazing examples: a woman from Gaza in her twenties who, against all odds, succeeded in manufacturing bricks from solar energy. In the conference, we met a young Moroccan lady in her twenties who invented a method to create leather from fish skin. She started with a couple of women in her local village and now has a sustainable start-up against all odds. [Despite starting in a] small village in a rural area and among a specialised community of fishermen and no money or funds, but still she did it! In Tunisia, young women in an artificial intelligence start-up got funding of of 100 million euros after five years from their onset. This diminishes the stereotype of limiting women to jobs of services and education rather than technology, it closes the gap. Each time I hear about such people I am impressed and filled with passion and pride to continue the path I started. Search Keywords: Short link: Breaking with the party line in a rare show of opposition to his country's war in Ukraine, a Communist Party legislative deputy in Russia's the Far East demanded an end to the military operation and withdrawal of Russian forces. ``We understand that if our country doesn't stop the military operation, we'll have more orphans in our country,'' Leonid Vasyukevich said at a meeting of the Primorsk regional Legislative Assembly in the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Friday. His comments, which he addressed to President Vladimir Putin, were shown in a video posted on a Telegram channel emanating from the region. Another deputy followed to support Vasyukevich's views but the legislative assembly's chairman issued a statement afterwards calling the remarks a ``political provocation'' not supported by the majority of lawmakers. Earlier this month, a Russian diplomat based in Geneva resigned, saying he was ``ashamed'' of the war. Russia has imposed severe penalties for publicly challenging the Kremlin's narrative on the military operation in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy spoke defiantly Friday in two speeches about his country's ultimate victory over Russian forces in both the most pressing battle in eastern Ukraine and the war, generally. ``Ukraine is a country that has destroyed the myth about the extraordinary power of the Russian army -- an army that supposedly, in a few days, could conquer anyone it wants,'' he told Stanford University students by video. ``Now Russia is trying to occupy the entire state but we feel strong enough to think about the future of Ukraine, which will be open to the world.'' Later, in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy reacted to Russians' capture of the eastern city of Lyman, the Donetsk region's large railway hub north of two more key cities still under Ukrainian control, and its attempt to encircle and seize the city of Sievierodonetsk, one of the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. ``If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong,'' the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. ``Donbas will be Ukrainian.'' --- The governor of the Luhansk region is denying Russian claims that their forces have surrounded the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk but said Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat. Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram Friday that the Russians have seized a hotel and bus station. ``The Russians will not be able to capture the Luhansk region in the coming days, as analysts predict. We will have enough forces and means to defend ourselves,'' Haidai wrote. He added that it's possible that ``not to be surrounded, we will have to leave.'' A critical supply and evacuation path, the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway, is constantly under fire, but supplies and people are still passing on it, Haidai said. --- The leaders of the Orthodox churches in Ukraine that were affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church have adopted measures declaring the church's full independence and criticizing the Russian church's leader for his support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Orthodoxy, the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, is divided between churches that had been loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate and those under a separate ecclesiastical body. The council of the Moscow-connected body, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on Friday said it ``condemns the war as a violation of God's commandment `Thou shalt not kill!' ... and expresses disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the war in Ukraine.'' It also adopted charter changes ``indicating the full self-sufficiency and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.'' --- Italian Premier Mario Draghi spoke by phone Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy, assuring him of ``the support of the Italian government in coordination with the European Union.? Draghi's office said the leaders also discussed the prospects for opening Ukrainian ports to allow grain exports '' to help combat the food crisis that is threatening the world's poorest countries.'' Draghi spoke Thursday with President Vladimir Putin in a bid to reach an agreement to open the ports, and Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Italy's commitment to work on a possible solution. Draghi noted after speaking to Putin that many millions of tons of grain risk rotting in Ukrainian ports if there is no agreement to allow their passage. --- The Kremlin-backed leader of Russia's southern province of Chechnya has posted a video in which he warns that Poland could be next after Ukraine. Ramzan Kadyrov, who is famous for his bluster, said in the video he posted to his official Telegram page that Ukraine was ``a done deal'' and that ``if an order is given after Ukraine, we'll show you (Poland) what you're made of in six seconds.'' Poland, which borders Ukraine, has provided its neighbour with weapons and other aid since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has also welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees. Kadyrov later urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ``finally come to his senses and accept the conditions offered by our president (Vladimir Putin).'' Kadyrov has repeatedly used social media to boast about Chechen fighters' alleged performance against Ukrainian troops and to make other unconfirmed statements about the war in Ukraine. --- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Ukraine should remove sea mines from areas near its ports to allow safe shipping. Putin made the statement in Friday's call with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, according to the Kremlin readout of the conversation. It said that Putin and Nehammer ``had a detailed exchange of views on issues regarding food security'' with Putin rejecting Western claims that Russia's action that exacerbated a global food crisis. The Kremlin noted that ``Putin emphasized that attempts to blame Russia for difficulties regarding shipments of agricultural products to global markets are unfounded.'' It added that the Russian leader ``gave a detailed explanation of the real roots behind those problems that emerged, in particular, because of the U.S. and the EU sanctions against Russia.'' The U.S. and other Western allies have rejected the Russian demand for the sanctions to be lifted and accused Moscow of blocking grain supplies from Ukraine to global markets, accusations the Kremlin has denied. --- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Russian forces are making ``palpable progress'' in eastern Ukraine, and Kyiv's forces need long-range rocket launchers and other military support. Britain's defence ministry said Friday that Moscow's troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in the eastern Donbas region, but do not yet have full control of the region. Johnson told the news agency, Bloomberg, that Russian President Vladimir Putin ``at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through the ground in Donbas, he's continuing to make gradual, slow but I'm afraid palpable progress.'' He said ``therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily.'' Johnson said long-range multiple-launch rocket systems, or MLRSs, ``would enable them to defend themselves against this very brutal Russian artillery.'' Britain possesses some of the systems, but Johnson did not say whether the U.K. would send any to Ukraine. --- The U.K.'s top diplomat says countries supporting Ukraine have to be ``ready for the long haul'' and there should be no talk of ``appeasing'' Russian President Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said after meeting her Czech counterpart in Prague Friday that ``we need to make sure that Ukraine wins and that Russia withdraws and that we never see this type of Russian aggression again.'' She said that ``there should be no talk of cease-fires or appeasing Putin.'' Truss says that Ukraine needs to receive more heavy weapons and gradually get upgraded to get ``NATO-standard equipment.'' She said that ``at the moment, they're using a lot of ex-Soviet equipment. We need to make sure they're able to defend themselves into the future.'' --- A U.S. lawmaker is urging the Biden administration to consider imposing sanctions on some Hungarian companies in an effort to pressure Budapest to agree to a European Union embargo on Russian oil. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi urged him to ``consider all tools including sanctions'' to ensure that Hungary -- a member of the EU and NATO -- gets on board with the proposal. The EU has for weeks sought to forge a consensus on a new sanctions package that would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held up negotiations and threatened a veto of the plan, arguing it would devastate Hungary's economy and lead to energy insecurity. In his letter to Blinken, Krishnamoorthi wrote that the EU's proposed embargo would ``significantly increase financial pressure on Russia's economy and Putin's war machine.'' If Orban continues to stall EU negotiations, he wrote, ``the Biden Administration should consider implementing sanctions against companies in Hungary that continue to do business with Russian oil exporters.'' --- Turkey's foreign minister says Sweden and Finland must now take ``concrete steps'' to alleviate his country's security concerns to overcome Ankara's objections to their NATO membership bid. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with Turkey's demands after a visit this week and Ankara is awaiting their answers. The countries' membership bids require support from all NATO countries, but Turkey is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants that Turkey considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. Cavusoglu said that ``an approach of `we'll convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies' would not be correct.'' He insisted that ``these countries need to take concrete steps.'' He added that ``we understand Finland and Sweden's security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkey's legitimate security concerns.'' --- Italian Premier Mario Draghi has discussed the emerging food crisis in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Draghi's office said that the call Thursday ``focused on the situation in Ukraine and ... efforts to find a shared solution to the ongoing food crisis and its serious repercussions on the world's poorest countries.'' 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. Moscow pressed the West on Thursday to lift sanctions against Russia, seeking to shift the blame for the food crisis. --- Germany's development minister has travelled to Ukraine to pledge further civilian support and discuss the country's rebuilding. Svenja Schulze is the second German minister to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited on May 10 and reopened the country's embassy in Kyiv. Schulze's ministry said she planned to meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other senior officials in Kyiv on Friday. It said the talks will address immediate aid to address the problems Ukraine faces now and ``strategic questions'' related to rebuilding the country. Schulze said in a statement that ``we must already lay now the foundations for internationally coordinated support for the rebuilding of a free and democratic Ukraine'' and Germany will contribute. --- Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine claim to have taken control of Lyman, a town in the Donetsk region. There has been no confirmation yet from Ukrainian officials. The military of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic said on Telegram that rebel forces, supported by the Russian troops, as of Friday ``have liberated and taken full control of 220 settlements, including Lyman.'' Lyman, which had a pre-war population of over 20,000, is a large railway hub in the Donetsk region, north of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, cities that remain under Ukrainian control. --- Russia's Foreign Ministry has announced that it is expelling five Croatian diplomats in response to ``unfriendly steps'' taken by Zagreb to reduce the size of Russia's diplomatic mission there. The ministry said in a statement that it summoned Croatian ambassador Tomislav Car on Friday. It said it ``expressed a strong protest in connection with the groundless attempts of the Croatian authorities to blame Russia for war crimes in Ukraine and the provision of military assistance by the Croatian side to the neo-Nazi Kyiv regime.'' Last month, Croatia expelled 18 Russian diplomats. --- Ukraine's foreign minister is pleading with Western nations to provide Kyiv with heavy weapons to enable it to push Russian forces back. Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday night tweeted a video of himself answering questions submitted on Twitter and said: ``We need heavy weapons. The only position where Russia is better than us it's the number of heavy weapons they have. Without artillery, without multiple launch rocket systems, we won't be able to push them back.'' Kuleba said that the situation in the east of the country, where the Russian forces are on the offensive, ``is as dire as people say.'' He added: ``I would even say it's even worse than people say. We need weapons. If you really care for Ukraine, weapons, weapons and weapons again,'' the minister stressed. --- A Ukrainian regional governor says that four people have been killed in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk over the past 24 hours by Russian shelling. One more person was killed by a Russian shell in the village of Komushuvakha. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, wrote in a Telegram post-Friday that ``the residents of Sievierodonetsk have forgotten when was the last time there was silence in the city for at least half an hour.'' He said that ``the Russians are pounding residential neighbourhoods relentlessly.'' Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said on Thursday that 60% of the city's residential buildings have been destroyed, and about 85-90% have been damaged and require major repairs. --- The United States has won the latest round of a legal battle to seize a $325-million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nation's top court. The case has highlighted the thorny legal ground the U.S. finds itself on as it tries to seize assets of Russian oligarchs around the world. Those intentions are welcomed by many governments and citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine, but some actions are raising questions about how far U.S. jurisdiction extends. Fiji's Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal by Feizal Haniff, who represents the company that legally owns the superyacht Amadea. Haniff had argued the U.S. had no jurisdiction under Fiji's mutual assistance laws to seize the vessel, at least until a court sorted out who really owned the Amadea. Haniff said he now plans to take the case to Fiji's Supreme Court and will apply for a court order to stop U.S. agents sailing the Amadea from Fiji before the appeal is heard. --- The U.S. general nominated to take over European Command has told senators that Sweden and Finland's push to join NATO won't require adding more U.S. ground forces into either country. But Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli said Thursday that 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. Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his nomination hearing that ``The center of gravity of NATO forces has shifted eastward.`` He said that ``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. Search Keywords: Short link: Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has stressed that the humanitarian emergencies in Africa are a permanent source of concern. They are illustrated by figures and statistical data drawn up and compiled by the United Nations Specialised Agencies. In the 15 most affected member states, 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022, Mahamat added. The chairperson made his statement during the Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference that was held in Equatorial Guinea on Friday with the participation of AU heads of state and government to address the humanitarian challenges in Africa. The AU, Mahamat added, has developed normative and operational instruments to improve the living conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons on the continent. The Kampala Convention that was adopted in 2009 and the related declaration specify the objectives and the modalities of action in favour of refugees and other people forced to move, he said. The paradox of humanitarianism lies in the discrepancy between the urgent nature of the situations of human distress to be taken care of and the poignant need to defer this care because of the lack of or insufficient financial resources, he explained. Mahamat also underlined the importance of the extraordinary humanitarian and pledging meeting, noting that it will be followed by a Donors Conference. Furthermore, he assured that the summit demonstrates the AUs firm determination to reduce the sufferings endured by refugees and internally displaced persons on the continent, he assured. Additionally, Mahamat expressed his gratitude to all traditional and new partners for their active commitment, which he said will soon be confirmed by their financial contributions. For his part, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the AU Macky Sall noted the scale and persistence of humanitarian emergencies on the continent. According to the 2021 United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview report, six of the most significant and urgent crises with alarming humanitarian consequences are found in Africa, with more than 30 million internally displaced people, refugees, and asylum seekers, Sall added in the opening session of the summit. Sall underscored that the fate of millions of refugees and internally displaced people call for inclusive development and the application of the principles of social justice. In his statement, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea asserted that the humanitarian situation leaves African countries in a stalemate. He further noted that with all the available resources on the continent, Africa is capable of solving humanitarian problems through solidarity. The summit also discussed the challenges affecting humanitarian assistance in Africa, advocating for sustainable financing for humanitarian needs and mobilising resources for a humanitarian response. The Equatorial Guinean capital of Malabo also hosted on Saturday the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa with the participation of AU heads of state and government, with the event tackling the impact of terrorism across the continent. Search Keywords: Short link: The West African state of Benin, which is threatened by the spread of jihadist violence from the Sahel, has suffered around 20 attacks, according to the first official tally of these assaults. The country borders Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where a years-long jihadist campaign has claimed thousands of lives and driven more than two million people from their homes. A posting Thursday on the government website said, "Nearly 20 or so attacks by armed groups against Benin, and the army has buried around 10 of its soldiers." The report was an account of a ceremony in the capital Cotonou for five servicemen killed in an assault in the north last month. "There is no longer any doubt, Benin is at war against terrorism," Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata told the ceremony, although the report made no mention of the term jihadist. In another attack this month in northern Togo, eight soldiers and 15 attackers died in what the Lome government called the country's first deadly "terrorist" attack. Benin's first known fatal attack was last December, in which two soldiers were killed near the troubled frontier with Burkina. The government responded by announcing increased military deployment in the north to protect the border. Armed incursions by jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) organisation from troubled Sahel nations have also affected Ghana and Ivory Coast, strengthening fears of a southwards push from the Sahel towards the Gulf of Guinea. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian authorities arrested a man accused of killing five family members in a farm in Giza, a statement by the Ministry of Interior said on Friday less than 48 hours after the crime was committed. The victims a farmer and his two daughters and two grandchildren were found dead in a farm in the Sheikh Zayed area in Giza, causing a public uproar on social media. According to the statement, the defendant committed the crime due to a social dispute with the victims. It also explained that the accused fled to Upper Egypt after the incident, where he was found and arrested by the police. Furthermore, the defendant confessed to the crime and is now facing murder charges, the ministry added. Search Keywords: Short link: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly is set to participate in a tripartite meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and a number of senior Emirati officials to launch an industrial partnership initiative with the UAE and Jordan. The Integrated Industrial Partnership Initiative aims to achieve economic sustainable development and contribute to supporting industrial integration between the three Arab nations, a statement by the Egyptian cabinet said. Madbouly is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, including the Ministers of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Planning and Economic Development, Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Trade and Industry, as well as a host of senior officials. The PM is also set to hold a meeting with a number of UAE investors to brief them on promising investment opportunities in Egypt and incentives offered by the government to attract further business. In April, the Egyptian, Emirati, and Jordanian heads of state held a meeting in Cairo in which they tackled means of promoting cooperation between the three nations. During the meeting, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged moving towards broader horizons of a strategic partnership that establishes extended relations, achieves common interests, and boosts joint Arab action. The Egyptian president also highlighted the significance of cooperation and partnership in light of the challenges facing the region as well as the economic and social crises resulting from multiple regional and international developments. Search Keywords: Short link: Sudan has voiced its rejection of recent Ethiopian remarks regarding plans to implement the third phase of filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) starting August, saying they increase the tensions between the two countries. Kiffle Horo, the project manager of the controversial dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, told Al-Arabiya News Channel on Friday that the upcoming third filling of the dam will take place in August and September. Horo ruled out the possibility of delaying the third filling of the dam despite admitting that Egypt and Sudan may be affected by the filling. The two downstream countries have repeatedly urged Ethiopia to refrain from unilateral acts on the GERD, stressing that a legally-binding agreement on filling and operation of the mega dam has to be reached. Addis Ababa has already unilaterally implemented the first two phases of the dam filling over the past two years and also started generating power from one of the dam turbines in February. Over the past months, the three countries have expressed willingness to rejoin the African Union-sponsored talks on the GERD. However, Ethiopias plan to implement the third dam filling persists despite the absence of a binding agreement. In a statement on Saturday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its rejection of the Ethiopian remarks, which poison the positive atmosphere that prevailed over the past few months, exacerbate tensions between the two countries and represent a breach for the previous agreements. The Ethiopian officials remarks also represent a reversal for Sudans proposal to stick to the quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the African Union, and the World Bank in the negotiations process, the statement read. The ministry called Horos remarks irresponsible as he ignored the unwavering Sudanese stance that opposes the filling and operation of the dam except after a fair and legally binding agreement is reached to achieve the interests of the three countries. Horos remarks regarding Ethiopias filling plans despite the probable damage to the downstream countries indicate that Ethiopia wants to move forward with its previous unilateral steps, the statement said. It is surprising that the Ethiopian official did not care about the potential damage to the Sudanese side although he acknowledged the possibility that both Sudan and Egypt would be affected by the third filling process, the statement said. The Sudanese foreign ministry urged Ethiopian officials to desist from such unregulated statements and to abide by the principles of diplomacy through dialogue and negotiations as the mean of resolving the dispute between the three countries regarding the GERD. The ministry stressed the need for adherence to the charters, covenants and the ongoing negotiation process in this regard, saying that they preserve the rights of the three parties in order to reach a comprehensive settlement of the GERD crisis that achieves the three countries common interests. This should prevent the blessing of the dam from turning into a curse, the ministry said, reiterating acknowledgment of Ethiopias right to development without causing damage to Sudan. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt recorded a daily average of four coronavirus infections and two deaths over the past week (21-27 May), the Ministry of Health and Populaton said in a statement on Saturday. The figures are similar to the previous week, when the ministry reported a daily average of five new cases and two deaths. An average of 16 people were discharged per day from hospitals nationwide over the past seven days, bringing the total number of recoveries since the outbreak began in February 2020 to 445,701. Furthermore, more than 35.1 million people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus since the start of the countrys mass vaccination campaign last year. Also, more than 45.9 million people have received their first dose of the vaccine and more than 3.4 million people have received their booster shoot, according to the ministrys figures. Egypt has witnessed a significant drop in coronavirus cases over the past weeks, with daily cases dropping from over 2,300 in February to the current figures the lowest levels since the start of the pandemic. Earlier this month, Presidential Adviser for Health and Prevention Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din highlighted the substantial decline in coronavirus infections across the country when he met with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Tag El-Din noted that most detected cases are accompanied with mild symptoms without health complications. For his part, El-Sisi urged authorities to continue awareness and vaccination campaigns through national vaccination centres and to ensure easy access to the booster shots. Amid the decline in COVID-19 cases nationwide, Egypt has eased in recent weeks many of the coronavirus related restrictions that it had imposed since March 2020. This included allowing mosques and shrines nationwide to revert to normal operation hours after two years of being limited, as well as allowing weddings and celebrations at indoor halls in hotels as long as they followed precautionary measures against the coronavirus. The improvement in the epidemiological situation in Egypt comes amid an ongoing drop in the number of new coronavirus cases and deaths globally after peaking in January, the World Health Organisation said in its latest weekly assessment of the pandemic. Search Keywords: Short link: The African Union (AU) is hosting the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa on Saturday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. African heads of states and governments, and ministers among others, will be attending the one-day summit, the AU said in a press release. The summit will assess terrorism-related threats, evaluate current response mechanisms, and decide on the specific actions and measures necessary to strengthen the collective security of AU member states facing terrorism and violent extremism, according to the AU. Furthermore, the summit will consider the recommendations to amend the Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa that came in an AU Reflection Forum that was held from 15 to 17 March 2022 in Accra, Ghana. On Friday, Egypts Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea Haddad Abdel-Tawab El-Gohary congratulated the country on hosting the Extraordinary African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference on Wednesday and also hosting the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes in Africa. This came during a meeting with Equatorial Guinea Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Obama Asue. The meeting also touched upon means of cooperation between Egypt and Equatorial Guinea in the field of oil and natural gas, and the implementation of several projects in this field, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For his part, the Equatorial Guinean PM voiced his countrys aspiration to reinforce cooperative ties with Egypt in the fields of agriculture and tourism, inviting Egyptian companies to organise trade fairs in Malabo to promote Egyptian products there. El-Gohary highlighted to PM Obama Asue Egypts capabilities and hands-on experiences in the field of oil and natural gas, as well as in implementing renewable energy projects. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram said on Saturday that murder charges pressed against her son, currently detained in the US, are still being heard before a US court and no "undeniable" verdict has been issued yet. The ministers 26-year old son, Ramy Fahim, is accused of murdering his coworker and his roommate both 23 in an apartment in California in mid-April, US media outlets reported. In her first comment on the incident, Makram said on social media she and her family have been experiencing "a serious ordeal" over the charges filed against her son. "We are going through a difficult time owing to the accusation of my son committing a murder in the United States of America," Makram wrote on her Facebook account. Makram added that her allotted responsibilities as a minister in the Egyptian government does not contradict at all with her duties as "a faithful mother who bravely faces her son's ordeal." "Whatever the consequences, as a minister, I take full responsibility for [the duties of] my position and I make a clear distinction between what is personal and what is public," the minister stressed. She also asked for prayers for her family and her son in this calamity as well as the victims. The minster called on all media outlets to strive for accuracy in what they publish and take into account honesty and humanity while dealing with an ordeal facing an Egyptian family awaiting a verdict. Fahim is accused of stabbing both victims to death. A hearing session is set to be held in June in California, according to media reports. Search Keywords: Short link: Pope Francis, the archbishop of Canterbury and the leader of a the church of Scotland will together lead a prayer vigil for peace while visiting South Sudan next month, the Vatican said Saturday. It released details of the pontiff's itinerary of his July 2-7 African travels, which he will begin in Congo. Then he travels to South Sudan, where he will make what is being billed as an historic ``ecumenical pilgrimage of peace'' along with the Rev. Justin Welby, who heads the Anglican church, and the Right Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The visit seeks to boost a 2018 agreement aimed at ending civil war in South Sudan. The African trip will be the first overseas voyage for the pontiff since he has taken to using a wheelchair on occasion in public lately as he struggles with a knee ligament problem. Francis, 85, battled a major medical issue last summer, when he underwent intestinal surgery in July necessitated by what the Vatican said was a severe narrowing of the colon. While warring parties signed the peace agreement after 20 months of violent conflict, South Sudan is facing heavy challenges, including an economy risking collapse, a deteriorating humanitarian situation and ``an unsteady political will to implement the peace agreement,'' the Church of Scotland said. ``I am genuinely humbled at the opportunity to assist our brothers and sisters in South Sudan in the search for peace, reconciliation and justice,'' Greenshields said in the statement. He said Francis, Welby and himself are coming ''as servants of the Global Church.`` On the first full day of their pilgrimage in South Sudan, the three men will visit a camp in Juba for internally displaced people. While in Congo, Francis will deliver the homily during Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasha. After arriving in Goma, he will give another homily during Mass at the Kibumba Camp. Earlier this year, thousands of people in Congo were displaced after they fled clashes between the Congolese army and rebel fighters. Francis will also meet with victims of violence in Beni and in the east of Congo, the Vatican said. Last year, two explosions on the same day hit a Catholic church and a market in Beni. The explosions were claimed by the Islamic State group's Central Africa Province. Search Keywords: Short link: Nigeria's main opposition People's Democratic Party on Saturday voted in primaries to chose its candidate for the 2023 election to replace President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP and Buhari's ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) were both scheduled this weekend to select candidates for the presidency of Africa's most populous country. But a day before its primaries were to start, the APC announced that it had pushed its party convention back a week to June 6 through June 8. PDP delegates and political leaders packed out an Abuja national arena, decked out in the opposition party's red, white and green colours, where they voted late Saturday for its challenger for next year's election. Among the top opposition candidates for the ticket are long-time challenger Atiku Abubakar, former senate president Bukola Saraki and Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto State governor who enjoys strong support in mostly Muslim northern Nigeria. Another hopeful is Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the only main opposition candidate from the south of the country. "What is the problem of Nigeria? Leadership," Wike told the crowds as aspirants gave their speeches. "I will win... for the power to come back to PDP." Buhari, 79, leaves after two terms in office, with Nigeria still struggling to end a more than decade-long jihadist conflict in its northeast and a wave of violent banditry in its northwest. Africa's largest economy is also still recovering from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and fallout from the Ukraine war that has pushed up fuel and food prices across the continent. The PDP ruled Nigeria for a decade and a half before its then-president Goodluck Jonathan was ousted by the APC alliance in 2015 to bring Buhari to power. APC wrangling The APC said the delaying of its own primaries decision followed a ruling by electoral authorities to extend the deadline for the submission of candidates' names. The APC gave no further details, but the ruling party has been caught in fierce wrangling over who should run, with former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu and current vice president Yemi Osinbajo among the possibles. Buhari has not endorsed any candidate to succeed him and some analysts expect him to attempt to find a consensus nominee to keep the APC's factions together ahead of the February 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. An alliance of smaller parties drawn together for Buhari's 2015 election win, the APC has often struggled to contain internal divisions. "It clearly means the APC is going the consensus route, which requires more backroom dealing than the usual primaries," SBM Intelligence analyst Tunde Ajileye said of the ruling party delay. "It also means the consensus candidate is one that many are not accepting easily." Local media has been discussing a possible return by former president Goodluck Jonathan as an APC candidate after a group of supporters bought him a nomination form. Jonathan himself denied any part in the move. 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 at the national government level has been seen as a balancing force in a country almost equally divided between the mostly Christian south and predominantly Muslim north. Most top PDP candidates like Abubakar are from the north though Rivers State governor is from the south. Most APC top candidates, including Tinubu and Osinbajo, are also from the south of Nigeria. Former president Jonathan is a southerner. Since its return to civilian rule from a military dictatorship in 1999, Nigeria has held six national elections, which were often marred by fraud, 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. Abubakar, who lost to Buhari, challenged the results in court. Search Keywords: Short link: On a balmy Sunday night, residents of an upscale Shanghai compound took to the streets to decry lockdown restrictions imposed by their community. By the following morning, they were free to leave. The triumphant story quickly spread on chat groups across the Chinese city this week, sparking one question in the minds of those who remained under lockdown: Shouldn't we do the same? By the end of the week, other groups of residents had confronted management in their complexes, and some had won at least a partial release. While it's unclear how widespread they are, the incidents reflect the frustration that has built up after more than seven weeks of lockdown, even as the number of new daily cases has fallen to a few hundred in a city of 25 million people. They also are a reminder of the power of China's neighbourhood committees that the ruling Communist Party relies on to spread propaganda messages, enforce its decisions and even settle personal disputes. Such committees and the residential committees under them have become the target of complaints, especially after some in Shanghai and other cities refused to allow residents out even after official restrictions were relaxed. More than 21 million people in Shanghai are now in ``precaution zones,'' the least restrictive category. In theory, they are free to go out. In practice, the decision is up to their residential committees, resulting in a kaleidoscope of arbitrary rules. Some are allowed out, but only for a few hours with a specially issued pass for one day or certain days of the week. Some places permit only one person per household to leave. Others forbid people to leave at all. ``We have already been given at least three different dates when we are going to reopen, and none of them was real,'' said Weronika Truszczynska, a graduate student from Poland who posted vlogs about her experience. ``The residential committee told us you can wait a week, we are going to reopen probably on June 1st,'' she said. ``No one believed it.'' More than a dozen residents of her complex, many under umbrellas on a rainy day, confronted their managers on Tuesday, two days after the Sunday night breakout at the upscale Huixianju compound. The residents, who were mostly Chinese, demanded to be allowed to leave without time limits or restrictions on how many per household. After the demands were not met, some returned to protest a second day. This time, four police officers stood to watch. On Thursday afternoon, community representatives knocked on the doors of each resident with a new policy: Write their name and apartment number on a list, take a temperature check, scan a barcode _ and they were free to leave. ``We got the possibility of going out just because we were brave enough to protest,'' Truszczynska said of her fellow residents. The Shanghai lockdown has also prompted resistance from people being taken away to quarantine and workers required to sleep at their workplaces. Videos on social media showed what were said to be employees of a factory operated by Taiwan's Quanta Computer Inc. trying to force their way out of the facility in early May. The party's strict anti-virus campaign has been aided by an urban environment in which hundreds of millions of people in China live in gated apartment compounds or walled neighbourhoods that can be easily blocked off. The front line for enforcement is the neighbourhood committees that are responsible for keeping track of every resident in every urban household nationwide and enforcing public health and sanitation rules. Many tend to err on the side of over-enforcement, aware of the example made of public officials who are fired or criticized for failing in their pandemic prevention duties. The importance of neighbourhood committees dwindled in the 1990s as the Communist Party relaxed restrictions on the movement of citizens, but they have been undergoing a resurgence in an ongoing tightening of societal controls under President Xi Jinping. The incident at Huixianju prompted others to speak out. In a series of videos that circulated this week, about two dozen people march toward the Western Nanjing Road Police Station, chanting ``Respect the law, give me back my life.'' Residents of a compound in Jing'an district saw the gates of neighbouring compounds open over the past month _ yet theirs remained locked. On Wednesday, about two dozen gathered at the gate, calling out to speak with a representative. ``I want to understand what are the neighbourhood leaders planning?'' one woman asks in a video of the incident. Another woman chimed in: ``Are you making progress?'' A third resident points out that they should be free by now since the compound has been case-free for a while. ``Didn't they say on television that things are opening up? We saw it on television,'' an older man says. The next day, the community issued one-day passes, residents were allowed out for two hours on Friday, with no word on what would happen after that. Shanghai authorities have declared a June target for life to return to normal. But some people aren't waiting, pushing the boundaries bit by bit. On Thursday night, more than a dozen young people gathered for a street concert in the same district where Sunday's protest took place. Video of the last song, ``Tomorrow will be better,'' was shared widely on social media. A police car parked nearby with its flashing red and blue lights and headlights on. As the final song drew to a close, an officer wearing a face shield strode toward the group and said, ``OK you've had enough fun. It's time to go back.'' The crowd dispersed. Search Keywords: Short link: According to German television (DW), Habermas is a pioneer of a new critical discourse in philosophy and politics and has been the most prominent voice in the cultural scene in Germany for more than fifty years. Habermas laid out the intellectual roadmap for Germany after World War II. In my estimation, whatever the efforts of politicians and economists and the brilliance of great stars at the top of the leadership from Konrad Adenauer to Helmut Kohl to Angela Merkel they could not have achieved the German miracle had it not been for the idea that preceded the movement and the modernity that preceded politics. Germany emerged from World War II a divided country with nine million dead that was a complete failure politically and economically. The German philosophers who left for the US and those who returned from it suffered a wave of psychological collapse and intellectual defeat, as they began to attack the philosophy of modernity, averring that after the age of reason came the age of Hitler, in which Germany fell into the abyss. People were eating leaves, and occupiers were living in wrecked cities, and the capital was war-torn. This despair could itself have become the roadmap for nihilism to be the intellectual framework of the state, had it not been for a giant philosopher of the weight of Jurgen Habermas, who set the course away from the unreasonable and towards the intellectual re-planning of the country. The great German philosophers Horkheimer and Adorno, and the great French philosopher Michel Foucault, were preachers of despair and opponents of modernity. Habermas came to overcome these philosophers and rose to the leadership of a wide intellectual campaign to modify the course of Germany and put an end to the state of anger and absurdity. Philosophy triumphed over philosophy, and reason triumphed over reason. Then, the victorious philosophy was adopted by the political leadership, and the mind returned to its role in creating civilisation. In 1929, the greatest economic crisis in modern history, which was called the Great Depression, kicked off. The crisis mostly affected developed countries, especially the US and Germany. The end result of the Great Depression in Germany was the rise of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to power in January 1933. Hitler was not a German citizen, but an Austrian, and he did not obtain German citizenship until 1932 one year before he assumed the leadership of Germany. The intellectual German elite were in total shock; how did this failed demagogue come to lead Germany through democratic elections? In 1933, when Hitler rose to power, the great German scientist Albert Einstein was visiting the US and preferred to stay in America for fear of the Nazi regime, eventually obtaining American citizenship in 1940. In the same year, German philosopher Theodor Adorno was celebrating the publication of his book, Construction of the Aesthetic, while Hitler was starting to build something else. In 1934, Adorno left for his exile in the UK and then later the US, and did not return to Germany until 1951, after seventeen years of exile. Also in 1933, philosopher Max Horkheimer was president of the prestigious Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Frankfurt, but soon, Hitlers regime expelled him from the university, and the philosopher left for Switzerland and then America. There, the Institute of Social Sciences was transferred from Frankfurt University to Columbia University, and Horkheimer did not return to Germany until 1950, when he became president of Frankfurt University in 1951. The left-wing philosopher Herbert Marcuse also left for Switzerland, then to his American exile, where he taught at Harvard and Columbia Universities. In the same way, the philosopher Erich Fromm left for Switzerland and then America. All of these represent the famous Frankfurt School of philosophy, as Horkheimer, Adorno, Erich Fromm, and Marcuse were its most prominent stars. The schools intellectual project is manifested in the Social Critical Theory. The Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt, which was closed during the era of Hitler in 1938, was the centre of this great European philosophical school. These philosophers resentment against Hitler was immense, but this resentment turned into a war on German philosophy, which in their opinion had led to Hitler. The Age of Enlightenment and the philosophies of Kant and Hegel eventually led to German Nazism. These philosophers turned against modernity and began bombing its fortresses from every direction. They put stars of anarchy Niestzsche and Heidegger on a pedestal and suppressed Kant and Hegel the stars of reason. Thus, there was talk about the failure of modernity and the necessity of transcending it to post-modernity. The meaning of post-modernity in this specific sense means the failure of reason and the necessity of entering the era of post-reason. The French philosopher Michel Foucault was an implicit ally of the Frankfurt School, and he was the most famous French philosopher after Sartre. This German-French philosophical alliance was able to defeat the duo Kant and Hegel with Nietzsche and Heidegger. Part of that philosophical attack on modernity had its justifications, as it led to the era of colonialism abroad and tyranny at home, just as capitalism the economic wing of modernity had reached a stage of exploitation and violence, bypassing value and moral frameworks and threatening human security. The philosophers of Germany Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, and Erich Fromm ended up being allies with the philosophers of France Michel Foucault, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Jacques Derrida, and Deleuze. That great philosophical alliance almost ended modernity completely and would have pushed the west towards a long era of a philosophy of the unreasonable, had it not been for Habermas, who managed to defeat them all. The German philosopher Jurgen Habermas was born in Dusseldorf in 1929, when the Great Depression hit. His father was sympathetic with Hitler. Habermas lived sixteen years under Hitler. Thus, he spent his childhood years in the Nazi era, then his awareness of the tragedies that Nazism brought to his country expanded with the years. The US worked to change German thought after the war, criminalising Nazism in the hearts and minds of the people and holding it responsible for the destruction that afflicted Germany and the world. This was the opinion of the German elite, both philosophical and scientific. Habermas says of himself: I am the product of the re-education that German society witnessed, during the systematic application of the policy of eradicating Nazism. In 1954, Habermas became one of the young stars of philosophy, obtaining a doctorate from the University of Bonn in the philosophy of Schelling one of the great German philosophers of the nineteenth century. The title of the thesis was The Absolute and History: The Paradox in Schellings Thought. Habermas also studied political science at the University of Marburg, and thus the concept of a political philosopher was born. Search Keywords: Short link: The chances that the current UN-sponsored Libyan roadmap will lead to the parliamentary and presidential elections that more than 2.8 Libyan voters have been looking forward grow slimmer by the day. The main Libyan political forces are still unable to reach a consensus on central issues related to the electoral process, and regional and international powers are still at odds over the priorities for a solution. All stakeholders may, therefore, be forced to rethink the situation and to launch an alternative agreement capable of succeeding where all previous attempts to remedy the Libyan crisis in the course of the past decade have failed. Despite all the complications on the ground, the structural flaws in the UN-sponsored process, and the obdurate impasses between Libyan parties, UN Special Adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams still holds out hope for the success of a roadmap she personally helped to forge during the meetings of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Tunisia in November 2020. She continues to see elections and the reestablishment of legitimate unified political institutions as the essential key to ending the vicious cycle of interim phases and addressing Libyas political, security, economic and social problems which have worsened considerably in recent years. Williams plan, which enjoys the support of key Western powers, depends on the ability of existing Libyan institutions, above all the Tobruk based House of Representatives (HoR) and the Tripoli based High Council of State (HCS), to reach the necessary consensuses. Yet these very institutions have consistently evaded commitments and threw any number of spanners into the plan, taking advantage of powers they had acquired by virtue of the UN-led process to forge situations geared to protracting their existence and advancing their particular interests. The UN and world powers that supported these institutions since the Skhirat Accord of 2015 were unable to have a say in the new arrangements. During the past two weeks, parallel sets of talks have brought Libyan players together in Egypt and Switzerland. Cairo hosted the second round of the constitutional track dialogue, which was attended by representatives of the HoR and HCS and facilitated by Williams. The stated purpose was to agree on a constitutional framework for the elections. In Montreux, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre), an NGO that has been partnering with the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to organise and facilitate talks, hosted a number of Libyan political, security and military figures to discuss the political process and ways to preserve the ceasefire concluded in Geneva on 23 October 2020. On 20 May, Williams announced that the joint committee of HoR and HCS delegates who were in Cairo to discuss the draft constitution that had been adopted by the Constitutional Drafting Assembly in 2017 had reached an initial consensus on 137 articles. These included Chapter 2 on rights and freedoms and the two chapters on legislative and judicial authorities, with the exception of a handful of articles. She urged participants to continue consultations towards reaching a consensus on the remaining articles. A third round is scheduled for June to settle the outstanding differences. Nevertheless a core problem remains. The UN wants the two parties to agree, first and foremost, on a constitutional basis for elections. The HoR remains determined to pursue the new roadmap it adopted in February 2022 that calls for amending the draft constitution and a referendum on it before elections. The HCS favours completing the constitutional basis first and deferring work on the draft constitutional provisions for the legislature until after the elections. To further complicate this, the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) is a popularly elected body, as opposed to the new drafting committee called for in the February 2022 roadmap. In the end, the court ruled that the Libyan people, through the ballot box, were alone entitled to determine whether or not to accept the current draft version. This means that any amendments to the existing draft constitution could complicate matters instead of solve them. Williams upbeat remarks on the progress attained during the second round of the constitutional track were warmly received by the US and UK, both strong supporters of the UN adviser, but not by the CDA. The assembly called on the HoR, the HCS and UNSMIL to respect its work and leave it to the Libyan people to have their say in the ballot box as to whether to accept or reject the draft constitution. The CDA cautioned that any actions that undo the work of this constituent assembly through amendment will be the subject of legal challenges regardless of how much time passes. The talks sponsored by the HD Centre convened on 12 May and were attended by representatives of the main militia factions in eastern and western Libya and a number of political figures with the aim of discussing the political process. Libyan sources present at the meeting reported that participants agreed to work to preserve the calm in Libya and avert a return to war. They also announced that another round of this track would be held in Morocco in a few days. At the same time, some Libyan news sources have reported that the HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh and HCS Speaker Khaled Al-Mishri reached an unpublicised agreement on forming a new cabinet. The agreement is evidently meant to resolve the standoff over the government formed by the HoR-designated Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha. The parallel Cairo and Montreux meetings are indicative of a dual strategy. On the one hand, they reflect the international communitys determination to build up the momentum of the current political process, regardless of the shortcomings and the uncertainty of the results. On the other hand, it appears that preparations are being laid out for an alternative process in the event the current one collapses due to the intransigence of the main Libyan parties. Perhaps feeling threatened by these meetings, the HoR designated prime minister secretly entered the capital in the early morning hours of 17 May in the company of his ministers of health and foreign affairs. His arrival, images of which circulated on social media, triggered clashes between the militias that support him and those that support his rival, Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbeibah, who has refused to step down. Bashagha was forced to leave a few hours after he arrived. The sudden outbreak of violence in the capital, which left one dead and five wounded, stirred widespread alarm in the diplomatic community. Urgent appeals from numerous quarters exhorted the parties to exercise restraint, avert violence and engage in the political process. Dbeibah and Bashagha blamed each other for the violence and reaffirmed their stated positions with respect to one another. After returning to western Libya, Bashagha said that his government would operate out of Sirte until conditions were such that his government could enter the capital without bloodshed. That Bashagha had entered Tripoli at all was a surprise, since only a few days earlier he had announced that he intended to base his government in Sirte due to Dbeibahs refusal to hand over power to anyone but an elected official. Whether or not Bashagha had yielded to pressures from supporters who wanted his government to establish itself in Tripoli, that option is clearly out of reach at present in light of the prevailing balance of militia powers in the capital. With this failure to prove to supporters and allies at home and abroad his influence over the militias in the capital, Bashaghas prospects of remaining in his post have dwindled. The UN and the Western powers determination to avert a backslide into warfare, his local allies disinclination to work out Sirte, the difficulties of governing out of Benghazi, and the need to curb tensions may combine to force Bashagha out of the scene in order to prevent further deterioration. Similar concerns must be motivating a possible Plan B should the current UN-sponsored plan falter again. *A version of this article appears in print in the 26 May, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Saturday that European nations halt sanctions on his country and weapons shipments to Ukraine, where Moscow claimed its forces had captured another eastern city as they fought to seize all of the contested Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the city of Lyman had been ``completely liberated'' by a joint force of Russian soldiers and the Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war for eight years in the industrial region bordering Russia. Lyman, which had a population of about 20,000 before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, serves as a regional railway hub. Ukraine's train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens during the war, and controlling the small city would give Russian troops another foothold from which to advance on larger Ukrainian-held areas. The Kremlin said Putin held a three-way telephone call with the leaders of France and Germany in which he warned against the continued transfers of Western weapons to Ukraine and blamed the conflict's disruption to global food supplies on Western sanctions. During the 80-minute call, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the chancellor's spokesperson. Both urged Putin to engage in serious direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the fighting, the spokesperson said. A Kremlin readout of the call said the Russian leader affirmed ``the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue.'' The three leaders agreed to stay in contact, according to the readout. But Russia's recent progress in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas, could embolden Putin to keep pursuing his military goals in Ukraine. After failing to occupy Kyiv, the capital, Russia set out to seize the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. ``If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion,'' the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. On Tuesday, Russian troops also took over Svitlodarsk, a small municipality that hosts a thermal power station, while intensifying efforts to encircle and capture the larger city of Sievierodonetsk. Fighting continued Saturday around Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, which are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province. Zelenskyy called the situation in the east was ``difficult'' but expressed confidence his country would prevail with help from Western weapons and sanctions. ``If the occupiers think that Lyman or Sievierodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong. Donbas will be Ukrainian,'' he said. The governor of Luhansk had warned that Ukrainian soldiers might have to retreat from Sievierodonetsk to avoid being surrounded but reported Saturday that they had repelled an attack. ``We managed to push back the Russians to their previous positions,'' Gov. Serhii Haidai said. ``However, they do not abandon their attempts to encircle our troops and disrupt logistics in the Luhansk region.'' Speaking on Ukrainian TV later Saturday, the governor said the Russians had seized a hotel on the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk. The advance of Russian forces raised fears that residents would experience the same horrors as people in the southeastern port city Mariupol in the weeks before it fell. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said Friday that some 1,500 civilians in the city with a prewar population of around 100,000 have died there during the war, including from a lack of medicine or because of diseases that could not be treated. About 12,000 to 13,000 residents remain in the city, Striuk said. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, volunteers worked to evacuate people amid a threatening soundtrack of air raid sirens and booming artillery. AP reporters saw elderly and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs Friday in Bakhmut, a city in northeast Donetsk province. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to convince reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sieverodonetsk, returned home. ``I have to know he is alive. That's why I'm staying here,'' Lvova, 66, said. A nearly three-month siege of Mariupol ended last week when Russia claimed the city's complete. The city became a symbol of mass destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. More than 20,000 of its civilians are feared dead. Mariupol's port reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea off the once-vibrant city. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don entered Mariupol's seaport early Saturday. The Kremlin said that Putin emphasized during ``an in-depth exchange of views'' with Macron and Scholz that Russia was working to ``establish a peaceful life in Mariupol and other liberated cities in the Donbas.'' Ukrainian authorities have reported that Kremlin-installed officials in seized cities have started airing Russian news broadcasts, introduced Russian area codes, imported Russian school curriculum and taken other steps to annex the areas. Russian-held areas of Ukraine's southern Kherson region have switched to Moscow time and ``will no longer switch to daylight-saving time, as is customary in Ukraine,'' Russia's state RIA Novosti agency quoted Krill Stremousov, a Russian-installed local official, as saying Saturday. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian navy said Saturday morning that Russian ships ``continue to block civilian navigation in the waters of the Black and Azov seas'' along Ukraine's southern coast, ``making them a zone of hostilities.'' The war in Ukraine has caused global food shortages because the country is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations over which side was responsible for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said two Russian missile carriers ``capable of carrying up to 16 missiles'' were ready for action in the Black Sea. It said that only shipping routes which had been established through multilateral treaties could be considered safe. Ukrainian officials pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons, especially multiple launch rocket systems. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems to Ukraine. Russia's U.S. ambassador on Saturday branded such a move as ``unacceptable'' called on the Biden administration to ``abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine.'' A Telegram post published on the Russian embassy's official channel cited Anatoliy Antonov, Moscow's top diplomat in Washington, as saying that ``the unprecedented pumping of weapons into Ukraine significantly increases the risks of an escalation of the conflict.'' Russia's Defense Ministry said the Russian navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea. The ministry said the recently developed Zircon hypersonic cruise missile had struck its target about 1,000 kilometers away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Zircon, described as the world's fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead, and is said to be impossible to stop with current anti-missile defense systems. Moscow's claims, which could not be immediately verified, came a week after Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the west of the country in response to Sweden and Finland's bids to join NATO. Search Keywords: Short link: The Russian navy on Saturday conducted another test of a prospective hypersonic missile, a demonstration of the military's long-range strike capability amid the fighting in Ukraine. The Defense Ministry said the Admiral Gorshkov frigate of the Northern Fleet in the White Sea launched the Zircon cruise missile in the Barents Sea, successfully hitting a practice target in the White Sea about 1,000 kilometers (540 nautical miles) away. The launch was the latest in a series of tests of Zircon, which is set to enter service later this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Zircon is capable of flying at nine times the speed of sound and has a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). Putin has emphasized that its deployment will significantly boost the capability of Russia's military. Zircon is intended to arm Russian cruisers, frigates and submarines and could be used against both enemy ships and ground targets. It is one of several hypersonic missiles under development in Russia. Russian officials have boasted about Zircon's capability, saying that it's impossible to intercept with existing anti-missile systems. Putin, who has sternly warned Western allies against interfering in Ukraine, has warned in the past that Russian warships armed with Zircon would give Russia a capability to strike ``decision-making centers`` within minutes if deployed in neutral waters. Search Keywords: Short link: A seminar marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Egypt, along with a presentation of the New Uzbekistan development strategy, took place at the Cairo Center for Strategic Studies (CCSS) on Thursday. Entitled "Egypt and Uzbekistan: 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations," the seminar was attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Furkat Sidikov, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Cairo Mansour Bek Kelychiv, and the Deputy Chief of Mission Lotf Al-Din Khoja. Attending from the Egyptian side were Ambassador Ezzat Saad, president of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Mohamed Ghoneim, deputy assistant minister of foreign affairs; together with Professor Ahmed Ragab Rizk, dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University. ## Also present were Emad El-Din Hussein, editor-in-chief of Al-Shorouk newspaper and a member of the parliament; Ahmed El-Moslemany, political writer, founder and director of the CCSS; Magdy Zaabal, president of the Egyptian-Uzbek Friendship Association; Ahmed Abdo Tarabik, researcher in the Asian affairs; and Mohamed Khaled Al-Qaeed, teacher of history and civilization at Al-Azhar University. Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Furkat Sidikov provided detailed information on the large-scale reforms being carried out in his country. In particular, he spoke in detail about the projects implemented within the framework of the Action Strategy in five priority areas between 2017-2021. Particular attention was paid to the fact that this year, together with the general public and civil society institutions, the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 was developed. "Based on current global events, the development strategy identifies seven priority areas for human dignity, the rule of law and economic development," said Sidikov. It was noted that the consistent reforms carried out under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened a new stage in the development of the country known as New Uzbekistan. "Special attention was paid to the fact that the head of our state has established open and friendly relations with foreign countries, and the Central Asian region has been identified as a priority direction of foreign policy," he added. Director of the CCSS and moderator of the event El-Moslemany noted that over the past five years, New Uzbekistan has been built and great success has been achieved in domestic and foreign policy. He disclosed that Cairo and Tashkent have great potential and opportunities to bring bilateral relations to a higher level. "There are also historical and cultural ties and prerequisites for the development of cooperation in various fields. In particular, more than 60 bilateral documents have been signed, and the legal framework allows developing new areas of cooperation." "Egypt recognised Uzbekistan immediately after its independence, and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has a strong friendship with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi." ## Dean of the Faculty of Archeology Professor Ahmed Ragab Rizk, holder of the Uzbek order Dustlik (frienship), said that the relationship between the peoples of Egypt and Uzbekistan is dated thousand years back. "The nilometer was built by ibn Kathir Al-Farghani in Cairo, as well as the states of Tulunids, Mamluks and Ayyubids in Egypt and many other examples confirm the long history of our friendly relations," Rizk confirmed. It is noteworthy that the Egyptian-Uzbek relations extend for nearly a thousand years, and prominent figures from Uzbekistan have contributed to the development of the history of Islamic civilization, such as scientist Ibn Sina, who presented the book of canon of medicine, which became an essential reference in medicine for long periods, geologist, mathematician, pharmacist, historian and translator Al-Biruni, as well as Al-Khwarizmi, who is considered the founder of algebra, and Ibn Kathir Al-Farghani, one of the most famous astronomers in the ninth century. In addition to Imam El-Bukhari, Imam Al-Tirmidhi and Imam Al-Nasafi. Search Keywords: Short link: Kiffle Horo, the project manager of the controversial dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, told Al-Arabiya News Channel on Friday that the upcoming third filling of the dam will take place in August and September. Horo ruled out the possibility of delaying the third filling of the dam despite admitting that Egypt and Sudan may be affected by the filling. The two downstream countries have repeatedly urged Ethiopia to refrain from unilateral acts on the GERD, stressing that a legally-binding agreement on filling and operation of the mega dam has to be reached. Addis Ababa has already unilaterally implemented the first two phases of the dam filling over the past two years and also started generating power from one of the dam turbines in February. Over the past months, the three countries have expressed willingness to rejoin the African Union-sponsored talks on the GERD. However, Ethiopias plan to implement the third dam filling persists despite the absence of a binding agreement. In a statement on Saturday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its rejection of the Ethiopian remarks, which poison the positive atmosphere that prevailed over the past few months, exacerbate tensions between the two countries and represent a breach for the previous agreements. The Ethiopian officials remarks also represent a reversal for Sudans proposal to stick to the quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the African Union, and the World Bank in the negotiations process, the statement read. The ministry called Horos remarks irresponsible as he ignored the unwavering Sudanese stance that opposes the filling and operation of the dam except after a fair and legally binding agreement is reached to achieve the interests of the three countries. Horos remarks regarding Ethiopias filling plans despite the probable damage to the downstream countries indicate that Ethiopia wants to move forward with its previous unilateral steps, the statement said. It is surprising that the Ethiopian official did not care about the potential damage to the Sudanese side although he acknowledged the possibility that both Sudan and Egypt would be affected by the third filling process, the statement said. The Sudanese foreign ministry urged Ethiopian officials to desist from such unregulated statements and to abide by the principles of diplomacy through dialogue and negotiations as the mean of resolving the dispute between the three countries regarding the GERD. The ministry stressed the need for adherence to the charters, covenants and the ongoing negotiation process in this regard, saying that they preserve the rights of the three parties in order to reach a comprehensive settlement of the GERD crisis that achieves the three countries common interests. This should prevent the blessing of the dam from turning into a curse, the ministry said, reiterating acknowledgment of Ethiopias right to development without causing damage to Sudan. Egypt signed a contract with Siemens Mobility on Saturday to build about 2,000 kilometres of high-speed rail in the country, the sixth largest of its kind in the world, the German train manufacturer said. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi witnessed the signing of the contract, which according to Siemens will connect 60 cities nationwide via trains that can operate at up to 230 km/hour. The countrys first high-speed rail network will include three lines and will enable about 500 million journeys annually, the company said, noting that the network will be accessible by around 90 percent of Egyptians. The first line of the $23 billion project will link Ain Sokna city on the Red Sea with both Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh and will extend for 660 kilometres. The second line will stretch 1,100 kilometres, linking Cairo in the north with Aswans Abu Simbel in the south, while the third line will connect Luxor in Upper Egypt with Hurghada city on the Red Sea. The contract was signed by Siemens Mobility and its consortium partners Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors with the Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels (NAT). Siemens Mobility said its share in the contract is 8.1 billion euros and includes the initial contract of 2.7 billion euros signed in September 2021 for the first line of the project The project will provide up to 40,000 job opportunities in Egypt in addition to 6,700 jobs provided indirectly in Egyptian suppliers, the German company said. Siemens Mobility also said it will equip the entire rail network with 41 Velaro eight-car high-speed trains, 94 Desiro high-capacity four-car regional train sets and 41 Vectron freight locomotives. The company said it will also install a safe and reliable signaling system on the three lines based on the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 technology. This is in addition to an efficient power supply system. Rail technology pioneer Today is a good day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a recorded speech to hail the signing of Saturdays contract and cooperation between Egypt and Siemens. It is a good day for Egypt and a good day for economic relations between our two countries and a good day for climate change mitigation, Scholz said. He added that Egypt is becoming a pioneer in rail technology in Africa, hoping that other countries will follow this example. The contracts being signed today will see trains replacing millions of journeys by car, truck and bus, Scholz said. This means less smoke, fewer carbon emissions and better air quality. Scholz said traveling in Egypt via train will be fast, clean, comfortable, affordable and safe, adding that Egypts decision to implement the project in cooperation with Siemens is bold and far-sighted. [It is] a groundbreaking decision both for the Egyptian people and Egypt as a business location; a decision that will transform your country and is also a milestone for German-Egyptian economic relations, the German chancellor added. Largest in Siemens history Meeting with El-Sisi in Egypt during the signing of the contract, Siemens President and CEO Roland Busch said the high-speed rail project in Egypt is the largest in the companys history since its establishment 175 years ago. El-Sisi said the new electric train network comes as a consolidation of the fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Germany in the field of infrastructure. The president added the network, which represents a great addition to the countrys transportation system, marks the beginning of a new era for railways in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East. Besides being much faster than other transportation means, the fully electrified network implemented by the German company in Egypt will cut carbon emissions by 70 percent compared to current car or bus transport, the company said. In Siemens you have found a strong partner that exemplifies what Made in Germany means; a company that this year celebrated 175 years of innovation, inventions and technological revolutions Scholz said. Search Keywords: Short link: At least 97 women were killed by their husbands or boyfriends last year, the Korea Women's Hotline revealed Monday to mark International Women's Day. Some 45 of the 97 femicides were committed by the victim's husband and the rest by their boyfriend. Another 131 women survived murder attempts by men. A staffer at the Korea Women's Hotline said, "One woman was either killed or faced death every 1.6 days, and that is only the cases reported in the media." "Free and active exchange of people is the foundation of economy and society, as well as that of Asia's development," Kishida told his speech at a Tokyo hotel Thursday. Japan, while watching the infection situation, will gradually accept more tourists in stages to the level of arrivals before the pandemic, he added. 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. 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 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. 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. It will take some time before foreign visitors can come to Japan for individual tourism, Shimoaraiso said. Japan this week also eased requests for mask wearing. While masks are still requested on public transportation, hospitals and other public facilities, people can take off masks outdoors where others are not around or talking. Despite the easing, most Japanese so far are seen sticking to wearing masks in public. Japan's tourism industry, hit hard by the border controls, is eager for foreign tourism to resume. COVID-19 infections have slowed in Japan since earlier this year and the government is gradually expanding social and economic activity. Kishida said during a visit to London earlier this month that he planned to ease the border controls as early as June in line with the policies of other Group of Seven industrialized countries, but gave no further details. Foreign tourist arrivals fell more than 90 percent in 2020 from a record 31.9 million the year before, almost wiping out the pre-pandemic inbound tourism market of more than 4 trillion yen ($31 billion). According to police, the number of reports of dating violence more than doubled from 9,364 cases in 2016 to 18,945 in 2020. Also, stalking reports surged 423 percent from 2,772 cases in 2018 to 14,509 cases in 2021, when it finally became illegal. Young Korean women are increasingly afraid of being assaulted by acquaintances and on a date. Lee Soo-jung, a professor of forensic psychology at Kyonggi University said, "What women are really afraid of is not violence from unspecified people but from people they know well." During a police clampdown on dating violence in July and August 2020, a majority or 65.6 percent of the victims were women, but the number of men who were attacked was substantial, suggesting an increasingly toxic climate between the sexes. After stalking became illegal in Korea in October of last year, 81.3 percent of the perpetrators were men and 80.8 percent of the victims women. Most of the violence occurred in the process of breaking up. Korea Women's Hot Line analyzed murders of lovers last year that were reported in the media and found that 26.7 percent of them involved divorce, breakup or rejection of requests to get together again. Yoon Jung-sook at the Korea Institute of Criminology said, "Perpetrators of dating violence tend to want to exercise control over the other and get angry when they are asked to break up." And Kwak Dae-kyung at Dongguk University said, "A macho culture of boasting about the women men date often condones date violence and stalking. We need to foster a social atmosphere that respects a woman's right to decide." KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2022 - 17:12 | All, World, Japan Top diplomats from Japan, the United States and South Korea said they "strongly condemn" North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches, while vowing to work together to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. In a joint statement issued Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin vowed to "strengthen trilateral cooperation towards the complete denuclearization" of the peninsula and said they remain open to hold dialogue with the North "without preconditions." The three expressed "deep concern" at the latest missile launches on Wednesday, describing such actions as having violated multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. They also said they "deeply regret" that a U.N. Security Council resolution drafted by the United States seeking to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea was vetoed by China and Russia on Thursday, given that all the other member countries of the council were in favor. Pyongyang has conducted 15 rounds of ballistic missile tests since the start of this year, the latest of which took place on the day after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his five-day visit to South Korea and Japan on Tuesday. His trips to the two countries were his first to Asia since he took office in January last year. Concerns are growing that North Korea is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017. Related coverage: U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea over missile development FOCUS: U.N. resolution veto may give go-ahead for N. Korea nuclear test North Korea fires ICBM, 2 other missiles after Biden's Asia trip KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2022 - 10:58 | All, Japan Fusako Shigenobu, the founder of the now-disbanded Japanese Red Army militant organization that committed a string of terrorist attacks around the world in the 1970s and 1980s, was released from prison on Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence. Shigenobu, 76, was incarcerated for masterminding the 1974 seizure of the French Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, by the leftist revolutionary group that she founded three years earlier in Lebanon. In that attack, Japanese Red Army members took the French ambassador and others hostage to use them as trade pieces to secure the release of a member of the group who had been arrested in France. A car carrying Shigenobu left the medical prison in Tokyo before 8 a.m. After getting out of the car, she was surrounded and hugged by supporters. "I apologize for causing damage to people I did not know. Now, I would like to concentrate on my therapy and learning first," Shigenobu, who is undergoing cancer treatment, told reporters at a nearby park. In a statement released earlier in the day, she admitted to making "mistakes." But she also said, "I am grateful that I have lived according to my desire to change the world for the better." "If requested, as one of the witnesses of the times, I will play my role in conveying reflections and summaries," she wrote. Shigenobu left Japan for the Middle East in 1971 and evaded capture until she was arrested in Osaka Prefecture in 2000. She formally dissolved the terrorist organization in 2001 while in prison. The group sought to provoke a socialist world revolution through multiple high-profile acts of terrorism. It was responsible for a 1972 attack at Lod airport, now called Ben Gurion, in Tel Aviv in which around two dozen people were killed and more than 70 injured. The Japanese Red Army also stormed the Swedish and U.S. embassies in Kuala Lumpur in 1975 before demanding the release of members detained and imprisoned in Japan. Two years later, members hijacked a Japan Airlines flight near India. Members were also linked to a 1986 mortar attack on the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta and a 1988 car-bombing of a U.S. military club in Naples, Italy, in which five were killed. Shigenobu's daughter Mei told Kyodo News recently her mother is no longer interested in violence but wants to communicate with the world via social media. Shigenobu will continue to write about the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, Mei added, and the two plan to live together in Japan for a period. A dozen Japanese Red Army members have been captured over the years but Japan's hunt for seven others continues. In February, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department put out a video and updated images of the militants, who are now in their 70s, to give an estimated representation of how they may look now. KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2022 - 10:38 | Feature, All, Japan As grocery retailers chase speed and efficiency through technology, a few are bucking the trend by launching "slow lanes" for those who are not capable of blitzing through a self-checkout. Maiya Takizawa, a regional supermarket chain in the northeastern Japan city of Takizawa, has taken up the cause for senior citizens and those who are not interested in high-paced modern life, with those who have special needs a particular focus. Recently, 84-year-old wheelchair user Yoriko Sakurano, with the help of a volunteer carer, made a trip to the Maiya Takizawa outlet in Iwate Prefecture, where she can have an enjoyable shopping experience free of confusion and embarrassment. As a person with dementia, the last thing Sakurano needs is pressure from a queue of impatient toe-tappers behind her. Fortunately, at Maiya Takizawa, she is able to take as much time as she wants during her transaction in the dedicated slow checkout lane. Sakurano's husband Masayuki, 74, knows that shopping is one of his wife's favorite activities and praises the local retailer for being a dementia-friendly business that allows her to hold on to her cherished independence. "I'm very grateful that this (slow service) allows my wife to keep a smile on her face," he said. Maiya Takizawa introduced the relaxed checkout lane in 2019. It was Toshiaki Konno, a local private practice physician, who came up with the idea and broached the subject with the company's head of operations. "I heard stories from dementia patients about how they had negative shopping experiences and how they were discouraged by family members from going to physical stores. But they wanted to go," Konno said. "Women who used to be housewives in particular experience a sense of loss when they are robbed of that role. Shopping improves patients' confidence and helps stabilize symptoms," he said. Although the current best-practice retail strategy focuses on getting as many customers through a store as quickly as possible, with rapidly aging populations in general, and particularly in superaged Japan, a slow lane serves as a community service. Japan is aging fast, with its population the oldest in the world. As of 2021, 29.1 percent of the population was 65 or older. By age group, the number of people aged 80 or older totaled 12.06 million, up 460,000 from a year earlier, and that of those aged 90 or older reached 25.9 million, including 80,000 centenarians. With figures like that, the need for slow lanes will only increase, but even the existing ones are not always in operation. The slow lane at Maiya Takizawa is open for one to two hours every Thursday afternoon. Maiya Takizawa further raised their senior-friendliness a notch by improving in-store displays and signage, using larger, easy-to-read fonts and clear images. More than 10 volunteers signed up as shopping assistants to support customers with food shopping and other grocery-related tasks. Other stores in Japan are following suit and looking to do more to cater for less-able customers, with places like Hiroshima-based shopping center operator Izumi opening slow lanes in 64 stores, and the consumer cooperative society in Fukui Prefecture doing the same in all 10 of its branches. Minako Shimizu, a store manager in a 7-Eleven convenience store in Kyoto, adopted the slow shopping option because she "couldn't pretend not to notice" the struggles of her senior customers, some of whom are familiar faces from her neighborhood. Because she saw some of the challenges people with dementia faced in-store, the 59-year-old Shimizu wanted to better understand and support customers with impaired cognitive function. She and all the staff in her store received dementia training. At her store, the staffers escort older adults who need help with shopping, use gentle, respectful language when customers with dementia exhibit behaviors that may seem confusing, and use a handheld price scanner for a smooth checkout process. "Self-scan machines can be intimidating for elderly shoppers so if they look panicked we make sure we interact with them and calm them. We operate in close proximity to local communities so I hope we can continue to give customers the service they need," Shimizu said. KYODO NEWS - May 28, 2022 - 07:30 | All, World Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko learned during Vladimir Putin's 2014 annexation of Crimea and conflict in his nation's east that the Russian leader is unreliable and interested only in wielding power. "Putin is a dangerous negotiator. But he understands only strength...Don't trust Putin," he said in a recent interview with Kyodo News conducted as Russia's invasion of Ukraine passed the three-month mark. Ukraine has surprised many with its resilience and successful military response to the invasion, even if it has ceded some territory, but the nation's inspirational president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has also stressed the need for diplomatic solutions. Zelenskyy has said that while Ukraine may win on the battlefield the war can only end definitively "at the negotiating table," no matter how difficult that might be. Poroshenko said negotiation should first target a cease-fire, then troop withdrawal and humanitarian issues, and later on greater security questions. But he warned that "crazy maniac" Putin never kept his word over negotiations on a cease-fire, troop withdrawals and hostage releases when Russian-backed separatists seized Donetsk and Luhansk following Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in early 2014. Along with sanctions, embargoes on Russian exports such as oil and gas are necessary to put Moscow's finances in peril and stem Putin's influence, he said. Poroshenko also spoke about the wider impact of the war, such as on global food security. Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe, plays an enormous role in providing wheat and other grains to the world market. Russia's Black Sea blockade has cut off Ukraine's ability to export its grain, bringing pain from Africa to Asia and the Middle East. He suggested an internationally organized counter-blockade of all Russian commercial fleet exports to pressure Moscow to back down, as well as for North Atlantic Treaty Organization vessels to provide escorts to the Ukrainian commercial fleet. He also called for more arms support for Ukraine, an aspect of the conflict he said has been a "game-changer." "Peace shouldn't be paid by the territorial integrity of Ukraine. (The) question of territorial integrity cannot be a point for compromise" in negotiations with Moscow, he insisted. Linking his country's invasion to other territorial disputes involving Russia, the former president said the full restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity would also be a victory for Japan which has been embroiled in a dispute with Moscow over a group of islands taken in the wake of Japan's defeat in World War II. Russia is committing genocide against the Ukrainian people, he said, and Putin should be put on trial and condemned by the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Poroshenko, who is the leader of an opposition party in the country, lashed out at the threat by a pro-Kremlin separatist leader in Donetsk that Ukrainian troops captured from the Azovstal steel plant, the last hold-out in the port city of Mariupol, should be put on trial. Russia has "zero jurisdiction" over Mariupol since it is Ukrainian territory and the soldiers only fought to protect their homeland, he argued. Instead, he said, Russia should bring its own soldiers to justice for their crimes in the southern Ukraine city, including shelling civilian areas such as a maternity hospital and a theater where hundreds of noncombatants had sheltered in March. NAIROBI, May 27 (Xinhua) --Two mass shootings in 10 days in the U.S. raise enormous concerns about rampant gun violence in this country. An African expert said negligence of the government due to the gun lobby is the main reason that caused the tragedy. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tarawa, Kiribati, on May 27, 2022. (Xinhua) Kiribati and China pledged to deepen cooperation in joint construction of the Belt and Road and synergize it with the Kiribati 20-year Vision, expand cooperation in various fields and focus on improving people's livelihood. TARAWA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Kiribati and China pledged here on Friday to enhance cooperation in building the Belt and Road, dealing with climate change and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kiribati President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau said the visit by the Chinese delegation brings mutual trust, friendship and cooperation, which bears milestone significance in the relations between Kiribati and China. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries in September 2019, the practical cooperation between the two sides has yielded fruitful results and the substantial improvement of the wellbeing of the Kiribati people has been witnessed, demonstrating China's sincerity, friendship and fulfilment of promises, the president said. Kiribati unswervingly upholds the one-China principle and firmly supports China in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the president said. Expressing gratitude to China for its help and assistance in dealing with the pandemic, economic development and infrastructure construction, the Kiribati president said his country is devoted to lifting the bilateral ties to a new high so as to bring more benefits to the Kiribati people. Wang said China is not only the friend of Kiribati, but also the most reliable friend of all the developing countries. China will firmly safeguard the rightful interests of the developing countries, especially the small and medium-sized countries on the international and multilateral arenas, he added. Since the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Kiribati more than two years ago, the two sides have witnessed the rapid development in bilateral ties with cooperation in all fields pushed forward, which has brought tangible benefits to the people of Kiribati, Wang said. The two countries have trusted and supported each other, which has become a model of equal treatment between big and small nations, Wang said. Facts have shown that Kiribati's decision to resume diplomatic ties with China is in the fundamental interests of the Kiribati people, Wang said. Noting the world is still experiencing the pandemic, wars and poverty, Wang said the United States and its allies, however, are bent on containing the development of China. In essence they do not want to see the success of a non-Western force as well as strengthened solidarity and cooperation between the developing countries. The development and revitalization of China and other developing countries are their legitimate rights. In this sense, the developing countries supporting China in safeguarding its core interests are actually supporting themselves. Similarly, China facilitating the economic development of the developing countries is actually helping itself, Wang said. Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in fighting COVID-19. The first batch of the Chinese medical team arrived in Kiribati along with the Chinese delegation to help Kiribati fight the epidemic and provide medical services for the Kiribati people. The two sides pledged to deepen cooperation in joint construction of the Belt and Road and synergize it with the Kiribati 20-year Vision, expand cooperation in various fields and focus on improving people's livelihood. They also vowed to give full play to Kiribati's advantages in resources and create new highlights in maritime cooperation on the premise of ecological protection. The two sides are committed to carrying out cooperation in tackling climate change, and agreed that the developed countries should genuinely shoulder their historical responsibilities, fulfill their commitments on climate-change financing to the developing countries, and help the developing countries enhance their capacity building. Wang stressed that China is firmly committed to a green and low-carbon development path and will help small island countries tackle climate change through South-South cooperation. Following the meeting, the two sides attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents including joint building of the Belt and Road, disaster prevention and reduction, infrastructure construction, tourism and people's livelihood. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (C), Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu (L) and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau attend a joint press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 27, 2022. Earlier in the day, the three foreign ministers held a tripartite meeting to enhance their cooperation and consultation mechanisms. Turkey expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete steps and stop supporting terrorist organizations in exchange for Ankara's lift of objections to the two countries' NATO memberships, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. (Xinhua/Shadati) ISTANBUL, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete steps and stop supporting terrorist organizations in exchange for Ankara's lift of objections to the two countries' NATO memberships, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. "Both countries need to take concrete steps. Our expectation is not something impossible. They have to stop supporting terrorism if they want to be a member of an alliance like NATO," Cavusoglu said at a joint press conference with his Romanian and Polish counterparts in Istanbul. Turkey argues that the two NATO applicants are harboring the members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and Syria's Kurdish People's Protection Units. Cavusoglu said a written document, which concretely reveals Turkey's expectations from Sweden and Finland, was shared with their delegations during their visit to Ankara this week and a solid response is anticipated. "We understand the security concerns of Finland and Sweden, but as many of our allies within NATO openly say, everyone needs to understand Turkey's legitimate security concerns as well," he noted. Earlier in the day, Cavusoglu, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau held a tripartite meeting to enhance their cooperation and consultation mechanisms. They also discussed the latest developments in the crisis in Ukraine. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau (not seen in the picture) and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu (not seen in the picture) in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 27, 2022. Earlier in the day, the three foreign ministers held a tripartite meeting to enhance their cooperation and consultation mechanisms. Turkey expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete steps and stop supporting terrorist organizations in exchange for Ankara's lift of objections to the two countries' NATO memberships, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. (Xinhua/Shadati) Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau speaks at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (not seen in the picture) and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu (not seen in the picture) in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 27, 2022. Earlier in the day, the three foreign ministers held a tripartite meeting to enhance their cooperation and consultation mechanisms. Turkey expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete steps and stop supporting terrorist organizations in exchange for Ankara's lift of objections to the two countries' NATO memberships, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. (Xinhua/Shadati) Photo taken on May 28, 2022 shows an oxygen producing plant in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. An oxygen producing plant has been built in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province to overcome the shortage of essential gas in hospitals, the state-run news agency Bakhtar reported Friday.(Photo by Mehrabuddin Ibrahimi/Xinhua) KABUL, May 27 (Xinhua) -- An oxygen producing plant has been built in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province to overcome the shortage of essential gas in hospitals, the state-run news agency Bakhtar reported Friday. Constructed at a cost of 120,000 U.S. dollars, the plant with a capacity of filling 60 cylinders of oxygen gas within 24 hours was given to provincial health authorities on Thursday, the news agency reported. The oxygen shortage would be solved in all hospitals of Baghlan province with the inauguration of the oxygen plant in the province, according to the news agency. The shortage of oxygen in some Afghan hospitals had led to death of COVID-19 affected persons in 2020-21 when the contagious disease was in its peak in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has already built oxygen-producing plants in some provinces including Kabul, Herat and Nimroz to overcome the oxygen shortage in hospitals. Photo taken on May 28, 2022 shows an oxygen producing plant in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. An oxygen producing plant has been built in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province to overcome the shortage of essential gas in hospitals, the state-run news agency Bakhtar reported Friday.(Photo by Mehrabuddin Ibrahimi/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 28, 2022 shows an oxygen producing plant in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan. An oxygen producing plant has been built in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province to overcome the shortage of essential gas in hospitals, the state-run news agency Bakhtar reported Friday.(Photo by Mehrabuddin Ibrahimi/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows people fleeing due to the fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels near the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has decided to classify the March 23 Movement (M23) as a terrorist group, a DRC government spokesperson said late Friday. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and M23 rebels in the DRC's northeastern province of North Kivu, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. (Photo by Alain Uaykani/Xinhua) KINSHASA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 37,000 people have been displaced due to renewed clashes between the army and presumed fighters of the March 23 Movement (M23) since May 22 in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in a statement Friday. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and presumed M23 rebels in DRC's northeastern North Kivu province, as violence has spread to the province's Nyiragongo Territory, forcing at least 37,000 people to flee their homes. The IRC said that it is closely monitoring the situation on the ground. "The objective for now is to protect our teams who are providing humanitarian assistance in the areas affected by the clashes," said IRC's Country Director Adama Coulibaly. "The situation remains uncertain." On the border with Uganda, at least 19,000 people remain deprived of vital assistance, as heavy fighting has disrupted aid delivery, according to the statement. The M23 is a group of former rebels of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). The name came from the March 23, 2009, agreement between the CNDP and the Congolese government. M23 leaders have accused the government of failing to respect that agreement. Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows people fleeing due to the fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels near the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has decided to classify the March 23 Movement (M23) as a terrorist group, a DRC government spokesperson said late Friday. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and M23 rebels in the DRC's northeastern province of North Kivu, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. (Photo by Alain Uaykani/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows people fleeing due to the fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels near the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has decided to classify the March 23 Movement (M23) as a terrorist group, a DRC government spokesperson said late Friday. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and M23 rebels in the DRC's northeastern province of North Kivu, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. (Photo by Alain Uaykani/Xinhua) Photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows people fleeing due to the fighting between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army and March 23 Movement (M23) rebels near the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has decided to classify the March 23 Movement (M23) as a terrorist group, a DRC government spokesperson said late Friday. Over the past few days, fighting has raged between the DRC army and M23 rebels in the DRC's northeastern province of North Kivu, forcing thousands of civilians to flee. (Photo by Alain Uaykani/Xinhua) Firefighters conduct disinfection in a school in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, May 27, 2022. Disinfection work is conducted in schools in Shanghai before the resumption of classes. In Shanghai, students of the second and third grades of senior high schools will return to school from June 6, while classes for graduating students of junior high schools will resume from June 13. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) A firefighter conducts disinfection in a school in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, May 27, 2022. Disinfection work is conducted in schools in Shanghai before the resumption of classes. In Shanghai, students of the second and third grades of senior high schools will return to school from June 6, while classes for graduating students of junior high schools will resume from June 13. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Firefighters conduct disinfection in a school in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, May 27, 2022. Disinfection work is conducted in schools in Shanghai before the resumption of classes. In Shanghai, students of the second and third grades of senior high schools will return to school from June 6, while classes for graduating students of junior high schools will resume from June 13. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) Firefighters conduct disinfection in a school in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, May 27, 2022. Disinfection work is conducted in schools in Shanghai before the resumption of classes. In Shanghai, students of the second and third grades of senior high schools will return to school from June 6, while classes for graduating students of junior high schools will resume from June 13. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) A firefighter conducts disinfection in a school in Putuo District of Shanghai, east China, May 27, 2022. Disinfection work is conducted in schools in Shanghai before the resumption of classes. In Shanghai, students of the second and third grades of senior high schools will return to school from June 6, while classes for graduating students of junior high schools will resume from June 13. (Xinhua/Ding Ting) by Xin Ping Every June, Canadians mark the National Indigenous History Month to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of Indigenous Canadians. However, a shadow has been cast over this years celebration, as two reports published by The Globe and Mail on May 5 sparked an outcry over the treatment of Indigenous women in Canada. Two distressing facts in the reports stand out as the primary target of public outrage. One is that Indigenous women account for as much as 50 percent of the female population in Canadian federal prisons, a disproportionately high ratio as only one out of every 20 women in Canada is Indigenous. The other is that at the Canadian Senates human rights committee, several Indigenous women recounted their horrible experiences of being sterilized without their prior consent. According to one victim, such an inhuman practice is nothing short of genocide and it is still happening today. This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the unfair treatment of Indigenous Canadians. According to Canadian media reports, Indigenous men are 26 percent less likely than their white peers to be paroled in the first year theyre eligible. James Makokis, an Indigenous Canadian doctor, pointed out that Indigenous patients are more likely to be neglected in the countrys medical system, resulting in poor health and unnecessary death. Unmarked graves have been found in Indigenous boarding schools, where Indigenous children were tortured to death. A research by the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability shows that Indigenous women in Canada are 16 times more likely to be murdered or missing than white women. Be it in the criminal justice system, or the education system, or the medical system, discrimination and violence against Indigenous Canadians is widespread and systematic. Although the Canadian government has vowed more than once to eliminate disparity, little has been done to address the root cause of the chronic malaise of racial discrimination against Indigenous Canadians. It has already been legalized and institutionalized, making it intractable like a malignant tumor. In 1876, the Canadian government introduced the Indian Act to administer the Indigenous people. The law was based on a number of colonial laws that aimed to eliminate First Nations culture in favor of assimilation into Euro-Canadian society. Regarding the rights of the Indigenous people as something granted by the whites, the law has remained discriminatory in nature despite two significant amendments to become otherwise. In 2016, Bob Joseph, the founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. and a member of the Gwawaenuk Nation, posted an article on the Canadian Broadcast Companys website, revealing the 21 discriminatory restrictions imposed by the Act on native Indians in Canada, which include belittling Indian women, forbidding First Nations to speak their native languages or practice their traditional religions, and confining them in reserves, among others. Based on the idea that the white way of life is superior, the Indian Act actually acquiesces in racial discrimination against the native Indians. The existence and enforcement of a biased law like this speaks volumes about the fact that racism in the form of white supremacy is embedded in the Canadian legal system. As the Canadian Indigenous leader and activist Arthur Manuel put it, White Supremacy is the law of the land. Every time a scandal is exposed, the Canadian government apologizes and promises to make a change. But according to the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, during the five years between 2014 and 2019, 33% of Indigenous Canadians experienced discrimination, 10 percentage points higher than the previous 5-year period. The upcoming National Indigenous History Month may well be an occasion to reflect on the trauma and pain caused by racial discrimination, for there is little for the Indigenous Canadians to celebrate. (Xin Ping is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for the Global Times, China Daily, etc. He can be reached at xinping604@gmail.com) KIGALI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- RwandAir, Rwanda's national carrier announced Saturday the suspension of its flights to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to a DRC government directive to suspend RwandAir flights, the airline said in a statement. "Following the decision of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to suspend RwandAir flights, RwandAir has decided to cancel all flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma with immediate effect," said the statement. "We are sorry for inconvenience and disruption this may cause to our customers," said the airline. The airline said it will provide updates and be in touch with customers for assistance. "RwandAir always puts the safety and security of its customers and crew as their number one priority," said the statement. Patrick Muyaya, DRC government spokesperson announced early Saturday that DRC has decided to immediately suspend RwandAir flights to the country. This came after the DRC on Thursday accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels who are currently fighting government forces in North Kivu province. Rwanda has repeatedly denied any involvement. The M23 is a group of former rebels of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). The name came from the March 23, 2009, agreement between the CNDP and the DRC government. BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The key for the China-U.S. relationship to walk out of the predicament is for the U.S. side to abandon its mania for zero-sum games, give up its obsession with encircling and containing China and stop undermining China-U.S. relations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday. The U.S. side should make the right choices bearing in mind the common interests of people in both countries and the world, spokesperson Wang Wenbin added. Wang made the remarks in response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's speech on the country's China strategy on Thursday, who described China as the "most serious long-term challenge to the international order." Wang accused Blinken's lengthy speech of spreading disinformation, playing up the so-called "China threat," interfering in China's internal affairs and smearing China's domestic and foreign policy. The sole purpose of it is to contain and suppress China's development and maintain the U.S. hegemony, Wang said. "China deplores and rejects this." Humanity is now living in a new era of connectivity, where all countries share a common future and their interests are closely intertwined. Wang said that the U.S. sensationalization of the so-called "China threat" cannot solve its own problems, and will only lead the world to a dangerous abyss. The U.S. side is completely confusing right and wrong when calling China "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order," Wang said, adding that the United States always puts its domestic law above international law, and cherry-pick international rules as it sees fit in a pragmatic way. This is the biggest source of instability in the international order. Peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom are the common values of humanity. There is no one-size-fits-all model, Wang noted, adding that the United States is running a deficit in democracy and human rights with its deplorable track record. "Is it in a position to posture as a guardian of democracy and human rights and criticize other countries on these issues?" Wang said China advocates the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and holds that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together. The United States creates the so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy" to rope in regional countries to contain China, and claims to "shape the strategic environment around Beijing." This move to gang up on China will get no support and is doomed to fail. China's diplomacy champions and practices the five principles of peaceful coexistence. The label of "coercive diplomacy" can by no means be pinned on China, Wang noted, adding that the United States is the inventor of and the synonym to "coercive diplomacy." "Issues relating to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet are purely China's internal affairs," Wang stressed, adding that China urges the United States to abide by basic norms governing international relations, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop spreading lies and disinformation. "We solemnly warn the U.S. side not to underestimate the strong resolution, will and capability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. When talking about competition with China, the United States is actually overstretching the concept of national security to impose illegal unilateral sanctions, exercise long-arm jurisdiction and seek decoupling and industrial chain breakage, which have gravely undermined the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and deprived China of its right to development. This is by no means "responsible competition," but rather unscrupulous suppression and containment, Wang noted. "We have noted that Secretary Blinken said in his speech that the United States is not looking for conflict or a new Cold War with China; it doesn't seek to block China from its role as a major power, nor to stop China from growing its economy; and it wants to coexist peacefully with China. We are watching what the United States will do," he said. Samoa's Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Apia, Samoa, on May 28, 2022. (Xinhua) Samoa's Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday. Both sides agreed to enhance unity and cooperation, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of the developing countries, and insist on true multilateralism. APIA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Samoa and China agreed here on Saturday to enhance unity and cooperation, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of developing countries, and insist on true multilateralism. While meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Samoa's Head of State Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi Vaaletoa II said Samoa and China have enjoyed strong and close relations with fruitful results yielded in mutually beneficial cooperation, demonstrating the importance of equality and mutual respect in dealing with the relations between countries. Samoa hopes to maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen mutual understanding and expand pragmatic cooperation with China so as to benefit the people of the two countries, Tuimalealiifano said. For his part, Wang said China has embarked on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country and is now devoted to achieving common prosperity. China will work together with other developing countries to accelerate common development, safeguard fairness and justice, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. He said this year marks the 60th anniversary of Samoa's independence, which is of great significance to the country, nation and the people. Noting that Samoa is one of the first Pacific island countries to establish diplomatic ties with China, Wang said since the establishment of diplomatic relations nearly half a century ago, the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals. Mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has brought benefits to the Samoan people, he said, adding that the China-aided Faleolo International Airport and the stadium for the 2019 Pacific Games have become local landmarks, and a cultural center in Samoa has injected new impetus into bilateral friendly exchanges. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China immediately provided Samoa with anti-epidemic supplies to help the country effectively control the pandemic, Wang said, adding that China will also provide Samoa with a new batch of rapid test kits. China is ready to continue to support Samoa in its fight against the pandemic until it wins the battle ultimately, he added. Wang said as both developing countries, China and Samoa face the same development task. Under the current circumstance of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying, China is willing to consolidate unity and cooperation with developing countries including Samoa, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of developing nations, and insist on true multilateralism. Samoa is the third leg of Wang's tour to the South Pacific island nations, which will also take him to Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as Timor-Leste. Before arriving in Apia, Wang visited the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. HONG KONG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Saturday that the COVID-19 virus continues to be detected in sewage samples from different areas in Hong Kong, indicating that there may be hidden cases in these areas. About 140,000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits will be distributed to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the areas with positive sewage testing results showing relatively high viral loads, in order to help identify infected persons, it said. The HKSAR government also urged RAT kit users to report any positive results for COVID-19 via the government's online platform. In efforts to combat COVID-19, the HKSAR government's Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples in all districts of Hong Kong for COVID-19 virus testing. On Saturday, Hong Kong registered 116 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 154 additional cases through self-reported RATs, official data showed. KAMPALA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan government on Friday issued an ultimatum of up to May 30 for striking health workers to return to work or be considered to have abandoned duty and resigned. Allied health workers, nurses and midwives on May 14 and May 26 started their industrial action calling for better pay. Muruli Mukasa, Minister of Public Service, said in a statement that the health workers in government run health facilities did not follow the regulation of giving a 90-day notice before going on strike. Mukasa urged all district leaders and hospital directors to take stock of those on strike and declare their positions vacant in line with the laid down procedures. The minister said following earlier consultation between the health workers and government, the increment in the pay of health workers will start next financial year 2022/23, which starts July 1. HONG KONG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- A legal conference on the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) was held here on Friday, one of the celebratory events for the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Organized by the Department of Justice of the HKSAR government, the conference, themed "Stability to Prosperity", brought together prominent and heavyweight speakers from different sectors to discuss how the central government can consolidate the constitutional order of the HKSAR and bring Hong Kong's democratic development back on track, the interpretation and practice of the Basic Law, as well as how to boost Hong Kong's economy. Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR, said in her speech that Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China, and "one country" is undoubtedly the backbone as well as a major prerequisite for the sustained development of "two systems". She firmly believed that only by acting in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, relying on the central government and safeguarding national security can Hong Kong's prosperity and stability be ensured. Over the past 25 years, the practice of "one country, two systems" has been a universally recognized success, said Wang Linggui, deputy director of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. The next five years will be crucial for Hong Kong as it has transited from chaos to order and is advancing to prosperity, Wang said, adding that Hong Kong should stay firmly committed to the right path of "one country, two systems" and ensure the full and accurate implementation of the Basic Law. Chen Dong, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that in the past 25 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the implementation of the Basic Law has safeguarded China's sovereignty, security, and development interests and the central government's overall governance over the region. As long as Hong Kong sticks to the fundamental principle of "one country", makes good use of the advantages of "two systems" and becomes better integrated into the overall development of the country, it will be able to effectively cope with various risks and challenges and continue to write a new chapter in the practice of "one country, two systems", Chen said. ISLAMABAD, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by the Chinese leadership, saying that it has derived its core from the principles of the United Nations. The GSI focuses on the notion of the "UN Charter, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states, multilateralism, peaceful resolution of disputes and equality of countries in terms of the security interests," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said here during a weekly media briefing on Friday. The GSI carries the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, Ahmad said, adding that it advocates cooperative and synergy-driven approaches, replacing the zero-sum world war mindset of maximization of security through power contestation and arms race. It is a timely call to action in the face of contemporary global realities where the international community encounters traditional and non-traditional threats that necessitate holistic approaches towards international and regional security, he said. The spokesperson noted that the GSI recognizes the need for international partnerships to address the common challenges of climate change, public health, water, energy and food security. NEW YORK, May 27 (Xinhua) -- 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, reported The New York Times on Wednesday. The University of Hawaii's mandate was expanded on 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 on Tuesday. U.S. President Joe Biden, an alumnus, is scheduled to give a commencement address at the university on Saturday. 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 were quoted as saying. The schools in Philadelphia restored their mask mandate on Monday. When city officials there tried to do the same for other indoor public settings in April, they reversed course after four days, according to the report. LAGOS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Friday set up an inter-ministerial committee to prevent the possible spread of the monkeypox disease in the country. There was no recorded case of monkeypox in Nigeria yet, said Mohammad Abubakar, minister of agriculture and rural development, at a news conference in Abuja, the nation's capital, on Friday. Abubakar said his ministry, through the department of veterinary and pest control services, is working assiduously in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and agencies to sensitize the public on the monkeypox virus for early containment. The ministry is also creating awareness among hunting communities and the public, he said. "In view of the current outbreaks in Europe and the Americas, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development works assiduously in collaboration with relevant sectors and stakeholders to intensify surveillance in the animal population and at the point of entry for wildlife," Abubakar said. He advised the public to avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus, including animals that are sick or found dead where monkeypox occurs; and avoid contact with any material such as bedding that has been in contact with a sick animal. The minister urged the public to practice good hand hygiene, such as the washing of hands and the use of alcohol-based sanitizers, after contact with infected animals or humans. Abubakar said the country's quarantine services and other related agencies are stationed at every entry point of ports and borders to detect, inspect and quarantine anyone with symptoms of the disease. SUVA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday that China-U.S. relations are not a zero-sum game and the U.S. should address the bilateral ties based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. In response to a recent policy speech by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who described China as "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order," Wang said there are major misconceptions in the U.S. views about the world, China and China-U.S. relations. The world is not what the United States has described and the most pressing task facing the international community is to jointly protect human life and health, promote world economic recovery and safeguard world peace and tranquility, which calls for the establishment of a community with a shared future and for the implementation of purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, Wang said. He stressed that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative have won widespread recognition and support from the international community, and the U.S. obsession with "Western-centrism", "exceptionalism" and the Cold War mentality, as well as its push for the logic of hegemony and bloc politics, go against the trend of history, which will only lead to confrontation and split the world community. The U.S. has in fact become a source of turbulence that undermines the current world order and the stumbling block hindering the democratization of international relations, Wang noted. Stressing that China is not what the U.S. has imagined, Wang said there is a clear historical logic to China's development and revitalization that has a strong endogenous power. The common pursuit of modernization by 1.4 billion Chinese people represents a great progress for mankind, rather than a threat or challenge to the world, Wang noted, adding that such an achievement is made under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, and a result of the solidarity, diligence and hard work of the Chinese people who find the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "Our goal is open, fair and square. It is to make life better for our people and to make a greater contribution to the world, not to replace or challenge any others," Wang said. "We are bringing reform, opening up and win-win cooperation to a higher level. We shall become a better version of ourselves and make the world a better place," he said. "What we want to tell the U.S. is that China-U.S. relations are not a zero-sum game designed by the U.S. side," Wang said. Chinese leaders have pointed out that whether China and the United States can properly handle their relationship matters the future of the world, and it is a question of the century needed to be well answered by the two countries, he said. Before answering the question, the U.S. side should first be aware that a unipolar hegemony will find no support, group confrontation has no future, building small yards with high fences means self-isolation and backwardness, and decoupling and cutting supplies only hurt others and itself as well, Wang said. Countries can stage fair competition with each other, and it is natural that China and the United States have some competition between them, but it should not be a destructive one, Wang said. The Chinese people have the confidence and are ready to conduct a fair competition to see who can better govern their own country and who can make more contributions to the world. "We will never yield to blackmail or coercion, and will firmly defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests," he said, stressing that the Chinese people have the backbone and resolve to do it, and any suppression and containment will only make them more united. The U.S. side should focus its efforts on enforcing the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, so as to find the way for the two major countries of China and the United States to properly deal with each other in the new era, Wang said. Wang is paying a visit to Fiji, the fourth leg of his current tour to the Pacific island countries. BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China's telecommunications sector posted steady expansion in the first four months of the year, with emerging businesses such as cloud computing growing rapidly, official data showed. The sector posted 529.2 billion yuan (about 78.5 billion U.S. dollars) in aggregate revenue during the period, up 8.8 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Emerging businesses, including big data, cloud computing, and internet data centers, expanded notably during the period. The emerging business revenue of China's three telecom giants -- China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom, surged 35 percent year on year to 103.9 billion yuan. Revenue for cloud computing services and big data expanded by 132.6 percent and 57.3 percent year on year, respectively. Data also demonstrated China's steady progress in 5G base station construction. By the end of April, China had 1.615 million 5G base stations, with 190,000 built during the first four months of the year. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks in his yearly state of the nation address in Minsk, Belarus, on Jan. 28, 2022. (Xinhua) During the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the highest governing body of the EAEU, Lukashenko stressed that Russia and Belarus fell under sanctions pressure, the consequences of which will affect every country in one way or another. MINSK, May 28 (Xinhua) -- To counter the colossal pressure from the West, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) needs urgent measures to redesign its logistics, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told an online meeting on Friday. During the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the highest governing body of the EAEU, Lukashenko stressed that Russia and Belarus fell under sanctions pressure, the consequences of which will affect every country in one way or another. In the field of logistics, the Eurasian Agroexpress initiative of the Eurasian Economic Commission is of considerable interest as it can provide regular unimpeded deliveries of agricultural goods by rail, he said. International economic cooperation with countries and integration associations is also important, Lukashenko said, noting that "active work is underway to conclude trade agreements with Egypt and Iran." Referring to Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates as the union's potential trade partners, the president said that there is a huge potential to conclude an agreement on trade and economic cooperation with China. By the end of 2021, the total GDP of the EAEU increased by 4.6 percent and for the first four months this year, its GDP growth was around 5.4 percent, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said in his online speech at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council session. Milu deer fawns are seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Milu deer are seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A milu deer is seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A herd of milu deer are seen at the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 16, 2018. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Li Xin) A milu deer fawn is fed by its mother at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Milu deer are seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A milu deer is seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Aerial photo taken on May 23, 2022 shows Milu deers foraging along the river at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Milu deer fawns are seen with adult deer at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A milu deer is seen at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 23, 2022. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) A herd of milu deer are seen at the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province, May 16, 2018. Nine milu deer fawns were born at the Daqingshan Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said the reserve's management bureau. It is the first generation of offspring born to the milu deer that were released into the wild in the region. In September 2021, to rebuild the wild population of the endangered animal, China released 27 milu deer into the reserve. (Xinhua/Li Xin) *In February, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. *The project is designed to have less developed inland regions store and process data transmitted from economically advanced eastern areas. It is a key part of China's digital infrastructure. *In the next step, China will build and deploy modern infrastructure with a forward-thinking mindset, and accelerate the digital transformation of traditional infrastructure. GUIYANG, May 28 (Xinhua) -- As China rides the digitalization wave and seeks to tap into the full potential of the big data industry, a megaproject addressing the soaring demand for computing power is taking shape. In February, China started work on the project to build an integrated national big data system involving the establishment of eight national computing hubs and 10 national data center clusters. Dubbed "East data, west computing," the project is a key part of China's digital infrastructure. It aims to coordinate the computing capabilities of the country's eastern regions, where the need for computing is high, with inland western regions, where abundant renewable resources are optimal for the construction of data centers. Simply put, the project is designed to have less developed inland regions store and process data transmitted from economically advanced eastern areas. A staff member checks equipment at a data center of China Mobile in southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) "The construction of the project has taken shape and heralds a promising future," said Lin Nianxiu, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, as he addressed the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2022 held on Thursday in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province. In the next step, China will build and deploy modern infrastructure with a forward-thinking mindset, and accelerate the digital transformation of traditional infrastructure, Lin said. BOOSTING INVESTMENT Industry insiders have high hopes that the project will boost economic growth. By building computing hubs and data centers, the project is expected to boost investment in the upstream and downstream industrial chains. Statistics show that since the beginning of this year, 25 new projects have been launched in 10 national data center clusters in China, with combined computing power equivalent to approximately 27 million personal computers. These new projects have attracted a total investment of over 190 billion yuan (about 28.2 billion U.S. dollars). Investment in China's western regions increased sixfold from the same period last year. Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows the "Huawei Cloud" data center (R) and the Tencent Qixing data center (L) in Gui'an New Area of southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) As one of the designated computing hubs, Guizhou has decided to upgrade its digital infrastructure and plans to spend about 17 billion yuan on the big data industry this year. Guizhou will construct a "data corridor" that will link it with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle to better meet the computing needs of the two areas, said Jiao Delu, chief engineer of the Guizhou provincial big data development administration. A recent industry report has highlighted China's impressive advances in computing power, noting that it has become the driving force in promoting the digital economy. Increasing investment in this sector will have an amplified and long-term effect on economic growth, said the report, jointly released by Tsinghua University, the International Data Corporation and Chinese IT firm Inspur Information. A staff member watches a video at the exhibition center of the national big data comprehensive pilot zone in southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) "The country's move to channel more computing resources from its eastern areas to its less developed western regions offers a huge opportunity for enterprises," said Yu Junfang, deputy general manager with the local branch of China Unicom in Guizhou. Yu said China Unicom plans to invest nearly 1.5 billion yuan in the expansion of its data center in Guiyang, adding nearly 7,000 more server racks to its current total of 3,000. SPURRING COMMERCIAL USE Since Guizhou was approved to build the country's first national big data comprehensive pilot zone in 2016, the province has become the frontrunner in the country's big data industry. After years of development, many data centers there have started to enjoy commercial success. The Gui'an Supercomputing Center began operations in late 2020. With 537 servers and 1,000 high-performance graphics processors, the center boasts a combined computing power of 13.4 quadrillion floating-point operations per second, ranking third among data centers in the west of China. Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Guizhou Information Park of China Telecom Cloud Computing in Gui'an New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Peng Benqian, an executive at the center's operating company, said that the center has been promoting the commercial use of computing power and storage resources while meeting the needs of national scientific research. In January 2021, Shenzhen Rayvision Technology Co., Ltd., a company that specializes in providing vertical cloud computing services for the visual arts industry, became the first customer to purchase computing power from the center. Subsequently, the center provided computer power services for the post-rendering work of many films and television shows, including blockbusters "The Battle at Lake Changjin" and "New Gods: Nezha Reborn." By using the supercomputing power, rendering work that used to take more than 100 hours can now be completed in one to five minutes, said Dai Kaiguo, an engineer at Rayvision. (Video reporters: Liu Qinbing, Yang Yanbin; video editors: Zhou Sa'ang, Yin Le) Aerial photo taken on Feb. 7, 2022 shows the China-funded stretch of National Road No. 7 in Kratie province, Cambodia. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said more than 3,000 km of national roads and eight large-scale river bridges in Cambodia have been built with China's financial support, adding that Chinese-invested hydropower plants have played a crucial role in securing electricity security in the kingdom. PHNOM PENH, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Friday that China is the major contributor to the development of transport infrastructure and electricity in the Southeast Asian nation. In a speech delivered via video link to an international conference on the future of Asia, Hun Sen said more than 3,000 km of national roads and eight large-scale river bridges in Cambodia have been built with China's financial support. He added that Chinese-invested hydropower plants have played a crucial role in securing electricity security in the kingdom, while the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway project will play a vital role in helping boost economic growth when it is put into use. Aerial photo taken on March 11, 2021 shows the eighth Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River, connecting Kampong Cham province and Tboung Khmum province in southeastern Cambodia. (Shanghai Construction Group/Handout via Xinhua) The kingdom has seven Chinese-built hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1,328 megawatts. Vasim Sorya, a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said China-funded infrastructure projects have played a key role in enhancing transport efficiency, reducing time and transportation cost, improving competitiveness in the logistics sector and attracting foreign investors. "The transportation sector has greatly contributed to boosting economic growth," he told Xinhua. "With China's financial assistance, we are able to build and improve our road infrastructure to better serve our people, tourism and logistics industry." Aerial photo taken on Sept. 9, 2021 shows the China-funded Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Chen Gang/Xinhua) Sorya said under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has helped develop roads, bridges and other major infrastructure in Cambodia and other developing countries. "China-financed infrastructure projects are essential to help boost our socio-economic development and improve our people's livelihoods," he said. Sin Chanthy, president of the Cambodia Logistics Association, agreed that China's financial support has importantly helped Cambodia connect urban and rural areas as well as farms and markets. "Moreover, it has helped link Cambodia with its neighboring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Laos," he told Xinhua. "All in all, transport infrastructure is the key element to support economic development and poverty reduction." Photo taken on Dec. 16, 2018 shows the Lower Sesan II hydroelectric power station in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Xinhua) Chea Chandara, president of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia, said China is the key supporter for infrastructure development in Cambodia. "China-backed infrastructure projects have importantly contributed to economic growth and development of the logistics industry," he told Xinhua. Speaking of the 2 billion-U.S. dollars Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Chandara said this Chinese-invested road will inject a new impetus into the country's economic development, as it connects Phnom Penh to the deepwater seaport in Sihanoukville. "There's no doubt that the expressway will provide great benefit to our economic development as it will facilitate goods transportation between Phnom Penh and the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, a major gateway for Cambodia's trade exchange with other countries," he said. The 190-km-long expressway will be ready for trial use in July 2022. KIGALI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The remains of more than 9,000 victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi were given a befitting burial earlier this week at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial site in Kicukiro district in the capacity of Kigali. The remains were recently retrieved from mass graves in different parts of Kigali following information volunteered on their whereabouts by some perpetrators. "It is quite unfortunate to see that decades after the genocide, we are still retrieving the remains of genocide victims and giving them decent burial," Paulin Rugero, an official of Ibuka, the umbrella association of Rwanda genocide survivors. Jean-Damascene Bizimana, Rwanda's National Unity and Civic Engagements Minister castigated genocide perpetrators for withholding information about mass graves. Florence Mukantaganda, a survivor whose family, including her husband, were killed in the genocide appealed to people with any information leading to mass graves to come forward and inform local leaders within their respective communities in order for all genocide victims' remains to get befitting burial. The burial ceremony on Thursday was attended by several residents, government officials and families of the victims as part of the 100 days of commemoration which started on April 7. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million people, mainly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus, were killed. People sit outside a restaurant in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, May 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Xu Supei) by Xu Supei, Ayten Laamar TUNIS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- With sunglasses on her head, French tourist Bernadette Burlet is sitting on a bench and enjoying the Mediterranean sea views in Sidi Bou Said, a coastal town well known for its extensive use of blue and white in northern Tunisia. This is her first overseas trip after the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020. "It's natural to feel anxious during the pandemic. After all the stress, I decided to travel to Tunisia, a beautiful country not far from France," Burlet told Xinhua. Jeff Morel came to Tunisia for a week-long family vacation. The father of two said he fell in love with the North African country when he first visited it in 2012. "Coming to Tunisia means finding beautiful landscapes, fabulous beaches, delicious food, and interesting customs and traditions," Morel said. With more tourists visiting, Sidi Bou Said, among other Tunisian tourist destinations, is becoming more boisterous than in the previous two years. "Sitting at the northernmost bulge of North Africa and thrusting toward Europe, Tunisia is Africa at its most Mediterranean and Arabia at its most cosmopolitan," American writer Gerald Zarr commented about the country, which has been an attractive destination for tourists since the beginning of the 1960s. Tunisia's tourism industry attracted around 7.1 million visitors annually in the five years before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data processing company Knoema, travel and tourism contributed 16.1 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the tourism sector, the revenue of which in 2020 plunged by 65 percent to around 746 million U.S. dollars compared to that of 2019. When the public health crisis eased, the Tunisian government began to relax travel restrictions and launch more campaigns to promote tourism. As of April 20, over one million foreign tourists have visited the country this year, marking a rise of 128 percent compared to the same period in 2021, Tunisian Tourism Ministry reported earlier this month. Meanwhile, driven by the growth in the tourism and agriculture sectors, Tunisia's economy grew by 2.4 percent in the first quarter of this year. While the tourism sector's performance in recent months has fueled hopes of a more rapid recovery, it remains uncertain whether tourism will return to pre-pandemic levels in the country, which has been caught up in a prolonged political crisis. Tunisia's Bardo National Museum, which has one of the world's largest collections of mosaics, has been closed for nearly one year due to security concerns, as it is housed in the same complex as the Tunisian Parliament, which was suspended by President Kais Saied on July 25, 2021. Mohamed Dhafer, who has been selling handicrafts in Sidi Bou Said since 2006, complained that his business was not as good as it used to be before the pandemic, like so many other Tunisians in the tourism industry. "Many owners have to close their shops due to the lack of tourists. I hope this season isn't as bad as the last one," he said. People walk on the street flanked by Jacaranda trees in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, May 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Xu Supei) People walk on the street flanked by Jacaranda trees in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, May 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Xu Supei) A man wearing various plastic flowers on his head is pictured in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia, May 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Xu Supei) CAIRO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed on Friday after a minibus and a private car collided on the Ismailia-Suez desert road in northeastern Egypt, state-run Ahram newspaper reported. The collision resulted in the explosion of an oxygen cylinder inside the private car and a gas cylinder in the minibus. The bodies of the seven people were burned as they were trapped in the vehicles. The bodies were taken to local hospitals in ambulances, while a team of prosecutors had inspected the scene of the accident. According to initial reports, the accident took place when the private car's driver tried to turn to the other side of the road. Road accidents are common in Egypt because of poorly maintained road infrastructure and loosely applied traffic regulations. Over the past few years, Egypt has been upgrading its road network, building new roads and bridges, and repairing old ones to reduce traffic accidents. ADDIS ABABA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Humanitarian emergencies in Africa are a permanent source of concern for the continent, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has said. Mahamat, while addressing the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference on Friday, said humanitarian emergencies in Africa are numerous, diverse and geographically dispersed, and have become a permanent source of concern. He said across the 15 most-affected AU member countries, 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022. East and Horn of Africa are currently hosting 4.5 million refugees, more than 75 percent of whom have been affected by the reduction in food rations in 2021, Mahamat said. Over the past two years, food requirements have increased by 70 percent in the East and Horn of Africa, and more than 25 million people are in a situation of food insecurity, Mahamat said. Mahamat said in West and Central Africa, there are 58 million people in a state of food insecurity, which is the highest level of food insecurity since 2016. There are two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Central Africa. This figure represents a 30 percent increase compared to 2020 and does not comprise the five million displaced persons in the Lake Chad Basin, he said. In North Africa, more than 14 million people need humanitarian assistance, he added. "The picture is not bright. Far from it," he said, as he emphasized that Africa's humanitarian condition is further affected by the annihilation of refugee empowerment efforts by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The paradox of humanitarianism lies in the discrepancy between the urgent nature of the situations of human distress to be taken care of and the poignant need to defer this care because of the lack of or insufficient financial resources," Mahamat told African leaders attending the high-level humanitarian summit. African leaders on Friday met in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea to find durable solutions to address the continent's current humanitarian challenges as part of the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference. ADDIS ABABA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- African leaders met on Friday in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, to address the continent's current humanitarian challenges. The African Union (AU) Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference was held to address the current humanitarian challenges facing Africa, which have been exacerbated by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, according to the AU. The meeting on Friday was convened under the framework of the AU Extraordinary Summit running from Wednesday to Saturday. Senegalese President Macky Sall, also the current chairperson of the AU, said at the high-level meeting that recurrent humanitarian emergencies are linked to climate change, natural disasters and terrorist attacks as well as armed conflicts. The fate of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons calls for inclusive development, following the principles of social justice, Sall said, adding that the African continent should be proactive in dealing with humanitarian catastrophes. Sall called for launching an appeal in support of the mobilization campaign for the reinforcement of the resources of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) so that it can even better respond to the emergencies caused by natural disasters. The ARC, a specialized agency of the AU, is established to help African governments improve their capacities to better plan, prepare, and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, emphasized the need to collectively act against humanitarian emergencies in Africa. "Humanitarian emergencies in Africa, numerous, diverse and geographically dispersed, are a permanent source of concern," Mahamat said at the meeting. Mahamat said that in the 15 most-affected AU member countries, some 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022. "The picture is not bright," said Mahamat. "It is further bleaked by two factors: on the one hand, the annihilation of refugee empowerment efforts by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and on the other hand, the pressure exerted on the planet earth in the name of the quest for economic growth and whose effects are reflected in climate change manifested through prolonged drought and uncontrollable floods." By hosting the humanitarian summit, the AU demonstrates its firm determination to continue its efforts to reduce the suffering of refugees, internally displaced persons and other affected people on the continent, Mahamat said. ACCRA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Friday that circular economy will be integrated into the continent's development architecture. "Circularity is a core area of Africa's fast recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to create new jobs on the continent in a sustainable manner," AfDB Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change & Green Growth Kevin Kariuki said during the AfDB 2022 annual meetings. Transitioning Africa to green growth is a step in the right direction for creating a new value chain that reinvests in the economy and creates new and sustainable jobs, the official added. The AfDB opened its 2022 annual meetings in the Ghanaian capital, Accra on Tuesday with top African statesmen, politicians, and technocrats in attendance. BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Turkey's objections to Sweden and Finland joining the NATO alliance persist despite diplomatic efforts and are not likely to change until the two Nordic countries refrain from supporting anti-Turkey groups, experts said. Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO last week following the Russia-Ukraine conflict that erupted in February. - - - - From June 1 to Aug. 31, the State Border Committee of Belarus restricts the entry and temporary stay of citizens in the border strip in the Bragin, Loevsky and Khoiniki districts of the Gomel region. According to BelTA News Agency, the restrictions have been introduced to ensure security, and do not apply to border guards. During this period, the issuance of passes to the border strip in the territory of these districts is also suspended. - - - - During a 45-minute phone discussion with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave assurances to continue supplying natural gas to Austria, Austrian news agency APA reported. Putin said during the phone call that Russia was ready to allow Ukrainian grain exports via seaports, as well as to discuss a prisoner swap with Ukraine more closely, Nehammer was quoted as saying. Putin also assured that the International Red Cross would be given access to prisoners of war, Nehammer said. - - - - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday he has discussed his country's post-conflict reconstruction with Germany's Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze during their talks in Kiev. "Ukraine needs to restore the infrastructure in the liberated regions as soon as possible to ensure the normal logistics and operation of enterprises," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram after the talks. - - - - To counter the colossal pressure from the West, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) needs urgent measures to redesign its logistics, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told an online meeting on Friday. During the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the highest governing body of the EAEU, Lukashenko stressed that Russia and Belarus are under sanctions pressure, the consequences of which will affect every country in one way or another. MOSCOW, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov successfully test-fired a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile from the Barents Sea on Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry said. The missile hit a naval target about 1,000 km away in the White Sea and the flight of the projectile corresponded to the designed parameters, it added. The Tsirkon missile has been test-fired several times from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Tsirkon missile is capable of flying at Mach 9 or nine times the speed of sound and striking a target over 1,000 km away. People holding placards rally to protest against gun violence in Houston, Texas, the United States, May 27, 2022. Houston, the largest city of the southwestern U.S. state of Texas, is bracing for multiple protests crying for gun control, as the National Rifle Association (NRA) kicks off its annual convention in the city center on Friday, just days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting claiming 21 lives. (Photo by Chengyue Lao/Xinhua) HOUSTON, May 27 (Xinhua) --"Protect children, not guns!" Crowds of protesters crying for gun control shouted outside the convention of the well-known gun rights lobby group National Rifle Association (NRA) on Friday in downtown Houston, Texas. The first day of the NRA annual meeting met with angry demonstrations just three days after the Uvalde school shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers merely 300 miles (about 483 km) away. The "Don't Look Away Rally" is to "demand swift and strong action against the gun violence that continues to devastate our neighborhoods, schools, and families," the Harris County Democratic Party, one of the organizers, said in a statement. "It was really heartbreaking ... those children who literally have yet to even know what they wanna do, discover their talents, discover their hobbies in the future...They're supposed to learn who they are and they got that taken away from them," Olivia Otou-Branckeart, an 18-year-old high school senior, told Xinhua at the rally. "I think they (school shootings will) continue to happen because nobody does anything about it. Everybody's buried their heads in the sand, and they do believe for some reason that owning a gun expresses freedom," Jim Hunnicutt, a 66-year-old protester who once worked in the transportation industry, told Xinhua. "This shouldn't be happening. It doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. Just America," he said. "Right now, America has 120 guns for every 100 citizens. It's the largest cache of weapons in the world. And that has to change." As the protests went on outside, a number of Republican politicians including former President Donald Trump made remarks one by one on the stage of the NRA convention on Friday. They dismissed calls for stricter gun laws one by one, claiming that's not the answer to preventing future tragedies, local media reported. "The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens," Trump claimed in his fifth speech at a NRA annual convention, "The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens." He told NRA members: "You are the backbone of our movement." Similar to Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott also dismissed calls for gun reforms in his pre-recorded video for the NRA convention on Friday. "There are thousands of laws on the books across the country that limit the owning or using of firearms, laws that have not stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts on innocent people in peaceful communities," said the gun-friendly Republican governor. Earlier on Friday, Texas law enforcement officials revealed at a press conference in Uvalde that they had waited too long to breach the classroom where the shooting took place -- they had waited in the hallway for more than 45 minutes when children inside that classroom repeatedly called 911 during the attack. However, these revelations went unmentioned by Trump and other Republicans when they talked about overhauling school security at the NRA convention on Friday, said a CNN report. "In the nation's bitter divide over guns, the tale of two Americas was on vivid display in downtown Houston," the report said. "This shouldn't be a political issue. This is common sense about do we, or do we not want to save our children?" said Hunnicutt in his interview with Xinhua, criticizing U.S. politicians who refuse to make hard decisions. The NRA annual meeting, which was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, will conclude on Sunday. Attendees are prohibited from bringing "firearms, firearm accessories, knives, and other items" including backpacks and selfie sticks. The organization currently has over five million members, according to its website. The United States has seen at least 212 mass shootings so far this year, according to the nonprofit research group Gun Violence Archive. It defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the shooter. As of Tuesday when the Uvalde school shooting happened, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the United States this year. A man holding a placard attends the rally to protest against gun violence in Houston, Texas, the United States, May 27, 2022. Houston, the largest city of the southwestern U.S. state of Texas, is bracing for multiple protests crying for gun control, as the National Rifle Association (NRA) kicks off its annual convention in the city center on Friday, just days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting claiming 21 lives. (Photo by Chengyue Lao/Xinhua) People rally to protest against gun violence in Houston, Texas, the United States, May 27, 2022. Houston, the largest city of the southwestern U.S. state of Texas, is bracing for multiple protests crying for gun control, as the National Rifle Association (NRA) kicks off its annual convention in the city center on Friday, just days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting claiming 21 lives. (Photo by Chengyue Lao/Xinhua) by Julia Pierrepont III LOS ANGELES, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Distraught and frightened students walked out of schools in Southern California on Thursday, demanding action from U.S. lawmakers after Tuesday's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead. It is part of a nationwide protest to demand stricter gun control and greater protection for the nation's innocent youth. In the Los Angeles region, student protestors chanted such slogans as "Protect kids, not guns" and "Enough is enough." In Saugus, where in 2019 two students were killed and three injured in a shooting, school children are particularly disturbed. Mia Tretta, who was wounded in the shooting, rallied students at Saugus High School to protest gun violence. "We are devastated. We are angry. This can't keep happening to us," she told KABC-TV, the West Coast flagship station of the ABC television network, adding that "This can't keep happening to people like us or kids younger than us. This is not fair." She told the news outlet that "I'm disappointed in the people who are higher-ups who say 'we need more guns, we need armed teachers.' " "We need less guns over here. We need a safe place," she was quoted as saying by KABC-TV, noting that "schools should be a sanctuary of learning, not of death." Some 150 students walked out of Crescenta Valley High School on Thursday, reported KNBC-TV. According to the TV station, students at Locke High School in South Los Angeles also staged a walk-out, chanting "protect our kids!" Some of the signs held by students said "Are we next?" and "Put the guns down!" In Alhambra, teachers, students and community members came together to rally and called for an end to gun violence, The Los Angeles Times reported. Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson Shannon Haber said that the second-largest school system in the United States is aware of the walk-outs and that educators are helping students plan advocacy efforts and activities on campus, reported The Los Angeles Times. Shooting threats and rumors continued disrupting some Southern California schools days after the Texas shooting. A high school in City of Rosemead was closed Friday after a potential threat posted on social media. An elementary school in the City of Whittier was placed on lockdown Friday as a precaution while police officers were searching for armed suspects nearby. Disillusioned with adult lawmakers and elected officials who refuse to take the necessary steps to protect them, American students are taking matters into their own hands. They have formed nationwide activist groups like Students Demand Action. The website of Students Demand Action writes, "We are young activists committed to ending gun violence. We are Students Demand Action," and "We deserve better, and we're turning our outrage into action." Started in 2016 as a pilot program, Students Demand Action now has more than 400 groups across the country and active volunteers in every state and Washington, D.C., according to the website. New Delhi, India: India has voiced grave alarm over sophisticated American guns and ammunition from Afghanistan's terror-torn country falling into the hands of Islamic militants in the region. During a meeting with Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, in Dushanbe on Thursday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval emphasised a large number of American weaponry still in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal. During his discussion with Shamkhani, India's security chief was quoted by the Iranian media as saying, "The vast amount of American weapons left in Afghanistan, part of which has fallen into the hands of terrorists, is one of the main risks to our neighbours." NSA Doval's remarks came less than 24 hours after the brutal murder of Kashmiri TV artist Amreen Bhat in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam area by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba pistol-wielding terrorists. According to reports, the valley YouTuber died at a time when the local police had confiscated the initial haul of 15 very sophisticated US-made pistols, which were found with 15-round magazines, according to an official. "Traditional Chinese pistol magazines hold eight rounds. These American weapons, which have been smuggled straight from Afghanistan in recent months, can fire 30 rounds from dual magazines, according to the officer. NSA Doval was in Tajikistan's capital today to participate in the 'Fourth National Security Advisors/Secretaries of the Security Councils Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan Issues,' which ended today. SL envoy meets with NSA Doval, asks for India's help in securing Intl funding for economic recovery Dushanbe Security Dialogue: India will stand by Afghanistan NSA Ajit Doval's clear message to Taliban, told what is the relation between Afghanistan and India Ukraine manages to push Russians back from Severodonetsk, goes on the offensive in Kherson Oblast 28 May, 10:32 AM A residential building in Popasna destroyed by Russian shelling. (Photo:REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko) Today, May 28, is the 94th day of Ukraine's defense against a full-scale Russian invasion. Invading forces rush to bring a big victory for Putin in Donbas. 8.32 p.m: Ukrainian forces went on the offensive in Kherson Oblast inflicting losses to the Russian invading troops, Ukrainian Army General Staff has reported. Russians had to withdraw to disadvantageous positions next to the villages Andriivka, Lozove, and Bilohirka. The fight has been going on. 6.16 p.m: Attempts to offer a compromise to Putin to save his face will not end the war in Ukraine. On the contrary, it will increase the risks of Russian aggression in the future, Ann Applebaum, a historian and journalist wrote in an opinion piece for the Atlantic. The expression off-ramp has a pleasing physicality, evoking a thing that can be constructed out of concrete and steel. But at the moment, anyone talking about an off-ramp in Ukraineand many people are doing so, in governments, on radio stations, in a million private argumentsis using the term metaphorically, referring to a deal that could persuade Vladimir Putin to halt his invasion. Some believe that such an off-ramp could easily be built if only diplomats were willing to make the effort, or if only the White House werent so bellicose. Its a nice idea. Unfortunately, the assumptions that underlie that belief are wrong. 1.22 p.m: Russians shelled residential districts of Mykolaiv, mayor Oleksandr Senkevych has reported. Casualties have been reported, he said, promising to reveal details soon. One person was killed and six were wounded in the attack, Mykolaiv Oblast Council reported later. 12.45 p.m: More Western weapons coming to Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Reznikov called the cooperation of the partner states, which provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment, unprecedented. He also spoke about new models of Western weapons Ukrainian soldiers have already been using at the front in Ukraine. According to Reznikov, three types of 155-mm artillery are already "successfully working" on the front line - M777 howitzers, FH70 howitzers, CAESAR ACS. "It was simply impossible to imagine it back in March," the minister said. Morning Digest Overnight, Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, from Russian territory. Russian forces used artillery and rockets to attack the Ukrainian region, which was recently occupied by Russians. As the result, an agricultural enterprise was destroyed, Sumy Governor Dmytro Zhyvitsky said in a statement. Ukraine's defense forces inflicted heavy losses on the Russian army and forced it to retreat in the areas of the settlements of Novopil (Donetsk Oblast) and Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhya Oblast). Although yesterday Russian propaganda media RIA reported that Ukraine has lost control over Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian troops are still fighting for the region. Severodonetsk, a city, almost surrounded by Russian forces and mostly destroyed by invaders' shelling, is still under Ukrainian control. Ukrainian forces have managed to push the Russian troops farther away the city, Ukraine's General Staff said. "Street fighting broke out in some places, but the Russian army was pushed back to its previously occupied positions, Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Hayday said. According to him, another bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk was damaged, but travelling between the cities remains possible. In total, Ukrainian forces repelled eight attacks in Donbas over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Army General Staff reported in its morning update from the front. Five tanks, 10 armored vehicles, and four enemy vehicles were destroyed. Air defense units destroyed a Russian Orlan-10 drone. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has destroyed a Russian tactical company group with equipment and manpower. In the Kharkiv Oblast Ukrainian stormtroopers shot down a Russian modern Ka-52 attack helicopter. The Russians are trying to push forward in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk Oblast. The invading forces have been trying to reach the rear of Ukrainian troops and disrupt logistics. With the support of mortar and artillery fire, the Russians carried out offensive and assault operations in the areas of the settlements of Nagirne, Vasylivka, and Komyshuvakha, but with no success so far. Overall Russia has lost 30,000 soldiers killed in action in Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in February. However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has no intention to stop the massacre and has been conducting hidden mobilization in Russia, the Ukrainian General Staff has said. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News The worlds biggest social media site, Facebook, lost a record number of users this past year, which led to a loss of almost $240 billion. For the first time in its history since it started in 2004, it lost a million daily users, as the company states. The company blamed the decline on the automatic transfer restrictions of user data to advertisers, announced by Apple and Google. These limits alone cost the social site $10 billion in 2021. Despite being widely accessible for more than 15 years, the sites growth momentum is slowing, even declining in some respects. The companys financial troubles are partly the result of its user base getting older and younger users shifting to video-sharing platforms such as TikTok. Despite its current financial troubles, Facebook is still the worlds largest social network with over 2 billion monthly users. However, it is highly unlikely that Facebook can maintain its total dominance over social networking, with prominent competitors such as Tiktok, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, WeChat and hundreds more social media companies clamouring for our attention. This appears true in Nepals context also. Facebook and Nepal As of January 2022, there were 13.7 million internet users in Nepal, which has increased to 11.51 million. Data published in Metas advertising resources indicate that Facebook had 12.30 million users in Nepal in early 2022. It continues to grow at a slower pace compared to other social media such as TikTok or YouTube in Nepal in recent years. According to Datareportal, 90% of people in Nepal use Facebook or the internet on mobile phones only. Photo: Pexels/ Brett Jordan Merely, some five years down the line, Facebook was synonymous with the internet in Nepal. During the pre-Covid time, YouTube became quite popular. Today, post-Covid, TikTok has been breaking all records. Instead of scrolling down stories or posts on Facebook, users are busy watching or creating videos on platforms like TikTok. According to the Nepal Telecommunications Authoritys most recent report, 27.76 million individuals in Nepal have access to the internet. Today, we tend to believe everything posted on social media to be true, without verifying it. Hence, the government should make proper laws, create awareness and increase digital literacy in the country so that people can make the best use of it and use it responsibly. The popularity of the social media giant The most desired reason for people to use Facebook is to keep in contact with their friends and family. As it is free of charge, it has become more helpful than emails and telephones in recent times. It has normalised the idea of globalisation and one can communicate and create networks in every part of the world with the use of the internet and social media. Other than that, Facebook has become resourceful to connect with like-minded people through various Facebook group pages. This eventually helped to connect and get informed about various sectors where experts are also already there. Likewise, if one wants to bring people together for some change, it has become handy for such a group of people. This and more have made it evident that the future is all about digital presence and the world is getting digitalised day by day. Meanwhile, Facebook rebranding its company name as Meta has sparked a completely new industry. Many investors and businesses are keen to grasp this opportunity, to avoid missing the next big thing. Yet, it will not be wrong to say that Facebooks pivot to a Metaverse will take years to implement and create. The possible downfall of Facebook While the internet has benefitted us in a variety of ways, it has also ruined the lives of many people, though this technology is a boon if used wisely. According to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau report for the fiscal year 2020/21, a total of 3,906 complaints were filed by social media users. That included 2,003 cases by women, 1,471 by men and 224 by others and people who did not identify their gender. Similarly, 53 cases were related to Facebook, two each related to YouTube and Instagram, and nine cases related to TikTok. Facebook has already been successful in profoundly transforming how we understand ourselves in the digital age in a way that cannot be undone. But, no one knows the future! The company could collapse tomorrow, and we would still have to resolve questions social media has raised about how we want to live and prosper together in a digital world. One of the main reasons for Facebook to collapse could be the loss of trust from its users. Facebook monetised social media and destroyed it in the process. As of late, the most essential issue is managing the enormous power of personal data. Social media have shown just how financially valuable personal data can be. Today, Facebooks mainstream competitors depend on the same principles of targeted advertising. Nowadays, the world is in our hands. Every business is becoming digital. This has led user behaviour to be tracked and user data becoming more valuable. Moreover, other social networks are experimenting to create more privacy and security. Diaspora keeps data in multiple servers throughout the world, which lets users select hosting services in countries they believe have strong personal data protection. Minds is a decentralised blockchain-based network and Vero does not have ads. Facebook built a digital world where the data produced through our personal behaviour is the chief engine of corporate growth. Lately, we are still figuring out how to ensure that online spaces are civil, peaceful and safemeaning free from hate speech. Experiments by rival companies respecting user privacy will solve some problems and undoubtedly reveal others. Nevertheless, they all are built on the foundation that Facebook laid: a world constantly seeking digital connection at a poorly understood future price! Johnson As a typhoon headed for Guam and the Philippines during World War II, Navy Lt. Bob Meyer steered his 180-feet-long ship in a direction he believed would lead it out of harms way. Instead, someone on land messed up and gave us the wrong information and sent us directly into the typhoon, he said. The Patrol Class Escort ship had done its job, launching its weather balloon earlier in the day. The small ship, by WW II standards, wasnt meant to battle typhoons. It was Meyers turn to be officer of the day, or temporary captain, when the wrong directions were relayed. As the typhoon intensified and the ship pitched and rolled in the angry, crashing waves, the approximately 22-year-old Meyer did his best to keep the ship full of about 100 men upright. I thought for sure we were going to go down, he said. I can remember standing straight up with my left arm extended fully out holding onto a post that held the compass. I remember clearly how we rolled in the sea. Meyer, a longtime Watertown resident, now lives in Omaha, Neb., near two of his children. He celebrated his 99th birthday in March and is part of a rapidly dwindling group of WW II veterans. A college student when the war started, Meyer was studying pre-med at the University of Minnesota when he enlisted in the naval reserve in 1942. All naval reserve members soon were called to active duty and, after finishing his pre-medical college course, he was sent to a naval hospital near Chicago where he served as a corpsman, the lowest paid position in the navy," he noted. He was offered an opportunity to return to college to attend dental school, but he declined as his goal was to be a medical doctor. So instead, he was sent to officer training school, followed by radar school and finally gunnery where he learned to fire the 5-inch guns, as well as the 20-millimeter and 40-millimeter naval guns. After receiving his first officer commission as a lieutenant, junior class, he was sent to Oregon where he boarded his new ship, which would become an important part of the navys weather forecasting fleet. Story continues Meyer said they had barely gotten out into the ocean when I got sicker than a dog. It was a real struggle. That would soon pass and never again would he get seasick, not even in the two typhoons. The type of ships Meyer was assigned to originally were designed as coastal escort vehicles. They also were used as rescue ships for pilots who had been shot down. But 17 of these ships were re-fitted to house weather balloons and electronics. They were lightly equipped with guns, but the ship Meyer was on never needed to use its armaments. Each day, Meyer said, the ship would launch a large weather balloon filled with electronics. Weather information was then relayed to shore-based facilities. The ships were instrumental in keeping the U.S. Navy abreast of weather conditions. After 18 months at sea, it was Meyers turn to go home and become part of The Greatest Generation of WW II veterans who would build our country. He boarded a large troop ship in Subic Bay, Philippines, and on the first morning decided to take a stroll along the top deck. He was amazed at how quiet the ship was. Everyone on board was seasick it seemed, except Meyer. You get over that when you are on a 180-foot ship for 18 months, he said. You really get used to it when you ride out the storms. He returned to complete his medical degree at the U of M, eventually studying to become a radiologist. A chance meeting led him to moving to Watertown in the early 1970s where he and his wife Betty purchased a home on Lake Kampeska and finished raising their four children. He continued working, at least part-time, until fully retiring at age 88. Throughout his career, he never forgot riding out that first typhoon on a ship designed to predict the weather. I probably should have been deathly afraid, he said. But I was too young to be afraid. I certainly wouldnt want to experience that today. Brad Johnson is a Watertown businessman and journalist who is active in state and local affairs. This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Navy veteran recalls riding out typhoon on WWII weather ship (Bloomberg) -- Long before Broadcom Inc. sealed a deal to buy VMware Inc. for $61 billion Thursday, it eyed the company secretly from a distance. Most Read from Bloomberg VMware had been one of the assets at the top of Broadcoms target list for some time, according to people familiar with the matter, but the suitor quietly scrutinized the business before it went further. Broadcom crunched numbers, scoped out VMwares products and ran scenarios for about a year before making an approach, said the people, who asked not to identified because the deliberations were private. Thus began what is set to be the biggest takeover by a chipmaker in history and one of the top tech deals of all time. Thursdays agreement marries a sprawling semiconductor company with a Silicon Valley software pioneer -- a merger few had anticipated before Bloomberg broke news of the talks earlier this week. Broadcom plans to make VMware the linchpin of its software strategy, reducing its reliance on the boom-and-bust chip industry. The courtship started slowly for good reason. VMware was part of Dell Technologies Inc. until a spinoff last year. That split, announced in April 2021 and completed Nov. 1, extricated VMware from Dell and made it more attractive as an acquisition. But Broadcom executives couldnt act on anything or show their interest until at least six months after the deal closed, the people said. Tax rules prevent a spun-off company from having M&A conversations for a period of time -- lawyers generally advise a six-month window -- so Broadcom had to wait until it felt VMware would be willing to engage. The talks got going in early May with a phone call from Broadcom Chief Executive Officer Hock Tan to Michael Dell, who had remained the top shareholder in VMware after the spinoff from his computer business. Tan, a Malaysian-born entrepreneur who built Broadcom into one of the biggest and most diversified chipmakers, wanted to sound out Dell about interest in a tie-up. Story continues The two men set up a meeting in Austin, Texas. There, Tan made his official pitch: He promised to offer a generous premium and deliver value well above that. Dell seemed receptive to the idea, in part because VMwares stock -- of which he owned 40% -- hadnt been performing well since the spinoff. VMwares board, where Dell is chairman, formed a transaction committee to analyze a possible takeover. But if the deal had a slow start, the two sides soon made up for lost time. Once they both agreed to move forward, the transaction came together in about two to three weeks. In addition to Tan and Dell, the chief negotiators were Broadcom software head Tom Krause and Egon Durban, a partner in private equity giant Silver Lake. The investment firm is a major VMware shareholder and had helped Dells namesake company go private nearly a decade ago. VMware was advised by bankers at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Broadcom is no stranger to M&A. The company was the product of a 2016 merger with Tans Avago Technologies Ltd., and it has completed several blockbuster deals since then. Broadcom sped through the process. We pride ourselves on having a very clear vision in terms of what we want to do, Broadcoms Krause said in an interview. And when we see these opportunities, we move quickly. Advisers were retained, and staff hustled to complete diligence to bring together VMware -- code-named Verona during the talks -- with Broadcom, which went by Barcelona. The European theme was fitting because Dell was in Davos, Switzerland, during the final leg of talks. Broadcom and VMware also held meetings near their Silicon Valley offices. The two companies are based about 20 miles from each other, with Broadcom in San Jose and VMware in Palo Alto. Broadcom worked with at least four banks, and then brought in two more during the days leading up to the deal. Those six firms -- Barclays Plc, Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse Group AG, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo & Co. -- ended up agreeing to lend Broadcom $32 billion, the largest debt financing in more than a year. Despite the market turmoil punishing tech stocks this month, the deal proceeded smoothly and with regular due diligence. People close to the talks said it was more of a traditional negotiation than they saw with the last big tech deal this year, Elon Musks $44 billion takeover of Twitter. The two sides wanted to move fast -- to minimize leaks and cope with a volatile market -- so VMware held off on speaking with other potential bidders, according to the people with knowledge of the discussions. Instead, a so-called go-shop clause was included in the agreement. Under that provision, VMware will be able to solicit competing offers for the next 40 days, which is rare in strategic deals of this size. That gave VMwares board the comfort that it could proceed. Both sides agreed to a $1.5 billion breakup fee, but VMware only has to pay $750 million if it can find a superior offer by the July 5 deadline. Having the go-shop provision in the agreement made the deal more palatable to VMware -- and Broadcom was willing to live with it. It is what it is, Krause said. Its part of a highly negotiated deal. There were a lot of trade-offs made. Based on the price and other conditions, he said, putting in the go-shop -- that seemed like the right balance. (Updates with more on the meetings in the 13th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. You could be a landlord for Amazon, FedEx and Walmart with these simple REITs that net up to a 4.4% yield Being a landlord is one of the oldest ways to earn an income stream. And these days, you dont have to buy a house to get a piece of the action. Check out real estate investment trusts, which are publicly traded companies that own income-producing real estate. REITs collect rent from their properties and pass it along to shareholders in the form of dividends. That means investors dont have to worry about screening tenants, fixing damages or chasing down late payments. Instead, they simply sit back and enjoy the dividend checks rolling in when they pick a winning REIT. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic did impact some commercial real estate. And not all REITs are the same. If you are a landlord for e-commerce giant Amazon, for instance, you should have no problem collecting a steady stream of rental income. With that in mind, lets take a look at two REITs paying oversized dividends to investors one could be worth pouncing on with some of your extra cash. Sign up for our MoneyWise newsletter to receive a steady flow of actionable ideas from Wall Street's top firms. Amazons landlord The first one is STAG Industrial (STAG), a REIT that owns and operates single-tenant industrial properties throughout the U.S. Its biggest tenant is Amazon. The companys portfolio consists of 544 buildings totaling approximately 109 million rentable square feet across 40 states. Note that 459 of the 544 properties are warehouses, which happen to be an essential part of e-commerce. Moreover, a tenant survey in 2020 revealed that around 40% of the REITs portfolio handles e-commerce activity. To see how solid STAG Industrial is, take a look at its dividend history. Since the company went public in 2011, it has paid a higher dividend every single year. While most dividend-paying companies follow a quarterly distribution schedule, STAG Industrial pays shareholders every month. The monthly dividend rate stands at 12.2 cents per share, which translates to an annual yield of 4.4%. Story continues STAG Industrial shares are down 7% over the past 12 months. On Mar. 15, Wells Fargo reiterated an 'overweight' rating on STAG Industrial. The firms price target of $46 implies 38% upside from STAG's current levels. Walmarts landlord When it comes to paying monthly dividends, one company stands out above all Realty Income (O). Realty Income has been paying uninterrupted monthly dividends since its founding in 1969. Thats 623 consecutive monthly dividends paid. Better yet, since the company went public in 1994, it has announced 115 dividend increases. Realty Income has a diverse portfolio of over 11,000 commercial properties located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the UK and Spain. It leases them to around 1,040 different tenants operating across 60 industries. This means even if one tenant or industry enters a downturn, the impact on company-level financials will likely be limited. For instance, while Realty Income rents some properties to AMC Theaters whose business was hurt by COVID-19 it also has Walgreens, FedEx and Walmart as some of its top tenants. And these businesses turned out to be largely pandemic-proof. Earlier this month, the REIT announced a monthly cash dividend to 24.7 cents per share, giving the stock an annual dividend yield of 4.3%. Investors who hold onto Realty Income shares for the long term might earn more than just dividends. Morgan Stanley has an 'overweight' rating on the company with a price target of $77. Considering that Realty Income trades at roughly $69 today, the price target implies a potential upside of 12%. Sign up for our MoneyWise newsletter to receive a steady flow of actionable ideas from Wall Street's top firms. More from MoneyWise This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. When restaurateur Romain Taieb first walked into an ascetic oblong space with vertiginous ceilings and metallic beams nestled in the side of the late-19th century former central post office of Paris, his heart skipped a beat. This was perfect for the project he and business partner Thomas Moreau were working on after a recent visit to New York had left him convinced that a swift meal didnt equate with casual dining. More from WWD The duo wanted to create a place where, the second you step in, the product would be at the center of the experience, but that could also be fun, not break the bank and not an endless meal, says Taieb, whose previous projects include restaurant-and-club Le Piaf Paris, Palais de Tokyos Italian address Bambini and Japanese canteen Nanashi. It became Doki Doki, a 25-seat handroll bar named after the stylized sound of a beating heart in Japanese, which they describe as the embodiment of that palpable anticipation that comes before biting into something delicious. Designed by architect Rodolphe Albert, the 900-square-foot eatery offers little to distract the eye, despite cloud-shaped light fixtures by Paris-based designer Celine Wright, sake bottles lined on a wood structure behind the bar and the back wall of green tiles. Instead, all eyes are drawn to the monumental stone counter where there is only one star: the handroll. The interior was designed by architect Rodolphe Albert - Credit: Courtesy of Doki Doki Courtesy of Doki Doki But dont call Doki Doki a Japanese restaurant. It would be appropriation to say that. Rather, this is our reinterpretation of what we love about Japan, driven by the principles its cuisine shares with our French culinary heritage, like the use of exceptional produce and precise techniques, he says, likening their intention to Perus Nikkei cuisine. Here, its all about finding the perfect bite, a combination of textures, temperatures, flavors, he continues, describing the particular crunch of the nori sheets used here, sourced from a producer in Japans Ariake sea, that gives way to reveal tender rice and unctuous fish. Story continues The menu is therefore compact, developed by Colombian-Japanese chef Andres Ramirez, and all about the roll. There are six fish, along with lobster, crab and scallops versions, as well as a vegetarian option. Pillowy mochi, made by French pastry chef Agathe Bernard, who cut her teeth at Japanese pastry house Tomo, will tempt those who dont have to eat and run. Owing to the new habits of Parisian diners acquired over the pandemic, Taieb has also developed the Doki Doki experience to go. Not a takeaway per se, because dont we all hate it when the seaweed arrives soggy, he says, explaining that their version is a ready-to-eat DIY kit to be assembled just before eating. Despite Doki Doki being only months old, Taieb is already eyeing a second location in Paris, in an area that is both cool with a mix of nightlife but also a faithful lunchtime clientele, although he could also see himself opening outposts in French cities like Bordeaux or Nice. Doki Doki 59 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 Open Monday-Saturday noon to 3 p.m. and 7 to 10:30 p.m; Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Richard Johnson and his wife, Marjorie, pose for a photo with their grandchildren in 2009. Left to right: Kirk Leach, Kerrie (Thompson) Knudsen, Marjorie and Richard Johnson, Ann (Houlette) Wheeler, Melanie (Leach) Vespestad, Kristin (Thompson) Griffin, Stephanie Houlette, Bethany (Leach) Ogle, Renee Houlette and Kacie Thompson. Richard Dean Johnson, a former state auditor of Iowa, died Thursday after a years-long battle with Alzheimer's. He was 87. Current state Auditor Rob Sand issued a statement Thursday expressing his condolences to Johnson's family. "It is perhaps fitting that I was singing Dick Johnsons praises as a model for an aggressive state auditor on a podcast on the eve that he passed," Sand said in the news release. "He will remain a source of inspiration for me and for others in our office when we know we need to inform Iowans about something that will draw the ire of people in positions of power." Johnson graduated from Drake University with a degree in business administration and accounting before earning his CPA in 1963. His career in public service began when he worked as the Sheldahl city clerk in 1959 and then as the mayor of Sheldahl for 11 years. Johnson became the director of finance with the Iowa Highway Commission and then director of the administration division and director of the motor vehicle division when the department was restructured as the Department of Transportation in 1975. Following the death of auditor Lloyd Smith in 1979, Johnson was appointed by Gov. Robert Ray to serve as state auditor until the next general election. Johnson won re-election six times, serving the state of Iowa as auditor until his retirement in 2003. "He really had an appreciation for what tax dollars can be used for and how they can be used well, and what really matters to his fellow citizens," Richard's son David Johnson said. In the 1990s, Johnson and State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald pushed the Iowa government to use standard accounting practices that more clearly showed revenue and expenses. Johnson also endorsed and campaigned for then-U.S. Rep. Fred Grandy in 1996 as Grandy ran against incumbent Gov. Terry Branstad. Grandy came within 3.6 points of defeating Branstad in the GOP primary election that year. Story continues Marjorie and Richard Johnson with their children (left to right) David Johnson, DeAnn Thompson, JoAnn Leach and LeAnn Houlette. Having a father so active in the community and state politics made for an exciting childhood, according to Johnson's children. "I remember growing up when he was on the campaign trail and he would take us along," daughter LeAnn Houlette said. "He would say, 'OK, you're going to come with us, but you have to bring your patriotic program with you.' So we would go and mom would play the piano and we would sing. I remember one of the times we even got to sing for Barbara Bush." Daughter DeAnn Thompson remembers walking into the family's kitchen one morning to find her dad having breakfast with Sen. Chuck Grassley. Johnson also welcomed visiting groups from China into the family's home, being the first to volunteer if someone needed a place to stay. "I realized a couple of years ago that at some point during my college term, Dad had a group from China over and I'm pretty certain that the president of China was one of the people that got stuck in the back of my van at one point," David Johnson said. "They wanted to spend time with actual Iowans. Dad stood up and said, 'I can take six.'" Johnson prided himself on being a "gourmet chef" a title he gave himself despite some cooking mishaps over the years, according to his children. Johnson's daughter, JoAnn Leach, recalled one morning when Johnson called the family to the kitchen for a breakfast of French toast. "It was garlic French toast. We had Italian the night before and he had used the garlic bread, and it was so disgusting," Leach said. "But it is really a fun joke that we can look back on and just laugh about so much because he was just trying to make do with whatever there was, and that just wasn't necessarily the greatest thing at that time." Johnson imparted on his children the importance of welcoming people of all backgrounds with open arms. He often traveled to help establish stable financial systems in other countries, and he enjoyed learning about different cultures. "I just remember having so many people that we'd be in the basement, the biggest room in the house, and it's full of people from China or from Australia," Thompson said. "I can't even tell you how many countries were represented over the years, and he just welcomed everybody into our home and I think taught us so much about the value of everyone." Richard and Marjorie Johnson attend the high school graduation of their granddaughter, Kacie Thompson. The Iowa legislature passed a resolution in 2002 honoring Johnson for his political courage and public service. Johnson was involved in his local community through the American Legion, Rotary Club, Boone County Farm Bureau and the Madrid Evangelical Free Church. In retirement, he would buy two to four big tubs of cookie dough at a time to bake cookies for his church and other local organizations, according to Leach. "He loved to do that so much," Leach said. "It was just the essence of who he was. He just had a joy to serve other people, and to bless them in whatever way he could." Johnson's children remember him as an intelligent yet humble man who would do anything to help others. "This is what was so hard about Alzheimer's; about eight years ago I said it's like watching the bright light fade in Dad," David Johnson said. "As far as I'm concerned, wherever he was, he was probably the smartest person in the room. But he wasn't pompous. And he could guide a discussion to the right answer, no matter who was in the room." The visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. May 31 at the Madrid Evangelical Free Church. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 1, also at the church. Johnson will be buried at the Sheldahl Cemetery in Sheldahl. Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Iowa state auditor Richard Johnson dead at 87 after battle with Alzheimer's Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.) has come out in favor of an assault weapons ban after two high-profile mass shootings in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y., and in Uvalde, Texas, claimed more than two dozen lives in total. Jacobs said at a press conference Friday that if a bill to ban AR-15-style weapons came to the House floor, he would vote in favor. He added that he would also back raising the required age for certain gun sales to 21, imposing a federal limit on guns magazine capacity and banning the sale of body armor to the public. Jacobs received an endorsement from the National Rifle Association during his 2020 congressional run, at the time saying he was honored to receive the endorsement and vowing to serve as an ally and fighter for gun owners in western New York. He said in an interview with The Buffalo News on Friday that he reconsidered his position on guns following the two mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. Jacobs represents New Yorks 27th Congressional District, which contains suburbs outside Buffalo though not the city itself. He is currently running in the states 23rd District after New Yorks decennial redistricting process eliminated the 27th. I believe its important to be transparent on my views on this, and certainly what has happened here in our community, an unprecedented massacre, Jacobs said at the press conference. He said he studied the federal assault weapons ban that Congress passed in 1994 and concluded it was not as effective as youd think, but the most effective part was its capacity limit on guns magazines. The ban restricted certain semiautomatic weapons for 10 years until it expired in 2004 without congressional renewal. Studies have found that mass shooting deaths declined while the law was active, but evidence is uncertain on the extent to which the ban contributed, according to Politifact. Jacobs said there is not currently a bill to ban assault weapons in the House and he does not expect Democrats to have the political will to introduce one, but he would support it if it were introduced. He said although he would support banning the sale of such weapons, he is not in favor of confiscating those that people already own. Story continues However, H.R. 1808 would make it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon or large-capacity ammunition feeding device. The legislation, which was introduced in March of 2021, has more than 200 co-sponsors including Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is in a tight reelection race and added her name on Friday. Jacobs also said its perfectly reasonable for the age limit for buying at least high-capacity, semiautomatic weapons to be 21, similar to the threshold for purchasing alcohol. He also said he plans to introduce a bill to ban the sale of body armor to individuals who are not in law enforcement, security or fields that it makes sense. The gunman at the Buffalo supermarket earlier this month wore body armor, apparently protecting him from a security guards fire. Jacobs acknowledged the change in his position could be controversial and cause political challenges for him as he runs for reelection in a strongly conservative district. -Updated on May 29 at 8:53 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Janyce C. Katz was an assistant attorney general for almost 25 years and currently works at General Innovations and Goods, Inc. In Uvalde, Texas, an 18-year-old with AR-15-style rifle entered an elementary school and killed at least 19 students plus 2 teachers and hospitalized others. We do know the ritual: Its time once again for prayers, tears and then back to support for full, pure gun rights. School shootings have become just part of going to school. More: Amelia Robinson: Americans don't have horns or fangs, but are we the real monsters? We also know that once upon a time, way back in 1990 when Congress still worked as it should, the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990 became law. Congress made it a federal offense "for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone." The United States Supreme Court found Congress had exceeded its legislative power and struck it down. More: Timeline: How Texas elementary school shooting, deadliest since Sandy Hook, unfolded What if all schools had not only smaller class sizes, well-trained teachers but also a well-trained child psychologist on staff to help these troubled kids and to give them the support they need to become strong, compassionate human beings? Wouldnt that be a strong pro-life measure? To many legislators, the possibility of shooters killing students and teachers in schools is less damaging to children than the use of words like gay or transgender." They seem to believe that if children reading or hearing the word gay will become gay or be ripe for a pedophile. They believe similar serious damage comes from reading certain history and literature books. More: 'No politician will shame her into silence.' Ohio Mom says trans daughter, others demonized Take one book folks in Virginia think need to be forbidden Beloved." Toni Morrison based "Beloved" on the story of Margaret Garner, a real woman who killed her baby rather than allow it to be a slave. Story continues Janyce C. Katz was an assistant attorney general for almost 25 years and currently works at General Innovations and Goods, Inc. Garner, whose children came mostly from her owner, who only beat her when she didnt follow orders and only impregnated her when his wife was pregnant, escaped from him with her family. All were captured near Cincinnati by slave catchers paid to return run-away property to its owners. Knowing this happened hurts children more than a shooter would? More: Margaret Garner's story has resonated for the past 164 years. It's one she never got to tell Why is "Beloved" and other books, like "Huckleberry Finn" or "Maus" that spotlight disturbing parts of history considered more dangerous to our children than guns? Books open their minds, but guns kill them. So state legislators are working to ban the books and words to protect children, but want to protect the right to own and carry guns everywhere, because they believe the solution to deaths of children in schools is more guns in the hands of more people. Gordon Jones hold a sign at a protest at the Capitol on Wednesday May 25, 2022, after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde. If all those teachers and students had guns, they think a shooter would never be able to kill them. More: Frenzy won't stop kids from reading 'contraband.' They will just get creative. | Opinion The argument is that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is a pure right and there should not be any restrictions on gun ownership. Since the current majority of Supreme Court justices seem determined that we read the Constitution only as those Founding Fathers in the late 18th century wanted us to understand it, we best find the definition of bear arms. Except the words "bear arms" fail to describe in detail what an "arm" is. If an arm is supposed to be a weapon of some sort, what kind of weapon qualifies as an arm and what doesnt? More: Dayton Mom to DeWine: I stood there, cried and believed you. You've let us down on guns. A grenade is part of an arm until it is thrown by a hand. A gun goes boom and a cannon has a louder, deeper boom." Does the cannon becomes an arm if you can carry it? In any case, while we try to figure out what is an arm and what if any weapons we can possibly regulate to protect our children, let's cry our usual tears and pray for the children who will never grow up and for their parents whose lives will be forever haunted by the loss of their children. But arent these senseless deaths of children too much to bear? Janyce C. Katz was an assistant attorney general for almost 25 years and currently works at General Innovations and Goods, Inc. She is a frequent Dispatch contributor. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Janyce C. Katz: Why are lawmakers focused on instead of gun control RICHMOND, BC, May 27, 2022 /CNW/ - The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), will provide details on funding that will help high-growth businesses accelerate their growth and compete globally. Government of Canada to announce funding that supports innovative businesses in British Columbia (CNW Group/Pacific Economic Development Canada) Minister Sajjan will be available to answer questions from the media following the funding announcement. Event: Minister Sajjan to deliver remarks and announce details on funding that will help Richmond businesses accelerate their growth and create jobs Date: Monday, May 30, 2022 Time: 9:30 am Location: Food Process Solutions 13201 River Road Richmond, BC IMPORTANT: Anyone attending the news conference in person must not present any symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 and must not have been in contact with anyone who has received a positive diagnosis within the last 14 days. Facemasks must be worn and all public health guidelines must be respected at all times. Stay connected Follow PacifiCan on Twitter and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2022/27/c4412.html Southeast New Mexico might not be a top priority for electrical vehicle charging stations, as the region lacks an interstate corridor as identified by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and the federal government. Interstates 10, 25 and 40, connecting the states urban centers of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces showed the highest traffic, use of electric vehicles (EVs), and existing infrastructure so those areas would be prioritized, per a Thursday presentation from NMDOT. The public meeting came amid the planning of a statewide network of charging stations for EVs in New Mexico after the state expected to receive $38 million in federal funds over the next year as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a signature legislation package signed into law last year by President Joe Biden. Sign up for our newsletter, the Daily Briefing, to get stories like this one delivered straight to your inbox every morning. It was the second of six public meetings being held throughout the state, covering each of NMDOTs six districts. District 2, the subject of Thursdays meeting, covers southeast New Mexico and was held in Roswell. In the first year of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan the federal government was expected to approve $5.8 million for New Mexico with funds available for investment by September. More: What we know about New Mexico's proposed 500 mile renewable energy power lines Additional funds were also available through a competitive grant process. The state, using the current database published by the U.S. Department of Energy, identified single charging stations in Alamogordo, Ruidoso and Clovis. There were no known existing charging stations in southeast New Mexicos other, larger cities like Carlsbad, Hobbs or Roswell, DOE records show. More: Chevron expects continued Permian Basin growth amid global energy volatility U.S. Highway 285, the main highway connected Carlsbad, Artesia and Roswell, was listed as a state highway that could be prioritized by the NMDOT, but its report showed growth in electric vehicles centered in the larger cities, thus charging infrastructure would be built out from there. Story continues Carrie Giles with ICF, an electric vehicle-focused consulting firm working with the State to develop the program said it was important the program not only serve those who already own or can afford electric vehicles in large cities, but also motorists in remote areas. She expected the cost of EVs to decline in the coming years and become more accessible with manufacturers trucks, Jeeps and other vehicles taking advantage of technological advancements in non-combustion engines. More: New Mexico gets $22 million in Biden infrastructure bill to improve home energy efficiency The goal is to make charging convenient, reliable and equitable. We dont want this to be a charging network just for the early adapters that can afford it to date, Giles said. Its anticipated that the market prices will be dropping significantly. We do know the market is shifting. We are trying to get into every corner of the state. We want this to be for all New Mexicans. Giles pointed to the federal Justice 40 initiative that specifies the Biden administrations goal of spending 40 percent of federal funds on equity communities. This includes communities, Giles said, that face high climate change and pollution risks, along with poverty unemployment among other issues. More: New Mexico needs electric vehicles to clean up air pollution, prevent deaths study says She said southeast New Mexicos lack of interstate highways did not mean it would be excluded from the program. Here in District 2, we dont have any interstate highways. Were going to begin to connect this district to the rest of the state, Giles said. Just because theyre not technically interstate corridors doesnt mean its not a priority for the state. What were really trying to find out is where you truly need this infrastructure and where we should prioritize it. More: Xcel Energy pushing electric vehicles in New Mexico, plan to cut emissions by 2050 Damon Fordham with High Street Consulting, another firm working with the state on its EV network, said transportation was New Mexicos second-highest emitter of greenhouse gas at 14 percent after oil and gas at 53 percent. He said transportation leads in emissions nationwide, and expanding electric vehicle use in New Mexico would help the state reach its climate change and pollution goals. In 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Energy Transition Act into law to set benchmarks for statewide emissions reductions, while also establishing a Climate Change Task Force. More: New state rules require electric cars at New Mexico dealerships, aim to cut air pollution The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) also recently enacted clean car rules to require car dealerships to sell more EVs, and regulations to increase leak inspections and repair at oil and gas facilities across the state. Theres a lot going on in New Mexico, Fordham said. The clean car rules and NEVI plan will help reduce emissions. Jerry Valdez NMDOT executive director said that while New Mexico is heavily economically reliant on fossil fuels, and especially the southeast corner which is home to one of the worlds most active oilfields in the Permian Basin, the proliferation of electric vehicles would allow the state to reduce pollution in the long-term while diversifying its energy economy. What were looking at is being able to utilize renewable energy to address the climate change issues not only facing NM but the nation as a whole, Valdez said. This is something we are looking toward as a long term strategy to address fossil fuel. Oil and gas is still a big part of our economy, but this is part of a long-term vision to reach the governors goals for climate change. See an electrical vehicle charging station in your town? Residents who observe electrical vehicle charging stations not included in the DOE's database were asked to submit them online through the Department's Alternative Fuels Data Center at https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/station/new. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Big cities top priority for New Mexico's electric vehicle chargers Remember COVID-19 deaths on Memorial Day On Memorial Day, it is customary to remember our fallen soldiers who gave their lives for freedom, as well as our family and friends. This year, it is important to remember the others who gave their lives for freedom. South Dakota enjoyed freedom from masks and the freedom to gather in large groups. (For example, Sturgis.) But freedom is not free. It costs lives, but often we do not know the cost. South Dakota had 330 deaths per 100,000 population. Two places whose governors took more restrictive measures Vermont and Puerto Rico, one affluent and rural and, the other crowded and poor had, of course, fewer deaths. Vermont had 103 and Puerto Rico 133 average deaths per 100,000 people. The difference applied to South Dakotas 800,000 population meant 1,900 additional deaths. South Dakota had more deaths, but more freedom to balance it out. Those 1,900 additional deaths were the price of freedom to go mask-less and gather in groups. That issue of freedom vs cost has divided the state and nation. The family and friends of the deceased might question whether the small increase in freedom was worth their suffering and the the lives of their loved ones. But many South Dakotans support the governors decision that this freedom is so important that fewer than 2,000 lives lost was a small price to pay to keep that freedom for the other 800,000 South Dakotans So this Memorial Day no matter which you believe, please take time to remember the fallen COVID-19 people who preserved our freedom to go mask-less and gather in large groups. Freedom is not free. John Cunningham, Sioux Falls Vote for true conservatives Similar to Hillary Clinton referring to us conservatives as "deplorables," Lee Schoenbeck calls us who care about election integrity, health freedom, truth and righteousness "wack-a-doodles." Gov. Kristi Noem and her sidekick, Schoenbeck, have teamed up to blacklist our "wack-a-doodles," also known as genuine conservatives, in the Legislature. Why? Story continues My representative from District 23, Spencer Gosch, is on their hit list. Gosch was one of the 29 "wack-a-doodles" who stood against Noem and did not cede the Legislatures' authority that she wanted for herself to shut the state down during COVID-19. However, when Noem saw a popular public response and another chance at self-promotion, she was happy to take credit for what the "wack-a-doodles" did. (See 2020, House Bill 1297 and DakotaTruth.com) Schoenbeck likes to throw his weight around when he threatened the Public Utilities Commission to get the hazardous carbon dioxide pipeline moved off "that new housing project or they won't like the legislation they'll see next year." After his threat, Summit Carbon Transport changed the pipeline route. (See PUC docket HP22-001.) The rest of us affected landowners have to lawyer-up and spend thousands of dollars and countless hours and endure a year-long PUC process to fight ruthless billionaires, corrupt politicians and climate change globalist agendas to protect our land. Does this seem right to you? Don't be fooled, vote for the true conservatives. The primary election is June 7. Jodi Waltman. Wetonka Toss out the incumbents! I say we throw every incumbent out. It can't be any worse than what we got now. Marian Gates, Rapid City This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Politics and COVID-19 deaths on the minds of letter writers By Amanda Ferguson and Clodagh Kilcoyne BELFAST (Reuters) - Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the IRA, is on course to become the biggest party in Northern Ireland's government after Thursday's election, a milestone in its quest for a united Ireland. The one-time political pariah has an 8-point advantage ahead of the May 5 election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, an opinion poll showed on Tuesday. An Irish nationalist party coming out on top for the first time in the British-run province would represent an historic shift 24 years after the Good Friday peace accord ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed. It also moves Sinn Fein closer to becoming the lead party in government on both sides of the Irish border. Though a referendum that could result in unity with the neighbouring Republic of Ireland is likely to be years away, Sinn Fein senses growing momentum. "We are in a decade of opportunity, a decade of opportunity to bring about that change," Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill told Reuters at its 'Time For Real Change' election manifesto launch. "I'm less fixated about dates (for a referendum) and more concerned about the planning, the work needs to happen and the constitutional change conversation must be had." Sinn Fein is led by a younger generation of politicians with fewer links to the IRA and Northern Ireland's "Troubles" when 3,600 people were killed. They want the government in Dublin to start planning for the possibility of a border poll. A pre-election canvass in the patchwork constituency of north Belfast suggests breaking away from Britain is not at the top of voters' minds. While Sinn Fein campaigners are greeted by some houses flying Irish tricolours and another with a sign reading 'cead mile failte' - the Irish for welcome - the rocketing cost of living and a struggling health service are the chief concerns. Story continues "Sinn Fein has run quite a nuanced campaign which is a pitch to the persuadables and middle ground," Chris Donnelly, a political commentator and former Sinn Fein candidate said of the party's restrained push on the doorstep for a united Ireland. Irish unity takes up just one page in the 17-page manifesto. It is a similar case in the Republic of Ireland where an even wider Sinn Fein lead in opinion polls ahead of national elections in three years time is not a signal that Irish unity is top of the agenda. Sinn Fein shocked the political establishment there in 2020 by securing more votes than any other party, forcing Ireland's two dominant centre-right parties to join forces for the first time to keep their left wing rivals out of power. An exit poll showed a years-long housing crisis and problems in the health service were the most important issues for 60% of those who cast their vote. Pollsters did not consider it worthwhile including Irish unity as one of the 10 options in the exit poll. UNIONISTS WORRIED Pro-British parties are nevertheless using Sinn Fein's push to withdraw Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom of England, Scotland and Wales to galvanise support. "I think unionists are very concerned about what a Sinn Fein victory would mean in terms of their divisive border poll plans," Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the biggest pro-British party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), told Reuters. A collapse in support over the last 18 months for the DUP is the main reason why it is poised to lose the office of Northern Ireland first minister to Sinn Fein under a structure where the main nationalist and unionist rivals are obliged to share power. Unionists captured less than half of the seats for the first time at the last election in 2017 and polls suggest that anger over post-Brexit checks introduced between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is set to spilt that share more widely among unionist parties this time around. Monday's poll showed that the cross-community Alliance Party could catch the DUP, an unthinkable prospect five years ago. While Brexit also gave the debate about a United Ireland a boost after a majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union, the requirement to share power with unionist rivals will limit what Sinn Fein can actually do about it. It is also solely up to the British government under the terms of the 1998 peace deal to call a referendum if they believe a "yes" majority looks likely. Opinion polls have consistently shown most voters in Northern Ireland favour the status quo. Still, analysts believe a Sinn Fein victory on Thursday could be a watershed moment. "It would be significant where a party committed to the change of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to a United Ireland became the largest representative party," said Donnelly, the political commentator. (Writing by Padraic Halpin. Editing by Jane Merriman) Holland State Park has just three or four seasonal positions left to fill but the Michigan DNR has, in total, around 400. Flexible schedules, hours spent in the great outdoors and plenty of memories that's what Michigan's Department of Natural Resources aims to offer seasonal employees working in state parks. But this year, the department is about 400 employees short, and getting desperate. More: Across industries and county lines: Will the employee shortage ever end? More: Michigan needs 1,300 people to work in state parks this summer. They've hired just half. On Friday, May 20, the DNR announced it would increase its starting hourly rate for seasonal park workers to $15 an hour, up from a sliding scale of $10.20-$12 per hour. The department hopes the regular perks, combined with the bump in pay, will encourage applicants to sign up. The pay rate is effective Sunday, May 29, and is available to all new seasonal hires, as well as those previously hired for the summer season. DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson said the increase was made possible by "reprioritizing" funding. So, the supply of workers has declined and our base pay rate is just over 10 bucks an hour, Olson told The Petoskey News-Review. And it's very difficult to compete because many summer kinds of operations (that are) tourism-based like hotels, or restaurants or other kinds of jobs are paying more and we believe that that's a part of the decision making for somebody choosing to work, so we're hoping that this will help. More: Seasonal state park workers get pay boost as DNR fights hiring issues Frontline staffers help answer visitor questions, register campers, clean buildings, mow grass and maintain trails. In total, the DNR needs about 1,300 seasonal workers to cope with summer travelers. The positions offer work through mid-October. Like businesses and destinations all over Michigan, state parks saw a boom in traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Olson, between 2019 and the end of 2020, attendance increased 30 percent. We were up from 28 million visitors to about 35 (million) and last year was about the same," he said. "And this year, we expect so far, the trend line is pretty strong. So, we expect (to be as) busy as we were last year." Story continues But not all parks are struggling equally. Holland State Park, for example, has just three or four spots left to fill, according to supervisor Sean Mulligan. A ranger changes the beach warning flag from yellow to red at Petoskey State Park. "We usually do pretty well," Mulligan said. "We're actually a little bit shorter now than we were last year, but still less than two years ago, during the peak of the pandemic. We're not quite as bad off as some of the other parks, but for us, everything counts." Visitors might notice the park's entrance booth isn't always manned, Mulligan said, but that doesn't mean those without a recreation pass don't need to pay. Subscribe: Learn more about our latest subscription offers! "A lot of the staff that comes in are new and they have to learn the systems," Mulligan said. "We rely on some of our more experienced staff to train them. Once we hit Memorial Day, our goal is to have the booth manned every day, but if not, we'll do patrols when we get a chance and check for passports." Cars without passports can be issued a permit violation notice, which allows them to make their payment online. Beachgoers can also use a self-registration station near the park's entrance, Mulligan said. Even though Holland doesn't have as many positions to fill as other parks, Mulligan was happy to hear about the wage increase, particularly as national retailers and restaurants offer record-breaking starting wages. "That's great news for us," he said. "It's harder to compete with some of those other entities. It's been difficult, to say the least." Petoskey State Park hasnt been as lucky. Park Supervisor Jilanne Eglestone said she has about 10 seasonal staff members right now, around 70 percent of which are part-time. Eglestone said she'd like to have three more full-time staff members for the summer. We're getting into the holiday weekend, so we're already getting in our busy season, but I certainly hope that (the wage increase) will help, she said. This season is looking even busier than the last two, according to Eglestone. The park has reservations that were booked six months in advance and has been receiving calls from people struggling to find a place to stay during their visit. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing was an issue during the busy seasons. With lower wages and no tips, the park has struggled for a long time to attract seasonal staff. We tend to get good staff regardless, because it's such a cool place to work, but it's been a competitive location," Eglestone said. "So, staffing has been historically an issue here." To apply for an open position, visit michigan.gov/dnrjobs or text "HIRE" to 80888. Contact reporters Cassandra Lybrink and Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com and cassandra.lybrink@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Michigan DNR fights seasonal worker shortage with increased wages jetcityimage / Getty Images Formerly known as food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most important anti-hunger initiative in America. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP provided food security to about 41.5 million people in 2021, with an average benefit of $218.14 per person. Recipients use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to receive funds and make purchases, and they can use those cards to buy a whole lot more than just standard groceries. Here's a look at some of the more unusual things that SNAP will pay for. Find: SNAP Benefits Available in Your State in 2022 SNAP Schedule 2022: April Payments Twin Design / Shutterstock.com Energy Drinks -- Some, at Least You can use SNAP funds to buy energy drinks, but only if they meet the USDA's strict standards. If the energy drink has a "nutritional facts" label, it makes the cut, according to New York SNAP EBT. If it has a "supplemental facts" label, it's considered a supplement and cannot be purchased with EBT. That means Red Bull, Rockstar and Starbucks Double Shot make the grade, but 5 Hour Energy, Bang Shot and Tweaker do not. POLL: How Much Do You Expect Your Tax Refund To Be This Year? Feyyaz Alacam / Shutterstock.com Coffee and Tea -- the Kind You Make Yourself You can use SNAP to buy packaged coffee -- not to mention creamer -- and that includes Keurig-style K-cups. You cannot, however, buy coffee that's ready to drink. If you're thinking that you'll make your own coffee at home and just switch to tea when you're out, that won't work either. Tea, too, is limited to packaged and unbrewed because the USDA doesn't allow SNAP funds to be used to buy any hot beverages. CSNafzger / Shutterstock.com Hunting and Fishing Gear -- But You Have to Live Way, Way Out There Even if you live in a rural area and kill what you eat, you can't just swipe your EBT card to pick up a new fiberglass rod at Bass Pro Shops -- but hunting and fishing gear is SNAP-eligible for a very specific and very tiny population. According to the USDA, some residents in the most remote parts of Alaska rely almost exclusively on hunting and fishing to feed their households because of the extreme difficulty involved with buying food at stores. Story continues The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services gives qualifying households special identification cards. They can't buy guns and ammo, but they can buy things such as nets, rods, harpoons, lines and knives. hapabapa / iStock.com Restaurant Meals -- for Certain People in Certain Places You can't use SNAP to pay for dine-in restaurant meals -- unless you qualify for the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) and live in a state that participates in it. RMP serves vulnerable populations like the elderly, people experiencing homelessness and the disabled. Participating restaurants must offer meals at "concessional prices" to qualifying diners. While it's not as limited as Alaska's subsistence hunting program, very few states participate in RMP. It's available all over California, Arizona, Michigan, Maryland and Virginia, as well as in select counties in Rhode Island. Good Question: Does KFC Accept SNAP EBT Cards? Kyselova Inna / Shutterstock.com Seeds and Plants The USDA allows SNAP recipients to buy edible plants like basil or food-producing plants like tomato plants with their EBT cards, as well as seeds for growing their own food. The USDA says you can grow $25 worth of produce for every dollar spent on seeds and fertilizer, yet Modern Farmer says this important inclusion is one of the least known parts of the whole SNAP program. You can use your EBT card to get seeds and plants at any SNAP-approved retailer, including farmer's markets. Walmart.com Gift Baskets -- Depending on What's Inside The USDA allows you to spend SNAP funds on gift baskets and similar purchases as long as at least half of what's inside is edible. Even if they contain eligible edibles, nonfood items such as toys, stockings and tins don't count if "the value of the non-food part of the item clearly accounts for more than 50% of the purchase price," according to the USDA. The agency gives the example of a stuffed holiday bear that comes with a small package of chocolate: That won't count. A gift basket containing mostly meat and cheese, however, would be acceptable. Stephanie Botkin / Shutterstock.com Live Lobsters Like tobacco, alcohol, vitamins and medicine, live animals are on the USDA's list of items that you can't buy with SNAP benefits. There are, however, a few rare exceptions, including shellfish, "fish removed from the water" and "animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store." That means that, while you can't use your EBT card to buy a puppy from a pet store, you can use SNAP to buy a lobster to bring home to meet its unfortunate fate on your kitchen stovetop. dontree_m / Getty Images/iStockphoto Snacks of All Kinds Most people probably know that SNAP recipients can use their EBT cards to buy household grocery staples such as meat, milk, eggs, vegetables and bread, but what's not as well known is the long list of snacks that are on the USDA's approved list. It includes everything from marshmallows and marzipan to pudding and popsicles. Cakes, pies, doughnuts, muffins, pastries and all sorts of other things cakey and flaky make the list, as do chips, crisps, popcorn and finger food of all stripes. Ice cream, candy, chocolate, custard, scones, churros and much, much more all get a pass from the USDA -- in fact, if a kid can dream of it, chances are good SNAP will pay for it. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps Twitter shareholders allege Elon Musk, above, has sought to drive down Twitter's stock price because he wants to walk away from the deal or negotiate a substantially lower purchase price. (Patrick Pleul / Associated Press) Twitter shareholders have filed a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk of engaging 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 chief executive 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 request for comment 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 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 nonpublic 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 that it was overstating its growth rate and monthly user figures. Twitter has also disclosed its bot estimates to the U.S. 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-car maker have lost nearly a third of their value since the deal was announced April 25. In response to the plunging value of Teslas shares, the Twitter shareholders' lawsuit claims Musk has been denigrating Twitter, violating both the nondisparagement and nondisclosure 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 renegotiate the buyout, according to the lawsuit. Story continues Twitter's shares closed Thursday at $39.52, 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 time frame 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 reaped a benefit of 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. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sexual assault charges against an 89-year-old man are in limbo because of concerns about his competence. Glenwood Posey of Spotsylvania is accused of molesting an elderly woman in a Stafford County nursing home in March. He is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of object sexual penetration and two misdemeanor counts of entering property to damage. But prosecutor Ed Lustig said that a doctor has determined that Posey is incompetent to stand trial and is incapable of being restored to competency, in part because of his advanced age. Posey was tested after his attorney expressed concerns about his understanding of his legal situation. Poseys case is due back in Stafford General District Court next week. A judge will consider several options, including attempting to have Posey restored to competency in spite of the doctors report, or looking into the possibility of having him civilly committed to a mental health facility. The alleged attacks took place March 16 and 17 at Falls Run Nursing and Rehabilitation on Brimley Drive in Stafford, where Posey was a resident at the time. Police were called to the facility after the staff became aware of the alleged attacks. Police said Posey entered the victims room about 3 a.m. March 17 and assaulted the woman. A similar attack had taken place the previous day, the investigation showed. Posey is currently being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. 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. Veterans of the Korean War were honored and remembered during a Friday morning ceremony at the Stafford County Armed Services Memorial, located behind the countys government center. Col. Michael Brooks, base commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico, told the gathering that Memorial Day weekend is a time for the community and the nation to reflect on those who served their country. And then those that we have lost along the way, Brooks said. Fridays ceremony was dedicated to veterans of the Korean War. During that war more than 70 years ago, nearly 37,000 American servicemen lost their lives and another 103,000 were injured. In all, there were a total of 146 U.S. personnel who received the Medal of Honor for valor during combat in the Korean War, Brooks said. And there were thousands more heroic acts performed by many servicemen and women. During his remarks, Brooks highlighted several Korean War heroes who were among the casualties and recipients of the Medal of Honor, including Marine Pvts. Charles Gene Abrell, 19, of Terra Haute, Indiana, and William Baugh, 20, of McKinney, Kentucky, as well as Army Sgt. Leroy Mendonca, 18, of Honolulu. Brooks said their heroic acts occurred in what many have labeled The Forgotten War, which took place between 195053. I can assure you, it is not forgotten, nor will it ever be, Brooks said. Brooks said he hopes the memories of the three young men he spoke about will help people remember this Memorial Day just a few names of those who served their country and paid the ultimate price. I highlighted those individuals because I wanted everyone to realize that the sacrifice for this nation is a burden shared by all, Brooks said. Retired Army 1st. Sgt. John Hart of Fayetteville, North Carolina, said it was good to visit a community that still understands the sacrifices made by those in uniform. He said the remarks by Brooks shined a light on our nations youth, who for generations fought to safeguard Americas freedom. These are lives that were cut short in the service to their country and for the ideals that we hold dear and the future of our country, Hart said. Its profound that they sacrificed themselves at such a young age. Jimmy Dillard of Spotsylvania County, a Korean War veteran, said he was grateful for the countys continued dedication to recognizing veterans, especially in the war he fought in. Today means a lot, Dillard said. The things they do for veterans here, I think its real nice. Although the county traditionally recognizes those who have fallen in Americas wars every year on the Friday before the first holiday weekend of the summer, Fridays event in Stafford honored those who served in Korea, while last years ceremony focused on Vietnam. Richard Ferguson of Stafford, a Vietnam War veteran, said he came to this years ceremony because he believes veterans of all wars should be honored and remembered. My way of thinking is all veterans are forgotten or were looked down on, Ferguson said. The ceremony today was something that was long overdue. The event included musical selections performed by the Quantico Marine Corps Brass Quintet, and the national anthem was performed by Stafford high schools all state choir under the direction of Joe Eveler. The nations colors were presented by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard. Standing in attendance were motorcycle riders whose Rolling Thunder chapter advocates for prisoners of war and servicemen and women missing in action. Chris Brown, Stafford Countys fire and rescue chaplain, provided the opening and closing prayers for the event. As the ceremony closed, Brooks and Crystal Vanuch, chair of the countys Board of Supervisors, laid a wreath at the memorial in remembrance of all veterans. George McWhirt of Stafford, who was drafted into the Korean War beginning with a Greyhound bus ride from the Stafford courthouse to an indoctrination center in Richmond in 1951, served his two-year enlistment in Germany during the Korean War. He was married on Memorial Day in 1953, nearly two months before the war officially came to a close. Its an experience Ill never forget, McWhirt said. Today is a special day for us. 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. HISTORY acknowledges Memorial Day evolving initially from Decoration Day, when towns and cities held springtime tributes to fallen soldiers North and South after the Civil War. One of the earliest Memorial Day ceremonies chronicles commemorations held by a group of Black former slaves a month after the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 established each final Monday in May as Memorial Day. While the recently passed Armed Forces Day on May 21 is celebratory, honoring the current service of all military men and women, Memorial Day evokes painful recall and intense emotions for many. Vivid recollections remain with this former Marines first Memorial Day 52 years ago in Vietnam, having just turned 19. Landing on my birthday aboard an American Airlines flight, airline stewardesses donned helmets and flak jackets with somber smiles as Marines were ordered to exit first. It was over 100 degrees on the tarmac surface. Walking down the airplane steps, M16 in hand, anxiety increased as one of my first sights was of a stack of nearby empty coffins. Thoughts of simply surviving that day flooded my mind. What was unknown to me at the time was whether John Leonard Grimes, a 21-year-old sergeant from Arlington with the 25th Infantry Division who would lose his life not far from me in 1970 a day after Memorial Day, would occupy one of those coffins. I wonder if he experienced what I did in my first firefight, as my rifle jammed firing the first bullet toward the enemy with rounds whizzing by my head. Clearing the blockage in record time, I survived. But 1,303 Virginians who are part of the 52,220 names on the Vietnam memorial did not. Nothing to a Gold Star Mother or family can ultimately justify the loss of a loved one in spite of patriotic fervor or the confliction of the times with the ongoing national protests against Americas involvement in Vietnam. Perhaps promoting educational advance and holding discussions embracing civility in our political arena are steps in the right direction. The Free LanceStar, to its credit, recently had such a discussion bringing citizen centers of influence to discuss civility hours before the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Imagine if world leaders had the temerity to require civil global discussions on a regular basis, eliminating the need for hostilities. And Virginians should acknowledge positive legislative actions sponsored by veterans making vet family life better, rather than making them cannon fodder. Such as some of the 23 pieces of legislation, several veteran friendly, were recently signed into law. One sponsored by former Army Ranger State Sen. Bryce Reeves, R17th District, allows step children of deceased veterans to claim entitlements previously denied while awaiting legislation to cut veterans taxes. Or former Navy helicopter pilot, State Sen. Jen Kiggans, R7th, and Del. John McGuire, R56th, who patroned a bill examining waiving permit fees needed for establishing veteran-owned small businesses. Will such actions counter the extensive service of incumbent Democrat Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger running for reelection in the redrawn 7th District, or Virginias 2nd Congressional District Congresswoman, Democrat Elaine Luria, also a retired Navy commander? Reeves and Kiggans running for Congress against them sure hope so. In spite of the political, theres one candidate who should cause Nam vets to especially beam with pride. A retired Navy Captain from Annandale, Hung Cao, a Vietnamese evacuee whose family came to the United States in 1975 with scant possessions, perhaps validates the nobility of military service and opportunities of Ameritocracy. As the Republican nominee, Cao will face off against incumbent Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton for the 10th Congressional seat. Civil actions indeed this Memorial Day as we remember fallen heroes. Daniel P. Cortez is a Stafford resident, presidential appointee, political writer and broadcaster who serves as the volunteer co-chairman of the Latinos for Youngkin coalition. Goodwill campaign raises $8,000 Goodwill Industries Inc., serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa (Goodwill Omaha), has announced the results of Aprils Round It Up for Autism Action Partnership campaign. The communitys donations plus a donation from Goodwill Omaha totaled $8,000 generated during the month-long campaign. The campaign ran during National Autism Acceptance Month to bring awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). AAP will use the money for its Making Memories program, which enables families to have more positive experiences with their loved ones with ASD. Round It Up for AAP was Goodwill Omahas first round-it-up campaign this year, and the organization has two more planned for the remainder of 2022. Goodwill Omaha is currently running a Round It Up for Ukraine program, which was an additional campaign the organization wanted to run to help those fighting for their freedom in Ukraine. For more information about Goodwills programs and its 17 places to shop in Omaha, Bellevue, Blair, Council Bluffs, Fremont, Gretna, Papillion, and online, visit GoodwillOmaha.org. Tribune staff UScellular turns on additional 5G network UScellular customers in Nebraska now have additional access to the companys 5G network. The company recently added 5G coverage in parts of 18 communities. They are Ansley, Atkinson, Aurora, Berwyn, Chambers, Cushing, Douglas, Elk Creek, Holdrege, Inglewood, Leigh, Loup City, Mason City, Schuyler, Swanton, Syracuse, Tamora and Western. Other Nebraska communities with access to UScellulars 5G network include Amherst, Anselmo, Auburn, Axtell, Ayr, Beatrice, Bellevue, Bladen, Blue Hill, Broken Bow, Byron, Central City, Chester, Clatonia, Cortland, Eagle, Elba, Elm Creek, Fairbury, Fairmont, Farwell, Fremont, Funk, Geneva, Genoa, Gothenburg, Grand Island, Hansen, Heartwell, Kearney, La Vista, Lexington, Lincoln, Marquette, Minden, Nebraska City, Nemaha, Norfolk, Norman, Odell, Omaha, ONeill, Ord, Osceola, Papillion, Phillips, Pickrell, Plattsmouth, Ralston, Riverdale, St. Paul, Seward, Shickley, Silver Creek, Staplehurst, Sutton, Tecumseh, Trumbull and Wilcox. Additional 5G coverage will be added to enhance the network experience for UScellular customers in Nebraska. The multi-year network expansion for 5G in Nebraska is a result of previous network investments to modernize equipment and software. UScellular made a $74.9 million investment in its Nebraska network during 2021. This includes $8.2 million in general network upgrades, $20.5 million in 5G modernizations and $46.2 million in 5G spectrum that will bring additional benefits in the coming years and advances the companys multi-year 5G network strategy. This initial 5G network deployment is on the companys 600 MHz spectrum and will provide customers in Nebraska communities with faster data speeds, seamless video chatting and a more responsive mobile experience. The company has a growing portfolio of 5G smartphones from Apple, Google and Samsung, connected devices and IoT solutions with a range of price points for everyone to experience 5G. A 5G coverage map is available at https://www.uscellular.com/coverage-map. This will be updated as more 5G network coverage is added. For more information about UScellulars 5G network, go to https://www.uscellular.com/plans/network-innovation/5g-technology. Tribune staff 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. Saturday HomeStore open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. Spring Fling Artisan Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., corner of Fifth Street and Park Avenue, downtown Fremont. The artisan market will feature vendors, young entrepreneurs, live animals, live music, food trucks, face painting, free kids games and prizes, cotton candy, popcorn and more. Admission is free. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Fundraiser car wash, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., AutoZone, 601 E. 23rd St., Fremont. Freewill donations will be collected. All proceeds will benefit Logan View FCCLA members who qualified for National FCCLA in Sun Diego this summer. Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Spiritual 12-Step Recovery Program, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous The Lie is Dead meeting, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity meeting, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Monday Set up Avenue of Flags, 7:45 a.m., meet at Veterans Park Eternal Flame in front of the YMCA Ice Arena. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Memorial Day service, 11 a.m., Fremont Veterans Park in front of Sidner Ice Arena, 1558 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Opening of Splash Station, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., 3809 E. Fremont Drive, Fremont. Admission is $7 for ages 6 and over, and free for ages 5 and under (with an adult). Opening of Ronin Pool, noon to 7 p.m., 17th Street and Somers Avenue, Fremont. Admission will be free on Memorial Day. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Logan Cemetery Memorial Day Service, 2 p.m., Logan Cemetery, north of Winslow. The Logan Cemetery Board will service refreshments following the service. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at the Hooper Fire Hall. Take down Avenue of Flags, 4:45 p.m., meet at Veterans Park Eternal Flame in front of the YMCA Ice Arena. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. 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. Anger. That was State Sen. Lynne Walzs first reaction when learning about a school shooting in Texas that left 19 students and two teachers dead on Tuesday. Walz, who is from Fremont, represents District 15 in the Nebraska Legislature and is the education committees chairwoman. But long before she became a lawmaker, Walz was a full-time teacher for about five years and later was a substitute teacher. She taught fourth and fifth grades in the Fremont Public School system. She first taught at North Side and then Bell Field elementary schools. I loved that fourth grade class, she said. Students murdered in the Texas shooting were fourth-graders. Now, Walz is seeking the creation of a comprehensive School Safety Task Force in Nebraska. Walz is asking Matt Blomstedt, commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education, to create a task force to review current school safety, security and preparedness practices and to identify impactful solutions to make sure Nebraskas schools stay safe. More details continue to emerge about the shooting that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, when 18-year-old Salvador Ramos fatally shot students and teachers. Walz recalled her emotions when she heard the tragic news. I was very, very enraged when I heard about yet another shooting in our schools, she told the Tribune. She grieved along with families and was sad and began a course of action. Its time to get to work and make sure were doing everything in our power to continue to keep our schools and students safe, she said. Walz convened with leaders from the states education community on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss strategies to address school safety issues. I think the most important thing with this task force is that we really want to unify our educational groups, educators, administrators, school organizations, parents, school boards, Walz said. We really just want to make sure that were united in being proactive and making sure that were putting every resource in schools that we can possibly put in and providing as much assistance to our schools as possible. Walz said she believes Nebraska has done a good job of acknowledging and providing mental health support in the schools. She cited legislation passed regarding the Safe2Help Report Line, an anonymous reporting program that lets students and parents report concerns about safety and wellness at their schools. I know our schools are committed to making sure we are providing interventions for students in need, Walz said. Theyve also equipped their schools with infrastructure and personnel as security officers. We just want to make sure, again, we dont stop the effort. The Associated Press reported Thursday that the teen gunman who slaughtered children and students in Texas entered the school by a door that apparently was unlocked. Ramos eventually was killed on the scene by a U.S. Border Patrol team. In a prepared statement, Walz said Nebraskas education community stands united in its support of and sympathy for the victims and families in Uvalde. Tragic events like those in Uvalde compel us to reinforce the need to be more united than ever, Walz said, adding that in the coming weeks and months, Nebraska education leaders will ask tough questions, process gathered information, listen to experts and assist schools in doing everything they can to keep students safe. Walz said every issue and idea are on the table for consideration, because while tragedies like the one in Texas can quickly become political and partisan, the safety of students is a moral imperative upon which everyone can agree. Walz told the Tribune that she wants schools to be welcoming places where students can concentrate on their educations and do the best job they can while they are in school. She said school shootings underscore the very real dangers of a culture in which gun violence has become too frequent. We are steadfastly committed to ending gun violence and to working with parents, policymakers and all concerned Nebraskans to advocate for and provide safe classrooms for every student and teacher, Walz said in the news release. Looking back many years ago when she taught, Walz didnt need to think about an active shooter coming into her classroom. It wasnt even something that I would have thought would happen in our schools, she told the Tribune. On Twitter, the Safe2Help Report Line says students can safely report any threats made to their school, bullying or abuse by calling 833-980-7233. 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. Gov. Jared Polis signed dozens of bills into law last week, including the watered-down collective bargaining legislation and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for public schools. Signed on Friday, Senate Bill 230 extends collective bargaining rights to approximately 36,000 county employees throughout the state. The bill provides the rights in most counties with populations over 7,500, allowing county employees the opportunity to unionize and bargain on pay, job safety and other issues. These workers staff our public health departments, maintain our roads and keep our communities safe, said House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, who sponsored the bill. They deserve the right to join together to improve their workplaces and negotiate for better pay and benefits. The bill was one of the most contentious of the session, spurring hours of debate and hundreds of proposed amendments, mostly from Republicans in opposition. The bill had started out two years ago as an ambitious plan to allow all public sector employees county, municipal, special district, higher education and K-12 education to unionize. In the end, compromises watered down the bill to exempt 26 of the state's 64 counties, including 22 with populations under 7,500, two home rule counties and Denver and Broomfield, which are both cities and counties. Also, the concessions made ultimately included affirmation of the rights of county commissioners to reject any collective bargaining agreement with their workers. Ultimately, the bill changes little in state law county workers already had the right to unionize and five counties already have collective bargaining agreements with their employees. On Thursday, Polis signed a host of bills to expand and fund public education, including House Bill 1390, which increases total funding for public schools by $431 million to a record $8.4 billion. That increases funding for K-12 public schools by an average of $545 per student, which aims to reduce class sizes, increase teacher pay and provide individualized support to students. I am proud to say Colorado is investing in teachers, students and K-12 public schools, said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, chair of the House Education Committee. This years school finance act will increase per pupil funding to a record high. ... More resources lead to stronger schools, improving learning and better preparing students for the road ahead. Gov. Jared Polis signs fentanyl bill into law In addition, Polis signed Senate Bill 127, which increases funding for special education students by more than $80 million per year, and House Bill 1350, which creates a $91 million grant program to build partnerships between employers and postsecondary education institutions. Other education bills included Senate Bill 8, which waives college tuition for some foster students; Senate Bill 192, which connects students with jobs; House Bill 1294, which supports special education in charter schools; House Bill 1407, which allows veterans to audit college courses; House Bill 1107, which improves higher education for people with disabilities; House Bill 1220, which provides loan forgiveness to educators; House Bill 1376, which updates school discipline and data reporting; and, House Bill 1366, which creates grant programs for postsecondary education. Polis also continued the theme of approving bills to increase affordable housing, signing House Bill 1051 extending the Colorado Affordable Housing Tax Credit until 2031 and Senate Bill 159 creating a $150 million loan program for housing infrastructure, financing and rehabilitation. Were making the largest investment in affordable housing in Colorado state history and I couldnt be more proud, said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, who sponsored SB-159. This once-in-a-generation investment will boost the supply of affordable housing and make an affordable home a reality for so many Coloradans across our state. More notable bills signed also included Senate Bill 180 to spend $28 million on free transit fares during the summer; Senate Bill 134 to spend $4 million on the state fair master plan; House Bill 1153 to create a streamlined adoption process for parents conceiving through assisted reproduction; and, Senate Bill 148 to invest $5 million in a behavioral health facility for Colorados land-based Tribes. Polis also signed the following bills last week: The two Republicans vying for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat squared off at a country music bar on May 21 in their only scheduled debate, held just over two weeks before ballots go into the mail ahead of next month's primary election. 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. Polis vetoed the following: House Bill 1387, sponsored by Reps. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, and Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs; and Sens. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, on homeowners' associations. The bill would have required HOAs to conduct studies of their reserve funds. In his veto letter, Polis wrote that the bill would lead to higher HOA fees at a time when homeowners are already dealing with higher costs in other areas. "Smaller communities especially could face significant fee increases and administrative burdens," Polis wrote. There were parts of the bill he liked, the governor wrote, such as its focus on more disclosures on shared components of an HOA for buyers and new governing boards, which he said would not drive up HOA fees. And developers should provide the most detailed information possible when a development is being turned over to a new association, for example. He encouraged the sponsors to try a bill addressing those issues next year. The second Polis veto was HB 1221, another Fields bill co-sponsored with Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Aurora, and which dealt with county coroners and mortuaries. The bill would have set up a county coroner and mortuary mental health and wellness program in the newly created Behavioral Health Administration and in funeral homes or coroner's offices that do not already provide health insurance to their employees. Polis wrote that he disagreed with establishing a mental health program in the BHA for one particular profession. The BHA already has a heavy workload, Polis indicated, and requiring the BHA to set up a mental health program for one group of professionals would not establish a positive precedent. The third bill vetoed by the governor was to create a deceptive-trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act if a person without an active music therapist board-certified credential from the Certification Board of Music Therapists claims to be a music therapist. It was the bill's creation of a criminal penalty, a Class 2 misdemeanor for claiming to be a music therapist without the credential, that drew the governor's disapproval. House Bill 1399 was sponsored by Sen. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, and Reps. David Ortiz, D-Centennial, and Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. Music therapy is the "clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program." Music therapists work in hospice situations, with children with developmental or intellectual disabilities, including on the autism spectrum; with adults with mental health disorders, those with dementia or who have suffered strokes; or as part of physical or mental rehabilitation from certain injuries, including severe burns. To be a music therapist, practitioners must complete at least a bachelor's degree in the field from an accredited college or university. Once the degree is obtained, the next step is board certification. The bill required the title to be allowed only for music therapists with board certification, which is a national requirement in the profession. However, music therapists have never been licensed by the state of Colorado. Polis wrote that the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice should have been consulted on the criminal penalties for HB 1399, or that civil penalties might be more appropriate. Polis also noted that the Department of Regulatory Agencies has done two sunrise reviews of music therapy, most recently in 2019, which said the profession did not need state regulation. EXCLUSIVE Records located on a copy of Hunter Biden's laptop suggest he took personal data from his sister-in-law's cellphones over a dozen times between 2017 and 2018 without her consent, according to a former Secret Service agent who has testified in over 100 classified, criminal, and civil matters at the state, federal, and international level as a cyberforensics expert. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn introduced legislation Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at protecting service academy students such as those in the Air Force Academy from punishment for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. I am deeply concerned about the decisions being made at the Pentagon that would penalize cadets for choosing not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Colorado Springs Republican said in a press release. They are even considering asking them to pay back hundreds of thousands in tuition. For cadets and midshipmen who haven't been vaccinated against COVID-19, the press release says the Defending Freedom of Conscience for Cadets and Midshipmen Act would clarify that they can't be denied graduation, can't be dismissed from service, and can't be subject to repayment claims due to their vaccination status. These young men and women made the patriotic and selfless decision to apply themselves academically and serve their nation at one of our U.S. service academies," Lamborn said in the release. "I wont stop fighting to protect those who protect us. On Wednesday, three Air Force Academy seniors who were denied religious waivers from the military mandate requiring the COVID-19 vaccine were allowed to graduate but not allowed to participate in the school's commencement ceremony. The school issued a statement that the three cadets won't be commissioned in the Air Force until they receive the vaccine. There also is discussion of the three students being forced to return over $200,000 in tuition fees, but the Air Force Academy stated that is a decision that will be made by the secretary of the Air Force. Two of the three cadets watched the ceremony from the bleachers at Falcon Stadium on Wednesday, while the third chose not to attend. A fourth unvaccinated cadet submitted their resignation to the Air Force Academy. Eleven House members are co-sponsors of the legislation along with Lamborn. U.S Sen. Marco Rubio introduced companion legislation on the issue earlier this week. Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Hunter Biden bought and used burner phone applications from the Apple app store from 2014 through 2018, records on a copy of his abandoned laptop obtained by the Washington Examiner show. A male student expelled by the University of Denver for sexual misconduct may sue the school for its alleged failure to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, the state's second-highest court ruled on Thursday. "John Doe," as the student is identified in court documents, claimed that DU investigators refused to interview his witnesses, did not question his accuser's motivations, and overlooked inconsistencies in the alleged victim's statements. Because the university's procedures at the time promised that sexual misconduct investigations would be "thorough, impartial and fair," Doe sued the school for breach of contract after believing its investigation into his case failed to live up to that standard. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals agreed with Doe that DU's representation of its process was specific enough to create an enforceable contract, and that the institution had a duty to use reasonable care when investigating and disciplining Doe. "A determination that a person engaged in nonconsensual sexual contact can potentially destroy the accuseds educational, employment, and other future prospects," wrote Judge Michael H. Berger in the panel's May 26 opinion. "We are hard pressed to find another activity by a private educational institution that can be so devastating and long-lasting in the life of a student." The decision is part of a yearslong trend of accused students, mostly male, challenging their schools' disciplinary decisions in court, alleging the investigatory process was slanted against them or toward accusers. Colorado Politics found at least 69 cases filed in Colorado's federal court between 1991 and 2021 implicating Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. At least 16 of those lawsuits featured claims from accused students known as "respondents" in Title IX investigations alleging their schools operated under faulty or biased procedures. Andrew T. Miltenberg, a New York-based trial lawyer who represents Doe, said his firm has been involved in approximately 1,000 Title IX investigations and has litigated 80 to 100 court cases on the issue, including in Colorado. He applauded the Court of Appeals' decision for recognizing the detrimental effect a wrongful adjudication can have on respondents. "Colorado is progressive in many other aspects of life, but on this, it was becoming one of the worst places in the country to litigate one of these cases on behalf of a respondent," Miltenberg said. "But I'm pleasantly surprised at what appears to be a change in the momentum of this issue." This is the second precedent-setting decision resulting from Doe's expulsion. One year ago, the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit Doe had brought in federal court alleging sex discrimination in violation of Title IX. The 10th Circuit, which hears federal appeals from Colorado and five neighboring states, decided for the first time that specific facts about an investigation combined with general statistics of anti-male bias are sufficient for a jury to evaluate whether a violation occurred. "(W)e agree the universitys investigation and treatment of John raises a plausible inference that it discriminated against John on the basis of his sex," wrote Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, noting that Doe alleged DU failed to take action against a single sexual misconduct complaint brought by men between 2016 and 2018, while investigating all complaints from women during that time. Before the 10th Circuit's decision, Doe filed a lawsuit in state court. While his claims did not focus on anti-male bias, Doe alleged that the university committed breach of contract and negligence and had failed to act in good faith. According to Doe's complaint, he was a first-year student at DU in March 2016 when he and "Jane Roe," a female student, engaged in consensual sexual touching after a night of drinking. There was a dispute, however, about what happened the following morning. In Doe's telling, Roe climbed on top of Doe while naked and they briefly attempted sex. Roe claimed she had woken up to Doe fondling her and he had nonconsensual sex with her. Doe said that Roe had told him shortly after the sexual contact that she had consented to it. But he believed she changed her mind after seeing him talking to another girl at a party. Roe underwent a forensic examination, colloquially known as a "rape kit," and decided to initiate a Title IX investigation in April 2016. The investigation ultimately resulted in Doe's dismissal from the university. According to Doe, there were multiple ways in which the investigation did not adhere to the specific procedures laid out for students, or the overarching promise that an investigation "will be thorough, impartial and fair." For example, investigators "failed to explore Jane Roe's motivation" for filing her report, spoke to only one of Doe's witnesses while interviewing 11 of Roe's, and neglected to explore Roe's inconsistent statements. The investigators also did not have the entirety of Roe's forensic exam, nor did they seek it. In July 2020, then-Denver District Court Judge Morris B. Hoffman dismissed Doe's complaint. He called Doe's claims of an unfair investigation "too vague to be enforceable in contract." Hoffman acknowledged that subpar Title IX investigations could result in the expulsion or stigmatization of an innocent party, but they also "risk being wrong in the other direction resulting in guilty sexual predators being wrongfully vindicated, to the distress of their victims and the posing of continuing risks to other students." On appeal, DU argued that Doe had the opportunity to identify witnesses, tell his side of the story, and provide input on the investigators' preliminary findings. It would be "impossible," the school added, for a court to evaluate the meaning of a fair Title IX investigation. Michael J. Mirabella, an attorney for Doe, believed the Court of Appeals could rely on the 10th Circuit's findings of a plausibly unfair Title IX investigation when considering Doe's breach-of-contract case. "When you've got an investigation that ignores witnesses, that ignores third-party objective evidence, that ignores the inconsistent statements of the complaining witness, that's not unbiased and that's not fair," he said during oral arguments. Judge Sueanna P. Johnson observed that courts have reached different conclusions about whether a university's commitment to fairness in materials provided to students is legally enforceable. "How do we deal with the contention," she asked, "that the university is claiming that the concept of fairness is too indefinite and vague to be enforceable in contract, and yet the university goes to lengths in its briefing to explain how the investigation against John Doe was fair here? It seems like there is an understanding that there is a concept of what is fair and what is not." The panel concluded there was a genuine dispute for a jury over whether DU abided by its contractual obligation to provide a "thorough, impartial and fair" investigation. The appellate judges also found the university had a duty to adopt and implement fair procedures in light of the heavy consequences a student in Doe's position faces. "We acknowledge that the purpose of the investigation can also be for the benefit of either DU or Jane (or both). But the burden and detriment of an unfair investigation and adjudication is borne almost entirely by John," Berger wrote. Miltenberg said that public institutions, which DU is not, may be the subject of a similar appeal in the future. He added that while schools may try to revise their policies to do away with any appearance of a contractual obligation, there could still be a requirement of "good faith and fair dealing." "It's a subjective standard, not just in Colorado but all over," he acknowledged, adding, "I'd like to think that this marks a real change in the way that state courts and other federal courts and other circuits will look at this issue." The University of Denver, though a spokesperson, declined to comment. A jury trial in Doe's federal Title IX case is set to begin in January 2023. Colorado is one of only seven states that could have a legislative chamber shift from one political party to the other in the upcoming November 2022 general elections. Democrats now control the Colorado Senate, with 20 senators to 15 Republicans. A shift of just three seats from Democratic to Republican in next falls elections would give the Republicans an 18-17 vote majority. According to Louis Jacobson, an analyst at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, party control of legislative chambers tends not to change much from election to election. That Colorado has a Senate capable of being won by either political party in the 2022 elections is an exception. Other states that will have a legislative chamber up for grabs are Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Oregon. Left out of these calculations is Nebraska, which has a unicameral legislature (one house rather than two) and is nonpartisan (Democratic and Republican identifications are not used). The University of Virginia study identified Colorado as one of 17 states in which both the Senate and House are controlled by the Democratic Party. This compares to 29 states, almost twice as many, where both houses are controlled by Republicans. In only three states Alaska, Minnesota and Virginia is party control of the legislature divided, with Democrats controlling one house and Republicans the other. If Republicans win control of the Colorado Senate in the general election this November, Colorado will join this small group of states. That 46 of the 49 states with bicameral legislatures have both houses under the control of one political party might be considered by some people as an undemocratic aspect of government in the United States. The presidency and control of Congress tend to shift back and forth between the two major parties as public opinion shifts from one to the other. Governorships also change party identification with some regularity. Mostly Republican Kansas has a Democratic governor. Meanwhile, often Democratic Virginia just elected a Republican governor. Legislatures, however, seem to be largely immune from reflecting these short-term partisan shifts. Gerrymandering of state legislative districts to guarantee voting control by one party over the other is credited with some of this rigid partisan control. Those in charge of state redistricting tend to draw district lines that put one political party in power in both houses. Only a national wave election in favor of either the Democrats or the Republicans can break that partisan grip. Much can be learned about national voting behavior by studying the large number of states that have both legislative chambers firmly in the grip of one party. In the case of the Democratic Party, the two-house states are concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic, New England and West Coast states. Between the East Coast and the West Coast, there are only four states with Democrats in control of both chambers: Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado. We think it is noteworthy that Colorado is one of only four states between the coasts that have both legislative houses run by Democrats. It confirms a long-held theory of ours that Colorado votes more like a high-income, urbanized and well-educated East Coast or West Coast state rather our close-by Rocky Mountain and Midwestern states. The 29 states that have both legislative chambers in Republican control literally fill the middle of America the so-called flyover country. Legislatures in the Mountain West, the High Plains states, the entire South and the Midwest are solidly in the grip of the GOP. It is in these states that the rural and small-town political preferences of the Republican Party are most strongly represented and encourage strong political control at the state legislative level. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Roe v. Wade decision this June and return jurisdiction over abortion to the individual states, we can expect the two-house Democratic states to legalize abortion, as Colorado Democrats have done. Meanwhile, the two-house Republican states will predictably limit abortion in many ways, as Texas and Oklahoma have. Legislatures controlled by one political party are not what the Founders of our constitutional democracy had in mind. Their writings indicate they hoped the legislatures, particularly the state houses of representatives, would become the home of the popular views of the average citizenry. Sadly, because of gerrymandering, our legislatures are now resistant to the popular will and remain firmly in the grip of their dominant political parties. Political scientists at the University of Virginia rank Colorado as one of just seven states that could have a legislative chamber shift in party allegiance this fall. Both political parties will invest a lot of money and encourage lots of volunteer activity in the key races for Colorado Senate seats. It could be an electoral battle royal. About 3.4% of WWII veterans are still alive in the United States today. As that number continues to decline with each year, sharing the stories of those who served becomes increasingly important. Karl Zimmerman, best-known today for his handmade wooden pens he gives to the community and politicians, is one WWII veteran residing in Mason City today. Zimmerman went to Iowa State college shortly after graduating high school at 16 years old. He only went to college for one year, and was in ROTC with the Army as well. Zimmerman didn't like the Army. His father fought in the Navy in WWI, shoveling coal for naval ships. Wanting to follow in his footsteps, Zimmerman was able to get his parents to reluctantly sign his papers to join the Navy at 17 years old. From there, Zimmerman went to boot camp at the Great Lakes in Michigan for six weeks. The bootcamp trained people as firemen and seamen. Zimmerman was trained on diesel and steam engines. While Zimmerman was on the naval base, he remembered an outbreak of scarlet fever. Back then penicillin hadn't been invented yet, and the pills all the men were given to help combat the illness ended up causing water blisters on many of the men. Zimmerman stayed healthy though. He remembered taking the same pills when he had gotten sick a while back, and doctors told him to be careful with the medicine, as it was hard on the kidneys and required a lot of water. The men on base hadn't been told that though, and were taking the pills for days. Zimmerman had started tossing the pills after the first few days, and when everybody around him started getting sick from the medicine, he was spared. "There was a store room packed with thousands of dollars worth of pills that were useless" he remembered. After training, Zimmerman was sent to San Francisco to board the ship he'd call home until the end of WWII. "The ships were all steam, superheated steam. So hot you can't even see it, and you don't want to run your hand along the pipes to check for leaks because it could cut your fingers clean off." Zimmerman remembered his time on the ship. Zimmerman was stationed on a landing ship tank, or LST. His was either the first or second ever made. It wasn't meant to last but a few battles, but this ship had been in major beachheads in Africa, spent time in the England harbor and Normandy. This was all before Zimmerman boarded, as it was sent back to the US after a bomb had damaged the ship. When Zimmerman boarded, the ship made its way to the Pacific. Zimmerman remembered how thin the ship was, just half-inch steel holding it together. He said it was thin enough that it didn't stop bullets, and remembered leaks in the seams that had to be welded shut. During Zimmerman's time on the LST, they traveled to New Caledonia to pick up supplies. Then the ship traveled to an atoll in the pacific, a coral reef which created a natural barrier against enemies. They'd stay there for a while, Zimmerman working with the engine, preparing for an invasion on Japan. "A cruise ship would come in every three days and we'd get a case of beer. They treated us good before the slaughter" Zimmerman joked. But Zimmerman never saw action. The entire crew had been there, waiting, when the atomic bomb was dropped. "We didn't know what it was going to be. They said they had an atomic bomb and saved us. They figured they'd lose a million of us without it." Zimmerman said. Karl Zimmerman went home after that, making his way back through the Pacific and home to Iowa, eventually settling by Aredale to become a farmer and craftsman. Today, Karl Zimmerman shares his stories, crafts handmade wood pens and spends time with his friends and family. He'll be making a trip to Hawaii soon to reunite with the surviving crew members he became friends with during his service. The first time he saw Hawaii was on his way home from WWII. "I never did fly first class. I figured I've got to this time." 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 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy MADISON Small towns produced tight weave back in the 1950s when it came to friendship. "Most of us at Madison High School had been in the same class for 12 years and we were neighbors, and in those days in Madison, it was a family,'' said Bill Reynolds, a 1952 graduate of Madison High who is helping organize a June 10 multiclass reunion here. "Whatever you did in town, your parents were going to know about it before you go home,'' said Reynolds, who moved away from his hometown after graduation and spent his career with Dupont between Virginia, Europe and Delaware. As his own class of 40 diminishes, Reynolds, class president in '52, and fellow classmates hope to round up all folks who attended or graduated from the Decatur Street school, no matter what the year. The red brick two-story high school now serves as housing for senior citizens. "The high school is going to disappear from history and we want to go out with a bang,'' said Reynolds, who delivered newspapers by bicycle and enjoyed cowboy movie matinees at the old Patovi theater with his buddies during the late 40s and early 50s. It's been a long time since Reynolds has seen the old landmarks that defined his early life, he said. And he and his wife, Lee, will travel from their New Jersey home to North Carolina in hopes of covering a lot of old territory. Just before he left for University of Richmond to study economics in 1952, "I remember talking to my mother sitting on the porch. She said: 'There's only one thing I regret. This will never be home to you again.' But Madison will always be home to me,'' Reynolds said. The informal lunch reunion will be held at the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant in Mid-Town Shopping Center in Madison at 11 a.m. We will ask if anyone would like to share a story, but theres not a planned program, per se, said fellow 1952 MHS grad Pat Vaughn of Madison, noting guests are encouraged to bring their spouses, yearbooks and mementos theyd like to share. To R.S.V.P., call Vaughn at (336) 427-4133. Contact Susie C. Spear at sspear@rockinghamnow.com, (336) 349-4331, ext. 6140 and follow @SpearSusie_RCN on Twitter. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. GREENSBORO UNCG serves more than 1,300 military-affiliated students a number that includes service members, veterans, and their dependents. To celebrate Military Appreciation Month, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Bob Shea, a veteran, had a conversation with Daysha Evans, an active service member serving in the U.S. Navy and a public health education student at UNCG. Shea retired in 2007 after 25 years in the U.S Navy as an aviator with the rank of captain. Evans, a Raleigh native, has been in the Navy for seven years, serving in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Lemoore, California; Naples, Italy; and now, Bahrain. Shea: How long have you been in Bahrain? How are you adjusting to the weather? I know its hot as can be over there. Evans: Ive only been here for two months, so Im pretty new here. It is pretty hot the sun beams down making it 90 degrees as early as 6 a.m. Shea: Yeah, Bahrain is headquarters to what the Navy calls Fifth Fleet. So all of the Navy operations in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf report there, making it a very important geopolitical region for the United States and the Navy. How long is your tour? Evans: Eighteen months. Shea: And whats your rating or specialty? Evans: I am a yeoman first class petty officer, YN1 for short. My job entails all things administration, drafting letters, legal documents, travel arrangements, planning events such as retirements, Naval ceremonies and more. However, when I joined the Navy, I was an undesignated airman. I was attached to VFA-136 during this time where I worked in the line shack as a plane captain for a short time. Shea: Ah, yes, thats an F/A-18 squadron. How is your experience here at UNCG helping you in your naval career or vice versa? Evans: My major is public health education, it doesnt directly relate to what Im doing in my current job, its what I want to pursue once I get out of the Navy, and the skills that Im building during my time are setting myself up for a successful career once I do decide to depart. What drew you to the Navy? Shea: A lot of different things. When I was 7, my dad took me to the Boston Harbor when the John F. Kennedy carrier made its inaugural cruise, and I was very intrigued by that. I thought, Hey, I think thats something I would like to do. And then when I got into high school, I realized that service was important to me. And probably close to the top of the list of reasons was that it was a way for me to pay for college. I came from a working-class family. So I was on my own to pay for college. So the Navy helping to pay for college and for your ROTC scholarship was very appealing to me. Initially, I thought I would do my minimum obligated service, and then I would leave. But I ended up liking it so much that I stayed for 25 years. Its hard to believe, but my wife and I did it one tour at a time. I started out driving ships, and then I went to flight school. I got married shortly after I got my wings, and then it became a joint decision. With my wife and I, we loved moving around the country. We moved 12 times over the course of my 25 years in the Navy. Like you, I was deployed all over the world the only place I havent been is Australia. So it was a combination of service, idealism, and pragmatism a way to have college paid for. And I think, to a large extent, thats what motivates people to serve today. Its that combination of service and the fact that the Navy and the military in a broader sense invest in their people with tuition assistance, the GI Bill, and giving people the time to pursue a higher education while theyre on active duty like yourself, Daysha. Evans: You said you drove ships. Did you come into the Navy as a QM, a quartermaster (the person at the helm)? Shea: No, I came in as a surface warfare officer. I got commissioned as an ensign (O-1) right out of college and then retired 25 years later. I started out as a SWO I did that on two ships. Then I became an aviator, and flew P-3s, and had command of a P-3 squadron. Then, the Navy sent me to business school, and I became a budget person at the Pentagon. Thats what led to my second career in higher education. I was on the faculty at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, when I retired from the Navy. I transitioned into higher education within administration and finance but the Navy laid the groundwork for all of that. Evans: Sounds like an interesting career. What would you say are the best character traits you develop whilst serving that have been beneficial in the civilian world? Shea: People always tell me, Boy, the military and higher education seem so different. And I guess to outsiders, it might appear that way. But theyre really not. Think about whats at the core of what UNCG does, and what is at the core of what the Navy or any military service does. They take a young adult from disparate locations around the state and the country from all different kinds of socioeconomic groups, and they give them training and education. And its an opportunity for that individual to grow and accept that challenge, opportunity, and responsibility and blossom into productive citizens. So there are a lot of similarities. The character traits, I think, that everybody in the Navy and across the military is inculcated with is that we all go through that formative time earlier in our careers during boot camp. That was a shock when you got off that bus, right? And what do they do? They tear everybody down, right? They take away all your individuality, and they build you back together as a team. They foster hard work, teamwork, patriotism, and integrity. And that is the Navys core values honor, courage, and commitment. And those are qualities I still hold today as a finance leader at UNCG. If my credibility is damaged, my value to the chancellor is not very high. So I always have to operate with transparency and tell the truth. Evans: Can you share some of your fondest memories or stories from the time you served? Shea: My biggest takeaway from my time in the Navy was the relationships I fostered. I still have those relationships today. My longest and best friends are three guys that I served with in my first squadron, VP-45. We remain friends to this day, and our wives have become great friends, and our kids have become great friends. Im still in touch via Facebook with my command master chief when I was a training officer in VP-66 and my senior chiefs. A story I will share with you is when I was deployed and my oldest son was born. The commanding officer wouldnt let me leave. So I missed the birth of my eldest son, but the executive officer called me and another guy whose wife was due around the same time as mine and said, Im sending you home today. And to me, that was a sign of real leadership and taking care of your people. He never told me this, but Im sure he got ripped by the commanding officer. But you talk about an organization of 400 people who saw that act, and said, That guys a real leader. And we were near the end of deployment anyway, so the fact that he let us go home a couple of days early, really had no impact on the mission. But boy, it did have a great impact on morale. Daysha, how much more time do you have in the military and how many more credits do you have left until you get your UNCG degree? Evans: At UNCG, I have six more classes remaining, I am scheduled to graduate May of 2024. In the military, my current contract takes me up to 2025, but I intend to reenlist for another term. What advice would you give a student looking to pursue a military career? Shea: Thats a great question, and its something that Im passionate about. Im the chair of our local congresswomans service academy selection panel. Thats one way I give back to the community by allowing kids here from the North Carolina sixth congressional district to have the opportunities to go to Annapolis or West Point or the Air Force Academy. I think a solution to all the partisanship in our nation is to have people serve in the military serve an organization thats greater than individual goals. It was my experience in the military that we were one big team it didnt matter who you were or where you came from. The thing that mattered was the mission, and people came together to achieve that mission. The military isnt perfect, but its an organization that brings people of diverse backgrounds together and forges them into a team. One of the great things about the military is that you cant be political and it brings people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives together. Its a great melting pot and way to bring people together. I think thats the real benefit of serving in the military. And if you dont want to be in the military, you can join the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps. I believe giving back and serving the nation is great for citizenship and for our democracy. GREENSBORO A previously secret list kept by Southern Baptist leaders of suspected abusers within the largest gathering of Baptists in the country includes a Guilford County pastor who started a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy seeking spiritual guidance after the death of a friend. Two more on the list have connections to Guilford County. Among the North Carolina names on the list are former pastors in Rockingham and Alamance counties. In some cases, it is unclear if all victims attended the same church as the alleged offender or if the abuse was uncovered before any criminal charges. Still, researchers with Guidepost Solutions, the private investigative firm that conducted the sexual abuse study of the group, make the point that abusers were protected while making their congregations vulnerable to exploitation. Some of the names in the database previously appeared on a list compiled by two Texas newspapers. Concerned Southern Baptists made phone calls, sent emails and appeared at meetings to report child molesters and other abusers who were in the pulpit or employed as church staff for decades, according to the report, only to be met with resistance and outright hostility. August Boto, the groups former general counsel, and former SBC spokesperson Roger Oldham, who both retired in 2019, kept the list of abusive ministers that formed the basis of the database. It includes the full name of the alleged abuser and the year reported. In the Guidepost report, researchers say, Despite collecting these reports for more than 10 years, there is no indication that (Oldham and Boto) or anyone else, took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches. As members became more vocal a task force was set up to investigate the allegations. During their investigation, a pastor and his wife came forward to report that a former SBC president had sexually assaulted the wife in 2010. Its not so surprising that it went on, but that it systematically went on with leaders protecting the abusers, said Bill Leonard, a Baptist historian and the founding dean and professor of emeritus at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. I think the document itself is a terrible indictment of Southern Baptist leadership. Among those on the list is Todd Turner Brock, now 57, a former pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in High Point, who was accused of having sex with the 17-year-old boy who had come to him for spiritual guidance after a friends death from cancer. When the boys mother found out, she went to police and he was later charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, dissemination of obscenity, promoting prostitution of a minor and solicitation of another to commit a felony, according to News & Record reporting at the time. In 2007, Brock was given a year in prison and served about six months. Brock, now a registered sex offender, had no prior criminal record and had been the churchs pastor for 17 years, police said at the time. The list also includes Guy Ellis Carr, Jr., 79, once a prominent businessman and deacon at Emerywood Baptist Church in High Point, who was indicted on 32 counts of sex crimes against children in 2008, including statutory rape. Carr was charged with 13 counts of taking indecent liberties with children, 13 counts of crimes against nature, three counts of first-degree statutory rape and three counts of first-degree sexual offense. People in High Point who knew Carr were reluctant to talk about the charges against him at the time but they described him as a family man active in the community. Convicted of charges ranging from 1976 to 1979 in December 2009, he was released in June 2013. Church members stressed at the time that Carr had no part in the childrens ministry or any role with children at the church. The results of the study are being likened to the Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal that revealed widespread crimes. Unlike parishes in the Catholic Church, Baptist churches choose to be affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and retain autonomy over hiring pastors. But they also must abide by convention policies and rules. Most of the local cases in the database are decades old and it appears via church websites that those named are no longer affiliated with those congregations, at least not in leadership roles. A more recent case in the database involves a former Ruffin pastor and private school principal who pleaded guilty in 2018 to performing sex acts and sending nude pictures to a minor female student who was also a member of his congregation, according to News & Record reporting at the time. Kevin Scott Heffner, the former pastor of Victory Baptist Church and former principal of the Victory Academy in Ruffin, was sentenced to a minimum 25 years in prison after being found guilty of various sex offense charges. What I did is heinous and monstrous, but I didnt mean to do it, Heffner said as he read from a handwritten statement. What Ive done sickens me. Im just pleading for mercy. Before reading the sentence, the judge told Heffner he found it baffling that as a father of children ages 18, 20 and 21, Heffner would have abused another child, knowing the trauma it would cause. Some others on the list were connected to Guilford County simply by their victims. Thomas Lee Elliott, a Sampson County youth pastor, was arrested in 2010 on his way to meet a detective posing online as an underage girl from Greensboro. Elliott, 51, had spent months communicating online with a girl he met in a chatroom and was arrested when he reached the city, according to police. He was later convicted of soliciting a child by computer and attempting indecent liberties with a child and given probation. In Alamance County, church pastor James Preston Tyndall was charged with eight felony convictions with his youngest victim just 7 years old. He is now a registered sex offender. Tyndall was pastor of Kinnett Memorial Baptist Church in Burlington during the time the girl was assaulted in 1994 and 1995, according to prosecutors at his 2000 trial. Some of the details in the database are different than actual local reporting at the time, such as the age of the youngest victim. The database lists her as 6 and lists his church as being in Danville, Va. According to News & Record reporting at the time, he and his wife would pick up the girl from the Masonic Home Orphanage on weekends and bring her to the couples home. While his wife was away, according to the Alamance County District Attorneys Office at the time, Tyndall would dress the girl like a woman while he performed sex acts on her. He also had the girl perform sex acts on him while he took pictures. Tyndall, 70, served 16 years in prison before his release in 2016. Leonard, the Baptist historian, has been a frequent critic of the conservative-leaning group, which in the past expelled churches from its association for ordaining women ministers or performing gay marriages. They wanted to claim this moral high ground, Leonard said of the group. The report indicates that they apparently found a way to excuse the behavior in the good old boys who were part of their ministerial coalition. Leonard says he is surprised with the early response before the groups upcoming meeting in early June in Anaheim, Calif. It appears to me that this report is so devastating that theres been no effort to try to defend against it or diminish its meaning and Im very impressed with that, Leonard said. I think it is so graphic that the membership and the moral leaders of the denomination, the real moral leaders, have realized how serious this is and it must be dealt with. Thats a much stronger immediate response than I imagined would be possible. What remains to be seen is what the messengers to the convention will say and do about it officially by their votes. Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 336-373-7049 and follow @nmclaughlinNR on Twitter. 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. Data used by state health officials to monitor the spread of COVID-19 shows the highly contagious virus is slowly ramping up its presence across North Carolina. The state had 27,636 newly reported cases during the week ending May 21 up from 23,807 the previous week, according to a report released Wednesday by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. In Guilford County, public health officials reported 269 new cases on Friday for a total of 3,393 active cases and no new deaths. Guilford Countys COVID-19 community level spread remains low, but Alamance and Forsyth counties are now at medium, according to metrics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Cone Health hospitals on Friday, 41 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 23 are unvaccinated and 18 are fully vaccinated. That compares to a high this year of 335 patients with COVID-19 in Cone Health hospitals on Jan. 26 during the surge of the omicron variant. Statewide, 636 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals the week ending May 21, compared to 524 patients the previous week. The high this year was 4,285 COVID-19 patients admitted the week ending Jan. 29. The percentage of all emergency room visits statewide for patients with COVID-19 symptoms remains at 4%, according to the DHHS report. Another metric that health experts are watching closely is the number of COVID-19 virus particles found in wastewater, which has been shown to be an early indicator of how quickly the virus may spread without relying on individual test results. In the states latest report, 19 million coronavirus particles were found in wastewater samples last week up from 13.7 million the week prior. To put that into context, 100 million COVID-19 particles were found in wastewater samples in late January during the peak of the omicron surge. Today's highlight: On May 28, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, made up of freed Black people, left Boston to fight for the Union in the Civil War. On May 28: In 1892, the Sierra Club was organized in San Francisco. In 1918, American troops fought their first major battle during World War I as they launched an offensive against the German-held French village of Cantigny; the Americans succeeded in capturing the village. In 1934, the Dionne quintuplets Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne were born to Elzire Dionne at the family farm in Ontario, Canada. In 1937, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of Britain. In 1940, during World War II, the Belgian army surrendered to invading German forces. In 1959, the U.S. Army launched Able, a rhesus monkey, and Baker, a squirrel monkey, aboard a Jupiter missile for a suborbital flight which both primates survived. In 1964, the charter of the Palestine Liberation Organization was issued at the start of a meeting of the Palestine National Congress in Jerusalem. In 1972, Edward, the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the English throne to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson, died in Paris at age 77. In 1977, 165 people were killed when fire raced through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky. In 1987, to the embarrassment of Soviet officials, Mathias Rust, a young West German pilot, landed a private plane in Moscow's Red Square without authorization. (Rust was freed by the Soviets the following year.) In 1998, comic actor Phil Hartman of "Saturday Night Live" and "NewsRadio" fame was shot to death at his home in Encino, California, by his wife, Brynn, who then killed herself. In 2012, President Barack Obama paid tribute on Memorial Day to the men and women who died defending America; speaking at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, Obama pointed to Vietnam veterans as an under-appreciated and sometimes maligned group of war heroes. In 2017, A series of shootings in rural Mississippi claimed the lives of eight people, including a sheriff's deputy. (Willie Cory Godbolt was convicted in the killings and sentenced to death.) Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 to give owner Michael Andretti a second consecutive victory. Angelique Kerber became the first women's No. 1 seed to be defeated in the French Open's first round in the Open era, losing 6-2, 6-2 to 40th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. In 2020, people torched a Minneapolis police station that the department was forced to abandon amid spreading protests over the death of George Floyd. Protesters in New York defied a coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings, clashing with police; demonstrators blocked traffic and smashed vehicles in downtown Denver before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. At least seven people were shot as gunfire erupted during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March. In 2021, Officials announced that the remains of more than 200 children, some as young as 3 years old, had been found buried on the site of what was once Canada's largest indigenous residential school. (Unidentified remains would also be found in unmarked graves at other residential schools across Canada.) Senate Republicans blocked creation of an independent, bipartisan panel to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, displaying continuing party loyalty to former President Donald Trump; the vote meant that questions about who should bear responsibility for the attack would continue to be handled by congressional committees. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said kids at summer camps could skip wearing masks outdoors, with some exceptions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR At just 16, Jamere Singleton has already felt the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. My cousin was murdered a few months ago, he said. Its been a hard time to cope. Everything is still fresh. Shemilah Outreach Center, a local youth organization which includes Singleton and several of his peers, organized a peace march to address the violence and the worries of the community. The Stop the Violence Youth Peace March made its way down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from Hess Park to the Decatur Civic Center on Saturday afternoon. Singleton said he hoped the event would bring attention to their concerns. We just want to bring awareness to everybody, he said. Singleton found the outreach center as a place to find peace, even before tragedy hit his family. Its a good program, he said. There is a lot of gun violence going on. Its something that can help prevent it and bring awareness. After the marchers arrived at their destination, community members and leaders spoke about the importance of reaching the youth and working together. Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe addressed safety in the city. We are all committed to trying to support our police, to support our organizations, to help find a future in this community, she said. According to Deloyde Sanders, president of Shemilah Outreach Center, the youth as well as the adults are ready for a change. We are tired of the violence, he said. The youth thats been coming to the center were asking, Can we put something together, such as this peace march, to bring awareness. Plans to organize the march began nearly six months ago, according to Sanders, before the deaths of 19 children and two teachers this past week in a Texas elementary school. The leaders of the outreach center often encourage the youth to speak up. The youth, not just the businesses, but the youth are tired of the violence, Sanders said. Sanders organized a similar march in 2021. I want to make an event like this every year, right before the summer kicks off, he said. But our community has to come out and make a change. This is a movement. His daughter Shemilah Sanders, 22, died June 9, 2020, after she had been shot in the head a few nights before while trying to flee from a crowd involved in an argument near the underpass on East Garfield Avenue. Along with youth from the Shemilah Outreach Center, the two-mile march included members of the Boys and Girls Club, political officials, and other community groups and members. This is just the beginning of something great, Shemuel Sanders said. Local law enforcement and religious leaders were called upon, as well as admired for, their work in the community and with the youth. However, Devon Joyner, executive director of Old Kings Orchard, offered a call to action. We have a responsibility to be held accountable for what we do, he said. It starts at home. Terrence Tat Taylor discussed his upbringing in Decatur and the adults who had faith in him. Young people, know that you have values, he said. You have a voice. As a Democratic candidate for Illinois' 13th congressional district, David Palmer said he remembers attending similar events as a child. I would not be having a good time, he said. But Im telling you, they want to empower you. They want you to have the life you deserve. Illinois Sen. Doris Turner pointed out the marchers and the diversity of the crowd. This is what our community looks like. This is the partnership that were going to need if were going to make a difference in our community, she said. The walk is not over. Everybody has a role to play. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR 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. DECATUR Owning her own home has been a blessing for Decatur resident Ashley Johnson. Its definitely been a process, she said. But its one of those situations where you can be comfortable in your own home. Johnson is the latest recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home. She and her three children moved into their West Wood Street home in April. On Saturday, members of the community and Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff gathered as the home was blessed by the Rev. Keith Ferrell of Heartland Community Church. Habitat for Humanity is a faith-based organization, said Sharon Samuelson, president of the board of directors. Our mission is to help the community, she said. And this is a blessing to the person receiving the home. According to Ed Smith, executive director for Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity, the home project began with a Dennis school project that raised approximately $30,000. MacArthur High School and Eisenhower High School vocational building classes finished the house. We were lucky enough to find Ashley, who is also an employee of (Decatur Public Schools) District 61, Smith said. Ashley completes our circle for us. Johnson, 34, previously rented a home and also lived with her mother and her childrens father. Her new house has four bedrooms and two baths. According to the organization, it is the only two-story Habitat for Humanity home in Decatur. The process of finishing the home had several setbacks, but the family is now in their home. The biggest thing is having enough space for everybody, Johnson said. Kayleigh Jackson, 15, and her brothers Jaylin Jackson, 16, and Kyrie Jackson, 10, helped add the decor of the house, including the backsplash in the kitchen. They were also able to decorate their rooms to their own likings. Habitat for Humanity requires new homeowners to provide "sweat equity" for their houses. A lot of the foundation was already done, so we helped with painting and put in the blinds and the door knobs, Johnson said. We definitely put in the work. Johnson now pays the mortgage, rent, utilities, upkeep and insurance for the house. But if my daughter decides she wants hot pink walls, I could do hot pink walls, she said. Not that I would let her do hot pink walls. Owning her own home was a dream of Johnsons, she said. But getting to build your house, its something you want to keep for a while, she said. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 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. BURR RIDGE You can thank Pleasantdale Middle School fifth graders for making sure Illinois had an official state rock. And you can also thank them for making sure coal was not chosen for said state rock. Yes, coal was in the running, according to now sixth grader Matej Naunov. One of our main reasons as to why coal was dropped was because you get coal on Christmas when youre not good, he said matter-of-factly. Pleasantdale teacher Jennifer Lauermanns former students sat in the schools music room recently, remembering their advocacy efforts to get a bill on Gov. J.B. Pritzkers desk designating a state rock, a goal they achieved as a group during the pandemic. The youths are now waiting for Pritzkers signature to make dolostone the official rock of the state of Illinois. Dolostone, one of the most common rocks in Illinois, provides valuable nutrients to the soil. Its also a great building resource and comprises most of the bedrock of northern Illinois. Per student research, dolostone was the cause of a major mineral rush in Galena, Illinois, in the early 1800s, the site of one of the first large geologic expeditions in the nation. What started as a geology unit in Lauermanns fifth-grade science class grew into a movement of sorts that spanned the entire Burr Ridge school, other school districts, geology professors, gem clubs, rock enthusiasts/collectors and geologists. And to think it all started years ago, when Lauermann said she had students wanting to name a state spider. But that fizzled. It was because of that group years ago, that made me really look at our state symbols, Lauermann said. Then during the 2020-21 school year, her fifth graders started talking about symbols and discovered Illinois didnt have a rock. That got the group of 26 students thinking and researching. During their work, the group interviewed people who work in the field and sent out emails to local geology experts. Lauermann said the students welcomed their input because they didnt want to choose the rock without the advice of experts. Lauermann said the selected rocks had to represent Illinois, which meant its easily found in Illinois. And a lot of people use it, said student Stephan Nikolic. The class started with 10 rocks and ultimately got it down to the final three limestone, dolostone and sandstone. The class then split up into three groups representing each rock, and made a case for each one. The campaigning was fierce. Lauermann created a website for the schools endeavor, with details about each rock and a ballot for voting. Students told their parents, parents told friends and so on. Lauermann said the youths wrote 150 letters to state legislators to get any one of them on board with the push for a state rock. Naunov said the act of writing, printing, folding and stuffing envelopes took up some of the fifth graders recess time. Signage was posted throughout the school, urging school staff and students to vote. With a state bird, insect, food, mineral and dance, how could Illinois not have a state rock? While dolostone was the smallest group, Lauermann said, dolostone was the winner with over 1,300 votes (over 50% of the vote) from myriad Illinois locations, including Chicago, Kenilworth, Rockford, Galena and Carbondale. We reached about 400 schools total, Lauermann said. The website had really colorful pictures and an essay to read. I dont really know all the reasons why people voted dolostone, but many of them said they liked the way it looked. They liked that its underneath us, part of our bedrock. And I remember people said they liked dolostone because its in a lot of buildings. Its very historical. Its not a rock that we see everywhere. But it definitely represents Illinois. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove heard about the rock project and brought it to the floor of the House. Weve been told that once it gets signed, well know and well all celebrate that theyre a part of history, Lauermann said. They will have that memory and I will too. Lauermann said the students have already been recognized by the school board and when the state rock is official, she said the district superintendent wants to do some kind of rock monument or plaque. Lauermann added that parents have already expressed their gratitude for the project helping to lift kids up during the pandemic. Pleasantdale Principal Griffin Sonntag said the 19-year Pleasantdale teacher made lemonade out of lemons. Thats the kind of teachers that we have here. Shes one of the best, he said adding, Its great for the kids to see the fruits of their labor. Lauermann agreed. It was all about the research and the diligence, Lauermann said. You had to have a group of kids that really wanted something if they didnt want it, then it wouldnt have happened. This was a very, very diligent, really interested motivated group of students that wanted this to work. Venture into Lauermanns class and you can see her growing rock collection on the wall. Current and former students often will find unique rocks and give them to her an arrowhead that looks like its carved from coal, a crystal from Tasmania and natural copper all sit on her wall. Before the sixth graders left to take part in their current science class, looking at tornadoes by way of leaf blower, they were asked if they were fans of science. Everyone said, not so much, including Jackson Hawbecker. But the students all agreed that Lauermann made science fun. Every year you just try to plant some little seed or interest in these kids, Lauermann said. And last year, we struggled. We came up with some innovative things in the school that tried to reach the kids, and thats what this was. Curious about other state symbols?: Penicillium rubens NRRL 1951 became the official state microbe of the state of Illinois in January 2022. The Illinois General Assembly named fluorite as the state mineral in 1965. Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich made popcorn the states official snack food in 2003. The Tully Monster, named after fossil hunter Francis Tully, was named the states official fossil in 1989. According to a paleontologist, a Tully Monster looks like a worm, a mollusk, an arthropod and a fish altogether. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the pirogue, a type of canoe, into law as the official state artifact. The official state pie: pumpkin, as of 2015. And the official state amphibian, Eastern tiger salamander, and the official state reptile, the painted turtle, both were signed into law in 2005, effective in 2006. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 92F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Residents of the Tri-Cities will have several opportunities to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day weekend. BRISTOL Bristols Fraternal Veterans and Civic Council is hosting a Memorial Day Service at the Cumberland Square Park War Memorial in downtown Bristol Monday at noon. Todd McKinley, 1st District Commander of the Department of Tennessee American Legion, will be a guest speaker. KINGSPORT The Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council will be holding a Memorial Day Ceremony Monday at the Kingsport Veterans Memorial on Fort Henry Drive. Presented by local veterans organizations, the event begins at 10:45 a.m. with music. The program starts at 11 a.m. Col. Eric Vogt, Junior ROTC instructor at Kingsport City Schools, is the keynote speaker. JOHNSON CITY The Johnson City - Washington County Veterans Memorial Foundation is hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Johnson City/Washington County, Tennessee Veterans' Memorial located at 703 West Main St. Monday beginning at 6 p.m. ABINGDON A ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Park in Abingdon, Virginia Monday at 11 a.m. The Master of Ceremonies will be retired U.S. Air Force Col. John L. Bradley III. ELIZABETHTON The Veterans War Memorial Committee of Elizabethton is holding a service Monday at 11 a.m. at the memorial located on the corner of Elk Avenue and Armed Forces Drive. MARION Marions Annual Memorial Day Parade held on Main Street will start at 10 a.m. Monday in front of the towns fire department. A program at VFW Post 4667 will follow. 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. Kaylin Render has dedicated her career to aiding victims of domestic violence and bringing their abusers to justice. An assistant district attorney in Sullivan County and a 2022 YWCA Tribute to Women Award recipient in the Empower category, Render exclusively prosecutes domestic violence cases. I spend a great deal of time trying to ensure [victims] safety and to hold offenders accountable, Render said. Render was hired by the district attorneys office in 2005 as part of a grant for stopping domestic violence. Seventeen years later, her work in that role continues. I really fell in love with this type of law, Render said. I felt like I was doing some good out there in the community. A local community leader, Render works on various domestic violence teams and conducts presentations and trainings on the issue. Everything I do is all about domestic violence, Render said. I spend a great deal of time trying to help victims. A prosecutor of crimes from assault to murder, Render has naturally built relationships with victims over the years. Ive gotten very close with these ladies, and sometimes men, Render said. I understand where they are coming from, and I do my best to try to make sure that they're safe and that they can go on and have productive lives, and that their children can also lead happy lives and not be raised in a home where domestic violence is the norm. A graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, Emory & Henry College and Samford University, Render has had the support of her family the whole way. My parents never told me I couldn't do anything or tried to redirect me in a different direction, Render said. They always had my back, (and) they always believed that I could do whatever I wanted to do. The support from her work family has also been crucial. I kind of feel like it's almost a group award (that) should be acknowledging my office, because we all work together as a team and we all depend on each other and lift each other up, Render said. Ive had a great deal of support throughout my life. ABOUT THE AWARD: Recipients of the YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginias Tribute to Women Award are nominated by area organizations and selected by an independent panel of judges based on leadership abilities, their achievements and positive influence. This is the 31st year of the awards. 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. NEWTON In acknowledgement of the Memorial Day holiday, Carolina Caring veterans, staff members and volunteers gathered at the serious illness providers Salute to Heroes Memorial to honor those who have served our country with pride. Flags were placed around the memorial, representing each veteran Carolina Caring has had the privilege to serve. Were honored and humbled to care for the veterans in our community, says Scott Lofland, vice president of Palliative Care Operations and U.S. Air Force veteran, who led the ceremony. As an organization, we wanted to take this opportunity to recognize those who have sacrificed so much to ensure our safety and freedom. The event began with bagpipes played by Darryl Brown, followed by a presentation of colors and Taps bugle call by the Catawba County Sheriffs Department Honor Guard. Carolina Carings Chaplain Bruce Dayton led everyone in prayerful thanksgiving before ending the ceremony, honoring the veterans who have touched our lives. The Carolina Caring for Veterans hospice and palliative medicine program is proud to be a Level IV partner of We Honor Veterans, a national awareness initiative spearheaded by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information about Carolina Carings veterans program, contact Cindy Stamey, Carolina Carings director of community and veteran relations, at cstamey@carolinacaring.org or by calling 828-466-0466. Carolina Caring, founded in 1979, is an independent, community-based, nonprofit health care provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care and grief counseling. Currently, Carolina Caring serves 12 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte region. For more information about Carolina Caring, call 828-466-0466 or visit www.CarolinaCaring.org. Nine students were celebrated during Catawba Rosenwald Educational Centers 2022 graduation ceremony. Seven of the students chose to get their diplomas during the ceremony at the schools gym Friday afternoon. Two students decided to walk with their peers during high school ceremonies Friday night. Each student at the Catawba Rosenwald ceremony wore a gold cord to symbolize their time at Catawba Rosenwald. Three students received awards during the ceremony. Dalton Wayne Reep was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Sherrills Ford Terrell Rotary Club. JaTavion Omari Thompson received the Belinda Shuford Award from Catawba Rosenwald. (Thompson) continues to work to lead by example, despite his struggles, school counselor Nanette Moss said. When I think of the word resilience, I think of (Thompson) despite his numerous attempts to quit, he never gave up. He made tremendous strides in his life which has blessed him to finish the course. Samuel Alan Jordan received the Austin Linder Award from Catawba Rosenwald. I cant really say enough about (Jordans) work ethic, Catawba Rosenwald teacher Betty Wright said. Holding down jobs and managing his time efficiently as he learns the world of financial responsibility. When reflecting on the times when he made a mistake, (Jordan) would always own up to what he had done and sincerely apologize. As each students name was called, their families stood on the gym bleachers, cheered, clapped and yelled to tell each student how proud they were. After the ceremony, there was a banquet for students, families and staff members. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On the field of Tiger Stadium at Fred T. Foard, a sea of graduates in baby blue gowns celebrated Friday night, marking their next step from high school onward. In the stands of Tiger Stadium, balloons glinted in the remnants of the sunlight and families cheered and waved at their graduates. The ceremony recognized the challenges the graduating class overcame. The majority of their high school years were marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. The adversity students faced due to the pandemic was a theme throughout the ceremony. Principal Stephen Westmoreland related the pandemic to his own trials fighting cancer. His battle and the students battle facing COVID-19 made them more adaptable, he said. Our experiences will equip us for life, he said. I believe you will be better equipped to handle life because of COVID. The school graduated 199 seniors this year. Of those, 79 are headed to a two-year college, 73 to a four-year school, six to the military and 41 are going directly into the workforce, according to information from Catawba County Schools. Dawson Cody, the student speaker, rehashed the students growth from elementary school to middle school to high school. The graduates made it through awkward phases, school dances and a pandemic together. Weve tackled these trying times together and, Class of 2022, we will always be Tigers forever and better together, he said. 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 few of the 26 graduates in the Hickory Career & Arts Magnet High School had clear ideas of what they will be doing once they leave high school behind. Nick Query said he was planning to stay close to home and attend Catawba Valley Community College, studying computer science. Fellow graduate Sage Derr said she was headed to California to study criminology at the University of La Verne as she works toward her goal of becoming a forensic pathologist. But not everyone was so sure. I dont know much about what I want to do, Jillian Sardinas said. So its kind of like, Im here. Im doing it. Im scared. Its a big transition. Not liking it. Sardinas did say she had an interest in the child care field and would be working at a camp over the summer. While there is some anxiety about the future, Fridays graduation ceremony did give Sardinas an opportunity to express her creativity. The design on the top of her cap featured patches of moss attached alongside an assortment of plastic insects. Sardinas said she was going for a forest witch aesthetic in a nod to her love for the fantasy genre. During the ceremony itself, student speaker Mary Langan spoke about the resilience the Class of 2022 showed navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. No one thinks that their lives are going to turn upside down in a day with no warning and stay that way for years, but we have made it through all the trials thrown our way, Langan said. The act of graduating high school is a testament to the hard work and tenacity we all possess because we got through it. Statistics provided by the school system indicated 10 of the graduates would be going into two-year programs, five would be attending a four-year college, two would be joining the military and four would be going into the workforce. Five did not specify their plans. The class received an estimated $312,800 in scholarship money, according to the school system. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. 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. Newton-Conover High School graduates were awash with emotion Friday night. Some were anxious, nervous and stressed. Others were excited, looking forward to the future and ready to leave high school behind. Liddya Monreal gathered with friends, all clad in bright red gowns, before the ceremony on the field of Gurley Stadium. Monreal had a full-time job working in furniture ready for her upon graduation. Her friend, Karale Potter was not so certain of her future she might be a teacher, artist or something else entirely. Fellow student Emma Huffman is looking forward to earning a degree in chemistry and going into pharmaceuticals, she said. For all of them, graduation marked a parting of ways. Im sad Ill be leaving all these memories and all my friends, but Im excited, Huffman said. The majority of Newton-Conover High School graduates are headed to a community college after graduation. About 60% of the schools 157 graduating seniors are going to community college. About 25% of the schools graduates are headed to a four-year college. A few students are going to the military and the remaining are headed to the workforce. The ceremony started with a moment of silence honoring the victims of the school shooting in Uvalde on Tuesday. Principal Chris Penley touched on difficulties the graduates faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the difficulties they faced during the pandemic will help the students face challenges later in life. I promise you as you look forward to the rest of your life, you will face adversity, he said. Senior Class President Monet Wilson echoed Penley, rehashing the challenges the class faced together. Then, she succinctly summed up the feelings of the night: Class of 2022, we out, 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. The city of Concord is looking for talented and motivated individuals interested in making a difference in their community by serving on a board or commission. There are several opportunities available to residents, with current vacancies on the Board of Adjustment, Library board of trustees, and the Stormwater Management Advisory Committee. Individuals interested in serving on one of these boards or committees should apply for a position by today. The citys Board of Adjustment is a decision-making body that operates in a quasi-judicial fashion. The board meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., as needed, in Council Chambers at City Hall. The board hears cases from city property owners related to variances as well as appeals from Historic Preservation Committee and administrative decisions. The board also decides cases for certificates of nonconformity, which apply when an owner is seeking permission to change or expand an existing property, business, or structure that is no longer consistent with current zoning ordinance. Appointments to the Board of Adjustment are for three-year terms. The Stormwater Management Advisory Committee makes recommendations to City Council on major stormwater policy issues. These decisions often involve changes to the development ordinance, budget recommendations, and planning project priorities. The Committee meets quarterly on the first Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the city of Concord Alfred M. Brown Operations Center at 635 Alfred Brown Jr. Court SW. Appointments to the committee are for three-year terms. Finally, the Library board of trustees oversee issues related to the Cabarrus County Library System such as program planning, budget recommendations, and facility maintenance. The board consists of seven members, including two residents from Concord. Appointments to the board of trustees are for two-year terms. While the city is currently seeking to fill vacancies on the Board of Adjustment, Stormwater Management Advisory Committee, and Library board of trustees, there are several other boards and commissions within the city that may have vacancies in the future. Additional opportunities for public service include the Historic Preservation Commission, Public Art Advisory Committee, and Planning & Zoning Commission, among others. A full listing of the boards and commissions is available online, and residents are welcome to apply at any time. The Clerk keeps applications on file for one year from the date received, and applicants are considered for openings should they become available. Individuals interested in serving on a board, commission or committee can apply online or obtain a paper copy of the application at the Clerks office in City Hall at 35 Cabarrus Ave. W.. Members of the citys boards and commissions are appointed by City Council. For more information, visit the Boards and Commissions page of the citys website or contact the City Clerk at 704-920-5205. As a third grader, Harrison Johnson became uncommonly interested in Pearl Harbor, so much so that hed bring up the infamous attack while playing with neighbor kids in Raleigh. Theyd all ask him, Whats that? Harrisons father, Clinton Johnson, flew C-17s for the Air Force, so he brought some background to the story. Also, as a 9-year-old, Harrison had often heard war stories about the Tuskegee Airmen. But his curiosity turned to obsession once he chose Hawaii for his third-grade project, pouring over pictures of the USS Arizona, reading survivors biographies and after much coaxing persuading his family to fly to Hawaii for a quick visit. It wasnt like we were on the beach, said his mother, Cheznee Johnson. We landed, spent the day at the memorial, and flew right back. He was over the moon. Memorial Day fundraiser Soon after, Harrison decided to raise money for the Pearl Harbor memorial fund, deciding his own allowance money wasnt sufficient for a gift. When his mother asked how much he was shooting for, maybe $1,000, he replied with a cool hundred grand. So this Memorial Day, Johnson will man a booth and sell ice cream at The Hasentree Club in North Raleigh, which will host a cookout from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in honor of the third-graders philanthropy. But for the world at large, Johnson hopes for donations to his website, Harrisons Heroes, which he put together along with the nonprofit Pacific Historic Parks. Hi, Im Harrison Johnson, and Im in the third grade, he says in a video posted there, showing a toothy grin. Im raising money for the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Why Im raising money is we should never forget the American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. So far, hes made it past $4,400, a small but admirable step toward his goal. But he faces it with an irresistible enthusiasm, living a personal quest no neighbor kid could forget. How you can help To contribute to Harrison Johnsons Pearl Harbor memorial fund, go to www.pacifichistoricparks.org/harrisonsheroes. The Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), held on Friday in Kyiv, expressed disagreement with the position of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow regarding the war in Ukraine and adopted the necessary decisions and amendments to the Charter of the UOC, testifying to the complete independence of the church. In addition, as stated in the decision on the UOC website on Friday, the participants of the council proposed to establish a dialogue with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. "The council condemns the war as a violation of God's commandment 'Thou shalt not kill!' (Ex. 20:13) and expresses disagreement with the stance of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia regarding the war in Ukraine," the council said. The council adopted the appropriate additions and amendments to the Charter on the administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, "testifying to the complete independence and independence of the UOC." "The council expresses deep regret over the lack of unity in Ukrainian Orthodoxy. The council perceives the existence of a schism as a deep painful wound in the church body. It is especially regrettable that the recent actions of the Patriarch of Constantinople in Ukraine, which resulted in the formation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, only deepened misunderstandings and led to physical confrontation. But even in such crisis circumstances, the Council does not lose hope for the resumption of dialogue," the council said in the decision. In order for the dialogue to take place, the representatives of the OCU need to "stop the seizure of churches and forced transfers of parishes of the UOC, realize that their canonical status, as it is fixed in the Charter of the OCU, is in fact non-autocephalous and significantly inferior to freedoms and opportunities in the implementation of church activities, which are provided for by the Charter on the management of the UOC, as well as to resolve the issue of the canonicity of the hierarchy of the OCU, because for the UOC, as well as for the majority of Local Orthodox Churches, it is quite obvious that in order to recognize the canonicity of the hierarchy of the OCU, it is necessary to restore the apostolic heredity of its bishops." "The council expresses its deep conviction that the key to the success of the dialogue should be not only the desire to restore church unity, but also a sincere desire to build one's life on the basis of Christian conscience and moral purity," the UOC said. The council's participants also appealed to the authorities of Ukraine and Russia with a request to continue the negotiation process and the search for "a strong and reasonable word that could stop the bloodshed." Guerra Ucraina, "Alta tensione al confine con la Bielorussia" (Photo by Leon Klein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Il presidente della Bielorussia Aleksandr Lukashenko ha definito tesa la situazione politico-militare al confine con l'Ucraina, ma si e detto fiducioso che "i militari alla frontiera faranno il possibile per preservare i confini della Patria". "In questo momento difficile per noi - ha detto Lukashenko rivolto alle guardie di frontiera - proprio come otto decenni fa, si sta sviluppando una situazione politico-militare tesa vicino ai confini della Patria. Senza dubbio, ognuno di voi e ben consapevole delle sfide e delle minacce che dobbiamo affrontare oggi e che tipo di confronto sta succedendo nel nostro stato e in prima linea siete voi la linea di difesa: i guerrieri in berretto verde. Sono convinto che difenderemo la nostra indipendenza e integrita territoriale", ha concluso il presidente della Bielorussia. Putin: "Guardie frontiera cruciali in conflitto" Il ruolo delle guardie di frontiera russe e particolarmente importante ora "data la pressione politica, economica e informativa senza precedenti sul nostro Paese e l'aumento della capacita militare della NATO in diretta prossimita dei confini della Russia". Lo ha detto il presidente russo Vladimir Putin rivolgendosi al Servizio di Guardia di Frontiera del Servizio di Sicurezza Federale russo, impegnato "a prevenire i tentativi di sabotaggio nelle sezioni del confine di Stato nelle aree dell'operazione militare speciale". "Vorrei sottolineare il lavoro costante del vostro servizio per identificare i militanti dei gruppi neonazisti", ha detto Putin congratulandosi con il Servizio dell'FSB in occasione della loro festa professionale. VIDEO - La Bielorussia schiera truppe al confine ucraino Kiev, "in Russia in corso operazioni di mobilitazione segrete" "In Russia sono in corso misure di mobilitazione segrete. Il nemico continua a spostare armi ed equipaggiamenti militari obsoleti dai centri di mobilitazione. I riservisti vengono addestrati nella regione di Voronezh". Lo rende noto su Facebook lo Stato Maggiore Generale delle Forze Armate dell'Ucraina, aggiungendo che "nelle aree di Volyn e Polissya, alcune unita delle Forze armate della Repubblica di Bielorussia continuano a svolgere compiti per rafforzare la protezione del confine bielorusso-ucraino, anche per mezzo di gruppi di manovra di guerra elettronica che operano lungo il confine. Continua la formazione degli ufficiali di riserva per le esigenze delle unita di equipaggio dell'aeronautica e delle forze di difesa aerea negli istituti di istruzione della Repubblica di Bielorussia". "La divisione Iskander-M OTRK - prosegue il comunicato - e stata trasferita nell'area di Luninets, nella regione di Brest. Permane la minaccia di attacchi alle infrastrutture e alle unita delle Forze di difesa dal territorio della Repubblica di Bielorussia. Nella direzione nord , il nemico sta adottando misure per rafforzare la copertura del confine ucraino-russo nelle regioni di Bryansk e Kursk. Non sono stati rilevati cambiamenti significativi nelle attivita delle unita nemiche. Nella direzione di Slobozhansky, il nemico spara contro le unita delle nostre truppe per impedire la loro ulteriore avanzata in direzione del confine di stato dell'Ucraina a nord e nord-est della citta di Kharkiv. Adotta misure per fornire logistica e ricostituire le perdite. Il nemico non ha effettuato operazioni offensive attive nella direzione di Kharkiv". The long Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer and is perhaps best known in Chicago as the beginning of its long, hot season of gun violence. The morning-after news coverage typically notes that the holiday was the most violent weekend of the year so far, or some such thing. Youve probably seen the polling which shows crime isnt the super-hot political issue its often portrayed to be. But dont kid yourself. Its still high enough on voters lists to make a difference, usually coming in second place behind economic issues. Thats one reason why Gov. J.B. Pritzker sent out a press release last week touting his violence reduction efforts, including surging $18 million in new state funding for 1,000 summer jobs in Chicago for kids in high risk situations. He claimed in the release that $10 million has already been released to groups ahead of the summer. The governors office told me the Illinois Department of Human Services has sent $83 million out the door this fiscal year to community providers for anti-violence efforts. It also says $27.2 million is heading out" in the next month, before the end of the fiscal year on June 30. That spending, the Pritzker administration says, is up from the $60 million spent by IDHS in all of last fiscal year. In addition, the administration points to $113 million in grants available to groups through the departments notice of funding opportunity process. Considering that the City of Chicago alone is directly spending $1.7 billion this fiscal year on law enforcement, these are relatively modest programs. But the state money is still a decent pile of cash. And because the state largesse is being spent by individual grant recipients, theres always the danger that it could be misused or misdirected. Just ask former Gov. Pat Quinn, who took an enormous amount of political heat for the way some of his $54 million anti-violence Neighborhood Funding Initiative Program money was spent in 2010, leading up to the election. Gov. Quinn was slammed for various silly attempts to keep kids off the street, up to and including paying kids to march in a parade with the governor. Nothing much ever came of the various probes into the program, but, even if there was no criminal intent, its execution was a complete mess and ill-conceived. The last thing Pritzker needs is a rerun. Some Democratic state legislators have been pushing news media outlets to write stories about how their favored anti-violence groups havent received more funding, but the governors office has resisted in certain instances where the groups would likely draw unfavorable attention from those very same media outlets. The Pritzker people have taken a different approach than Quinn, and hopefully (for the governors own sake and for the states) they wont be making the same sort of mistakes as the last Democratic governor. Even so, it's likely that somebody will screw up somewhere and wind up on the front page of a newspaper or the leading item during a TV newscast. Violence interruption and prevention programs rarely get the benefit of the doubt from the news media. From the coverage, it would be easy to conclude that Quinns program had far more downsides than upsides. Because of that, it took years and years before the state legislature was willing to give the concept another chance. On the other hand, if theres too much caution then not enough grant money arrives in time for the summer, which would be a PR disaster. Its also worth noting that it often takes a month or more for groups to complete the paperwork and navigate the various processes to actually receive grant monies after the cash has been awarded by the state. So, even though the state can claim the money is out the door, the funds may not yet be available to spend. But this should be more than just about the fact that the state is spending money. Its crucial that these programs actually show some real, tangible results. Chicago and most smaller cities in this state have been gut-punched by violent crime. Police officers and replacement recruits are in short supply here and in areas throughout the country. Violence interruption and prevention needs to show tangible results, not only for the present, but for the future. Convincing the General Assembly to support more programs down the road could turn out to be nearly impossible if this fails. So, please, everybody, dont screw it up. Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Roy Williams Roy Lee Williams (March 22, 1915-April 28, 1989) was an American labor leader who was president of the Teamsters from May 15, 1981 to April 14, 1983. Growing up in the Ozark Mountains in southwestern Missouri, he was one of 12 children. Having little money to attend college, Williams enlisted in the Army. Upon discharge from the Army, Williams earned a living by driving a truck. In 1955, Williams was elected a trustee of the Central States, Southeast Areas Pension Funds. This fund was one of the unions largest and most important pension funds in the country. However, greed soon found Williams conspiring with organized crime to infiltrate the union and accepted $1,500 a month in order to funnel $87.75 million in loans from the pension fund to construct projects run by the mob. During this time, Williams formed a close working relationship with Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa. Due to his relationship with both the mob and Hoffa, Williams quickly rose in power after Hoffa was sentenced to prison. Williams formed a friendship with the new Teamsters president Frank Fitzsimmons. In 1967, Williams was appointed spokesman for the unions national surface transportation negotiating committee by Fitzsimmons. In 1971, Williams was elected a vice president of the international union. The Department of Labor soon found Williams guilty of his handling of the pension fund and he was forced to resign from the Central States Pension Fund. The United States Department of Labor sued Williams and four others for violating their fiduciary duty. With Fitzsimmons death on May 7, 1981, vice president George Mock was named interim president. But due to Mocks age, he volunteered to resign and members of the union appointed Williams interim president. Federal prosecutors suspected Williams involvement with organized crime and he then became an immediate target for federal prosecution. On May 11, 1981, testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate indicated that Williams was heavily involved with the Mafia. After a two-month trial, during which extensive wiretapping evidence was heard, Williams and four others were convicted on December 15, 1982 for conspiring to bribe Sen. Howard Cannon of Nevada to defeat a trucking industry deregulation bill. Williams was sentenced to 55 years in prison on March 31, 1983. However, he agreed to offer testimony implicating several crime figures. By continuing to offer testimony naming mob figures delayed Williams from entering prison. Finally, he was sent to a federal prison on Aug. 20, 1985. With Williams conviction, the Teamsters striped Williams of his position as president of the union and named Jackie Pressor president. It was found later that Presser had been an FBI informant for years, and was a critical source of the information used in Williams conviction. Due to Williams failing health, he was granted parole in September 1988. With only seven months of life remaining, he gave very little more damaging information to authorities concerning the association between the Teamsters and organized crime. Williams died on April 28, 1989 as a result of cardiac disease. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A man was injured Thursday in a house fire in Lexington, authorities said Friday. Firefighters discovered smoke and flames when they arrived at 5:32 p.m. at the house at Greensboro Street, the Lexington Fire Department said. Firefighters then put out the fire and looked for victims inside the house, the fire department said. All occupants had left the house before the firefighters arrived. A man suffered from smoke inhalation, and he was taken to Lexington Medical Center for treatment. The fire department didn't identify the man. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents who were displaced by the fire, the fire department said. The Lexington Fire Marshal is investigating to determine how the fire started. 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. In response to an explosive investigation, top Southern Baptists have released a previously secret list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse. The 205-page database was made public late Thursday. It includes more than 700 entries from cases that largely span from 2000 to 2019. The database contained the names of five Baptist church officials in North Carolina who were charged and convicted of sex offenses. Its existence became widely known May 22 when the independent firm, Guidepost Solutions, included it in its bombshell report detailing how the Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee mishandled allegations of sex abuse, stonewalled numerous survivors and prioritized protecting the SBC from liability. Executive Committee leaders Rolland Slade and Willie McLaurin, in a joint statement, called publishing the list an initial, but important, step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform in the Convention. Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse, they said. Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. There are 39 Baptist churches in Winston-Salem, which are affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, according to its website. Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem takes these issues very seriously as a local church and regularly evaluates the policies put in place to protect our church family, the church said Friday in a statement. These policies include background checks for all staff and volunteer leaders working with minors, abuse prevention and response training and comprehensive child safety procedures, the church said. We remain committed to pray for every survivor and their families as we weep with those who weep, and will work diligently toward the reforms that will bring lasting change, the church said. We mourn with every survivor of sexual abuse and believe that sexual abuse in any form should not be tolerated. The Houston Chronicle recently published a six-part series about what the newspaper described as a disturbing number of Southern Baptists with formal church roles who had engaged in sexual misconduct in the past 20 years. They were pastors, deacons and youth pastors, and they left behind more than 700 victims, the newspaper reported. The Guidepost report, released after a seven-month investigation, contained several explosive revelations. Among them: D. August Boto, the committees former vice president and general counsel, and former SBC spokesman Roger Oldham kept their own private list of abusive ministers. Both retired in 2019. The existence of the list was not widely known within the committee and its staff. Despite collecting these reports for more than 10 years, there is no indication that (Oldham and Boto) or anyone else, took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches, the report said. The Executive Committee did not make additions to the published list, but their attorneys did redact several entries as well as the names and identifying information of survivors and others unrelated to the accused, Thursdays joint statement said. They made public entries that reference an admission, confession, guilty plea, conviction, judgment, sentencing, or inclusion on a sex offender registry, and expect some of the redacted entries on the list to be made public once more research is done. The list also includes Baptist ministers that are not affiliated with the SBC. Survivors and advocates have long called for a public database of abusers. The creation of an offender information system was one of the key recommendations in the report by Guidepost, which was contracted by the Executive Committee after delegates to last years national meeting pressed for an outside investigation. Also in the report was a shocking allegation that Johnny Hunt, a Georgia-based pastor and former SBC president, sexually assaulted another pastors wife during a beach vacation in 2010. Hunt has disputed the allegation, saying in a statement that he has never abused anybody. He resigned May 13 as senior vice president of evangelism and leadership at the North American Mission Board, the SBCs domestic missions agency. On Wednesday, NAMB leaders announced changes to address the issue including committing to investigate abuse accusations and creating an Abuse Prevention and Response Committee to assess and strengthen existing policies and procedures. Also in the wake of the reports release, survivors have been calling in information about abuse allegations to the Executive Committee, Guidepost and members of a task force set up to oversee the firms investigation, according to a joint statement from the three entities. A hotline is now open for survivors, or someone on their behalf, to report abuse allegations: 202-864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com. Callers will be provided with care options and connected with an advocate, the statement said. Guidepost will maintain the hotline and keep the information confidential, but will not be looking into the allegations. The joint statement described the hotline as a stopgap measure for survivors until delegates can pass reforms during this years national meeting scheduled for June 14-15 in Anaheim, Calif. The task force expects to make its formal motions based on the Guidepost report public next week. Those recommendations will then be presented for a vote in Anaheim. Journal reporter John Hinton contributed to this story. The Democratic sponsors of a N.C. Senate unemployment insurance benefits bill have added an employer-friendly tax holiday element in hopes of attracting support from the business community and possibly Republicans. Senate Bill 848 has Sen. Paul Lowe of Forsyth County among its three primary sponsors, along with Wiley Nickel of Wake County and Mike Woodard of Durham County. The bill was sent directly Friday to the Senate Rules and Operations committee, where bills with limited, if any, Republican support are shelved upon introduction. The senators also introduced Senate Bill 320 during the 2021 session. That bill was not heard in committee even though Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper declared his support for the legislation. The senators revamped the title of SB320 from 2021 Unemployment Insurance Reform to Tax Relief for NC Employers & UI Reform in SB848. If signed into law, the tax holiday portion of SB848 would allow employers to suspend their contributions and payments to the states Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2023. Employers pay a tax into the states UI system in a range of 0.06% and 5.76% based on their number of workers. Employers can pay a higher rate based on their history of job cuts and layoffs. The state had $3.85 billion in the state UI Trust Fund when the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic began to be experienced in mid-March 2020. There was about $2.59 billion in the fund as of February. Republican legislators have supported lowering employers UI tax contributions because of the current UI Trust Fund surplus. The tax holiday likely represents the Democratic senators bid at employing the give-and-take strategy that helped reach a compromise on the state 2021-22 budget and is being used with a multilayered bipartisan Senate health-care reform bill that includes Medicaid expansion. Background The Republican legislative super-majority approved in 2013 a sliding scale for UI benefit weeks based on the unemployment rate. It runs from 12 weeks which the state had from July 2013 to January 2021 up to a maximum of 20 weeks. Before the UI law was passed, North Carolinians received a maximum of 26 weeks. The law also reduced the maximum weekly benefit from $530 to $350. The sliding scale based on jobless rates is: maximum of 13 weeks at 5.6% to 6%; 14 weeks at 6.1% to 6.5%; 15 weeks at 6.6% to 7%; 16 weeks at 7.1% to 7.5%; 17 weeks at 7.6% to 8%; 18 weeks at 8.1% to 8.5%; 19 weeks at 8.6% to 9%; and 20 weeks at 9.1% and higher. The scale is adjusted just twice a year, in January and July. The number of weeks is dependent on the average unemployment rate from July through September for the January adjustment and for January through March for the July adjustment. Now, as in 2013, Republican legislative leaders favor limited UI benefits, in part because they didnt want recipients who lost their job through no fault of their own to rely on the benefits over working. During the first 18 months of the pandemic, many GOP congressional representatives and state legislators decried the fact that some unemployed and furloughed North Carolinians made more in combined state and federal UI weekly benefits at $300 than they did in their weekly paychecks. SB848s main focus Since Congress allowed two key federal COVID-19 pandemic relief programs to expire in September, North Carolinians who have been laid off or furloughed over the past nine months have received a maximum state benefit of between just 12 and 13 weeks. Its the lowest number of maximum benefit weeks in the country. According to the left-leaning N.C. Justice Center, North Carolinians have received an average of about 10 weeks of state benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, 44 states provide at least 26 weeks of regular benefits. SB848 contains most of the same benefit reform elements as SB320. The main goal is to try to do what we can to help the unemployed, Lowe said when SB320 was submitted in March 2021. SB848 would increase the maximum weekly benefit to $500, as well as the maximum weeks back to 26. The bill would allow claimants to qualify for UI benefits if they moved to North Carolina as part of their spouse relocating for a job. Claimants also could qualify for UI benefits if they have certain health issues, left their job in response to domestic violence, or cant work due to an undue hardship. SB848 also would forgive overpayment to UI beneficiaries if the overpayments were due to N.C. Division of Employment Security error, and not applicant fraud. Nickel said in introducing SB320 that its shameful that in the middle of a pandemic, Republicans have failed to fix our broken unemployment system. We need to fix our worst-in-the-nation unemployment insurance program and throw jobless workers a lifeline. During the 2021 session, state House Democrats, including Rep. Pricey Harrison of Guilford County, introduced House Bill 859. That bill would create a 13-member Legislative Study committee on UI whose sole purpose is to evaluate and make recommendations on which group of states North Carolina should be compared with in terms of benefits. HB859 also was sent directly to Rules and Operations, where it has been shelved, in large part because several current GOP legislative leaders participated in establishing the 2013 UI benefit cuts. 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. On Wednesday night, at a Strategy-Focused Town Hall Discussion on Gun Violence at the Carl Russell Community Center on Carver School Road in Winston-Salem, audience members spoke out on several issues. The center was packed, no doubt because of recent local and nationwide shootings, including the school shooting the day before in Texas. One recurring theme was the longstanding divide between residents of low economic resources and those of better resources. The speakers of lived experience of all ages, including those who live in neighborhoods wracked by gun violence, some angry, had clearly been waiting to be heard. Local leaders need to keep listening to them and incorporating their ideas. Northeast Ward City Council member Barbara Hanes Burke, who hosted the event with a panel that included leaders from churches, law enforcement and education, got that. Things are out of control and its time for us to say something, she said. Winston-Salem State Universitys Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM), for which I am the writer-in-residence, strives to present research and engage with community organizations aimed at solutions for generational poverty. CSEM Associate Director Alvin Atkinson sees gun violence as a barrier to economic mobility including the stress on students and their parents in schools and the workplace and has positioned CSEM as a partner with several organizations and individual leaders in the effort to reduce gun violence. The mass shootings nationwide grab the widespread media attention. But the daily toll of gun violence involving one or two victims is far larger annually in death and wounding rates. That is the brand of violence, along with the sound of gunfire in general, that many residents of East Winston live with constantly. And they are sick and tired of it. Speakers talked to the panel about hopelessness tied to poverty and about teenage boys who can make more money working for drug dealers than in legal jobs because businesses and the city will not invest in their communities. Money is not the problem, one speaker said. Its allocation. When one panel member encouraged residents to help them by testifying in criminal cases, some members of the audience jeered to applause, indicating they would not be protected if they did that. Retired District Court Judge Denise Hartsfield, a panel member, indicated to the crowd that she understood that. But she encouraged community members to band together and stay involved in the fight against violence, saying, to applause, We need boots on the ground. She also encouraged leaders, to loud hand claps, to know whats going on in their community. You cant sit up on a (judicial) bench, you cant legislate if you dont know the community, she said. Another panelist, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, noted that the gun violence problem is complex, tied to other issues such as education. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Tricia McManus, who has taken a front-and-center role, appearing often at events aimed at reducing gun violence and tackling innovative solutions, was also on the panel. CSEM researches educational inequities and helps through initiatives it supports including YouthRise, Project M.O.O.R.E, the Royal Curtain Drama Guild, the Triad International Ballet and IslandCultureZ, which help youth with efforts ranging from speaking out to financial literacy to the arts to urban agriculture. Wednesday night, audience members offered solutions that included more use of programs such as Crime Stoppers, town halls involving students and anti-violence groups, school resource officers in every school, greater parental involvement, and more opportunities for recreational and after-school activities. A teenage speaker told the panel: Involve the youth. We want to be part of the dreams that will be part of our future. Indeed. Gun violence is not going away. But our children, our future, can at least, with our help, lead us to a reduction. John Railey (raileyjb@gmail.com) is the writer-in-residence for Center for the Study of Economic Mobility. Learn more at www.wssu.edu/csem. Jesse Jones says audiences can expect high energy storytelling when they come to see his live comedy shows. Whatever has happened to me, youre going to hear about it, said Jones, a native of Mount Airy. That typically includes bits about his two chocolate Labrador retrievers 4-year-old Dwayne The Rock Johnson and 1-year old Roddy Piper, a female puppy. I just love the idea of every time the vet comes in to talk to me about either of my dogs, he has to look at the clipboard and go, Dwayne Johnson has worms or Roddy Piper is going to need to be fixed, he said. And his children are not off limits. In some YouTube videos, Jones hilariously impersonates his children as he talks about how different they are from each other. His son Henry, 10, was born in New York and his daughter Abigail, 7, was born in Wilmington. I cannot keep shoes on this girl, Jones said of his daughter. She is all South, and he is all North. The two of them combined is very loud. On June 10, Jones will bring his style of comedy to The Ramkat in Winston-Salem as part of his Get Out of My Head tour. Jason Allen King will be the opening act and Paul Baeza will be the emcee. Both are comedians based in Charlotte. I am very happy to be back in Winston-Salem. Growing up in Mount Airy, I spent a lot of time in Winston and am very happy comedy has brought me back here, Jones said. It will be great to see everyone again and bring live stand-up to the Ramkat for the first time. Its going to be an awesome night of live comedy in the city! He said his shows would probably be rated PG 13. I can work clean, and I can work blue, he said. Im not super vulgar, but I like the freedom of being able to say what I want. Lew Morgante, a comedian based in Wilmington, has known Jones for about six years. I think Jesse is a great, high-energy comedian, Morgante said. I think he does a great job engaging the crowd. Morgante said Jones is good at getting anybody involved in his shows and improvising off things that happen in rooms to make the experience fun for audiences. The comedian Jones, 41, has been doing stand-up comedy and sketch comedy for about 15 years. He has been on MTV, Laughs on Fox, the 3V network and reviewed by the New York Times. As a child growing up in Mount Airy, he learned early on that he could make people laugh. He drew comedic inspiration from Saturday Night Live and an eclectic group of comedians Steve Martin, Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and everybody in between. I remember falling through tables in high school, trying to emulate Chris Farley, Jones said. After graduating from Mount Airy High School in 1998, he went to college at UNC Charlotte and majored in art. While in college, he joined The Perch, a sketch comedy theater in Charlotte in 1999. At the age of 19, he was doing seven shows a weekend. These guys were straight up punk rock, Jones said of the sketch comedy group. Nobody was doing what we were doing at that time in Charlotte. At The Perch, Jones became completely enamored with sketch comedy. It taught me how to write, he said. It taught me the work ethic that you needed to succeed, because we would do a brand-new show every two weeks. The sketch comedy group had some successes. For example, member Sean Keenan got tapped to write commercials for MTV, which resulted in Jones and other members of the group having the opportunity to help him with his projects, Jones said. Then in the early 2000s, they were tapped to write a movie for a subsidiary of Lionsgate in Los Angeles, but the project fizzled. What we wrote was funny, he said. They liked it, but it wasnt supposed to happen right then. In 2003, Jones and his girlfriend, now his wife, Jessee Leili-Jones, moved to New York. I was looking for sketch, he said. I thought Saturday Night Live was the end goal. I didnt even do stand-up when I got there. He started training with Upright Citizens Brigade doing improvisational work and had his own improve team within the Brigade. After a while, everyone on his improv team started growing up, getting jobs, getting married and having children. His friend, Aaron Kiminos Smith, advised him to give stand-up comedy a try. Jones had dipped his toes in stand-up and watched it since he was a child but had never really done it. Once I found that, I was old enough to know this is the thing, Jones said. Its not like anything else. Its you, and you live or die by your own merit. Once you hit the stage, nobody can control what happens, except for you. In 2015, Jones and his family moved to Wilmington were he worked with the Dead Crow Comedy Room, a comedy club, before moving back to Charlotte in November 2017. On tour and bourbon While on his Get Out of My Head tour, Jones is primarily traveling all over the Southeast to the West, hitting as many places as possible, including small towns. COVID put a gigantic damper on things and everything sort of builds up, he said. This is sort of me getting everything out of my head that has been brewing for the past two years. Its new material. Its the old stuff that people like. Its a combination of what was then and what is now, and everything that has boiled over and needs to be released. Jones can currently be seen and heard interviewing distillers weekly on the Bourbon Showdown Show, a whiskey podcast, on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. Bourbon Showdown Show is listed in the UPROXX.com story All The Whiskey Podcasts You Should Add To Your Listening Queue published Feb. 4. The podcast can be found by searching for Jesse Jones or the Bourbon Showdown. But Jones warns folks to be careful when they search Jesse Jones, because he recently found out that there is a Canadian adult entertainer who goes by the same name. Im getting so much of his fan mail, Jones said. When he reached out to the Jesse Jones in Canada to let him know that theres some overlap going on, Jones said the man apologized. Jones told him that was OK and asked if he was getting any of his fan mail. And he goes, No. I am not, Jones said. 336-727-7366 @fdanielWSJ 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. Nelnet has laid off about 150 employees, some of them in Nebraska. A spokesman for the Lincoln-based student finance company blamed the student loan payment moratorium. Due to the federal governments multiple extensions of the CARES Act relief period, federal student loan borrowers have not had to make loan payments since March 2020, said spokesman Ben Kiser. As a result, our loan-servicing teams have been experiencing extremely low call volume and limited work available. Kiser said Nelnet has been able to move several hundred loan-servicing employees to other roles in the company over the past couple of years as those duties have declined. Now, more than two years later and with the most recent extension continuing through Aug. 31 with no certainty as to whether or not the relief will be further extended we have excess capacity in our loan-servicing teams, thus the need for right-sizing, Kiser said. He said Nelnet used performance measures to determine which employees were cut, and all affected workers were provided extended pay and benefits. The company cut jobs in multiple states, with a small number in Nebraska, Kiser said. The company has about 8,000 total employees, including more than 2,500 in Lincoln. As of Dec. 31, Nelnet was servicing nearly $480 billion worth of federal loans for more than 14 million borrowers. Numerous media outlets Friday reported that President Joe Biden is mulling a plan to forgive $10,000 in federal student loans for individuals making up to $150,000 a year or married couples making up to $300,000. At its annual shareholders meeting earlier this month, Nelnet executives estimated that student loan forgiveness of $10,000 per borrower would reduce the company's expected future cash flow from its loan portfolio by about $600 million, from $1.8 billion to $1.2 billion. The executives did not say whether the loan forgiveness program would lead to additional layoffs. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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 tip about a suspicious UPS package sent DEA agents and the Nebraska State Patrol to a central Lincoln residence Wednesday, where law enforcement seized more than 4 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and arrested a 25-year-old man, according to court records. Investigators intercepted the package at a local UPS facility Monday and found about 1,832 grams of suspected meth in it, the State Patrol said in an arrest affidavit. Law enforcement applied for an anticipatory search warrant and had an undercover officer deliver the package to 1900 S. 17th St. on Wednesday. After investigators dropped the package off, Rogelio Torres Rodriguez emerged from the residence and picked it up, the State Patrol said. Investigators believe a third party paid Rodriguez to receive the package and he knew it contained meth, according to the patrol. Rodriguez was arrested and charged with possession of 140+ grams of meth. He is being held at the Lancaster County Jail on a $1 million percentage bond. Rodriguez must pay $100,000 to be released. 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 Lancaster County judge Thursday signed an arrest warrant for an Omaha man who police say had sex with a 15-year-old trafficking victim in December 2019, according to court records. Jose Pila-Cevallos, 29, was formally charged Thursday with first-degree sexual assault of a minor. He was arrested nearly a week later and booked into the Lancaster County jail. The charge stems from an instance more than two years ago, when a witness told investigators they saw Pila-Cevallos pay $100 to a 15-year-old girl who was being sexually trafficked, police said in court records. In August 2021, the girl told police she was being trafficked by a 50-year-old woman who was receiving payments for sex with the girl, Lincoln Police Investigator Ben Pflanz said in an arrest affidavit. In December, she told investigators Pila-Cevallos had paid her for sex, providing screenshots of conversations she had with the man, Pflanz said in the affidavit. 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. Trade revenue set to eclipse 700 billion USD this year Free trade agreements (FTAs) spurred Vietnams bilateral and multilateral trade, with 2022 revenues projected to hit a record 750 billion USD, according to experts. A port in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Vietnams signatory FTAs, especially recent agreements will promote trade breakthroughs and generate major trade surplus for 2022 and build momentum for 2022-23 in the process. Despite Vietnams challenges, exports recovered well in the first four months of 2022 to hit 122.4 billion USD, a year-on-year surge of 16.4 percent. The increase was attributed to business resilience and flexibility taking advantage of FTA parameters, notably the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) which took effect at the start of 2022. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City (HAWA), said new generation FTAs enhanced trade in Vietnams wood processing sector, pushing exports when compared to rival countries that are outside of the agreements. A survey by the Centre for Industrial Studies (CSIL) of Italy forecast the global wood products market will record growth of 4 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, Nguyen Ha, a tuna market expert of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that Vietnam earned more than 259 million USD from tuna exports in the first quarter of 2022. The growth meets a five-year high, surging 72 percent from the same period last year. This equates to a 1.6-fold increase over the same period in 2019 before COVID-19 broke out. Of note, the EVFTA contributed to bringing tuna exports to European nations to the tune of nearly 38 million USD, up 33 percent year on year. At present, intra-country logistics posed a challenge for Vietnamese businesses, causing some businesses to miss opportunity within the FTAs. Vietnam needs to fine-tune policies and regulations on logistics services and build fleets of major vessels and modern infrastructure to meet import-export requirements. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Agency for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, confirmed that firms must study how the trade deals benefit them to adjust procedures and material supply. This will allow them to meet certificate of origin criteria and benefit from preferential tariffs under the FTAs. Enterprises have received guidance from experts and the government on tariff and non-tariff restrictions so as to better navigate these difficult waters. Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 12:38PM by Claudio Alves The last days of the 75th Cannes Film Festival saw the premiere of many buzzy titles, including some that were declared Palme d'Or frontrunners on the spot. Albert Serra celebrates his first stint in the Main Competition with Pacification, a film that might not be for everyone but will undoubtedly satisfy the director's fans. Hirokazu Kore-eda returns after Shoplifters with another found-family crowd-pleaser, Broker. Lukas Dhont's Close reduced many to tears, but I'm not convinced. His debut was similarly acclaimed in Cannes, only to receive much-deserved backlash when seen by wider audiences. Kelly Reichardt seems to have delivered a low-key marvel with the Portland-set Showing Up, starring frequent collaborator Michelle Williams. Finally, Leonor Serraille closed the competition screenings with her sophomore feature, Mother and Son. Just hours before Vincent Lindon's jury announces its choices, the Cannes at Home miniseries comes to an end with Serra's The Death of Louis XIV, Kore-eda's After Life, Dhont's Girl, Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy, and Serraille's Jeune Femme THE DEATH OF LOUIS XIV (2016) Some actors are more than just performers. They are embodiments of whole concepts, eras, movements. If in his time, Jean Gabin was a living monument to the pre-Nouvelle Vague French cinema, then Jean-Pierre Leaud came to represent what came after. He grew before our eyes as Antoine Doinel, but the symbolic scope of his face goes way beyond Truffaut's series. For long, directors have been casting him in parts that are as much characters as they are film history allegories. Albert Serra's The Death of Louis XIV takes the dynamic a step further, juxtaposing two simulacrums of man, two kings. And yet, the Catalonian director doesn't do it in an attempt at glorious aggrandizement. His study is not on the power of personhood transcended. Instead, Serra regards how even those who seem closer to divinity than mankind are nothing but mortal flesh, fated to rot just like everything else. There's not much to the film apart from witnessing decay, both that of the Sun King and the King of Celluloid. However, that simple act of observation can be riveting. It's also a sick joke, inverting the precepts of royalty porn on their head. Instead of gazing adoringly at Baroque excess, lustily coveting unimaginable privilege, Serra's camera captures the rigid inhumanity of court ritual. Moreover, it finds the point where perfumed silks and powdered full-bottom wigs become vacuous lies standing flimsily in the face of the inevitable. The Death of Louis XIV looks at the exceptional to find the ordinary, the universality of gangrenous flesh approaching the finish line. Each viewer is thus invited to have their own conversation with the film, meditating on the primordial certainty of our end. You can find The Death of Louis XIV streaming on Kanopy. The film's rentable on some other services. AFTER LIFE (1998) Though he's become known for tender portrayals of family bonds, whether forged in blood or adoptive affections, Hirokazu Kore-eda's first masterpiece exists far from the mundanity of everyday life. It exists After Life, you might say, fitting into a tradition of metaphysical narratives that imagine the journey of souls post-death as a bureaucratic affair. Indeed, in the context of Japanese media, the premise of After Life might seem closer to serialized anime than our present understanding of Kore-eda as an auteur. However, such rash assumptions would be a mistake. Everything that makes a film like Shoplifters what it is, already exists in After Life. Indeed, it's the very center of its textual bid, the concept at the heart of its game. The story itself is almost dumbfoundingly simple. After you die, you end up in a facility that acts as limbo. It's an old building that feels like it must have seen better days, itself a relic of something lost. On Monday, you are presented with the week's work choosing one memory in which to exist for the rest of eternity. The process goes through multiple interviews, and by Wednesday, everyone's memories are restaged and filmed. By Sunday, they are screened for the group. During this movie-watching, the soul drifts away, evanescing into that remembrance, fading into the unknown. Guided by the director's gentle touch, we're lulled into the film's mysteries, where the camera both saves and condemns, traps and liberates. After Life is shot with humble simplicity, often looking like a behind-the-scenes documentary, full of cyclical shots of interviews and tender leitmotivs on the improvised plateau. The magic of invention is heartily celebrated, but there's an ambivalence to this spectacle, a sense of soft melancholy that exists on the threshold of ecstatic joy, mayhap existential terror. Here, life is understood as what is defined by its limits, by the ephemerous nature of its own miracles. What gives it purpose depends on the person, and After Life gives no definite answer. Better yet, it lets you choose your truth. Maybe life is worthwhile if you are part of somebody else's happiness. Perhaps it's the pleasure of wearing a pretty red dress, the warmth of not being alone, the serenity of a lonesome afternoon feeling the sun kiss your cheek. The little moments, those graceful notes of uncertain meaning, make up all of us. There's nothing small about them, nothing too negligible. They make up cinema, too. Hirokazu Kore-eda's cinema, anyway. After Life is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel. GIRL (2018) At the 71st Cannes Film Festival, Lukas Dhont's debut feature received ecstatic praise. Girl won the Queer Palme, the Golden Camera for the best first film, the FIPRESCI Prize of the Un Certain Regard section, and its respective Best Actor prize. If that doesn't tell you something about the demographic representation of Cannes-attending film critics, nothing will. However, as soon as other audiences got a look at it, that consensus suffered some radical changes. More revelatory was the perspective of actual trans film critics who had a thing or two to say about the film's purported authenticity, its representational merits, and contrived melodrama verging on miserabilist exploitation. I won't lie I find Girl rather execrable and feel ashamed at how much I doubted my initial dislike just because of peer pressure by fellow cisgender critics. I still feel bitter about my arguments over this thing and have little desire to compliment Dhont's vision. Nevertheless, the Cannes at Home miniseries is meant as a celebration, so here go some half-hearted commendations: Before its fixation the protagonist's body turns fully voyeuristic, there's some good synchronicity between the camera and the dancer's acute sense of her physicality. The father-daughter relationship is the script's best element, and Arieh Worhalter's performance is enough to merit Girl mild applause. Still, it's hard to get over the calamitous miscalculation of that ending. It feels genuinely offensive, sickening in the worst way, and utterly cliched. Girl's on Netflix, and you can also rent it on Apple iTunes. WENDY AND LUCY (2008) Michelle Williams and Kelly Reichardt are a match made in heaven. Look no further than their first collaboration, Wendy and Lucy, to see how their sensibilities mesh, resulting in a low-fi low-key gem with a narrative so gossamer-thin it might as well not be there. Like the director's best films, Wendy and Lucy exists on the margins of mainstream American society, looking at those who are often forgotten and portraying them with equal parts empathy and cinematic brio. Sure, not much happens, and the rhythm is languid going on lethargic, but Reichardt makes it work as only she can, turning understatement into the height of sophisticated storytelling. Wendy is a homeless woman traveling through Oregon to Alaska, while Lucy is her beloved dog played by the director's pet. When their car breaks down, monetary shortcomings result in a failed attempt at shoplifting and, more tragically, their separation. Though never appealing to soppy sentimentality, the film delineates how much the pup means to her owner and how their bond is, in many ways, the last barrier against despondency. One can even say Wendy is defined by her barriers, the shields she puts between herself and the world, invisible protection keeping everyone else at a safe distance. Even the camera seems unable to pierce her armor. It's a character study in the form of a blank slate, an acting challenge that asks for naturalism via a taciturn register so opaque and vague as to be alienating. In other words, Wendy and Lucy wouldn't work without a formidable actor at its center, and Michelle Williams is the perfect woman for the job. In her reactions, she finds paradoxical specificity, how Wendy holds her body and relates to other peoples' presence. Yet, more than anything, she, like Reichardt, finds beauty in what could have been a dour chronicle of non-stop hardship. Wendy and Lucy can be downright lyrical, capturing the essence of summer's death rattle, the odd hope one can find in moments of overwhelming despair. You can find Wendy and Lucy on AMC+, Hoopla, Tubi, Kanopy, Redbox, DirecTV, Pluto TV, and Sundance Now. JEUNE FEMME (2017) Also known as Montparnasse Bienvenue, Jeune Femme won Leonor Serraille the Camera d'Or the year before Dhont took home the same honor. Idealized as a vague, terminally French, counterpoint to Baumbach's Frances Ha, the movie starts as a caustic character piece centered on Paula, a broke woman in her early thirties who's just been left on the street with her ex-boyfriend's cat and a bleeding cut on the forehead. She's a hot mess express, so unhinged that another film came to mind during this one's first act. Jeune Femme answers the question: What would The Worst Person in the World look like if it tried to live up to its name? Paula isn't that bad, mind you. She's just floundering for the time being. As soon as she gets the ground beneath her feet, new facets emerge, revelations of well-hidden affection and a caring personality. The journey there is messy as fuck, but that's life. Jeune Femme doesn't try to twist its protagonist's struggles into the stuff of charming dramedy, eliciting some laughs along the way out of sheer discomfort. Serraille's direction and picaresque script do much to sustain this tricky gambit, as does Emile Noblet's gorgeous saturated cinematography and the splendor cum squalor of Paris. However, even with those strengths, Jeune Femme could derail at any moment were it not for its incredible leading lady. Delivering a vanity-free tour de force, Laetitia Dosch is an obstinate revelation, bold to the bone and fearless like nobody's business. As if charged by an electric current, she can be manic and mad, a devastating presence one minute, a clown the next. Confronted with such tonal plasticity, a spectator can do nothing but stare in open-mouthed awe. Personally speaking, I can't wait to see what's next for Serraille and Dosch, so promising is their Jeune Femme. The is one isn't streaming anywhere right now but be on the lookout for it. Jeune Femme's worth the trouble. It doesnt take long. Just a few minutes, in fact, for a child to leave the safety of their parents side and slip into a lake or the family pool. Then, the waters that seem so inviting to young children can take them swiftly and silently. Most wont even have the chance to call for help. This weekend, families are heading 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. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children 4 and under and the second-leading cause of death for children 14 and under, ranking just below car accidents. Water safety experts believe those statistics are cause for concern. Kathy Collingsworth, director and founder of the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation, said families seeking water fun should be on high alert. Her organization teaches children and parents about the importance of being safe near water through its aquatic mascot Josh the Otter. Her husband, Blake Collingsworth, wrote the childrens book Josh the Baby Otter after their 2-year-old son drowned. The Collingsworths hope the illustrated story sparks discussion between parents and kids. If we tell our children, Dont cross the street. Look both ways,' we need to have the same conversation about water safety with children, Kathy Collingsworth said. We can do it in a fun and educational way instead of telling a child, Don't do that. She recommends parents purchase the book to read with their children. The cartoon otter teaches kids to stick with a buddy, swim only while an adult is watching, and float on their back if theyre in danger all crucial rules for water-loving toddlers. In addition to emphasizing water safety guidelines, Collingsworth advises parents to child-proof their pools. Fences, cameras and alarms can protect wandering toddlers. Ring doorbells have been an effective tool for catching kids trying to enter unpatrolled waters. The motion sensors alert parents when a child walks past. Even small amounts of water can create potentially dangerous situations for unattended toddlers and babies, Collingsworth said. Parents should always be mindful to shut toilet lids, drain bathtubs and keep coolers locked. However, not every body of water that children interact with will be secure. Inevitably, young children will find themselves near uncovered lakes, pools or ponds. In those circumstances, kids might be able to save themselves. The Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation offers float lessons'' through its Float 4 Life program. The swim classes teach children as young as 6 months old to be able to float on their back if theyre ever in danger. Children graduate from Float 4 Life by showing their instructor they can turn face-up in the water after jumping in, even while theyre wearing normal clothes. Kathy Collingsworth said float lessons are essential. After all, water is everywhere. (Most) of our world is water, so its kind of hard to avoid it, she said. But if they get into a situation like that, they can actually go into self-survival. The foundation advocates for the use of water safety devices such as life jackets. Flotation aids are especially important for children who are unable to swim. Visitors to Pawnee, Branched Oak and Wagon Train state recreation areas can borrow a life jacket at the lakes docks, courtesy of Josh the Otter. Swim instructor Jessica Bailey, with LifeSTROKES, recommends enrolling kids in swim lessons at a young age. She said LifeSTROKES programs are a more gradual approach to swimming than float lessons, and her lessons focus on a variety of swim techniques. Bailey said she believes strongly that swim lessons are lifesaving for everyone. Even infants, she said, can learn to hold their breath under water with proper and gentle training. Teaching is Baileys passion, and she hopes to continue providing opportunities for all children, including babies or kids with special needs. I love teaching, she said. Any time a child or parent sees that mile marker or goal was reached, it's just awesome. Bailey wants her pupils' experience in the water to be a highlight of their weeks. While she provides safety skills, she also wants to teach students to build confidence in the water. She doesn't want her swimmers to be nervous in the pool. But at the same time, Bailey has heard the daunting statistics. She tries to drill into her students' minds to never approach water without a parent's close watch. Bailey said she'll even throw swim toys in the water and have the children practice asking their parents if they can go in first. Ultimately, she hopes her classes prevent families from losing a child too soon. Water is a very amazing and fun thing, but if you don't have the right skill sets, it can be very deadly, Bailey said. Everyone should be given the opportunity to know how to save themselves. Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.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. Carmen Marley, a soon-to-be senior at Lincoln High School, held a megaphone, with a handful of classmates at her side. She introduced herself as the president of the school's Feminists for Change club, then began to speak Friday at the state Capitol. The Sandy Hook shooting happened when I was in second grade. Looking back on it now, I realize how significant that was, Marley said. The world had decided that I was not old enough to be respected by politicians, yet many allowed me to die for the sake of protecting their pro-gun legislation. A few participants wiped away tears as more young people, teachers and parents shared their stories. They had gathered in support of America's young victims of gun violence. The couple dozen attendees held signs, cried and demanded change. Everyone in my generation has walked through their school, fearing for their life at least a few times before, Marley said. You've all become complacent, allowing shootings to be a simple fact of our existence. The Lincoln High club organized the Feminists Against Gun Violence Vigil in the wake of Tuesday's shooting at a Texas elementary school in which 19 students and two teachers died. Friday's event included an open letter to the future governor of Nebraska, delivered by Lincoln High sophomore Marisol Alarcon. In the letter, she advocated legislative change that would better protect children. Children should not be collateral damage, Alarcon said. In our era of divided government, there needs to be common-sense laws that protect our precious children. Other students stepped forward to read the names of victims of gun violence. The group then held a moment of silence for those who had been slain. Members of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence were also present, expressing their frustration with the state's lack of gun control legislation. A founding member of the group, Melody Vaccaro, was given the chance to speak. It is OK to be furious, she said. We have asked the Lincoln Public Schools repeatedly to send messages to parents, telling when there's a gun at the school, asking parents to lock up their guns so kids can't take them to school. They won't do it. Carol Flora, a U.S. history teacher at Lincoln High, assisted in organizing the vigil. Flora is the Feminists for Change clubs sponsor, but she said a great deal of the legwork came from the students in the group. When Flora asked the students if they would like to do a letter-writing campaign or hold a vigil, they told her Both. She said the club members are passionate about gun control because theyre concerned for their peers and the safety of younger students. In Omaha on Friday, Omaha Public Schools students walked out of buildings on the final day of classes to express their feelings on gun violence and the need for reform. Flora hopes adults will pay extra attention to the students pleas. The countrys youth are the ones the issue is impacting the most, she said. I think people want to listen to the youth, and they want to help build a future for them, she said. As adults, we feel like we have failed our kids, and it's time we listen to their voices. Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.com Love 0 Funny 1 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A federal court panel on Friday ordered Ohio to hold an Aug. 2 primary using the third set of Statehouse maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, despite a rebuke of the plan by the state's high court. The court acted after giving Ohio a Saturday deadline to come up with a new map for legislative districts, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio said in its ruling. That deadline will be missed, as the GOP-controlled commission did not schedule any meetings. We recognized from the outset that choosing a remedy would be challenging, Circuit Judge Amul Thapar said in the 2-1 majority opinion. And between the standoff among state officials and the delay in getting the case, our options were limited, Thapar wrote. So we chose the best of our bad options. The federal court's decision came in a lawsuit brought by a group of Republican voters that initially sought to salvage legislative primaries scheduled for May 3 by using the commission's third set of district lines, which also was found unconstitutional. Friday's ruling was a victory for that GOP group, as well as for the Republican-dominated redistricting commission, which passed five straight sets of legislative maps that couldn't meet constitutional muster. A directive to the state's 88 elections board regarding the primary will be sent Saturday, said Rob Nichols, spokesperson for Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state's elections chief and a member of the redistricting commission. Federal Judge Algenon Marbley dissented in Friday's ruling, pointing out that the state Supreme Court reiterated this week that the third map remains unconstitutional. The best option remained the map drawn by two experts, one selected by Republicans, one by Democrats, Marbley said. The two men Douglas Johnson, president of National Demographics Corporation, and Michael McDonald, a University of Florida political science professor were nearly finished when the commission suddenly set aside their work and passed a different map. The two had been paid $450 an hour for the previous four days to draw new maps in work viewed step-by-step online. 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. A 2015 constitutional amendment, passed overwhelmingly by voters, required the commission to at least attempt to avoid partisan favoritism and to try to proportionally distribute districts to reflect Ohios political makeup, which is split at about 54% Republican, 46% Democrat. Republican commissioners have argued the set of maps they resubmitted to the court most recently met those requirements. By GOP calculations, the boundaries would create a 54-45 Republican majority in the Ohio House and an 18-15 Republican majority in Ohio Senate. Democrats have challenged their numbers, saying many districts counted in Democrats column are very closely divided. Both LaRose and the association representing election officials in Ohios 88 counties, who administer elections, previously said they wanted the legislative primaries to be held Aug. 2. The court's Friday decision was disappointing, said state Sen. Vernon Sykes, an Akron Democrat and redistricting commission co-chair. But he noted the ruling only affects elections this year. The Ohio Redistricting Commission still has the responsibility to draw fair, constitutional maps for the rest of the decade and I will continue to work toward that goal, Sykes 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 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A California man pleaded guilty Friday to plotting to blow up the state Democratic Partys headquarters in what prosecutors said was the first in a planned series of politically-motivated attacks after the defeat of former President Donald Trump. Ian Benjamin Rogers, 46, of Napa, pleaded guilty to conspiring to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun under a plea agreement that could bring him seven to nine years in federal prison. U.S. prosecutors in San Francisco charged Rogers and Jarrod Copeland with conspiring to attack targets they associated with Democrats after Trump's defeat in the November 2020 presidential election. The pair hoped their attacks would prompt a movement, prosecutors said when they announced the charges in July. Copeland, 38, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and destruction of records. I want to blow up a democrat building bad, Rogers wrote in one of the messaging apps he used to communicate with Copeland, according to the indictment. In a different message he said that after Democratic President Joe Biden was inaugurated, we go to war. Their first planned target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said. Law enforcement officers who searched Rogerss home in January 2021 seized nearly 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs, prosecutors said. He was taken into custody then on state charges after the FBI said he sent text messages that agents perceived as threats against the unoccupied Governors Mansion and social media companies Facebook and Twitter. Under a universal agreement, the federal sentence will be served concurrently with a 10- to 12-year state sentence on similar Napa County charges of possessing fully automatic weapons and explosive devices, said Rogers' attorney, Colin Cooper. Rogers has never been in trouble before, Cooper said. Hes accepted responsibility and he is desirous of paying his debt to society and resuming a life of productivity, of being a good father and good husband and a good family man with an 11-year-old son, Cooper said. He feels awful about what happened and what hes done to his family, and hes a guy I think well never see again in the (criminal justice) system. Rogers remains in custody awaiting his sentencing, set for Sept. 30. 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 OMAHA In March, a jury in Los Angeles swiftly and decisively convicted then-U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of two counts of lying to federal agents and one count of trying to conceal the source of $30,000 in dirty campaign funds. Now, the former Nebraska congressman wants those convictions overturned. The basis for that request: Fortenberry, a Republican from Lincoln who represented Nebraskas 1st District, says that any misstatements he made were not substantive, or material, to federal authorities' investigation. To be convicted under federal law, its not enough to just lie to agents, that lie must be over something substantial and it must throw off an investigation. In turn, Fortenberrys attorneys argued: So what if Fortenberry claimed to not know he was told that $30,000 in campaign contributions came from a Nigerian billionaire? It had no effect on federal agents, because they already knew the billionaire had funneled the money. The law does not criminalize every false statement that is made to the government, Fortenberry's attorney, John Littrell, wrote in a recent brief. (It) criminalizes only the falsification or concealment of a material fact. It must have 'a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, the decision of the (agency) to which it was addressed.'" That didnt happen in the case of the U.S. v. Jeff Fortenberry, Littrell argued. For that reason, Littrell asked U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. to throw out the jurys convictions. Blumenfeld scheduled a hearing on that motion for June 28, the same day he is set to sentence Fortenberry in Los Angeles. Fortenberry faces up to five years in prison on each of the three federal convictions. Such motions are uphill battles. Judges give great deference to jury verdicts. And in this case, federal prosecutors have noted that Blumenfeld has rejected similar defense motions, made both before and during trial, to dismiss the case on the contention that the lies were immaterial. Prosecutors have noted that their investigation of Fortenberry was part of a larger probe known as Operation Titans Grip of foreign donations to political campaigns. It is illegal for elected officials to accept foreign money. The titan in this case: Gilbert Chagoury, a billionaire of Lebanese descent now living in France, who has donated to the foundation of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former U.S. Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska; former presidential candidate and current U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah; and U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa of California. The Clinton Foundation didnt have to pay the money back; foreign donations to foundations are allowed. But Terry, Romney and Issa all disgorged the money from their campaigns after being told the money was from overseas. (Disgorging is a process in which a politician rids the suspect money from his war chest and donates it to charity.) Fortenberry didnt do the same for more than three years not until long after he lied to the FBI in two separate interviews. Hence his prosecution. A day after his conviction, Fortenberry gave up his seat rather than continue his run for a ninth term. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat from Lincoln, and state Sen. Mike Flood, a Republican from Norfolk, are vying to replace him in a special election that will take place the same day as Fortenberry's sentencing. According to testimony at Fortenberry's trial: Chagoury had provided the seed money for In Defense of Christians, a group founded by Toufic Baaklini to protect religious minorities in the Middle East. Chagoury funneled the money, through Baaklini, to a Fortenberry campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles involving friends and relatives of Dr. Eli Ayoub, a physician who once attended Creighton University. Chagourys son delivered $30,000 in cash in a brown paper bag to Ayoub. Ayoub then had his family and friends write checks to Fortenberry for his support for the cause, and reimbursed them with Chagourys cash. Soon after the fundraiser, Fortenberry had noticed something suspicious about the donations: the bulk of them came from the same last name. Later, in a recorded phone call, Ayoub told him that there was a problem, that all of the money had probably come from Chagoury. Despite that, Fortenberry told the FBI that he wasnt aware that Baaklini had arranged any illegal contributions. During a second interview, he told authorities that Ayoub hadnt told him that Baaklini had given Ayoub $30,000 cash. Jurors convicted him of both lies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Har noted that an FBI agent testified that investigators wondered if Fortenberry was being evasive because he wanted to conceal an ongoing financial relationship with Baaklini and Chagoury. That makes Fortenberrys lies and denials substantive to the ongoing investigation, she said. Each of the defendants lies about the contributions at the Los Angeles fundraiser and the involved persons forced the government to then further explore the possible motives for defendants lies and concealment, Har wrote. Whether there was a corrupt relationship or conspiracy involving defendant for past or future contributions, whether there were related bribery or gratuity crimes and whether there were any attempts to commit future crimes. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 OMAHA No charges will be filed in a case involving an intoxicated Omaha man who died after being pushed by another man following a road rage altercation, officials said Friday. The Omaha Police Department's Homicide Unit has been investigating the death of 57-year-old Paul Arispe, who hit his head May 15 when 19-year-old Benjamin R. Yarbrough shoved him to the ground. Arispe died two days later. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Friday the investigation found that Arispe was the aggressor and Yarbrough had pushed him defensively. The two men had been driving in the area in separate vehicles when something occurred on the street that angered Arispe, Kleine said. Arispe continued to follow Yarbrough, who was directed by his mother in a cellphone call to drive to her home near 32nd and Drexel streets. At the house, Arispe pulled up behind Yarbrough and was upset when he got out of the vehicle, Kleine said. Arispe followed Yarbrough to the front yard of the house, where the confrontation occurred, police said. Yarbrough pushed Arispe, who fell over the curb and struck his head on the concrete. Yarbrough shoved Arispe "to get away from him," Kleine said. "He did it because this guy was coming at him in an aggressive fashion." Omaha police officers went to the home shortly after 8 p.m. after someone called 911. Arispe was taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where he died May 17. "There was no weapon, no punches thrown. It's very tragic, but it's not something that's chargeable," Kleine said. Kleine said the toxicology report from Arispe's autopsy showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.252% more than three times the legal driving limit. Kleine said Yarbrough didn't know what he had done to anger Arispe while they were driving. Because no charges will be filed, Arispe's death is not counted as a homicide in police records. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy will headline a fundraising luncheon for 1st District GOP congressional candidate Mike Flood at the Country Club of Lincoln on Friday. The $100-per-person event will include "sponsorship level" donations up to $5,800. McCarthy is positioned to become Speaker of the House if Republicans gain majority control following the November elections. The California Republican has been under fire recently for his refusal to cooperate with subpoenas to appear before the House special committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify the election of President Joe Biden. McCarthy had been in contact with former President Donald Trump during the day's events. "For House Republican leaders to agree to participate in this political stunt would change the House forever," McCarthy wrote in a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal shared with Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who also declined to honor a subpoena to appear before the special committee. The House committee issued the subpoenas earlier this month. Flood is matched against Democratic candidate Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln in a June 28 special election to fill the remaining six months of the term vacated by former Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry when he resigned from the House following his conviction on charges that he lied to federal officials about illegal foreign campaign contributions to his 2016 reelection campaign. Flood and Pansing Brooks will meet again in November in a rematch for election to a new two-year term, beginning in January. The two candidates were chosen by party leaders to meet in the special election and nominated by primary election voters to compete in the November general election. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 1 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. When civil war erupted in Sudan in 1983, Omahas promise of affordable housing and job opportunities made the city a prime location for Sudanese refugees fleeing violence. But it wasnt economics alone that drew them to build a new home in the Midwest. The Rev. Joshua Riek Mock, a prominent preacher and physician in East Africa, became a beacon for other Sudanese migrants when he settled his family in Omaha in the late 1990s. Mock died on May 9. He was believed to be 78 years old, though his exact birthdate is unknown. In Africa, Mock and his wife, Benter Riek Mock, both served as physicians assistants, traveling the continent to provide medical services. Mocks son, Seth Riek, said his father always had a passion for healing, both spiritually and physically. I think what inspired him so much to be a physician, especially in a place like Eastern Africa, was seeing so much poverty, so many people struggling, he said. Thats also what inspired him to be a minister. He felt those two things go hand-in-hand. Mock pastored at two of the largest refugee camps in Africa before he came to the United States in 1995, originally settling in Des Moines, Iowa, before uprooting once more and moving the family to Omaha in 1997. By the year 2000, about 2,500 Sudanese refugees had settled in Omaha. The city is believed to have one of the largest populations of South Sudanese people in the U.S., with more than 10,000 calling Omaha home. Mocks children said the large concentration of South Sudanese people is, in part, because word spread that their father had made a home here. It helped motivate the refugee community to follow where he was at, and many of them, once they heard he was there, they thought it must be a trustable place to establish a new home, a new community, Seth Riek said. As the family settled into their new home, Mock sought to find ways to continue his passion for healing. With his wife, he founded Riek Mock Arm of God Ministries, a nondenominational church serving Omaha and Bellevue. On Sundays, family members and volunteers would bus children to South Omaha to hold a childrens service with fresh food in local parks and community centers. Through the church, they operate a medical outreach program, collecting donated medical supplies like wheelchairs and inhalers to give to those in need. According to Seth Riek, Mock also continued his work in medicine in the U.S. as a health care consultant. Mocks family and friends are dedicated to carrying his legacy forward and many of them have already done so. One of Mocks children, Akilah Ahok, recently opened the African Community and Learning Center, a gathering place and educational hub for African immigrants settling in Omaha. The ministry continues to be family run. Beyond the family, Seth Riek said community members have started to follow in his fathers footsteps, too. Theres a lot of folks from the African community that are now out there working in the community because of what they saw him do, he said. Some are going into ministry, some are going into health care. He really inspired this new generation growing up right now, especially those who are appreciating the new life here and realizing the opportunities they have access to. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Womens Club hosted its annual Spring Luncheon fundraiser at the Country Club of Lincoln. Guest speaker Pippa White, actress and storyteller, shared Women Who Changed History. Special guest was University of Nebraska First Lady Lynda Carter. This event is the clubs main fundraiser for student scholarships. UNL Womens Club gave $25,000 to 12 students this past year. UNLWC also donates groceries and personal care items to the Husker Pantry. Donations at the Spring Luncheon included 500 pounds of food/personal care products, $150 and donations through Amazon. Spring Luncheon Committee members were Karen Buckley, Eileen Carroll (chair), Miriam McCormick, Debby Raddatz-Portnoy, Kelly Powell, Nancy Weller and Chris Zyglebaum. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lincoln Northeast High School students have completed construction of an affordable home at 5701 Ballard Ave. Overcoming many challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the students, their instructor Bob Freese, contractor and Lincoln Housing Authority staff members worked together to finish the home by the end of the school year. Generous financial contributions made by the Sowers Club of Nebraska Foundation, Lienemann Charitable Foundation, Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation, First National Bank of Omaha, and City of Lincoln Urban Development also made the project possible. The three-bedroom, two-bath house has 1,200 square feet of living space and includes a two-stall, attached garage. Northeast students have built a total of 28 houses since the residential construction program began in 1994. Homes built by Northeast students are sold to Lincoln Housing Authority tenants at an affordable price under LHA's lease/purchase home ownership program. Lincoln Public Schools' residential construction program provides students the opportunity to learn about and explore their talents in construction trades as a potential career while generating a much-needed affordable housing unit. Students frame in the house, install siding and roof sheathing, apply foundation insulation coating, paint the interior, install doors and complete finish carpentry work. LHA funds pay for excavating the basement, pouring the foundation, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and concrete work, all of which are subcontracted out. The general contractor for this year's house is Burt Muehling, owner of Muehling Homes. Students who worked on building the house are Christopher Amory, Jack Bouwens, Tristan Brandt, Shane Burianek, Chaz Crouse, Nickolas Douglas, Jake Dunn, Brock Earlywine, Joseph Ferguson, Austin Finney, Camdyn Golden, Brayden Jennett, Trevor Jurgens, Alexis Lopez, Ian Lyon, Jalayah Madlock, Mer Puoch, Jordan Sacks, Aiden Shottenkirk, Troy Slechta, Tyler Stefkovich, Ian Tinsley, Marques Turner, Gavin Way, Hunter Whitney, Kelton Williams, Dylan Woodward and Lathan Zabel. For more information about the program, contact Chris Lamberty, LHA executive director, at 402-434-5540. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On May 27, BP presented a decarbonization master plan for Azerbaijan to the Energy Ministry in support of the country's energy transition, Azernews reports. The paper includes an in-depth assessment of proposals and recommendations for decarbonization and describes Azerbaijans renewable potential and low carbon opportunities including pathfinder renewable energy projects, as well as projects and opportunities that can be assisted by BP. Moreover, based on the strategic rationale for decarbonization, the paper presents the feasible outcomes of this process for Azerbaijan out to 2050. Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov in a comment on this issue stated that Azerbaijan's transformative priorities and plans to develop as a green growth country and create a net zero-emission green energy zone necessitate the introduction of low-carbon approaches. He added that this document provides advanced solutions to build Azerbaijan's energy system based on renewable energy sources and a low-carbon future, and to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by up to 40 percent. "BP's support for the decarbonization process, as well as participation in the implementation of our green agenda, elevates our long-term and reliable partnership in the hydrocarbon sector to a new level and paves the way for our joint contribution to global climate goals," he said. In turn, BP's Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey Gary Jones noted that the development of the master plan and todays presentation marks a step forward in BPs cooperation with the Azerbaijani government in support of the countrys energy transition efforts. "Since the signing of the MOU last year, we have worked hard to develop this master plan for Azerbaijan, building on the expertise of low carbon technology and business models from across the BP Group. We are pleased that we are already in action on a number of components of this plan," he said. Gary Jones also expressed the hope that BP will continue to play a leading role in helping Azerbaijan develop its energy resources both in hydrocarbons and increasingly in low carbon. To recall, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the ministry and BP in February 2021 on the cooperation in assessing the potential and conditions required for large-scale decarbonized and integrated energy and mobility systems, including renewable energy projects in the regions and cities of Azerbaijan. Since then BP and Energy Ministry, as well as various government institutions have been closely cooperating to prepare the master plan. The paper, presented today, is based on wide-ranging discussions of various decarbonization opportunities for the country. "BP and the Ministry of Energy will continue to work closely together towards the realization of Azerbaijans low carbon energy development vision and the countrys overall sustainability goals," BP added. BP opened its first office in Baku in June 1992 and has since then contributed to Azerbaijans oil and gas sector development through operating projects, such as Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG), Shah Deniz, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). Rick Waldren of Lincoln was named winner of the May Heart of 4-H award in recognition of outstanding volunteer service. For about 15 years, he has volunteered to drive 430 miles round-trip to a hatchery in Iowa to get the fertilized eggs used in the Lancaster County 4-H Embryology School Enrichment Program. Embryology allows third graders to witness baby chicks hatching in their classrooms. Waldren makes three trips annually to coincide with the three spring Embryology sessions in schools and on EGG Cam. He is a member of Lincoln Northeast Kiwanis Club, which helped establish the program in 1975, and continues to support the program. Last year, 3,784 students in 216 classrooms at 62 schools participated. I like volunteering because the third graders involved in the Embryology program have active learning activities about embryo development, genetic traits and poultry reproduction, Waldren said. For many students, this is the first time they experience seeing a developing embryo. Also, for many, this is the first time they experience life and death. Although its the third grade classes that monitor the incubation process, when the chicks begin hatching, the entire school gets excited and many other students come to see the baby chicks. Waldren has judged 4-H crop projects at several county fairs in the area and at the Nebraska State Fair. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DALLAS (AP) Airlines and tourist destinations are expecting monster crowds this summer as travel restrictions ease and pandemic fatigue overcomes lingering fear of contracting COVID-19 during travel. Many forecasters believe the number of travelers will match or even exceed levels in the good-old, pre-pandemic days. However, airlines have thousands fewer employees than they did in 2019, and that has at times contributed to widespread flight cancellations. People who are only now booking travel for the summer are experiencing the sticker shock. Domestic airline fares for summer are averaging more than $400 a round trip, 24% higher than this time in 2019, before the pandemic, and a whopping 45% higher than a year ago, according to travel-data firm Hopper. "The time to have gotten cheap summer flights was probably three or four months ago," says Scott Keyes, who runs the Scott's Cheap Flights site. Internationally, fares are also up from 2019, but only 10%. Prices to Europe are about 5% cheaper than before the pandemic $868 for the average round trip, according to Hopper. Keyes said Europe is the best travel bargain out there. Online spending on U.S. flights eased in April after a torrid March, but it's still up 23% from spring 2019 mostly because of higher prices, according to Adobe Analytics. Airlines blame the steeper fares on jet fuel roughly doubling in price over 2019. It's more than that, however. The number of flights has not returned to pre-pandemic levels even though demand for travel is surging. "We have more travelers looking to book fewer seats, and each of those seats is going to be more expensive for airlines to fly this summer because of jet fuel," says Hopper economist Hayley Berg. When travelers reach their destination, they will be greeted with hotel rates that are up about one-third from last year. Hotels are filling up faster, too. Hotel companies blame the higher prices on increasing cost for supplies as well as workers in a tight labor market. Rental cars were hard to find and very expensive last summer, but that seems to have eased as the rental companies rebuild their fleets. The nationwide average price is currently around $70 a day, according to Hopper. Jonathan Weinberg, founder of a rental car shopping site called AutoSlash, said prices and availability of vehicles will be very uneven. It won't be as bad as last summer, but prices for vehicles will still be "way above average, if you can even find one," in Hawaii, Alaska and near destinations such as national parks. Even if you drive your own car, it'll still be pricey. The national average for regular gasoline hit $4.60 a gallon on Thursday more than $6 in California. Those prices have some people considering staying home. "You don't really get used to $6 gas," said Juliet Ripley of San Diego as she paid $46.38 to put 7.1 gallons in her Honda Civic. The single mom of two has no summer vacation plans other than an occasional trip to a nearby beach. For those determined to travel, however, it is an open question whether airlines, airports, hotels and other travel businesses will be able to handle them. More than 2.1 million people a day on average are boarding planes in the United States, about 90% of 2019 levels and a number that is sure to grow by several hundred thousand a day by July. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has tapped nearly 1,000 checkpoint screeners who can move from one airport to another, depending on where they are needed most. "We are as ready as we possibly can be," says TSA chief David Pekoske. Airlines that paid employees to quit when travel collapsed in 2020 are now scrambling to hire enough pilots, flight attendants and other workers. The largest four U.S. airlines American, Delta, United and Southwest together had roughly 36,000 fewer employees at the start of 2022 than before the pandemic, a drop of nearly 10%, despite aggressive hiring that started last year. Pilots are in particularly short supply at smaller regional airlines that operate nearly half of all U.S. flights under names like American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express. Airlines are trimming summer schedules to avoid overloading their staffs and canceling flights at the last minute. This week, Delta cut about 100 flights a day, or 2%, from its July schedule, and more than 150 flights a day on average, or 3%, in August. Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue previously reduced summer flights. Cancellations aren't limited to the U.S. In the United Kingdom, easyJet and British Airways scrubbed many flights this spring because of staffing shortages. Air travel within Europe is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels this summer, although visitors from outside the region will likely be down 30% from 2019, according to a new report from the European Travel Commission. The group doesn't expect international travel to return to normal until 2025. Russia's war in Ukraine does not appear to be hurting bookings to most of Europe, according to travel experts, but it will reduce the number of Russian and Ukrainian travelers, whose favorite destinations include Cyprus, Montenegro, Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania, the commission said. Russian tourists tend to be big spenders, so their absence will hurt tourism economies in those destinations. Also largely missing: Chinese tourists, the world's largest travel spenders, who remain largely restricted by their government's "zero-COVID" strategy. Some European destinations report that the number of Chinese tourists is down by more than 90% from 2019. ___ Kelvin Chan in London and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 RACINE Volunteering is Empathy in Action. This was the theme of the Salvation Army 2022 National Volunteer Week, April 17-23. It affirms the strong connection between volunteering and empathy. This human connection is at the heart of healthy individuals and strong communities. April was Volunteer Appreciation Month, a month dedicated to recognizing how important volunteering is and to honor the significant contributions volunteers make by generously donating their time and skills to worthy causes. Nonprofit organizations would not exist without volunteers who give freely of their time and resources. Many schools and colleges have merged volunteering into their required curriculum, requiring students to fulfill community service hours to graduate. Families can experience volunteering together. Children observe their parents commitment to their community through their action of giving. Retired men and women also have so much to offer as volunteers. They bring a lifetime of experience to their volunteer opportunity. They also have the luxury of time that younger families in the workforce do not have. Some businesses offer their employees the opportunity to volunteer in their community during their work hours. The Racine Salvation Army is a vital community-based, volunteer-supported organization that has been serving Racine for more than 130 years. The paid staff along with its essential volunteers maintain and grow The Salvation Armys many services and programs. Currently, there are 14 permanent volunteers who perform various duties at the food pantry, the Kids Weekend Backpack Food Program and the Healthy Kids Diner. At Christmas time, the Red Kettle Drive and Toy Shop Drive involve hundreds of local volunteers. This past season, 473 people volunteered. One such volunteer, Jerome Lewis, represents this population, but so much more. Lewis began helping at The Salvation Army five years ago. Initially, he began volunteering through the SER program, a community service, work-based job-training program for mature adults. Jerome began helping in The Salvation Army Senior Dining Program. He enjoyed serving and socializing with the Seniors during their lunch, activities, and fellowship. Because of his unattended alcoholism, resulting in some DUIs, he was sentenced for three months. The SER program took Jerome back into their program, and The Salvation Army wanted him to return too. Jeromes enthusiastic volunteering led him to a part-time job at The Salvation Army as Maintenance and Materials Handler. Jeromes desire to volunteer has extended to the Racine County Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court, first as a participant, and now as a mentor. In May, the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court will award Jerome with its Hero Award for outstanding service to the drug and treatment court community. Jerome is an outstanding volunteer who found redemption in giving to others as others have given to him. While Jerome might represent an atypical volunteer, he discovered the satisfaction in giving back and volunteering to help others. The Salvation Army volunteers embody a statement by Catherine Booth, the daughter of The Salvation Army founder, William Booth. You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The Salvation Army could use additional volunteers to help support its community services and programs. For volunteer opportunities, go to saracine.org or call 262-632-3147. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MADISON The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has selected Taylor Schaefer of Franksville as Wisconsins 75th Alice in Dairyland. In this position, Schaefer will work for the contract year as a full-time communications professional for DATCP, educating the public about the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin. Schaefers fondest memories stem from her familys beef and crop farm, where raising livestock and serving as a youth leader in the Racine County 4-H program ignited her passion for agriculture. Schaefer went on to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club and the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. In 2021, she interned with Mayer Beef and Folk Song Farm, where she broadened her knowledge of the Something Special from Wisconsin program and connected with consumers. She has since joined the Animal and Dairy Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a digital media intern and the Mid-West Farm Report as a farm assistant. In May 2022, Schaefer is scheduled to graduate with bachelors degrees in animal sciences and life sciences communication and a certificate in digital studies. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with the Mid-West Farm Report in Madison. As a young exhibitor, I looked up to Alice for her contributions towards reconnecting consumers to producers and ability to foster positive relationships between urban and rural community members, said Schaefer. As Alice, I will explore Wisconsins diverse agriculture industry and share my knowledge with audiences of all demographics across the state. Schaefer was selected at the 75th Alice in Dairyland Finals hosted by Dane County. She will begin her term as the 75th Alice in Dairyland on July 5. She succeeds 74th Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 STURTEVANT Community elected leaders from around Racine County met Thursday at the SC Johnson iMET Center, 2320 Renaissance Boulevard, to attend the first meeting of the Racine County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council. Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave gathered a group of more than a dozen elected officials from around Racine County, from Waterford Village President Don Houston to Racine Mayor Cory Mason, as well as Elmwood Park Village President Ernie Rossi, Caledonia Village President Jim Dobbs and Town of Norway Chair Jean Jacobson. This is not Racine Countys council. This is not Jonathan Delagraves council, said Delagrave, urging the community leaders to take charge of RCICC when the time came, using it as a powerful tool to build unity and strengthen the bonds between municipalities. Delagraves hope for the council over time is to become a collective for lobbying, banding together, and supporting each other with issues that impact them all. Delagrave will serve as chair of the RCICC for the first two meetings, and then step down. The role of chair will then go to Village Union Grove President Steve Wicklund. The council aims for unity between the leaders. For something to work, Delagrave urged the council to all be on the same page with one another. The council is set to meet on the third Thursday of January, March, May, August and November. While the August meeting is set to have the RCICC return to the iMET Center, all subsequent meetings will take place in different meeting places around Racine County as suggested by Town Chair of Norway, and newly appointed RCICC treasurer, Jean Jacobson. Thursdays meeting was mainly structural, setting up the main focus and institutional functions of the council. The members voted in favor of not amending any of the presented bylaws, which had been largely copied from the by-laws of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council in Milwaukee County. An amount of time was also spent discussing issues that impact several communities, such as proposing that more of the countys sales tax should go toward fire services and working on levy limits imposed by the state that limit all Wisconsin municipalities ability to control their own tax revenue. Another topic that was hoped to be discussed by many of the elected officials was the taxing of residents who rent out properties on the Airbnb vacation rental platform. There has also been pressure in recent years for more of Racine Countys fire departments to consolidate, which the council could facilitate. Delagrave encouraged the elected officials of each municipality and their administrators to attend each meeting. The topic of meeting dues was discussed, but not cemented Thursday. Delagrave suggested a figure of $200 per municipality a year, but understood elected officials would have to discuss it with their respective governments first. Funds going into the council will possibly be used to find host guest speakers or possibly hire lobbyists. Meetings will be open to the public unless otherwise specified ahead of time, but the chair will decide if oral comments from the public will be allowed at each meeting. If oral comments are not allowed, the chair will accept written comments in their place. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 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. RACINE Local municipal governments and law enforcement are joining forces to address the recent uptick in violent crime, but a lack of trust between them and the public may create hurdles moving forward. The Violent Crime Reduction Initiative was introduced on Thursday during a meeting with the public at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center. The plan involves a three-prong approach that includes the creation of a Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force, community programming, and community engagement. Community programming includes areas of workforce/business development, housing, education and crime prevention. Community engagement includes partnering with other government agencies, law enforcement, businesses, and community leaders. Were going to do everything we can, in a multi-prong approach, to make sure we honor your right to live in a safe neighborhood, said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. Mayor Cory Mason called the initiative the first of many steps to come to ensure were improving public safety here in the community. One day later, Mason announced hes pushing for a $2 million referendum to increase the Racine Police Departments staffing. Commitments Racine County District Patricia Hanson made multiple commitments, including one for increased transparency. Demonstrating she was aware of the lack of trust between her office and the community, she asked that people keep an open mind. I am committed to earning the trust that needs to exist between my office and the public, she said. Hanson said she would increase transparency with interested and affected parties in pending cases and those that have not been charged, where she is able. Hanson said she would be taking the following actions: Changes would be made to the how the Victim Witness Office , which is part of the DAs Office, makes contact with the surviving families of homicide to ensure those contacts occur sooner. The Victim Witness Office will be partnering with to offer greater support to families of murder victims. The DAs Office intends to form an advisory group of mothers who have lost a loved one to advise the office on gun violence prevention. Hanson said the reality was that gun violence prevention begins at home and encouraged families to have honest conversations. She also asked the community for their support in preventing gun violence, adding if you see something, say something. Help us take illegal guns away from criminals and gangs, she said. Help us get those guns off the street. Past The meeting held Thursday was overshadowed by previous events, including the officer-involved fatal shooting of DaShontay Day Day King the previous weekend. Even while those in the criminal justice system asked for the trust of the public, the family noted the body cam video of the shooting had still not been released and the family had received little information. Antoinette Hicks, whose son Demond Hicks was killed in February, was at the meeting with Voices of Black Mothers United. She is also Kings cousin. She described herself as waiting waiting for answers on the shooting death of her son and her cousin. You say youve got body cameras, I want to see that, she said. Im going to give you the benefit of the doubt but I do want answers in both cases. Contention The issue of body cam footage was contentious. Hanson explained body cam footage is evidence that will not be released before a case has concluded, just like any other evidence. She said that in criminal cases, releasing body cam footage could influence the jury pool and witnesses. Hanson said there might be a difference response for families, but evidence is generally not released to the public or the media in cases that have not been adjudicated. One speaker pointed out there seemed to be an exception for law enforcement in terms of who can see evidence, such as body cam video. She pointed out the Racine County Sheriffs Office was allowed access to body cam footage connected to the death of an inmate last year, even though the office was under investigation for that death, and Sheriff Christopher Schmaling did release the body cam footage to the public. Local law enforcement entities, such as RCSO and local police departments, have some discretion over what they release. Hanson said she and Schmaling respectfully disagreed about the release of that body cam footage. I dont think that should have been released, and it certainly should not have been released in the manner in which it was, she said. She did not address the access of evidence given to law enforcement during investigations, with special reference to body cam videos. In reference to the body cam footage from the shooting of King, Hanson said at this point, I dont even have all the information. Releasing partial information can be problematic, Hanson continued, because things can be misconstrued and people misled. She said when the information was complete, she would provide it to the family first. Officer-involved shooting An audience member also questioned the DA on training city and county officers could take to apprehend and arrest subjects in a way that does not end in a fatality for the suspect. Hanson said law enforcement officers already receive that training, per the standards set by the State of Wisconsin. There is not an officer in this county who does not continually train in those efforts, she said. Targeting The specific action both county and city law enforcement officers intend to undertake as a partnership includes targeting neighborhoods with high rates of gun crime. James Wagner, an RCSO chief deputy, said specialized enforcement will target those individuals that are engaged in violent behavior. Racine Police Department Assistant Chief Alex Ramirez said the data that will be used for targeted enforcement is being developed by the departments crime analyst, who came from the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Justice. He described the action as a tactical-focused patrol approach that used modern day, pro-active, intelligence-led, policing tactics. Targeting crime hot spots has long been controversial because the targeted areas are frequently in neighborhoods with dense poverty and minority populations. The criticism of this tactic stems from the increase in arrests for low-level crimes like disorderly conduct, driving without a license and petty drug crimes. Once in the criminal justice system, inmates often cannot afford to bail themselves out of jail. Then, those who are employed face loss of employment and the court fees can be crippling. Ramirez said he understood the optics of what could happen. Ramirez did not say if there was a plan in place to avoid what is known as over policing. Instead, he stressed the RPD respects the civil rights of its residents and would operate following the law, as they are sworn to do, and would continue to operate with respect to the Constitution. If there are complaints, he said, residents should contact the police department. Hanson stressed that technology allows law enforcement officers to focus on time and place. Its targeted to a street corner where there have been several shootings that have happened, she said. Were using data that sees no color, that sees no race. Hanson said the data will be used by the new Violent Crime Task Force. We go where the gunfire is. Opportunity Tanya Wooden, with Voices of Black Mothers United whose son Harry Canady Jr. was the victim of gun violence, implored the public to give the initiative a chance. She said a lot of the conversation at the meeting was on the law enforcement side, but that was not the side that brought her into the initiative. Rather, it was the opportunity for open conversations. She reminded the room that one of the prongs of the initiative was community programming, which was what she was most interested in. Wooden noted the opportunity for real people, with real money, who are interested in raising up people from the black community. Thats what Im committed to, she said, the process of building up and raising up people from the community with opportunities. Im here because I want to be part of the change. She noted the people in the room also want to be part of the change and were open to a new relationship. You said bring it, Wooden said, Im bringing it. 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. BURLINGTON Burlington High School students were placed under security precautions Friday when a student with a pipe had a mental health crisis, police said. School officials said the lock and hold security procedure means students were kept in their classrooms rather than being evacuated. According to Burlington Area School District, A Lock and Hold means that students continue with their schoolwork, but stay in their classroom. The 30-minute incident ended when the student with the pipe was taken into police custody without incident and without any injuries, the Burlington Police Department said in a statement. Police called the situation an isolated event and said school activities returned to normal after no other threats were found. Officials did not specify what sort of mental health crisis the student was having or what type of pipe they had. 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. 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 By Trend Azerbaijan and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov tweeted, Trend reports. "During the meeting with the Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkey Mustafa Varank, we talked about the strong ties between our countries, the development of economic relations and the establishment of joint institutions to strengthen cooperation in small and medium business, industry, as well as standardization and metrology," Jabbarov wrote. According to the minister, the sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen economic partnership. Story Public Health Seattle & King County, with support from Washington State Department of Health, is investigating a presumptive case of monkeypox virus infection reported to Public Health yesterday. The case is in an adult male with international travel in the past month to a country that has also reported monkeypox cases recently. Initial testing confirming an orthopoxviral infection was completed on Monday, May 23, 2022 at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory. Confirmatory testing will be done at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public Health is working with the patient and the patient's health care providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patient while he was infectious. The individual is isolating and does not pose a risk to others at this time. We have not identified any high-risk exposures in King County, and we are following up with people who had potential low risk exposures. The individual was not hospitalized and is recovering at home. "The public and healthcare providers should be aware of the growing international monkeypox outbreak," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health Seattle & King County. "At this time, we have no evidence that monkeypox is spreading locally, but if there are unrecognized cases, that is a possibility." "People should understand that the disease can affect anyone and those who are most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with monkeypox. The risk is not limited to men who have sex with men. "Anyone who has symptoms of monkeypox, or has been in contact with someone with monkeypox, should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. This is especially important for those who have also traveled in the last 30 days to a region reporting monkeypox cases, or who is a man who has sex with other men." "We at DOH continue to work with Public Health Seattle & King County and CDC to support the investigation of this case. The risk to the public is low, but it's important for clinicians and the public to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors for monkeypox," said Dr. Tao Kwan-Gett, Washington State Chief Science Officer. About Monkeypox Monkeypox is a rare viral illness that is uncommon in the U.S. The illness can begin with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes followed by a rash on the face and body or with an isolated rash in the genital or groin area, sometimes without other symptoms. When the rash involves the groin, it can be mistaken for other more common causes of sexually transmitted infections. People should be alert for the appearance of new rashes characterized by sores, bumps or fluid filled bumps and seek medical evaluation if they develop such a rash. Most people recover in 2-4 weeks, but the disease can be serious, especially for immunocompromised people, children, and pregnant women. The virus does not spread easily between people; transmission can occur through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or through respiratory droplets (saliva) from a case entering the eyes or mouth following prolonged face-to-face contact. In parts of central and west Africa where monkeypox occurs, people can be exposed through bites or scratches from rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products. As of this morning, in addition to this case, the CDC is aware of one confirmed and four other presumptive monkeypox cases in the U.S. Over 100 confirmed and suspected cases have been reported from the UK and Europe where health officials report many cases among men who have sex with men and likely sexual transmission. Guidance for public People who may have symptoms of monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider. This includes anyone who: traveled to central or west African countries, parts of Europe where monkeypox cases have been reported, or other areas with confirmed cases of monkeypox during the month before their symptoms began, had contact with a person with confirmed or suspected monkeypox, or, is a man who regularly has close or intimate contact with other men, including through an online website, digital application ("app"), or at a bar or party. Guidance for healthcare providers Based on recent cases, clinicians should consider a diagnosis of monkeypox in people who present with an otherwise unexplained rash and 1) traveled, in the last 30 days, to a country that has recently had confirmed or suspected cases of monkeypox 2) report contact with a person or people with confirmed or suspected monkeypox, or 3) is a man who reports sexual contact with more than one man in the past 30 days. Please report suspected cases immediately to Public Health at 206-296-4774. In King County, patients can be evaluated in the Public Health Seattle & King County Sexual Health Clinic, open M/W/TH/F 7:30 am - 6:00 pm and Tuesday 9:30 am - 6:00 pm. For more about this virus, visit www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has been busy in jail allegedly telling his life story to fellow inmates. The convicted sex offender is the subject of a new memoir, "Harvey Weinstein: My Story," that was independently published on Amazon in various formats on May 10. The book was available for purchase on Amazon until Friday, when the listing page was abruptly taken down. While it appeared to be written by Weinstein and was billed as "an autobiography told with remarkable candor," Newsweek reported Friday that the book was written by two of his fellow inmates and put out by Dennis Sobin, director of the nonprofit Prisons Foundation, which publishes the works of convicts. "As an author, he is unafraid to face his detractors with a full and honest account of what he did. You be the judge," read the "About the Author" section of the listing. (The L.A. Times reviewed the book's Amazon page before it was removed.) The 203-page tome, whose cover features a black-and-white photo of a young Weinstein, boasts about the former mogul's Oscar-winning career before his downfall in 2017. Helping to ignite the #MeToo movement, the New York Times and the New Yorker published damning, Pulitzer-winning investigations that year about his pattern of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Was any of that mentioned in the autobiography's description? Nope. Here's the book's jaw-dropping take on the 70-year-old's legacy: "Many people in the movie field are lucky if they get a single Academy Awards nomination. Do you know how many of them Weinstein received? Not three, not 35, but 350. And do you know how many Oscars? A total of 80 in virtually every category. Eighty first-place wins. In this book, Weinstein not only tells of his unconventional (some say 'inappropriate') methods but of the accusations that inevitably followed his success." It gets worse. The "About the Author" also branded the former Miramax power broker "an icon synonymous with the modern American movie industry." "He took chances in his professional and personal life. He weighed the odds and moved forward without hesitation. The results were astounding," it said. Astounding, indeed. Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted in New York in February 2020 of committing a criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. He has been accused of sexual assault, misconduct and harassment by more than 80 women in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Weinstein has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Newsweek obtained an excerpt from the book's introduction that explained its unusual backstory. "At this point, I must point out in the interest of full disclosure that our receiving this autobiography came in a circuitous way," the book passage said. "It was mailed to us from the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the prison in California housing Weinstein. But it was not mailed to us by Weinstein himself." The manuscript reportedly came by way of two inmates who said they had befriended Weinstein in confinement, and he relayed his story to them. Weinstein reportedly told the inmates that his lawyers won't allow him to tell his story directly now or previously during his New York trial. In September, Weinstein will stand trial for alleged sex crimes in Los Angeles, where prosecutors charged him with four counts of forcible rape, four counts of forcible oral copulation, two counts of sexual battery and one count of sexual penetration by force. He was extradited to L.A. last summer to stand trial after the case was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, court backlogs and other objections by his legal team. Weinstein is set to face 10 accusers in that trial but not actors Rose McGowan and Daryl Hannah and half of those witnesses will be alleging uncharged "prior bad acts," according to USA Today. The 11 felony charges involve five other accusers. Weinstein's autobiography arrived weeks before Ken Auletta, media critic for the New Yorker, is set to publish his Weinstein biography for Penguin Press on July 12. Auletta, who profiled Weinstein at the height of his career, named his book "Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Complicity." That biography is billed as "a deep dive into the life and career of Harvey Weinstein how he rose to become one of the most iconic figures in the world of movies, how he used that position to feed his monstrous sexual appetites, and why he was allowed to operate with such impunity for so many years." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The La Crosse Common Council is looking to ban conversion therapy in the city, a discredited practice aimed at changing a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. A new ordinance that would prohibit anyone from practicing conversion therapy with anyone under the age of 18 is heading before council next month. Having this ordinance would show we are committed as a city to creating a community that is welcoming, safe and inclusive for all, council member Mac Kiel, who is sponsoring the legislation, told the Tribune in the email. The purpose of the ban, according to the ordinance, is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of the city of La Crosse, especially the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including non-binary, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, and to protect them against the exposure to serious harms caused by conversion therapy. Kiel said the idea was first proposed to her by students with the UW-La Crosse Student Association. Conversion therapy has been overwhelmingly discredited by the medical and psychological community, including by major organizations around the world because it mischaracterizes that sexuality and sexual orientation can be changed or treated and is therefore ineffective, and for the harm it causes to already at-risk individuals, especially minors in the LGBTQ+ community. Efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation stated in a report. Currently, officials are unaware of any practices of conversion therapy in La Crosse, though it can sometimes be hard to identify because it is advertised or labeled as something other than conversion therapy, according to Kiel. I do feel it is still important we pass this ordinance to protect our youth and the LGBTQ community in La Crosse, Kiel said. The city defines conversion therapy as any practice or treatment, including counseling, that seeks to change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes attempting to change behaviors or expression, or eliminate or reduce someones romantic or sexual attraction to someone of the same gender. Counseling that provides support, acceptance and understanding by providing coping, social support and identity exploration and development, without attempting to sway someones sexual orientation or identity, isnt considered conversion therapy and is the prefered alternative, according to the APA task force. These practices would be allowed in La Crosse as long as they arent used to try and sway or change someones sexual identity or orientation. The ban has gained the support of the School District of La Crosse, the YWCA of La Crosse, health professionals and other community members. This ordinance will support our LGBTQIA+ community and protect and safeguard our children, La Crosse Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel said in a letter of support. The YWCA said in its letter of support that it looks forward to celebrating proudly if the council passes the ordinance next month, which is also Pride Month. Caitlyn Snyder, a counseling intern at Peace of Mind Counseling, said in a letter of support that shes seen the impact of conversion therapy. I have worked in the mental health field in La Crosse County for four years and have heard firsthand the trauma that this type of therapy has caused in our community members, she said. Snyder continued, saying, Human sexuality is not a disorder that needs to be treated. Conversion therapy is traumatic and the opposite of therapeutic. It has no place being conducted in our county. If passed next month, La Crosse would join about a dozen other communities around the state that have also passed similar bans, including Madison, Appleton, Eau Claire, Cudahy and most recently, Sun Prairie. There are currently six letters of support on file for the measure from various individuals and groups. The ordinance will go before the Judiciary & Law Committee next Tuesday, and before the La Crosse Common Council on June 9. 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. By Trend The first cargo shipment from the Chinese Tuanjiecun railway station will proceed through the Port of Baku to Finland, the port told Trend. The first train with 54 containers transported via Azerbaijan's Aghdam and Nakhchivan ferries from the Port of Kuryk (Kazakhstan) has been delivered to the Port of Baku as part of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). "Auto parts, plastic products, textile equipment, and other similar non-food products constitute the bulk of the cargo owned by Finnish Nurminen Logistics company. The cargo will thereafter be moved to the Georgian Poti Sea Port, after to the Romanian Port of Constanta across the Black Sea, and to Finland by block train," said the port. Nurminen Logistics' management had previously paid a visit to the Port of Baku and come to a decision about cargo trafficking from China through the territory of Azerbaijan. In Mays Atlantic magazine, Tim Alberta published an article titled, How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church. My skepticism kicked into overdrive when I discovered he interviewed just two churches in Michigan and a fringe church in Tennessee for his sources. Yet, his conclusions left me uncomfortable, like a nagging low-grade spiritual headache that told me he might be on to something. If this is a tale of 2 churches, it is also the tale of churches everywhere, he wrote. Its the story of American Christians who after a lifetime spent considering their political affiliations in the context of their faith, are now considering their faith affiliation in the context of their politics. While I still disagree with the extent of some of his assessments, his indictment still needs serious consideration: Evangelicals became compulsively political, allowing specific ethical arguments to snowball into full-blown partisan advocacy, he continued. Often in ways that distracted from their mission of evangelizing for Christ. Ive always been a believer in Christs command to be salt and light. That is, the church has an obligation to weigh-in in the marketplace of moral ideas and influence government within democratic structures. But in doing so, have so many self-avowed Christians crossed the line into a kind of advocacy that has distracted the church from its primary mission preaching salvation through Christ? I asked a pastor friend recently whether he thought politics had poisoned the church. Theres no doubt in my mind that politics has caused division in the Body of Christ in the last two years. Its effects are clear, he said emphatically. Something is obviously wrong. Instead of the church salting the earth, a toxic political scene has entered the very lifeblood of the church, seriously weakening its message. My pastor friend went on to say, The question to ask is, How did Jesus accept social change? He noted that Jesus was confronted daily with the cultural abuse of women, political elitism, and other social ills. But Jesus said, Im going to preach the gospel. Our hope is not in changing the laws, our hope is in Christ period, said the pastor. In the Apocalypse of John (Revelation) written to guide Gods people throughout the end times, Jesus is seen chastising the church at Ephesus. You have lost your first love, Jesus says. That just might be the message the church needs to hear today mission priority. Returning Jesus to front and center may just prove to be the antidote to help an ailing church heal a hurting society. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Fran Swift was in her 50s when she began working at the Parenting Place in La Crosse, but her childlike enthusiasm and wonder were still very much intact, so much so that a humble twig could spark her interest. One of her strengths as an educator was reminding parents what kids need is simplicity they need your attention, they need your love, they need simple ways to explore the world, recalls Nell Saunders-Scott, a former patron and then staff member at The Parenting Place. She loved sticks. She would tell people, Just go on a walk with your kids. Theyll pick up a stick, theyll throw it in a puddle, theyll dig it in the dirt. I loved that she also would occasionally just pick up a good stick. She just kind of carried that joy of childhood through life. Swift, 76, died of a stroke May 13 during a visit to see her children and grandchildren in Massachusetts. She retired from The Parenting Place just last fall. Born Frances Mary Proferes, Swift graduated from Bay Path College and met her husband, Dick, a photographer, while working as a flight attendant. Swift went on to teach elementary school students in Winona and then Connecticut, and settled in La Crosse in 1991 with Dick and their children, Aimee and Henry. Swift began working at The Parenting Place, formerly called Family Resources, in 1998, serving as a parent educator, organizing the weekly Play Shoppe and running the annual Childrens Festival. She authored the childrens book Old Blue Buggy and was a firm believer in imaginative play, even when it meant getting a little messy. At The Childrens Place, Saunders Scott recalls, glitter was not off limits, and Henry, father of three with wife Sophie, says presents for the grandkids sparked creativity. Last Christmas she shipped us a junk box full of various pieces of paper, egg cartons, jar lids and old household items shed carefully collected, Henry says. She knew the kids would get more fun out of that than any other present, and she was right. She had faith that children would find a creative way to play with simple things, and that was her philosophy behind Play Shoppe and the Childrens Festival. With the Childrens Festival, Aimee adds, Swift attempted to show people how simple things can delight children and that this is so good for them in this complicated world. A big pile of dirt can be endlessly entertaining, for example. Swift let the inventor emerge from children, Aimee says, helping to spark their dreams and be proud of their achievements. Swift knew how to truly listen to the youth she encountered, with an understanding of their needs and recognition of their feelings. She could set limits yet still allow them to feel heard, Aimee says. The heart and soul of The Parenting Place Jodi Widuch, executive director of The Parenting Place, worked with Fran for over two decades, and calls her the foundation, the touchstone, the heart and soul of that agency. She had a presence about her, and a warmth. She was able to connect with anybody and everybody. She was a fast friend, Widuch says. She had a great, deep understanding of children, and she had a deep joy for parenting. During her 23 years at The Parenting Place, Swift saw the face and challenges of parenting evolve, with the rise of the new technology and social media. But no matter the question or obstacle, simple or complex, Swift found a way to offer support, Widuch says, and she truly loved her work. When Saunders-Scott first came to The Parenting Place, she instantly taken with Swifts welcoming presence She was so encouraging to parents. She just had this way of listening (and an) understanding of the challenges parents go through, Saunders Scott says. Shed share little bits of wisdom. Mike Scott, parent educator at The Parenting Place, worked with Swift for 5 years prior to her retirement and was a family friend of over three decades. Like Aimee, Henry and Saunders-Scott, he fondly recalls Swifts gift for finding potential in a box, a milk jug, a dandelion, and her championing of free play. She would set scenes in our playroom that would invite curiosity and play but never saying to a child you should do it this way or that way, Scott says. If a child engaged through their own direction and initiative, then they would be swept off to world of their own imagination. You could actually see it physically. You would look at them and you could tell they had left our grown up reality and were now in a world constructed entirely of their own vision. Swift, Scott says, was a combination of wise, gentle and playful Everything about her was soft, welcoming and benevolent and she knew the ins and outs of child development. Fran understood that a tantrum was not disobedience but an outward expression of a child who was frustrated about not knowing how to act in a situation or how to deal with strong emotions, Scott says. That teaching would have to come later but, for now, the only thing needed is compassionate understanding. Scott likens Swifts philosophy to that of Mr. Rogers: Love your child the way they are, for who they are, without conditions. Sometimes new parents would arrive at a program and confide in her that they were worried that their child was weird or socially awkward, Scott says. And Frans response was always, Perhaps, but isnt it wonderful? When Saunders-Scott became a colleague to Swift, in many ways she saw her the same way inviting, warm, spirited but also got to know her on more personal level, sharing stories about their own lives. Swifts approach to children and parenting, Saunders Scott says, not only shaped the way she raised her children but has impacted generations of our community ... who will always be influenced by her and remember her. So great was the impression she made on the La Crosse community, Swift was selected as the Tribunes Person of the Year in 2009. In Swifts profile article, Widuch is quoted as saying, I cant think of another person who makes others feel better about being a parent. Swift told the Tribune, I know how much the parents I work with love their children. Im filled with compassion for the parents I see and try to reach out to them. The Parenting Place, Widuch says, is really fortunate our parent educators were able to learn from her. Her legacy will really continue in a lot of different ways. Of Swifts decision to work well beyond the traditional retirement age, Widuch says, There was a place for her here and she had purpose, and the parenting community continued to value her and learn so much from her. Memories of Mom In her Person of the Year profile, Swift told the Tribune, Our children have been central in our lives. We are still learning from them every day. Aimee, born in 1969, and Henry, born in 1985, describe her as compassionate, genuinely interested in others and a lover of good food. Her first thought, Henry says, was always of others, and she didnt rest until everyone was comfortable, fed and tended to. Swift went out of her way, Aimee notes, to make people feel special and to show recognition for their contributions to the world. Dick passed away in September 2021, and Swift was in Massachusetts for Mothers Day weekend with her family when she suffered a fatal stroke. She had spent time with Henrys three children and gone for a drive with Aimee around the area her kids hoped she might move there, knowing while she loved La Crosse and her memories there with her husband, her friends and The Parenting Place, Swift also wanted to be near family. Throughout the day of driving, dining and listening to music, Swift and Aimee talked about all the possibilities. This was something we often did on our daily calls talk about all of the possibilities in our lives, which breed of dog to get, which path to take at work, anything, everything. When I dropped her off at my brothers house seven hours later and gave her a hug goodbye, I had no idea it was the last time we would talk of these things, Aimee says. I miss her every day. Invited to name a favorite memory, Aimee shared not an event but the way her mom made her feel each and every day. Its more a feeling of constant love and support, her always being there to talk and to listen, to remember and to celebrate, all the big and especially little moments of each day, each year, and my whole life up until now, Aimee says. That is what I remember of her the most. To share a favorite memory or parenting tip from Fran, visit https://www.theparentingplace.net/fran-swift/#commentform. Condolences to Frans family can be sent to The Parenting Place, 1500 Green Bay St., La Crosse, WI. 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. Monroe County has returned to low-risk status for COVID-19. The Monroe County Health Department announced May 27 that the county is no longer at high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Earlier this month, the county was one of seven in Wisconsin that had reached a high-risk category. According to the health department, Monroe County hospitals are seeing limited impacts of COVID-19, and few people are experiencing severe illness. The department encourages anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, has COVID-19 symptoms or has been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 to wear a mask. Some places where people gather --hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, shelters and jails -- may still require masks. The department also urges anyone with suspected COVID-19 symptoms to stay home. Anyone with questions can call the health department at 608-269-8666 or visit https://healthymonroecowi.org/covid-19. La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@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. 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. Wade's 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 can't 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 Biden's 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 court's 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 don't have an army. We don't 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 what's going on in the country doesn't 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It was sometime in the late 2000s that Kurt Justice noticed something was off. A fishing guide with three decades of experience, Justice knew how to catch walleye on the Minocqua Chain of Lakes, historically one of Wisconsins premier walleye fisheries. It was nothing for me to go out and find fish, Justice said. But toward the end of that season he wasnt catching many smaller fish. The next year was worse. There were no eater walleyes, he remembers thinking. Theres something wrong. Today, after years of intensive stocking and harvest restrictions, walleye continue to struggle in the Oneida County fishery where warmer-water species like bass and bluegill have taken over. And the problem isnt unique to those lakes, or walleye. Its not entirely clear why. Habitat degradation and overfishing are factors, but scientists increasingly believe warming temperatures are making many lakes unsuitable for cold and cool-water species like trout, walleye and whitefish. The problem is expected to get worse in the coming decades as temperatures continue to climb. And that may require a different approach to wildlife management, according to a new report published in the journal Fisheries Management and Ecology. Wisconsin spends millions of dollars each year on efforts to maintain populations of popular species like walleye, trout and whitefish. But those efforts to resist change are often ineffective, said Zach Feiner, a research scientist with UW-Madisons Center for Limnology and lead author of the report. In many lakes it doesnt seem to be working very well, Feiner said. What were doing now is maybe stocking lakes that are becoming too warm to really be able to sustain walleye populations into the future. Instead, researchers say it may be time to accept that change and think about other strategies for managing a resource that supports some 14,000 jobs, generates about $1.9 billion in annual economic activity and produces more than 4,600 tons of food each year. As an angler, Feiner said he wants to maintain as many opportunities as possible, whether that means catching walleye and trout or bass and bluegills. The science is pretty clear that Wisconsin fish communities are facing pretty rapid change in the next half-century to century due to climate change, Feiner said. Youd rather be proactive than reactive when it comes to management. Disappearing habitat Between 1990 and 2017, adult walleye populations declined by more than a third in the northern third of Wisconsin, and reproduction rates have slowed as well, meaning the fish cant keep up with current harvest levels, according to a study by UW-Madison researcher Holly Embke. And based on current climate models, the conditions for cool and cold-water species will only get worse in the coming decades, according to a report released last year by the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impact (WICCI). The Department of Natural Resources estimates Wisconsin has more than 420 lakes with the cool, dark waters where walleye thrive. By 2089, the WICCI report predicts, there will be just four. The outlook for trout is almost as grim. By 2065, climate change is expected to claim nearly 70% of Wisconsins native brook trout habitat and almost a third of the streams that currently support brown trout, according to a 2019 study by DNR scientist Matthew Mitro. The outlook isnt brilliant, said Duke Welter, a volunteer with Trout Unlimited whos been trout fishing since the early 1980s and worked for about 30 years on habitat restoration efforts in the Driftless Region. Welter said hes already noticed bass outnumbering trout on some bigger streams. Really, theyre becoming smallmouth fisheries, Welter said. That doesnt mean Wisconsin wont still have walleye and trout. Were not talking about the demise of walleye in Wisconsin, he said. There are places where walleye are doing great. In rivers, walleye are doing pretty well. In fact, Feiner and other researchers are turning their attention to those bright spots where walleye and other threatened species are thriving to understand what are the things that are allowing them to do well. A new framework Feiner suggests resource managers consider a new framework of strategies known as RAD or resist-accept-direct. When youre faced with a massive ecological change, like climate change, your options are to do things to resist that change and kind of keep the status quo, you can accept that change ... or you can direct that change ... where youre taking a more active role in shepherding that system to a new state that might have better services for your stakeholders, he said. The RAD framework has been evolving for years, said Abigail Lynch, a fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Services Climate Adaptation Science Centers. These concepts are not necessarily novel, Lynch said. But the framing around RAD has resonated with a lot of people. Lynch said resource managers are most comfortable with resistance which can take the form of stocking, harvest restrictions or landscape restorations in an effort to maintain the status quo or return ecosystems to a prior state. But that approach may not work in the face of widespread ecological change. Theres no stable state to return to, Lynch said. Our landscapes are changing. Our fish communities are changing. If we keep our heads in the sand and continue to resist beyond when resist options are effective its going to be very costly and were going to have more extreme consequences to our natural resources. Testing the waters In 2015, as part of a 10-year rehabilitation plan, the DNR along with private and tribal partners increased stocking efforts and implemented a catch-and-release policy for the Minocqua chain. The results have not been promising. While the walleye population has rebounded, the fish arent reproducing at a sustainable rate, and recent studies have shown the ratio of males to females is out of balance. Last year, the DNR extended the ban on keeping fish for another five years as researchers try to figure out exactly why the fish have failed to thrive. In another test of the resistance strategy, a team led by UW researcher Embke recently wrapped up a five-year experiment to rid one northern Wisconsin lake of bass, bluegill and other warm-water species to see if the walleye population would rebound without the competition. It didnt help. Using nets, traps and electric shocks, Embkes team pulled nearly 300,000 sunfish from McDermott Lake in Iron County. The yellow perch population exploded, but walleye didnt respond. Embke said while yellow perch and walleye prefer similar habitats, walleye seem to be less able to adapt to warmer and clearer waters, even in the absence of competition. We threw tons and tons of effort out there much more than would be feasible for a management agency and we didnt get a response, she said. We may need to accept that walleye are not going to thrive in all systems, specifically in these warming systems, and start to direct those systems toward alternative fisheries. DNR spokesperson Sarah Hoye said the department recognizes climate change is a major influence on the states fisheries and deploys a combination of resistance and acceptance strategies. That includes stocking and habitat restoration efforts where feasible while accepting the expansion of popular sportfish like bass and bluegill. Hoye said the department has not employed ecological direction strategies, which are inherently difficult and involve relocating species that could have negative impacts. However, the agency promotes the states growing bass and panfish fisheries. We hope that directing angler attention to them increases their popularity so that future anglers who may have preferred a meal of walleye will be just as satisfied with a meal of bluegill, at least in those places where resisting walleye declines was no longer feasible, Hoye said. Shifting attitudes Feiner said hes not advocating any single approach. The hope for these documents is really to start a conversation, he said. See whats working, what isnt working, what may become less effective in the future. That could mean changing how fisheries are managed, or convincing anglers to eat bass, which have typically been associated with catch and release fishing. Its an attitude that can shift, Feiner said. Bass are perfectly good to eat. The shift will be especially challenging for Wisconsins native Ojibwe people, who have relied for centuries on walleye or ogaa to meet subsistence, cultural and spiritual needs. Its probably going to be a hodgepodge of approaches, said Aaron Shultz, a fisheries biologist with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, a natural resources agency representing 11 Ojibwe tribes who retain hunting and fishing rights in the ceded territories of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Well have some lakes where we can resist and be successful and other lakes where we can accept these changes and have an outstanding bass fishery. Given the Wisconsin landscape will likely support fewer walleye in the future, Shultz said tribes may be forced to turn to other animals for subsistence. I dont know what the angling community is going to accept and I dont know what the tribes are going to accept, Shultz said. Right now its been resist at all costs, for walleye anyway. As a volunteer with Walleyes for Tomorrow, Justice is working to understand and reverse the decline of walleye on the Minocqua chain, but as a businessman, hes also adjusting. His shop, Kurts Island Sports, is now stocked with bass gear, and he acknowledges the notoriously hard fighters are more fun to reel in, though he still prefers the challenge and taste of walleye. Theres just something about the whole mystique, he said. Yet he can also envision a future without them. The future of walleye worries me, Justice said. I wouldnt be shocked. Id be sad. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 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. Syreeta Robinson had just gotten done with work in late 2020 when she saw an email pop up on her phone from Gov. Tony Evers office. She burst into tears of joy and relief. Robinson ran into the other room to her two sons, but she was so excited they could hardly understand what she was trying to tell them. "I was screaming," Robinson recalled with a laugh. "They looked at me with the bug eye, like, 'Whats wrong with you, Mom?' It took me awhile to get it out, and then ... I was able to tell them, 'I got my pardon! I got my pardon!'" Since that day, Robinson, 40, said the pardon for her long-ago conviction of identity theft has broken down barriers. She was able to get a job as a probation officer a position she was previously denied, likely because of the crime she committed when she was in her early 20s. "I wanted to be in a space where I could mentor someone and lead them after they made a bad decision because one bad decision is not the end of your life," Robinson said of her wish to become a probation officer. "If I can reach just a few people in my life, in my career, hopefully we can make a change in the system." Robinson is one of nearly 500 people who Evers, a Democrat, has pardoned the most pardons of any Wisconsin governor in at least 40 years. But while many like Robinson have gotten new opportunities since their pardons, others have found a sometimes decades-old conviction is still a hurdle, despite being forgiven by the most powerful person in the state. Some have not been able to attain the professional positions or licenses that prompted them to seek the pardon in the first place. "Pardons remove all of the formal legal consequences of criminal conviction," UW-Madison associate law professor Cecelia Klingele said. "Its sort of like its the magic wand that erases all of the consequences (of) that conviction except the informal ones. No pardon can make people not be biased against you, unfortunately." A pardon is an official grant of forgiveness that restores legal rights such as the ability to vote, own a gun, serve on a jury, hold public office and hold certain professional licenses. The conviction still shows up on background checks, but recipients say having a pardon on their record can open up opportunities and make them more attractive to employers. In Wisconsin, pardons are only given to those who completed their sentences for a felony conviction at least five years earlier and have taken significant steps to make amends and contribute to their communities. Sex offenders and those with pending criminal cases are not eligible. Evers predecessor, Republican Gov. Scott Walker, did not issue any pardons during his eight years in office, carrying to an extreme the practice of his GOP predecessors to limit their use of pardons, including Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who issued 238 pardons over 14 years. Evers reopened the spigot in October 2019 and has since been using his constitutional power of clemency at a record-breaking pace. This month, Evers' office announced that he pardoned another 49 people, bringing the total to 498. That's still just a portion of those seeking clemency. More than 2,000 people had applied for pardons as of March 31, according to Evers' office. Nearly 538 of those applications were rejected after an initial review found them incomplete or ineligible. Another 231 applications were denied by the Pardon Advisory Board, Evers or both. Most go to the board first, but some applicants with nonviolent felonies from long ago can go straight to Evers' desk. In a February 2020 interview, Evers said pardoning people who have "picked up the pieces and learned from their mistakes" is "the right thing to do," especially for those whose crimes were many years ago. "Its been like 20, 30, 40 years later" for some applicants, Evers said. "Its about time to recognize that theyre full citizens of the state of Wisconsin and deserve the respect that they have engendered because of their hard work." Tethered to past But some have faced challenges even after getting pardoned. Kathryn Morrow, 39, who lives in Hartford, applied for clemency in large part because she wanted to pursue a career in health care. But it's unclear whether she could get certified to be a nurse. Morrow was pardoned in November 2020 for a burglary and theft conviction when she was 23 and struggling with a drug addiction. She relapsed and broke into her parents' house to get her belongings after they said she couldn't come home. They pressed charges. Morrow said she is grateful because the conviction was "the catalyst" for her making changes in her life. Morrow completed probation, went through extensive rehabilitation and got her bachelor's and master's degrees. She now works as a drug and alcohol prevention specialist, trying to help prevent children from going down the path to addiction. She sought clemency to advance her career in the health care industry. But after earning the pardon, nursing school admissions counselors said her conviction would likely bar her from becoming certified even if she completed nursing school. Morrow said she spent about six months going back and forth with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services trying to figure out whether her pardon could open that door, but had no luck. "I just never got an answer," she said. "I guess the fault lies in myself for just kind of giving up." Fear of people's perceptions also held her back, she said. Around the same time, she saw an article about a state that allowed a "drug-stealing nurse" to keep practicing. Even though Morrow's conviction was more than 15 years ago, she was afraid of being painted that way. "That mistake has and will follow me for the rest of my life, pardon or no pardon," Morrow said. Career setbacks Eric Pizer, 41, also said his pardon didn't have the impact he thought it would. A decorated Iraq War combat veteran, Pizer wanted a pardon to pursue a career in law enforcement. He was convicted of a felony after throwing one punch that broke a man's nose on a night of drinking when he was 23, only two days back from being deployed in Iraq. Pizer was trying to break up an argument between his friend and a jealous husband when he heard the husband say, "I'm going to ... kill you." Pizer said the punch was a "knee-jerk reaction" after coming back from a war zone. Pizer was one of the first to get a pardon from Evers. But in the more than two years since, Pizer said he "could not get anywhere" when applying to jobs at local police departments. He's not sure what he was doing wrong. Pizer, who now lives in Baraboo, said his pardon did help him get a recent job at a railroad services company. He's currently working as a mason at Bear Creek Masonry in Lone Rock. While Pizer hasn't achieved his career aspirations, he said getting the pardon was still "extremely meaningful" to him. "Just mentally for myself, Im not carrying that weight anymore," Pizer said. "Its just a longtime battle and stress thats finally over." Similarly, the Rev. Mwangi Vasser, 43, said he's been doing well since he was pardoned alongside Pizer in October 2019, but "there are still some hurdles here and there." Vasser was pardoned for cocaine possession when he was 19. He went on to earn a bachelors degree in biblical studies, a master's in theology and a doctorate in theology and divinity. He's been a counselor, minister, barber and certified nursing assistant for hospice care. He sought the pardon to pursue his dream of becoming a military chaplain. Vasser has accomplished half of that goal: He's now a chaplain, just not in the military. He works in Georgia as a hospice chaplain, helping provide spiritual comfort to those who are dying. He believes his pardon helped him get the job. But he wasn't successful in his attempts to enlist in the military. Vasser said he applied to be a chaplain in the National Guard and the Army, but he was rejected. He said he had conversations with recruiters for the Air Force and Navy and was told his application would not be successful. Vasser said he still feels privileged to have become a chaplain. "For the most part, Im happy where I am as a hospice chaplain. Its great income. Its solid work," he said. "I'm doing what I wanted to do." Wisconsin National Guard spokesperson Joseph Trovato said having a criminal record doesn't prohibit someone from joining the guard, but it would require a waiver seeking an exception to policy. Certain serious felonies or domestic violence convictions are not eligible for waiver consideration. Trovato said he couldn't say whether someone who was pardoned would be able to join the guard because "all recruitment occurs on a case-by-case basis." Informal impacts Klingele said employers, licensing boards, recruiters and other organizations may not restrict someone with a criminal record outright, but those groups have discretion when making decisions. So a conviction can play a role, even if someone has a pardon, she said. "People need to be held accountable when they commit crime, but the general social contract is supposed to be that once they serve their sentence then ... they get to be part of the community fully," Klingele said. "They have hopefully repaired the harm that was done to the best of their ability, at least and they get to move forward. What is problematic is all of the formal and informal ways that we have made that almost impossible for a lot of people." Anthony Cooper Sr., 44, is the CEO of Focused Interruption, a local organization that aims to prevent and address violent crime, and the vice president of reentry services and strategic partnerships for the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, a group that works to strengthen Madison's African American community. He was pardoned in February 2021 for dealing drugs and fleeing police more than 20 years ago. Within the first month of being released from prison, Cooper said he applied for roughly 480 jobs and got rejected from all but one. He caught a break at Papa John's Pizza. Robinson had a similar experience when applying for jobs after serving her sentence for using the store credit of another person. "I didnt want to try to apply for certain jobs because (of) that question: Have you been convicted of a felony?" Robinson said. "Every time I told the truth, I never got the job." While getting her bachelor's degree in social work, Robinson said she got an internship at a domestic violence shelter and ended up getting hired full time as a case manager, even with her record something she's extremely grateful for. 'Change is possible' Now that Robinson's been pardoned and has become a probation officer, she feels she can advance her career without her felony holding her back. "I felt like a weight was lifted. I felt more confident about myself," Robinson said. "It made me feel resilient." Cooper said news articles written about his years of community work helped him overcome barriers even before he was granted clemency. But now his pardon is another way to "explain who I am to people who dont know me," he said. Having the pardon already helped when he was looking for a new apartment recently. But Cooper said his pardon is about more than just making life easier to navigate. It's also for his wife, sons and grandchildren. It's a document that shows "change is possible." "Me getting a pardon, it's not just about me," Cooper said. "It's about ... being able to show generations to come that we all make bad choices in our lives, but its about how we come from that." Even though she didn't become a nurse, Morrow said getting her pardon was still "a really wonderful experience." Morrow said she was always embarrassed by having a felony conviction "hanging over my head." Now she feels relief. "It just meant so much to have the state of Wisconsin say that they recognize that Ive made amends and have turned my life around," she said. It's unclear how long that opportunity will remain. Evers is running for reelection this fall, and the top Republican candidates running against him have not stated a position on pardons. Cooper said that worries him. "It gave me a restart that I never thought would come true," Cooper said. "Im forever thankful for that." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 So, you want to spend this Memorial Day in the town where the holiday began. Take your pick. After all, you have 25 communities to choose from. Experts will tell you wading into identifying the town where Memorial Day started is a risky business. Call it the third rail of American history; touching it can give researchers a serious jolt. Lets start with what we know for sure. Back in 1868, Gen. John Black Jack Logan was commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was an organization of Union Civil War veterans, much like todays American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He urged that May 30 be observed as Decoration Day, a time to place flowers on the graves of Northern war dead. Its thought the 30th was selected because flowers would be blooming all around the country by then. A large ceremony was held that first Decoration Day at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where future President James Garfield spoke for an hour and a half. Ulysses S. Grant, who would become president himself 10 months later, and much of the Union Armys big brass were also on hand. It was the first of Arlingtons annual May observances honoring the fallen, a tradition that carries on to this day. But when you go back beyond 1868 things get very murky, very fast. Claims of which community commenced the custom are frequent and intense. Theres Columbus, Miss., where on April 25, 1866, ladies laid flowers on the graves of Confederate soldiers killed in the nearby bloody Battle of Shiloh. Farther east, Columbus and Macon, Ga., each say it got the ball rolling with observances there. A cemetery in Carbondale, Ill., Logans wartime home, contains a stone proclaiming the first Memorial Day observance was held there on April 29, 1866. Charleston, S.C., Richmond, Va., Boalsburg, Pa., and many other localities all boast the honor as theirs. In 1966, Congress waded into the dispute by declaring Waterloo, N.Y., to be the holidays official birthplace. Why Waterloo? It seems a special day of observance was held there on May 6, 1866. Stores were closed, flags were flown at half-staff, and, of course, graves were decorated with flowers. That, Waterloos supporters argue, shows it was an organized townwide event. Incidents in other places, they say, were just ad hoc groups of women taking flowers to the local cemetery. Waterloos observance had all the hallmarks of a true holiday and Congress eventually agreed. But that didnt stop the bickering. In the 56 years since the official designation was bestowed, adherents of other towns claim to the title keep arguing for a transfer. Theyll likely still be arguing about it 56 years from now, too. Theres even a separate debate over which town hosts the nations oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade. Doylestown, Pa., has a parade that has been held since 1868. But the parade in Rochester, Wis., started in 1867. Its worth noting that in spring 1917, just as America was entering World War I, the holidays focus began shifting from decorating just Civil War graves to honoring everyone who fell in all American wars. After World War II, the name began changing from the quaint Decoration Day to Memorial Day. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, both cementing the new name and moving its observance to the last Monday in May. One important parting note: At the conclusion of Arlington National Cemeterys first ceremony in 1868, children from the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home walked among the rows of tombstones, singing hymns as they strewed flowers on all graves, both Union and Confederate. The very children who had lived through the war and lost their fathers in its carnage paid tribute to their parents adversaries. Given how deeply (and increasingly) divided the country is in 2022, where people are all too eager to tear into anyone they disagree with or destroy anything they dont like, it would be well to revisit 1868s example so that once more a little child shall lead them. Holy Cow! History is written by novelist, former TV journalist and diehard history buff J. Mark Powell. Have a historic mystery that needs solving? A forgotten moment worth remembering? Please send it to HolyCow@insidesources.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that his country will continue to engage in aiding the South Caucasus nations' search for peace, Azernews reports, citing the state secretarys Twitter account. I spoke with Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan yesterday about how the United States supports the positive momentum in Armenian discussions with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The United States will continue to engage to help the South Caucasus find peace, Blinken wrote. The United States welcomes the first joint meeting of the Armenia-Azerbaijan bilateral Border Commissions. The U.S. supports the EU-brokered conversations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and encourages continued positive momentum and bilateral dialogue in support of regional peace, Blinken said in a different tweet. Furthermore, the U.S. has disclosed the name of a nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports citing the whitehouse.gov website. The nominee Mark W. Libby is a State Department Faculty Advisor at the National War College in Washington, D.C., and is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor, the report said. He formerly worked at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels as Deputy Chief of Mission and ad interim Charge d'Affaires. Other abroad positions include stints as a Political Counselor in Warsaw, Nassau, Nicosia, and Baghdad. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge dAffaires ad interim at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels. Other overseas assignments include tours in Warsaw, Nassau, Nicosia, and Baghdad, where he served as Political Counselor. On May 24, the first meeting of border delimitation commissions led by Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and his Armenian Mher Grigoryan was held on the on the state border in line with the agreement reached between the leaders of the countries in Brussels. The parties confirmed their willingness to cooperate on delimitation and other matters within the commission's framework. The conference also discussed the commission's joint operations' organizational and procedural difficulties. Following the meeting, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that positive steps have been taken during the meeting to normalize the relations with Armenia. Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan also described the first meeting of the national border commissions between Armenia and Azerbaijan as constructive, Azernews reports, citing the TASS agency. "Indeed, on May 24, we had our first meeting at the border. At this meeting, we discussed only organizational issues of further joint work, and in this respect I think the meeting was quite constructive. There is no agreement yet on the date of the next meeting of the commissions on border delimitation and security, but there is confirmation that the meeting will be held in Moscow," he said. Grigoryan confirmed that a trilateral working group meeting on unblocking transport and economic ties in the region, co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan, will be held in Moscow next week. "The specific date of this meeting is now in the process of agreement, and the agenda of the meeting includes issues related to the implementation of the agreements indicated in paragraph 9 of the trilateral statement of the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan of November 9, 2020 and the statement of January 11, 2021. This agenda has nothing to do with delimitation," he added. During the governmental hour in the National Assembly, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that there are a few areas where Armenia and Azerbaijan have made progress, and there are others where the stances may or may not coincide, Azernews reports citing Armenian media. For example, there is already some progress in issues of demarcation and delimitation, security issues. You know that yesterday [May 24] the deputy prime ministers and the commissions headed by them met with each other on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and at the first meeting, working and methodological issues were discussed. There is an agreement to hold the next meeting in Moscow, Mirzoyan said. Speaking about the unblocking of the regional communication lines, he stressed that all roads that the unblocked roads should be under the sovereignty and laws of the countries through which they pass. The foreign minister reaffirmed that the "Zangazur corridor" is unacceptable to Armenia in the form outlined a year and a half ago and attempted to depict by the Azerbaijani side, and there appears to be a widespread belief that this will not be the case. As for the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mirzoyan noted that negotiations are underway. "Here the parties are trying to understand the parameters, the structure, the format, etc. We have our clear positions here, and Azerbaijan has its own positions. One or another mediator from time to time expresses its position. These positions do not always coincide or do not coincide much more often than they do, but negotiations are held to solve such issues," Mirzoyan concluded. To recap, on May 23, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed decrees on the creation of border delimitation and security commissions. Saturday, May 28, 2022 CLEA Outstanding Clinical Student Award: Katie Kramer in the University of Virginia's Health and Disability Law Clinic. Katie Kramer is the kind of law student who makes her supervisors into better lawyers. To every assignment and case, Katie brings a remarkable attention to detail, deep curiosity about the law, and ferocious intelligence, resulting in outstanding advocacy on behalf of clients. Katie also brings a humanity and humility to her work, which allows her to build trust with clients and coworkers alike. It is therefore with the utmost enthusiasm that we nominate Katie Kramer for the CLEA Outstanding Clinical Student Award. Throughout her year as a student in the University of Virginias Health & Disability Law Clinic, Katie provided direct representation to more than five individual clients on legal matters ranging from Medicaid appeals to medical debt relief to social security overpayment appeals. She also performed critical legal research and prepared memoranda on complex advocacy campaigns to redress national origin discrimination in Medicaid enrollment processes, enforce due process protections for individuals facing unlawful nursing home discharges, and improve medical debt billing and collections practices for low-income patients. Katie performed each assignment superbly. She is the kind of student who makes our job so much easier and so much more enjoyable, and who elevates the work of others by modeling such impressive diligence, curiosity, and compassion. Likewise, Katie has elevated our own work. She has reminded us of the importance of knowing an issue inside and out, of paying unflinching attention to detail, and of casting aside your own assumptions about an issue. On this basis, the UVA clinic faculty voted for Katie to receive this award. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/clinic_prof/2022/05/clea-outstanding-student-award-uvas-katie-kramer.html International scientists report that the disastrous severe heat wave in India and Pakistan recently was made more likely by climate change. They also say that such weather is likely to become more common. World Weather Attribution is a group of weather scientists from Britain, France, India, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, and the Red Cross. It released its report May 23. The report says heat waves that affect a large area of Earth are rare --- happening once every 100 years. But it said climate change now makes big heat waves 30 times more likely. The scientists said if the atmospheres average temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius more than pre-industrial levels, big heat waves could happen twice every hundred years or more, says Arpita Mondal, a climate researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai. She suggests heat waves as often as every five years are possible. This is a sign of things to come, the scientist said. Conservative results The results are conservative in comparison to others. Last week, Britains Meteorological Office said the heat wave was probably made 100 times more likely by climate change. Friederike Otto of the Imperial College of London also worked on the World Weather Attribution report. The real result is probably somewhere between ours and the (U.K.) Met Office result for how much climate change increased this event, the climate scientist said. The heat wave has been very damaging. Indian cities and Pakistan reported temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius in the past weeks. Pakistan reported temperatures over 50 degrees Celsius in some places like Jacobabad and Dadu. Parts of Indias capital New Delhi reported temperatures of 49 degrees this month. India recorded the hottest March in the country since 1901, when such record-keeping began. April was the warmest on record in Pakistan and parts of India. The effects have been widespread. A glacier burst in Pakistan, causing floods. The heat also damaged wheat crops in India. The problem forced the government to stop exports to nations facing food shortages linked to Russias war in Ukraine. The heat wave also resulted in earlier than usual demand for electricity. The coal supply shrank leading to power shortages affecting millions of people. What can we do? The effects on human health were also damaging. At least 90 people have died in the two countries. Scientists suggest the number is higher because deaths are not always officially recorded. The Associated Press (AP) studied information from Columbia Universitys climate school. It found that South Asia is the most affected by heat stress. India is home to more than one third of the worlds population that lives where temperatures are increasing. Children and old people are most at risk from heat stress. Heat is also harder on the poor who do not have cooling systems, like air conditioners. Many poor people live in crowded, dirty neighborhoods in large cities. Rahman Ali is a 42-year-old ragpicker in New Delhi. Ragpickers remove trash from peoples homes and search through it for anything of value to sell. The job is very hard on his body and earns Ali less than three dollars a day. What can we do? If I dont workwe wont eat, said the father of two. Some Indian cities have tried to find answers. The western city of Ahmedabad was the first in South Asia to design a heat wave plan for its population of over 8.4 million in 2013. The plan includes an early warning system that tells health workers and residents to prepare for heat waves. It permits administrations to keep parks open so that people can keep out of the sun. And it provides information to schools so they change class hours. Dr. Dileep Mavalankar heads the Indian Institute of Public Health in the western Indian city of Gandhinagar. He helped design the 2013 plan. He said the city has also been experimenting with materials that may help cool the tops of houses. The aim is to build roofs that do not hold the suns heat. Some people use white paint or low-cost materials like dried grass to protect their homes from the heat. Most Indian cities are less prepared. Indias federal government is now working with 130 cities in 23 states to develop similar plans. Earlier this month, the federal government also asked states to train health workers in treating heat-related illnesses. It also asked that ice, chemical treatments, and cooling devices be available in hospitals. Public health expert Mavalankar was not part of the group study. But he pointed to a lack of official warnings about extreme heat in most Indian cities. He said the local governments have just not, in his words, woken up to the heat. Im Mario Ritter Jr. And I'm Faith Pirlo. Aniruddha Ghosal reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it 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 glacier n. a large area of ice that moves slowly down a valley stress n. a state of tension caused by worry or difficult conditions resident n. a person who lives in a particular place "I don't plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country," Kapler said before a series opener at Cincinnati. From full coverage of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, to a recap of Tuesday's primaries, here's the top news from the last week. By Trend Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva appealed to international organizations on the issue of mines, Ombudsman's Office told Trend. "The military aggression of Armenia and the mines planted by this country in Azerbaijani territories, during the period of their occupation, continue to pose a threat to the life and health of people, appeal said. Today, one more citizen of Azerbaijan, a serviceman of Internal Troops of Ministry of Internal Affairs Seyidagha Omarov, was injured following a mine explosion while on duty in the liberated village of Chamanli in Aghdam region, Aliyeva noted. We strongly condemn such incidents, which are a serious obstacle to peace and security in the region, and once again call on international organizations to take action against Armenia to provide Azerbaijan with accurate maps of minefields," she added. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. "Excellency, On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, I extend my sincerest felicitations to you and the people of Azerbaijan on the Independence Day of Azerbaijan. This year, we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past three decades, the ties of friendship and brotherhood between the two nations have grown from strengthen to strengthen. I am confident that the mutual goodwill and steady momentum in the bilateral cooperation, including in the political, economic and cultural domains would continue to grow in the years to come. Pakistan is proud to have stood by Azerbaijan during the Karabakh war. I appreciate your Excellencys personal efforts for promoting peace and stability in South Caucasus. I also wish your government with greater success in rebuilding and rehabilitation of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Pakistan stands ready to provide its assistance and expertise in this regard. I wish you good health and happiness, and pray for the continued peace and prosperity to the people of Azerbaijan. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration", the letter said. Local featured Class of 2022 looks to future: Lufkin graduates express pride over accomplishments, excitement about future endeavors JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Graduates, faculty, family and friends wait for the start of Friday nights graduation ceremony at Abe Martin Stadium. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News LHS Valedictorian Reagan Crow addresses her classmates during graduation ceremonies Friday night at Abe Martin Stadium. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News LHS Salutatorian Savana Calhoun receives a plaque from principal Andre Emmons during Friday nights graduation ceremony at Abe Martin Stadium. JOEL ANDREWS/The Lufkin Daily News Lufkin High School graduate Eric Acevedo shakes hands with LISD superintendent Lynn Torres during Friday nights graduation ceremony at Abe Martin Stadium. Lufkin High Schools Class of 2022 celebrated its years of hard work and the great things to come as its members crossed the stage at Abe Martin Stadium to receive their diplomas. Senior class president Pedro Barboza Soto welcomed the audience and led the pledges. Vice president Adisen Massie gave the invocation. We as graduates thank all of you in attendance for your support of Lufkin High Schools Class of 2022, Pedro said. Salutatorian Savana Calhoun, who will be attending Stephen F. Austin State University, said that while her fellow classmates might think she earned the title of salutatorian by being one of the smartest people in the class of 2022, that wasnt necessarily true. There are so many of you who have played a sport, been involved in extracurriculars, started a small business, worked a job, learned how to change a tire you have all taken opportunities that I feared would distract me from my school work, she said. At the end of the day, you all have created lasting memories, friendships and gained skills that I dont have, and that is pretty smart if you ask me. Savana also said that while most people in her position use their speeches as a way to encourage their classmates as they continue on their journey, she would not be doing that. I have no doubt that the class of 2022 is going to continue to do great things, she said. Savana instead asked her classmates to remember to be kind to others and to not wish time away. For the past four years, weve repeated over and over again, counted minutes, hours, days saying, Its almost Friday, just one more day, just a few more weeks, when is this girls speech going to be over, she joked. I implore each and every one of you to seek out the joy in each day, and when you find it, share it. Valedictorian Reagan Crow, who will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas, wanted to congratulate her 2022 classmates for their years of hard work. Regardless of whether you chose to walk the stage tonight, everyone who gets their diploma from the Counseling Center should feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, she said. That piece of paper represents the notes, assignments, essays and tests we have completed. Reagan went on to say her fellow classmates were more than likely feeling a range of emotions about moving forward, and while the future would not be without hardships, she knew they would have rich futures. You will all face obstacles, whether familial, financial or personal struggles, they all have one thing in common: their ability to be overcome, she said. During your high school career, youve all endured challenges to graduate. It was not given to you, it was earned. Whether you earned all As or were a straight C student, you made the decision to invest in yourself. LHS principal Andre Emmons wished the graduating seniors the best as they moved on in life. You have worked hard for 13 years and you have earned your diploma, he said. I wish each and every one of you the happiness of a productive life and love of your family. ATLANTA (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated police chiefs in Savannah and Perry and a former DeKalb County sheriff to serve as U.S. marshals in Georgia's three federal court districts. Each must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before taking their post. The men would oversee operations of the U.S. Marshals Service in their districts, including protecting courts, transporting prisoners, pursuing fugitives and serving federal arrest warrants. Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter Jr., who has led that department since 2018, would be the marshal for the Southern District of Georgia. It includes 43 counties with courthouses in Savannah, Augusta, Brunswick, Dublin, Statesboro and Waycross. Mayor Van Johnson told the Savannah Morning News that Minter will remain police chief until he is confirmed, which could take months. Minter was previously police chief in Peoria, Arizona, and Denton, Texas. He earlier worked in Houston and Aurora, Colorado. Minters nomination comes amid an increase in shootings and other violent crimes in Savannah. A survey of more than 250 Savannah officers the police department conducted last fall showed many were dissatisfied with its leadership and felt their personal safety was not a priority. Thomas Brown, who was DeKalb sheriff from 2001 to 2014, would be the marshal for the Northern District, which includes 46 counties centered on Atlanta but also includes courthouses in Rome, Gainesville and Newnan. Brown has owned businesses including a bail bonding agency since stepping down as sheriff. Before being elected, Brown served as DeKalb County's public safety director and fire chief. Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn would be the marshal for the Middle District of Georgia. It includes 70 counties with courthouses in Macon, Columbus, Athens, Albany and Valdosta. Lynn has been chief in Perry since 2013. He was an investigator for the Houston County District Attorney from 2007 to 2013. Before that, he serves as a police officer and commander in Warner Robins Police Department from 1981 to 2007. Biden so far has named a U.S. Attorney in only one of the three districts. Ryan Buchanan has been confirmed in the Northern District. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Savannah Morning News. WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's silver tea set is going to a family with a 5-year-old daughter who once was Ginsburg for Halloween. A medal Ginsburg was awarded when inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame is going to a family that demonstrated recently for reproductive rights. And a drawing of her that hung in her office was a Utah-based scientist's Mother's Day gift to his wife. All told, an online auction of 150 of items owned by the late justice raised $803,650 for Washington National Opera, one of the late justice's passions. The auction ended in late April, and buyers are now picking up items or arranging to have them shipped to their homes in 38 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Germany. Winning bids ranged from $850 to $55,000. Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein, the owner of The Potomack Company auction house in Virginia, said they were "just really blown away by the interest." A pre-sale estimate was that the auction could raise $50,000 to $80,000. Ginsburg died of cancer at age 87 in September 2020. In her later years, the court's second female justice and liberal icon also become a pop culture figure known as the "Notorious RBG." In January, an online auction of her books brought in $2.3 million, almost 30 times the pre-sale estimate, according to Bonhams, the company that conducted the auction. Washington National Opera artistic director Francesca Zambello, a friend of Ginsburg's, said the auction's proceeds will be "a huge help this year as we try to cultivate the return of our audience" amid the lingering coronavirus pandemic. The auction's biggest ticket item was the drawing of Ginsburg, which sold for $55,000. The image had accompanied a 2015 article about her in The New York Times. Ginsburg liked it so much she got a copy for her Supreme Court office signed by the artist, Eleanor Davis. The buyer asked that his name not be made public. Other high-dollar sales included modern art that Ginsburg had collected. A terracotta Pablo Picasso jug she displayed in her living room sold for $25,000 while an earthenware Picasso plate that hung in her dining room sold for $22,500. A print of Josef Albers' "Red Orange Wall," which hung in Ginsburg's bedroom, sold for $27,500. Albers was among Ginsburg's favorite artists, and an original work of his on loan from the Smithsonian was prominently displayed in her office at the court. Even much less valuable Ginsburg pieces went for large sums. A drawing that one of Ginsburg's grandchildren, Paul Spera, made as a child showing his grandmother as the Statue of Liberty sold for $12,000. At the top, Spera had written "Bubbie of Liberty," using the Yiddish word for grandma. Other sales included $5,000 for a glass souvenir vase given to attendees of a luncheon at the Capitol following President Barack Obama's first inauguration, $16,000 for a black mink coat with Ginsburg's name sewn in a pocket, and $30,000 for her 2002 National Women's Hall of Fame medal. Buyers paid another 27% in auction fees on top of their winning bid. Before her death, Ginsburg displayed a number of the items that were auctioned in her apartment at the Watergate complex in Washington. The auction's online catalog included images of how Ginsburg had displayed those items. Jennifer DiBrienza, a California-based educator, was the medal's winning bidder, spending nearly twice what she had planned to. When bidding near the end of the auction pushed up the price, she thought to herself: "I've been winning this for days. I can't give it up now," she said. DiBrienza, who along with her three children demonstrated last week following the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn a nationwide right to abortion the court recognized in 1973, said she hopes having Ginsburg's medal will be "a reason to talk about her." Krishan Paramesvaran was the winning bidder on two items: a wood sculpture for $3,500 and a silver tea set for $5,000. The tech executive and father of three said his family plans to put the sculpture in their living room and the tea set alongside china in their dining room. The tea set will be mostly for display, he said, though he imagines it will get used once or twice. Paramesvaran said his 5-year-old daughter, the one who dressed as Ginsburg for Halloween, knows it's coming and they had in the past talked with her about "powerful women" and "the impact that RBG has had." Right now, he said, the family is "super, super excited" as they wait for the items to be shipped to them in Washington state. Said Paramesvaran: "We have not been able to stop thinking about the fact that we're about to have something that she owned in our house." ___ The police official blamed for not sending officers in more quickly to stop the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting is the chief of the school system's small police force, a unit dedicated ordinarily to building relationships with students and responding to the occasional fight. Preparing for mass shootings is a small part of what school police officers do, but local experts say the preparation for officers assigned to schools in Texas including mandatory active shooter training provides them with as solid a foundation as any. The tactical, conceptual mindset is definitely there in Texas, said Joe McKenna, deputy superintendent for the Comal school district in Texas and a former assistant director at the state's school safety center. A gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. As students called 911, officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building. The district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided officers should wait to confront the gunman on the belief he was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and children were no longer at risk, officials said Friday. It was the wrong decision, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference Friday. A group of Border Patrol tactical officers would later engage in a shootout with the gunman and kill him, officials said. Arredondo could not immediately be reached for comment Friday by the AP. Across the country, police officers who work in schools are tasked with keeping tabs on whos coming and going, working on building trust so students feel comfortable coming to them with problems, teaching anti-substance abuse programs and, occasionally, making arrests. The police department for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District says on its website that its primary goal is to maintain a safe and secure environment for our future leaders to learn and our current leaders to educate while forming partnerships with students, teachers, parents, and the community while enforcing laws and reducing fears. The active shooter training was mandated by state lawmakers in 2019 in response to school shootings. Under state law, school districts also are required to have plans to respond to active shooters in their emergency response procedures. Security can sometimes become lax because school officials and officers may not believe a shooting will ever happen in their building, said Lynelle Sparks, a school police officer in Hillsboro, Texas, and executive director of the Texas Association of School Resource Officers. Its always making sure that you are prepared, she said. People get relaxed. It happens in every district. You cant say that it doesnt. It happens everywhere. We get to the point, Oh my gosh. This is horrific. Safety Safety Safety. The school year goes by, Oh, why do I have to lock my door everyday, you know? I wish that every teacher would teach behind a locked door. It doesnt make it a prison system. Its about saving lives. Under the incident command approach that was widely adopted after 9/11, it is unsurprising that the school police chief would be considered the commander, even following the arrival of officers from other agencies, McKenna said. The designated person would be considered the commander until relieved by a higher-ranking officer, but that doesn't necessarily happen immediately when efforts to save lives are continuing, he said. Obviously its still an ongoing investigation, but it would make sense that a police chief of a school district would be the initial incident commander," McKenna said. While many schools around the country host school resource officers who report to their municipal police departments, it is not uncommon especially in some Southern states and large cities for school districts to have their own police forces, like Uvalde. McKenna said his research on school policing indicated that training and other factors mattered more than which agency was managing the officers. It doesn't matter if you're in a school police department or an SRO, its more about the components of any good officer, he said. The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sarah Zahn knew she found her dream job in 2008. Fresh out of college, she was searching for internship opportunities that intersected community recreation, art and education when she came across Madison School & Community Recreation. You dont really see a vibrant fine arts program in a recreation setting, she said. Its either school-based or private studio settings, so to me it was really cool to see that in a public recreation setting. Now, 14 years later, Zahn oversees youth arts and enrichment programs for elementary-age children with some programs for middle school-age youths. She organizes community-based, year-round classes associated with MSCR which include visual art, music, dance, and those with a STEM focus as well as the Art Cart, in partnership with Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, a Madison-area summertime mobile art stronghold that has been around for nearly 50 years; Super Center Arts Camp, a fine arts summer day camp for elementary-age students at Hoyt Park; and Fascination Station, a half-day summer camp focused on STEM activities. Zahn, who grew up in the Upper Peninsula, in Marquette, Michigan, went to Central Michigan University, where she obtained a degree in the arts with a focus on community recreation. She interned in Madison in 2008, in MSCRs fine arts department, and has been with the organization since, working in a variety of positions, including the after-school programs and fitness programs until she moved into her current position as youth arts and enrichment specialist in 2016. Can you talk more about how this is your dream job? I grew up dancing. I also played piano and percussion and I sang in choir. I went to sleep-away band camp, sleep-away choir camp. I did state honors choir, all kinds of artsy things. My mom is a fiber artist, so we always did crafts. Ive always had an appreciation for all things art I grew up going to museums and concerts. To be able to combine my appreciation and love for the arts and provide it to the public in an accessible setting is really awesome. A lot of times, because our fees are low and we offer programs in different locations, some of these children wouldnt be able to do dance or other art if it werent for our programs, and thats really fulfilling for me. Can you talk more about how your appreciation for the arts influenced your career goal? I knew I wanted to work with children, and for a while I thought I wanted to be a psychologist. I spent time in one of MSCRs after-school programs and I realized when I was there, I really enjoyed sparking new hobbies in children. To be able to provide children with experiences they wouldnt have otherwise, I really enjoy doing that, especially in the arts because it was so important to me growing up and I think it provides children a way to express themselves that you dont necessarily learn in school. I think its important to have that opportunity outside of a school setting. I love that Im able to do that. Do you have any warm and fuzzy moments from your time on the job? Heres one about the Art Cart: I was talking to a mom at Vilas Park, where we paint the shoe sculpture every summer, and she goes, Yeah, we come up every summer from Texas. She grew up in Madison and she goes, I bring my daughter up every year to paint the shoe, and she pointed out her dad, who was in the park, too, and said her dad used to bring her to paint the shoe every year as a child as well. It was three generations of this family who had been painting the shoe with the Art Cart. The longevity of that program is really neat. What summertime programs do we have to look forward to this year? This summer, we have the camps, which are all full with waitlists at the moment. Art Cart will start June 13, and we will be all over Madison. The schedule can be found on the MSCR website (mscr.org) and is available at our different MSCR buildings and library branches. For classes, we have ukulele, art history, art activism, recycled art, painting and an introduction to fly tying for fishing. We have some preschool art classes as well. We have dance classes and workshops this summer that will be weeklong. Those are new and will be taught by a UW-Whitewater professor. We have Scottish Highland dance, preschool ballet, jazz, tap, pom-poms, hip hop and creative movement. More information about those programs can be found on the MSCR website. What kinds of opportunities will be available on the Art Cart this summer? Were really excited because were returning to our traditional programming, drop-in art in the park, instead of the art kits we put together to pass out to families for the past two summers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The kits were lovely, but people really want to do art in the park with teachers and make the mess in the park and not the house. Were excited to be returning to that. We have lots of different projects, and it varies based on the weather and the park and the crowd. One of our traditional projects is plaster casting in the sand which is super messy and super fun, the children love it on the beach on Friday mornings. Otherwise, the van is full of stuff, and we have a repertoire of projects and choose as we go. Weve got lots of exciting stuff coming in the fall, too lots of new music education opportunities that were excited about. Keep an eye on the MSCR website to learn more about those in the coming months. Editor's note: This story was updated to note that the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is also a partner in the Art Cart program. 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. There are certain luxuries heated automobile seats leap to mind of which I have been condescendingly dismissive until I tried them. Ohhhh..., I remember thinking, the first time I fetched the Cadillac of an elderly acquaintance from a frozen parking lot and felt a warm glow rise from below. Currently only one of our family vehicles is equipped with heated seats and when it comes time to choose for the commute, elbows may be thrown. When my wife installed a slow-close seat on our toilet a few years ago, I was similarly skeptic. Who cant just close a toilet seat?, I thought, well aware that the answer overwhelmingly includes me in its demographic. In my defense, I like to think I am a lesser offender than most in my cohort, due in part to three years spent in nursing school, where as a matter of sheer numbers leaving the seat up was not only discouraged but pretty easily pinned on one of we three men in a class of 95 students. I further cemented my dedication to defensive seat-lowering at my first hospital job when a veteran nurse with a twisted sense of humor perhaps no longer allowable by todays workplace standards would dip into the staff restroom after I departed and raise the seat I had lowered. She would then wait for another nurse to complain and with the face of a disingenuous angel ask if she hadnt seen me in there recently. When the pattern repeated itself too many times to be ignored, I set a trap for her, circling back and catching her in the act. A-HA! I said. I can still see her silver-dollar-sized eyes as her head snapped around. It was a close call as to which of us laughed harder. She went on to become one of my prime mentors. Fast-forward, and it wasnt long before I came to appreciate the slow-close seat my wife installed. What a twee civilized luxury, to tip the lid an inch or two forward, no need to bend at the waist, and exit knowing everything was settling to a silent conclusion. Then this spring our toilet failed. Not completely, but in a way I can only describe in terms of an old-school slot machine, where youd hit the handle and hope. Guests required an instruction manual. So we got a new toilet. But we forgot to order the slow-closing seat. Instead it arrived with an old-school slammer, as we discovered the first few times we tipped it closed out of habit. My wife is not one to complain, but she did express some regret regarding this oversight. Fortunately, last weekend it was her birthday. And so while she was away on a day-trip, I purchased and installed a slow-close seat. We were all in bed by the time she returned, so she was alone in the bathroom when she found her gift tied closed with a blue satin bow and ribbon. Happy Birthday, said the handwritten note I taped to the seat, which closes softly and gently and definitely qualifies me for husband of the year, specific category yet to be determined. An original Roughneck Grace column exclusive to the Wisconsin State Journal. Audio versions may air on Tent Show Radio (tentshowradio.com). Read more from Michael Perry at www.sneezingcow.com. While many ex-offenders face hurdles due to their criminal records even after theyve been pardoned, lawmakers have been trying to expand another option for post-conviction relief in Wisconsin: expungement. Expungement erases a conviction from someones record. Its meant to help former offenders be more successful in seeking employment and reintegrating into society after release. But in Wisconsin its a very limited mechanism, UW-Madison Associate Law Professor Cecelia Klingele said. Only those who committed their offenses when they were 25 or younger are eligible. A judge also has to decide at sentencing years before defendants serve their sentences and make amends whether people can get their records expunged some day in the future. A no is a no, and silence is a no, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, said. If you fail to ask and the record at sentencing is silent, you cannot go back and reopen that up. Youre done. Youre ineligible for expungement. Klingele said the age limit doesnt seem to serve any particular public safety function or rehabilitative function. And it doesnt make sense for judges to decide whether someone is worthy of expungement before they go through rehabilitation because judges can be wrong in both directions about what someone will be like in the future. Goyke is one of the authors of a bipartisan bill that would get rid of those age limits and allow people to submit a petition for expungement after they serve their sentences, as long as a judge didnt preclude them from expungement at the time of sentencing. The bill would maintain current laws that prohibit expungement of violent felonies and other serious felonies. The most serious crime that could be expunged are class H felonies, offenses that have a maximum sentence of three years in prison and three years of extended supervision. The bill also limits people to one expungement. The bill would apply retroactively to offenders who have been barred from getting their records expunged just because they didnt know to ask for it at sentencing, Goyke said. He estimates thousands of people could be in that category. If we give more people their day in court to ask for expungement, the hopeful goal is that people who have earned it will get that second chance, Goyke said. The bill has failed several times, despite bipartisan support. In the most recent legislative session, the bill passed the state Assembly but was not taken up by the Senate, despite being sponsored by seven Republican senators. Goyke said he and other sponsors plan to try again in the next legislative session in 2023. Forgive vs. forget Klingele said expungement and pardons are the two main legal mechanisms available to acknowledge that formerly incarcerated people have been rehabilitated and to make it easier for them to apply for jobs, get new apartments, earn professional licenses and advance their careers. A pardon is a way to forgive ones past offense, while expungement is a way to forget about it, Klingele said. Both options have their limitations and advantages. For example, expungement can backfire in the internet age because it can be difficult to get rid of all evidence of a prior criminal history. If something suggesting a prior conviction shows up online, that can make someone look dishonest in a job or apartment application if a check of the states online court records comes up empty, Klingele said. Facing stigma Pardons, on the other hand, show the public that recipients have done so much to make up for their crime that theyve outperformed most of us in terms of their service to their community, and people dont need to worry about them anymore, Klingele said. But that doesnt always work. Not everyone gets past the stigma that a criminal record imposes on people, Klingele said. Unfortunately, many times, even when people have more than discharged their debt to society they still do face a real uphill battle in securing just ordinary opportunities for self improvement. Kimm Laursen, 66, of Cumberland, who was pardoned for buying a stolen motorcycle in his mid-20s, said he empathizes with those still facing hurdles. He said its wrong for people to still be weighted down decades after their convictions. I just think that stuff like this should be reviewed and revised, Laursen said. If we have no other felonies over 10 years or 15 years on a nonviolent thing, I just think at some point it should just fall off our record. 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. President Ilham Aliyev signs decree pardoning number of convicted people 27 May 2022 [19:01] - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a Decree to pardon a number of criminally convicted individuals. Views: 314 The trial of a teenager charged for his alleged role in the shooting death in 2020 of an 11-year-old girl on Madisons East Side, set to start on Tuesday, was delayed until November to give his lawyers more time to pursue evidence they said could exonerate him. Lawyers for Jerry L. Ward Jr., 19, who is charged with being a party to first-degree intentional homicide for the Aug. 11, 2020, shooting that caused the death two days later of Anisa Scott, asked for the delay in the trial until after sentencing hearings in September for two co-defendants so that a possible line of defense for Ward can be explored with one of the co-defendants, once he is no longer represented by an attorney. Ward is also charged with being a party to attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shots fired at Christopher Carthans, the boyfriend of Anisas mother, who was driving when the shots were fired at his car. Brown is set to be sentenced on Sept. 12, while Carreon is to be sentenced on Sept. 19, both by Circuit Judge Julie Genovese. Wards case is now set for jury selection on Nov. 7. Wards lawyers, Andrew Martinez and Jeremiah Meyer-ODay, asked that Wards trial be delayed so they can explore what could be exonerating testimony offered to them by Brown. Martinez said Brown called his office on April 14, but because Brown is represented by an attorney, he was not able to speak with Brown about what he had to say, but he suspects Brown could offer evidence that would be beneficial to Ward. Martinez said he would not be able to talk with Brown about those statements until after he is sentenced, when he would no longer be represented by an attorney. Browns attorney, Tim Kiefer, has declined to let Martinez speak with Brown, Martinez said. According to police, Brown has said that Ward knew what the plan was before getting into a car with the other two before the shooting. Brown has also said that Ward helped fix a gun that had gotten jammed during the shooting. Assistant District Attorney Valerian Powell said he considers Brown to be a key witness. Wards attorneys have maintained that Ward was asleep in the back of the car that Carreon was driving at the time of the shooting. If Brown plans to change his story as it relates to Ward, Martinez said, they should be able to explore what he is going to say before he testifies. Powell asked that the trial dates not be changed, citing the time and expense that has already gone into preparing the case for trial. He also said any possible change in testimony by Brown would be speculative. But Genovese agreed to push the trial back, saying she does not want to have to retry the case if it turns out leaving the case on for next week proves later to be the wrong decision in the eyes of an appellate court. I dont want to do this trial twice, Genovese said. She said she is also concerned about finding a balance between Wards right to present a defense and the rights of the victims. A criminal complaint charged that some of the three fired at the Chevrolet Tahoe that Carthans was driving and that a bullet struck Anisa, who was in the passenger seat. The car, driven by Carreon, then did a U-turn on East Washington Avenue near Highway 30 and came after the Tahoe, and more shots were fired at it. 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 state Republican partys decision not to endorse candidates in several statewide elections this year a break from a long-standing practice could give an outsized role to wealthy donors and outside groups looking to spend big on Wisconsin elections this fall. Delegates attending the state GOP convention in Middleton last weekend declined to endorse a candidate in the states gubernatorial race, where a packed field of GOP hopefuls are vying to unseat Democratic Gov. Tony Evers this fall. Critics of the endorsement process say the decision prevents establishment Republicans from hand-picking a preferred candidate months before voters have their say in the Aug. 9 primary, but it also cuts off candidates who may have otherwise received the endorsement from the state partys cash and resources. The winner of the gubernatorial primary will go on to face Evers on Nov. 8 in a high-stakes election for both parties. With no endorsement, it makes the outside money even more important, said Matthew Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks campaign spending. The super PACs and the dark money groups will have an outsized impact this time around as a result of this non-endorsement. While the Republican Party of Wisconsin has lagged behind its Democratic counterpart in fundraising and spending totals in recent years, the party still offers considerable support to those who earn an endorsement through resources like voter lists, neighborhood teams and joint fundraising efforts. Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said its difficult to quantify the value of the state partys endorsement on any individual campaign, but said party officials plan to align behind whomever wins the Aug. 9 primary. Party delegates also chose not to endorse in contested GOP primaries for attorney general, lieutenant governor and secretary of state. This will allow us to work with all candidates equally, he said. The voters will decide in August, and well take it from there. Rothschild said gubernatorial candidates Rebecca Kleefisch, who served eight years as lieutenant governor under Gov. Scott Walker, and former Marine Kevin Nicholson should have no trouble raising campaign funds leading up to the primary thanks to their individual PACs and ties to some of the states most wealthy GOP donors. However, increased spending by super PACs could allow outside groups and conservative billionaires like Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein and Diane Hendricks to play a bigger role in the upcoming gubernatorial race, he added. The Uihleins own Pleasant Prairies packaging giant Uline, while Hendricks is the co-founder of Beloit-based roofing company ABC Supply. The money from the super-rich Republican donors the Uihleins, Diane Hendricks those folks may end up having more of a say than the chairman of the Republican state party, Rothschild said. Megadonors boost campaigns Richard Uihlein urged Nicholson to join the gubernatorial race in January, months after Kleefisch announced her candidacy in September. The announcement came after Elizabeth Uihlein donated $20,000 to Kleefischs campaign, as well as $200,000 to a political action committee supporting Kleefischs run for governor. The Uihleins and Hendricks earlier this year donated a combined $3.5 million to Wisconsin Truth PAC, a new super PAC created to support the reelection campaign of Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Johnson, of Oshkosh, is running unopposed in the August primary and was one of just two statewide candidates along with state treasurer candidate Orlando Owens to secure the state partys endorsement last week. Tim Michels, who joined the race for governor in April, has pledged to largely self-fund his campaign and limit individual contributions to no more than $500, though state law caps such donations at $20,000. As the millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based Michels Corp., Michels is expected to inject millions of his own funds into his campaign. Im not going to owe anyone anything, he said last month. I dont give a rip about the lobbyists, the special interests, the PACs. State Rep. Timothy Ramthuns unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election have netted him praise from former President Donald Trump and a collective of Republican election deniers in the state, but it remains unclear if his support has generated sizable campaign donations. Recounts, court decisions and multiple reviews affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. A potential endorsement from Trump also looms large over the gubernatorial race as the former presidents support could provide a major benefit in the upcoming primary. New reports due July 15 Campaign finance reports for the first half of the year are due to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission on July 15 and will provide the first glimpse into fundraising efforts by Michels, Nicholson and Ramthun, who all joined the race earlier this year, as well as an update on Kleefischs progress. Hannah Menchhoff, rapid response director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, described the GOP convention as a disaster and an embarrassment for the Republican Party. They failed to unite around a candidate and will now continue the slog and division for another two and a half months, Menchhoff said. At a news conference Friday outside the state Capitol, where he announced he was handing in his nomination signatures, Evers said Democratic voters were united to reelect him to a second term this fall and pledged to continue to serve as a brick wall against radical Republican proposals, including bans on abortion, relaxed firearm restrictions and more stringent voting laws. Were building a strong campaign that is ready to win, Evers said. Democrats are unified and ready to keep the governors office this November. Former GOP strategist Brandon Scholz said he believes the state party made a huge mistake by not offering an endorsement in several statewide races but added he does not expect the lack of an endorsement to play a major role in the August primary. For a candidate to walk out of the convention and declare victory because there was no endorsement, if thats a victory, take it and go because it really doesnt have much to do with Republicans going after their big goal, and that is defeating Gov. Evers, Scholz said. Evers reported holding more than $10 million at the close of 2021, according to campaign finance reports filed in January. Kleefisch reported raising more than $3.3 million in the first four months of her campaign 10 times more than the state Republican Party raised in the second half of last year. Both fundraising totals have been touted as record-breaking by their respective campaigns and underscore what is expected to be an expensive gubernatorial race this year. Democrats outraising GOP Fundraising figures are just one component of a successful campaign or political party, but they can offer a glimpse into the campaigns or partys organization, donor base and overall support. Campaign finance laws written by Legislative Republicans and signed in late 2015 by Walker allow political parties to receive unlimited donations and make unlimited transfers of funds to candidates. As was the case leading up to the 2020 presidential election, the state Democratic Party dramatically outraised the Republican Party of Wisconsin last year, with Democrats bringing in more than $2.25 million in the final five months of 2021, compared with about $322,000 raised by Republicans. The Democratic Party raised more than $6.6 million last year, compared to less than $1.3 million raised by the Republican Party. Donations to state parties are not capped at $20,000 like they are for candidates. Evers received more than $3.7 million from committees and PACs last year, including more than $2.2 million from the state Democratic Party. The Republican state party isnt the fundraising goliath that it used to be, Rothschild said. Still, the Republican Party of Wisconsin has the ability to pump considerable funding and resources into campaigns. The party spent millions on Walkers 2014 and 2018 reelection bids, though the former governor ran unopposed in primaries both years. 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. AUBURN, Ala. (AP) The Federal Communications Commission will not revoke radio broadcast licenses held by former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, after ruling that Hubbards convictions on ethics charges did not automatically disqualify him. Administrative Law Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin ruled this month that the enforcement bureau had not proven that Hubbards felony convictions render him, and by extension Auburn Network, unqualified to hold the licenses. The crimes of which Mr. Hubbard is guilty are not trivial; indeed, he is currently incarcerated as a result, Halprin wrote, but noted that policies are clear, that not every felony is disqualifying. In short, a careful review of the criminal record and all the evidence submitted fails to persuade the Presiding Judge that Mr. Hubbard does not possess the character to remain a Commission licensee. Hubbard established the Auburn Network, Inc. in 1994 and holds the licenses for News Talk 1400 WANI in Opelika and Wings 94.3 WGZZ in Waverly along with three FM translator stations that rebroadcast the signals. According to commission filings, after his conviction, Hubbard agreed to sell the stations to Frank Lee Perryman for $775,000. But a decision on the license transfer request was held in abeyance while the revocation was decided. Hubbard is serving a 28-month prison sentence after being convicted in 2016 of violating the state ethics law, including using his public office for personal financial gain. He is imprisoned at Limestone Correctional Facility. His earliest release date is Jan. 8, 2023. Prosecutors accused Hubbard of leveraging his powerful public office to obtain clients and investments for his businesses, violating the prohibition against giving a thing of value to an elected official. His defense maintained the contracts were legitimate work and unrelated to his position as House speaker. Hubbard last year filed a motion seeking early release from prison, but a judge has not acted on that request. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday hes confident Turkeys objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO can be overcome swiftly, possibly in time for a summit of alliance leaders at the end of next month. At a news conference in Washington with visiting Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, Blinken said the U.S. has no reason to believe Turkeys concerns cannot be addressed. His comments came after Turkey's top diplomat said Finland and Sweden would have to take concrete steps before Ankara could support their membership. The United States fully supports Finland and Sweden joining the alliance and I continue to be confident that both will soon be NATO members, Blinken said. "We look forward to being able to call Finland and Sweden our allies." Haavisto said his country and Sweden had held good negotiations with the Turks over their concerns in recent days and said those discussions would continue with an eye toward resolving them before the NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June. We agreed to continue to those talks, Haavisto said. We think that these problems can be solved that Turkey has been raising. We hope that some results could be achieved before the NATO summit. Sweden and Finland submitted their written applications to join NATO last week. The move represents one of the biggest geopolitical ramifications of Russias war in Ukraine and could rewrite Europes security map. The countries membership bids require support from all 30 current NATO countries, but Turkey, which commands the second-largest military in the alliance, is objecting to them. It has cited alleged support for Kurdish militants whom Turkey considers terrorists and restrictions on weapons sales to Turkey. Earlier Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Finnish and Swedish negotiating delegations had been given documents detailing Turkeys concerns, like information on terror groups, during their visit to Turkey this week. He said Ankara is awaiting specific answers. Cavusoglu said an approach of well convince Turkey in time anyway, we are friends and allies would not be correct. He insisted that these countries need to take concrete steps. He added that we understand Finland and Swedens security concerns but ... everyone also needs to understand Turkeys legitimate security concerns. Turkey this week listed five concrete assurances it was demanding from Sweden, including what it said was termination of political support for terrorism, an elimination of the source of terrorism financing, and the cessation of arms support to the banned PKK and a Syrian Kurdish militia group affiliated with it. The demands also called for the lifting of arms sanctions against Turkey and global cooperation against terrorism. Cavusoglu's comments came at a news conference with the visiting foreign ministers of NATO allies Poland and Romania, both of whom expressed strong support for Finland and Sweden's bids. There is no doubt that we do need the accession of Sweden and Finland to the NATO alliance in order to make it stronger," Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said. Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, agreed, saying their membership would consolidate the collective defense and our security. Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The ayatollahs of Iran do not respect or pity weakness. They exploit it. Since the moment President Joe Biden entered the Oval Office, he has made one concession to Iran after another. As a result, today we face a regime that is more aggressive and assertive. Further accommodating the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism would be a disastrous mistake. Just last year, the Biden Justice Department revealed that Iranian agents attempted to kidnap an American journalist, Masih Alinejad, on American soil. Iranian intelligence assets stalked Alinejad in New York City, videotaped her family and home, and planned to abduct her and transport her to Venezuela and then Iran, where she would face imprisonment or death for her criticism of the regime. This detestable kidnapping scheme on American soil was an insult to American honor and a gross violation of countless laws and international conventions. Those facts didnt stop the Biden administration from announcing the U.S. would unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets. This one-sided gift was in no way conditioned on good behavior or good faith on the part of the Iranian regime. One can hardly imagine better proof of the administrations unseriousness. This kidnapping attempt is not an isolated incident. The ayatollahs are actively plotting the assassination of Trump administration officials and openly advertising their intent. If we had a competent president, a precondition of any negotiation or act of accommodation would be that such schemes are immediately quashed and never revived. Instead we have a president intent on turning a blind eye to Tehrans endless provocation and aggression. For years, the Iranian military has been actively arming terrorists in Iraq and Syria to kill U.S. service members, including with aerial drones meant to evade U.S. base defenses. An Iranian-backed terror group used one of these drones last year to target and destroy a dining facility used by U.S. service members. Iranian proxies also used these drones to carry out an assault on another U.S. government facility. The situation became so dire that the president ordered airstrikes against two known launching points for these attacks. QUOTE Tehrans growing aggression is but a distant thought to Bidens negotiators. Iran is also supplying Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad with massive stockpiles of long-range rockets, which are increasingly precise and deadly. The consequences of Irans arms trafficking were on full display last year when Hamas and PIJ fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, our closest ally in the region. This sparked a significant battle that ultimately cost hundreds of lives and threatened to spread into a widespread conflict. Our special envoy in Yemen has similarly found that the Iranian government is continuing to provide significant and lethal aid to the Houthi rebels, who are responsible for one of the bloodiest civil wars anywhere on the globe. After Biden inexplicably removed the Houthis from the U.S. governments list of terrorist groups early in his term, the Houthis and their Iranian patrons escalated their attacks against Saudi Arabia and launched a major new offensive. The violence escalated so much that the administration considered relisting the Houthis as a terrorist group earlier this year. Yet Tehrans growing aggression is but a distant thought to Bidens negotiators. According to reports, the Biden team could remove almost all sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran agreeing to even less stringent terms than the 2015 nuclear deal. The 2015 deal includes restrictions on Iran that have either expired or will soon, but this new agreement would do nothing to extend these timelines. Bidens team will likely try to lift sanctions related to Irans terrorism and military activities, which are completely unrelated to Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons. In other words, in addition to giving away the farm, Bidens crack team of appeasers is insisting that Iran take the shirt off our back as well. In a particularly galling move, the administration is apparently considering lifting sanctions on Irans brutal Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was responsible for more than 600 American deaths during the Iraq War. The Iranian nuclear program is not our only strategic priority. We also must deploy every tool available to punish the worlds leading sponsor of terrorism. No serious figure can claim that lifting sanctions, either partially or in full, on the Revolutionary Guard would reduce terrorism in the region. If we sign the deal currently under consideration, we would fill the Iranian regimes coffers and unleash its terror battalions in exchange for empty assurances on nuclear weapons that the Iranians will never honor. We know Iran wont honor this nuclear deal because it didnt honor it last time. As a result of a daring Israeli raid on an Iranian nuclear archive in 2018, the International Atomic Energy Agency discovered multiple undeclared nuclear sites since the 2015 agreement was signed. Despite constant attempts by the Iranians to obstruct access and to destroy evidence, the IAEA still found evidence of secret nuclear activity at these sites. Iran didnt tell the truth then, and it is not telling the truth now. As soon as President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei believe they have bilked all the benefits that they can from the agreement, they will rapidly proceed to a bomb. In the meantime, the regime will use the profits from sanctions relief to build its military arsenal and expand its support for terrorism across the region. President Biden should immediately end negotiations in Vienna and return to a policy of maximum pressure against Iran. The president should start enforcing Trump-era sanctions on the regime, re-list the Houthis as a terrorist organization, increase support for Israels military so that it can both defend against Irans proxies and prevent a nuclear Iran, and bar Iranian officials from entering the United States for attempting kidnappings and murders on our soil. We can either allow Irans scourge of terror and oppression to ripple across the Middle East or we can forthrightly confront and thwart its evil ambitions. I urge the administration to change course and confront the regime in Iran, but Im not holding my breath. Cotton is a Republican senator from Arkansas. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos leaked draft shows that five ultraconservative justices are willing to ignore half a century of precedent and overwhelming public opinion to impose their worldview on the rest of us. Legislating their narrow religious ideology from the bench is more important than the rights and lives of half the population. While overturning Roe v. Wade has been a key aim of the conservative activists, it is by no means the end of their efforts to take away privacy and equality from Americans. Indeed its just the necessary first step. After Roe is gone, abortion will likely be criminalized in about half the states. Wisconsin, for example, still has an 1849 law on the books, declaring abortion a felony with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the pregnant person, other than to save her life. Yet a patchwork of harsh state laws wont satisfy the anti-choice ideologues who run todays Republican Party. Just hours after the leak, reports surfaced of GOP strategists plotting to impose a nationwide abortion ban if Republicans take Congress this November and the presidency in 2024. Then, in Louisiana, lawmakers advanced a bill to charge women with first-degree homicide a death penalty offense for having an abortion. In at least four states, Republican lawmakers now are considering legislation that would outlaw several forms of birth control, including IUDs and emergency contraception (which is simply a high dose of birth control pills). Republicans have been waging a quiet war against birth control and sexual autonomy for decades one that seemed improbable, given strong public sentiment and constitutional support for our right to privacy. Focusing on restricting abortion was a shield for their even more radical and less popular plans. But a Supreme Court willing to destroy Roe will likely be willing to let politicians attack contraception, sex between consenting adults and LGBTQ rights. This nightmare, straight out of The Handmaids Tale, doesnt have to be our destiny. Over the next few months, we have a narrow window to restore and protect Roe and stop this assault on our freedoms and privacy. Wisconsinites have a leading role in this effort. We need to engage voters across the political spectrum to send a message loud and clear that we will not go back to the 1800s. We need to do so by voting for pro-choice Democratic candidates up and down the ticket. Reelecting Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul is the only way to ensure that no one goes to prison for performing an abortion, and that birth control remains legal in Wisconsin. We also need to preserve the governors veto by keeping Democratic legislative seats. On the federal level, replacing U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, with a Democratic senator could deliver the necessary vote to codify Roe, protecting abortion access nationwide. Marquette Law Schools January poll demonstrated that 72% of Wisconsinites oppose overturning Roe v. Wade. Now its up to all of us who care deeply about womens equality and freedom to spend this summer and fall educating that 72% of voters about what is at stake in the November elections. Agard and Roys are Democratic senators representing the Madison area: Sen.Agard@legis.wisconsin.gov and Sen.Roys@legis.wisconsin.gov. Flower Service Communion The Flower Ceremony, sometimes referred to as Flower Communion or Flower Festival, is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity and community. Originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Flower Ceremony was introduced to the United States by Rev. Maya Capek, Norbert's widow. All are welcome to this ceremony, where everyone is asked to bring a flower to share if they are able. After a blessing of the flowers that have been placed in a shared vase, each person will take home a different flower than the one they brought to honor the diversity found in our faith community. Our service will be both in person at our location 160 Ninth Ave. E. as well as on Zoom. To access Zoom please email mvuuf83301@yahoo.com for sign in information. In the subject line write "Zoom Service May 15th." Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. Unitarian Universalists believe in the dignity of every person regardless of race, creed or none at all, immigrant status or sexual orientation. Everyone is welcome, no exceptions. We believe in justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another. We are handicapped accessible in rear. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available. Join us at 10:30 a.m., Sunday. For further information, please call 208-410-8904, email us at mvuuf83301@yahoo.com or visit magicvalleyUU.org. When calling, please state your name in order to be connected. Honoring Graduates at Ascension The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Twin Falls, invites the community for Holy Communion at 9 a.m. Sunday, celebrated by the Rev. Canon Lauren Schoeck. High school and college graduates will be recognized during the service. Childcare may be available, but children are welcome in the worship service. A fellowship reception will take place after. The service will be online as well as in person. To view, click on the link at episcopaltwinfalls.org or go to Ascensions YouTube channel The Episcopal Church of the Ascension - Twin Falls. The church office will be closed Monday, May 30th for Memorial Day. Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Drive N. More information about Ascension can be found at ascension.episcopalidaho.org or 208-733-1248. To submit an item, email it in plain text to frontdoor@magicvalley.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Idahoans heading into the forests, mountains and campgrounds over Memorial Day weekend may encounter some unexpected snow and delayed campground openings as they look to begin their outdoor recreation season. Typically the time from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend is bustling with campers, boaters, hikers and all sorts of recreationists enjoying summer-style activities on public lands throughout Idaho. But due to unusual May snowstorms that bombarded the mountains and even blanketed the valley floors earlier this month, U.S. Forest Service officials are urging Idahoans and visitors to be prepared for unpredictable weather and lingering snow at higher elevations across the regions public lands. On top of that, the U.S. National Weather Service in Boise is forecasting a cold, wet holiday weekend, with chances for snow in the mountains and high elevation areas. This year you want to plan out your trip in advance and have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, said outdoor expert and Recreate Responsibly Idaho coordinator Steve Stuebner. Forest Service roads are not plowed, may be covered in snow at higher elevations and cell phone service is not available in most of the forest. Some campgrounds and areas of the Boise National Forest situated at higher elevations are not scheduled to open until June or July due to snowpack, including Bull Trout Campground, Deadwood Reservoir and the Trinity Mountain Recreation Area, Forest Service officials said. One thing to keep in mind is we try to open our campgrounds as soon as possible, but every developed campground has to be inspected for public safety and just cleaned up, said Venetia Gempler, a public affairs officer for the Boise National Forest. Right now most of our lower elevation campgrounds would be open, but upper elevation campgrounds arent open, and that is primarily because of snow. That doesnt mean there arent plenty of chances to enjoy Idahos trails, forests, campgrounds this holiday weekend. Most of the 80 campgrounds in the Boise National Forest opened May 21, including the Riverside, Edna Creek and Hayfork campgrounds in the Idaho City Ranger District and the Pine Flats, Helende and Bonneville campgrounds located in the Lowman Ranger District. Some campgrounds are available to reserve in advance and are likely already booked. Others, including the Riverside and Whoop Um Up campgrounds in the Idaho City Ranger District opened May 21 and are first come, first served. Visit www.recreation.gov for reservations and more information. Most lower elevation campgrounds are also open and accessible in the Payette National Forest. Idaho outdoors experts expect surge in usage and reservations to continue Even with recent cold, wet weather, officials are bracing for another increase in public lands and campground usage. Since 2020 weve seen a huge uptick in visitor use on the forest and I think that is across the nation, frankly, at national forests, and the Boise National Forest is no different, Gempler said. We are very close to a major population center in Idaho, so it is kind of a gateway forest to nature, basically. And so we expect we will have lots of visitors. People who live in Idaho love their public lands and they like to be outside. Thats not to say you cant find peace and solitude in Idahos forests and public lands. Our most accessible and popular areas have seen quite a tremendous uptick in use, but there are still areas of the forest where you can find your own little space, said Payette National Forest recreation specialist Emily Simpson. At this point, the word is out about Idahos beautiful public lands and recreation opportunities, and Stuebner expects that to continue unless gas prices deter summer travel plans. The increase in public lands usage over the past two summers has led to some trashed campgrounds and hot springs, damage to trails, conflicts between recreation user groups, lots of poop (human and canine) near trails and campgrounds and crowded trailheads, to the point some experts wonder if we are loving Idahos wild places to death. Part of the focus of the Recreate Responsibly Idaho campaign to educate outdoors users on leaving no trace and recreating responsibly, Stuebner said. The three-year-old initiative is a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission and more. The campaign maintains a website with tips on getting outdoors safely and responsibly. We are hoping to see people do a better job this summer, but we know we have tens of thousands of new people moving to Idaho and we have lots of tourists and visitors coming to Idaho as well, Stuebner said. Stuebner said anyone heading outdoors can use the Recreate Responsibly Idaho website to find tips on putting out campfires and trail and camp etiquette. One personal tip hed add for anybody heading outdoors this Memorial Day is to bring a good tarp with all the rain forecast for popular areas such as McCall and Stanley. Payette National Forest reduces camping stay limit to 14 days Payette National Forest forest supervisor Linda Jackson has issued an order shortening the camp stay limit from 18 days to 14 days. The 14-day limit is consistent with many other public lands across the country and in the neighboring forests in Idaho, including the Boise National Forest, Forest Service officials said. Fourteen days is not only consistent with most of the neighboring federal lands, but really across the country too, giving people that consistency, said Simpson, the Payette National Forest recreation specialist. Were also trying to avoid any complaints about long term occupancy of sites and trying to ensure folks can get a site when they come out in the forest. As far as tips for heading outdoors this weekend, Simpson would encourage everyone to get as early as a start as possible heading outdoors for the holiday weekend and plan multiple backup options. The earlier you can get here the better, and if you leave early enough if you need to you can change plans from Plan A to Plan B and even Plan C, Simpson said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN FALLS More than 100 people attended the reopening of Tacos Villa last Friday. It was insane, said Julia Rico, business manager for the Mexican restaurant. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so busy. The business posted a Facebook video of the steady stream of customers with the caption, Full house means a happy heart. Thank you for your support today and always. The restaurant, owned and operated by the Rico family, was one of the businesses destroyed by the Radio Rondevoo fire in April. The fire affected multiple businesses including Eve and the Outlaw Bail Bonds and Angel Paws Pet Grooming. Due to the size and location, it was considered an all-call fire, according to Twin Falls City Spokesperson Josh Palmer. This meant all area agencies who could respond helped out. About 100 firefighters, police and paramedics were on scene by 10 a.m. Investigators were able to determine the fire originated in the attic of the building, however, the Idaho State Fire Marshals office found no definitive cause. Rico said the business would have celebrated its second anniversary at the downtown location on Aug. 1. The Rico family has signed a three-year lease on a new location at 260 Shoshone St. E., the former home of Ritas Coffeehouse and Eatery. I felt stressed for my dad, Rico said. Because he was the one who wanted to open up soon and Im like, OK if this is what you want lets do it, and everything came out pretty smoothly. A GoFund Me page for the business, used to cover lost employee wages, has since been removed by the family after negative comments about insurance. The business did have insurance, Rico said, but most people dont understand it takes a long time to receive any money. The insurance is not like an auto insurance. Sometimes even auto insurance takes a long time to give you money, she said. Now, imagine a business that lost thousands and thousands of dollars. It was challenging but we managed to get back on our feet and start running again. To keep the spirit of the old location, the family painted an inside wall the same shade of red. I told my dad I wanted something from our old location here, Rico said. She has enjoyed seeing returning customers and first-timers who wanted to show their support. For newcomers, she recommends trying the Quesabirria Tacos or the Taco Rico. Her parents, Ruben and Sindi, started the business in 2017 in Jerome. We got a lot of encouragement to move to Twin Falls and thats when we took the big step and moved over here, Julia Rico said. Its been a blessing ever since. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On April 6, I wrote a column about dominators. It is a term I want to champion rather than the various names we call people who use skin color, gender, arrival in the United States (now or in the past), educational level, place of residence, or other terms to demean another human. I meant to suggest that we all can look at our thoughts and behaviors and give up the need to justify ourselves. Humans are humans, and we all need to give ourselves and others respect. On this planet, every living thing is essential. On May 14, a week and a half ago, a teenager in Buffalo, New York, showed us domination at its worst. He wasnt using stereotypes or unconscious bias as he acted. He became a weapon of a group of people following age-old beliefs in the superiority of white-skinned humans over any other human on the planet. With religious zeal, they are sure that our creator made only humans with pale complexions in his image. Our nations founders lacked the skill to act on Jeffersons words in the Declaration of Independence, but they designed a government that could eventually fulfill those ideals. The scales of justice can become unbalanced at any moment, but we can adjust them with effort and will. Ending slavery, giving women the right to vote, integrating the armed forces, passing the civil rights act and then the Equal Opportunity act in 1972 put legal power to our founding ideals. After more thought and a few more laws, we began to believe that our nation was finally putting equality in its rightful place. But we congratulated ourselves too soon. We began to discover that the idea of the supreme white race had only gone underground. It had adherents who took gun ownership to mean that they had a right to use firearms as offensive weapons in defending themselves against people who opposed their political beliefs. A minority of Christians accepted a theology believing that Jesus urged his followers to dominate civil governance and establish laws. They appear to embrace the idea that God favors white skin. Biologists refuse to divide humans into races. The notion of race is a human invention to explain that groups of people from distinct areas of the world have common physical characteristics. The division of people by cultural practices or ethnicity is even less precise, but we still use the term race. Discussing the best ways to tackle public problems is my preference. I have always believed that the public officials I know are appalled at any idea of insurrection in the name of a Nationalist White Supremacy agenda. They know the 2020 election was valid. They know that Nationalism is separate from Conservatism. There are enough crucial issues requiring attention now and in the future that the question of a deviant ideology should receive no notice. Idaho and the west have enormous water problems. Our rural areas need economic development, and our major population centers threaten to outgrow their desert environment. We need more skilled and semi-skilled workers. We do not need to fight the culture wars. We do not need to enshrine religious beliefs with restrictive laws. We often call ourselves Americans because Citizens of the United States is a mouthful. However, our constitution and the Civil War chose a Federal government over a confederacy. Only candidates who loudly renounce replacement theory, Nationalism, white supremacy, and the militia movement deserve a public office this election year. The beliefs of a minority should not hold the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Bush hostage, giving the hate mongers tacit approval for their actions. Novembers Idaho election can only be a referendum on whether or not to support the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutions call for progress toward a perfect union. Do we choose to love, or do we choose to hate? Now is the time, and this is that place. Linda Brugger, retired from the Air Force Reserve and a leaning Democrat and community activist, can be reached at IdahoAuthor@outlook.com. Love 10 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Co-Chairs and Members of Board of Trustees of Nizami Ganjavi International Center have sent a congratulatory letter to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in connection with May 28 - Independence Day. His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Your Excellency, We would like to join the people of Azerbaijan in celebrating this 104th anniversary of the declaration of Independence, the National Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and to extend our congratulations to Your Excellency and to the First Vice-President, as we reflect on the enormous progress that Azerbaijan has accomplished in the past 30 years, despite obstacles and challenges world is facing. And in that context, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you, Mr. President, for the commitment you have shown to the creation, growth and international outreach of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) and we believe that together we will continue to strengthen the NGIC and take it to ever more successful endeavors. We look forward to being in Baku again in June for the 9th Global Baku Forum, and hope to meet you again. Mr. President, please accept the assurances of our highest consideration. Sincerely, I have read with alarm the reports of high national rates of police officers murdered or ambushed by violent criminals. When communities are soft on crime and focused on defunding the police, we are all less safe. I stand with Idahos law enforcement, and will continue supporting their service. The statistics are dreadful: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), last year, 73 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed on the jobthe highest single-year number since 9/11. A record number of those officers killed, nearly half, were ambushed while sitting in their vehicles, attacked while on patrol or lured out into the open and killed, the FBI also reports. Further, FBI Director Christopher Wray has said, Violence against law enforcement in this country is one of the biggest phenomena that I think doesnt get enough attention. Last year, officers were being killed at a rate of almost one every five days. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) wrote, Last year was one of the most dangerous years for law enforcement, with more officers shot in the line of duty since the FOP began recording this data. There was also a 115% increase in the number of ambush-style attacks. Additionally, in February, the FOP highlighted, As crime rates continue to surge across this nation, the violence directed at law enforcement officers is also skyrocketing, with 55 officers shot so far this year. When you consider the rising police murder rates and the high violent crime rates, we have far more than a significant problem that requires immediate attention. In January, the Council on Criminal Justice reported a 44 percent increase in homicides in 2021 in 27 cities the Council studied as compared to 2019. According to the FBI, There were 65,000 additional violent crime incidents in 2020 than there were in 2019. . . ., and homicides increased nearly 30 percent in 2020the largest single-year increase recorded in 50 years. In an April speech, FBI Deputy Director Paul M. Abbate framed the increase in this grim context, Thats 65,000 more people victimized by violent crime than in the year before. And each one, as we all know, with families, heartbreak, and trauma. Idaho law enforcement keep our communities safe. They and their families bear the danger and difficulty of this responsibility. And, the risks they face are heightened by the rise in violent crime in many parts of our country connected to liberal efforts to defund the police and other challenges, such as the deadly impacts of fentanyl and counterfeit pills, cartel drug trafficking, domestic violence and much more. It is clear Americans benefit from a well-funded and supported law enforcement personnel. I proudly continue to back legislation recognizing the vigilance and compassion of those who serve in law enforcement and strongly support law enforcement officers across Idaho and the U.S. We all need to do our part to recognize the important role police officers have in making our communities safe and show support for police and law enforcement personnel. They need our support perhaps now more than ever. Sen. Mike Crapo represents Idaho in the U.S. Senate. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A few hundred activists of the South African radical left demonstrated Wednesday in Pretoria to demand that France, accused of post-colonial imperialism, leave the African continent. In the colors of the party led by Julius Malema, the Fighters for Economic Freedom (EFF), wearing T-shirts and red caps with a logo in the shape of Africa, held up signs France out, Wealth of France on the backs of Africans or Reparations for colonial crimes. The demonstrators had disembarked in the morning in buses chartered by the party and gathered a few blocks from the French embassy, according to press reports. Fuck you France, fuck you, chanted an activist on a stage set up on an open truck, the small crowd taking up the slogans in chorus before approaching the gates of the embassy, protected by a cordon of armed police. Demanding to meet a French representative or risk blocking access, Julius Malema shouted into the microphone: You have killed many people in Africa, why are you so afraid today? He said he was addressing the French white supremacists. In a brief appearance, the French ambassador, Aurelien Lechevallier, addressed the demonstrators, assuring, We are friends of the African nations. In a statement, the embassy recalled that France is a strong partner of South Africa and that it fully respects the integrity, sovereignty and independence of all African nations. Julius Malema, who attracts millions of poor and unemployed black youth to his ranks, is known for his outrageous outbursts. Declaring himself to be part of the anti-imperialist movement opposed to Europe and the United States, he recently gave strong support to Russia in its war with Ukraine. Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism and Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Vladimir Voronkov has stressed the important role Morocco and Kenya play in providing the continent with the needed resources to counter terror threats. Addressing the African Union Extraordinary Summit which opened works Saturday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the UN official said that even some countries, which used to be spared from terrorism, are increasingly becoming targets of terrorists. The fight against terrorism has become a priority in Africa for the development and emergence of the Continent, stressed Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, noting that the fight against terrorism in Africa has yielded positive results, particularly in Nigeria, which continues to succeed in its fight against Boko Haram, added the UN official. The responsibility of counter-terrorism lies with member states and their government institutions, said Mr. Vladimir, affirming that the unconstitutional changes in Africa undermine counter-terrorism efforts and pose a great threat to human rights and the rule of law. A young man arrested on suspicion of bringing a knife to Big Sky High School pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon. Keyvin Gallagher, 18, is charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of a weapon in a school building. If convicted, he faces a maximum of six months and a $500 fine. A school resource officer received reports on Thursday afternoon that Gallagher had a weapon on campus property. The officer confronted Gallagher as he was walking toward the schools entrance, according to charging documents filed in Missoula County. Law enforcement gave him a pat-down to check for weapons. Four throwing knives on a sheath wrapped around Gallaghers upper arm were located, charging documents stated. The blades measured 4 inches long. A press release sent out by Missoula police on Thursday said a student reported Gallagher had plans to get revenge against another involved male. Gallagher told officers he intended to use the knives for target practice after school and denied having any negative feelings toward others. Other students learned about the knives and were worried when Gallagher was reportedly using them at lunchtime at Fort Missoula. Gallagher didnt negate others' concerns about what the knives were for, according to charging documents. At Gallaghers initial appearance on Friday, Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway called Gallagher's alleged actions egregious. "Given what's happening right now and what's in the media and the concerns, it's frightening when these matters are brought to light," Judge Holloway said. Gallagher is set to be released from the Missoula jail to the custody of a guardian. Judge Holloway ordered he be placed on GPS monitoring, possess no weapons and stay off Big Sky High School property. The judge also thanked the involved individuals who brought Gallaghers reported behavior to officers attention. Public Defender Ted Fellman said Gallagher expressed accountability and a willingness to resolve the matter by entering a plea on Friday. Gallaghers next court hearing is set for July 12. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PHOENIX (AP) Democrat Aaron Lieberman ended his campaign for Arizona governor Friday, saying there's no viable path to victory. Lieberman, a former state lawmaker from Paradise Valley, struggled to gain traction against the Democratic front-runner, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who has built a national profile as a staunch defender of Arizona's election. It is clear to me that theres just not a realistic path forward in this race this year, and I owe it to all the people who have so generously supported our campaign to be honest with them about what the path ahead would look like, Lieberman said in a statement. He thanked his supporters and said electing a Democratic governor will be a top priority of mine over the next few months. Lieberman founded two organizations focused on early childhood education before being elected to the Legislature in 2018. Hes developed a reputation as a moderate during two terms in the House. He resigned last year to focus on his campaign for governor. In an announcement video released last summer, Lieberman presented himself as an entrepreneur and pragmatic problem solver. When we turn the page on this pandemic, lets turn the page on our politics too, Lieberman said in the video. More recently, he tried to jumpstart his campaign with a television ad proclaiming, right now, Arizona's politics are a dumpster fire. Through the end of March, Lieberman reported raising just over $1.4 million for his campaign, trailing both Hobbs and the other Democrat in the race, former Nogales Mayor and Obama administration border official Marco Lopez. Hobbs and Lopez both thanked Lieberman for his contributions to the race. I look forward to the fight ahead as we all come together and stand up to those who are threatening our basic freedoms in Arizona, Hobbs wrote on Twitter. Lopez said running for office is incredibly courageous. Aaron has been adamant that we need a governor who puts education and our working families first; one whos not afraid to speak directly to the voters and speak out against hate and discrimination," Lopez said in a statement. 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 As we headed into fall of 2021, things were looking pretty good. The Missus and I, fully vaccinated were looking to take care of the vacancy that not being able to travel internationally had created. So, we decided to "dip our toes" into the pool so to speak and not go too crazy......and go to one of our favorite destinations; Mexico City. The Missus also had another destination in mind and I worked out the logistics. Of course, along came Omicron, but by that time we both had gotten our boosters and when it was time for our trip, we decided to go ahead with it. In some ways, it was good to start things off with CDMX as we had felt welcome and comfortable there from the first time we set foot in the city. We'd be staying at the same accommodations as our previous trips and was familiar with the area. It would also be interesting to see if things had changed over time. We did the CBX thing and flew out of TJ..... We had a morning flight and were served breakfast. I quickly noticed the new "required accessory" that came along with breakfast. We landed and found our transport to Condesa and checked into our hotel. Things initially felt a bit strange, but once in the comfortable and familiar confines of the area, things started feeling normal....just like in the "old days". Having arrived late in the afternoon, I had made reservations at a place I've posted on twice, so I'm mainly just putting up photos. We had decided to have dinner at Pasillo de Humo because we've always enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and service. There was one interesting Covid precaution when entering the restaurant which is on the second floor of a food hall. You went thru a device that misted vinegar on you! You smelled pickled before you even had your first cocktail! And that Memelitas de Cerdo, the pork cheek memelitas were so good, we had a second order! Then the Missus had Her dessert....while I had, ahem, mine. This was of course, the place where I first had Ojo de Tigre....from the modified hand truck with like 30 bottles of Mezcal on it. These days everything is based on QR codes. I spoke to our wonderful Server about Ojo de Tigre and was told they don't serve that here anymore. The reason? "Too many Ojo de Tigre!" I'm guessing that Ojo de Tigre production is hitting mainstream and is now easily available. So I had him pick something "mui fumar" (smoky) for me, which he did. It was really good! Pasillo de Humo Av Nuevo Leon 107 06100 Cuauhtemoc, CDMX, Mexico After dinner we took a short walk to another regular stop, Tout Chocolate. We've been here on every visit to CDMX; but strangely, I couldn't find a post on the place. This place has been a stop for us since our good friend "Alle" recommended it to us several years back. Part cafe, part chocolate/confection shop....you know what the Missus was after, right? She acquired a nice variety of chocolates. Tout Chocolat Amsterdam 154 6100 Cuauhtemoc, CDMX, Mexico Then we decided to call it a night. It had been a wonderful evening for us....it just seemed so comforting. The next morning we had tickets and reservations for Museo Frida Kahlo and decided to get there before our 10 am entrance time and grab some coffee. Uber is amazing in Mexico, very affordable and very safe since all cars are tracked. We got to Coyoacan an hour before our designated time. So we headed off to get our caffeine fix. I had initially planned on getting some coffee from Cafe El Jarocho a pioneer in the CDMX coffee scene, established back in 1953 eventually spawning 8 other locations in CDMX. But the lines were long and even though everyone (just like elsewhere in Mexico during our visit) wore masks, it was just too crowded with little seating. We decided on the shop across the street named La Catrina. The young lady working was very sweet. And they had al fresco tables and seating..... And here we came across one of those "memorable" moments. A sweet young lady came up to the window. She seemed a regular customer as the folks working knew her. Her companion and "bodyguard" was a tiny, three legged Chihuahua. I say bodyguard because this little one had some personality and was quite protective of the young lady! The pooch would ignore the smaller poodles and such that walked by.....but oh, when the larger dogs passed by, be it a Rottweiler or Pit Bull, the little fellow would start growling! Which is probably how he ended up with three legs! We started calling him "Tripod".....and no one messes with Tripod, no one! I regret not taking a photo of this Bada$$! As often happens when enjoying oneself, time flew by. Soon it was time to head on over to Museo Frida Kahlo. I went and took our cups back to the counter which brought a smile and a "gracias" from the young lady working. Meanwhile, Tripod let me pet him and scratch his ears and his owner smiled and told us "have a fun vacation!" I guess it was obvious that we were tourists. Such nice folks.......though you don't mess with Tripod! La Catrina Ignacio Allende 45 04000 Coyoacan, CDMX, Mexico Up next Museo Frida Kahlo For NATO, Sweden and Finland add more turf, more forces, and more 'dilemmas' for Russia, US military officials say Finnish military personnel at a training grounds in Sweden, October 27, 2018 Finnish Defence Force/VIlle Multanen Russia's attack on Ukraine prompted Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO after decades of non-alignment. In recent days, US military leaders have expressed support for their membership, pointing to their contributions to European security. The US military will only benefit if Sweden and Finland join NATO, top US military officials have said in recent days, echoing the enthusiasm of many in the US and Europe about those countries' admission to the alliance. "I look forward to the accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance from a military perspective. Each of those militaries brings quite a bit of capability and capacity to the alliance from Day One," Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the head of the US Army in Europe, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Leaders from across the US military are complimentary of the Swedish and Finnish armed forces, a reflection of the close partnerships that they have developed with the US and its NATO allies. "The Finns and the Swedes are extraordinary in their ability to distribute assets [and] protect themselves in a manner that is quite informative to us and at the same time generate combat power," Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces in Europe, said in February 2021. Finland's government authorized the purchase of the F-35 to be its next multi-role fighter on December 10, 2021. Finnish Air Force Cavoli, speaking at a hearing on his nomination to lead US European Command and be Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, said Sweden's and Finland's military capabilities and resources would ease their integration into the alliance. Finland has "a large army" that is well equipped, "very well trained," and can "very quickly" expand because most Finns have military training, Cavoli said. "Sweden's the same thing a smaller army but a very capable army and an army that's growing," Cavoli said. Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014, Sweden has approved substantial spending increases to add troops and acquire hardware. That growth and Sweden's reputation for producing high-quality weaponry including advanced non-stealth jets and conventionally powered submarines would benefit NATO, Cavoli said. Story continues "I think it will be quite easy for us to integrate them quickly. We've been integrating them in our large-scale exercises as well as our operations abroad for some years now," Cavoli said. Cavoli emphasized that Sweden's and Finland's geography would benefit NATO. Finland would more than double NATO's boundary with Russia, but Finland has been "absolutely expert" in defending its border, Cavoli said, pointing to the 1939-1940 Winter War. "Russia has not historically put too many ground forces on that border," concentrating them elsewhere "because they thought they had a relationship with Finland that allowed them to do that," Cavoli said. "That possibility will now go away." Tanks from Sweden's Gotland's Regiment patrol in northern Gotland, January 16, 2022. KARL MELANDER/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images Sweden and Finland's admission would also almost totally surround the Baltic Sea with alliance territory, creating what has been called "a NATO lake." That enclosure would present "a bunch of different dilemmas, almost geometric dilemmas, that Russia does not have right now as they sail forth from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, so it will be advantageous" for NATO, Cavoli said. Both countries also have islands in strategically valuable locations in the Baltic. Sweden's Gotland Island to which it has redeployed military forces "is sometimes referred to as the 'unsinkable aircraft carrier,'" Cavoli added. Sweden's navy "will bring an enormous amount of surface capability to us in the Baltic Sea. They also have underwater capabilities that will help us as well," Cavoli said. The US Navy regularly trains with NATO navies in the Baltic, and that presence would increase were Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 18. "I look forward to the prospect of Sweden and Finland joining NATO," del Toro said. "I foresee a day where we're actually increasing our maritime operations in the Baltic Sea." 'A new type of challenges' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, with Finland and Sweden's ambassadors to NATO, Klaus Korhonen and Axel Wernhoff, after receiving their member applications, May 18, 2022. NATO/Twitter Sweden and Finland remained outside of NATO for decades, even as both worked closely with the alliance. Russia's renewed attack on Ukraine in late February stoked public support for membership in both countries, however, and Finnish and Swedish officials submitted their applications simultaneously on May 18. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said their bids were "warmly welcome," and more than 80 US senators have expressed support for expediting approval of them, but support has not been uniform. In his questioning of Cavoli, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley expressed concern about whether their admission could eventually lead the US to station more forces in Europe the Biden administration has signaled it may keep 100,000 troops in Europe as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues. Others have argued their inclusion would bring more risks than benefits for the US. Turkey has also objected to their membership over what it says are its security concerns. US Marine Corps and Finnish army platoon commanders during an exercise near Niinisalo, Finland, May 10, 2019. US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Scott Jenkins Officials from Sweden and Finland have both emphasized that they would augment the alliance as it faces new and emerging threats. In an interview in early May, the Swedish ambassador to the US, Karin Olofsdotter, pointed to Sweden's long-running participation in NATO operations and intensifying military investment. "We are really bringing hardcore military security to the table," Olofsdotter said. Finland has "a long border but a peaceful border" with Russia and has always tried to maintain it as such, Pekka Haavisto, Finland's foreign minister, said at an event Friday. "At the same time, of course, we see that it's not only about Finland but the whole of NATO is facing a new type of challenges by Russia. It's not only traditional military challenges. It can be hybrid influence. It can be cyber influence," Haavisto said. "We think that we have a lot of capabilities of addressing those sort of risks, so it hopefully adds to the security of the whole alliance." Read the original article on Business Insider FRIDAY, May 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Getting a hold of the COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid could get easier, the White House announced on Thursday. "We want to make Paxlovid as widely available across the entire country, so that if you do end up getting a breakthrough infection, you're still protected against serious illness," said Ashish Jha, M.D., the White House COVID-19 coordinator. The first test-to-treat site backed by the federal government is opening in Rhode Island, and more are scheduled to open in the coming weeks in Massachusetts and New York City, according to the Associated Press. Those sites will provide patients who test positive with immediate access to the drug. The United States is also sending authorized federal prescribers to several Minnesota-run testing sites next week, so that they, too, can test-to-treat. Meanwhile, federal regulators have sent more clear guidance to physicians, so that they can more effectively determine how to manage Paxlovid interactions with other drugs a patient may already be taking. About 25,000 to 30,000 courses of Paxlovid are being prescribed each day in the United States, a fourfold increase during the past six weeks. After key changes were made in how Paxlovid is distributed to states, the number of pharmacies doubled during May to 40,000, the AP said. Though the United States has ordered 20 million courses of Paxlovid from drugmaker Pfizer, the country may run out this winter if there is a surge and the drug is widely used, the AP noted. The White House has been asking Congress for additional funds for months to purchase more Paxlovid, as well as other treatments and boosters. Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. A man and woman were charged with drug possession at a boat access in Burke County on Sunday, May 22. Sonny Carvin Hefner, 39, of Bridges Avenue, Hildebran, and Krystal Pauline Boggs, 32, of Rhodhiss Road, Connelly Springs, were each charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. A release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office said that around 2 a.m. on May 22, deputies saw a suspicious vehicle parked at the Weaver Lane boating access in Connelly Springs. As deputies were talking with the occupants, they noticed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, the release said. A probable cause search was conducted, and methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were seized. Hefner and Boggs were arrested and charged. Both were placed in the Burke County Jail under a $5,000 secured bond and had a court date the following day. Hefner and Boggs have another court date on June 13 in Burke County District Court. Hefner has previously been convicted of felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, probation violations and traffic violations, according to a North Carolina Department of Public Safety offender search. With Sundays article on Butte High grad Bob Auvil, who served in the U.S. Navy for more than 20 years, The Montana Standard kicks off its fourth series of local veteran profiles. After the 2022 series premiere runs Sunday, the Stories of Honor will print every other Monday, wrapping up just before Veterans Day in early November. Over the years, the Standard has had the privilege of featuring veterans of World War II and almost every subsequent conflict until the present day. The objective is to honor all veterans. With Montanas thriving and robust military community, each year we look forward to connecting with local veterans in our communities who wish to share how the military has affected their lives. Stories of Honor not only resonates with other veterans, but with civilians (like me) as well. As someone who did not serve, the only insight Ive had into the military was from asking three of my close friends with experience or by consuming articles like Stories of Honor featuring veterans. One common denominator that stood out to me is that no one today is the same person they were when they joined (an understatement, Im sure). Whether they witnessed combat first-hand or were never close to the line of fire, military service has shaped their lives in a significant way. Reading first-hand accounts from the front lines has often left me speechless. The countless examples of sacrifice, heroism and bravery displayed by people who I might walk past every day in the grocery store are truly humbling. Most recently, I reread Stories of Honor: Respect for sacrifice which was published in the Standard in September 2021. Ralph Joseph Villa opened up about how he and others from Anaconda served in the Vietnam War. Ralph did not have to see combat while spending 12 months at Cam Rahn Bay on the Vietnam coast. His brother, Henry Villa, did. He is truly I dont know how to say it a hero, Ralph told Standard reporter Duncan Adams. Three men from Ralph Villas graduating class of 1966 died in Vietnam. Stories about soldiers like the Villas and their Anaconda classmates have a way of putting things in perspective. Inspiration does not begin and end with harrowing tales from the battlefield. I also recently reread, Story of Honor: Reservists 3 Rs: Reliability, responsibility, remedies. Army major, licensed physician assistant, entrepreneur, wife and mother, Kimberly Yancey shared how her service influenced her remarkable life. The Army totally shaped me but I didnt realize that until now, she told Adams during their interview last fall. During a deployment to Saudi Arabia in 1996, Yancey met a physician assistant who inspired her to pursue the same profession. That relationship resulted in Yancey meeting her husband as he was passing through Billings while on tour as a rodeo cowboy. These profiles are among That Standards most well-read stories and theres no mystery as to why. It's an honor to present them to our readers. On Sunday, Memorial Day and onward, please join us in remembering the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country. As the Stories of Honor continue, we'd appreciate it if you'd consider sending us a nomination. Newsroom contact information can be found on Page A2 and at mtstandard.com. Matthew Kiewiet is the managing editor for the Montana Standard and writer for frontpagebets.com. Email him at matthew.kiewiet@mtstandard.com or follow him on Twitter @mattkiewiet406. 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. By Trend A delegation led by Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkey Hulusi Akar arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit on May 27, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov welcomed guests at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Then a solemn welcoming ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defense, the defense ministers of both countries passed along the guard of honor and the national anthems were performed. After the welcoming ceremony, the defense minister and other senior officials of the ministry met with the Turkish delegation. Chief of the General Staff, Army General Yashar Guler, Commander of the Land Forces, Army General Musa Avsever, Commander of the Air Force, Army General Hasan Kucukakyuz, Commander of the Naval Forces, Admiral Adnan Ozbal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci and other officials participated in the meeting. Welcoming the guests, the Defense Minister noted that military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is developing, and emphasized the importance of further increasing efforts in this area. Expressing satisfaction with his visit to the fraternal country, Akar congratulated the Azerbaijani people on 28 May Independence Day and thanked for the hospitality. He stressed the significance of holding the TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan in Baku, as well as joint exercises. Prospects for the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey in the military, military-technical, military-educational and other spheres were discussed at the meeting. As a Butte native who got to see the world during his seven years in the U.S. Navy, Frank Grady made sure to attend the grand opening of the Southwest Montana Veterans Home last year. As he took in the ceremony in Butte, he knew he had to do more. I decided that as a veteran, I had a duty to assist in ensuring these older veterans were treated with dignity, grace and respect and know that people care about them, said Grady. For most of them, this will be their last home. Grady met with Christopher Cotton, the administrator of the Veterans Home, and asked him what its residents needed the most. He answered immediately with socialization and time. I just told Frank that basically, we get a lot of support as far as assets, said Cotton, who spent 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. People want to give items to us and thats always easy, but the hardest thing to give is that time of just coming to visit and spending an hour with somebody. It would make quite a bit of difference, he said. Its nice to have a board game but its better to have somebody to play that board game with. Grady, with help from fellow veteran Mick Ringsak and others in Butte, is now on a quest to meet that need. He is working to assemble a team of volunteers to visit the home regularly, get to know the residents and spend time with them. Hes calling the program Visit a Vet and besides being good company, nothing extravagant is required. They can play cards with a resident, go for walks, watch a game on TV together or just talk. Residents who are capable can leave the complex, so if coordination with family and the home is worked out, volunteers could take them to lunch or go shopping. Companionship is the key. These guys are lonely and want to enjoy life and do fun stuff and absolutely be with people and share their stories, Grady said. It took years to finance and finally build the skilled nursing facility just west of Continental Drive near Three Bears Alaska, and theres still work being done. But three of five cottages have been completed and have residents, another cottage is expected to open in June and another one is still under construction. Each cottage has 12 single bedrooms and there are now 35 veterans living in the complex. The cottage concept is intended to provide something akin to a home setting as opposed to a living arrangement that feels impersonal and institutional. Family and friends are welcome to visit, of course, but Grady is hoping to add up to 60 volunteers to the mix. Some of the residents have experienced war and seen the worst of mankind, Grady said, and now they deserve the best. Grady and Ringsak did run into one early hurdle but with a big hand from Montana Resources, theyll be able to clear it. The Veterans Home is overseen by the state of Montana but Eudoro Healthcare provides onsite management and runs day-to-day operations. The facility also has ties to the U.S. Veterans Administration and agencies that oversee Medicare and Medicaid. Under various regulations, all volunteers must pass background checks to spend time at the home. They are done for the safety and security of the residents and theyre primarily looking for criminal offenses that can disqualify someone. But each check costs about $90. The Veterans Home didnt want to take money away from general operating expenses so Ringsak asked Mark Thompson, manager of environmental affairs at Montana Resources in Butte, if they might be able to help. The mining company conducts background checks for its hires so Thompson made a couple of calls and they agreed to do them for volunteers at the home. They get some basic ID information and have the checks done by another private firm. MR really stepped up to bat, Ringsak said. Thompson said Grady and Ringsak were running into some roadblocks and we run background checks so we are glad to help. He called the volunteer effort wonderful. Therese Madrazo, activities director at the Veterans Home, agreed. There are a lot of things volunteers can take part in with residents, she said. We have cribbage, we have chess, we have board games, she said. Were going to do poker, possibly at night. Were going to do fishing trips that well needs hands from some of these people. There will be car shows. And were going to need volunteers just to visit with them and help them get around. Grady has spent the past week or so just trying to get the word out about the effort. He has spoken to civic clubs, appeared on Ron Davis Partyline radio show on KBOW, and, of course, talked with this newspaper. Now, he says, its time to build a team of volunteers. Anyone wanting to be a volunteer or learn more about the program should contact the Veterans Home at 406-792-3100. Love 5 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. Montana's Wild West is alive and well as a rogue subset of bounty hunters commit crimes and abuses against defendants on bail, their families, and the public. State law gives bondsmen unrestrained arrest powers leading some to employ dangerous tactics that threaten public safety and infringe on defendants' rights. There is a clear need for Montana to create sideboards, rules, and arrest reporting standards to ensure transparency and establish minimal qualifications for individuals operating as fugitive recovery agents (bounty hunters) in our State. The growing abuses and criminal charges against bondsmen culminated in both public outrage and calls for reform by our agency following a shooting last year in Butte. In this case, a bondsman, aided by a convicted felon, allegedly broke into a home unannounced seeking to arrest a defendant out on bond. Following an altercation, the homeowner a third party was fatally shot. The bondsman, as well as the man accompanying, were charged with deliberate homicide and aggravated burglary. Although there are many professional bondsmen and recovery agents acting within the law, there is increasing concern of recovery agents and bondsmen committing, sometimes very serious crimes. A bail bond, or surety bond, is a form of insurance. Bondsmen must be licensed as surety insurance producers to write bail bonds. As the agency charged with regulating insurance in Montana, we have the duty and authority to approve and revoke licenses, levy penalties for misconduct, and adopt rules. Following the shooting in Butte, we revoked the bondsman's license to ensure he could no longer legally write or enforce bonds. The laws regulating bail bonds are even more complex when considering the difference between a bondsman and a fugitive recovery agent. While one is often synonymous with the other, the law does not mandate licensure for recovery agents because they are not offering an insurance product their job is only to arrest defendants. For example, the shooting in Butte allegedly involved a convicted felon who was aiding the bondsman in the fugitive recovery operation. The felon was not a licensed surety insurance producer because he was only acting as a recovery agent. This loophole is void of any authority for any Montana agency to regulate the actions of unlicensed fugitive recovery agents. This creates, in some cases, unclear authority over bondsmen recovering fugitives. Bondsmen arguably have unilateral authority to revoke bail at any time and for any reason. As a result, a defendant legally out on bond can be routinely arrested and imprisoned without a court order, at the whim of the bondsmen. In other words, the bondsman doesnt need any reason other than discomfort to recover a person out on bond. This unrestricted authority is the catalyst of many cases of abuse and crimes committed by bondsmen. Our agency is investigating multiple instances of bondsmen offering payment or reduced bail costs to defendants in exchange for performing tasks, such as assisting in fugitive recovery operations. In some cases, bondsmen have gratuitously revoked a defendant's bail, only to again bail them out of jail to implement additional fees on the same defendant. The vast majority of bail bondsmen and recovery agents in our State follow the law, respect defendants' rights, and support regulations to corral unscrupulous actors whos actions tarnish the industrys reputation. Ive always said, bad actors are bad for business. Nobody wants bad actors in their industry. However, abuses, crimes, and violence perpetrated by bad actors in the bail bonds industry will not stop until the Legislature passes common-sense laws giving some sideboards and oversight on abuses being perpetrated by a handful of bad actors. In the 2023 Legislative Session, we will introduce a bill to reform fugitive recovery. We will be seeking two changes to statute that we believe will help solve many of the problems in fugitive recovery in our great State: 1. Require all recovery agents to be licensed surety insurance producers. Through licensure, our agency can enforce minimal qualifications, training standards, and background checks. Bondsmen and recovery agents abusing their authority will have their licenses revoked and lose their authority to write bonds or arrest defendants. Mandatory licensing also ensures defendants cannot be paid or coerced into assisting in fugitive recovery operations. 2. Implement transparency reporting requirements. Before arresting a defendant, bondsmen must notify local law enforcement and provide licensure information along with the defendant's location. Bondsmen are also required to report all arrests to our agency as a condition of licensure. Reporting will dissuade bad actors from engaging in abusive behaviors without unduly restricting bondsmen from protecting their interests. Fugitive recovery agents have unique powers and authorities usually only granted to highly trained law enforcement professionals. Under the current law, this industry has little oversight, qualifications, or basic training standards required to operate in Montana communities with broad arrest powers. The abuses from this small set of bad actors in this industry are a clear threat to the rights of Montanans. In the next legislative session, the Legislature should modernize our State's laws to protect the rights of defendants and the public from violence perpetrated by bad actors in the bail bond industry. Troy Downing is the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor. Commissioner Downing is a two-tour combat veteran, businessman, and entrepreneur. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) As Russia asserted progress in its goal of seizing the entirety of contested eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin tried Saturday to shake European resolve to punish his country with sanctions and to keep supplying weapons that have supported Ukraine's defense. The Russian Defense Ministry said Lyman, the second small city to fall this week, had been completely liberated by a joint force of Russian soldiers and Kremlin-backed separatists, who have waged war for eight years in the industrial Donbas region bordering Russia. Ukraines train system has ferried arms and evacuated citizens through Lyman, a key railway hub in the east. Control of it also would give Russia's military another foothold in the region; it has bridges for troops and equipment to cross the Siverskiy Donets river, which has so far impeded the Russian advance into the Donbas. Ukrainian officials have sent mixed signals on Lyman. On Friday, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian troops controlled most of it and were trying to press their offensive toward Bakhmut, another city in the region. On Saturday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar disputed Moscow's claim that Lyman had fallen, saying fighting there was still ongoing. In his Saturday video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation in the east as very complicated and said that the Russian army is trying to squeeze at least some result by focusing its efforts there. The Kremlin said Putin held an 80-minute phone call Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany in which he warned against the continued transfers of Western weapons to Ukraine and blamed the conflicts disruption to global food supplies on Western sanctions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urged an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the chancellors spokesperson, and called on Putin to engage in serious, direct negotiations with Zelenskyy on ending the fighting. A Kremlin readout of the call said Putin affirmed the openness of the Russian side to the resumption of dialogue. The three leaders, who had gone weeks without speaking during the spring, agreed to stay in contact, it added. But Russias recent progress in Donetsk and Luhansk, the two provinces that make up the Donbas, could further embolden Putin. Since failing to occupy Kyiv, Ukraines capital, Russia has set out to seize the last parts of the region not controlled by the separatists. If Russia did succeed in taking over these areas, it would highly likely be seen by the Kremlin as a substantive political achievement and be portrayed to the Russian people as justifying the invasion, the British Ministry of Defense said in a Saturday assessment. Russia has intensified efforts to capture the cities of Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk, which are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk. Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai reported that Ukrainian fighters repelled an assault on Sievierodonetsk but Russian troops still pushed to encircle them. He later said Russian forces had seized a hotel on the city's outskirts, damaged 14 high-rise buildings and were fighting in the streets with Ukrainian forces. Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk said there was fighting at the citys bus station. A humanitarian center couldnt operate due to the danger, Striuk said, and cellphone service and electricity were knocked out. And residents risked exposure to shelling to get water from a half-dozen wells, he said. Some supply routes are functioning, and evacuations of the wounded are still possible, Striuk said. He estimated that 1,500 civilians in the city, which had a prewar population of around 100,000, have died from the fighting as well as from a lack of medicine and diseases that couldnt be treated. Just south of Sievierodonetsk, Associated Press reporters saw older and ill civilians bundled into soft stretchers and slowly carried down apartment building stairs Friday in Bakhmut. Svetlana Lvova, the manager of two buildings in Bakhmut, tried to persuade reluctant residents to leave but said she and her husband would not evacuate until their son, who was in Sievierodonetsk, returned home. I have to know he is alive. Thats why Im staying here, said Lvova, 66. On Saturday, people who managed to flee Lysychansk described intensified shelling, especially over the past week, that left them unable to leave basement bomb shelters. Yanna Skakova left the city Friday with her 18-month-old and 4-year-old sons and cried as she sat in a train bound for western Ukraine. Her husband stayed behind to take care of their house and animals. Its too dangerous to stay there now, she said, wiping away tears. Russias advance raised fears that residents could experience the same horrors seen in the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which endured a three-month siege before it fell last week. Residents who had not yet fled faced the choice of trying to do so now or staying. Mariupol became a symbol of massive destruction and human suffering, as well as of Ukrainian determination to defend the country. Mariupols port has reportedly resumed operations after Russian forces finished clearing mines in the Azov Sea. Russian state news agency Tass reported that a vessel bound for Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia entered the port early Saturday. In the call with Macron and Scholz, the Kremlin said, Putin emphasized that Russia was working to establish a peaceful life in Mariupol and other liberated cities in the Donbas. Germany and France brokered a 2015 peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that would have given a large degree of autonomy to Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine. However, the agreement stalled long before Russia's invasion in February. Any hope that Paris and Berlin would anchor a renewed peace agreement now appears unlikely with both Kyiv and Moscow taking uncompromising stands. Ukrainian authorities have reported that Kremlin-installed officials in seized cities have started airing Russian news broadcasts, introduced Russian area codes, imported Russian school curriculum and taken other steps to annex the areas. Russian-held areas of the southern Kherson region have shifted to Moscow time and will no longer switch to daylight saving time, as is customary in Ukraine, Russias state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Krill Stremousov, a Russian-installed local official, as saying Saturday. In his address Saturday, Zelenskyy also accused Russian forces of preventing Kherson residents from leaving, saying they effectively try to take people hostage in a sign of weakness. The war has caused global food shortages because Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and other commodities. Moscow and Kyiv have traded accusations over which side bears responsibility for keeping shipments tied up, with Russia saying Ukrainian sea mines prevented safe passage and Ukraine citing a Russian naval blockade. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces said two Russian vessels capable of carrying up to 16 missiles were ready for action in the Black Sea, adding that only shipping routes established through multilateral treaties may be considered safe. Ukrainian officials have pressed Western nations for more sophisticated and powerful weapons. The U.S. Defense Department would not confirm a Friday CNN report saying the Biden administration was preparing to send long-range rocket systems. Russias ambassador to the United States, Anatoliy Antonov, said Saturday that such a move would be unacceptable and admonished the White House to abandon statements about the military victory of Ukraine. Moscow is also trying to rattle Sweden and Finlands determination to join NATO. Russias Defense Ministry said its navy successfully launched a new hypersonic missile from the Barents Sea that struck its target about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) away. If confirmed, the launch could spell trouble for NATO voyages in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The Zircon, described as the worlds fastest non-ballistic missile, can be armed with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead and is said to be impossible to stop with current defense systems. Last week Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that Russia would form new military units in the country's west in response to Sweden and Finlands bids to join NATO. Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Andrea Rosa in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Andrew Katell in New York and AP journalists around the world contributed. Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) The South Dakota attorney general's office has declined to file charges against billionaire T. Denny Sanford following an investigation into possible possession of child pornography, saying it found no prosecutable offenses within the state's jurisdiction, according to a court document filed Friday. Sanford, a banker turned philanthropist, is the states richest man and has donated billions to hospitals, universities and charities. South Dakota investigators in 2019 began searching his email account, as well as his cellular and internet service providers, for possible possession of child pornography after his accounts were flagged by a technology firm. The attorney general's office said in Friday's court filing that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation has completed its investigation ... and has determined that there are no prosecutable offenses within the jurisdiction of the State of South Dakota. The attorney general's office had no comment beyond the court filing. Mr. Sanford appreciates the public acknowledgement by the SD Attorney Generals office that the DCI has concluded its investigation and they have found no prosecutable crime, Marty Jackley, Sanford's attorney, said via text. South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg had earlier requested the involvement of federal law enforcement. A state filing in January said both state and federal investigations were continuing at the time. The Department of Justice declined to comment Friday when asked if a federal investigation is ongoing. Ravnsborg is on leave pending his trial in June on impeachment charges for his conduct after he struck and killed a pedestrian with his car in 2020. A person briefed on the matter by law enforcement told The Associated Press last year that Sanfords electronic devices came to the attention of state investigators after a technology firm reported that child pornography had either been sent, received or downloaded on his device. The person was not allowed to discuss the case at the time and spoke on condition of anonymity. The investigation was first reported in 2020 by ProPublica and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Both news outlets went to court for access to affidavits for search warrants. As part of arguments in state court over the release of the documents, Jackley said the investigation revealed that his clients email accounts were hacked. The search warrant affidavits were still not publicly available as of Friday evening. Judge James Power told the Argus Leader he expected to release them on Tuesday, but the newspaper also reported that Sanford attorney Stacy Hegge had moved to delay the unsealing. The 86-year-old Sanford is worth an estimated $3.4 billion. He made a fortune as the founder of First Premier Bank in South Dakota, which is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit. Sanford told the The Associated Press in 2016 that he wanted his fortune to have a positive impact on children after his hardscrabble childhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. His mother died of breast cancer when he was 4, and by the time he was 8, Sanford was working in his fathers clothing distribution company. He, along with two siblings, lived in a small apartment. You can only have so many cars and all of that kind of stuff so put it into something in which you can change peoples lives, Sanford said in 2016. After the investigation into Sanford became public, his financial largesse hardly slowed. In January, he donated $50 million to a Dakota State University cybersecurity lab while the hospital system that bears his name, Sanford Health, received over $650 million in donations from him last year. Forliti reported from Minneapolis. 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 actions or more notably, the inaction of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers moved swiftly to the center of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. The attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a fourth grade classroom was the nation's deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, and for three days police offered a confusing and sometimes contradictory timeline that drew public anger and frustration. By Friday, authorities acknowledged that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. Officials said he believed that the suspect was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that there was no longer an active attack. The chief's decision and the officers' apparent willingness to follow his directives against established active-shooter protocols prompted questions about whether more lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, and who should be held responsible. "In these cases, I think the court of public opinion is far worse than any court of law or police department administrative trial," said Joe Giacalone, a retired New York police sergeant. "This has been handled so terribly on so many levels, there will be a sacrificial lamb here or there." As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. But it wasn't clear why the school chief ignored their warnings. ___ Timeline 11:27 a.m. Video footage shows a teacher at Robb Elementary propping open an exterior door. Ramos reportedly entered through this door. 11:28 a.m. Ramos vehicle crashes near the school. A teacher ran back to a classroom to get a phone and came back to the door, allowing it to remain open. Two men, at a nearby funeral home, made their way to the crash scene where they saw Ramos exit the vehicle from the passenger side with a gun and backpack. The witnesses reportedly began running and Ramos tried shooting at them. 11:30 a.m. 911 receives a phone call that there was a man who crashed his vehicle and has a gun. 11:31 a.m. Ramos reaches the last row of vehicles in the school parking lot, McCraw said. The 18-year-old began shooting at the school, while police responded to the funeral home. McCraw adds that previous statements that officers confronted Ramos were inaccurate, and that an officer who heard the 911 call drove immediately to the area he thought was the man with the gun, to the back of the school, which turned out to be a teacher. McCraw said the officer drove by the suspect, who was hunkered down behind a vehicle. 11:32 a.m. Ramos fires multiple shots at the school from outside, then enters the building. 11:33 a.m. Ramos begins shooting in a classroom. McCraw says audio evidence from video footage shows Ramos shooting over 100 rounds. 11:35 a.m. Three officers enter the school through the same doors that Ramos reportedly entered. Later, four more officers joined. The initial three officers were shot at, and some were grazed by bullets. Ramos shut the door to the classroom. 11:37 a.m. Over 16 rounds are fired. 11:51 a.m. More police begin to arrive. 12:03 p.m. As many as 19 police officers were in the hallway outside the classroom. McCraw said they believed the active shooter situation had transitioned into a barricaded person call. A female caller dialed 911 from the classroom. The length of the call was less than 90 seconds. She said her name and said she was in classroom 112. 12:10 p.m. The caller tells 911 that multiple people were dead. 12:13 p.m. The female calls 911 again. 12:15 p.m. More technicians arrive with shields. 12:16 p.m. Female calls 911 again, adding that eight to nine students are still alive. 12:19 p.m. Another person, in room 111 called 911. She hung up when another student told her to hang up, McCraw said. 12:21 p.m. Suspect fires more shots at the door. Law enforcement moved down the hallway. A 911 call also captured three shots being fired. 12:36 p.m. Another 911 call lasted for 21 seconds. The caller, a student, stayed on the line quietly. She told 911 that he shot the door, McCraw said, adding that the student asked 911 to please send the police now. 12:46 p.m. Student tells 911 she can hear police next door. 12:50 p.m. Officers breach the door using keys obtained from a janitor and kill the suspect. 12:51 p.m. The 911 call was loud and sounded like officers were moving children out of the room, McCraw said. ___ Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Uvalde, Texas; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Mike Balsamo in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Decommissioning South Africas ADSL could benefit consumers by creating opportunities for lower fibre prices, Cybersmart CTO Laurie Fialkov has told MyBroadband. Telkom has long-standing plans to switch off its digital subscriber line (DSL) network and migrate all copper-based services to fibre. The telecommunications giant promised to keep its DSL services running in areas where consumers had no access to fibre. Fialkov said that although Telkom would not disrupt ISP services when it pulls the plug on ADSL, it could allow Openserve to cut costs and get more aggressive with its fibre pricing. Openserve is Telkoms wholesale and networks division. What is good for the consumer is not necessarily good for our FNO division, Fialkov joked. Fialkov noted that Openserves ability to cut costs would be dependent on whether it could reduce staff after shutting off DSL. This, in turn, depends on Telkoms appetite to deal with the inevitable backlash from unions. Either Telkom is going to maximise its profit which from our perspective, we hope they will do or they are going to reduce pricing which they have never voluntarily done without industry pressure. Vox product manager for ADSL Navisha Naidoo said disconnecting ADSL would have pros and cons for service providers. On the one hand, customers who believe that ISPs are not honouring their contractual agreements to provide ADSL services might avoid dealing with an ISP entirely resulting in losses. On the other hand, shutting down ADSL will ensure that South African ISPs keep up with technological innovation and spur market growth. ISPs need to look at the decommissioning of ADSL as an opportunity to offer customers an alternate form of Internet access that is future proof, stable, and will meet their needs, Naidoo said. Despite Telkoms efforts to encourage ADSL users to move over to its LTE services, some customers have been reluctant to migrate. Customers are reluctant to sign up for a capped LTE package as they require uncapped data packages. Additionally, some customers are also reluctant to move to an uncapped LTE package as these usually include shaping, throttling, and fair usage policies, she said. Cybersmarts Fialkov explained that very few people are still signing up for ADSL and that Cybersmart only offers the service as a last resort. While some ISPs are still signing up new ADSL subscribers, this is not the case for every provider still offering the service. We are not seeing new customer ADSL signups, RSAWeb marketing head Nick Barr said. The reasons for ADSLs decline are varied. Customers primarily cancel their ADSL service due to fibre becoming available in their area. However, Naidoo noted that there are still consumers who continue using ADSL connections despite having access to fibre. Such individuals only migrated to fibre once their ADSL services got discontinued. Deteriorating copper connections that lead to extended downtime and failing to replace or repair damaged or stolen cables has also driven customers to cancel their ADSL services, Naidoo added. Barr said, in their experience, consumers have naturally migrated to FTTH services once their homes got fibre connections. This [migration] is further supported by the competitive price of most fibre packages, and the faster speeds on both downloads and uploads, contributing to fibre offering a better experience than ADSL, he said. A typical entry-level fibre package has a 25Mbps download speed a huge improvement over ADSLs 4 to 10 Mbps. There are many customers who wish to sign up for a 20Mbps or 40Mbps [VDSL] connection, but there are limitations due to the capacity of the Telkom exchanges, Voxs Naidoo said. Considering ADSLs drawbacks, it is not surprising that ISPs like RSAWeb prefer to connect their customers with fibre. Far lower latencies, more reliable networks, and faster throughput all contribute to a better overall experience for the customer, making fibre the preferred choice, RSAWebs Barr said. Axxess has informed customers that it is shutting down its free 1GB ADSL from 1 June 2022. The Internet service provider (ISP) has been offering the accounts since 2014. We hope you enjoyed making use of this free service over the years, Axxess said. Since then, we have introduced other advanced Internet services like fibre and LTE. Free ADSL accounts were all the rage in the early to mid2010s, before fibre-to-the-home took off in South Africa. Cybersmart, Afrihost, FNB Connect, Axxess, Webafrica, and many other players offered the accounts to let prospective customers test their services, or as value-adds. Unlike most fibre operators nowadays, Telkoms DSL network lets clients switch between ISPs by simply changing the username and password in their router. Moving DSL ISPs is also easy because you can pay the infrastructure provider (Telkom) and your ISP separately. Subscribers pay Telkom (now Openserve) for their DSL access, and their ISP for their Internet usage. On fibre, your account and line rental are combined into one fee. You also usually cant connect with a username and password from a different ISP than the one currently managing your line. Openserve, Telkoms wholesale and networks division, is the exception. MyBroadband asked Axxess for comment on its decision to cancel its free ADSL service, but it did not respond by the time of publication. Cybersmart, a pioneer of the free ADSL account, has not discontinued its offer. If someone has subscribed to it, they get to keep it. However, it is no longer available on our website, Cybersmart CTO Laurie Fialkov told MyBroadband. Fialkov said Cybersmart had introduced an updated free forever service for fibre on its own Lightspeed network. Cybersmarts Lightspeed free fibre forever offers 50GB per month between 7 am and midnight, and another 250GB between midnight and 7 am. For obvious reasons, it is very popular, Fialkov told MyBroadband. South Africas cloud computing space has seen an influx of major players launching services in the country over the past three years. These include Amazon, Microsoft, and Huawei, which have all launched cloud regions in South Africa. Cloud providers have spent billions of rands establishing their infrastructure locally. The launch of Amazon and Microsoft cloud nodes in South Africa meant that companies and developers could host their applications and data within the country. In addition to lower latencies, this made it easier for government-linked entities and companies with strict data protection requirements to use such services. Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services (AWS) opened its Africa region, based in Cape Town, in April 2020. The region is named Africa (Cape Town) with the label af-south-1. AWS told MyBroadband that the arrival of its infrastructure in South Africa would assist a range of organisations. It would also help developers start businesses and build new products and services. Microsoft Azure Microsoft launched its South African Azure region in March 2019. The company recently launched Azure Availability Zones in its South Africa North region. Microsft said this would bring higher availability and asynchronous replication across Azure regions for recovery protection. Oracle Oracles Johannesburg region went live in January 2022. It is the cloud computing providers first region on the continent. The company initially announced its intentions to launch 20 new cloud data centres, including one in South Africa, by the end of 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed its plans. Oracle said the new facilities would make it easier for businesses in the region to improve performance and protect data. Huawei Huawei began offering its commercial cloud services in South Africa in March 2019 when it launched its Johannesburg data centre. It aims to help African governments, carriers, and organisations across various industries. The company said South Africa was one of the most diverse and promising emerging markets globally. It plans to launch another data centre in Cape Town and has hinted at launching an availability zone in Durban. Acronis Acronis unveiled its Cyber Cloud Data Centre in Johannesburg one of the 111 currently being deployed by the company in late January 2022. The data centre in Johannesburg will provide local organisations with a location within South Africa to store critical business and client data. A local presence is a necessity for modern cloud businesses, the company said when it launched. Along with various global cloud computing players launching availability zones in South Africa, data centre infrastructure providers have been investing billions into their local facilities. Vantage Data Centres announced in October 2021 that it had begun construction on its Waterfall data centre. The first phase is expected to come online in the last quarter of 2022. Africa Data Centres is investing R7.2 billion in data centres throughout Africa, including one in South Africa. Teraco Data Environments announced in October 2021 that it had completed the first phase of its new data centre in Brackenfell, Cape Town. Open Access Data Centres (OADC) revealed that it had deployed its first open-access edge data centre in South Africa in early May 2022. OADC said the facility would support 5G rollouts, network extensions, and the internet service provider and fibre network operator infrastructure in new areas. The company also promised that the facility would contribute to improved latency and improve end-user experiences. When it comes to buzzwords and empty promises, smart cities and bullet trains are favourites among South African politicians. During his 2019 state of the nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he dreamt of a South Africa with an entirely new city with skyscrapers, schools, universities, hospitals, and factories. He also said South Africans should imagine bullet trains passing through Johannesburg as they travelled from Cape Town to Musina, and stopping in East London on their way back from Durban. In his 2020 address, Ramaphosa announced the first stage of the Greater Lanseria Master Plan a modern urban development around the Lanseria airport using various smart technologies. Plans for the so-called Lanseria Smart City, initially known as Cradle City, had been under consideration since 2007. Construction of the entire smart city project is expected to take 25 years. Crosspoint has partnered with the Public Investment Corporation to develop a 90-hectare mixed-use commercial precinct that will form part of the project. The City of Johannesburg adopted the provincial governments plan for the city in May 2021. However, the latest update on this development from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development suggests progress has been slow. MEC Parks Tau said the groundwork was being laid for the developments planning, with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) appointed as the implementing agent for the project. The DBSA is set to embark on roadshows in June to draw investors to the development. Below is the latest progress on some of the other smart cities the government has punted and the plans for a high-speed train network. Nkosi City Possible construction from June Announced in February 2022, Nkosi City is poised to be a unique agricity with urban farms built near the western border of the Kruger National Park. Developer Dovetail Properties said the R8-billion project could start construction as early as June 2022, as they had already obtained all the necessary government approvals. It will encompass 3,471 houses and apartments, 14 schools, a college, two training centres, a hospital, clinic, high-street mixed-use offices, government buildings, retail space, and a filling station, among various other facilities and amenities. Mooikloof Mega City Under construction Balwin Properties R84-billion Mooikloof Mega City in Pretoria East is planned to be the largest housing project in the country yet. Construction on the first phase of the development is underway, with the entire project set to be completed by 2030. It will include 50,000 residential units and numerous retail and office buildings, and will be built with green principles in mind. One possible hurdle it will have to overcome is its electricity supply. Eskom and the City of Tshwane are currently fighting it out for the right to distribute power to the development. African Coastal Smart City Seeking investors Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane revealed that work was underway to develop a new smart city in the province during his state of the province address in February. That came after cooperative governance minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma presented a plan for the smart city during an ANC NEC lekgotla in September 2021. The city will be developed on the Wild Coast between Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape and Margate in KwaZulu-Natal. Very little detail is known about the project, but Mabuyane said there were already investors who had expressed an interest in the area. Joburg-Durban bullet train Although several politicians have separately mentioned bullet trains coming to South Africa, they all seem to refer to a possible development between Johannesburg and Durban. Promises of the first high-speed rail (HSR) network in South Africa came from transport director-general Alec Moemi in May 2020. Moemi said that a framework for an HSR network had already been developed and implemented, with a five-year development target. Transport minister Fikile Mbalula recently gazetted South Africas National Rail Policy White Paper, which forms the foundation for establishing HSR corridors. Deputy transport director-general Ngwako Makaepea said the government was currently looking at the Durban-Johannesburg route as a lucrative possibility for high-speed rail, as it could compete with low-cost airlines. While the government will fully fund the project, China has indicated it would potentially invest in the project. The country has several high-speed trains in operation, including the Shanghai magnetic levitation (maglev) train that can reach speeds of up to 431km/h. It is also developing a new model that will supposedly be capable of hitting 600km/h, just 2km/h shy of the worlds fastest train, the Japanese L0 Series Maglev. At 600km/h, it would take less than an hour to travel from Johannesburg to Durban using this technology. UN Security Council fails to adopt resolution on DPRK sanctions Xinhua) 09:14, May 28, 2022 Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, raises his hand to veto a UN Security Council draft resolution aimed to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at the UN Headquarters in New York, on May 26, 2022. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday failed to adopt a resolution aimed to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The draft, which won the approval of 13 members of the Security Council, was vetoed by China and Russia. While explaining China's vote, Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said, "It is the consistent belief of China that the Security Council resolutions on the DPRK are an integral whole and should be implemented in a comprehensive, complete, and accurate manner. The countries concerned should not place one-sided emphasis on the implementation of sanctions alone, but should also work to promote a political solution and ease sanctions where appropriate." In the current situation, additional sanctions against the DPRK will not help resolve the problem, but only lead to more negative effects and escalation of confrontation, Zhang said, adding that additional sanctions will also have a greater humanitarian impact, especially against the backdrop of emerging COVID-19 in the country. China attaches great importance to the unity and cooperation of the Council. Under the current circumstances, the Council should consider what is really impeding peace and stability on the peninsula, and should be concerned about the real livelihood difficulties facing the DPRK people, so as to inject impetus to resolving the peninsula issue, he said. "We call on the Security Council to play an active role in providing humanitarian and anti-epidemic assistance to the DPRK, rather than creating obstacles," he said. "Regrettably, China's reasonable proposal was rejected. Under these circumstances, we had no choice but to vote against the draft resolution," he noted. Noting that the situation on the peninsula is at a dangerous juncture, Zhang said China once again calls on all parties to exercise calm and restraint, and calls on the U.S. side to seriously reflect on its policy towards the DPRK, adhere to the general direction of political settlement, take meaningful actions to respond to the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the DPRK, and create conditions for the de-escalation of the situation and the resumption of dialogue and negotiations. China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula and realizing its denuclearization, he added. Passing a UN draft resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no opposition by either Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) On May 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited a monument to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in the Istiglaliyyat Street in Baku on the occasion of the Independence Day. The head of state laid flowers at the monument. The servicemen of the anti-aircraft missile and artillery division of the 95th separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down another combat helicopter of the Russian occupiers - Ka-52 "Alligator". According to the Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The enemy helicopter was destroyed in the Kharkiv region using a portable anti-aircraft missile system "Perun". This is already 67 air targets on the combat account of the DShV soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Death to the Russian occupiers! DShV - Always First! Glory to Ukraine! Read also: Maxar Technologies has published new satellite images from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where the fighting continues During the day, the enemy's Russian army lost 250 soldiers and 17 units of equipment Ukraine has already received ACS M109 - Reznikov In Lithuania, 3.2 million was raised for Bayraktar for the Armed Forces. Former President Grybauskaite also dropped out A Ukrainian fighter shot down a Russian Su-35 over the Kherson region Soldiers of the KRAKEN special forces hit a Russian armored personnel carrier from a MATADOR grenade launcher The World Congress of Ukrainians has purchased a DeltaQuad drone for the Armed Forces The Ukrainian military demonstrated the combat performance of FH70 howitzers The General Staff showed how Canada sends weapons to Ukraine In 2022, the Veterans Home of California in Yountville officially started construction on a $269 million skilled nursing facility. Motivated by a strong national desire to provide more services to our struggling veterans, the 240-bed, five-story facility was designed, bid-out and broke ground but is still in the process of becoming a reality; this will probably be in 2025. 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. This will nearly double the present 300,000 square-foot facility, but will the facilities serve our veterans? Lets take a look at the Veterans Home history. In 1870 the first facility or Home in California was passed to assist aging Mexican American War vets but it wasnt until 1877 that the Grand Army of the Republic decided to look for a retirement home for Civil War veterans. In 1882, the home was considered a private venture by San Francisco Veterans Home Association, and 910 acres were purchased for $17,500. A year later, the first administrative building was completed. Interestingly, 16 years later the association sold the home to the State of California for one $20 gold piece. Its amazing how Napa land has appreciated in 125 years. In 1919 Colonel Nelson Holderman was appointed commander of the home as more Civil War vets continued to enter the home, and as the facilities deteriorated, Holderman was reappointed commander in 1926, remaining until his death in 1953. He rebuilt the 500-bed hospital and it thrived into the 1970s. The California legislation approved $100 million renovation master plan reinforcing Californias 10 year commitment to its veterans, especially of Vietnam. At one time, the site housed 1,200 veterans, including 150 women and 30 couples. The Veterans Home has always received generous support from the Napa community and the dtate. Interestingly, it also houses an official alternate Seat of California Government for the Governors Office should an emergency occur. Heres where I have a serious issue. When first announcing the new center as part of a master campus plan in April 2019, Veterans Home administrator Fred Just said, We definitely needed a new building, since it would have been more expensive to renovate older facilities than to build a new one. Really? More than $269 million and the budget is already ballooning? The complex replaces a few underutilized buildings and a small arbor park; however, it sits between multiple historic buildings on a sacred historic site and the design lacks character and grace. The present design was created during the Trump administration when Executive Order #13967 Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture was established to encourage classical and traditional architectural styles. Fortunately, that was rescinded but the Federal Secretary of the Interiors, SOI, Preservation Standards FR #33708, are still applicable. I searched but could not find where the architects or the state attempted to meet any federal SOI standards. To be clear, I dont oppose any specific architectural style but the SOI standards requires that we differentiate the architecture from the original historic style, not mimic it. What they have is just a boring committee design. An example of efforts to tranquilize architectural integrity was the attempt to crush the San Francisco Federal Building proposal in 2007. Definitely an unusual design by my colleague architect Thomas Mayne, the quirky design and energy efficient shape is now a landmark in the City by the Bay. The Lincoln Memorial was originally ostracized as a hideous tribute to one of the greatest Americans but today is one of our greatest monuments. Its too late to reconsider this mammoth SNF project, but its not too late to reconsider repurposing the Holderman Building and other existing historic site structures at the Veterans Home. Over the years, this building has maintained much of its original glory while being subjected to countless chaotic makeovers. And repurposing these gems does not have to cost more. But heres where the state should be spending its money: housing our homeless vets. There so many deteriorating structures all over the 910 acres at the Veterans Home that could easily be repurposed to help those that have so valiantly severed but have economic and psychological hardships. As of 2021, California has about 11,000 vets living without shelter, almost five times the next states number. The number of homeless vets is on the decline but a slow reduction. The death toll is staggering. This Memorial weekend we should do more than thank those that have given their lives for our freedom. We should think of those that deserve our support and a decent place to live. We have just the place in our back yard. May is National Law Enforcement Appreciation month, and a review of the 172-year long history of local policing agencies, with origins reaching back to California statehood in 1850, offers a wide array of accounts. The sources of information for this column are local newspaper articles and two books, History of the Napa County Sheriffs Office (1850-1997) by Lt. Richard L. Andersen, and Napa County Police by Todd Shulman and the Napa Police Historical Society. The first Napa County law officer was Nathaniel McKimmey who served as the local sheriff from 1850 to 1853. During his term, McKimmey and one undersheriff were tasked with patrolling the countys 700-plus square miles and approximately 450 county residents. McKimmey would soon be followed a long list of successors. Of these men, Shulman, a historian and retired Napa Police Department detective, wrote in 2007, These pioneer lawmen paved the way for all those who would protect and serve Napa County over the succeeding 150-plus years; with the barest of training and equipment, they modeled the most important traits for all cops ---a heart to help those who could not help themselves and the courage to stand up to those who would prey on the helpless. Throughout Napa Countys law enforcement history there have been many candidates for outstanding service and dedication to the local citizenry. For example, an early pioneer settler, John S. Stark, began his years of service in 1847 as part of the third Donner Party rescue group when he reportedly carried two children to safety. He eventually became the fifth local sheriff, 1855 to 1861, and went on to serve as a California State legislator and a Napa County judge. A unique career of dedication to his community was that of Charles Otterson. He first became the Napa fire chief, then beginning in 1919, Otterson also served as the Napa Police Chief. His dual role lasted about three years. Otterson also received great admiration and appreciation for his dedication from the entire community. Two other long ago local policemen were well liked and admired by their colleagues and neighbors. One was a Napa City constable and later beat cop George Secord. His years as constable begin in the late 1800s and ended in 1909 when he joined the reorganized Napa Police Department. Patrolling on foot or by horse and buggy, Secord was kind and jovial to law-abiding Napans but tough on the law-breakers. Secord's contemporary, William Wall Kennedy, was said to have compassion for the law-breaker as well. Kennedy served as a Napa County jailer from 1879 to 1900 and supervised the local chain gangs who worked on local public works projects. Kennedy was frequently seen Kennedy working alongside the prisoners. Purportedly, he released these men from their shackles while they worked and, in return, these men never attempted to escape under Kennedys watch. A newspaper reported that woman visiting her Napa relatives noticed Kennedy on the work detail as well as his advanced years. A few years later, this same woman returned to Napa and her local relatives. Seeing Kennedy still working on a detail caused her great concern and alarm, prompting her to declare her disgust with the local justice system for such cruelty towards an aged man. However, before she embarked on her social justice campaign, her relatives informed her that the aged man was the supervisor not a prisoner. Kennedy also won the esteem and warm regard of others through his sense of humor. He was quite the yarn-spinner." One of his favorite and most beloved tales was about how he single-handedly drove herds of bees cross-country to California. He claimed all he had to do was whistle and the bees would follow him. This yarn also included the tall tale of how the bees thwarted bandits attacks upon Kennedy with stinging counter-attacks. Although far-fetched, Kennedy was repeatedly asked to recount that fabled adventure. There also exist some mysteries in the history of the local police. Within Andersens manuscript is an historically baffling letter dated July 9, 1935 and signed Respectfully, John P. Steckter, Sheriff of Napa County and addressed to Whom It May Concern. Its first paragraph said, May I not through this medium introduce to you Miss Mary Moss, a Deputy attached to my office. It continued with the details of Moss and a friends plans to tour Oregon. Steckter proceeded to express his hope if Moss and her friend encountered any problems or difficulties, Steckter would be appreciative of any and all assistance extended to his deputy and her friend. The perplexing portion of this letter of introduction was the statement that Moss was a local deputy. No other research document has ever indicated Napa County had a female officer in 1935. Hopefully, additional research will provide the answer and more material for another column. To all who have served, or are serving, this country, thank you! Napa County on Memorial Day will offer several ceremonies honoring those who died while serving in the United States military. The city of Napa, American Canyon, Calistoga and Yountville will each be the site of events. Here are some details: 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. Napa 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, Main and Third streets. Master of ceremonies will be Bernie Narvaez, Marine veteran and Napa City Council member. Guests will include the Vineyard Trails chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and their regent Margaret Beaubien. The Meadowlarks chorus will provide music conducted by Kate MacPherson. The event is hosted by American Legion Post 113 Napa. American Canyon 11 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park at 2801 Broadway. The keynote speaker is Commander Thomas Miele, who is retired from the US Coast Guard. Participants will be invited to announce the names of their loved ones who have served and are deceased. The event is hosted by American Canyon Troop Support, Lions Club International and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1123. Calistoga Calistoga will have two Memorial Day ceremonies. One is at 9:30 a.m. at the Pioneer Cemetery on Foothill Boulevard and will honor the 26 Civil War veterans buried there. The other is at 11 a.m. at the veterans memorial at Logvy Park on Washington Street and will be hosted by American Legion Post 231. This will be the first ceremony since the pandemic began. Yountville 1 p.m. at George C. Yount Pioneer Cemetery at the north end of Washington Street. Unlike the other services, this one is on Sunday. About 100 veterans are laid to rest in the cemetery. Guest speaker is Howard Haupt, retired lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Air Force. The event is hosted by Yountville Cemetery Association and the Native Daughters of the Golden West Eshcol Parlor #16 Napa. It is resuming for the public for the first time since the pandemic. The general public cannot attend the traditional ceremony at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville. In light of the COVID-19 uptick, that event will be limited to Veterans Home staff, residents and their families. 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. A Napa man accused of plotting with a friend to blow up the Democratic headquarters building in Sacramento because he was convinced then-President Donald Trump won the 2020 election pleaded guilty to the crime Friday in federal court in San Francisco. Ian Benjamin Rogers, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an unregistered explosive device and possession of a machine gun, part of a plea agreement that could net him seven to nine years in prison. Rogers, appearing by video from the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, appeared somewhat hesitant when Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer asked him if he was convinced the government could prove its case against him if the matter went to trial. Its possible, Rogers replied, adding, I could see how a jury would believe what the government is saying. Rogers was indicted in July of plotting with Jarrod Copeland, a Sacramento man, to blow up the John L. Burton Democratic headquarters building at 1830 Ninth St. following Joe Bidens victory over Trump in the presidential election. The two allegedly began plotting attacks on Nov. 25, 2020, and settled on the Democratic headquarters on Nov. 29, court papers say. Rogers and Copeland believed that the attacks would start what they called a movement, court papers say. They discussed the attack in detail and on numerous occasions. Copelands case is still pending. The Justice Department says federal agents seized at least 49 guns from Rogers home, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs, and found a sticker on his car that is commonly used by so-called Three-Percenters, people who ascribe to extreme anti-government, pro-gun beliefs. Rogers, who owned a British auto repair shop in Napa, also was charged in state court with weapons violations, and court papers say the early stages of his plot included a desire to blow up the Governors Mansion in downtown Sacramento. I want to blow up a democrat building bad, Rogers wrote in a text, according to court papers. The democrats need to pay. He faces sentencing Sept. 30. Copeland, 38, is a former tool salesman, Army deserter and steroid user, but had no history of violence, court papers say. He remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail. In regard to all the mass shootings, don't forget the media the movies and television has taken advantage of their first amendment rights of free speech in order to resort to violence-based shows. This also includes video games. One senator recently commented that the gun violence seen across the county in recent years hadn't been this prominent in (our) history. I believe the media's insistence on resorting to violence in films over the years is coming into fruition as seen in these sad acts of desperation by a few individuals. This acts being the after-effect after years of neglect of the welfare of the public, which includes many that are not emotionally capable of having mature sensibilities. When I grew up in the Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver days, there were restrictions for the public welfare. I think we need to take a step back to go forward in the fight direction. I bet you anything the young people who did the shootings were exposed to this media in some forms, in addition to having access to lethal weapons, a lack of monitoring by their parents, relatives, schools and friends. We are our brother's keeper. Sharyn Fernandez Napa Kazakhstan reveals number of people convicted of January riots Zaven Harutyunyan, author and host of 'Dipvats' program, passes away Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and UN prepare roadmap on export of agricultural products Russian MFA hopes Ankara will refrain from actions to worsen situation in Syria 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 Yerevan to host three international chess tournaments in 2022 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 Nearly 200 million people in 53 countries experience acute hunger every day in 2021, an increase of 40 million in twelve months, Maurizio Martina, vice director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization), said in an interview with Corriere della Sera. According to World Bank estimates, a 1% increase in the price of basic foodstuffs could mean the risk of starvation for at least 10 million people. No single national policy can address global food insecurity alone. We need a new multi-stakeholder season, starting with food, he noted. Italy imported about 13% of corn from Ukraine. For soft wheat, direct imports are lower at about 3%, but Italy certainly also suffers from the indirect effect of rising prices on the world market. In general, wheat exports from Ukraine to Europe in 2020 amounted to about 5.4 billion euros. For developing countries, the situation is much more delicate and worrisome: at least 36 of the 55 countries with a food crisis depend on exports from Ukraine and Russia for more than 10% of their total wheat imports, Martina added. He warned that in addition to the problem of tons of primary agricultural commodities such as wheat and corn sitting in ports for weeks at risk of dying every day, there is a negative effect on fertilizer prices and availability. If prices remain so high, and access to them becomes increasingly difficult for farmers in developing countries, the consequences will be very problematic and will lead to a sharp reduction in yields, the UN representative concluded. By Trend Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, some other ministers and high-ranking officials congratulated Azerbaijan on Independence Day in separate letters to their Azerbaijani counterparts, Trend reports citing Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan. Iranian officials wished prosperity and happiness to the brotherly and neighboring Azerbaijan state and its people, and stressed the importance of developing and strengthening relations between the two countries in all areas. The US intelligence community is trying to determine if North Korea tested a ballistic missile earlier this week with properties the US has not seen before, according to three US officials, CNN reports. North Korea fired three ballistic missiles on Wednesday, including one that followed an unusual trajectory, according to official sources. The missile's flight path was described by two officials as a double arc, with the missile rising twice and then descending. The flight path may indicate the goal was to test North Korea's ability to launch a missile and re-enter Earth's atmosphere to reach the target, two officials said. The second phase of a possible double arc of the rocket could be the separation of the return vehicle from the main rocket. It's not yet clear to the US whether this was all part of the planned flight path, one of the officials said. The US intelligence assessment of all three test launches is still at a preliminary stage, the officials said. Earlier, the United States, South Korea and Japan issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over North Korea's May 25 launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile and shorter-range ballistic missiles. Europe's frantic search for an alternative to Russian energy carriers has sharply increased demand and prices for Norwegian oil and gas, AP reported. While money is pouring in, Europes second-biggest natural gas supplier is fighting off accusations that it is cashing in on the war in Ukraine, the news agency notes, recalling the accusations of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who announced that Norway indirectly profits from the war. Norway, one of the richest countries in Europe, devotes 1.09% of its national income to overseas development - one of the highest percentages in the world, including more than $200 million in aid to Ukraine. With the oil and gas coffers full, some would like even more money to be allocated to alleviate the consequences of the war, rather than subtracted from the funding of agencies that provide support to people in other countries. Norway has drastically reduced spending on most UN institutions and support for human rights projects to fund the cost of hosting Ukrainian refugees, said Berit Lindeman, policy director for the Norwegian Helsinki Committee's human rights group. She helped organize Wednesday's protest outside the Oslo parliament building, criticizing the government's priorities and saying the Polish remarks had some merit. Oil and gas prices were already high amid the energy crisis, and because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, they have risen even more. Natural gas is sold three to four times more expensive than at the same time last year. International benchmark Brent crude topped $100 a barrel after the invasion three months ago and has rarely fallen below since then, the agency said. State-controlled Norwegian energy giant Equinor earned four times as much in the first quarter as it did in the same period last year. This largesse has forced the government to revise its forecast for oil revenues to NOK 933 billion ($97 billion) this year - more than three times what was earned in 2021. Much of the proceeds will go to Norway's huge sovereign wealth fund - the largest in the world - to support the country when oil runs out. The government is not considering redirecting these funds elsewhere. European countries, meanwhile, helped drive up Norwegian energy prices in an attempt to diversify supplies from Russia. Europe is pleading with Norway, as well as countries such as Qatar and Algeria, to help deal with the deficit. Norway supplies between 20% and 25% of natural gas to Europe, while Russia supplied 40% before the war. Despite this, Oslo has responded to European calls for more gas by issuing permits to operators to produce more gas this year. Thanks to tax incentives, companies are investing in new offshore projects, and a new gas pipeline to Poland will open this autumn. The situation is far from June 2020, when prices collapsed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous Norwegian government introduced tax breaks for oil companies to encourage investment and protect jobs. Combined with high energy prices, incentives expiring at the end of the year have prompted companies in Norway to release a range of plans to develop new oil and gas projects. However, these projects will only start producing oil and gas at the end of this decade, or even in the more distant future, when the political situation may change and many European countries will hope that most of their energy consumption will switch to renewable energy sources. By then, Norway is likely to face the more familiar criticism that it is contributing to climate change. President Vladimir Putin signed a law ratifying the agreement on dual citizenship between South Ossetia and Russia. This agreement implies that residents of one country will be able to obtain citizenship of another country without giving up the existing one. Active residents of South Ossetia from the age of 18 will be able to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. Children under 14 will receive the same citizenship as their parents. The agreement between South Ossetia and Russia was signed in 2021. It will enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification. The agreement is designed for five years and will be automatically extended for the same period. To terminate it, one of the parties must give written notice six months prior to the expiration of the agreement. On March 30, South Ossetian President Anatoly Bibilov announced plans to join Russia. He advocated unification into one region with North Ossetia. In April, presidential elections were held in South Ossetia, in which Alan Gagloev won with 56.09% of the vote. He said that the referendum on joining Russia should be postponed. Mr. Bibilov decided to hold a vote on 17 July. The Kremlin said that the referendum needs to be finalized, Kommersant writes. On Monday, the European summit in Brussels will discuss the looming risk of famine in countries dependent on Ukraine's agricultural exports, which was blocked by Russia after its invasion of the country on February 24, El Pais reported. The publication notes that the European Union is ready to mobilize all possible resources for the simple export of grain accumulated in Ukrainian elevators and ports. Even the possibility of launching a naval mission to escort cargo ships from Ukraine through the mined Black Sea, guarded by Russian ships and submarines, is under consideration, the publication notes. The naval operation to remove Ukrainian grain will create an extreme risk of a possible military clash with the Russian fleet. But Brussels is watching with almost equal horror the outbreak of humanitarian crime in countries whose most basic food needs depend on Ukrainian exports. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called Putin on Thursday and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement between the two sides to clear Ukrainian ports of mines. But Putin blames European sanctions for the problem, and Draghi warned of a looming food crime of "gigantic proportions and dire human consequences, the article notes. According to the European Commission, Tunisia imports 53% of its wheat from Ukraine; Libya - 44%; Egypt - 26%. In India and Pakistan, with a combined population of almost 1.7 billion, Ukrainian wheat imports account for almost 50%. The lack of grain in all these countries can cause not only famine, but also economic and social crimes, which will sooner or later lead to waves of migration to Europe, writes El Pais. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has summoned the Rwandan ambassador and suspended Rwandair flights to the Congo in response to what it says Kigali is supporting M23 rebels in a military offensive in eastern Congo, Reuters reported. Rwanda has denied support for the rebels, who this week moved within 20 kilometers of the eastern Congo's main city of Goma and briefly took over the largest army base in the area. The Congo and the UN have also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during the 2012-2013 uprising. Rwanda denies these allegations. Congo government spokesman announced the suspension of flights of the national carrier of Rwanda and the summoning of the ambassador late on Friday after a meeting of the national defense council. He also stated that the Congolese authorities have declared M23 a terrorist group and will not allow it to participate in the negotiations taking place in the Kenyan capital Nairobi between the Congolese government and militia groups operating in the east of the country. Fighting over the past week has forced more than 72,000 people from their homes, exacerbating Africa's worst displacement crisis, the United Nations said. By Trend Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28, 2022, the ministry told Trend. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalaf Khalafov issued a protest against Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's meeting with the so-called 'representative' of an illegal structure in Azerbaijan's Karabakh on May 27. The ambassador was informed that the French official's step taken against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, fully contradicts French Law, its international obligations, as well as damages Azerbaijan-France relations. The deputy minister stressed that such an irresponsible behavior of the Paris Mayor is totally against confidence-building measures in the region. Yerevan Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan on May 28 received Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who is on an official visit to Yerevan. During the meeting, Sarkissian noted that Yerevan attaches great importance to deepening cooperation with French partner cities and regions, and in this context, Paris is of particular importance, the Yerevan City Hall press service told Armenian News-NEWS.am. We have made progress in partnership with the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) and plan to implement new programs in the near future. I especially want to thank you for your support during the 2020 hostilities. We attach great importance to holding decentralized cooperation conferences. I am going to take part in the next conference, which will be held in June this year in Lyon, Sargsyan said. For her part, the Mayor of Paris noted that there really is a wide field of interaction between the capitals of Armenia and France, which will make it possible to further expand joint programs. Relations between Yerevan and Paris are very close, and this is my third visit to the capital of Armenia. We already have many important programs that have been put into practice. So, thanks to the support of Yerevan, we were able to open a TUMO center in Paris as well, Hidalgo noted. During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on current programs and the implementation of planned work. Standing on a truck surrounded by a huge crowd, a visibly furious ex-Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan repeated a statement that became a call to action for millions of his supporters, CNN reports. During the protests in Islamabad, Khan repeatedly stated that Pakistan was run by traitors appointed by a foreign conspiracy conceived in the US. The protest took place on Thursday, but after demonstrators clashed with security personnel, he was forced to cancel the event. Enthusiastic cheers of support and outrage against the US and the current Pakistani administration rippled through the crowd. Khan's allegations of a US-led conspiracy against him have been the focus of numerous rallies he has held across Pakistan in an attempt to return to power after being removed from power on April 10 in a parliamentary no-confidence vote. These statements resonated with the country's young population, where anti-American sentiment is prevalent and fueled by a growing cost-of-living crisis. But Khan's critics say there is a problem with his claims: there is no evidence of a conspiracy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan expressed regret due to the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding the Friday speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani media reported. "The next unfounded statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding the speech of the head of the Azerbaijani state on May 27, 2022 in the Zangilan region is regrettable," reads the commentary of the Foreign Ministry posted on the website of the Foreign Ministry. It notes that "Armenia, which has been violating the fundamental principles of international law for almost 30 years", "grossly violating the rights of about a million Azerbaijanis, has recently often referred to international law in words." "Unlike Yerevan, Baku has always respected the principles of international law and consistently demonstrated this position," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry continued. "As for the statements of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Zangilan region liberated from occupation, we bring to the attention of the Armenian Foreign Ministry that the head of the Azerbaijani state calls for refraining from behavior that does not comply with the principles of international law, and warns of the dangers that such unlawful behavior may pose," the MFA added. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also announced the existence of "revanchist forces that encourage such dangerous behavior." "The Armenian side must understand that attempts to implement the behavior of a decade ago are nothing but a fantasy. Only a correct assessment of the new realities and new opportunities that have developed in the region can lead to the right results," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry noted. Kristin Weaver manages her familys centennial Angus ranch in Bristow, Oklahoma. (Photo by Lily Gisclair) Learning Without Leaving Home Media Contact: Jami Mattox | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-8061 | jami.mattox@okstate.edu A promise to her late father brought Kristin Weaver back to Oklahoma State University in 2017 to finish her degree in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. Weaver began her educational experience studying agribusiness in 1999 but did not graduate. Instead, after six semesters, she left school and cultivated a career in industrial sales. Ten years later, Weaver married and then returned to her hometown of Bristow, Oklahoma. There was always something missing, like unfinished business, nagging at me that I needed to get a degree, Weaver said. But at that point, I was married with a family, working, and helping my dad with the ranch. My dad was aging and encouraged me to finish my degree. In a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association magazine, she saw a small article written by Bill Weeks about a new OSU Agricultural Leadership Online Degree Completion Program. The article caught her attention because she knew if she wanted to finish her degree, it had to be through an online program, Weaver said. I knew I wanted my degree to come from OSU, Weaver said. I wanted a degree in agriculture, and I knew I couldnt leave my life in Bristow. I contacted Weeks, and next thing I knew I was enrolled in the program. Weaver started in the AGLE program in the Fall 2017 semester. She said her dad was excited she was back in school especially at OSU where he earned his degree in business with a minor in agriculture in 1954. Through the challenges, Weaver upheld her promise, even after her father died. The online agricultural leadership degree completion program is designed for people who want to finish a degree, but physically cant come to campus, said Lauren Cline, OSU agricultural leadership assistant professor. There are students from all over the country pursuing a degree in agricultural leadership. Weaver was part of the first group of 12 students who enrolled in the program in 2017, Cline said. The current group has 36 students with varied backgrounds actively participating in the program, she said. I was able to choose the classes I wanted to take and take them on my own time while still feeling like I was on campus, Weaver said. Even though the program was online, I knew the other students. We worked together on different projects. Through the program, Weaver made valuable connections, allowing her to have an internship at Land Scout as a working student, she said. This led her to her current job as the southwest region industrial representative for Washington Mills, a fused minerals manufacturing, she added. In addition to her work, Weaver manages two of her familys ranches and stays involved in the community, she said. She also serves as the president of the Bristow Rotary Club, is a member of the Creek County Cattlemens Association, and assists with the Bristow Retail Merchants Association. She also volunteers with several rural economic development programs in her community. Using her AGLE training, Weaver is better able to serve her community, said Matt Smith, Bristow Rotary Club secretary. The skills she learned in the program allow her to implement leadership practices in her various roles. The Rotary Club is near and dear to my heart, Weaver said. We strive to uphold the values and beliefs put forth by Rotary International. As a Rotarian, Weaver volunteers with food banks and toy drives, and helps her community in many facets. The last initiative she worked on was planting a variety of wildflowers around the Bristow City Park and Lake, Weaver said. A sign by the wildflowers will serve as an educational reference for the Bristow community to visit and learn, she added. The motto for the Rotary Club is Service Above Self, Smith said. Kristin upholds the motto in everything she does, especially when she is involved in her community. Weaver said she uses what she learned through OSU to educate others about leadership roles and to advocate for the agricultural industry. She also likes being like the rest of her family, all of whom earned degrees at OSU. Being able to say I went back to finish my degree makes me proud, Weaver said. I now have a degree in agricultural leadership, and I wouldnt want my degree to come from anywhere else except OSU. Story By: Lily Gisclair | Cowboy Journal Iranian forces seize two Greek tankers Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas. Photo: AP Iranian forces seized two Greek tankers in the Gulf on Friday, shortly after Tehran warned it would take "punitive action" against Athens over the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States from a tanker held off the Greek coast. "The Revolutionary Guards Navy today seized two Greek tankers for violations in Gulf waters," said a Guards statement, quoted by Iranian state news agency IRNA. It gave no further details and did not say what the alleged violations were. Greece's foreign ministry said an Iranian navy helicopter landed on Greek flagged vessel Delta Poseidon, which was sailing in international waters, 22 nautical miles from the Iranian shore, and took the crew hostage, among them two Greek citizens. It said a similar incident took place on another Greek-flagged vessel near Iran, without naming the ship, adding both actions violated international law and Greece had informed its allies, as well as complained to Iran's ambassador in Athens. Greece-based Delta Tankers, which operates the Delta Poseidon, could not be immediately reached for comment. Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the coast of the southern island of Evia due to European Union sanctions. The United States later confiscated the Iranian oil cargo held onboard and plans to send it to the United States on another vessel, Reuters reported on Thursday. The Pegas was later released, but the seizure inflamed tensions at a delicate time, with Iran and world powers seeking to revive a nuclear deal that Washington abandoned under former President Donald Trump in favour of returning sanctions on Iran. Earlier on Friday, Nour News, which is affiliated to an Iranian state security body, said on Twitter: "Following the seizure of an Iranian tanker by the Greek government and the transfer of its oil to the Americans, #Iran has decided to take punitive action against #Greece." It did not say what kind of action Iran would take. (Reuters) President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of Croatia Zoran Milanovic. "I convey my most cordial congratulations to you and your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Republic of Croatia the Statehood Day. Azerbaijan and Croatia are united by the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperative relations. It is gratifying to see the current level of development of our ties based on good traditions. I believe that we will consistently continue to put our joint efforts to foster the strategic partnership between our countries and expand our productive collaboration both bilaterally and multilaterally. On this remarkable day, I wish you strong health, success in your activities, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Croatia," the letter said. Next govt must step up security awareness: CE Next govt must step up security awareness: CE Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Saturday called on the incoming administration to enhance national security awareness among the governing team, saying the SAR still faces challenges in implementing the security law. Speaking at a legal forum on the National Security Law, Lam noted that the implementation of the legislation and the setting up of relevant organisations had enabled the SAR to undergo a transformation from chaos to order. She added her government had moved to improve the electoral system and to required civil servants to swear allegiance to the SAR, saying the measures had yielded "immediate results". But she said the task of safeguarding national security is far from complete, and SAR officials have to understand that "circumstances remain severe and complex". "The external political environment is volatile and external forces trying to contain China will keep emerging. Locally, radical trouble-makers and even underground groups that advocate terrorism are lurking around," she said. "I call on the next government to further raise, among the governing team, their political and national security awareness, big-picture thinking and dare-to-fight spirit." The director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, echoed Lam's views, saying the SAR faced many risks in terms of protecting national security. He said he hoped the SAR authorities would further enhance the legal system to safeguard national security. He said his office would be ready to exercise the central government's jurisdiction when necessary. New Delhi (India), May 28 (ANI/PNN): Behind every healthy nation are its healthy women. It's rightly said, a healthy woman ensures good health for the entire family. That's why days like May 28 - the International Day of Action for Women's Health, is highly significant. This International Women's Health Day, SimpliHealth (www.simplihealth.in), India's leading free online medical knowledge hub, got together some of the leading female doctors of Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali to talk about women's health and wellness. The doctors opined their views on how crucial it is to make women aware of the new diseases lurking in the alley for women as they enter a particular stage in their life. Dr Nimisha Batra, the Consultant Radiologist at DN Imaging and Diagnostic Centre, wished all the women by saying, "A woman they say is a full circle in herself. Nature entrusts her with not just the power to create but also the power to nurture and transform. But this enormous responsibility that rests on a woman's shoulders can only be fulfilled if she is healthy, not just physically but mentally. So here's to keeping our women fit, happy, and healthy. Here's to having each other's back. Wishing every woman a very Happy International Women's Health Day." Dr Preeti Jindal, Director of The Touch Clinic, Chandigarh, shared her thoughts on why women's health issues should be addressed, "Women are pillars of society. A healthy family is built on the shoulders of healthy women. So be a happy, confident and healthy woman." Educating society and shedding light on the importance of women's health, Dr Rachna Abrol's message was, "The theme for IWHD 2022 is #Break the Bias. As health care workers, we dedicate this day to breaking down the barriers women face in filling their right to health. We need to focus on women's health issues, including nutrition and reproductive health, and promote gender equality in getting access to quality healthcare." Dr Heena Chawla, Consultant Gynecologist and Laparoscopic surgeon at Apollo Clinic, Chandigarh, expressed her feelings, "A woman's voice can change the world. So be a voice for your physical and mental health. You are the flagbearer of your family and society." Early diagnosis plays an important role in prioritizing women's health and breaking the bias. To understand and learn more about how you can improve your well-being, visit the SimpliHealth website or youtube channel (https://youtube.com/c/SimpliHealth), Get authentic and accurate information from top-rated gynecologists and obstetricians who answer your questions and guide you on health issues. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI/PNN): IndustrialPlot.com is a Jaipur based real estate startup for the sale/rent of industrial properties and commercial properties. IndustrialPlot.com is India's 1st exclusive property portal for Industrial properties. Industrialplot.com was launched on March 1, 2022, and in its first-quarter, i.e., till may end, the portal has received more than 400 properties and has generated more than 100 leads and helped owners find buyers and tenants for their properties. Currently, we are working only in Jaipur, but one can post properties from all over India. Of these 400 properties, most of the properties are posted by landowners themselves, and broker posted properties are very few, thus making it a very attractive proportion. One can easily find Industrial land in Jaipur or Rajasthan for any purpose. Selecting land or space is an important decision for any business; proper choice of location is instrumental in the business's future success. With Industrialplot.com you can find industrial areas on your terms. It makes the industrial real estate process faster, simpler and more flexible; we are changing the way people look at industrial real estate. Industrialplot brings you the quickest and most convenient way to display your Industrial property advertisement and connect you with prospective buyers & sellers, and tenants. Finding and selling industrial and commercial property was never so easy because you won't find many agents exclusively working in these fields; existing online portals are mainly dealing in residential real estate, and that is why there is a need for a dedicated online portal for industrial and commercial real estate only. Industrialplot.com has a vast user base who are exclusively coming from the business category. That means the users are mainly interested in industrial and commercial properties. Industrialplot.com offer a wide range of industrial and commercial properties like shops, land, office space, warehouses, cold storage, factory mines, schools, hotels, and hospitals. As all the other online portals work mainly in the residential segment and the commercial segment is their second choice, our motive comes into the picture. We focus on the industrial property segment as primary and commercial real estate as secondary. Industrialplot.com vision is evident. We want to be the leader in the industrial real estate segment in the coming 2 years. We are starting from Rajasthan as Jaipur is in the top tier-2 cities in the warehousing industry and will expand in other cities of Rajasthan in the coming months. Our tagline says more about us "Connecting people space and opportunity" we are connecting people from different sectors and domains. Helping them with their requirements and creating opportunities for both. Industrialplot.com is started by PratiiekMor and Rohit Kumar; both are from real estate backgrounds and have 20 years of experience. Currently, they are running Jv deals. in, which is a well-known real estate joint venture firm. Bhoomilap Pvt ltd is the Parent organization of industrialplot.com. With increasing population and government make in India and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, India will witness massive manufacturing & production increment, so new industrial units will be set up; thus, logistics and warehouse business will also increase. Recently PLI scheme by GOI gave the industrial sector a big boost. E-commerce is penetrating every nook and corner of our country; thus, warehousing demand will skyrocket. India is heading towards the industrial revolution. So we are going to be benefitted from these. One question that arises in everyone's mind is that "there are a lot of online portals like 99acre, magicbricks, housing, makan, IndiaProperty, No broker, Olx, and many more, so is there a need for another property portal? According to our Co-founder Pratiiek Mor," there is always scope for everyone; if you provide better services and improvised version of something in the market, the market will welcome you.www.industrialplot.com This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): WBSETCL, a government of West Bengal enterprise is one of the best transmission companies in India, announced their partnership with Smile Train, the world's largest cleft focused NGO, to support 230 cleft surgeries in West Bengal as part of their CSR activities. The surgeries will be conducted at Smile Train's treatment centres at the Institute of Child Health and Repose Clinic & Research Centre Private Limited at Kolkata. ''We have seen the impact and transformation in children once they receive cleft surgery. This partnership with Smile Train India will enable cleft affected children and their families from economically weaker sections of society to get access to high quality care. We look forward to creating many smiles and bringing transformation in many lives," said Shamya Roy Choudhury, Director (HR&A), WBSETCL. In India, more than 35,000 children are born with the facial birth difference of cleft lip and/or palate every year. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of children with untreated clefts live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing and speaking, as their families cannot afford life-transforming cleft treatment. Smile Train's sustainable model empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. Since the year 2000, Smile Train India has supported 650,000+ free cleft surgeries throughout the country, through a network of 150+ partner hospitals. "At Smile Train, our endeavor is to not only support free, safe and quality cleft treatment, but also empower our local medical partners to provide comprehensive cleft care to children and enabling cleft-affected0 children to live full and productive lives. For this, we rely on the support of our donors, and are thankful WBSETCL for their generous support. Together, we shall bring timely and comprehensive cleft care to children across West Bengal," shared Mamta Carroll, Smile Train's Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Asia. Smile Train Partner surgeon Dr Parthapratim Gupta, Smile Train Project Director at the Institute of Child Health, Kolkata said, "Treatment for cleft lip and palate should not be delayed beyond a certain time as it leads to larger problems such as incorrect speech, orthodontic problems etc. With the support of Smile Train and WBSETCL, and with all safety protocols in place, we are providing safe and quality treatment to children born with cleft lip and palate to ensure they lead a healthy and productive life." Dr Maneesh Sonthalia, Plastic Surgeon leading the Smile Train program at Repose Clinic & Research Centre, Kolkata said, "There are many children with cleft lip & palate around the world who need help, but can't receive timely care due to monetary constraints and lack of awareness and knowledge about this condition. The support from WBSETCL will help many children. Cleft is treatable and we are committed to help many more children across West Bengal." Smile Train has supported more than 25,000 free cleft surgeries in the state of West Bengal through a network of 6 partner hospitals at Kolkata, Bardhaman, Durgapur, Siliguri and Murshidabad where Smile Train supports cleft treatment throughout the year. To avail free cleft treatment, please call Toll Free Cleft Helpline - 1800 103 8301. Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's India's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrainindia.org. WBSETCL being one of the best Transmission Utilities in the country, is responsible for Transmitting electricity from State Generators and National Grid to the load centers to serve the entire state through its vast Transmission Network operating at 400kV, 220kV, 132kV and 66kV spread across the state. WBSETCL is providing 24*7 uninterrupted quality power to the distribution licensees and plays the pivotal role as State Transmission Utility (STU) and State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) and System Operator in the state of West Bengal. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes to adopt a graded approach for the introduction of digital currency in the country, according to the RBI's annual report for FY 2021-22. The Reserve Bank is engaged in the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in India. The design of CBDC needs to be in conformity with the stated objectives of monetary policy, financial stability, and efficient operations of currency and payment systems, the report noted. "The Reserve Bank proposes to adopt a graded approach to the introduction of CBDC, going step by step through stages of Proof of Concept, pilots and the launch," the report said. Reacting on the report, BJD National Spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik said, the government should adopt the graded approach even in the case of private crypto space. "With regard to a graded approach, I said exactly this about six months ago. @RBI should have activated its regulatory sandbox at least two years ago & worked on this instead of espousing a ban. Even in the private #crypto space, Govt should follow this approach," Patnaik said in a tweet. In the annual report, the RBI said it has been exploring the pros and cons of the introduction of CBDC in India. The design of CBDC needs to be in conformity with the stated objectives of monetary policy, financial stability and efficient operations of currency and payment systems. Accordingly, the appropriate design elements of CBDCs that could be implemented with little or no disruption are under examination. The introduction of CBDC was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 and an appropriate amendment to the RBI Act, 1934 has been included in the Finance Bill, 2022. The Finance Bill, 2022 has been enacted, providing a legal framework for the launch of CBDC. (ANI) On Saturday, Sara took to her Instagram handle and posted a series of pictures from Istanbul. A few glimpses showed her posing for cameras with friends in front of tourist places in Istanbul. The 'Atrangi Re' actor captioned the post, "Bosses by the Bosphorus ". Meanwhile, on the work front, Sara will be seen sharing screen space with Vikrant Massey in 'Gaslight'. She has also recently finished shooting for an untitled project next to Vicky Kaushal. (ANI) Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday warned the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party of exposing its two ministers by the first week of June along with documental proofs. This comes after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin brought up several ongoing issues while sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai on Thursday. Stalin appealed to the Central Government to return the central Goods and Service Tax (GST) dues of Rs 14,006 crore to the state. "Every CM has got a right to raise demands. But what are the demands you are making matter? Whatever CM raised yesterday is meaningless demand. GST Council is a classical example of federalism. The GST Council should give the pending GST dues. The state finance minister is a member of the council. PM and Union FM cannot impose their will on the GST council," Annamalai told media persons. Citing an example of the NEET issue, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief urged the DMK-led state government to take this entrance examination matter to the Supreme Court. "If there is one party in Tamil Nadu that should not talk about Kacha Theevu, it is DMK. I request DMK to take the NEET issue to Supreme Court. But they will not do because they know that the case will be dismissed in the admission stage itself," he argued. He further warned, "We will be exposing the scams by two DMK ministers next week along with documental proofs which might put away for the resignation of those ministers. We will keep on releasing department wise DMK scams of ministers as booklets." Annamalai also said that the Tamil Nadu BJP will hold a protest on May 31 against the DMK government to reduce fuel prices. Criticizing Stalin's demand to make Tamil an official language like Hindi, he said that it will create an unnecessary burden on common people. "We are for making Tamil an official language in courts here. But when you ask Tamil to be upgraded as an official language national on par with Hindi, it will create an unnecessary burden on a person," he added. Earlier on Thursday, Stalin urged PM Modi to declare Tamil as the official language, like Hindi, at Union government offices and the Madras High Court. The Chief Minister also requested PM Modi to exempt Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) exam and asked PM to get back to Katchatheevu Island from (Sri Lanka) so the Indian fishermen can fish freely in the sea. The Prime Minister, on Thursday, launched several new schemes and development projects. (ANI) A married woman was critically injured after she was stabbed by her stalker in broad daylight in Hyderabad on Friday. The incident occurred on a busy road in Hafiz Baba Nagar in the old city. The 48-year-old woman was admitted to hospital. Police were on the lookout for the man, who escaped after the attack. A video of the incident went viral over social media. A man can be seen chasing a burqa-clad woman and attacking her from behind with what appeared to be a long knife. He did not stop even after she collapsed and continued stabbing her as people watched in horror. When one of the passersby tried to move closer, the attacker brandished the knife at him, forcing him to step back. Police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured woman to the hospital, where she is stated to be in a stable condition. A case has been registered at Kanchanbagh Police Station. A police officer said five teams have been constituted to apprehend the accused. The family of the victim, a mother of six children, said she was being harassed and stalked by her neighbor. They had lodged a complaint with the police last year. Police said he was arrested and later released. --IANS ms/vd ( 224 Words) 2022-05-27-20:12:04 (IANS) BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi, marked a significant milestone in the construction journey with the 'MahaPeeth' ceremony -- laying the first stone of the first floor of the Mandir. Thus far, the foundation and the ground floor consisting of 14 layers of stone have been completed and this ceremony marked the start of the next stage in the construction of the Mandir which is set to open its doors in 2024. Swami Brahmaviharidas, head of the upcoming mandir, and Swami Akshaymunidas Swami who oversees international mandir construction, graced this event, along with over 500 distinguished guests of the UAE including the Ambassador of India to the UAE His Excellency Sunjay Sudhir, community leaders and members of the congregation. The excitement of the architects, technical consultants, community officials and volunteers who attended this event was palpable. The construction of the first floor of the Mandir is an important feature as it will shape the 'Garbhagruha' (inner sanctum) which is the central shrine in a Mandir which houses the Deities. In addition to the intricately stone-carved Mandir, the complex spread over 55,000 square meters will also include a large amphitheater, an exhibition hall, a library, a food court, a majlis and two community halls with a total capacity to seat 5,000 people. With seven spires to represent each of the UAE's emirates, the place of worship will be 32 metres tall when it opens in 2024. Architects and engineers pore over large floor plans to match columns and carvings sent from India to the exact slot at the temple site. Work on the ground floor facade is almost complete. Construction will start soon on the first floor with engravings that depict the lives of Hindu gods, along with friezes decorated with musicians, dancers, peacocks, camels, horses and elephants. More than 1,000 carvings of deities will be added to brackets across the temple's exterior, with at least 30 planned of the elephant-headed god Ganesha. The steps leading to the temple will portray teachings from other ancient civilisations, such as the Mayans. --IANS shaneer/pgh ( 357 Words) 2022-05-27-20:24:09 (IANS) Justice Yogesh Khanna sought the response of the Delhi police on the plea and slated it for hearing before a vacation bench on June 6. As per the Delhi Police, they arrested on April 27 the accused Babuddin a.k.a. Babu (43), who was found involved in orchestrating violence during the procession. Various sections of IPC were lodged against him including Sec. 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 323, 427, 436, 307 ,120B of the Indian Penal Code and Sec. 27 of the Arms Act. During the course of the hearing, the counsel appeared for the accused challenged the trial court's order which denied bail in the matter. It was also argued that the prosecution failed in connecting him with the main accused, Ansar, and fabricated a story to implicate him in the case. Communal clashes erupted in the Jahangirpuri area on April 16 during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in which nine people, including eight policemen, were injured. --IANS jw/pgh ( 217 Words) 2022-05-27-20:50:55 (IANS) By Trend Another meeting of the Turkish National Security Council was held under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the meeting, which took place on May 26 in the Presidential Administration, issues of international and regional security were discussed. The statement following the meeting said that the operations that are being carried out or will be carried out on the southern borders of Turkey are not directed against the territorial integrity of neighboring countries and are necessary to ensure national security. "We call on countries that violate international law and support terrorism to end this and take into account Turkey's security concerns." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday received first-hand insights into the combat capabilities and offensive strength of 'INS Khanderi', the state-of-the-art Kalvari class submarine. For over four hours, the full spectrum of capabilities of underwater operations of the stealth submarine was demonstrated to the minister during his visit to Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka. During the course of a sea sortie on 'INS Khanderi', the union Defence Minister witnessed a wide range of operational drills with the submarine demonstrating the advanced sensor suite, combat system and weapon capability which provides it a distinct advantage in the subsurface domain. The day-at-sea also provided him a glimpse of the submarine's capability to effectively counter anti-submarine operations by an adversary. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar and other senior officials of the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence were also present. Interacting with mediapersons after the sea sortie, Rajnath Singh termed Indian Navy as a modern, potent and credible force, capable of being vigilant, valiant and victorious in all situations. "Today, Indian Navy is counted among the frontline navies of the world. Today, the world's largest maritime forces are ready to work and co-operate with India," he said. Describing 'INS Khanderi' as a shining example of the 'Make in India' capabilities of the country, the minister appreciated the fact that 39 of the 41 ships/ submarines ordered by the Indian Navy are being built in Indian shipyards. The number of platforms and the speed at which they have been launched by the Indian Navy has strengthened the resolve of achieving 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' as envisioned by Prime Minister. On the commissioning of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier 'Vikrant', Rajnath Singh said, it will bolster the maritime security of the country, along with INS Vikramaditya. He, however, assured that the preparations being made by the Indian Navy are not a provocation to any aggression, but a guarantee of peace and security in the Indian Ocean region. Singh also interacted with the crew of the submarine and commended them for carrying out operations in a challenging environment. He praised the Indian Navy for maintaining a high state of readiness and offensive capability to address any threat in the maritime domain. The operational sortie was accompanied by the deployment of ships of the Western Fleet, an anti-submarine mission sortie by a P-8I MPA and Sea King helicopter, a fly past by MiG 29-K fighters and a search & rescue capability demonstration. With this, the Defence Minister has now witnessed first-hand the three-dimensional combat capability of Indian Navy, after having embarked INS Vikramaditya in September 2019 and conducted a sortie on the P8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft earlier this month. The second of the Project 75 submarines was built under the 'Make in India' initiative at Mazagon Docks Limited, Mumbai. INS Khanderi was commissioned by the Defence Minister on September 28, 2019. The Scorpene submarines are extremely potent platforms. They have advanced stealth features and are equipped with both long range guided torpedoes as well as anti-ship missiles. These submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities. Presently, Indian Navy operates four submarines of this class with two more likely to be inducted by end next year. The induction of these submarines have significantly enhanced Indian Navy's underwater capability in the Indian Ocean Region. --IANS pvn/pgh ( 570 Words) 2022-05-27-21:52:04 (IANS) Parliament's Privileges and Ethics Committee on Friday asked Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, and Commissioner Mumbai Police to appear before it on June 15 for oral evidence over the arrest of Lok Sabha Member Navneet Rana. The Committee also asked Superintendent of Women District Prison, Byculla (Mumbai) to appear before it on June 15 for oral evidence. An office memorandum issued by Privileges and Ethics branch Lok Sabha Secretariat said: "Committee of Privileges has directed that Manu Kumar Srivastava, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra be asked to appear before the Committee for oral evidence on the above subject matter on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 1230 hours in Committee Room '2', Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi." The office memorandum (OM) further stated that the Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances and Pensions are accordingly, requested to ensure that the official referred to above, appear before the Committee of Privileges, Lok Sabha on the date and time indicated above. "Necessary confirmation, in this regard, may please be sent to this Secretariat latest by June 7, 2022. The receipt of this OM may kindly be acknowledged," it added. Another office memorandum said that the Committee of Privileges has directed the following officials be asked to appear before the Committee for oral evidence on the above subject matter on Wednesday, June 15 at 12.30 p.m. in Committee Room '2', Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi. "The undersigned is directed to state that Director General of Police (DGP) Maharashtra Rajnish Seth, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Sanjay Pandey and Superintendent, Women District Prison, Class-2, Byculla, Mumbai. "The Ministry of Home Affairs are accordingly, requested to ensure that the officials referred to above, appear before the Committee of Privileges, Lok Sabha on the date and time indicated above," it said. Officials are asked to appear before the committee regarding April 25 complaint of Navneet Rana alleging patently illegal arrest and the consequent inhuman treatment meted out to her in Khar Police Station, Mumbai. --IANS ssb/pgh ( 348 Words) 2022-05-27-22:04:02 (IANS) Three brothers drowned in the Ganga in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Friday afternoon, police said. The deceased were identified as Rahul Kumar, 22, Rohit Kumar, 20, and their cousin Shivam Kumar, 14. The three, along with other relatives, went to the riverbank at Banteshwar Asthan to perform the death rituals of their sibling. After shaving their heads, they went into the river to take a dip, but did not realise the depth and drowned. By the time, somebody could try to come to their rescue, they disappeared in the water. The relatives present at the river bank called local police and the State Disaster Management Force, who retrieved the bodies and handed them over to their kin. The family members of the deceased said that due to illegal sand mining, the depth of the river is uneven, and the district administration has not declared the dangerous Ghats, leading to frequent accidents. --IANS ajk/vd ( 164 Words) 2022-05-27-22:26:02 (IANS) The 21st century, being described as the "Century of Asia", has seen emergence of several regional trading groups. The recently launched Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) marks the beginning of a new phase of economic cooperation and integration in the region juxtaposed against China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) led by it. It is also being seen as US' initiative parallel to Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP/TPP) so as to restore its engagement and control over the Indo-Pacific region which the previous US regime yielded to China by deciding to exit the TPP/CPTPP five years ago. The question as to why the region needs a new group IPEF, can only be understood in the context of change in US foreign policy amid China's strategic manoeuvres especially the tools of economic diplomacy through the BRI and RCEP besides increased assertiveness in the South China Sea. There are genuine concerns regarding China's rise to power with regional and global implications. US President Joe Biden launched IPEF initiative on May 23, 2022 with 13 countries signing up, including the US, India, Japan and South Korea. The Biden administration claimed that the launch of the IPEF demonstrated US economic engagement in Asia, including greater cooperation on a wide spectrum of issues such as the supply chain, clean energy and worker protection. The White House in its statement on IPEF revealed that the signatories of the initiative include -- the US, Australia, Brunei, Daressalam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, all important nations of the Indo-Pacific region. The statement noted that "we share a commitment to a free, open, fair, inclusive, interconnected, resilient, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region" that has "potential to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth". This may be seen as US' initiative under President Joe Biden to create an alternative mechanism for its "Pivot to Asia", the first such effort after former US President, Trump, exited the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in 2015. Trump's go alone policy is supposed to have weakened the expediency of America's foreign policy. According to Foreign Affairs Journal, Biden has broken with his predecessor's "go-it-alone approach" to foreign policy. The creation of IPEF is a logical continuum of President Biden's moves to return to multilateralism, lest rising powers like China usurp the vacuum at the cost of US' power to influence the new world order. The US is once again a member of the World Health Organisation and has rejoined the Paris agreement on Climate Change. IPEF is another milestone in the same direction. US exit from TPP is now seen as a foreign policy mistake. According to an article by Cato Institute, "amidst such (TPP/CPTPP) trade integration, the United States has largely been left on the outside looking in" and it means the country has "foregone the TPP's projected benefits", particularly its control over "shaping the rules governing trade in Asia- Pacific region". January 2022 marked five years since Donald Trump decided to exit the TPP. Now there is a prevailing sense in the White House that US losses from its TPP withdrawal have not just been economic but geopolitical as one of its purported goals was to "counter China's influence" in the region. In fact, US leaders have a realisation that US withdrawal from TPP placed it on the back foot on trade. The IPEF would certainly aim at recovering some lost ground, particularly in the wake of more trade leverage created for China due to operationalisation of the RCEP since January 2022. It has been estimated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, (UNCTAD) that RCEP will shrink US exports by over $5 billion due to its exit from the TPP in addition to an estimated (PIIE analysis, 2017) loss of $2 billion instead of an anticipated gain of $131 billion had it joined. On the geopolitical front, a recent Wall Street Journal article points out that US inaction on trade liberalisation has handed a possible opportunity to China. Analysts opine that IPEF is US answer to TPP as well as China led RCEP. Instead of deciding to rejoin the TPP, Biden has, however, decided to form a new group, i.e. IPEF. The IPEF's 13-member group led by the US accounts for 40 per cent of global GDP. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said IPEF is focussed around the further integration of Indo-Pacific economies, setting of standards and rules, particularly new areas like digital economy and creating secure and resilient supply chains. The negotiations with partner countries will revolve around four pillars -- (i) fair trade to safeguard US workers from job losses, especially due to China's accession to WTO in 2011 and its rising manufacturing exports, (ii) supply chain resiliency, (iii) infrastructure and climate change and (iv) tax and anti-corruption. All these issues also weigh on other economies of the Indo-Pacific region. There is a lot to the discredit of China's BRI, especially apprehension of debt-trap and increasing carbon footprints due to projects under it apart from skewed benefits in favour of Beijing. India would be potentially one of the major stakeholders in the formation due to its rising economic stature and continued commitment to economic reforms including liberalisation and globalisation. The IPEF would give leverage to India to compensate for its perceived losses on account of its decision to exit RCEP due to lax rules of origin and apprehension of dumping by China. On the other hand, India would also gain from its potentially important role in developing alternative supply chains post the Covid in view of limitations of sole reliance on China-centric supply chains. The IPEF negotiations are likely to be completed in 12-18 months. Every stakeholder looks up to this optimistically, but China criticised it as "an exclusive clique" that "would lead to great turmoil in the region". China's Foreign Minister Wangi Yi accused Washington of trying to sow discord in the region. The Chinese reaction did not come as a surprise as it perceives a threat to its domination of the Indo-Pacific region. --IANS pgh/ ( 1024 Words) 2022-05-27-23:06:01 (IANS) The overall flood situation in Assam has improved in the last six days even as over 5 lakh people remained affected in the state's 10 districts with Nagaon, Cachar and Morigaon being the worst hit, officials said on Friday. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that since May 13, when the pre-monsoon flood began having its impact, 30 people, including children, died -- 25 in floods and remaining five in landslides in different districts. Out of the 10 flood-affected districts, the highest number of 3,11,397 people were affected in Nagaon district alone followed by 1,47,995 people in Cachar and 41,036 in Morigaon district. According to the ASDMA officials, despite improvement in the flood situation, at least 5,00,852 people, including 1,28,752 children of 799 villages have now been affected in 10 of the state's 34 districts. Over 35,384 hectares of crop areas remained affected in flood-hit areas. Altogether, 62,289 people are staying in the 201 relief camps, while the district administrations have also opened 106 relief distribution centres in all the affected areas. The Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) of seven members which arrived in Guwahati on Thursday to study the flood-ravaged Assam districts are now visiting the affected districts divided in two groups. 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 10 MT food grains in the flood affected areas of Dima Hasao district. The water of Kopili river was flowing above the danger level in several places. --IANS sc/pgh ( 299 Words) 2022-05-27-23:21:37 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday, while recalling the attacks against Christians in the country, said that last year 486 anti-christian attacks happened in India. He said this while mentioning the alleged hate speech of former MLA PC George and the BJP's support for him. Last year, 486 anti-Christian attacks took place in many parts of the country. There are those in the Sangh Parivar who think that the same can happen in our state. But unlike other states, they know that drastic action will be taken here, said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in Kochi. "When action was taken against a person who was spreading communal poison here, the BJP thought that they were taking action to protect all Christians by protecting him. That person who spread communal poison has the language of the RSS and the Sangh Parivar. He has a position that undermined secularism and fertilized communalism. That is why the Sangh Parivar came forward to support the person who took a communal stand and shouted slogans for him", added Vijayan. Kerala Police on Wednesday arrested former MLA PC George in a case registered against him for alleged hate speech. According to the Kerala CM, Christianity is one of the religious minorities hunted by the RSS and Sangh Parivar in our country. "That hunt is still going on. Not only our country but the whole world was devastated by it. We have not forgotten the burning of Graham Stains and his two children in Orissa. The world thought that this country was brutally committing violence against minorities," added Vijayan. "In 1998, the Sangh Parivar unleashed riots against Christians in Gujarat. The BJP government that came to power followed suit. Many places of worship and school buildings were destroyed by the Bajrang Dal. In 2008, there were widespread riots in Orissa. At that time, 38 lives were taken by the people who said that they are protecting the person who is now spewing communal poison for the protection of Christians. To this day, they have no guilt about it. Moreover, more than forty women were raped there. More than 300 churches were demolished. Many were threatened and converted. The CPIM's office was opened to the people who didn't have any place to pray. Violence erupts in Karnataka also. The attack was carried out by Sriram Sena and Bajrang Dal. The violence continued even after the BJP came to power in 2014. In 2015, the Sangh Parivar carried out widespread violence against Christians in Delhi. Many Christian places of worship were attacked," claimed the Kerala CM. (ANI) Delhi Police arrested a gangster from Uttar Pradesh on Friday in connection with the firing incident in Bhajanpura in which two persons were injured. As per Delhi Police, the case is related to the firing incident in the Bhajanpura area on May 4, wherein one person namely Vishal sustained three bullet injuries fired by his rival Manish. Later, the assailant was arrested. During the firing incident, one passerby Gaurav Sharma also sustained a bullet injury in his right hand. Gaurav is a restaurant owner and his wife is a sub-inspector in Delhi Police. On the statement of Gaurav Sharma a separate case under section 307 IPC, was registered at Bhajanpura police station and an investigation was taken up. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East Sanjay Kumar Sain during the course of the investigation, the name of a gangster from Uttar Pradesh namely Amit Pandit surfaced. He is a prime member of Anil Dujana gang and a relative of gangster Umesh Pandit. Police thoroughly scanned and analyzed the CCTV footage of the vicinity. On the basis of technical surveillance and human intelligence, a raid was conducted at Omaxe Eternity Society, Mathura in the wee hours of Thursday and Amit Pandit was apprehended. During sustained interrogation, he confessed to his crime and revealed that at the time of the firing incident he was accompanied by Vishal in his car, suddenly another vehicle obstructed their way and one person from the vehicle fired upon Vishal. Seeing the bullets hitting Vishal, he got down from the car and fired upon the person who was firing from the vehicle. Amit Pandit was then arrested. On further interrogation, his multiple criminal involvements of extortion, attempt to murder and murder, etc in Uttar Pradesh also surfaced, said Delhi Police. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Respectful tribute to Veer Savarkar, the hardworking son of Mother Bharti, on his birth anniversary." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary and said his "sacrifices will continue to give us inspiration and strength". "Tributes to the symbol of nationalism, freedom fighter Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary. Savarkar ji's life is a classic example of how one can live for the country. His sacrificing life will continue to give us inspiration and strength," he tweeted. Shah further said that his unparalleled contribution to the freedom movement and his efforts to remove untouchability from society can never be forgotten. "Veer Savarkar ji received two life imprisonment in one life and the inhuman tortures of the dungeon could not deter his resolve to take Mother Bharati to the ultimate glory," Shah added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to Veer Savarkar and said that the effective role he played in India's freedom struggle is inspiring. "Veer Savarkar was the epitome of courage, determination and sacrifice. The effective role he played in India's freedom struggle is inspiring. His entire life was devoted to the service of the country and society. I bow down to such a brave Savarkar on his birth anniversary," Singh said in a tweet. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, was born on 28 May 1883 in Nashik. He was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer, and writer. Savarkar is known for coining the term 'Hindutva'. (ANI) The incident took place after a person made some remarks against a community. Around 10 people were said to be injured, the police said. "A person named Kishor Pitaiswal had lent Rs 2,200 to his employee Akhilesh and kept his phone as security. However, around 10 days ago, Akhilesh quit the job to work with Narendra Kumawat. When Akhilesh along with Narendra went to Kishor to return the money, Kishor made some remarks against Narendra which led to clashes. In the incident, some houses were vandalised and several vehicles were also damaged," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Bhagwat Singh Virdey said. On the basis of the complaint by both groups, the police have registered a case under the relevant sections. Further investigation into the matter is awaited. (ANI) Four Bangladeshi nationals, including two women, were apprehended and handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by Border Security Force as a humanity and goodwill gesture after they entered the Indian territory in search of the employment. The BSF personnel of 68 Battalion apprehended these four Bangladeshi nationals near Border Out Post Ranghat at about 3.40 PM on Friday, when they were illegally crossing International Boundary (IB) in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. They were identified as Tjiul Sardar (37), and his wife Naseema Begum (31) of Bangladesh's Satkhira district; whereas the other two people Shahenur Begum (35) and Naeem Hussain (23) were citizens of Bangladesh's Khulna and Kerniganj respectively. "They are Bangladeshi citizens, but due to unemployment, their family was finding difficulties in the sustenance of livelihood, due to which all of them were coming to India for employment," said BSF officials quoting the apprehended foreign nationals. "But the BSF troops apprehended them while they were illegally crossing the IB," said the BSF. The BSF is mandated to guard the 4,096.7 km India-Bangladesh border and 3,323 km of the Indo-Pakistan border. "The apprehended individuals have been handed over by the BSF to Border Guard Bangladesh as a gesture of goodwill and humanity," said Pranab Prabhakar, Officiating Commanding Officer of the 68th Battalion, adding that the BSF is taking strict measures to prevent infiltration along the Indo-Bangladesh border, due to which some people were caught. "Considering the seriousness of the crime of the arrested people and due to mutual cooperation and goodwill of the Border Guarding Forces of both the countries, some of them are handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh," he added further. (ANI) By Trend Kazakh and Kyrgyz Agriculture Ministries strengthen cooperation as the Ministers signed a memorandum in Bishkek, the Ministrys press service reports, Trend reports citing Kazinform. The memo is purposed to create favourable conditions for agricultural cooperation on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. The Kazakh Agriculture Minister, Yerbol Karashukeyev, noted that agricultural cooperation is of great importance for both states. As stated there, Kazakhstan is interested in further export of flour, vegetable oils, pasta, eggs, dairy, chocolate, and confectionery to Kyrgyzstan on mutually beneficial terms. In turn, Kazakhstan plans to buy more spring-planted vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and carrots. The Minister highlighted for the past three months the sales between the nations made USD 43.4 mln. Kazakhstan exports to Kyrgyzstan rose USD 28.7 mln while imports for January-March this year made USD 14.7 mln. As earlier reported, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met on May 26 in Bishkek. The Presidents expressed interest in cooperation in the agro-industrial complex. The police arrested a cab driver in connection with a case of molestation of a 15-year-old girl near Vile Parle, Mumbai on Saturday, said the police. The accused had been identified as Murari Kumar Singh (29). "An Ola cab driver was arrested from Goregaon in Mumbai for allegedly molesting a 15-yr-old girl and making obscene gestures towards her on 25 May. The case was registered by Aarey Police Station," PSI Sachin Panchal said. Earlier on May 25, the minor student booked an online Ola taxi cab from Vileparle Mumbai airport to come to her home at Royal Palm. The minor alleged that the driver of the taxi stared at her throughout the journey. She further alleged that the diver made obscene comments while she told him that she need to go to her home to bring change money, the police said. The accused was presented in the court, where the court has sent him to police custody till May 30. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (DBOCWWB) on a plea of a construction worker who had applied for financial assistance for their daughter's marriage in 2017. It is stated that the petitioner is still waiting for the disposal of his application, even after five years of his daughter's marriage. It is alleged that now Board officials are demanding the marriage certificate of his daughter for disposal of his application which is in violation of the Board's own rule. Justice Yashwant Varma issued notice to Board and other respondents in a plea of Banwari Lal. The court has listed the matter for hearing on September 5, 2022. The petitioner moved the plea through Advocate Chirayu Jain who stated that the Board provides financial assistance to construction workers for the marriage of family members under Rule 282 of Delhi Construction and Other Construction Workers Rules 2002. The petitioner had applied for financial assistance for his daughter's marriage in 2017. Advocate Shyel Trehan, counsel for the petitioner argued that the Board's officials have not taken any decision on the application of the petitioner even after a lapse of five years. Now they are insisting on a marriage certificate which is in contravention of the Board's Rules. It is argued that nowhere in Building and Other Construction workers (BOCW) Act and Delhi BOCW Rules is mentioned that the claim application cannot be processed in absence of a copy of the marriage certificate. The petition stated that Board's officials on 14 October 2021 issued a letter in pursuance of an order passed by the Delhi High Court on 27 April 2020 in another matter for disposal of all pending applications for financial assistance. Officials asked the petitioner to produce a copy of the marriage certificate as proof of marriage. The petition submitted that after receiving the said letter the petitioner on 26 October 2021 filed all the documents including the marriage card and photographs as proof of marriage. The counsel argued that now Board's officials demanding for daughter's marriage certificate which is in contravention of the Board's own rule. The said rule provides that the official will not insist on a marriage certificate for disposal of the application. (ANI) A Bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar has issued notice to the Kerala government and listed the matter for July 11, 2022. The apex court was hearing the petition filed by Sabu Steephen, represented by advocate VK Biju. The petitioner has challenged Kerala High Court which has dismissed his plea and granted him liberty to file a fresh petition. Before the Kerala HC, the petitioner had sought for relief relating to adopting expert scientific recommendations. The petition sought to pass direction for calling upon the respondents' authorities to complete the desilting of sands from all reservoirs/dams in Kerala, on yearly basis, before the arrival of the monsoon, adopting expert scientific recommendations. Steephen also sought direction to establish stock-yards for sand, across Kerala, district wise or Taluk-wise, so that the general public will get quality sands for their construction purposes at a standardized fair price in a fair manner. (ANI) The Chief Minister will reach the rally which would be held in Brahm Sarover at around 12 noon and address the public at around 1 pm. Notably, the AAP is attempting to spread its wings to states other than Punjab after its emphatic win in the border state. Recently last month, former Congress Haryana party chief Ashok Tanwar joined Aam Aadmi Party in the national capital. Former Haryana Congress leader Nirmal Singh and his daughter Chitra joined the Aam Aadmi Party in the presence of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday. Singh, who also founded the Haryana Democratic Front, was also a two-time minister in the Haryana government. (ANI) With the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in full swing, the sanctum sanctorum whose foundation stone will be laid down on June 1, will be completed by January 2024 where the statue of the deity will be installed. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya on June 1 to offer prayers and lay the foundation stone of the sanctum sanctorum. The red stones will be used to furnish the area of the sanctum sanctorum. Speaking to ANI, Vishva Hindu Parishad leader, Sharad Sharma said, "The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple would be prepared with the red stones which would be very fortunate. According to the Trust, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple would be ready by January 2024 (Makar Sankranti) where Lord Ram would be placed and people would throng in numbers to offer prayers." Notably, the Lok Sabha elections are all set to take place in 2024 and the BJP listed Ram Mandir in its poll manifesto. Elaborating on the developments of the events to take place on June 1, Sharma said that the red stone in the sanctum sanctorum would be laid in the presence of the Chief Minister. "As far as June 1 is concerned, the first stone of the sanctum sanctorum would be laid there. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Deputy Chief Minister, representatives from the RSS, VHP etc would be present at the event. The stone that would be laid was carved in 1990. It would be laid in the presence of the Chief Minister," he said. Meanwhile, the head priest of the Ram temple, Acharya Satyendra Das said that the temple is being constructed in such a way that the first rays of the Sun fall on the idol of Lord Ram. "The devotees are expecting a huge and beautiful temple. The temple is being constructed in such a way that when there is a sunrise, the first rays should fall on Lord Ram," he said. "The sanctum sanctorum is being made of red stone. The Chief Minister will visit here to place that stone. The prayers will go on for nine days. The red stones are being installed to give people peace," Acharya added. The construction work of the Ram Mandir began on August 5, 2020, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone. Earlier, the temple authority added that the temple's lower floor, which will house the sanctum sanctorum and a Ram Lalla idol, would be ready for worship. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with the beneficiaries of about sixteen schemes and programmes spanning nine Ministries and Departments of the Government of India as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations in a national level event "Garib Kalyan Sammelan" at Himachal Pradesh's Shimla on May 31. As per the Prime Minister's Office press release, PM Modi will directly interact with the beneficiaries from across the country through videoconferencing from Shimla. Prime Minister will also release the 11th instalment of the Kisan Samman Nidhi amounting to more than Rs 21,000 crore, PMO informed. "Simultaneously, events will also be organized at state capitals, district headquarters and KVK Centres," the release stated. Under this series of events, as per the PMO, the scheme beneficiaries will interact with Chief Ministers, Central and State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and other elected public representatives. According to the press release, the number of beneficiaries of many of these schemes runs in crores and in several cases tens of crores and address the most pressing problems of the poorest segments of the population, including housing, availability of potable water, food, health and nutrition, livelihood and financial inclusion etc. "The interaction will explore the possibility of convergence and saturation of these schemes and give an opportunity to assess the citizens' aspirations for India as it completes 100 years of independence in the year 2047. The Sammelan will be one of the largest ever single-event nationwide interactions spanning all districts, where the Prime Minister will interact with beneficiaries about the impact that these schemes and programmes have had on their lives," the release stated. Under the two-stage programme, the State/District/KVK level function will start at 9.45 AM at about 11.00 AM, these will get connected to the national level programme. The national event will be telecast live through Doordarshan on its national and regional channels. Provisions have also been made to webcast the national programme through MyGov for which people need to register themselves. It can also be viewed through other social media channels viz., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. It is expected that this interaction will not only highlight the people-centric approach of these schemes leading to ease of living for citizens but will also enlighten the Government on the aspirations of the people and ensure that no one is left behind in the nation's march to progress. (ANI) Addressing the media, he said that there was no truth in the allegations against Aryan Khan and action should be taken against people spreading false implications. "There was no truth in allegations against Aryan Khan. I think action should be taken against ex-NCB official Sameer Wankhede on the way he handled this matter," said Patil. He also highlighted that Khan's name was removed from the chargesheet and the Centre also took cognizance of this matter and gave information about action against the concerned officer. "If anyone is falsely implicating an innocent person, then action should be taken against them. I think Centre has also taken cognizance of this matter & given info about action against the concerned officer," he added. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. Eight persons were arrested 20 people including Aryan Khan, along with other accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were named in the case. Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were granted bail by the Bombay High Court on 28 October 2021. (ANI) Haryana Police have seized over 759 kg of ganja worth over Rs 1.5 crore in two separate cases in Palwal and Rohtak districts and arrested four accused of transporting the contraband. Sharing the information here today, a Haryana Police spokesperson informed that in the first case, the police seized over 474 kg 800 gram of ganja in Palwal which was being illegally transported in a truck from Odisha. The police team, after getting secret input about the smuggling of narcotics in a truck that was being piloted by a car, had intercepted the vehicle at a Naka. The search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 93 plastic bags containing the contraband weighing 474 kg and 800 grams. The arrested accused was identified as Amar Singh, a resident of district Mathura, and Mushtkim of district Nuh, a spokesperson said. In the second case, the police team in Rohtak district while being in the Sampla area got input about the illegal transportation of drugs in a vehicle. On receiving input, the team intercepted a vehicle and apprehended two persons. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 19 bags weighing 285 kilograms of ganja. The arrested accused were identified as Rohit a resident of Delhi and Praveen aka Pinna of village Gamdi in Sonipat. During the investigation, it came to light that the main kingpin of the racket is Satish, a resident of village Katwal, Sonipat. Both the accused had brought ganja from Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) at the behest of Satish. The accused have bought ganja at the rate of Rs 7000 per kg, which they were going to sell at different places at the rate of about Rs 20000 per kg. A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) had been registered against the accused. Police were trying to identify the kingpin of the racket and further investigation is on. (ANI) The move aims to accommodate the convenience of commuters in both India and Bangladesh. "For the convenience of commuters of both India and Bangladesh, Kolkata - Dhaka - Kolkata Maitree Express and Kolkata - Khulna - Kolkata Bandhan Express will resume services from May 29," informed Chief Public Relations Officer, Eastern Railway, Ekalabya Chakraborty. The officials also informed that Mitali Express, third India- Bangladesh train service is set to start on June 1 from New Jalpaiguri to Dhaka. The tickets have been booked for these trains and have already sold out. (ANI) Jacqueline, who wants to attend the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Abu Dhabi, had approached the Patiala House court, seeking its nod for her visit to the UAE, France, and Nepal. The ED has interrogated Jacqueline multiple times and recorded her statement after her alleged friendship with Chandrashekhar came to light. In the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving Chandrashekhar, the ED had last month attached gifts and properties worth Rs 7 crore given to the Sri Lankan actress, terming them proceeds of crime. In February this year, the agency had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who had introduced him to the actress. It has been alleged that Irani used to choose costly gifts for Jacqueline and later dropped them at her house after the payments were made by Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. --IANS jw/vd ( 205 Words) 2022-05-28-19:20:04 (IANS) By Trend It is important for Ukraine to restore the infrastructure in the liberated regions as soon as possible to ensure the normal logistics and operation of enterprises. Financial support for small and medium-sized businesses will also help stabilize the economy, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said at a meeting with German Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze, Trend reports citing Ukrinform. As the PM noted, the results of the meeting of G7 development ministers, which took place a week ago in Berlin, were discussed. "Then, at a video link, I called on G7 countries to take the lead in rebuilding Ukraine. Madam Schulze and I continued discussing this topic in Kyiv today, the Prime Minister added. Shmyhal also submitted a proposal to the German government with a request to appoint a special envoy to support Ukraine's recovery. According to Sources, the Assam Chief Minister asked the Minister of Tribes and Employment department to explain why he had apologised to Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom. Earlier, the Assam Minister and BJP legislator from Tinsukia, Sanjoy Kishan, on May 15, publicly apologized for his remark against Paresh Baruah after receiving a threat from the militant outfit following his statement against the ULFA-I chief. Kishan had said sorry to the ULFA(I) chief Paresh Baruah for calling him a 'liar'. Baruah had asked Kishan to either apologise for his remark or be "boycotted" from entering Assam's Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, he wrote," Glimpses from the programme in Atkot, Gujarat where a state-of-the-art hospital was inaugurated. In the last few years, Gujarat has made admirable progress in the health sector." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Nano Urea (Liquid) Plant constructed at IFFCO, Kalol. PM Modi virtually inaugurated the plant located at Kalol in the Gandhinagar district ahead of his address at the seminar of leaders of various cooperative institutions on 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' at Mahatma Mandir here. (ANI) The Jammu and Kashmir police, acting on a piece of specific information generated by police regarding the presence of terrorists in Shitipora, Bijbehara area of Anantnag, launched a joint cordon and search operation along with the Army (3RR) and CRPF. During the search operation, as the joint search party approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two categorized terrorists of the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of the encounter. "They have been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Ganie son of Farooq Ahmad Ganie resident of Shalgam Srigufwara and Yawar Ayub Dar son of Mohd Ayub Dar resident of Dogripora Awantipora," said police. As per police records, both the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police and Security Forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, the killed terrorist Yawar Ayub Dar was also involved in an attempt to murder and attack a GRP personnel at Railway Station Panzgam on December 4, 2021 and an IED blast on a CRPF bunker in the Larmoo area on May 2, 2022. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and an investigation has been initiated. (ANI) Washington [US], May 27 (ANI/Sputnik): White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk and State Department Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Saudi Arabia to review the Biden administration's engagement with the Kingdom on a range of issues, including energy supplies, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing. "Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein were in the region to follow up on conversations on a range of range of issues including Iran's disability destabilizing activities, ensuring stable global energy supplies and other regional issues," Jean-Pierre said on Thursday. (ANI/Sputnik) New York [US], May 27 (ANI/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. (ANI/Xinhua) Notwithstanding the strong economic linkages between Kazakhstan and China, the bilateral relationship is apparently facing serious challenges, which could negatively impact Chinese enterprises. Chinese investment and implementation of key projects are already facing delays and Kazakhstan has seen several Chinese pull-outs in the recent past, according to Geopolitica.info. The report said popular opposition to Chinese investments has fomented several political protests since 2016, and continues to fester in many others. Kazakhstan established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China in 2019. China is one of Kazakhstan's leading trade and investment partners. In 2021, total bilateral trade reached $22.94 billion. Additionally, by the end of 2019 China had accumulated investments worth $29.43 billion in Kazakhstan, advanced loans of more than $50 billion, cornered contracts for various projects totaling about $37.6 billion and the number of Chinese enterprises registered and operating in Kazakhstan exceeded 1000, the report said. But despite these economic linkages, the serious challenges in the bilateral relationship could negatively impact Chinese enterprises in Kazakhstan. The report said it has often been perceived by the local populace that Chinese companies were encouraging corruption. The Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan has reportedly issued a security risk alert to Chinese companies advising them to closely monitor the developing situation. The unrest may impact on Chinese businesses and on the gas pipelines running between the two countries. The report said in the first week of April, over 100 workers building a road in Kazakhstan's southern Zhambyl region downed their tools. The workers were reportedly dissatisfied with working conditions and salaries offered by the Chinese subcontractor, China Xinxing Construction & Development Co. Their earnings were between $130 and $260 per month for 10-hour workdays. The Chinese company even failed to provide them appropriate clothes for work, according to Geopolitica.info. The report said worker unrest has been rippling across Kazakhstan in recent months and this latest strike is likely to cause a reappraisal by Chinese investors. Chinese investment and implementation of key projects are already facing delays. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the energy, chemical and infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises in Kazakhstan have been hit hard by shortage of workers and logistics constraints. In 2016 alone, the two countries struck deals for over 50 joint projects, with Kazakhstan promoting itself as the "joining ends" of the BRI. However, only a few have come to fruition till date. In Kazakhstan's 14 provincial administrations, 24 out of 542 projects had been completed and most projects are at various stages of completion involving Chinese investors, according to Geopolitica.info. The report said Kazakhstan has seen several Chinese pull-outs in the recent past. In the Aktobe regional administration, in Kazakhstan's oil-rich west, a Chinese firm backed out of a $35-million project to produce carbon black. Likewise, in 2020 Chinese firms withdrew from a $1.4 billion fertilizer production project in the same region. Further, China Triumph International, a subsidiary of China National Building Material (CNBM), is alleged to have embezzled over $3 million in a float glass factory in Kyzylorda. Beijing may not find Kazakhstan to be the entirely secure and predictable neighbour that it was, the report said. (ANI) Maduro expressed his government's "firm, strong and total rejection of the imperialist vision that intends to exclude the peoples of the Americas" from a regional gathering. The Venezuelan president is in Cuba's capital Havana for the 21st Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP), which took place Friday. In contrast to Washington's handling of the Americas Summit, the ALBA-TCP is inclusive and uniting, and works on issues that impact people's lives and development in the region, he said. "If there is anything truly democratic on this continent, it is ALBA, from the point of view of its debates and the sharing of diversity," Maduro stressed. On Thursday, the US coordinator of the Americas Summit Kevin O'Reilly reiterated that the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, all members of ALBA-TCP, had not been invited to participate in the meeting. (ANI/Xinhua) China's aim to address its food security challenges could put the US, as the world's leading producer in agriculture, in Beijing's way, according to an independent agency of the US government. The report released by US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), reviews China's food security challenges and how these vulnerabilities drive interest in US-China agricultural relations. According to the USCC, China's efforts to strengthen its agriculture sector and food security, sometimes through illicit means, could prove to be a risk to US economic and national security. In 2021, China imported more than 30 million metric tons of corn, used mainly for feed, from the United States, a substantial increase from the less than 5 million metric tons of corn in 2019. But as demands grow on its agricultural production, China will address this challenge through policy, technology, and economic activities. "For example, Chinese companies' acquisition of hog herds in the United States may save China money and enhance its domestic capacity; however, this could also reduce China's need for U.S.-sourced production and redistribute the environmental effects ofhog waste to US communities," the USCC report said. "If further consolidations and Chinese investments in U.S. agricultural assets take place, China may have undue leverage over US supply chains. China's access to US agricultural IP may also erode U.S. competitiveness in agriculture technology that supports food production," it added. According to the report, China's illicit acquisitions of GM seeds provide a jumpstart to China's own development of such seeds, deprive US companies of revenue, and offer an opportunity to discover vulnerabilities in US crops. This report also reviews China's food security challenges and how these vulnerabilities drive interest in US-China agricultural relations. "Specifically, it evaluates the motivations behind China's agricultural investments, including challenges to food production and relevant CCP efforts to reduce import reliance, conserve farmland, and modernize agricultural technologies. It then examines the main areas of Chinese investment in the United States, including land, livestock, grains, and relevant infrastructure, like agricultural equipment and technology," the report said. Finally, the report presents considerations for lawmakers regarding further Chinese integration in the US agriculturesector. (ANI) UN chief expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and called on the Burkinabe authorities to spare no effort in identifying and swiftly bringing the perpetrators to justice, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson, in a statement. In the statement, Guterres reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Burkina Faso in its efforts to counter and prevent terrorism and violent extremism and ensure the protection of civilians. The despicable attack followed two similar incidents on May 14 and 19 in Madjoari in which 17 civilians and 11 soldiers were killed, respectively, it noted. (ANI) An Islamabad district court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of a Pakistani TikToker who posted a TikTok video of the forest fire. The application was heard by Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti who after the hearing adjourned the court till June 1, saying that the court would await the government's response. Prior to the hearing, the female star's lawyer, Mian Tariq, filed an application to transfer the bail case from Judge Abida Sajjad. He told the court that he had submitted the bail bonds as well as a surety from his friend but Judge Sajjad rejected bail, saying that the court could not accept surety from a lawyer, the Dawn newspaper reported. The counsel said the TikToker was unable to arrange surety from a local and the judge had made up her mind before listening to the facts of the case. Thus, requested that the case be transferred to another judge "on merit." He also claimed that the fire was started in Haripur but the complainant had not yet identified the area. Later in the day, Judge Abida Sajjad resumed the hearing on the pre-arrest bail application and asked where the suspect was, the Dawn newspaper reported. The court clerk then asked the suspect, TikToker Saeed to come to the courtroom thrice but she did not appear. Instead, she stayed in her lawyer's chamber. Her lawyer, Manzoor, informed the court that the hearing on the transfer application had been adjourned till June 1 and requested the court to grant his client time till then. For his part, the government's lawyer Hasnain Haider argued that the district court was not authorised to hear matters related to forest fires. Judge Sajjad then dismissed the pre-arrest bail application. Subsequently, Saeed's lawyer submitted a fresh application for pre-arrest bail which was heard by Judge Abida Sajjad but it was again dismissed. Subsequently, her lawyer submitted a fresh application for pre-arrest bail which was heard by Judge Sajjad but it was again dismissed, the Dawn newspaper reported. Following the hearings, Saeed left the courtroom with her lawyer but is yet to be arrested. The TikToker Nosheen Saeed alias Dolly had applied for pre-arrest bail after registration of a first information report (FIR) against her for setting the forest ablaze to shoot a video. She was granted an interim bail from the court till May 27, the Dawn reported. Saeed has more than 11 million followers on TikTok, and had posted a clip of herself walking playfully in a silver ball gown in front of a burning hillside, presumably the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, with the caption: "Fire erupts wherever I am," the Dawn newspaper reported. Her video went viral on social media recently, bringing her severe criticism as people initially assumed that she had started the blaze herself at a time when a devastating heatwave was underway in Pakistan causing forest fires. In 15 seconds video that has gone viral on the internet, she was seen walking playfully in a gown in front of a burning hillside with the caption: "Fire erupts wherever I am." He also claimed that the fire was started in Haripur but the complainant had not yet identified the area. However, the short clip which received backlash has since been taken down. (ANI) By Trend Azerbaijan has started the implementation of the pardon decree signed by the country's President Ilham Aliyev on May 27, Trend reports. As a consequence of reviewing pardon applications of numerous convicted individuals, members of their families, the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan, as well as human rights organizations addressed to the President of Azerbaijan, 213 people have been granted clemency on the basis of humanist principles following the Presidential Order. These people were pardoned in recognition of their personality, medical state, marital status, the nature and degree of public danger of committed crimes, as well as the term of serving sentences and behavior during this period. Some 168 people punished with deprivation of liberty were released after serving a specified period of time, while the unserved part of the punishment 36 people was reduced by half. Three people sentenced to conditional imprisonment were released from punishment, whereas six people sentenced to restriction of freedom from the unserved part of the sentence. Over 141 public sector universities in Pakistan are bearing the brunt of the drastic cut in recurring grants for the higher education budget this year. The dramatic reduction in recurring grants has posed an immediate threat to the survival of several universities in the public sector belonging to four provinces of Pakistan including 5 in Pok, reported The Express Tribune. According to the heads of some of these universities, many of the higher education universities run the risk of shutting down owing to the cut in recurring grants. "There is a danger of closing the doors of higher education to the majority of students as all the universities across the country depend on HEC [Higher Education Commission] funding," they said. The education heads expressed concerns that the reduction would make it impossible for universities to pay salaries or pensions. It would even become difficult to meet the overall expenses required to run universities, reported The Express Tribune. While addressing a meeting, Tariq Banuri, the chairman of HEC emphasized the importance of education in the 'country's defence and security. He said that if the cut in the budget is implemented the education sector in PoK will suffer from a severe crisis. In addition, Banuri urged the need to present the consequences of the unprecedented reduction in higher education funding to the government, reported The Express Tribune. Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Kaleem Abbasi of the PoK universities said that the universities in the region have been facing a dire financial crisis since the 18th amendment, due to which, although the provincial governments provide grants to universities run in their own sectors, meagre grants are received by those universities belonging in PoK. Earlier, the PoK finance ministry proposed a minimum amount of 30 billion rupees for higher education's recurring grant against the rationalised demand of 104.983 billion rupees, reported The Express Tribune. The allocation was even 45 per cent less than the current year's allocation of 66.25 billion rupees. Following the decision, more than 120 university heads held a virtual meeting from across the country urging Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, along with others to look into the matter for enhancing the budget as per rationalized demand and also save higher education from collapsing. (ANI) Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, who is on a visit to the UK, addressed a sectoral roundtable of Investors, including Fintech, Venture capital funds and Banks in London and explained to them, how with 'Make in India for the World', UK businesses can leverage cost competitiveness, scale and skill to become global champions. Earlier, he addressed the India-UK Business Roundtable on FTA in London on Friday. Following the meet, the Union Minister exuded confidence that the India-UK FTA, which is in the works, will benefit businesses and add a new dimension of dynamism to our trade and economic relations Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister said, "At the sectoral roundtable with industry captains, discussed their companies investment plans in India. Explained to them, how with 'Make in India for the World', UK businesses can leverage cost competitiveness, scale & skill to become global champions." Furthermore, Goyal wrote, "Addressed a sectoral roundtable of Investors including Fintech, Venture capital funds & Banks in London. With India leading the way in innovation & technology, reiterated how it is becoming the most preferred destination for investment across sectors." Piyush Goyal, formally flagged off UK-India Week 2022, organised by UK-headquartered India Global Forum (IGF), at a special curtain raiser event in London with a positive message of a win-win Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the works for the two nations. In conversation with IGF Founder Professor Manoj Ladwa at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate on May 26th evening, the senior Cabinet Minister shared insights on a wide range of subjects - from his recent interactions at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos with businesses around the world keen on investing in the India story to the Narendra Modi led government's increasingly FTA-friendly and outward-looking engagement with the world. The minister said, "There's a big difference between the mood in India and the mood in the rest of the world. In India, there's a lot of excitement about the future, our young India is looking at the future with great hope and aspiration. Davos, unfortunately, represented quite a bit of doom and gloom. Most of the engagements showed that participants were very disturbed, concerned, slightly pessimistic about the future of multilateralism, already talking about deglobalisation. We in India look at the future with great optimism, we believe these things will also pass as have many other challenges. India is ready to engage with the world from a position of strength." On the subject of FTAs, he pointed to the two fast deals clinched with the UAE and Australia, with Canada progressing well towards an Early Harvest Agreement. The minister added, "With the UK, we had agreed to do an Early Harvest Agreement - basically, to grab the low-hanging fruits and leave the more difficult elements for the next stage and give the people of both countries the confidence that this agreement is a win-win and create an automatic demand for more. But the way things are progressing, we'll actually land up doing a full FTA with the UK by Diwali. We are working towards a fair deal and a win-win for both countries." The event brought together prominent UK-based parliamentarians, business chiefs and academics to set the tone for IGF's UK-India Week 2022 next month, themed around Reimagine@75 - as a celebration of 75 years of India's independence and UK-India ties.HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, said, "Our teams are looking at the possibility of completing the trade agreement as fast as possible. In fact, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has invited our Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] to come to London and announce the Free Trade Agreement with him. I have no doubt that under the stewardship of Piyush Goyal and Trade Secretary Madam Anne-Marie Trevelyan, we will move with the greatest speed and efficiency towards this target." Minister Goyal, who is on a visit to the UK, has been holding talks with his UK counterpart - Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan - and engaging with business chiefs and stakeholders to ensure progress towards a UK-India FTA. (ANI) After Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a new relief package of Rs 28 billion per month "to protect the poor from the burden of petrol and diesel price hike", Kyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister, Khyber Taimur Khan Jhagra while raising questions on the correctness of the package said that it is just a "cash payout for political optics". Notably, Shehbaz-led government ceded to the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and removed fuel subsidies and increased the price of petrol by Rs 30. KP Finance Minister took the political tussle to Twitter and wrote, "LYING, DECEIVING as always. Imported PM claimed beneficiaries will get Rs 2000 every month. But they also say total package is only Rs 28 billion. ONE month! Cash payout for political optics only! No one will dare to clarify!" Later, citing measures to mitigate the impact of the fuel price hike, PM Shehbaz Sharif launched a new relief package of Rs 28 billion per month. Like all other times, the Shehbaz government took a dig at the former Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and said that because of them he had to take the "difficult decision" to increase fuel prices with a "heavy heart". This comes in the context of the February 28, 2022, announcement by the Imran Khan government of relief measures to reduce prices of petrol and electricity are on account of Opposition pressure and public anger. The measures include a reduction in the prices of petroleum products and electricity tariffs by Rs 10 and Rs 5 respectively along with a number of new schemes including one on tax amnesty. Imran Khan's subsidies are perceived to have destroyed Pakistan's economy for the Shehbaz administration. Now, in this latest relief package announced by the Shehbaz government, the PM said that 14 million poor families, comprising 85 million people, would be given Rs 2000 per family. He said this was in addition to the monetary assistance being given to them under the Benazir Income Support Programme. "This relief package will be added in the next budget," Shehbaz said. Moreover, in a veiled attack, Shehbaz also slammed Imran Khan for his allegations against US for conspiracy to oust him from power. "A most trusted friendly country -- the one that supported us in all difficult circumstances -- was made upset. But we have started the rebuilding process," the premier said in an apparent reference to the United States. (ANI) Hinting that Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in India the carmaker's chief executive officer (CEO) Elon Musk said on Friday tweeted that until the company is first allowed to sell and service imported cars in the South Asian country there will be no setting up of the bases. Responding to an individual on Twitter, who questioned Musk vis-a-vis Tesla's plans to put up a manufacturing plant in India, the billionaire responded, "Tesla will not put a manufacturing plant in any location where we are not allowed first to sell and service cars." These comments suggest that the standstill between India and Telsa in regards to setting up the manufacturing plant in the country continues. Earlier in April, highlighting the conducive environment for automobile manufacturing in India, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that Elon Musk is welcome to manufacture e-vehicles in India, but in case the Tesla owner desires to build in China and sell here, it cannot be a "good proposition". Gadkari made the remarks while speaking at a private event in Delhi answering a question on Tesla's concerns on "high duties" in India. "It is a very easy alternative; if Elon Musk is ready to manufacture a Tesla in India, there is no problem. We have got all competencies, the vendors are available. We have got all types of technology and because of that, he can reduce the cost," Gadkari said. Inviting Tesla to start manufacturing in India, the Union Minister highlighted that India is a huge market, and infrastructure like ports are available to enable exports. "He is welcome in India. We don't have any problem, but, suppose, he wants to manufacture in China and sell in India, it cannot be a good proposition for India. Our request to him is, come to India and manufacture here," Gadkari said. Citing the tremendous growth in the e-vehicles sector in India over the last few years, Gadkari further said that "my suggestion to Elon Musk is, in India, he will get a good market and Indian market is very huge. It is a win-win situation for both." He added that India has all the quality vendors and automobile spare parts that are available in China and that "it can be easier for him to make here in India and sell in India. He will get good profits from that, and good economics is there. I will request him to come to India and start manufacturing here." Echoing similar sentiments, the Minister of State for Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar earlier in February told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that there cannot be a situation where the market is in India but jobs are created in China. In 2020, Musk announced plans to open the production of Tesla electric vehicles in India. A subsidiary of Tesla, India Motors And Energy Private Limited was established in Bengaluru in southwest India. Musk said he was ready to build a Tesla factory in India if the country reduces the cost of importing electric vehicles. Elon Musk, an American entrepreneur and the founder of Tesla, said that the electric vehicle company continues to face "a lot of challenges" with the Indian government regarding the setting up of car production in India. Earlier in January, a Twitter user posted a tweet asking Musk whether there was any further update on Tesla's manufacturing launch in India and saying the vehicles "deserve to be in every corner of the world." "Still working through a lot of challenges with the government, " Musk answered on Twitter. (ANI) The call of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift the Taliban's strict measures on Afghan women has been dismissed by the Taliban forces who have termed it as "unfounded." Reaffirming the Taliban's commitment to Afghan women's rights, the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the concerns of the UNSC on Friday regarding the restriction of human and fundamental rights imposed upon Afghan women, reported Khaaama Press. "Since the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society," stated Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson of the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Ministry. Earlier on Tuesday, the Security Council called on the Taliban to "swiftly reverse" the policies restricting the human rights and fundamental rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. UNSC, in a joint statement, expressed deep concerns over the situation of Afghan women and girls following the Taliban's restrictions on education, employment, freedom of movement, and the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in public life. The UN Security Council also called on the Taliban to reopen the schools for all female students without further delay, reported Khaama Press. The Taliban's statement comes at a time when the United Nations(UN) Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennet recently commented that the measures such as the suspension of girls' secondary education, enforcing a strict form of Hijab, and no opportunities to participate in political and public life, among others, fit the pattern of absolute gender segregation and are aimed at making women invisible in society. Concluding his 11-day visit to Afghanistan to assess the condition of human rights in Afghanistan, Bennet said, "I expressed serious concern about the deterioration of human rights across the country, and the erasure of women from public life is especially concerning," Unrecognized by most of the international community, the Taliban-led government has committed to disrespecting the human rights of women. (ANI) A five-member delegation of Pakistan approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit New Delhi on Monday, with the two sides likely to discuss key projects as part of the Indus Water Treaty. During the meeting, both sides would deliberate on the issue of advance flood information and the annual report of the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW). The two sides are also expected to deliberate on 1,000 MW Pakal Dul under Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 624 MW Kiru project hydropower projects being built by India on the west flowing rivers. Pakistan's Commissioner of Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah said, "This would be the 118th bilateral meeting at the PCIW level. Earlier, both countries held three-day talks in Islamabad on March 2-4, 2022," The News International reported. He further said that the Pakistan delegation would not visit any hydropower project being constructed on Pakistan rivers such as Jehlum and Chenab rivers. However, both sides would also hold further talks on some projects which in Pakistan's viewpoint are not as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. The delegation will come to India through the Wagah border wherein the two countries would hold the PCIW level talks in New Delhi on May 30, and 31 and then will return to Pakistan on June 1. The five member-delegation headed by Pakistan Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah includes Chief Engineer of Punjab Irrigation Department, Director General of Met Office, General Manager of National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), and Director General of Ministery of Foreign Affairs on India desk (DG MoFA) would leave for New Delhi tomorrow, The News International reported. Notably, the 116th meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission was held in New Delhi on 23-24 March 2021. (ANI) Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], May 28 (ANI/Xinhua): African leaders met on Friday in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, to address the continent's current humanitarian challenges. The African Union (AU) Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference was held to address the current humanitarian challenges facing Africa, which have been exacerbated by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, according to the AU. The meeting on Friday was convened under the framework of the AU Extraordinary Summit running from Wednesday to Saturday. Senegalese President Macky Sall, also the current chairperson of the AU, said at the high-level meeting that recurrent humanitarian emergencies are linked to climate change, natural disasters and terrorist attacks as well as armed conflicts. The fate of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons calls for inclusive development, following the principles of social justice, Sall said, adding that the African continent should be proactive in dealing with humanitarian catastrophes. Sall called for launching an appeal in support of the mobilization campaign for the reinforcement of the resources of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) so that it can even better respond to the emergencies caused by natural disasters. The ARC, a specialized agency of the AU, is established to help African governments improve their capacities to better plan, prepare, and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, emphasized the need to collectively act against humanitarian emergencies in Africa. "Humanitarian emergencies in Africa, numerous, diverse and geographically dispersed, are a permanent source of concern," Mahamat said at the meeting. Mahamat said that in the 15 most-affected AU member countries, some 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022. "The picture is not bright," said Mahamat. "It is further bleaked by two factors: on the one hand, the annihilation of refugee empowerment efforts by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and on the other hand, the pressure exerted on the planet earth in the name of the quest for economic growth and whose effects are reflected in climate change manifested through prolonged drought and uncontrollable floods." By hosting the humanitarian summit, the AU demonstrates its firm determination to continue its efforts to reduce the suffering of refugees, internally displaced persons and other affected people on the continent, Mahamat said. (ANI/Xinhua) Washington [US], May 28 (ANI/Sputnik): US President Joe Biden said on Friday that North Korea has supported the United States' sanctions against Russia. "Did anybody think, I callEd for sanctions against Russia. In addition to NATO, that Australia, Japan, North Korea, some of the ASEAN countries, would stand up and support those sanctions," Biden said. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk republics requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The United States and its allies responded by imposing comprehensive sanctions against Russia. The sanctions have exacerbated the disruption of supply chains and led to a spike in food and energy prices worldwide. (ANI/Sputnik) For the first time, the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping is expected to begin an expansion process to include new developing country members, according to the Chinese government. Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday that Beijing will actively promote the expansion of BRICS and welcome more global partners to join the group. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks yesterday in a statement in response to media questions over Beijing's view on expanding BRICS. "China will work on BRICS parties to continue to have in-depth discussions on BRICS expansion and determine the standards and procedures for that on the basis of consensus. We look forward to more like-minded partners joining the big family of BRICS," he said in a statement. BRICS is a multilateral forum consisting of five major emerging economies of the world, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Wang stressed that the recently held BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting backed the expansion of the initiative while the "BRICS Plus" consultation was also held as part of the ministers' meeting. On May 23, A BRICS Plus virtual conference was held as part of the main meeting with ministers from countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Argentina, Nigeria, Senegal, and Thailand, according to reports. BRICS Plus is a new phase in the expansion of BRICS - already known for its combined economic growth potential - that aims to welcome more countries and enhance economic conditions. China actively supports the start of BRICS expansion process and broaden "BRICS Plus" cooperation," the Chinese ministry said. "Facing the once-in-a-century changes and pandemic which are compounded by international hotspot issues, BRICS countries agree that it is important to enhance cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries, further improve the representation of BRICS, make BRICS' voice in major international and regional issues more widely heard, join hands to meet challenges, and uphold the common interests and development space of emerging markets and developing countries, the statement read. (ANI) Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Vinod K. Jacob handed over a consignment of over 25 tons of medical supplies, donated by the Government of India to Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella in Colombo on Friday. Taking to Twitter, the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said that the consignment is valued at close to Rs 260 million. "Ongoing commitment to the people of #SriLanka!!!Acting High Commissioner @VinodKJacob76handed over a donation of more than 25 tons of medical supplies, with a value of SLR 260 #million, to Hon'ble Health Minister @Keheliya_R in #Colombo today," the Indian mission in Sri Lanka said. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Gharial, a 5600 tons Landing Ship was deployed for the delivery of humanitarian assistance materials expeditiously as part of Mission SAGAR IX. In addition to medical supplies, the ship also carried onboard kerosene for the use of fishermen in Sri Lanka. The consignment of kerosene shall be distributed among the beneficiaries by Ceylon Fisheries Harbor Corporation in the coming days. "Humanitarian supplies which came on board #INS Gharial also include kerosene for use by fishermen in #lka. These supplies will be distributed among the beneficiaries in the coming days," the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka tweeted. The medical consignment was donated in response to requests by various organizations and hospitals spread across different parts of the country. The representatives of Suwasariya Foundation and Member of Parliament Dr Harsha De Silva had pointed out the medical requirements to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his Sri Lanka visit in March 2022 and these requirements are now being met through these donations. In addition, medical supplies to General Hospital Hambantota, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna are also being catered to, the High Commission said was quoted by Colombo Page. Another large consignment of medical supplies for Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya was earlier delivered onboard INS Gharial on April 29, 2022. These humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Government of India's ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply and many more. These efforts prove that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Neighborhood First' policy which places people-to-people engagement is still active. These are complemented by the people of India who have also been donating generously to their brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, according to the Colombo Page. The Ongoing commitment to the people of Sri Lanka attests to the importance attached by the peoples of India and Sri Lanka to the well-being of each other, the High Commission said. (ANI) By Trend Convicted former head of Azerbaijan's Gadabay District Executive Power Saleh Rustamli has been pardoned following the Presidential Decree signed on May 27, Trend reports. Rustamli, having lived in Russia for a long time, was arrested for drug possession after arriving in Baku in 2018. Thereafter, he was charged with illegal business in Russia and concealment of income. Tibetan Groups from across the world have gathered in Barcelona for the first-ever Cross-Regional Meeting convened by the International Tibet Network. The attendants are participating in a series of talks and workshops led by prominent activists, experts, and scholars of the Tibetan movement, as well as regional and cross-regional planning and networking. The event is being held from May 27-29 at the Casa del Tibet at the invitation of Ven. Thubten Wangchen. Since its inception in 2000, the International Tibet Network has held annual Regional Meetings which were disrupted due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This year's Cross-Regional Meeting is the first of its kind and has an attendance of around 70 representatives from Tibet Groups across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Sophie Richardson, China Director at Human Rights Watch; Lhadon Tethong, director of the Tibet Action Institute; and Kunsang Kelden, Organiser of Tibet Film Festival London, are among the line-up of presenters for the Cross-Regional Meeting. "It is a great pleasure to host the Cross-Regional Meeting at Casa del Tibet Foundation in Barcelona. The meeting provides a platform for meaningful discussions and the finding of practical solutions and I am very happy to see so many young Tibetan activists and Tibet supporters collaborating for the Tibetan cause. Tashi Delek to all," Thubten Wangchen, Director of Casa del Tibet said. "This has been our first ever Cross-Regional Meeting, and we went in with the hopes of bringing Tibet Groups and supporters together in person to share their experiences with the movement in their own countries and regional contexts," said Mandie McKeown, Executive Director of the International Tibet Network. He added, "It has been incredibly inspiring to see people from all around the world come together in support of the Tibetan cause." The International Tibet Network is a global coalition of Tibet-related non-governmental organisations. Its purpose is to maximise the effectiveness of the worldwide Tibet movement. The Network works to increase the capacity of individual member organisations, develops coordinated strategic campaigns, and encourages increased cooperation among organisations, thereby strengthening the Tibet movement as a whole. (ANI) The missile hit a naval target about 1,000 km away in the White Sea and the flight of the projectile corresponded to the designed parameters, it added. The Tsirkon missile has been test-fired several times from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Tsirkon missile is capable of flying at Mach 9 or nine times the speed of sound and striking a target over 1,000 km away. (ANI/Xinhua) China seems to be trapped in its own web that it had spun around countries to catch them in a debt trap through its inherently exploitative Belt and Road Initiative. People in countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are indebted to China have now started hitting back against Chinese nationals. Last month in April, three Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan in an alleged suicide attack. In Sri Lanka, after the resignation of pro-China Prime Minister Mahendra Rajapaksa, Beijing has asked its citizens working in the island nation to be on the alert and guard against attacks, according to Islam Khabar, On April 26, a burqa- clad woman suicide bomber of Baloch Liberation Army triggered an explosion in a shuttle passenger bus of the Confucius Institute of the University of Karachi, leaving three Chinese teachers dead and one injured. The Baloch Liberation Army has been vocal against the building of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. In 2021, nine Chinese engineers were killed in a bomb attack on a bus at Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan. Islamabad had to pay USD 11.6 billion as compensation for the incident, as per Islam Khabar. The CPEC, which ends at Gwadar Port in Balochistan, has burdened Pakistan with mountains of debt, allowing China to use "debt trap diplomacy" to gain access to strategic assets in Pakistan. Towards the end of 2021, there were massive protests in Gwadar against the CPEC, a movement called 'Gwadar Ko Haq Do' (Give Gwadar its rights), demanding removal of unnecessary check-posts and in protest against giving Chinese fishing trawlers the right to fish in the area to the detriment of the interest of local small fishermen. In other areas where CPEC projects like roads, railway and oil pipeline links are coming up, there have been protests against forcible occupation of land and displacement of people. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented foreign exchange crisis, Colombo's request to Beijing to restructure Lanka's debt to China have gone in vain. China's Belt and Road Initiative has mired Sri Lanka in a debt trap. At the end of February 2022, Colombo was left with a forex reserve of only USD 2.32 billion, while it was faced with a debt repayment burden of USD 4 billion in 2021-22, Islam Khabar reported. The bulk of the debt was owed to China, nearly USD 8 billion, with USD 2 billion payable to Beijing in 2021-22. On May 10, Beijing issued an advisory to Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka saying it was closely monitoring the violent turn of events in the island where it had substantial investments and asked Chinese nationals working in Sri Lanka to be alert and on guard against risks. China's gaining access to the Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease has not gone down well with the patriotic Lankans, as per the media reports. (ANI) China's concern to achieve the ambitious goal of uprooting Covid lock, stock, and barrel before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022 has badly affected the economy. With its 'Zero-Covid policy' Chinese citizens are already in an unhappy state, but still, its party chose to not criticize its leader before the crucial party congress. The Chinese Communist Party of China (CPC) has banned its retired cadres to make any speeches before the crucial Party Congress that is expected to endorse President Xi Jinping's candidature for the third term, Global Strat View reported. The General Office of the CPC central committee has issued a set of regulations titled "Strengthening Party Building among Retired Cadres in the New Era," calling on the party to ensure that retired cadres and party members listen to and follow the guidelines of the party. Violations of disciplinary rules would be dealt with seriously, the CPC veterans have been warned. According to the publication, these strict guidelines have been issued to gag the retired officials of the party amid the growing criticism against the President's 'Zero-Covid Policy'. The guidelines, retired party officials said, have been issued keeping the 20th National Congress of CPC in mind. In recent years, retired cadres who wish to live abroad have to apply to resign from the party; the veterans are prevented from criticizing the CPC after leaving the country. The ambition Xi has put CPC in a difficult situation. The Observer Research Foundation commented, "Xi Jinping is morphing into Emperor Xi at home." In the American media, the Chinese President has been described as "China's Napoleon." He is sarcastically called in China "chairman of everything." To ensure his smooth election to the third term in power, the CPC is pursuing a draconian zero-Covid policy at home. This has hit the Chinese economy hard. In the absence of democracy, the only legitimacy of the CPC is to remain in power and maintain a robust growth rate. This explains the obsession of the successive rulers of China with a high rate of growth. Now that all the countries are opening their market and people are getting back to their normal life with the opinion that they have to live with the virus, China is still stuck with its 'Zero-Covid Policy', which is affecting the economy and knocking the bottom out of CPC's legitimacy, reported Global Strat View. China tightened its pandemic restrictions in Shanghai once again in the second week of May 2022, where all the residents were ordered to stay home. They were barred from receiving non-essential deliveries, though it was unclear what prompted the renewed tightening as the number of new Covid-19 cases continued to fall. The notices said the tightened measures could be extended depending on the result of mass testing. Authorities had been gradually lifting isolation rules, but with the new orders, the citizens appeared to be returning to conditions at the early stage of the outbreak. Thousands of residents were forced into centralized quarantine centres for showing a positive test result or for merely having been in contact with an infected person. Looking at the 'falling' economy, a marketing professional in the western Pudong district of Shanghai said that quality of life had declined even as living expenses continue to rise under the lockdown. "All aspects of work are affected. I don't know when it will be time for the lockdown to come to an end," Lu, a woman living in Shanghai, has been quoted as saying by Global Strat View. Meanwhile, people, especially students, are protesting against the high-handed attitude of the authorities. On May 14, 2022, graduate students at Peking University staged a rare but peaceful protest against the university's decision to erect a sheet-metal wall to isolate them on the campus; while allowing the faculty to move about freely. Students are also irate over regulations prohibiting them from ordering food or having visitors; and the requirement of daily testing for Covid. As a CPC mandarin tried to admonish the protesting students through a megaphone, half a dozen students broke through the sheet-metal barrier, reported Global Strat View. But still, CPC chose to remain silent 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. (ANI) Addis Ababa, May 28 (ANI/Xinhua): Humanitarian emergencies in Africa are a permanent source of concern for the continent, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has said. Mahamat, while addressing the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference on Friday, said humanitarian emergencies in Africa are numerous, diverse and geographically dispersed, and have become a permanent source of concern. He said across the 15 most-affected AU member countries, 113 million people are waiting for emergency assistance in 2022. East and Horn of Africa are currently hosting 4.5 million refugees, more than 75 per cent of whom have been affected by the reduction in food rations in 2021, Mahamat said. Over the past two years, food requirements have increased by 70 per cent in the East and Horn of Africa, and more than 25 million people are in a situation of food insecurity, Mahamat said. Mahamat said in West and Central Africa, there are 58 million people in a state of food insecurity, which is the highest level of food insecurity since 2016. There are two million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Central Africa. This figure represents a 30 per cent increase compared to 2020 and does not comprise the five million displaced persons in the Lake Chad Basin, he said. In North Africa, more than 14 million people need humanitarian assistance, he added. "The picture is not bright. Far from it," he said, as he emphasized that Africa's humanitarian condition is further affected by the annihilation of refugee empowerment efforts by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The paradox of humanitarianism lies in the discrepancy between the urgent nature of the situations of human distress to be taken care of and the poignant need to defer this care because of the lack of or insufficient financial resources," Mahamat told African leaders attending the high-level humanitarian summit. African leaders on Friday met in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea to find durable solutions to address the continent's current humanitarian challenges as part of the AU Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference. (ANI/Xinhua) As Pakistan's provinces of Sindh and Balochistan continue to bear a heavy brunt of reduced water supplies due to climate changes, falling economy and political instability, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has sought to put the blame on the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) led-administration. According to IFFRAS, Bhutto-Zardari recently raised the issue at the United Nations stating that the country was reeling under "severe water and starvation," criticising the Imran-Khan led previous government's actions, which he alleged led to the current water crisis. He also claimed that the PTI administration had denied Sindh of its rightful share of water. So far, Punjab and Sindh have not been able to find a workable solution to address the matter resulting in high tensions between the two provinces. The situation is so grave that the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, a group lobbying for the Sindh's farmers, has demanded that the province "should be declared drought-hit because around 60 per cent existing water shortage had turned fertile agricultural lands barren besides creating drinking water issues." In fact, over 85 per cent of Balochistan's population is deprived of clean drinking water which has led to a deadly cholera outbreak in the region, killing six people and infecting over 2,500 since mid-April in Dera Bugti district's Pir Koh tehsil. The outbreak was caused by a lack of clean drinking water in the area, forcing the local residents to drink dirty water. Neither the Baloch administration nor the federal government had taken cognizance, or even acknowledged the outbreak until very recently after a much hue and cry about it in the national and international media. Barring few official statements, promises of 'emergency relief measures,' and visits to Pir Koh, no major action has been taken on ground to control the outbreak, reported IFFRAS. According to the recently released UN report titled 'Global Land Outlook', Pakistan is part of the 23 countries globally, which are suffering from a "severe and prolonged drought." The Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government has completely failed to address the issue as it is still struggling for survival, the report stated. Moreover, Sharif's home province, Punjab, appears to be less affected by the water crisis, while the remaining three provinces are bearing a huge brunt of the reduced water supply as the Peoples Party of Pakistan (PPP) government in Sindh has blamed Punjab for not releasing enough water required for the province's needs, it added. Furthermore, an inquiry committee has also been set up to look into the complaints of Sindh about "water theft" by Punjab. On the other hand, Punjab's irrigation authorities blamed the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for worsening the crisis by apportioning the province up to 26 per cent less water than its total share in the last month. Besides Sindh, the water crisis in Balochistan has reached an 'emergency' level. Areas such as Gwadar in Balochistan which is the focal point of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is facing acute water shortage. Massive protests had erupted in Gwadar in November last year against a severe shortage of water and electricity and threats to livelihoods from illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen. Approximately 70 per cent of Balochistan's population has been affected by severe water shortage, and Gwadar has been the worst hit. Several dams and water filtration facilities have been promised in Gwadar under CPEC, however, the water crisis is only worsening with each passing year, the report stressed. Acute water shortage along with a searing heatwave has sparked tensions between Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan over their share of the nation's water resources. Pakistan is estimated to be in the top 10 list of the world's countries facing water scarcity. (ANI) United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, who concluded her six-day trip to China, on Saturday said that she has urged Beijing to review its counter-terrorism policies. In a statement, the UN rights chief also shared the concerns of a number of human rights mechanisms about laws and policies to counter terrorism, radicalism and their application. "Violent acts of extremism have a terrible, serious impact on the lives of victims, including those tasked to protect the community. But it is critical that counter-terrorism responses do not result in human rights violations. The application of relevant laws and policies, and any mandatory measures imposed on individuals, need to be subject to independent judicial oversight, with greater transparency of judicial proceedings. All victims must be able to seek redress," she said. Bachelet reiterated, however, that her six-day trip (May 23-28) which included a visit to the western region of Xinjiang, which featured a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a physical meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was not an investigation into China's human rights policies but an opportunity to engage with the government. "This visit was not an investigation - official visits by a High Commissioner are by their nature high-profile and simply not conducive to the kind of detailed, methodical, discreet work of an investigative nature. The visit was an opportunity to hold direct discussions - with China's most senior leaders - on human rights, to listen to each other, raise concerns, explore and pave the way for more regular, meaningful interactions in the future, with a view to supporting China in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law," she said in a statement. Last year, the UN office had said that it believed Uyghurs in Xinjiang had been unlawfully detained, mistreated and forced to work. "I have raised questions and concerns about the application of counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation measures and their broad application - particularly their impact on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities," Bachelet said in her statement after concluding her China visit. Asserting that she is unable to assess the full scale of the VETCs (vocational training systems), the UN human rights chief raised with the Government the lack of independent judicial oversight of the operation of the program, the reliance by law enforcement officials on 15 indicators to determine tendencies towards violent extremism, allegations of the use of force and ill-treatment in institutions, and reports of unduly severe restrictions on legitimate religious practices. "During my visit, the Government assured me that the VETC system has been dismantled," she noted. Human rights campaigners have accused the ruling Communist Party of China of committing widespread abuses in Xinjiang in the name of security, steps which include confining people to internment camps, forcibly separating families and carrying out forced sterilization. (ANI) On the conclusion of her recent six-day trip to China, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Saturday raised concern over the arrests of lawyers, activists and journalists under the so-called National Security Law in Hong Kong. China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong on July 1, 2020 and dozens of former opposition politicians and high-profile journalists were detained under the draconian law. "...It is important that the Government there do all it can to nurture - and not stifle - the tremendous potential for civil society and academics in Hong Kong to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights in the HKSAR and beyond. The arrests of lawyers, activists, journalists and others under the National Security Law are deeply worrying. Hong Kong is due to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee in July, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," Bachelet said today. Beijing has a history of arresting and jailing priests and bishops, with a number still unaccounted for in recent decades. The recent arrest of a 90-year-old retired bishop of Hong Kong cardinal Joseph Zen has prompted a response from security chief Chris Tang who said that the detention was in accordance with the law and in line with the Vatican's idea of justice. The detention of Joseph Zen came months after the state-run media attacked his activism in a series of articles. While the arrest in Hong Kong of a journalism professor, on charges of conspiring to publish seditious material, has troubled academics and journalists alike and shows how the city authorities continue to punish dissenting voices. Allan Au, 54, a lecturer and consultant at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) journalism school was detained by city authorities on April 11 this year. Allan was later released without charge, Voice of America (VOA) reported. In a report titled The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China, published on December 7, 2021, RSF revealed the system of censorship and information control established by the Chinese regime and the global threat it poses to press freedom and democracy. Hong Kong, once a bastion of press freedom, has fallen from 18th place in 2002 to 80th place in the 2020 RSF World Press Freedom Index. The People's Republic of China, for its part, has stagnated at 177th out of 180. (ANI) Lauding Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stern action to combat terrorism, High Commissioner of India in Bangladesh, Vikram Doraiswami on Saturday said that she has worked on her commitment of zero-tolerance for terrorism in the country. "Terrorist groups are active in many places. They can hide out and maintain a low profile but the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has taken strong steps against them. She has publically stated and worked on that particular commitment that Bangladesh has zero-tolerance for terrorism," Doraiswami told ANI. This statement comes after the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the radical elements have subsided yet some continue to be at play while there is a need to control them. A Bangladeshi delegation led by the neighbouring country's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen is currently on a visit to India. He said this while addressing the inaugural session of the NADI conference 2022 "Asian Confluence River Convlave 2022" at Radisson Blu in Guwahati. On Bangladesh offering India the use of Chittagong port for trade purposes, Doraiswami said that New Delhi had an agreement to use Chittagong and Mongla ports and currently is looking at the finalization of trial runs so that they can start using these ports. "If you look at history before independence, Chittagong port was developed and became prosperous through serving the entire hinterland. The hinterland consists of not only today's Bangladesh but also Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram," Doraiswami said. "So, we've had an agreement to use Chittagong and Mongla ports. We're looking at the finalization of all the trial runs so we can actually start using them," he added. Referring to the railway connectivity between Bangladesh and India under the line of credit (LoC), the Indian envoy said that there are many Bangladeshi people who are keenly interested in travelling to North Bengal and the hilly regions, particularly Darjeeling, Sikkim and Siliguri. And so the railway connectivity should be increased. "We now need to look forward to more railway connectivity and we are working on it. As External Affairs Minister said today that the restoration of the Kuluara-Shahbazpur and Shahbazpur- Mahishasan rail line will give South-Assam a link to the railway infrastructure of Bangladesh and Dhaka, and a link into North-East frontier Railways," Doraiswami said. Speaking about the Rohingya refugees, the Indian envoy said that the displacement of people is a challenge to everybody. "The problem is that the uncontrolled movement of people, who are being displaced from their original homes is a challenge to everybody and as our friends in Bangladesh have also repeatedly pointed out they have over a million people shattering in that country," Doraiswami added. (ANI) Amid the already deteriorating condition of the minority communities in Pakistan, the country has gone below the belt with Ahmadiyyas as the graves of their dead are being dug up and their mortal remains being thrown away. Recently, the latest case was that of Ishfaq Ahmed, who was desecrated on May 19 in Peshawar, as reported by The Friday Times citing Saleem ud Din, the spokesperson of the Ahmadi community in Pakistan. A day earlier, a 36-year-old Ahmadi man was stabbed to death in front of his two children in Okara. The murderer, who is reported to be affiliated with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), was a student at a local madrassa, the weekly reported. Ahmedis are Muslims who were declared non-Muslim by Pakistan in 1973. They are subjected to increased discrimination from the government and the society at large dominated by the majority of Sunnis. The Pakistani constitution declared the Ahmadis sect of Islam to be 'infidels' and also barred them from 'posing as Muslims'. The Ahmadis members alleged that many cases were hushed up and even when the cases are registered, the investigation and prosecution are weak after which the culprits go free. The Ahmadis are also facing mistreatment from the justice system as many people lost their lives while being tried for blasphemy, the weekly said in its report. According to the publication, the media at large extent ignores the violence against the Ahmedis, unless it takes place on a large scale, and attracts international attention. Earlier this year, a 70-year-old Ahmadi man on trial for blasphemy died in Bahawalpur Jail due to alleged mistreatment despite his ill health. He was awaiting his bail hearing scheduled for later this year. An earlier report of August 23, 2021, quoted historian and lawyer Yasser Latif Hamdani, former BBC Urdu editor Tahir Imran Mian and human rights activists Rabia Mehmood and Ali Warsi alleged that Pakistan accuses the whole world of indulging in Islamophobia, while they themselves are engaged in violence when it comes to minorities and the Ahmedi community. Most ominously, the Ahmadiyya sect remains the most vulnerable to Pakistan's violent blasphemy laws, with at least 13 Ahmadis killed and 40 wounded since 2017 owing to their identity. This is in addition to the jihadist attacks on the community. In 2010, twin mosque terror raids in Lahore killed at least 94 Ahmadis, according to a publication citing a detailed report cum analysis in 'The Diplomat journal' (February 14, 2022). Back in 2020, a detailed report by the UK-based All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) revealed details about the discrimination that the Ahmadiyya community has been facing in Pakistan. The APPG Inquiry heard disturbing evidence that anti-Ahmadiyya hatred is taught to children in schools, including in their textbooks. According to The Diplomat journal, Pakistan continues to ignore the apartheid against Ahmadis which will result in similar calls against Shia Islam, which are being echoed in the parliament. (ANI) By Trend Azerbaijan's journalist Afghan Sadighov, detained by the officers of the Main Department on Combating Corruption within the Azerbaijan Republic General Prosecutors Office, has been pardoned, Trend reports. On May 27, President Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree to pardon a number of criminally convicted individuals. Nepal Prime Minister Sher Shah Deuba on Saturday reiterated that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani are their territories. Responding to questions raised by the opposition during deliberation on not including the three disputed areas in the lately announced plans and policies, the Nepalese Prime Minister said, "Nepal has been adopting the non-aligned foreign policy. The Government of Nepal always has kept national interest in front and worked on the issues of mutual benefits when it comes to its neighbours and other countries. The Government of Nepal always is ready to defend its territories. The areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are Nepali and the Government of Nepal have a firm understanding of them." "The issue of borders is sensitive and we understand that these issues can be resolved through dialogues and talks through diplomatic channels. Acting on it, we have been making our efforts through diplomatic channels. This issue has been given proper space in the plans and policies introduced by the government," he added. While taking part in the deliberation over plans and policies of the government in parliament, earlier this week, CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist) leader and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli questioned Deuba over the visit of US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya to a Tibetan refugee camp in Lalitpur. Oli further had asked for the government's stance on the disputed areas which had led to shivering the diplomatic relation between Nepal and India during his tenure. Nepal in the year 2020, amended the constitution incorporating a new political and administrative map in the preamble constitution. The new map included the tri-junction of Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh which has remained a disputed area between Nepal and India. Nepal's updated map prepared to incorporate the missing territories was submitted to the Ministry of Land Management by the Department of Survey which claims to have taken accurate scale, projection and coordinate system. It was publicly released on May 20, 2020, after the go-ahead signal from the Cabinet meeting on May 18, the same year. Tensions between New Delhi and Kathmandu last year arose after the issuance of the political map by Nepal on mid of May including the tri-junction, which India earlier had included in its November 2019 issued map. Diplomatic ties between the nations severed further after the inauguration of the road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020, after which Nepal strongly objected to India's unilateral move of constructing the road. Following a strong objection from Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said the road going through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district "lies completely within the territory of India". (ANI) Amid growing violence against women in Pakistan, another case of two Pakistani-origin Spanish sisters Arooj Abbas and Aneesa Abbas being allegedly tortured and shot dead has been registered as they failed to get their respective husbands' visas to settle with them in Spain. The incident took place in the Nathia village of Gujrat district in Pakistan's Punjab province earlier this month. Both the sisters, who are Spanish nationals, were married to their cousins in Pakistan more than a year ago, and were not happy with their marriages, reported Just Earth News, citing the police officials. Cases of honour killing are frighteningly regular in Pakistan, especially in areas close to the tribal regions in the north and west. More than 470 cases of "honour" killing were reported in Pakistan in 2021, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). In 2016, the murder of Qandeel Baloch, known as "Pakistan's Kim Kardashian", by her brother Waseem Azeem sparked national outrage and demands for changes to the law. Azeem strangled her in her home in the Punjab province after she shared photos on Facebook of herself with a Muslim cleric. Azeem was sentenced to life imprisonment but was acquitted in February this year after his parents sought his release. His lawyers used what is known as the Qisas and Diyat law to circumvent the new legislation. According to Just Earth News, Pakistan is the sixth-most populated country in the world. But it's one of the world's worst performers when it comes to gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum's 2020 gender gap report. In a derogatory remark in 2021, Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said, "Men are not robots, ladies wearing small clothes impact them," thereby subscribing to a view long refuted by a significant body of research that shows that sexual violence is a consequence of perpetrators dehumanising female bodies. Other leaders and ministers have often defended jirga-ordered 'honour killings' in their provinces as 'custom'. In the name of honour killing, murder committed on the pretext of family honour, women in Pakistan continue to suffer in the hands of perpetrators legitimising their actions through a misplaced sense of justice. According to a Supreme Court judgment in 2020, Pakistan has one of the highest per capita honour killings in the world. However, by using words like 'honour', the Pakistan society not only downplays the atrocity of the crime but legitimises it with a belief that 'bad character', particularly pertaining to a woman, needs to be punished or it will tarnish the community at large. (ANI) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Saturday wrapped up her six-day China visit amid widespread criticism after she said this trip was "not an investigation" but insisted she spoke with "candour" during her meetings with Chinese officials. The UN rights chief admitted the only prison she visited in the Xinjiang province was not one in which Uyghurs convicted of political crimes are held. "It is scandalous that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights went to China and East Turkistan without being able to even condemn the government for committing genocide. She has failed her mandate. The Uyghur community deserves accountability more than ever," said Dolkun Isa, president of the Uyghur Congress. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) said, "It would appear that IPAC's fears regarding COVID restrictions and stage-managed tours of detention facilities were well-founded." While issuing her statement, the UN rights chief said this visit was not an investigation but an opportunity to hold direct discussions - with China's most senior leaders - on human rights. "This visit was not an investigation - official visits by a High Commissioner are by their nature high-profile and simply not conducive to the kind of detailed, methodical, discreet work of an investigative nature," Bachelet said in a statement. "The visit was an opportunity to hold direct discussions - with China's most senior leaders - on human rights, to listen to each other, raise concerns, explore and pave the way for more regular, meaningful interactions in the future, with a view to supporting China in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law," she added. Prior to Bachelet's China visit, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and 59 other groups had urged High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to take steps to prevent the Chinese government from manipulating the visit. Dozens of rights groups say the Chinese government has committed widespread and systematic policies of mass detention, torture, cultural persecution, and other offences against Uyghurs and members of other Turkic groups in Xinjiang that amount to crimes against humanity. (ANI) Moscow [Russia], May 29 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian Parliamentary Commission for investigating the work of US biological laboratories in Ukraine is planning to discuss information from the Russian Defense Ministry regarding alleged US laboratories in Nigeria, the country from where the current monkeypox outbreak originated, Konstantin Kosachev, one of the commission's co-chairs, told Sputnik on Saturday. Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense of the Russian armed forces said on Friday that there are at least four US biological laboratories in Nigeria. "The commission intends to discuss the defense ministry's information about the possible involvement of US bio laboratories in the emergence of monkeypox," Kosachev said. (ANI/Sputnik) China-US relations are not a zero-sum game and the US should address the bilateral ties based on the principles of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday. This comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a recent policy speech, described China as "the most serious long-term challenge to the international order. In response to this, Wang said there are major misconceptions in the US views about the world, China and China-US relations. Wang, who is on the fourth leg of his current tour to the Pacific island countries, said the US has, in fact, become a source of turbulence that undermines the current world order. "What we want to tell the US is that China-US relations are not a zero-sum game designed by the US side," Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese FM as saying. "We will never yield to blackmail or coercion, and will firmly defend China's sovereignty, security and development interests," he added. This visit comes a day after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong paid a two-day visit to Fiji amid the ongoing quest among western countries and China to bring the strategically located island nation into their sphere of influence. Wong, who arrived in Fiji on Thursday afternoon, met with Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary-General Henry Puna. "Our Pacific family is strongest when we work together. Today I met with @FijiPM to reinforce Australia's commitment to the Vuvale Partnership. Regional unity has never been more important, as we face unprecedented challenges including COVID, climate change and strategic contest," Wong tweeted. The newly appointed Australian FM was in Fiji to work with its Pacific partners to achieve goals - including tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development, and regional security. Experts believe that China is seeking a regional agreement with Pacific island nations that would expand its role in policing, maritime cooperation, and cybersecurity and also plans to offer scholarships for over 2,000 workers and young diplomats. Beijing sent the drafts of the deal to 10 Pacific countries seem aimed to counter American efforts to strengthen alliances in Asia, The New York Times reported. Covering a range of issues, the documents appear to be a joint communique that Beijing wants the countries to adopt. They offer a detailed outline of how Beijing seeks to win friends and gain greater access to the island chains that have long played a strategic role in Asia's geopolitical contests. (ANI) UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to President Zelenskyy on May 28 and discussed the latest developments in the Donbas region as the battle continues to intensify in the eastern regions of Ukraine. "The Prime Minister said that the UK will continue to support the heroic Ukrainian Armed Forces in their efforts to defend their homeland against this barbaric attack, including helping provide the equipment they need," the UK government said in a press statement. The leaders spoke about Putin's despicable blockade of Odesa, Ukraine's biggest shipping port. "The Prime Minister outlined to President Zelenskyy the intensive work taking place with international partners to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine to avert a global food crisis. He said that the UK would work with G7 partners to push for urgent progress. The leaders agreed next steps and the imperative for Russia to relax its blockade and allow safe shipping lanes," the statement said. As the Russia-Ukraine war enters the fourth month, the focus has now shifted to the eastern part of the country. Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar said the fighting has reached its maximum intensity. "Enemy forces are storming the positions of our troops simultaneously in several directions," Malyar told a press briefing while speaking about the battle in the Donbas region. "We have an extremely difficult and long stage of fighting ahead of us." On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the leaders of France and Germany that Moscow was willing to discuss ways to make it possible for Ukraine to resume shipments of grain from Black Sea ports. Putin held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue peace talks with Kyiv. "Russia is ready to help find options for unhampered exports of grain, including exports of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports," the Kremlin said as quoted by TASS news agency. "Increasing supplies of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products will also help reduce tension on the global food market, which, of course, would require removing the relevant restrictions," the statement added. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has expressed its serious disappointment in the outcomes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet's visit to China, including a trip to Xinjiang. As they feared, human rights groups say this visit has turned out to be a "propaganda opportunity" for China to whitewash its crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur people. "As expected, the High Commissioner has wasted a historic opportunity to investigate the Uyghur genocide and deliver justice to the Uyghur people", WUC President, Dolkun Isa, stated. "The High Commissioner has ruined her office's credibility by aligning with China's wishes and conducting a visit that by no means adequately addressed justice for Uyghurs and accountability for those responsible". In the build-up to the High Commissioner's planned visit, rights groups had strongly highlighted that such a visit must meet certain conditions in order to be meaningful, such as unfettered access to East Turkistan (Xinjiang) and the ability to speak freely with Uyghur victims without fear of reprisal or intimidation for those witnesses. Furthermore, the WUC pointed out how the High Commissioner's independent report on human rights violations in East Turkistan, is still to be released. According to WUC, the press statement by the High Commissioner confirms that this was not an investigative visit into the atrocity crimes and genocide occurring in East Turkistan. Bachelet stated that she was ''unable to assess'' the full scale of the violations in the Vocational Education and Training Centers (VETCs). Earlier, media reports had said the UN rights chief's trip to China would not be an investigation, but would rather "promote, protect and respect human rights". This visit comes in the backdrop of the release of the Xinjiang Police Files, which show the extent and extremely repressive nature of China's mass internment policies in East Turkistan. Following Bachelet's highly disappointing visit, the WUC strongly urged her office to release her independent assessment of the situation in East Turkistan, as a show of willingness to hold the Chinese government accountable for crimes against humanity and genocide being committed. (ANI) UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, continues to scale up its operations in Poland to provide aid to refugees from Ukraine who have settled across the country. Poland remains the main country of arrival for refugees from Ukraine, with more than 3.5 million having entered the country since the start of the war on 24 February. The pace of arrivals has slowed down in comparison to early March, when over 100,000 people were arriving per day, to around 20,000 daily in the course of May. "We have also seen more 'pendular' movements, where people go back and forth across the border to Ukraine for various reasons, including visiting families, checking their properties, or returning to their jobs. However, Poland expects to continue receiving and hosting a considerable number of refugees, given the large internal displacement, massive destruction and the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine," the UNHCR said in a statement. According to the UN agency, newly arrived refugees often come from areas heavily affected by the fighting, some having spent weeks hiding in bomb shelters and basements. They often arrive in a state of distress and anxiety, having left family members behind, without a clear plan for where to go, and with less economic resources and connections than those who fled earlier. Health services and medical needs are the main queries UNHCR staff receive from refugees. Other requests concern transportation, financial support, psychosocial needs, accommodation and access to social services, including for people with disabilities and older people. Poland has put in place systems to ensure legal stay, access to employment, education, health care and other social welfare schemes for Ukrainian refugees. Over 1.1 million have registered with the Polish authorities, receiving a state ID number (PESEL) which gives them access to the services; 94 per cent of those registered are women and children. UNHCR said that it is supporting government-led efforts through a multisectoral response focusing on protection services, cash assistance, emergency supplies and reception capacity. "Over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine have already received financial support from UNHCR to cover their basic needs, such as paying rent or buying food and medicine. Cash is provided for a three-month period to those most in need - serving as a transitional emergency safety net - until they can better support themselves or be included in government social protection systems," the statement said. Almost 20 per cent of refugees enrolled for cash assistance have specific needs. Aid is provided to serious medical cases, older people, single mothers without family support, women at risk and people with disabilities. Half of the children with specific needs are separated or unaccompanied. (ANI) If good vibes had a taste, chef Damarr Brown is serving it up with a side of unity when it comes to culture and cuisine. The chef de cuisine at Virtue, a high-end Southern American dining experience in Chicagos South Side Hyde Park neighborhood, the Top Chef season 19 contestant and recent Prada-backed Experimental Design Lab awardee has been training since childhood for this multifaceted moment in his life. And he wants to bring more chefs of color along for the ride. More from WWD My focus has always been on the plate but I think more so these days its about developing young culinarians mostly of color. I think growing up in a lot of these restaurants, I didnt see a lot of myself and I think its hard to see yourself doing something when you dont see anybody else that looks like you doing it, he says. Virtue is 90 percent staffed by Black and Brown people, its a higher-end restaurant and its probably the only restaurant like this in Chicagothis is a Black space that celebrates Black food, Black people, theres Black art on the walls. And, of course, we welcome all but I just think that it needs to be known that theres just more opportunity here for us. That opportunity is one that artist Theaster Gates with his Prada-supported Experimental Design Lab is offering up to a cohort of Black creators, which includes Brown. The three-year collaborative program was developed to support creatives of color and amplify their work. And for the chef, its an opportunity to create beyond the rims of the plate, he says. The group of similarly minded creatives with different mediums (across fashion, architecture and fine arts, to name a few) has been a platform, Brown says, to talk about how they approach things, what inspires them, why theyre doing what theyre doing. And its inspiring him anew. Story continues Norman Teague, he creates space and furniture I might want to open a space one day and I would have the opportunity to create something with him. [Graphic designer Summer Coleman] does all this amazing digital art, there will be a space to work with her. Ive had some conversations with Tolu Coker whos a London-based fashion designer, and just thinking about the textures that she used in her clothes makes me think about textures in food, he says. Food gets inspired by everyday experiences and I think its just a different space of inspiration for me. As far as Top Chef, which saw season 19s final episode air on May 13, Brown credits his mother for setting him up to meet these culinary challenges head on. My mom, when she found out I wanted to cook, she leaned into it. So when Chopped came out, she would buy ingredients that were foreign to me and challenge me to cook something, he says. Now cooking is how the self-described introvert shares what hes gained over the years. For me cooking is kind of a form of expression. Im not the most talkative person so I find it a way of communication and a way of sharing that I wouldnt really be able to vocalize, Brown says. Its almost like getting something off my chest. Here, to get a taste of whats next for the star chef, what he considers the best meal of his life and what he cant do without in his cooking, WWD continues its 10 Questions With interview series. 1. Whats your fondest childhood food memory? Damarr Brown: When I was around 14, I had already decided I wanted to be a chef and cook professionally. So I used to make things around the house all the time and I used to cook for family members. And my grandmother, who was a really big cook, she always was like, This is OK. She never would be like, This is great! And thats kind of how my grandmother was, very loving but nothing was ever good enough for her. So I decided to cook this church dinner and there was probably like 50 people in the church. I forget what I made but I made something and everybody in the church was really excited about it and I remember I made my grandmother a plate and I brought it to her and she was like, This is really good. And thats the first time and only time shes ever really validated what I was doing. And I think she did that to make sure I wasnt getting a big head and things like that. You know, Black people like to make sure you come back down to earth! (laughs) But it was a fine moment, like yes, I got one. An African-inspired lamb dish on the menu at Virtue restaurant. - Credit: Kaleigh Glaza Kaleigh Glaza 2. Favorite dish on the Virtue menu? And please tell us what it tastes like. D.B.: My favorite dish right now is something we just put on, its this lamb T-bone. Its a plate that celebrates Africa. Theres sorghum grain on the plate, which I think most people are familiar with, sorghum from sorghum syrup. Sorghum was actually cultivated in North Africa. There is tremula [a wild edible mushroom] which is used a lot in Moroccan and Tunisian cooking, which is again North Africa. Theres a burnt orange vinaigrette and there is a berbere spice which we coat the lamb with, which is Ethiopian cooking. I was kind of nervous about putting it on the menu because its the most expensive item that weve ever had at $42, but also theres a lot of different textures. Like sorghum, no matter how long you cook it, its still chewy, it has a similar texture to wheat berries and that texture can be weird for some people sometimes. But people have been responding to it really well. And I think its one of those dishes that kind of jumps out of the traditional what people think of when they think of Southern cuisine. Its really going back to the roots of where Southern cuisine actually came from. 3. Whats one thing youd love to do but never have? D.B.: Id love to travel to Africa, specifically West Africa. Ive never had the opportunity to do that and Im hoping to accomplish that in the near future. From everyone Ive spoken to that has been there, they say that you get this feeling just getting off the plane, its kind of indescribable. And whatever that feeling is, I just want to feel it. 4. They say chefs dont cook at home where do you stand? D.B.: So in my fridge right now, theres nothing. But I will go to the store and buy things specifically for what I am trying to make that day. Anything that takes a long time, anything stew-y, for a while, especially during the pandemic when we werent working as much, I was making terrines at home, just messing around with things like that. But on a regular [basis], no I do not cook at home. 5. Whats one thing you cant do without in your cooking? D.B.: One thing I cant do without in my cooking is spice, which I am always playing with and always trying to balance. Of course, on the South Side of Chicago, our clientele ranges from a lot of older clients to people who really want to get into something creative and funky and I have to balance kind of satisfying some aunties and satisfying some of the people who are coming from the North Side who are like, What you got down here? So Im constantly playing with that space, Im constantly trying to figure out how to make something chili-wise, spice-wise, fermented funky. Thats my jam all day. 6. Have you ever been in a situation where someone didnt think you were the chef because of your race? D.B.: I have had situations where Ive walked into the kitchen to stage or something, or to interview or was a new person on the job and they assumed I was a dish washer or something like that when I was in fact there to be their boss. Its just been small situations like that. It hasnt been anything too massively aggressive and I think Ive been very fortunate in that space that I was allowed to have my food and my talent speak for itself. But I think Ive experienced a lot of times when I walk into a room theres a lot of preconceived notions about you or people wondering how you even got in this room. 7. Whats the best meal youve ever had in your life and, since youre a music fan, whats the ideal soundtrack to complete the experience? D.B.: I started at Gramercy Tavern maybe like 10 years ago in New York and chef Michael Anthony literally had me stand at the pass and try the entire menu, to the point that it was uncomfortable because you cant eat the entire menu. And he was like, Just try it. But everything was so delicious and it wasnt necessarily a traditional meal, I wasnt sitting down, I wasnt at a table, I was standing at the pass as he expedited and just trying the food and him telling me why they do what they did, and thats a really special memory for me. I just remember everything being so delicious and creative and it made so much sense. I think music wise, anything Nina Simone. Just the backdrop of her voice I think is sultry and calming and it just enriches any space youre in. 8. Since were on the topic of music, what would you sing at karaoke? D.B.: It would probably be Bob Marley or something, Exodus maybe. I love anything Bob Marley. I love the tone of his voice, the rhythm in his music, I just love reggae in general. 9. Who would you want to be stranded on a desert island with? D.B.: Are we trying to get off this island? I dont know how to answer that, so Im going to choose it in the fact that were trying to get off this island and, in that case, it would probably be [Virtue chef and owner Erick] Williams. Most resourceful person I know, most figure-some-st-out dude Ive ever met in my life. So if I was stranded on an island with him, Im sure we wouldnt be on that island too long. 10. Whats something you wish you could relive in your lifetime? D.B.: I wish I could relive holidays with my mother, my aunt and my grandmother. I was raised by three women and every Thanksgiving and Christmas was just kind of us just cooking together and just being together. My grandmother has passed on and my mother is disabled now, my aunt takes care of her. But that was a special space of the four of us being together. And I would do anything to relive some of those moments. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As the month of celebrations comes to a close, we collected a list of beauty brands to shop for AAPI month and beyond. From skincare to nail lacquer, see below for a roundup of six AAPI-owned companies that should be on your radar. More from Billboard Rovectin Clean Lotus Water Cream- Gentle and Vegan Moisturizer $20 $22 9% OFF Buy Now 1 Rovectin is a Korean beauty brand rooted in love and resilience. The brand was developed to help cancer patients restore skin severely damaged from chemotherapy and has become one of Koreas most trusted skincare brands among patients, dermatologists and hospitals. Some of Rovectins products include Conditioning Cleanser ($10.20), Aqua Activating Serum ($36), Barrier Repair Oil for Face & Body ($27), and Barrier Repair Face Oil ($30). Three Ships Purify Aloe + Amino Acid Cleanser $20 $ Buy Now 1 In need of a gentle cleanser? The Purify Aloe Amino Acid Cleanser from Three Ships comes highly recommended from hundreds of customers. The organic, alcohol free and vegan cleanser is made with ingredients such as aloe vera barbadensis leaf juice and critic acid. Three Ships is a skincare company founded by Connie Lo and Laura Burget. For the month of May, the brand will be donating all proceeds from the Purify Cleanser to Gold House, the leading Asian and Pacific Islander changemaker community, fighting together for socioeconomic equity. JINSoon Color Trio Muse + Piedra + Palma $36 $ Story continues Buy Now 1 Fashion, editorial and celebrity manicurist, Jin Soon Choi, founded her nail lacquer line in 2012. Choi, who was born in South Korea and has worked with major fashion publications like Harpers Bazaar and Vogue magazine and opened several New York City nail salons, created JINSoon Nail Polish for the discerning clientele who know that nail polish can be both non-toxic and long-lasting. The line feature over 60 shades that compliment all skin tones and moods. Tatcha Water Cream (Travel Size) $20 Buy Now 1 Tatcha Skincare was founded by Taiwanese-American entrepreneur Vicky Tsai, who, after a decade of working in corporate America, quit her job and found herself in Koyoto, Japan. There, she encountered a cultural harmony that healed her skin and soul, and inspired her to launch Tatcha. Some of the brands best-sellers include The Water Cream pictured above, The Dewey Skin Cream ($69), and Rice Polish Classic Foaming Enzyme Powder ($65), and Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers ($40). Hero Cosmetics Mighty Face Patch $19.99 $ Buy Now 1 Hero Cosmetics began in 2017 after founder Ju Rhyu had a pimple emergency. Because of her sensitive skin, Rhyu created the Mighty Patch, a gentle hydrocolloid patch that she first found in South Korea. The XL face patches pictured above are built to tackle breakouts in your T-zone, cheeks, chin, etc. The product is recommended for oily/combo skin. Hero houses over 30 different products including Rescue Balm ($12.99), the Sensitive Skin Trio ($36) and the AAPI Bestesller Beauty Collection ($100). Tula Take Care + Polish Revitalize & Cleanse Body Exfoliator $38 $ Buy Now 1 Founded by gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, Tula Skincare is a built on the power of probiotic extracts and superfoods. One of the hottest products in the Tula family is the 2-in-1 cleanser and exfoliator pictured above. It deeply cleanses and buffs away dull skin, improves the look of skin texture and tone and provides an invigorating scent thanks to natural ingredients like lemon peel and hibiscus flower acid. Additional Tula Skincare products include the Hydrating Day & Night Treatment Eye Balm ($38) and the Brightening Treatment Drops Triple Vitamin C Serum ($48). Click here to read the full article. Houston braces for protests crying for gun control as gun lobby group kicks off convention Xinhua) 09:17, May 28, 2022 A woman places a candle for victims killed in the Uvalde school shooting in front of Texas Capitol building in Austin, Texas, the United States, May 26, 2022. (Photo by Bo Lee/Xinhua) The "Don't Look Away Rally" is to "demand swift and strong action against the gun violence that continues to devastate our neighborhoods, schools, and families," says the Harris County Democratic Party. HOUSTON, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Houston, the largest city of the southwestern U.S. state of Texas, is bracing for multiple protests crying for gun control, as the National Rifle Association (NRA) kicks off its annual convention in the city center on Friday, just days after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting claiming 21 lives. Former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to make a speech at the NRA annual meeting, which was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, both Republicans, have canceled their in-person appearance at the convention. The governor is expected to address the convention "through prerecorded video." "While a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and an NRA member, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or grief to the families and all those suffering in Uvalde," Patrick said Friday. People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) The Harris County Democratic Party, together with multiple other organizations including Houston Black Lives Matter, Houston Federation of Teachers, and Moms Demand Action, will be hosting a protest called the "Don't Look Away Rally" Friday afternoon near the George R. Brown Convention Center, where the three-day convention is held, local media reported. The protest is to "demand swift and strong action against the gun violence that continues to devastate our neighborhoods, schools, and families," the Harris County Democratic Party said in a statement. In a statement regarding the protest and the NRA convention, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged participants to "remain peaceful out of respect to the families of the 19 children and two teachers killed in their classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde." The City of Houston is aware that several organizations have planned demonstrations near the convention center, and the Houston Police Department and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have a public safety plan, said the statement. People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling) The NRA convention is expected to draw 55,000 attendees, who are prohibited from bringing "firearms, firearm accessories, knives, and other items" including backpacks and selfie sticks. The NRA, the country's most powerful gun lobby group, currently has over 5 million members, according to its website. 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 when the Uvalde school shooting happened, over 31,300 people have died or been injured due to gun-related incidents in the United States this year. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Azerbaijan grants pardon to businessman sentenced to life imprisonment 28 May 2022 [14:26] - By Trend Azerbaijani businessman Shamsi Samedzade, sentenced to life imprisonment, has been pardoned, Trend reports. On May 27, President Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree to pardon a number of criminally convicted individuals. Views: 397 Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid has the utmost confidence in offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Reid came to Bieniemy's defense Friday after former Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy ripped Bieniemy's coaching style. McCoy criticized Bieniemy while appearing on the "I Am Athlete" podcast. McCoy said Bieniemy has trouble relating to players. McCoy theorized that was the reason Bieniemy is not a head coach in the NFL. Reid took issue with those comments, saying Bieniemy provides honest feedback, and that was something McCoy didn't want to hear at that point in his career, according to Pro Football Talk. Sometimes its hard on a veteran player, Reid said. Maybe their performance level isnt what it used to be, and its hard to take sometimes. But [Bieniemy is] going to push you to try to maximize what youve got. Thats one of his strengths. ... Hell come in and shoot you straight. Sometimes you want to hear it. Sometimes you dont. McCoy spent one season with the Chiefs near the end of his career. He made nine starts for the Chiefs in 2019, rushing for 465 yards and four touchdowns. McCoy's career was close to over at that point. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, but only received 10 carries with the team. Eric Bieniemy looking for head coaching gig Bieniemy has been a popular head coaching candidate in the past, but has yet to secure that role. His recent track record is impressive. Bieniemy has overseen Patrick Mahomes' rise to being one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. Bieniemy's first season as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator was the first year Mahomes started in the NFL. Since taking over as the Chiefs' starter, Mahomes has made four straight Pro Bowls. He was named to the All-Pro team in 2018. During that period, the Chiefs' offense has ranked within the top six in points scored every season. Things should be more challenging for Bieniemy in 2022 after the Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill in the offseason. If Bieniemy can overcome that loss and the Chiefs continue to post dominant offensive numbers, it will be hard to keep finding reasons to pass on Bieniemy as a head coach. Less than a week before its scheduled date, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have decided to withdraw a formal vote on unionization for Apple Store employees at Atlanta's Cumberland Mall location. As first reported by Bloomberg, the union which has recently invested heavily in organizing tech workers opted to hold back as a result of what it called "Apples repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act." The withdrawal follows weeks of escalating tensions between Apple and its retail staff. Shortly after Cumberland had gone public with its intentions it was reported Apple had retained Littler Mendelson, the same law firm Starbucks which is undergoing a wave of store unionizations has engaged. The firm's website states: "we excel in union avoidance." Shortly after, Apple corporate began circulating anti-union talking points to managers and Atlanta workers claim they were being force into so-called "captive audience meetings," a hallmark of union-busting campaigns. Earlier this week, audio leaked of an Apple VP, Deirdre OBrien, expressing why she believed a union was a poor fit for the company. That message was reportedly sent to all 65,000 of Apple's retail staffers. In a statement today, CWA stated that Apple's actions "have made a free and fair election impossible. The group also expressed concern that COVID cases among the store's staff might further jeopardize their ability to vote in person. One of the most significant reasons behind Cumberland staffers' decision to organize has been simple economics. In talking with Engadget, one of the store's workers, Elli Daniels, described stagnant wages that had failed to keep pace with either national inflation or local increases to cost of living. Notably, Apple has been one of the few companies to thrive under pandemic conditions, posting several consecutive record-breaking quarters. Perhaps in an effort to stave off unrest among retail staff (Cumberland is only one of the stores currently exploring unionization) Apple has stated it will increase pay to a starting wage of $22 per hour. We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full-time and part-time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits, Apple told press today in a statement. (The pay increase, incidentally, was reported several hours after the aforementioned union-avoidance audio leaked to press.) While an immediate setback, the withdrawal does not preclude CWA from attempting another union election though it will have to wait at least six months to refile. May 27The Athens State University Foundation has been awarded a $7,800 grant from the Alabama Tourism Department that will be used for the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention in October. Funds will also be used for the Fiddlers Concert Series, a year-long series of concerts in coordination with the annual convention. Both events draw visitors from out of state to Athens, benefiting the local economy. erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460. President Biden urged graduates at the University of Delaware to get involved in public life and be part of the future of the nation during commencement remarks on Saturday. Biden, who graduated from the university in the 1960s, said that the students were graduating at a defining time. Theres one message I hope you take from me today: This is no time to be on the sidelines. Its not hyperbole. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, Biden said to a sea of graduates clad in blue robes. We need all of you to get engaged in public life and the life of this nation. Biden addressed the unique challenges he said the 2022 graduating class faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing distrust of institutions in the U.S. In the last five years since many of you were in high school, Americas faced some of its most difficult tests. A global pandemic ended a million lives in America alone, Biden said. And the crisis of faith in institutions, however flawed they may be, serve as the infrastructure for the American experiment. What youve been through the past four years you could not have imagined when you graduated from high school. Campus shutdowns, classes on Zoom, the world turned upside down, but you got through it, he added. Biden then reminisced on his time after college when he joined politics to fight for civil rights, and attempted to connect the period in the 1960s to the struggles America faces today. The president, who spent a chunk of his political career in Congress, touted his achievements as a young senator, like extending the Voting Rights Act 25 years. He said that he thought you could bury hate. Biden then jabbed at prominent leaders who breath oxygen under the rock where hate is hiding, and it comes roaring back out. He then listed a series of events like those in Charlottesville, Va., the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the recent shootings this month that left dozens of people, including children, dead. Story continues Lets be clear, evil came to that elementary school classroom in Texas and that grocery store in New York. Biden noted his trip to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to meet with the parents and families affected by the shooting, saying as I speak, those parents are literally preparing to bury their children. We cannot outlaw tragedy, I know, but we can make America safer. Earlier this month, a gunman shot and killed 10 people in a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket. The supermarket was located in a predominantly Black neighborhood, and the suspect is believed to espouse racist conspiracy theories. On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, with military-grade weapons and killed 19 children and two teachers. In spite of tragedy, Biden told the graduating class they will be defining Americas future and can make a brighter trajectory for the nation. I call all Americans this hour to join hands and make your voices heard and work together to make this nation what it can and should be, Biden said. Your generation makes me more optimistic. Ive said it many times your generation is the most generous, the most tolerant, the least prejudiced, the best-educated generation this nation has ever known and thats a simple fact. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MarketWatch Do you want the bad news or the good news first when it comes to Social Security and Medicare? The bad news is that the hole in Social Securitys accounts grew another $600 billion last year, taking its total to $20.4 trillion and the total for the two programs to $25.3 trillion, the highest on record. The good news is that even though both programs are hurtling toward a day of reckoning when they will become technically insolvent, the economic recovery from the pandemic has actually pushed those fateful days back a bit in time. Former President Barack Obama took to Instagram to congratulate the boy who famously touched the presidents head in an iconic 2009 White House photo. Hes all grown up now and graduating from high school. It was a reunion with a Memphis twist. Jacob Philadelphia was 5 years old when the photo was taken. His father was a National Security Council staffer who brought his wife and two sons to the Oval Office for a photo. The picture, later named Hair Like Mine, was snapped after Jacob asked the president, Is your hair like mine? The moment was captured by White House photographer Pete Souza and was noted for calling attention to the importance of representation. WASHINGTON - MAY 8: In this handout from the The White House, U.S. President Barack Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images) In his Instagram post, Obama said, White House photographer Pete Souza captured that moment and for years, the photo hung in the halls of the West Wing. It was a reminder of one of the reasons I first ran for president: that if I were to win, young peopleBlack kids, Hispanic kids, kids who may not have always felt like they belongedmight see more possibilities for their own future. Its hard to believe 13 years have passed. Today, Jacob will graduate high school and continue on to the University of Memphis to study political science. And I couldnt be more proud of him. Congratulations, Jacob, and best of luck to the Class of 2022! Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Saturday marks 100 days since WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia. Griner was originally taken into Russian custody Feb. 17 on drug charges after customs officials at a Moscow airport claimed she had vape cartridges with hashish oil in her luggage. On Friday, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke with media at Indiana Farmers Coliseum prior to the Indiana Fever's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. Engelbert has received messages from Griners Russian lawyer, one of the few people able to speak with Griner, indicating she is doing okay, given the circumstances. "As I said, it's unimaginable and extremely complex, continues to be," Engelbert said. "We continue to work. It's not a day that goes by that we're not on some call with either the U.S. government, the State Department, some expert in hostage negotiation, or just in this geopolitical mess that the world has found itself in, that we're kind of a small microcosm of in the world. CHERELLE GRINER: Griner's wife pleads with president to help bring her home 'NOT THE SAME': Phoenix Mercury, fans feel Brittney Griner's absence "So we're working on it. We're getting messages (there). Players are able to get messages, not talk to, but get messages to Brittney, get her support while she's there, let her know that we're all thinking about her." As of May 3, the United States government has classified Griners arrest as a "wrongful detainment." Engelbert said when Griner was officially considered wrongfully detained, it allowed them to work more closely with the State Department. "I think the wrongful detention allowed her case to be in this Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Those are the people we're talking to every day," Engelbert said. "Those are the people that really have the ability to negotiate something here to get her home as quickly as possible. But the most important thing is safely too, we don't want to jeopardize the timing." Brittney Griner leaves a court hearing on May 13. Another major point in bringing Griner home is continuing to publicize the situation. While Engelbert was in Indianapolis on Friday, she attended the Indiana Global Economic Summit, hosted by Gov. Eric Holcomb and spoke about Griners detainment with the attendees. Story continues On Tuesday, Griners wife, Cherelle Griner, spoke publicly for the first time since her detainment, doing an interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America." "Those interviews were important too, for sure, all expressing the urgency by which we want Brittney home," Engelbert said. "So I think you'll see a lot of activity over the next couple of days. Tomorrow is the 100th day and that's kind of sobering right, the 100th day that Brittney will be detained in Russia." Cherelle Griner told Roberts she believes President Joe Biden is the only person who can do something about her wifes detainment. She also requested a meeting with the president during the interview. Engelbert believes the U.S. government as a whole is tasked with bringing Griner home. "I would call it the government. I don't think it's only the president," Engelbert said. "I think the government has all the tools and I've been so impressed with the State Department. One of the people we're dealing with is a 16-year Army Special Forces, and you feel really good about their capability, what they know, how they know she's being treated in Russia and all this stuff. So I think I'll call it the government more broadly." This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Brittney Griner's Russia detention at 100 days: WNBA 'working on it' A priest holding a metal cross. Getty Images A Vatican-approved religious university in Rome held an exorcism course with 120 participants. They said they needed more help distinguishing being possessed from mental illness, per The Times. Pope Francis has given speeches about helping "those possessed by evil," the report said. A survey from a Vatican-approved religious university in Rome found that Catholic exorcists feel overworked and undersupported by bishops, according to The Times of London. Italian exorcists spoke to researchers at Regina Apostolorum's 16th annual exorcism course in Rome, attended by 120 participants, The Times reported. The course attracted a significant crowd thanks to Pope Francis's support of exorcism, the paper said. He has previously spoken about helping those who are "possessed by evil," per The Times, and made exorcism an official Catholic practice, according to the Independent. The conference's exorcists said that they needed more support from psychologists to determine whether people are mentally unstable or demonically possessed, The Times reported. Father Giuseppe Bernardi claimed to have performed a nine-hour exorcism on a woman who hurled abuse in Latin and assaulted monks, the newspaper said. The woman's father thought she was suffering from "a psychiatric problem," reported the Journal of Vicenza. But the mother, and later Bernardi, believed she was possessed by a "demonic influence." Bernardi said he had to seek help from psychologists to determine whether she was disturbed or possessed but did so without the help of the church, per The Times. The lack of support from bishops is a grievance echoed by other surveyed exorcists, The Times said. They complained about receiving little help in exorcising the long lines of Catholics claiming satanic possession. Exorcists also said they had been tasked with conducting exorcisms on people with COVID-19, The Times reported. Participants at the conference claimed that demonic possession could be recognized by unusual physical strength, vomiting, or a sudden ability to speak Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic. Story continues Italy has 290 exorcists, and there were 37 in Spain, the survey found. "Many of the potentially possessed people they see in Spain have spent time with New Age, spiritual or meditation groups," researchers said. In the UK and Ireland, there were 28 working exorcists, and in Manila, the Philippines, there was a "dedicated office and team." Read the original article on Insider The Russians continue to shell Kharkiv Read also: Russian military amasses reserves at border with Kharkiv Oblast He said that Kharkiv's Kyiv district, as well as the town of Balaklia and the village of Slatyne came under enemy artillery fire. Two fires also broke out during the shelling of the village of Mala Danylivka. According to preliminary information, no one was injured in that attack. Read also: Sloviansk TPP shuts down due to constant shelling in area In Slatyne, a Russian missile strike killed a 65-year-old woman and wounded another person. At least one person was injured in Balaklia. Read also: Ukraine manages to push Russians back from Severodonetsk, goes on the offensive in Kherson Oblast Work is underway in Kharkiv's Northern Saltivka district to repair a gas pipeline and carry out mine clearance of the area. "Everyone is working their their own front," Synyehubov said. "We believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our victory!" he added. At least eight people were killed, including a five-month-old baby, and another 19 were wounded as a result of Russian shelling in Kharkiv Oblast on May 26. The invaders used long-range artillery, in particular using Pion self-propelled heavy artillery. A newly installed granite boulder near the Godfrey Windmill at Chase Park will soon bear a bronze plaque featuring the names of 50 Chatham families whose sons, fathers and brothers fought in the Revolutionary War. Organizers of the war memorial, which will be officially dedicated Monday, say its about time. Every war has a memorial, except the Revolutionary War, said Bill Cullinane, who plays Colonial-era miller Benjamin Godfrey at town events and museum days. World War I veterans and casualties are commemorated on the grounds of the Chatham Community Center, the Korean and Vietnam conflicts are remembered at the Oyster Pond Brick Walk, and memorials of the Civil War and World War II can be found at Sears Park and the traffic circle. William Cullinane is dressed as Col. Benjamin Godfrey as he stands in front of the Godfrey Windmill. A Revolutionary War memorial will be dedicated Monday near the windmill in Chase Park. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times Frank Messina, chairperson of the Chatham Historical Commission, said selectman Dean Nicastro, an attorney and history buff, was the one who pointed out the war memorial gap about two years ago. I said, Here we go, weve got another job, Messina said. The job entailed selecting a granite boulder from a site in Orleans and ordering a bronze plaque at a cost of $7,000 to $8,000. Tom Smith of Minglewood Homes, Inc., who is a member of the Revolutionary War Monument Working Group, donated the cost of the stone. Community Preservation money covered the plaque, Messina said. More: Chatham town meeting changes regional school agreement, blocks changes to airport The working group also paid for Cullinane, 90, to literally switch hats. A retired Needham High School history teacher, Cullinane usually wears a millers cap with his breeches, linen shirt, white stockings and buckled shoes when playing Godfrey, who in 1797 built the windmill now located at Chase Park. But before he constructed the windmill, now renovated and in working condition, Godfrey was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. Godfreys quite a character, Cullinane said. He was at the siege of Boston with the Barnstable militia. He was the highest ranking officer in the town. Story continues The late morning sun fills the sky over the Godfrey Windmill in Chatham. Cape Cod Times/Merrily Cassidy On Monday Cullinane will make an appearance as Colonel Godfrey, with a new tricorn hat of the style worn by George Washington and a new vest as well. The Memorial Day celebration will start at 10 a.m. at the Chatham Community Center, then around 10:30 a.m., Cullinane will stand up and invite people to join him at Chase Park for the dedication of the new Revolutionary War monument. After the ceremony, hell serve cider and cornbread he is baking Sunday, Cullinane said. The memorial plaque will include the full names of Godfrey and some other leaders but also the surnames of more than 40 other Chatham families whose sons, brothers and fathers served the Continental Army. If the full names of all the Chatham residents who fought in the War of Independence were included, the memorial stone would be 10 feet tall, Messina said. In addition, including the surnames is also a way to honor the fighters mothers, wives and daughters, who kept businesses and households running when the men were away, Messina and Cullinane said. In this photo from October 2021, the flag flies at half staff at the Korean and Vietnam veterans memorial overlooking Oyster Pond in Chatham. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times "It's (the names of all the streets in Chatham," Messina said. Chatham, which was incorporated in 1712, was a hardworking and even hardscrabble town at the time of the Revolution, Cullinane said. The local economy depended on cod, which was sold to the French, and salt mills to salt the cod. More: Chatham elects John Michael Schell, Jeffrey Dykens elected to Select Board It was not a pink shirt and green shoes town at that point, Cullinane said. They had run out of soil. Look around, its a pile of sand. Residents knew how to put up a fight. In what historians say was Chathams only military action during the War of Independence, the towns militia fired at and chased off a British privateer trying to seize three unmanned vessels as prizes of war on June 20, 1782. The Battle of Chatham Harbor is commemorated by a small monument near the Chatham Lighthouse overlook parking area. Mondays march from the community center to the new Revolutionary War memorial in Chase Park will include fife and drum players and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Cullinane said. The number of marchers is being limited to 20 to 25 for traffic consideration purposes, but additional participants are encouraged to join the group at Chase Park, which has several parking spaces. Its time for the centuries-old town to remember the fight for independence, Cullinane said. Thats how the country was formed the Revolutionary War. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Memorial for Revolutionary War will be dedicated Monday in Chatham By Trend A total of 11 convicts from correctional institution No. 9 of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan were affected by the pardon decree, Trend reports. In accordance with the decree, seven of the mentioned persons were released, and the sentence term of four of them was reduced by half. Besides, the pardon decree affected 16 persons from correctional institution No. 13 of the ministry, of whom 12 were released, while the sentence term of four of them was also reduced by half. Two women imprisoned at correctional institution No. 4 were released following the decree. Azerbaijan has started the implementation of the pardon decree signed by the country's President Ilham Aliyev on May 27. Stock photo Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies are issuing edicts and passing laws to prohibit schools from teaching whatever might make a student feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin. This includes teaching about social justice and fostering social-emotional skills. This is absurd. It is impossible to teach about American history and culture without teaching about social justice. Without social justice movements, the American revolution never would have happened. Nor would there have been an abolitionist movement, the Civil War and Reconstruction, an end to child labor, the right to vote for women, or an end to Jim Crow segregation. Stock photo of books in classroom. Should students not learn about the progress made in ending various kinds of oppression? And what about the Holocaust? The Florida Resource Manual on Holocaust Education for Grades 4-6, written for teachers, states that it is our responsibility to make children aware of the horrors that can accompany racism and intolerance of ethnic and religious differences in order to develop respect and appreciation for diversity and human rights. Devoid of substantive arguments against teaching about racism and injustice, DeSantis and company assert that students are being indoctrinated with liberal ideology. Such statements intentionally conflate the content taught with a method of teaching that is nowhere embraced by educators. Indeed, the declared aim of the historical profession is to cultivate critical thinking by examining evidence, comparing different interpretations, asking questions, and discussing and debating conclusions. The DeSantis administration would also have us believe that social emotional learning distracts from learning the facts and that textbooks that encourage managing emotion, developing relationships and social awareness should be banned. Story continues This is laughable. Every educator, from kindergarten through college, knows how important cooperative learning, emotional awareness, and a growth mindset are to helping students manage their behaviors, relate better to their classmates, engage with their course material, and succeed in school. Gov. Ron DeSantis signs Stop Woke Act. Under the buzz-phrase parents rights, DeSantis is exploiting parents, all of whom have an abiding interest in their children receiving a well-rounded education and developing life skills that will help them grow and succeed. The authors have 55 years of teaching between us, from elementary education, to adult literacy, to university classes. We have helped students critically examine history and used methods to help build confidence, competence, resilience, self-respect, and respect for others. We have used culturally responsive materials, including state-approved textbooks that may now be prohibited, that highlight the contributions of underrepresented people and social justice advocates. We are both retired but continue to write and produce educational materials. We urge teachers and parents to stay strong and speak out against the misguided policies of this backward-thinking administration and do whats right. Champion the truth. Anne Meisenzahl Anne Meisenzahl is a retired exceptional education and adult education teacher In Leon County. Roger Peace Roger Peace, a former instructor at Tallahassee Community College, is the coordinator of the website, U.S. Foreign Policy History & Resource Guide. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Teachers, parents must speak out against misguided education policies | Opinion In an 800-square-foot room tucked away on Chicagos Devon Avenue, a 20-something Gujarati immigrant was on the verge of creating an empire. It was 1974, and Mafat Patel had just bought the only Indian grocery store for miles a cramped reservoir of dals, spices and rice packaged in cloth bags stacked to the ceiling. On a corridor of Chicago later nicknamed Little India, home-cooked food was surprisingly hard to come by. The street teemed with evidence of the growing number of South Asian immigrants there: sari shops, bookstores and temples quickly proliferated. But groceries were all but impossible to find. If families had the ingredients they needed, they probably brought them from back home, packed tightly into check-in suitcases or mailed in bulk by family members on the subcontinent. Patel, who had immigrated from a farming village in western India, found that even within a densely populated brown neighborhood like Devon's, there was a profound sense of loneliness, he said in a 2018 interview. The missing piece was a hot Indian meal at the end of the day. So after talking his brother Tulsi Patel and sister-in-law Aruna into joining him in Chicago, he turned his tiny storefront into the nations first Patel Brothers. And Devon Avenue exploded in tandem. He was able to read the market, said Happie Dutt, a historian and Chicago local who has frequented Devon Avenue since she moved to the city in 1976. If I feel like this, there are many people who must feel like this. Over the next three decades, that 800-square-foot space would grow into the largest South Asian grocery chain in the U.S., with 53 stores across the country. Weekly trips to Patel Brothers are now near-synonymous with the South Asian American experience. Its where aunties stock up on everything from okra to hair oil to masala-flavored chips while their kids sneak Maggi noodles into the bottom of the cart. Its a place where recent immigrants say they pass the time to feel the familiarity of fresh food, a cup of chai, and the language that theyre used to. Story continues Owner's son stocking shelves in Patel Brothers store at 2542 West Devon Avenue in Chicago, November 1984. (Mukul Roy / Chicago History Museum) Theyll serve you a hot chapati and youre standing there thinking, This is like someone serving me at home, Dutt said. The first South Asian immigrants to come to the U.S. after the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act were all up against similar obstacles as Mafat Patel, now 77. Many were alone student visas were common, and along with that often came isolation. Dutt was one of those students, arriving to study at the University of Florida when she was 19 in 1972. One of the things everyone misses when they are away from home at such a young age is the cooking, she said. And though there might have been other South Asian students on campus, there was no guarantee they spoke the same language or understood each others cultures. Still, tiny enterprises began popping up to feed this growing population. There were students who had opened little shops to sell groceries, she said. Their parents would ship some spices and some dals and lentils and they would open up their living room. Theyd have them stacked, and people who desperately wanted that turmeric or dal would buy it off the students. This was mirrored on Devon Avenue, which in the 1970s was becoming Chicagos newest ethnic neighborhood. The street has always been a cultural potpourri, historians said, and immigrant groups have cycled through since Chicagos West Ridge went from empty garlic fields to a dense urban center. Now home to Russians, Jews, Iraqis, Pakistanis, Indians and Bengalis, Devons population became increasingly brown in the 60s and 70s. If you go to Devon, you can actually see whats happening on our subcontinent, said Shiwali Varshney Tenner, 47, who has lived in Chicago for almost 20 years years. When Rohingya Muslims were being expelled, you could see quite a few of them there. Once home to predominantly Indian immigrants and businesses, the eastern portion of Devon was given the honorary name Gandhi Marg. The western portion, home to more Muslim institutions, was called Muhammad Ali Jinnah Way, a reference to the founder of Pakistan. Distinct epicenters for each culture give way to a melange of people, businesses and cuisines. Residents say the unique thing about Patel Brothers was its ability to serve them all. Gurjuratis shopped at Gujarati stores, people from the South shopped at separate stores, Dutt said about the time before Patel Brothers. [Mafat] brought a broad base of items that would meet the needs of all South Asians." In the same aisles that have ingredients for chole masala, aloo gobi and chicken nihari, there are also traditional South Indian rasams, sambars and uttapam. Representatives from Patel Brothers did not respond to a request for comment. When Varshney Tenner first arrived in Chicago, she was starting her life over. As an Indian immigrant and former New Yorker, she lacked any ties to the city, but she immediately gravitated to Devon. I lived downtown, but of course I was missing Indian food and I needed my staples, the rice and the spices, she said. So she went to Patel Brothers. At the time it was a small, bare-bones shop, but she was able to capture a bit of home there regardless. I found ganna juice there, she said. I almost cried. Varshney Tenner has regularly returned to Devon for clothes and food. In her searches for classical Indian dance wear, she made friends with many of the business owners in Little India. Years passed in Chicago, and her community slowly expanded. Just the ability to speak in Hindi, it feels good, she said. I got into phases of trying to find the best biryani. So I would get my friends together and we tried biryani at every single place. We did the same with anda parathas. People eating at Food and Flavor on Devon Avenue in Chicago, December 1984. (Mukul Roy / Chicago History Museum) While gentrification slowly claims South Asian mainstays in big cities, such as Curry Row in New Yorks East Village, Devon Avenues Little India remains. Its changed, though, community members say. Many businesses continue to thrive, but some cater more to tourists, and others have followed the immigrant families that have largely left. People keep saying that its not as good as it used to be, Varshney Tenner said. And I see the quality is hit or miss now for food. Some of the really good restaurantstheyre in the suburbs. The Patel Brothers on Devon Avenue is no longer a tiny room where customers have to shuffle sideways, weaving between shelves of products to grab a bag of masoor. Its bright green and white storefront mirrors those of its branches in places like Flushing, New York and Chandler, Arizona and Suwanee, Georgia, far corners of the country where a new diaspora generation will come of age, wandering the sweets section or snacking on a bag of Kurkure as their parents push them in the carts. Its become an institution, Dutt said. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp talk to the media at a campaign event in Canton, Ga., on May 17, 2022. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Former Gov. Chris Christie says that former President Trump wants the GOP to be the "party of me." Christie rejects such a development, arguing that the party must look to the future in order to win. He came to Georgia to campaign for Trump foe Brian Kemp, who easily won his GOP gubernatorial primary this week. While former President Donald Trump went all-in for ex-Sen. David Perdue in the recent Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backed incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp. Kemp, who was elected in 2018 on a conservative platform and with the then-blessing of Trump, fought vigorously to win renomination as his party's nominee as he sought reelection to a second term brushing aside complaints from Trump that the governor didn't help him enough during the 2020 election. The governor, who has spent nearly four years signing conservative pieces of legislation into law, won the Tuesday GOP primary in a landslide, capturing nearly 74 percent of the vote, compared to roughly 22 percent for Perdue. At one time, the thought of a Trump-backed candidate performing so poorly would have been unthinkable, but according to Christie a former two-term Republican governor, ex-US attorney, and onetime close ally of the former president the party's focus on the future is long overdue. "We have to be the party of tomorrow, not the party of yesterday," Christie told Politico earlier this week as he and other Kemp allies basked in their candidate's overwhelming victory against Perdue. While most Republicans are still keenly aware that Trump still wields enormous influence within the party, they also have surmised that the former president is seeking to enact political revenge on onetime allies. Some view that strategy as unwise and disadvantageous to the GOP as it looks to the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential election. "But more important than that, what we have to decide is: do we want to be the party of me or the party of us?" Christie told the publication. "What Donald Trump has advocated is for us to be the 'party of me,' that everything has to be about him and about his grievances." Story continues Christie and Trump have a long history; the former president's sister connected her brother with the then-federal prosecutor in 2002 and the two men ran against each other during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. Trump successfully ran as a political outsider during his first presidential bid, while Christie hoped that his blunt-talking style would earn him votes among the party's conservative base, especially since he had a record of winning in a state that is solidly blue on the presidential level. When Trump captured the White House in 2016, Christie reportedly turned down multiple Cabinet positions, but still maintained close ties with the then-president throughout his tenure in office. He even helped Trump prepare for the 2020 presidential debates against then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. After Trump was defeated by Biden in the general election and baselessly blamed his loss on widespread voter fraud, Christie over time morphed into a critic of the Trump campaign's legal strategy, especially when the Supreme Court in December 2020 declined to take up a GOP-backed lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over the validity of the results in several swing states. "The reason the Supreme Court is not taking this is not because of a lack of courage," Christie said at the time. "It's for the same reason that every court has thrown this out. It's a lack of evidence and a lack of any type of legal theory that makes any sense." Read the original article on Business Insider The quintessential Paul Trible moment for 26 years at Christopher Newport University is not about new buildings or endowment ballooning or graduation rates soaring. It looks like this: Ive seen him so many times, when an old student is visiting, walk up, call them by name, shake hands, ask them how they are doing, said Jay Paul, director of CNUs distinctive Honors Program. CNUs recent commencements have distinct Trible style, too. Instead of the usual long speeches and parade of students getting a diploma and a quick handshake, the past two featured a three-minute Trible speech probably my shortest before sending students and families on a ceremonial tour. It started at the bell tower where students ring the chimes they rang as freshmen then headed to the alumni center, where families deposited letters they wrote to the new graduates. The plan is to open them at their 50th reunion. Then, for the next nine hours, Trible was available so graduates and their families could get diplomas, have a conversation and snap all the photos they want. One graduate said: Oh Im sorry there are so many people with me, Trible said. And I told her, That just means there are so many people to love you. Her mother wrote me a note later to say when they got home, her daughter told her about that. Hes always there, said Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, a CNU alum. I dont think there was a week or two that ever went by when I didnt walk by him and hed call out and say hello. My father was ill, and he knew that and when he saw me, hed always asked about my dad I dont think they ever met until my graduation ... but heres this man running a multi-million-dollar enterprise and he knew about my dad and asked about him. That means a lot to me. At the start of 1996, Trible took charge of what had been struggling little commuter college that was losing students its four-year graduation rate was just 11%. A state report recommended shutting it down. Story continues He led faculty, staff and students to create a highly regarded public university providing a liberal arts education for which students typically had turned to costlier, highly selective private colleges. When I came, Christopher Newport was sort of going out of business, Trible said. I gathered all the faculty and staff and I shared a dream with them that were going to build a great university for America. Years later, one of the older professors, a kind of curmudgeon, was retiring and came by to see me, and he said, Paul, you remember that day you had us all in and you talked about your vision I walked out of there with some friends and I said you were crazy as hell. . His idea right from the start was to demand high quality professors connecting with students in small classes. You know, great dreams have power and consequence, Trible said. If I said were going to be 5% or 10% better, nobody would have cared. Since many of the old Christopher Newports students were finding what they needed elsewhere, he proposed going against current trends in higher education marketing, to instead woo traditional students interested in residential colleges with liberal arts and science programs. He wanted, and got, an honor code, and encouraged a range of activities to enliven campus life. He launched a leadership program, and a large percentage of students pursue minors in leadership studies. Hes decisive, Paul said. When I went to him with the Honors idea, he got it right away. We had it up and running in year; I had more trouble convincing some faculty than the president thats not the way it usually goes in universities. The program built on the rigorous core curriculum requirement that Trible insisted on, which includes math, laboratory science, foreign language, economics, literature, English composition and even American history. The idea is to speed students advance into upper-level coursework and the aim is for everyone, including professors, to learn. Honors program students pursue independent research, some of which ends up published scholarly journals, and are encouraged to engage with the community. Paul dreamed of creating a public university that could incorporate the values and intimacy of his alma mater Hampden Sydney, a university that could rival the splendor and inspiration of the University of Virginia and a university that could match the reputation and academic excellence of William & Mary, said Robert R. Hatten, CNUs Rector. During Tribles tenure, enrollment grew from 2,920 to more than 4,700. The four-year graduation rate now stands at 69%. Full-time faculty increased from 166 to 282; the librarys holdings quadrupled to 1.2 million volumes. The universitys endowment the pool of donated funds that allow it to venture into new areas for research and new ways of teaching and learning rose from $330,000 to $60 million. I had this idea for a performing arts center; Christopher Newport had wonderful music and theatre arts programs but we were the only school in Virginia with these and no performance space. And this community didnt have one either, Trible said. But he was convinced that arts as well as a campus architecture echoing Virginias Georgian traditions would help CNU with our business: to instruct and inspire. He found an ally in then-Del. Alan Diamonstein. In the 1996 General Assembly session, Diamonstein won a $5 million appropriation for the performing arts center and a 21% boost in CNUs operating funds. When I came here, I guess they thought, what the heck, he cant make things worse, Trible said. After that, I think they thought, well maybe hes OK. A dream is one thing, a dream with $5 million is something else. With that, he launched the community fundraising effort that eventually resulted in the construction of the Ferguson Center. Trible is one of two longstanding and influential Peninsula college presidents to retire at the end of the school year Hampton Universitys William Harvey also plans to retire after 43 years at the school. Trible took a sabbatical in February 2021 to care for wife Rosemary, who was ill but is doing much better these days. Rosemary Trible, a fixture on the campus, is known for giving each graduate a hug as they walk across the stage during commencement. She is an author, has shared her story as a rape victim and counseled hundreds of women. Paul and Rosemary Trible made and kept promises to thousands of students and families across Virginia, said Peter Blake, director of the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia. Through the arts, intellectual vitality and community leadership, they improved the quality of life for residents in Hampton Roads and beyond, he added. Trible took office as Christopher Newports fifth president on Jan. 1, 1996, a career in law and politics that included service as a commonwealths attorney of Essex County from 1974-76, three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and one term in the U.S. Senate. He won his first election to Congress at 29, the first Republican to represent a district that stretched from his home turf in the rural stretches of the Middle Peninsula to what was then solidly Democratic Newport News. His community connections and political experience were key to his successes, friends and colleagues say. He understands how things work, said Sen. Mark Warner. When Warner was governor, CNU could still seem dwarfed around Capitol Square by heavy hitters from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and William & Mary, he said. Trible was a key ally in convincing the General Assembly to approve a higher education bond sale and taxes to tackle state schools financial squeeze. A lot of academics are nervous about getting into politics, but Paul took a lead and gave them the backbone to be a help, Warner said. Tribles political savvy and connections on both sides of the aisle has paid off for CNU, too as when it comes to the schools share of state bond financings for higher education. Trible shepherded more than $1 billion in construction projects, mostly recently including the $60 million-dollar 83,000-square-foot Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center with its facade of cascading glass domes facing Warwick Boulevard. Hes a firm Republican and is a close friend of Warners and many other Virginia Democrats. Theres no R or D when it comes to dealing with Paul Trible, said Mullin. His vision of what CNU is excited me I had to move here to be a part of it. That vision, Mullin said, is to nurture a really thoughtful place, that gives people an opportunity to think about the world, think critically, and create citizen scholars ... students who are part of the community, who really volunteer because thats the kind of person Paul is. Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Lanphear on the Barrington School District's vaccination mandate: "The teachers who would be required to be vaccinated were not advised of the proposed change directly, or through the required public notice." BARRINGTON A Superior Court judge has issued a decision that bolsters the case of three Barrington teachers who say they were unfairly fired for not complying with a COVID vaccination mandate enacted by the school district last year. Judge Jeffrey Lanphear ruled that the School Committee violated the state Open Meetings Act by not giving sufficient notice to the public when it adopted a policy last September making it one of only two districts in Rhode Island to require employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. (The other, Little Compton, has one school and sends high school students out of district.) While others among the Barrington school systems 427 teachers, administrators and support staff got vaccinated, Brittany DiOrio, Stephanie Hines and Kerri Thurber objected on religious grounds. They were put on leave last fall and fired in January. More: RI climate suit gets boost with decision affirming it belongs in state court Their lawyer, Gregory Piccirilli, said the ruling is a small victory, but that ultimately he and his clients want the court to overturn the vaccination mandate. Then, any action, including terminating my clients, would be void, Piccirilli said. They would be eligible for reinstatement and back pay. Lanphear has scheduled a hearing for June 21 to hear arguments on any remedies, damages or sanctions in the case. School Committee Chairwoman Gina Bae said the school district strongly disagrees with the courts ruling. The court failed to address significant record evidence of the totality of the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the policy, which we believe fairly apprised the public of the nature of the business to be discussed, Bae said in a statement. More: Cranston dentist who defied RI COVID vaccine mandate sues for right to see patients again In his ruling, Lanphear is clear about the scope of the lawsuit. This case is not about whether mandating vaccinations is appropriate, he wrote. Story continues Rather, the case is limited to the School Committees compliance with the open meetings law. In that regard, Lanphear found multiple failings on the School Committees part as it considered and then passed the vaccination mandate. At a subcommittee meeting in August, at which the new policy was discussed, and at meetings of the full committee in late August and early September, through which it was adopted, the public agendas and subsequent minutes failed to specifically mention a vaccination requirement. On Sept. 20, Supt. Michael Messore sent an email to staff informing them of the policy change and notifying them that they needed to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1. DiOrio, Hines and Thurber requested religious exemptions within three days of the notice. The requests were denied and they were placed on unpaid leave on Nov. 2. When they had still not been vaccinated, they were fired on Jan. 1. More: Central Falls schools bring back mask mandate as COVID cases rise again Two have since found jobs at private schools while one of them is still out of work, said Piccirilli. The three teachers said they were not aware of the new policy and its requirement of vaccination before the school year started, making it difficult for them to look for alternative employment. They were the only teachers in the state of Rhode Island who were treated like this, Piccirilli said. Lanphear gives credence to the teachers position on the lack of notice by the School Committee. More: Providence schools bring back COVID mask mandate With minimal and vague notice, it is reasonable to conclude that few knew of the actions being taken, he wrote. There is no evidence to prove otherwise. The teachers who would be required to be vaccinated were not advised of the proposed change directly, or through the required public notice. Students and parents were not advised. He continued, The School Committee agendas indicated that there would be changes to how COVID-19 would be handled as schools were being required to reopen by the state, but the notices were not clear or specific that mask mandates or vaccination mandates were being imposed. Barringtons requirement of vaccinations (right or wrong) would have been particularly controversial as no other community required vaccination [of] teachers. As part of the decision, the judge also ruled that the three fired teachers had legal standing to file their lawsuit. As to their request to void the vaccination mandate and have the district pay a $5,000 fine and their lawyers fees, Lanphear will make a decision after the June 21 hearing. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Judge: Barrington schools violated law in passing vaccine mandate A memorial is seen surrounding the Robb Elementary School sign following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 26, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images The Uvalde gunman asked a young relative about his school before the mass shooting, per DailyMail.com. The boy, a third-grader, attended Robb Elementary, which the gunman went on to attack. The gunman asked for details like when lunchtime was, the boy's mother said. The gunman who killed at least 19 students and two adults in Uvalde, Texas, asked a young relative for information about the school he attacked one week before the mass shooting, according to a cousin. Shelby Celeste Salazar told DailyMail.com that the 18-year-old gunman asked her son, a third-grade student at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which school he attended and when students typically went for lunch. "At the time I didn't think anything of it, they had a good relationship," Salazar told the outlet. "They are second cousins." She said the two were "so close," which she said made the massacre more shocking to her. Salazar said the questions about meal times, his grade, and his school did not alarm her. She told DailyMail.com: "I mean you don't just assume someone will do something like this, you know?" The gunman was living with Salazar, her children, and their grandmother. He shot the grandmother, Celia Gonzalez, in the face just before the attack. She survived and was recovering in the hospital after the attack. The gunman opened attacked Robb Elementary on Tuesday with an AR-15 rifle. He attacked a fourth-grade class, meaning Salazar's child in third grade did not end up being a target. Salazar told DailyMail.com that she didn't know whether the gunman deliberately avoided targeting his relative at the school. Police in Uvalde have faced intense criticism in the days since the massacre, focused on their decision to wait for heavily-armed backup before confronting the shooter. The delay lasted more than an hour. Officials in Texas have since admitted the decision was wrong. Details are still emerging about how the gunman came to attack the school. Insider reported that several individuals have come forward to say he shared his plans for the elementary school shooting online. According to The New York Times, the gunman alarmed his peers and those he had met online in the weeks leading up to the shooting. A freshman at Uvalde High School said he was "scared" after he saw the gunman post a picture of two black rifles on his Instagram story. Read the original article on Insider David Walliams said his invitation for Simon Cowell's wedding hasn't yet surfaced. (Getty) David Walliams wants to throw Simon Cowell a stag party themed around drag queens, but he's not convinced the TV impresario would be too keen on the idea. Walliams told The Sun that he hasn't yet received an invitation for Cowell's wedding to partner Lauren Silverman and suggested even the date is still under wraps. Read more: David Walliams "upset" by phone hacking The Britain's Got Talent judge said he would be more than happy to organise his telly colleague's stag night, but said Cowell would probably rather he didn't. Walliams said: "I dont think our tastes would align on a stag night. I would do something like a drag stag, where I say all guys have to go in drag, and I dont think that is what Simon would actually like. Watch: Choir of frontline workers performs on Britain's Got Talent "I think that would be his worst nightmare. There are things that Simon would find entertaining on a stag, and thats not one. If I get invited that would be a thrill though." As for the ceremony itself, Walliams said he expects it to be a big, glamorous affair in keeping with Cowell's reputation as one of music and TV's wealthiest personalities. Read more: Biggest scandals in Britain's Got Talent history The 50-year-old said: "I dont think it would be in Simons style to do a small wedding, as his 50th was a big do and I think if I was Lauren I would want to have a big dress and glitzy, exciting party. "Id be surprised if they just ran away to Gretna Green with two other people." Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman are due to marry after being together since 2013. (Getty) Walliams, who is currently on screen with Cowell for the 15th series of Britain's Got Talent, said he doesn't think he's on any sort of blacklist for the wedding, despite his lack of an invite thus far. He said: "I certainly havent received an invite and I think people have read that as Im not invited, but I dont think anyone is yet. I think only they know when and where it is going to be. "I am really pleased for them. They have their beautiful son together and it feels like the time is right." Story continues Read more: Sinitta won't be at Simon Cowell's wedding Cowell and New York socialite Silverman have been together since 2013, with Silverman giving birth to their son Eric in 2014. He popped the question over the Christmas period, surprising fans who had heard his previous comments about never wanting to get married. Watch: David Walliams impersonates Billie Eilish in Comic Relief skit Veldarin Jackson Sr., center, talks about receiving the call that his mother, Janice Reed, had died as his wife, Adjoa Jackson, left, becomes emotional Tuesday in Chicago. Reed was one of the three senior victims who died in a Rogers Park building where residents complained of heat. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has yet to determine the causes of death for the three women May 14. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune via AP) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune via Associated Press) Temperatures barely climbed into the 90s and only for a couple of days. But the discovery of the bodies of three women inside a Chicago senior housing facility this month left the city looking for answers to questions that were supposed to be addressed after a longer and hotter heat wave killed more than 700 people nearly three decades ago. Now, the city and the country is facing the reality that because of climate change, deadly heat waves can strike just about anywhere, don't only fall in the height of summer and need not last long. Hotter and more dangerous heat waves are coming earlier, in May ... and the other thing is we are getting older and more people are living alone," said Eric Klinenberg, a New York University sociologist, who wrote Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago about the 1995 heat wave. It's a formula for disaster. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office has yet to determine the causes of death for the three women whose bodies were found in the James Sneider Apartments on May 14. But the victims' families have already filed or plan to file wrongful death lawsuits against the companies that own and manage the buildings. The City Council member whose ward includes the neighborhood where the building is said she experienced stifling temperatures in the complex when she visited, including in one unit where heat sensors hit 102 degrees. These are senior residents, residents with health conditions [and] they should not be in these conditions, Alderman Maria Hadden said in a Facebook video shot outside the apartments. Part of the problem, experts say, is that communities nationwide are still learning how deadly heat can be. It took the sight of refrigerated trucks being filled with dead bodies after Chicago's 1995 heat wave to drive home the message that the city was woefully unprepared for a silent and invisible disaster that took more than twice as many lives as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Story continues That realization led to a system in which city workers call elderly and frail people and turn city buildings into 24-hour cooling centers when temperatures become oppressive. What happened this month is a reminder that the safeguards in place to make sure people don't freeze to death because they have not paid their heating bills often do not exist to prevent people from overheating in their homes. We have nothing for air conditioning, Hadden said. One expert isn't surprised. We recognize people need heating in cold weather and set up programs, financial assistance, to enable that but we dont do that for cooling, said Gregory Wellenius, a Boston University professor of environmental health who has studied heat-related deaths. But subsidies for cooling are really controversial [because] for many people cooling is seen as a luxury item. In Chicago, Hadden said the building's management company believed it was not allowed to turn off the heat and turn on the air conditioning until June 1, because of the city's heat ordinance. But while she said the ordinance has no such requirement, the explanation may at least be a signal that the ordinance should be amended to better protect vulnerable people from heat. Wellenius said statistics show that while more than 80% of homes in cities such as Dallas and Phoenix have air conditioning, the percentage is far lower in cities like Boston and New York. And in the Pacific Northwest, the percentage is even lower, something that came into stark relief in Oregon, Washington and western Canada last June, when temperatures climbed as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit, killing 600 people or more. There is encouraging news. More people have air conditioning and we are more aware of the health risks of heat waves, Klinenberg said. Still, there is evidence that people don't appreciate or even know just how dangerous the heat can be. In a study published in 2020, Wellenius and other researchers estimated that nationwide about 5,600 deaths a year could be attributed to high heat eight times more than the 700 heat-related deaths that the study found were officially reported each year. Wellenius said the reasons for what he called a gross miscalculation begin with the fact that official statistics count only death certificates that list heat as the sole cause of death. In some cases, heat is not listed as a cause even though it may have led to death in people with other conditions. He said the same thing happened in the earliest days of the pandemic when people who died in nursing homes in Europe were not tested for COVID so they were not counted as COVID deaths. In Cook County, which includes Chicago, the medical examiner's office reported two heat-related deaths last year, and seven the year before. Just how many deaths in the U.S. are heat related today is unclear. Wellenius' study, published in 2020, is the result of research from 1997 to 2006. And Klinenberg said the issue has been complicated by the pandemic because the people at greatest risk of being killed by COVID-19 are also at the greatest risk of being killed by extreme heat. It's hard to distinguish excess heat deaths from COVID deaths, he said. Still, Hadden knows something must be done to deal with heat that can hit earlier and later in the year than it once did. We have to plan for this, she said. Klinenberg wonders if cities will follow up on such talk. Heat never feels like the most important thing in cities and by the time it feels like the most important thing it is too late to do anything about it," he said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Assembly Democrats are making to push to replace Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood. Multiple sources tell KCRA 3 Investigates that Assemblymember Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, has gained enough support of legislators to take the position from Rendon. Rendon would like to keep the position in the Democratically-controlled Assembly into next year but there is a push to get this change before the end of the year, with a vote coming as early as Tuesday. Multiple sources inside the Legislature say that Rendon has been approaching Republican Assembly members to try and retain the speakership. However, Rendon rejected a push by Republicans to repeal the gas tax, which has been a major sticking point that has lost any support from that side, according to one source, who said Rendon also opposed several water issues in the Assembly. A 47-year-old man has been arrested in the killing of two women 13 years ago in Pennsylvania, prosecutors said. DNA evidence led to the arrest, police said in the affidavit of probable cause. Police arrested Morico Johnson in Newport News, Virginia, on two counts of criminal homicide, according to a May 26 news release from the Huntingdon County District Attorneys Office in Pennsylvania. Christine McWhorter and her aunt Beatrice Daniels were killed on Jan. 3, 2009, in Shirley Township and died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the news release and The Patriot-News. McWhorters two young children, ages 4 months and 4 years, were in the apartment when the women were killed, the outlet reported. Investigators found blood on their staircase and near their main door, police said. When the blood was sent for analysis, DNA results linked it to an unidentified male, police said. Then that DNA sample was sent to Parabon Laboratories in March 2016, which produced a report describing ancestry, hair color, skin color, eye color and freckling, police said. Authorities had the DNA sent for additional testing two years later. This genetic genealogy report identified Johnson as a potential match in 2018, police said. Johnson submitted a DNA sample to police in 2019, and testing concluded in 2020 that the blood found at the womens apartment matched his DNA, police said. A warrant was issued for Johnsons arrest on Monday, May 23 13 years after the women were killed. His arrest was announced three days later. Army veteran who vanished in 1976 identified as murder victim, North Carolina cops say Man vanished before Thanksgiving 31 years ago in Alabama. His body was just identified Tree trimmer scouted homes before slashing victims throats, California officials say By Trend Chief of the National Central Bureau of Interpol, Police Major General Alaslan Aghayev has been dismissed on the basis of age following the order of Minister of Internal Affairs of of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Vilayat Eyvazov, the ministry told Trend. Eyvazov thanked Aghayev for his long-term fruitful service in the internal affairs bodies and wished him every success in his future activities. KATERINA TISHCHENKO - SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022, 21:35 On the Donetsk and Luhansk fronts on Saturday, fighters of the Joint Forces Operation repulsed 7 attacks by Russian occupying forces. Fighting continues at 3 locations. Source: Joint Forces Group, Skhid [East] Operational and Tactical Group Quote: "In the past 24 hours, servicemen of the Joint Forces Operation destroyed 1 tank and 6 enemy vehicles. Air defence units shot down an "Orlan-10" unmanned aerial vehicle in the skies of the Ukrainian Donbas." Details: On Saturday in the "East" operational and tactical groups area of responsibility, the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed up to 33 enemy personnel, 1 tank and 5 AT-Ts [heavy artillery tractors]. According to the Joint Forces Operation, on 28 May, the occupiers fired on more than 40 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In the Donetsk region alone, 15 civilian facilities were destroyed and damaged, including 14 residential buildings and a coke plant. As a result of these shellings, at least 3 civilians were killed and five others were injured. Data on casualties, destruction and damage in Luhansk Oblast are being clarified. Elon Musk took to Twitter Friday night to chime in on Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's future following the drama-filled six-week trial, which is now in the hands of the jury. "I hope they both move on. At their best, they are each incredible," Musk said in response to podcaster Lex Fridman's tweet. Fridman prompted Musk's response with conclusions following the defamation trial. "My takeaways from Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial: 1. Fame is one hell of a drug (for some). 2. Psychiatrists & lawyers come in drastically varying levels of skill. 3. Lying to millions of people is something humans are capable of. 4. Love can be messy. 5. Mega pint of wine." AMBER HEARD SAYS JOHNNY DEPP FANS WANT TO MICROWAVE HER BABY During the trial, Depp alleged that Musk and Heard dated during his marriage to Heard. The Tesla CEO and Heard dated on and off after her split with Depp in 2016 until 2018, according to a Musk representative. In April, the Tesla CEO was subpoenaed to give up any and all communication he had with Heard concerning Depp. Following the subpoena, Musk's attorney, Alex Spiro, told Fox News Digital his client would not take the stand. In 2019, the "Pirates of The Carribean" actor sued Heard for $50 million in defamation damages after she published a 2018 op-ed piece in The Washington Post, alleging she was the victim of domestic violence. In 2021, Heard countersued Depp for $100 million. Both sides presented closing arguments Friday and now await a verdict from the jury. Katya Echazarreta next to Blue Origin's New Shepard flying toward space on December 11, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Space for Humanity/Mario Tama/Getty Images Katya Echazarreta will be the first Mexican-born woman to fly to space, via Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. She told Insider she's kept her career dreams secret because people said she couldn't accomplish them. Many women leave their job in STEM because of the toxic and unwelcoming environment, she said. Katya Echazarreta will be the first Mexican-born woman to fly to the edge of space when she takes her seat on a Blue Origin rocket. Jeff Bezos' aerospace company, Blue Origin, will soon launch its fifth human flight, taking six passengers for an 11-minute ride to the Karman line an imaginary boundary 100 kilometers above sea level, where many experts say space begins. Echazarreta will be one of the six passengers to fly in Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, after attending three days of training. In an exclusive interview with Insider, she said she's not nervous but rather excited about the trip to space. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Echazarreta is an engineer who has worked on five NASA missions, including Perseverance Rover. She's also the co-host of the YouTube series "Netflix IRL" and "Electric Kat" on the CBS show "Mission Unstoppable." She said that she's faced barriers while working her way up as an engineer in the space industry because of her gender and the country she was born in. Katya Echazarreta is the first Mexican-born woman to fly to space. Space for Humanity "I think the biggest [barrier] has been just a lack of belief in big goals and big dreams," Echazarreta said. "I've had to essentially keep a lot of these things secret because as soon as I mentioned anything like: I want to be an engineer, I want to work at NASA, I want to go to space, I want to be in the space industry, all I heard around me was, 'No, you can't do that,'" she said. Throughout her career and education at college, people told Echazarreta they didn't want to work with her because of what she looked like, she said. Echazarreta said what she has experienced happens to a lot of women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. Story continues "Individuals will be very direct, and tell you things like, 'You don't belong here,' 'You shouldn't be here,' 'You were only hired because you were a woman or some diversity quota,' 'That's the only reason why you're here,' when you're trying to climb the ladder to become a more experienced engineer," Echazarreta said. It's Echazarreta's belief that the majority of women who leave their careers in STEM do so primarily because of the toxicity and unwelcoming environment and she wants to change this. Launching to space is part of Echazarreta's mission to provide representation for women and minorities in the STEM sector. She got a seat on Blue Origin's rocket through the nonprofit Space for Humanity, which she initially applied for in 2019. After many interviews, Echazarreta was selected out of thousands of people because she was considered a "purpose-driven leader" who was working to empower from all demographics in STEM, Rachel Lyons, executive director of Space for Humanity, told Insider. Space for Humanity (@SpaceHumanity) May 9, 2022 When Blue Origin's passengers reach the edge of space, they'll unbuckle from their seats and experience three minutes of weightlessness and stunning views of Earth for about three minutes. Echazarreta said she wants to spend most of her time looking out of the window, given that she has already floated around in zero gravity simulators on Earth. She said that she's dreamed of going to space her whole life, but never expected to go this soon. "I'm ready to just take advantage of the whole experience," Echazarreta said. Read the original article on Business Insider Scouted/The Daily Beast/Foreo. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. After working in front of a computer for long hours every day, my eyebags look more like suitcases than they do bags. While my grandma used cucumber slices to reduce eye swelling, I wanted something a little more effective and modern to combat my undereye obstacles. It was time for a foray into uncharted watersbeauty tech. I was introduced to the Swedish brand Foreo, which has garnered a cult following with its innovative skincare and wellness devices. The Foreo Iris is touted as a mechanical version of an eye massage. It claims to increase circulation to invigorate skin, diminish dark circles, and minimize eye bags. Since eye massage seems best left to professionals, I thought to give it a shot. When it arrived, I wasnt sure what I was looking at what I ordered ( was it sex toy? laser gun?). Its made from BPA-free, hygienic silicone, and uses T-sonic technology to emit gentle pulsations. But using it on my eye area felt Aaah-mazing, so I was instantly hooked. Its only one minute to use, twice daily. Even with my commitment issues, thats been manageable. Its used while applying eye cream, (it enhances eye cream absorption, as an additional benefit) so its also kept me more regular with moisturizing. There are videos online, and a smartphone app with tutorials, so it was very easy to learn how to use. Buy on Foreo, $140 Buy on Amazon, $99 It was so simple, I thought, what could this possibly be accomplishing? Since its based on lymphatic massage techniques, it stimulates the right places to drain fluids, yet stays gentle enough to not irritate the eyes. Sometimes, in this pollen-laden season, I even use it a little further below my eyes to relieve sinus pressure. Its so relaxing! Along with feeling amazing, my eyes started to look markedly less puffy after a few days. What surprised me was that my hooded eyelids started to look more taunt, the skin around my eyes is healthier, and may I sayfirmer? The effects are cumulative and get better the longer I use it. Story continues I shouldnt be shocked; Foreo is known for its game-changing microcurrent devices, like the Bear and Luna, which are super effective at gently stimulating facial muscles to help lift sagging areas and freshen the complexion. If you also have concerns about swelling around your eyes, signs of aging, or just love a relaxing eye massage pick up the Foreo Iris! Check out our coupon site for more deals. If you buy something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 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. (Bloomberg) -- The European Union proposed banning seaborne oil from Russia while delaying restrictions on imports from a key pipeline in an effort to satisfy Hungarian objections and clinch an agreement on a stalled sanctions package that would target Moscow for its war in Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg The European Commission, the EUs executive arm, sent a revised proposal to national governments on Saturday that would spare shipments of oil through the giant Druzhba pipeline, which is Hungarys main source of crude imports, according to people familiar with the matter. Member states would phase out their imports of seaborne crude in six months and refined petroleum products in eight months, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The proposal would give more time to Hungary, which has opposed the deal, to find a technical solution that satisfies its energy needs. It would also address the concerns of other landlocked countries, including Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Under the revised draft, Bulgaria would get a transition period until June or December 2024 and Croatia could get an exemption for imports of vacuum gas oil. The commission also proposed restricting re-exports of Russian oil supplied by pipeline to other member states or third countries. The commission also appears to have limited the scope of a provision that would affect services linked to the shipment of oil to third countries. The draft currently prohibits providing technical assistance, brokering services or financing or financial assistance in six months following its adoption. The previous proposal also included any other services, which was understood as a reference to providing insurance for shipments. Story continues EU ambassadors are scheduled to meet on Sunday when they could discuss the revised package. Some member states are pushing to have an agreement before EU leaders meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the war in Ukraine. The sanctions package requires the backing of all member states. Several nations had previously opposed distinguishing between seaborne and pipeline deliveries over concerns that such a split was unfair as it would disproportionately hit their supplies. Sanctions Impact The EU had previously proposed phasing out all Russian oil imports by early next year. Hungary and Slovakia would have been given until the end of 2024 to comply, while the Czech Republic would have been granted an exemption until June 2024. The countries are heavily reliant on Russian oil, but they account for a relatively small portion of the EUs overall imports from Moscow. Exempting pipeline oil from the measures -- which Hungary had previously asked as a condition to back the package, along with more time and infrastructure investments -- will dent the impact of the sanctions. Russia shipped about 720,000 barrels a day of crude to European refineries through its main pipeline to the region last year. That compares with seaborne volumes of 1.57 million barrels a day from its Baltic, Black Sea and Arctic ports. However, the bulk of the pipeline deliveries are to Germany and Poland, which have signaled they will wean themselves off Russian supplies regardless of any EU action. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty ROMERemember back to Feb. 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putins special operation in Ukraine quickly escalated into a bloodbath? It was the first full-scale invasion in Europe since the end of World War II, and the European Union scrambled to offer support and promises that are increasingly looking like they might just be empty. On April 8, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Kyiv where she stepped around the corpses of Bucha alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, promising him a fast track to EU membership. It will not as usual be a matter of years to form this opinion but I think a matter of weeks, she said. Dear Volodymyr, my message today is clear: Ukraine belongs in the European family. Isha Sesay (L) and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (C) speak onstage during Stand Up For Ukraine on April 09, 2022 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Brian Dowling/Getty Images) But as the deadline looms for a late May meeting ahead of a crucial summit next month, some of Europes most influential member states have thrown cold water on Ukraines membership whichit must be statedthey started working towards nearly two decades ago. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that fast-tracking a country like Ukraine would be unfair to other Western Balkan countries which have also been banging on the Euro clubhouse door. There are no shortcuts on the way to the EU, Scholz said when asked about Ukraine last week. The accession process is not a matter of a few months or years. French President Emmanuel Macron was more precise in what Europe may be thinking, saying it would take decades for a candidate like Ukraine to join the bloc. Macron suggested there needed to be a mini-club-style alliance that would also bring the U.K. back into the fold after Brexit, though stopping short of the crucial perks Ukraine will so badly need in terms of support, funding, and structural reforms when the war finally ends. Emily Channell-Justice, who heads the Temerty Contemporary Ukraine Program at Harvards Ukrainian Research Institute, told The Daily Beast that she is disappointed but not ultimately surprised at the EU hesitancy on bringing Ukraine in. Its not that surprising in a lot of ways because its not as if Ukraine didnt have problems regarding its European future before the war began, she said. The war didnt throw it off track, but now Ukraine is in a position to say to the EU, We are basically the ones protecting all of you from your greatest threat. They have set a great example for the rest of us in so many areas, this is the least we can do for them. Story continues German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is pictured behind the reflection of an EU flag on the window of the Chancellery as he awaits for the arrival of Bulgaria's President ahead of their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on May 16, 2022. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images) She says that even more than the concrete support EU membership would provide, it would be a sign that the EU meant what they said when the war began. There are certain obligations that would potentially be helpful, any kind of symbolic move the EU can make is helpful, she says. But some countries are afraid of making the complete rupture with Russia, especially given that Putin is so unpredictable. The issues holding many European countries back are two-fold. Some countries, especially Italy, Hungary and Germany, are struggling with a viable plan to wean themselves off Russian oil. Italy recently opened a ruble account to ensure they wont be cut off. The EU has not been able to agree on a boycott of Russian oil either, which sends a signal that they may be willing to continue to do business with Putin despite his actions in Ukraine. The other issue for many is the pending membership of six other candidates: Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, who are ahead of Ukraine in the process. For years, they have been undertaking intensive reforms and preparing for accession, the German chancellor said. It is not only a question of our credibility that we keep our promises to them. Today more than ever, their integration is also in our strategic interest. Still, not everyone believes the playing field is level given Ukraines particular vulnerability. What people dont understand is that this isn't a new idea, this is something many people have wanted in Ukraine since 2004, and the majority of Ukrainians have wanted and worked for since 2014, Channell-Justice says. And I think it is a matter of recognizing that it is not always about how you assess the country as a whole, they have built a functional civil society that challenges elites to do a better job. For its part, the EU has indicated that even if full membership isnt in the near future, they wont abandon Ukraine entirely. Millions of war refugees have been welcomed across the bloc in a way no other war refugees have been, and billions of dollars in aid in the form of military equipment and cash to pay Ukraines army has been sent. Butit appearsthe help stops there. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. The first stop back on U.S. soil for American service members killed overseas is Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. It's where their families wait, where VIPs gather and where the honor guard is called. Its at this site where members of the Air Force mortuary affairs team have the solemn task of preparing the remains of America's war dead for burial. Every day is Memorial Day here. "There's not another mission exactly like it in the military," said Maj. Matthew Knight, senior chaplain at Dover. "We get to bring home our fallen with honor, and we get to keep America's promise. We want to ensure, whenever our fallen come through here, that they and their loved ones are shown dignity and respect." MEMORIAL DAY: REMEMBERING AMERICA'S FALLEN HEROES Flag-draped transfer cases line the inside of a C-17 Globemaster II Aug. 29, 2021, prior to a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Jason Minto/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images Sgt. First Class Crystal Seymore is an Army liaison officer for the families of the fallen and is based out of Dover. Her task is to provide comfort and care for all families during their brief stay during the dignified transfer. The coffins carrying fallen service members are always wrapped in the American flag, and an honor guard escorts them off the plane. The deceased's family is usually waiting on the tarmac. Seymore has been deployed to Dover four times since her initial deployment in 2004. She says its the mission and the impact on the families that has brought her back for repeat tours. She still keeps in touch with some of the families she has met at Dover. "I feel as though I've touched a multitude of families around the most tragic time, one of the most tragic times within their life," Seymore said. Protocols and routines are established to help make the difficult transition for their next of kin. The families are brought to Fisher House, a facility donated by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher and their family that accommodates them while they wait for their loved one to land at the base. A liaison officer explains the process there. The Fisher House is designed for all ages, whether it be an elderly parent, a devastated spouse or a young child Story continues A U.S. Marine Corps carry team carries the transfer case containing the remains of Marine Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy of Cambridge, Ohio, during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base March 25, 2022, in Dover, Del. Drew Angerer/Getty Images "There are toys here for the children that come here with their family members," Seymore said. "There's a TV over to your left here. There are movies, There's a PlayStation. And it also just gives them a comfortable environment while they wait." Sometimes the families are in denial, right up until the moment they are brought to the flight line to watch the carry team move the transfer case holding the remains of their loved one from the military flight. BIDEN REPEATS FALSE CLAIM ABOUT TRIPS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, THIS TIME TO GRADUATING MIDSHIPMEN "I remember having a family who came and sat down with a small child and just refused to believe that their loved one had died," said Maj. Knight. "They didn't believe it was real. They didn't want to accept that it was real. But when they saw his transfer case come off the aircraft, suddenly an emotional dam broke. And there was a turning point with that family." A U.S. Marine Corps carry team transfers the remains of Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez of Logansport, Ind., Aug. 29, 2021 at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Jason Minto/U.S. Air Force via Getty Images The last Americans to die in Afghanistan landed in Dover last August: 11 Marines, a Navy corpsman and a soldier who were killed at Abbey Gate by a suicide bomber just days before the U.S. withdrawal was complete. Their arrival was broadcast live on TV with the permission of the families. President Biden, the Joint Chiefs and cabinet members were in attendance. Despite being at Dover for nearly two years, Maj. Knight believes that while the mission has never gotten easier, it has taught him about the painful reminder of sacrifice for those serving abroad. "When all of us raise our right hand and swear into the military, we swear to support and defend the Constitution," Knight said. "We make a promise to America, but something else happens. America makes a promise to us that should anything happen to us while we're serving, we will be brought home with honor. We don't leave our fallen behind." The former top leader of the Proud Boys will remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol and stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory, a federal judge has ruled. Henry Enrique Tarrio poses a danger to the public that cannot be mitigated by home detention and banning him from using social media, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in an order issued late Friday. Tarrio, a South Florida resident, has been jailed since his arrest on March 8, a day after his indictment on charges including conspiracy. A federal magistrate in Miami previously ordered his pretrial detention. Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders used encrypted channels, social media and other electronic communications to plan and carry out a plot to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and interfere with the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote, according to the indictment. Related video: Enrique Tarrio pleads not guilty to Capitol riot charges Tarrio asked Kelly to order his release on bond, but the judge rejected the request. Kelly said the evidence against Tarrio is very strong despite Tarrio's argument that authorities essentially do not have a smoking gun against him, perhaps in the form of direct evidence of an order from Tarrio to other Proud Boys to storm the Capitol. Tarrio was not in Washington when the insurrection took place. Police had arrested Tarrio in the District of Columbia two days before the riot and charged him with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church during a protest in December 2020. A judge ordered Tarrio to stay out of the nation's capital. Before he left Washington, Tarrio met with Oath Keepers founder and leader Elmer Stewart Rhodes and others in an underground parking garage for approximately 30 minutes, authorities say. Rhodes and several other members or associates of the anti-government Oath Keepers militia group are charged with seditious conspiracy in the Capitol attack. Story continues A documentary filmmaker recorded part of the garage meeting. "But not much about the substance of the meeting can be gleaned from the clips at one point, Tarrio and others motion for the filmmaker to stop," Kelly noted in his order. Tarrio claims to have stepped down as Proud Boys' national chairman. Five other men linked to the Proud Boys Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Charles Donohoe and Dominic Pezzola were charged in the same March 7 indictment as Tarrio. Donohoe, 34, of Kernersville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy and assault charges and has agreed to cooperate in the Justice Department's cases against other Proud Boys members. Nordean, Biggs, Rehl and Pezzola also remain jailed while awaiting a trial scheduled for August. Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter president. Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, has described himself as a Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. The indictment describes Pezzola, of Rochester, New York, as a member of his local Proud Boys chapter. Tarrio tried to communicate with Nordean and Biggs by telephone while the two men were moving in and out of the Capitol, the indictment says. The authors father, Mow Lim, in Tulare, California, in 1946. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) The authors father, Mow Lim, in Tulare, California, in 1946. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) The one thing I thought I knew for certain was that my Chinese father, Mow Lim, was allowed to immigrate in the 1940s because my grandfather was a U.S. citizen. I never questioned that fact or found out how Grandfather Sam, himself an immigrant, earned his citizenship. Nor could I ask my father these questions. He was killed in a plane crash in 1964, when I was 7. I adored my father and loved the stories my mother told me. He arrived on a steamship alone when he was 12, then moved from San Francisco to Tulare in the Central Valley in his teens. Butchering in a meat market during the day, he rode a bicycle to night school to learn English. He adopted the American name Don and, at 19, served in the U.S. Army in World War II. On a visit to China, he was matched to my mother. After they married, they had five children and he entered the grocery business. Before his death at 36, he owned a store in Castroville, California, and had a share of a larger one in Salinas. His photos in our albums comforted me for years after his death. He looked handsome and debonair with his arched eyebrows and easy smile. My eyes were always drawn to the picture of him in his teens, with a white T-shirt and rolled-up chinos. He had been my gateway to American life. He bought my sister a portable record player and dozens of 45s, and we listened to Barbara Lewis Hello Stranger and Lesley Gores Its My Party long after his death. He enrolled us in music and dance lessons. On his rare days off, he took us to the Santa Cruz boardwalk or to Pacific Grove to collect shells. As the baby in the family, I got to sit on his lap in the evening and I would try to synchronize my breathing with his. After his death, my widowed mother was left with five children, aged 7 to 15, two grocery businesses and limited English. Cantonese became the primary language at home and Chinese instrumental music replaced the soundtrack to Oklahoma on the stereo. I wasnt interested in my native culture. I wanted meatloaf with mashed potatoes or Taco Bell instead of the ground pork with salted fish and spare ribs with black bean sauce my grandmother made. I longed to go to summer camp and learn to canoe or vacation in Cape Cod and eat blueberries straight off the vines like the girls I read about in the books at the public library. Instead, my childhood and adolescence were spent working at the grocery store. Story continues Are you going to marry Chinese? my grandmother used to ask me. I always said yes because I wanted a partner who saw the importance of family, of saving face and being modest. In college, I met my Jewish boyfriend who embodied those traits and valued me. We married and settled in Los Angeles, where I pursued a career in social work and education. We raised two sons who were proud of their mixed heritage. I was confident of my citizenship and place in this country. It wasnt until 2017 that I researched our history and realized how little I knew about my fathers life before he came to America. Hed left China during the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned the entry of laborers from 1882 to 1943. It was the only piece of legislation that barred a specific ethnic group from entering this nation and from becoming naturalized citizens. There was an exemption for sons of native-born U.S. citizens. Was that how my father was able to come? Some Chinese evaded the ban by claiming to be sons of native-born citizens. Men would testify that they were born in the U.S. and then provide witnesses affirming that fact. Once declared citizens by the government, theyd visit China, then report the birth of sons when they came back. Those offspring were eligible to immigrate due to birthright citizenship. Thousands of Chinese entered the U.S. during the exclusion act using false papers. They were called paper sons. The authors father, Mow Lim, in San Francisco, California, 1941. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) The authors father, Mow Lim, in San Francisco, California, 1941. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) In 1906, all birth records in San Francisco burned in fires after the earthquake, leading to a flood of false papers. Chinese already in the U.S. declared under oath that they were born here and had sons in China. We knew of families with paper names and real clan names and brothers with different last names because of assumed identities. But I didnt think that was the case with my father or grandfather. What I found at the National Archives in San Bruno proved otherwise. My fathers case file contained transcripts and photos that documented his arrival. He was detained for 43 days before being interviewed by three inspectors. Barely 14 at the time, with cheeks still chubby with baby fat, they asked him 155 questions about his kinship and village life, trying to catch him in a lie. Were your paternal grandmothers feet ever bound? Has your village a fish pond? Were the tables and chairs the property of the school or individuals? The interrogation took two days, each question and answer translated through an interpreter. There were some lies in his testimony. He said that his grandfather, my great-grandfather, was born in the United States, but I knew that wasnt true. The grandfather was really his great-uncle Ock Jit, born in the Guangdong province, according to relatives. I requested files for Grandfather Sam, as well as Ock Jit, from the National Archives, where I discovered our clans path to the United States. In 1894, Ock Jit arrived in San Francisco via steamship. Wearing a black skull cap and black shirt, he told authorities hed been born in Chinatown but went back to Guangdong for a visit and was now re-entering. He was detained but filed a writ of habeas corpus with the federal courts. His testimony, and that of two witnesses, convinced the judge he was from San Francisco and he was declared a native-born citizen. In subsequent visits to China, he returned to San Francisco and declared the birth of sons (one was my grandfather though he was really a nephew). Ock Jit had one son but said he had four. In total, seven men were let into America as his sons and grandsons. The author's great-great-uncle, Ock Jit, in 1894. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) The author's great-great-uncle, Ock Jit, in 1894. (Photo: Courtesy of Cynthia Lim) Reading their files made me uneasy. Their claim to citizenship was based on a lie. Were they illegal immigrants? Did that mean I wasnt a true American? After the 2016 presidential election, the new administration railed against foreigners, documented and undocumented. There was talk of a Muslim ban. Would Chinese be singled out again? Would our status as citizens undergo scrutiny after the fact? But as I studied the story Ock Jits descendants told when they arrived, I couldnt fault them for lying. Like all immigrants, they were seeking a better life for themselves and future generations. I was impressed by how they educated themselves on the exemptions in the exclusion act and used the governments legal processes in their favor. They retained white attorneys knowledgeable of the judicial system to file the necessary paperwork for hearings. They took their cases to federal courts. I wondered if my father had any qualms about the deception. For many that entered during the exclusion era, there were fears of deportation if real relationships or names were revealed. My brother remembered my parents hiding the Chinese writing on a framed picture in case there was a surprise inspection from immigration. Fears of intimidation lurked in my mind with the rise of anti-Asian sentiment during the onset of COVID. Nearly a third of Asian-Americans in the San Gabriel Valley experienced hate during the pandemic, according to the LA Times.I thought back to what my ancestors did in the face of harsher times when they were clearly not welcomed here. I felt renewed gratitude for their efforts and reminded myself that this was my home. This was where I was born. And I am a true American. Cynthia Lim lives in Los Angeles and is the author of Wherever You Are: A Memoir of Love, Marriage, and Brain Injury. She is working on a book about her familys immigration from China. Find out more about Cynthia at cynthialimwriting.com . Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. More From HuffPost Personal... A Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) unit at the scene of the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting was told not to enter the school and instead wait, according to a report from NBC News. Two federal officials who spoke to the outlet said that agents who were part of BORTAC, CBPs tactical unit, arrived on the scene at Robb Elementary School around 12:15 p.m., approximately 45 minutes after the suspected shooter began his rampage. ICE Homeland Security Investigations division was also on the scene, according NBC. Once there, local police asked them to wait and assist pulling students out of windows. However, after 30 minutes passed, the federal agents decided to move in on the shooter and take him out. The news comes after Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Steven McCraw said earlier Friday during a press conference that law enforcement should have engaged the shooter earlier. McCraw explained that over the course of the incident, 19 police officers were at the scene in the schools hallway outside of the locked adjoining rooms where the shooter was hiding. The commanding officer on the scene did not allow the law enforcement to enter the rooms because he believed the shooter was barricaded and the children were not in danger. Emergency calls from students inside the room revealed later that children were begging for help. McCraw said there are different rules approaching a barricaded shooter than an active shooter, with police obligated to charge an active shooter without equipment. From the benefit of hindsight where Im sitting now, of course, it was not the right decision. It was a wrong decision. Period. There was no excuse for that, McCraw said. The Washington Post reported Friday citing a CBP official with knowledge of the situation that once federal agents made it into the locked rooms, the gunman emerged from a closet firing his weapon. The agents returned fire and killed him. They have not told me they were frustrated, the official said. But they told me it was hard to discern who was in charge. Story continues It wasnt a huge team, he continued. It was one agent from here, two from there, and they just converged there. Police response to the shooting has garnered scrutiny after initial statements from law enforcement showed inconsistencies. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Friday he was livid about being given inaccurate information about the police response to the shooting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Trend Azerbaijan continues the implementation of the pardon decree signed by the country's President Ilham Aliyev on May 27, Trend reports. Trend News Agencys photographer Zaur Mustafayev visited a number of penitentiary institutions, to capture the process initiated by the decree. Just hours before this years Cannes Palme dOr prize announcement, the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) has awarded Leilas Brothers its International Critics Prize for best film inCannes main competition. The title is pointed. Leila has four brothers, but it is Leila, played by Iranian star Taraneh Alidoosti (The Salesman), who dominates proceedings, battling to save her family from ruin, to tragic consequences. More from Variety Dense with overlapping dialogue, suffocating social situations and shifting point-of-view, Roustaees style is a stark departure from the straightforward, focused Iranian movies that have found their way into the world so far, whether the fable-like tales of Majidi or the intimate dramas of Farhadi, whose relative simplicity makes them uniquely suited to international consumption, Varietys Peter Debruge wrote in a review of the first film Cannes from Roustace, best known for 2019s cop-thriller Just 6.5. The Blue Caftan - Credit: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival The Fipresci jury, led by Egypts Ahmed Shawky, prized Leilas Brothers for the directors ability to craft an engaging story, very dense of cultural insights, drawing a microcosm of dysfunctional patriarchy and shifting freely and joyfully between tones, it said in a statement. In other plaudits, Maryam Touzanis The Blue Caftan took the nod for best film in Un Certain Regard; and Love According To Dalva, directed by Emmanuelle Nicot, was chosen by the Fipresci jury as best movie in either Directors Fortnight or Critics Week. Well liked by critics,The Blue Caftan explores with sensitivity the tragedy of a married man who has stifled his homosexuality whIle taking a bold stand against homophobia in Morocco. Story continues 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 told Variety. The Fipresci jury said its prize was for bravenesss. The director was brave enough to devote her gaze to the concealed homosexuality of a married man in Morocco. Through her work, she knows how to show us the world and the sad reality of a nation that she loves over all else. The Fipresci award to Love According To Dalva marks the third kudo in the space of three days for the drama, about a 12-year-old girl growing up in foster care, after it won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for Zelda Samson at Wednesdays Critics Week awards. The film is a well-crafted narration of a teenage girls return to normal life against incest and pedophilia, in a gentle and subtle way, the Fipresci jury noted. Love According to Dalva - Credit: Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival FIPRESCI INTERNATIONAL CRITICS PRIZES, CANNES 2022 COMPETITION Leilas Brothers, (Saeed Roustace, Iran) UN CERTAIN REGARD The Blue Caftan, (Maryam Touzani, Morocco, France, Denmark, Belgium) DIRECTORS FORTNIGHT/CRITICS WEEK Love According to Dalva, Emmanuelle Nicot, Belgium, France) 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. Shelves at the Westmoreland Food Bank will soon be a little fuller, thanks to the Rotary Club of Delmont-Salem and Busy Beaver. The pair teamed up to host a drive-up food donation event Saturday morning in Salem Township. The reality is that whatever we collect today is more than they had at the beginning of the morning, said Chris Tomley, with the Rotary Club of Delmont-Salem. The event was the Rotary Clubs third annual food drive and aims to collect 10,000 pounds of food. The initiative actually started out of the pandemic, back in 2020, and then from there its been an ongoing program that weve continued to support, said Tomley. The food collected will go a long way in helping to replenish the food banks supply of staples. Its all going to be non-perishables, said Tomley. Things that are not going to spoil. A lot of canned food, peanut butter. Things that people need or use. Pastas. Representatives from Busy Beaver say theyre happy to help put on the event and help give back to the people who support them. Busy Beaver is from the community. Weve been here for 60 years now, said Adam Gunnett, the companys director of IT and Marketing. Being new in the Delmont area, we want to show that we support our local communities. Through the end of the month, shoppers at all Westmoreland County Busy Beaver stores can round their purchase total to the next dollar and that money will be donated to the food bank. TRENDING NOW: Pilot suffers life-threatening injuries in Elizabeth Township plane crash State trooper charged after crashing unit; open bottle of rum found in passenger seat, police say Texas school shooting: Child called 911 asking to send police; commander made wrong decision VIDEO: Police called after man seen holding fake weapon, acting suspicious at Keystone Oaks school DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts 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 Emergency personnel gather near Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Dario Lopez-Mills/AP Authorities prevented a 2018 mass shooting plot in Uvalde, Texas, KENS 5 reported. 2 teens were arrested and charged with planning a "mass casualty event" against a middle school. The teens initially planned the attack for their senior year this year but pushed up the date. Four years before a gunman killed 21 people at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, two teens had planned to attack a middle school in the same city, KENS 5 reported in 2018. In May 2018, the Uvalde Police Department and the Texas Rangers uncovered a plan by two teens to perform a "mass casualty event against Morales Middle School." The suspects included a 14-year-old student and a 13-year-old former student who were motivated by the Columbine mass shooting, Uvalde Police Department, said. "The investigation revealed that the students were infatuated with the Columbine High School shootings and identified themselves to the shooters. The investigation uncovered that the students even referred to themselves using the Columbine shooter's names," authorities said. According to a press release, local authorities said the pair initially planned to carry out the attack during their senior year which would have been this year on the anniversary of the Columbine shooting but pushed up the timeline. "One of the students had numerous writings and drawings which depicted weapons capable of causing mass destruction. He wrote about being 'God-like' and killing police and other persons. He had an academic analysis of one of the Columbine shooter's journals," a press release said, according to KENS 5. The two students were evaluated by a mental health professional and later arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, KENS 5 reported. Steven C. McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the 18-year-old gunman involved in the recent attack at an elementary school was not connected to the 2018 plot, KSAT reported. The shooting at Robb Elementary School, which left two teachers and 19 children dead, is the deadliest since the Sandy Hook massacre 10 years ago. Read the original article on Insider May 28GRAND FORKS Most of the candidates for Grand Forks School board have a favorable view of neighborhood schools, and approximately half say they favor keeping them open. However, a number of candidates some of whom profess admiration or hope for the small schools admit difficult decisions may have to be made as buildings continue to age and wrack up maintenance costs. Parents on Grand Forks' north side for years have worried that the small schools near their homes might close due to low enrollment numbers, the schools' age and mounting costs associated with upkeep. Discussions about closing neighborhood schools have occurred a number of times in the past decade , coming to a head last year when Grand Forks voters were asked to decide whether to close Wilder and Winship elementary schools and replace them with a new, and larger, K-8 facility. That proposal failed, getting only 30.7% approval by voters. In late 2017 and early 2018, a school facilities committee proposed a number of options , including closing and demolishing the three so-called "W" schools Winship, Wilder and West. It sparked considerable backlash, especially among parents in those neighborhoods . In a questionnaire sent to candidates for School Board, the Herald asked for their views on neighborhood schools. A number of candidates said they favor keeping the city's smallest facilities open. Overall, there are 23 candidates vying for five seats, all of which are at-large positions. All 23 candidates are running for four-year terms, which begin in July. The election is June 14. Those who responded to the Herald's questionnaire were Josh Anderson, Ronald Barta, Dave Berger, Dee Decimus, Elizabeth Delgado, Monte Gaukler, Senta Grzadziewlewski, Jacqueline Hassett, Jennifer Kolodka, Joel Larson, Sona Lesmeister, Bonnie McMullin, Cameron Murphy, Bill Palmiscno, Mark Peterson, Kelly Schempp, Marie Stewart, Brad Sturlaugson, David Waterman and Emily Wros. Hassett and Palmiscno are running as incumbents. Story continues Three candidates Roland Riemers, Courtney Kniert and Aaron Waterman did not respond. The fourth question on the questionnaire specifically referenced aging schools and asked the candidates their views on neighborhood schools. Sturlaugson said "we need schools in neighborhoods, because children need to learn in an environment they are familiar with." "I am in favor of keeping neighborhood schools," said Stewart. "Many families purchase homes near schools they hope their children can attend. I think it would be worthwhile to get a second opinion on current building needs." David Waterman said "I believe neighborhood schools should be encouraged and supported, not abandoned." Not everyone agrees. In 2020, a Grand Forks School District Facilities Task Force convened in a monthslong series of meetings and eventually recommended closure and consolidation of schools in the coming five to 15 years . Rising costs and lower enrollment were included in the rationale. And last year, issues at tiny West Elementary mounted until it was determined the school should close . At the time, radon had been detected in the building, and a host of infrastructure improvements were needed, including waterproofing and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. Some of the candidates professed some level of interest in keeping neighborhood schools, but also addressed the reality of doing so. "Neighborhood schools are an asset," said Wros. "They raise property values and encourage community spirit. Unfortunately, it's often more expensive to renovate an old building than to construct new, or to run several small buildings instead of a few large ones and I expect that it will be necessary to consolidate." Below are answers from the 20 candidates who responded to the following question: "It's been said Grand Forks has too many aging schools that require extensive and costly repairs. What are your views on the number of schools in Grand Forks and, particularly, on neighborhood schools? Many of the answers are edited for brevity. To see their entire answer on this question and five others, visit the Herald's website and search for " Grand Forks School Board candidates: A look at their answers to six questions from the Herald ". Josh Anderson: Efforts to improve building conditions, where investment makes sense, have been planned. With the additional 10 mills of funding that was recently approved by a vote of taxpayers, this provides a start in climbing this mountain. Beyond that, some large challenges, and in turn decisions, around the number of facilities, overall facility failure and community growth need to be made. Data and input have been provided and now decisions need to be made. Ron Barta: It is a fact that the current facilities are advanced in years. Based on the student numbers for some schools, the costs to operate (manpower/utilities/scheduled and unscheduled maintenance) the current model is not sustainable. Old buildings will get older and require more maintenance. We need to identify the specific requirements, identify why the maintenance was deferred, and make the hard decisions. If that is moving away from the "neighborhood schools" model then that is what we need to do. Dave Berger: Many families are looking specifically for neighborhood schools, and many learners benefit from these environments as well. ... We need a comprehensive and transparent approach to any decision involving closing another school, balancing maintenance needs, state requirements, building codes, accessibility, student safety, and new visions for classroom and building use as we discern whether repair or replacement is the better option. Ultimately, we need to keep our current financial situation and budget projections in mind as we make the best decisions possible for our kids. Dee Decimus: Parents want neighborhood schools. We need to keep them well maintained, not ignoring maintenance so they are forced to build new. We need to put kids first and do what we can to ensure the quality of our future community. Creating equitable access, learning opportunities and including the voice of each learner, a strong sense of belonging will be cultivated and in turn, each student will be empowered and equipped to be successful. Elizabeth Delgado: Our city has a sufficient number of schools. When you don't take care of what you have, it becomes overwhelming to the point of thinking it's "too many" or "too much." In reality, it only seems overwhelming because of how extensive maintenance and repair needs become when put off for far too long. When asking couples what they look for in considering a move, the most common answer I get is "a school in the neighborhood." Neighborhood schools attract families and businesses which give the local economy a boost. Schools tend to be at the heart of the neighborhoods in which they exist and build neighborhood cohesion. Monte Gaukler: I understand the value of neighborhood schools and I support small class sizes. Figuring out how to do this in a fiscally responsible way is one of the key tasks of the School Board. When this conversation is brought up, I think it is important to have all voices at the table and listen to all points of view. Then and only then will the right and prudent decision be made for the school district. Senta Grzadzielewski: I support the building of new facilities when the old facilities no longer provide a safe and equitable learning environment for the students. Additionally, I support neighborhood schools. I think the community should care about the state of our schools, whether they have children in the system, homeschool, have no kids, etc. Part of that involves an effective campaign to help the surrounding areas understand the current state of the schools and a clear understanding of what they will gain from their investment. Jacqueline Hassett: I think decisions about our schools need to be based on data and community needs. I have always advocated for stakeholder involvement in how these decisions are made and they are certainly tough decisions. What is good for one group may not be the best for another. It is why I was a board member who really pushed for forming a stakeholder task force on facilities. Centering students, it is true we need to improve our buildings or build new buildings to provide safe environments for learning and growth in our district. There is no way around it. It is going to be super important we find ways to engage more community members moving forward so we can build trust and make tough choices which are best for all of us particularly students. I enjoy our small schools and was a West elementary parent for many many years. I do think we need to look at the reality of our schools' conditions and engage the public before jumping into long-term decisions. The only thing I do know needs to happen is we need a new Valley Middle School. That school's needs are urgent. Jennifer Kolodka: When you compare GFPS to other districts, I don't believe we are operating too many buildings. Neighborhood schools have wide ranging value for the students, the families, the building atmosphere for staff, and the overall relationship, sense of pride and connection with the neighborhood. The citizens of Grand Forks have made their voices heard a few times on this issue and they like neighborhood schools. Families want to feel that they have a sense of involvement and belonging within GFPS. They want that smaller town, smaller school feel with opportunities for involvement and awareness of their child's educational life inside that building. Neighborhood schools with active and engaged PTOs are an excellent way to foster that relationship and connection. As a school board member, I would like to put time and energy into helping each school build a stronger PTO/PTA organization. Joel Larson: Equity in the school district is a critical issue. Our family is fortunate to belong to nearby neighborhood schools and I would hope that every child/family could be so fortunate. Certainly, this isn't the case for everyone, but the value it brings to each child who has this luxury will be something I look at very closely. There are some very difficult choices that will need to be made regarding school repairs or rebuilding and I will consider all voices and the perspectives of each person that the decisions will impact. Sona Leismeister: Grand Forks is the type of a community where neighborhood schools are a welcomed feature. We have prided ourselves with a very good safety track record, which is at least partly due to having neighborhood schools, I believe. It seems there is an expected growth of the community housing market is booming and the house inventory is low. If this is the case, having fewer schools doesn't seem to make sense. My question is: How did we allow the school facilities in such disrepair for so long? Was there a lack of foresight in the former boards? Inadequate funds allocation for this purpose? To answer the question fully, I would need to have more information, so we don't end up reacting, instead of being proactive with any proposed solution. Bonnie McMullin: I love the idea of neighborhood schools. They are charming. I love teaching in them. I love the low teacher-to-student ratios. I wish everyone could experience a school like our neighborhood schools. Is this a favorable and sustainable model moving forward? I am not sure that it is fair or feasible to operate our neighborhood schools the way they have been run in the past. Am I against them? No. Do I see issues that involve fixing and running a school for 80-100 students when there is so much need throughout the district? Yes. We may need to look to our beloved neighborhood schools and prioritize. ... In a perfect world we would fix or rebuild all of our schools that provide such amazing opportunities. Cameron Murphy: Neighborhood schools at the elementary level are beneficial but are also quite costly. The more buildings we have the higher the cost, not just in maintenance, but also in salaries. We must strike a balance between what we want and what we can truly support. The simple reality is that with the current budget we are hard pressed to support all the schools, especially those with lower enrollment. We also have the issue of too many students in some schools. Both can be addressed through redrawing the lines, but this also disrupts the idea of a neighborhood school to begin with. One solution to solve the overcrowding problem is year-round school. Bill Palmiscno: Continue to monitor enrollment at all schools, and case-by-case decisions are made as needed. I don't advocate or oppose but hard decisions may be needed in the future. Mark Peterson: I would propose to have a three- to four-hour forum on TV/radio where parents, teachers, students and administrators would be able to come and ask tons of questions and voice concerns about anything they can think of. We would compile lists of concerns for each school and general concerns for the whole district & try to address them one-by-one, based off the current budget. Kelly Schempp: One quality I love about Grand Forks is the small town feel with benefits of a larger city. This community feel is one of the driving reasons why my husband and I have decided to stay and raise our family here. Our neighborhood schools help foster that feeling and relationships with local families, and allow students to create lifelong friendships. We do have many aging schools that are at capacity while in need of repairs or updating to meet ADA compliance. Eventually we will need to look at an addition being built upon an existing elementary school or a new facility being built. At this time, I think we should focus on the upkeep and repairs of our neighborhood schools. Marie Stewart: I am in favor of keeping neighborhood schools. Many families purchase homes near schools they hope their children can attend. I think it would be worthwhile to get a second opinion on current building needs. As of now all buildings in need of massive repairs are currently serving our students. Under ESSER all HVAC projects were eligible for funding using the $28 million awarded to GFPS. A plan for biannual routine building inspections and maintenance checklists should be required for every facility. There should never be a deferred maintenance list. The people of Grand Forks want functional, comfortable and safe schools to send their kids. Brad Sturlaugson: Buildings age and they need required maintenance and sometimes reconstructive maintenance, eventually they need to be replaced but that can be done in sections and over several years with planning and budgeting. We need schools in neighborhoods, because children need to learn in an environment they are familiar with. David Waterman: Neighborhood schools are very attractive to most neighborhoods and most parents. I believe neighborhood schools should be encouraged and supported, not abandoned. Emily Wros: Neighborhood schools are an asset. They raise property values and encourage community spirit. Unfortunately, it's often more expensive to renovate an old building than to construct new, or to run several small buildings instead of a few large ones, and I expect that it will be necessary to consolidate. Other stories related to the School Board race can be found on the Herald's website, including: * About half of Grand Forks School Board candidates support $55 million referendum . * Finances, buildings and even teacher shortage concern Grand Forks School Board candidates . * Grand Forks School Board candidates: A look at their answers to six questions from the Herald . In the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, gun sales are surging. Channel 2 anchor Justin Wilfon spoke with the owner of a local gun shop, who says sales are up 30% in the last few days. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The owner of Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Eric Wallace, said this follows a pattern of what he has seen after other mass shootings. Weve dealt with this before. Folks will come in and buy more guns and ammunition, Wallace said. Following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, this week more people have come into his store to buy guns. We started to see a slight uptick Wednesday. It kind of escalated a bit more on Thursday and today weve seen a pretty significant pickup, Wallace said. Since the shooting on Tuesday, the stores sales are up 30%. It follows a trend seen across the country after other mass shootings and Wallace says theres a simple reason why. Anytime politicians get on TV and talk about anti-gun legislation, folks come here in the store because they want to purchase more firearms, Wallace said. He said his customers are concerned about legislation that they believe could prevent them from buying guns in the future. We talked with one of those customers, Mark Hare. I do have some concerns about the future and our Second Amendment in general and our rights to bear arms and exercising those rights, Hare said. Meanwhile, Wallace says other customers are just worried for their safety, after seeing another mass shooting. A lot of people are concerned with protecting their families also home defense shotguns, things like that, Wallace said. Authorities say the gunman in Uvalde, Texas used an AR-15 in his rampage. In the days following the shooting, Wallace told me that was one of the guns that his customers wanted. Its across the board. Weve seen a pickup in AR-15s, Wallace said. TRENDING STORIES: Story continues Additionally, companies in the gun industry have seen their stock prices soar this week. Stock prices have been going up because of the anticipated rise in sales. Gun maker Smith & Wessons stock price went up 8% in the days following the shooting. And the stock price for Ammo Inc. has jumped almost 16% this week. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Carlos Alcaraz is tipped as a potential Roland Garros champion (Thibault Camus/AP) (AP) Young pretender Carlos Alcaraz insists he is ready to break the stranglehold of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the French Open. The last six Roland Garros titles have gone to the gilded duo with Djokovic the defending champion and Nadal, a 13-time winner, the undisputed king of clay. But 19-year-old Alcaraz is seen as the heir apparent and many are even tipping him to dethrone the big two at this years tournament. Djokovic and Nadal are seeded to meet in a blockbuster quarter-final with Alcaraz, the sixth seed, on course to meet the winner in the semis. That fourth round swagger @alcarazcarlos03 defeats Sebastian Korda 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the fourth round in Paris for the first time.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/jVrUeH6RcD Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2022 Well, I just, if I am winning, Ill just play against one of them, he said. I think Im ready. Alcaraz beat both Djokovic and Nadal, as well as world number three Alexander Zverev, on his way to the Madrid title earlier this month. Its different to play against them (here), added the young Spaniard. I mean in the Masters 1,000 or another tournament its best of three rather than in a grand slam, but I would say Im ready. Alcaraz takes on Russian 21st seed Karen Khachanov, who beat Britains Cameron Norrie on Friday night, in the fourth round. Well, I just practiced with him just once, but I watched other matches from him, so I know that its going to be a tough match, he said. But at the same time as well as hes a tough opponent, I like those matches. Apple+ At first blush, Apple TV+s mystery-thriller series Now & Then seems to share a lot of DNA with a certain movie from the 1990s. (Although, oddly enough, the film in question is not 1995s Now and Then, a coming-of-age story starring Rosie ODonnell, Demi Moore, and an enviable treehouse.) Instead, the serieswhich kicks off with a car full of inebriated teens, a fatal accident, and a blackmail years laterinitially recalls I Know What You Did Last Summer. As the shows creators will tell you, however, the similarities pretty much begin and end there. The bilingual drama stars an international cast of superstars from Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and the U.S.hello, Rosie Perez!playing a group of friends tortured by a bad decision from their past and the obsessive cop bent on hunting them down. We wanted to explore their lives, co-creator Ramon Campos told The Daily Beast in a recent interview. We were interested in their dreams, and if they realized those dreams when they came to the adult age. As for the I Know What You Did Last Summer comparisons, Campos added with a laugh that if any idea involving blackmail and a mistake from ones youth is now off the table, then we are really limiting ourselves. The exact circumstances of how Now & Thens fateful tragedy upended these friends lives unfolds in tandem with the present. One thing we do know: By the time the night ended, a stranger as well as a member of the group (swimmer Alejandro, played by Elites Jorge Lopez) were dead. The how and why of it all take more time to unraveland as viewers solve that mystery, we also witness the incredible damage the groups past choices have wreaked on their present. Now & Then has so far debuted three of its eight episodes on Apple TV+, with subsequent installments premiering on Fridays. The series relies a little too heavily on contemporary TVs favorite crutchnon-linear storytelling that feels designed to stretch out the plot rather than illuminate itbut makes up for that allergy to efficiency with magnificent performances and sizzling drama. Story continues Roma actress Marina de Tavira plays the adult version of Ana, a pragmatist whose young political aspirations have given way to playing second fiddle to her idealistic husband, mayoral candidate Pedro (Narcos and Narcos: Mexicos Jose Maria Yazpik). Maribel Verdu, who starred alongside Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal in Y tu mama tambien, plays Sofia, whose spark with her college sweetheart Marcos (Manolo Cardona of Narcos and Who Killed Sara?) doesnt seem ready to die just yet. Soledad Villamil (The Secret in Their Eyes) plays the reclusive Danielaand her path forward from this college disaster might be the most shocking of all. Rosie Perez plays police officer Flora Neruda, who becomes obsessed with the cold case from her first days on the job. Her partner, Sullivan (Zeljko Ivanek), grows worried as Flora begins fretting over the case 20 years later. Perez and Ivanek are the only two actors who play their characters during both time periods; for the rest of the characters, who begin the series as early twentysomethings before we flash forward to their forties, the casting department found lookalikes. Shining Girls Sees Elisabeth Moss Take on a Serial Killer of Women. Why Is It So Dull? Perez recently told The Daily Beast that she loved the scripts upon first read but wasnt immediately sold on Flora. There needs to be a reason for her obsession, Perez said. So she made some suggestions: What if she doesnt have family? What if a great injustice happened to her brother and thats the reason shes obsessed with this case? Lets incorporate issues of classism into this. Campos and fellow creators Teresa Fernandez-Valdes and Gema R. Neira happily obliged. Rosie is amazing, Campos said. She even shared some anecdotes from her life with us; she wanted us to include them in her character. The personal touches Perez described were subtle. Her daughter-in-law is a cop; the two love to watch The First 48 together, she said, because were both addicted to murder porn. As Perez prepared for her Now & Then role, she recalls asking her daughter-in-law, How was it when you saw your first dead body? The response she received became a line in the show: Oh, I dont do dead bodies. Campos and his co-creators know how to make an addictive series; the trios previous collaborations Gran Hotel, Velvet, and Cable Girls were among the early Spanish-language series to break big in the U.S., paving the way for further success stories like Money Heist and Elite. Decision to Leave, Park Chan-wooks Stylish and Sexy Noir Thriller, Heats Up Cannes For many years, people said that Spanish series did not travel to other countries, and Latin American series did not travel to any other countries, Campos said. With their prior collaborations, he said, he and his collaborators broke that image. It was important to Campos, Neira, and Fernandez-Valdes that their characters look and behave consistently across their younger and older years. That attention to detail resulted in, for the most part, uncanny actor pairings whose mannerisms and expressions feel seamless. But it was even more important to the creators that these characters backgrounds shaped who they would become. Pedro, for example, was born in the States from an illegal migrant mother who used to work in a wealthy family home, Campos said. When he grows older, he becomes a politician and he fights for the rights of migrants. Marcos grew up in a wealthy Colombian family thats tangled in more than its fair share of corruption; his ultimate goal is to return to Colombia to help the needy. We wanted to apply that for each character, with their own countries, Campos said. In the past, Neira added, these roles were represented by others. But now we are representing our own world. 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. TOKYO (AP) Fusako Shigenobu, who co-founded the terrorist group Japanese Red Army, was released from prison Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence, and apologized for hurting innocent people. I feel strongly that I have finally come out alive, she said, welcomed by her daughter and a crowd of reporters and supporters in Tokyo. I have hurt innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first. Although those were different times, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize deeply, said Shigenobu, who wore a black hat and gray suit. Shigenobu was convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands. She was arrested in 2000 in Osaka in central Japan, where she had been in hiding. The Japanese Red Army, formed in 1971 and linked with Palestinian militants, took responsibility for several attacks including the takeover of the U.S. Consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1975. The group is also believed to have been behind a 1972 machine-gun and grenade attack on the international airport near Tel Aviv, Israel that killed 28 people, including two terrorists, and injured dozens of people. Shigenobu was not physically present in the attacks. A year after her arrest, she declared the group dissolved. Japanese media reports said Shigenobu had undergone surgery for cancer during her incarceration. Kozo Okamoto, who was injured and arrested in the Israeli airport attack, was released in 1985 in a prisoner exchange between Israeli and Palestinian forces. He is reportedly in Lebanon. Okamoto and several other members of the group are still wanted by Japanese authorities. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Fusako Shigenobu walked free more than 20 years after her arrest in Osaka The co-founder of the Japanese Red Army militant group has been freed from prison after serving 20 years for her part in a 1974 embassy siege. Fusako Shigenobu, 76, had evaded capture for decades before being arrested in Osaka in 2000. Her once-feared group had aimed to provoke a global socialist revolution through high-profile terror acts. They carried out a series of hostage-takings and hijackings, as well as a deadly attack on an Israeli airport. But Shigenobu served time for the 1974 attack on the French embassy in The Hague, in which the ambassador and a number of others were taken hostage by three Red Army militants for 100 hours. The siege ended after France freed a Red Army militant and the group flew to Syria. Shigenobu did not take part in the attack herself, but a Japanese court found in 2006 she had helped co-ordinate it, sentencing her to 20 years for her role. A freed Japanese Red Army member boarding a plane in 1974 after the French embassy siege She had disbanded the Japanese Red Army five years earlier while awaiting trial, saying she would seek new fights within the law. The group's last-known action was the car bombing of a US military club in Italy in 1988. As she left prison on Saturday, she apologised for causing "damage to innocent people" in pursuit of their causes. Shigenobu, seen here on the right in 1985, spent 30 years living in the Middle East "It's half a century ago... but we caused damage to innocent people who were strangers to us by prioritising our battle, such as by hostage-taking," she said, according to news agency AFP. She has previously expressed regret for 26 deaths caused by an attack on Tel Aviv's Lod Airport in 1972. By Trend The pardon decree [signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on May 27] was also executed in the Gobustan prison of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. In accordance with the decree, two citizens were released from the Gobustan prison. One of them is Shamsi Samadzade, who was well-known businessman in Azerbaijan in the 1990s, and was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 29, 2000 by the Grave Crimes Court and spent 23 years in prison. Another released citizen is Nuraddin Mustafayev. Deputy Head of the Penitentiary Service Ogtay Mammadov said that according to the pardon decree, 168 people were released, and the sentence term for 30 convicts was reduced. Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva noted that this is the first time that a person sentenced to life imprisonment was immediately released in accordance with the decree of the countrys president. "Prior to this, life-sentenced prisoners were also pardoned, but their sentence term was reduced by half. Therefore, I congratulate the convict and his family," added Aliyeva. The headline in the April 27, 1927, edition of the Gadsden Times read Etowah Countys Memorial Bridge to be dedicated Saturday. Along with this proclamation was a picture of the bridge. The caption under the photograph read, in part, The bridge has been pronounced by engineers, architects and builders as the finest in Alabama from every standpoint, and in architectural lines a classic worthy to rank with the best on the continent. It is, therefore, richly fitted to stand as a memorial to the sixty-three young men of Etowah County who gave their lives gloriously on the fields of France as a supreme sacrifice in the cause of their country and an embattled world. To that purpose it will be dedicated with solemn ceremony on next Saturday, and on that occasion, Gadsden will welcome the families and neighbors of the young heroes who went forth from this county ten short years ago. The old, weather-worn, exhaust fumes-degraded, architecturally magnificent edifice now holds new meaning for me personally. I never knew the true meaning of the Memorial part of its name. The Gadsden Times front-page edition of 1927 listed the names of the sixty-three Etowah County sons who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War. It stated names like Crawford Z. Ables, Oscar C. Griffith, Carl Aderholt, Newman Fletcher, W. J. Gunnels and Earl Vickery, just to name a few of the 63. As we celebrate Memorial Day, we should forever remember the many young men who had their lives abruptly taken from them by the gods of war, gods that seem to constantly hover over this nation. World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War major wars that have destroyed the hopes of many of Americas flowering youth. Among those interrupted lives are Capt. Jerry McNabb, Gadsden; Capt. James N. Wilbourn III, Huntsville; and Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, Hokes Bluff. I will never forget Capt. Jerry McNabb, schoolmate, friend and Gadsden High School classmate of my wife Connie. Jerry was killed in 1966 while commanding his helicopter in Vietnam. I always knew he was destined for something special in his life, but I never dreamed he would pay the supreme sacrifice for his country. At the time he was killed, he and his wife Ann had three children ages 7, 4 and 1. How proud they must be of their father. Story continues In an article by Gadsden Times staff writer Donna Thornton, Ann said, Im thankful for every day we had together. My greatest regret is he did not have the joy of seeing the wonderful children he fathered grow up as the blessing they have been. We all miss him every day. As long as I have life in my body, I will never forget a true American hero, Capt, Jerry Wayne McNabb. Capt. James N. Wilbourn III was the son of Joyce and James Wilbourn Jr. In February 1991, Trey (his nickname) was flying his AV8B-II Harrier jet on a mission to destroy enemy targets just north of Kuwait City during the Gulf War. In performance of that duty, he was shot down and killed. Trey was an Auburn University graduate, a Marine officer and he loved to fly. Raul Castro wrote an article in Viva Magazine about Trey and finished the wonderful story with these words: Sadly, Trey will forever be denied the parties, the yellow ribbons and the brass bad homecomings that so many of the returning troops will enjoy. But when the grand celebration does occur and the ceremonial flyover thunders above in spectacular formation, most assuredly Trey will be in the lead plane signaling a proud 'Thumbs Up' to all those gathered below. Semper Fi, Trey. And Godspeed. Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, another true American hero, was killed in the line of duty on April 27, 2011, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Maj. Ausborn graduated from Hokes Bluff High School and completed studies at Troy State University. He commanded many types of Air Force planes such as the C-130, T-37, and the T-6. His military decorations were significant and too many to mention. He left behind to honor his memory five children: Emily, Summer, Shelby, Eric and Mitchell. He is survived by his wife, Suzanna. These three American warriors represent the best of the best. God bless all of them and their wonderful families. The Etowah County Memorial Bridge should have a new dedication. The names of all county residents who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in all wars should be added to the plaque of commemoration. The bridge is a local and national architectural treasure, and should be treated accordingly. It is shameful that an edifice commemorating the ultimate sacrifice paid by so many should be in such a state of neglect. City and county-wide efforts should be initiated to restore Memorial Bridge to its former and forgotten glory. John F. Floyd is a Gadsden native who graduated from Gadsden High School in 1954. He formerly was director of United Kingdom manufacturing, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president of manufacturing and international operations, General Tire & Rubber Co., and director of manufacturing, Chrysler Corp. He can be reached at johnfloyd538@gmail.com. The opinions reflected are his own. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: John F. Floyd looks at Memorial Day Johnny Depp filed a defamation case against ex-wife, actor Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Johnny Depp's attorney defended the actor's text messages about Amber Heard during closing arguments. The Wrap reported Camille Vasquez said Depp models his writing on 'literary giants.' The jury heard closing arguments in Depp's defamation trial against Heard, 36, on Friday. Johnny Depp's attorney said text messages presented during his defamation trial against Amber Heard were modeled after "literary giants." According to The Wrap's Jeremy Bailey and Brandon Katz, Camille Vasquez addressed the text messages in her closing arguments on Friday. Heard's legal team presented the text messages Depp wrote, which described Heard with derogatory terms, during the six-week trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court. "Ms. Heard has shown you a lot of text messages from Mr. Depp with some very vivid language," Vasquez said, the outlet reported. "As I told you at the start of this trial, Mr. Depp has a unique style of writing. He uses words I don't use and you probably don't use either." She continued: "But as you also heard during this trial, Mr. Depp writes that way, in part, because he models his writings on literary giants like Hunter S. Thompson." Actor Johnny Depp stands next to his lawyer, Camille Vasquez, after a break in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP Vasquez added that Depp has "a dark sense of humor. It's not everyone's cup of tea. But it's who he is." Representatives for Depp and Vasquez did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Insider's Zac Ntim reported that Depp, 58, sent messages about Heard, 36, to his longtime neighbor Isaac Baruch in 2016. In one text, Depp wrote that he hoped Heard's "rotting corpse is decomposing in the fucking trunk of a Honda Civic." In another text to Baruch, Depp wrote, "That cunt ruined such a fucking cool life we had for a while." Depp also sent messages to "Wandavision" actor Paul Bettany, writing, "I will fuck her burnt corpse afterward to make sure she is dead." Amber Heard speaks with her lawyer at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse on May 19, 2022. SHAWN THEW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Later, Depp apologized and said he was "not proud" of the text messages he wrote about Amber Heard when asked to read them aloud in court by Heard's lawyers. Story continues "I'll just say that I'm not proud of any of the language that I used in these anger," Depp said. Depp filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard in 2019 after claiming her 2018 Washington Post op-ed included domestic abuse accusations that hurt his career. He said the article made him lose work, including the next installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean." At the time, Depp's lawyers said the op-ed "depended on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated domestic violence against her." Heard countersued for $100 million in January 2021, and the trial began in April 2022. Jurors began deliberating the verdict following closing arguments on Friday. Read the original article on Insider kourtney kardashian, travis barker Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are still riding high nearly one week after celebrating the nuptials in Italy. The Kardashians star, 43, shared more pictures from her wedding reception on Instagram Friday, showing the newlyweds getting cozy on a couch. Kardashian smiled as her new husband, 46, kissed his way up her leg in multiple photos, ultimately making his way to her garter. "Cheers to forever ," she captioned the carousel. Barker shared a second set of steamy snapshots of the couple in an elevator. The pair shared a deep stare into each other's eyes in the first picture and kissed in the last. "Love in an elevator," the Blink-182 drummer wrote in the caption. RELATED: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Are Married (Again!) in a Lavish Ceremony in Italy Mandatory Credit: Photo by Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (12958539l) Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are seen at Piazza Duomo on May 25, 2022 in Milan, Italy with Alabama Barker and Atiana De La Hoya. Kourtney Kardashian And Travis Barker Celebrity Sightings In Milan, Italy - 25 May 2022 Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 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. Kardashian officially tied the knot with Barker on May 22 in Portofino, Italy, after holding two separate ceremonies in the U.S. (The couple held a legal wedding on May 15 and a "practice wedding" at a Las Vegas wedding chapel in April.) Along with close family and friends, all six of their children were also in attendance for the ceremony: Kardashian's sons Mason, 12, and Reign, 7, and daughter Penelope, 9, and Travis' son Landon, 18, daughter Alabama, 16, and stepdaughter Atiana, 23. RELATED: See Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Dazzling Lorraine Schwartz Wedding Rings The bride wore a custom white mini-dress with a theatrically-long veil while the groom looked polished in a classic black suit. Both looks were crafted by Dolce & Gabbana. RELATED VIDEO: Kourtney Kardashian Adds New Last Name to Instagram Profile After Marrying Travis Barker in Italy Story continues They hosted their reception at the nearby 16th-century castle, Castello Brown, and shared their first dance as husband and wife to "Can't Help Falling in Love," as performed by Andrea Bocelli. A source close to the happy couple told PEOPLE the KUWTK star was all smiles for her big day. "It was a magical weekend for everyone. Kourtney didn't stop smiling," the insider said. "She loved being surrounded by her family and close friends. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding." As the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, liberals are left wondering what more could have been done to protect it, with some questioning whether its easier to get Democrats to fight for a particular constitutional right or policy change than to defend one. Activists are experienced at advocating for policies they believe are crucial to improving Americans quality of life, from universal health care to student loan relief and affordable housing. Many have pushed to advance those items with support from a vocal bloc of liberal lawmakers. But when it comes to defending a womans right to choose a court assurance that has been on the books since the early 1970s the party has struggled to make traction before the draft majority decision leaked last month exposed a major threat. In general, progressives embrace aspirational policy because they come from communities with long-running inequities and disparities, said one Democratic aide who advises left-wing members of Congress. As a politician, if you defend the status quo, when the people you represent feel left behind by status quo policy, then youre likely going to be outflanked. A closely watched congressional primary runoff in Texas this week was a good case study. The last standing House Democrat opposed to abortion, Rep. Henry Cuellar, declared victory by fewer than 200 votes against progressive attorney Jessica Cisneros, who hasnt yet conceded due to outstanding ballots. Cuellars anti-abortion rights stance was not enough for Democratic voters to resoundingly reject him. Moreover, he has the full support of House leadership, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) making calls on his behalf. In the end, the issue doesnt appear to have been a massive factor in the race. Some behavioral scholars, however, say that the fear of having something taken away can be a driving force in peoples decision making. In general, psychological research suggests that human beings are prone to negativity bias that is, we react more strongly to negative developments than to positive developments of the same intensity, said Christopher Federico, a psychology and political science professor at the University of Minnesota. Even when a negative event and positive event are of the same magnitude, the negative event will affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors more strongly than the positive event. Story continues Federico said that phenomenon is evident regarding abortion. The threat of disliked policy changes is more politically motivating than the prospective of liked policy changes, he said. This would lead us to predict that the looming threat to abortion rights will eventually motivate more political involvement than the other issues where the focus is on obtaining a policy gain over and above the status quo. A similar scenario played out just a few years back. When Republicans were working to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), activists led the fight on keeping it intact, including activating a new base of supporters. Defending the ACA from being gutted was a big part of our early history as a movement, said Emily Phelps, national press secretary at Indivisible, a grassroots organization that came of age during that time. Some priorities, however, are easier to champion than others. After back-to-back mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas, advocates and Democrats on Capitol Hill again called for measures to restrict the harm caused by firearms. But its unclear if anything can pass the 50-50 Senate. A pair of moderate senators remain opposed to ending the filibuster, leaving some to feel already defeated. In the Cuellar race, leadership supported the candidate with an A rating from the NRA, further muddying the issue. There is a chasm between what Democrats say they will fight for and what theyll do, said Angelo Greco, a progressive communications operative. Gun reform, abortion, minimum wage. On the one hand you have leadership saying we must do everything possible to protect a womans right to choose, yet they were doing robocalls for an anti-choice, pro-NRA Democrat in Texas. Republicans, on the flip side, have long used their bases enthusiasm for gun rights to notch electoral gains. Theres arguably no perfect parallel to an issue that inspires Democrats as strongly. They have, however, seen signs of traction on desired policy changes. The push to partially cancel student loan debt has been a focus for many on the left who believe it can be achieved before November. They say that Biden has the authority to forgive at least some federal loans for borrowers by using his executive action authority, rather than relying on Congress. As recently as this week, White House officials said they are looking carefully into what can be done from the Oval Office. If some cancellation happens, progressives are expected to take a victory lap. And other wishful fights also inspire the partys base. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) first rose to national prominence by campaigning on a progressive platform that included Medicare for All and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. While neither has materialized, they remain critical to the discussion about Democrats direction and ideology, and progressives see them as helping move the party left. While Biden never pushed for universal health care, he ran as the Democratic presidential nominee on a $15 minimum wage, a policy that some believe helped him edge out Trump. Democrats have also seen success on unions. Biden pledged to be staunchly pro-union in office, and under his administration a variety of aligned organizations such as the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have unionized. Pelosi says she supports congressional staffers long-stated desire to form a union. The fight to protect abortion has been much murkier. Voters are just waking up to the fact that the Republican campaign to end legal abortion was not just campaign rhetoric, Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood who co-chairs the Democratic firm American Bridge, told The Hill. Voters have their own personal feelings about abortion and dont believe it is right for government and politicians to intervene in personal decisions about pregnancy, she said. That is true across geography, party and background. Polling suggests the leak has not dramatically changed public opinion. A majority of Americans are in favor of Democrats attitudes over abortion, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week. But when considering how likely the issue is to move voters, especially ahead of the midterms, some Democrats are more skeptical. Is it easy? In rhetoric, yes, said Greco. But whos actually putting it all on the line for the policy fights? For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rebecca Campau administers a COVID-19 vaccine to her St. Clair County Health Department colleague Liz King during a live question-and-answer session with officials on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. A contract to fill one of the two chief health positions split earlier this year by St. Clair County commissioners will go before the board next Thursday and the candidate may be a familiar face. Liz King, a registered nurse, is currently the health departments nursing and community health director. According to a memo to the board of commissioners from County Administrator Karry Hepting, King was selected as a top candidate for the public health officer role by an interview panel, and her appointment was approved by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The move is part of a months-long process after the county board voted to advertise vacancies for the role, as well as that of the medical director both of which are currently held in a combined capacity by Dr. Annette Mercatante until her contract ends next month. The splitting of the positions came in the wake of the debate on how a controversial COVID-19 mask order was issued in January. It wasnt clear what Kings proposed appointment meant for the medical director role, as that position no longer appeared to be listed among the countys advertised job vacancies. After the county boards committee agendas were posted online on Friday, health department spokeswoman Alyse Nichols said via email, Until the St. Clair County Health Department health officer and medical director contracts are approved by all necessary parties, we are holding making any public comment at this time. Nichols forwarded comment to Hepting. When asked about the status of the other opening, the administrator said via email on Tuesday, "We are currently working through the process for the medical director position, but it is not ready to present to the BOC yet." Dr. Annette Mercatante listens to St. Clair County Board of Commissioners discuss her position during the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners meeting at the Blue Water Convention Center in Port Huron on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. In mid-April, Hepting said there had been seven applications received for the health officer role and four for the medical director position. The latter remained open at the time, Hepting said, citing the need for candidates who met minimum qualifications. Story continues The medical director role is part-time at 16 hours and requires a doctorate or medical degree, according to its job description, and they must be a licensed physician. A masters degree in public health is also preferred. Meanwhile, the officer role has the masters requirement and is full-time. Candidates for both jobs require approval from the state. According to MDHHS, the minimum for review is two weeks with an average turnaround of 30 days. Mercatante has previously said she wouldnt apply for the openings and considered the county boards decision to advertise her positions to be a termination. Officials have also said the county would work with the state to ensure there are individuals in place to fill the statutorily required positions, including on an interim basis if necessary, to avoid a shutdown of services. Kings contract, as proposed for health officer, would begin July 1 and end in June 2025 with an annual salary of $107,090. It was under the role of health officer authority that a public health order can be issued, in addition to a long list of duties the position holds. The county board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the meeting room on the second floor of the administrative building, 200 Grand Rive Ave., in Port Huron. Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Liz King proposed to replace Dr. Mercatante as county public health officer Investors who take an interest in Bakkavor Group plc (LON:BAKK) should definitely note that the Co-Founder & Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, Lydur Gudmundsson, recently paid UK1.00 per share to buy UK201k worth of the stock. Although the purchase is not a big one, by either a percentage standpoint or absolute value, it can be seen as a good sign. View our latest analysis for Bakkavor Group The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Bakkavor Group Notably, that recent purchase by Lydur Gudmundsson is the biggest insider purchase of Bakkavor Group shares that we've seen in the last year. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is UK1.02. Of course they may have changed their mind. But this suggests they are optimistic. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. The good news for Bakkavor Group share holders is that an insider was buying at near the current price. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Lydur Gudmundsson. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Bakkavor Group Boast High Insider Ownership? For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Bakkavor Group insiders own 49% of the company, worth about UK291m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. Story continues So What Do The Bakkavor Group Insider Transactions Indicate? The recent insider purchase is heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about Bakkavor Group. That's what I like to see! So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 2 warning signs for Bakkavor Group that deserve your attention before buying any shares. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The John L. Burton California Democratic Party Headquarters is seen in Sacramento, California, in this July 2021 file photo. SACRAMENTO, Calif. A California man pleaded guilty Friday to plotting to blow up the state Democratic Party's headquarters in what prosecutors said was the first in a planned series of politically-motivated attacks after the defeat of former President Donald Trump. Ian Benjamin Rogers, 46, of Napa, pleaded guilty to conspiring to destroy a building by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun under a plea agreement that could bring him seven to nine years in federal prison. U.S. prosecutors in San Francisco charged Rogers and Jarrod Copeland with conspiring to attack targets they associated with Democrats after Trump's defeat in the November 2020 presidential election. The pair "hoped their attacks would prompt a movement," prosecutors said when they announced the charges in July. ROUNDING UP POLITICS: Sign up for USA TODAYs free OnPolitics newsletter Copeland, 38, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and destruction of records. "I want to blow up a democrat building bad," Rogers wrote in one of the messaging apps he used to communicate with Copeland, according to the indictment. In a different message, he said that after Democratic President Joe Biden was inaugurated, "we go to war." Their first planned target was the John L. Burton Democratic Headquarters in Sacramento, prosecutors said. Law enforcement officers who searched Rogers' home in January 2021 seized nearly 50 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and five pipe bombs, prosecutors said. He was taken into custody then on state charges after the FBI said he sent text messages that agents perceived as threats against the unoccupied Governor's Mansion and social media companies Facebook and Twitter. Under a universal agreement, the federal sentence will be served concurrently with a 10- to 12-year state sentence on similar Napa County charges of possessing fully automatic weapons and explosive devices, said Rogers' attorney, Colin Cooper. Story continues Rogers "has never been in trouble before," Cooper said. "He's accepted responsibility and he is desirous of paying his debt to society and resuming a life of productivity, of being a good father and good husband and a good family man" with an 11-year-old son, Cooper said. "He feels awful about what happened and what he's done to his family, and he's a guy I think we'll never see again in the (criminal justice) system." Rogers remains in custody awaiting his sentencing, set for Sept. 30. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California man pleads guilty in post-2020 election bombing plot A Vermont man faces federal charges for threatening to kill his own attorney, a prosecutor and a judge. Josh Puma, 35, was arraigned on Monday on three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce to injure the person of another, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Vermont. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges. According to court documents and proceedings, the instant charges involve allegations that Puma called a Vermont Department of Corrections reporting line and threatened to kill a state court judge, a defense attorney, and a state prosecutor and to sexually assault that same prosecutor, the press release states. The calls were recorded, and Puma specifically stated that when he is released from jail, he will use violence and kill and maim those state officials, in addition to harming and killing other members of the legal community. The alleged threats were made in the fall of last year, according to an indictment. Prosecutors said that Puma also faces charges for simple assault and stalking for another case. He has been incarcerated at the Southern State Correctional Facility since March and its not his first time behind bars. Puma has been in and out of the state criminal justice system for many years, and in September 2019, while in state court, he punched his defense attorney in the face which caused her to fall to the ground, they stated, noting that it took five security officers to restrain him. He later pleaded guilty to assaulting his attorney and was sentenced to four to 12 months as a result. Puma had also been accused in 2013 of being involved with Vermonts heroin trade. He faces up to five years behind bars for each count related to the recent alleged threats of violence. The attorneys office states that Puma was recently ordered hospitalized by the state court due to mental health considerations. In court filings, they state that he is violent and clearly has mental health issues and those will need to be addressed." Its not clear if Puma has a lawyer and the attorneys office notes that he is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. A woman places flowers at a memorial for the victims of a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) You can't stop thinking about the violence. Social media apps that often distract us from reality are flooded with it. Whether you're feeling terrified, outraged, overwhelmed, despondent or numb, you may start to feel it in your body each headline, quote, photo or video producing a physical sensation. By consuming news of each mass shooting from Buffalo to Laguna Woods to Uvalde we are experiencing what experts call secondary and collective trauma. And as our body is sending us signals, experts suggest that we start to pay attention. "Symptoms are your body's way of communicating that there's an issue happening," said Amanda Seon-Walker, clinical psychologist and president of the Southern California Chapter of the Assn. of Black Psychologists. For the last several weeks, we've been left with little space to process one tragedy before absorbing another. And because many of the victims have been Black, Latino and Asian, members of these racial, ethnic or cultural communities who witness the deaths, even from afar, can feel as if they're happening as close as home. We asked four psychologists about secondary and collective trauma, how it affects us and what we can do in response to healthily process and cope. Here are their responses. Q. What should people understand about secondary trauma or collective trauma? Who can that affect? Manuel Zamarripa, clinical psychologist and president-elect of the National Latinx Psychologists Assn., and Oscar Fernando Rojas Perez, clinical psychologist and policy advisor for NLPA: People should understand that collective trauma is a psychological reaction/response to a traumatic/terrible event; for example, the events in Uvalde and Buffalo, experienced and shared by a group of people. And [it] can affect an entire community, in this case the Latinx population and additional minoritized communities. It is also normal for people to feel powerless and experience strong emotions. Collective trauma differs from individual trauma in the sense that collective memory persists beyond the lives of the direct survivor of the events and is remembered by group members that may be far removed from the terrible event in time and space. Story continues It is also important to note that survivors of the event will remember the tragedy differently than those who witnessed the actual event, and the constructions of the events may take different shape and form from individual to individual. Further, when a society or community has a shared membership that is significant to their identity, then this secondary trauma can be especially impactful. Anjuli Amin, clinical psychologist and president of the Asian American Psychologists Assn.: We see this process of secondary trauma (vicarious traumatization) often in first responders, medical professionals and those who are routinely exposed to trauma. Research is showing us, however, that exposure to traumatic events through the media can lead observers to experience anxiety, difficulties in coping, feelings of helplessness and immense fear. In a sense it can affect us all, particularly with how difficult it can be to escape the constant news cycle. Amanda Seon-Walker, clinical psychologist and president of the Southern California Chapter of the Assn. of Black Psychologists: Trauma in general has to do with when it overwhelms your ability to address something, your coping skills. With secondary trauma, a lot of people don't recognize that the things assaulting them from the media are assaulting their own ability to cope. So sometimes people have to get aware of what's going on for them and what's going on in their own body, in response to what they're consuming. It certainly affects individuals who have more stressful life situations. I would say that's who really needs to be aware those who have a predisposition for stress, because that could be the thing that takes people beyond their coping mechanisms. The other people it could really impact [are] people who have a worldview that the world is safe. When [mass shootings happen] back to back to back, it can really shatter a person's worldview in terms of, "What is my world like?" "Is my world really as safe as it is?" "Am I safe where I am?" Q. When the victims of mass shootings come from your community, race or cultural background, how does this add another layer of trauma? Seon-Walker: If it's specific to someone that looks like me, then, "What does that mean about me? What are those people saying about people who look like me? Are we somehow not as great? Are we somehow expendable? Are our lives not worth as much if we're targeted to be killed like that?" There's a general sense of, "I don't matter, my life doesn't matter." And, "I'm expendable because of how I look? Things that I had no control over?" None of us chose who we were born to, and what our ethnicity was. We can't choose that in advance. But we're persecuted based on ethnic features that we can't do anything about. Amin: When there is a personal connection to an event such as a mass shooting, it can activate our fight-or-flight response so that we feel anxious, hyper-vigilant, fearful. We may begin to respond to our environment as though we are in survival mode. It can also bring up our own experiences of trauma, adding to the response we have in the moment, but also taking us back to our past where we may start to experience emotional distress in response to those memories. It may also reinforce certain beliefs or views of the world that we have developed based on our life experiences. For example, if I hold a belief that the world is a dangerous place, witnessing something such as a mass shooting may reinforce that. Zamarripa and Rojas Perez: When the victims of mass shooting are members of a racial and/or ethnic community, it is common for individuals of said community to experience a heightened sense of feeling unsafe in daily life work, home and community. It can also serve as a reminder of past and other present acts of aggression, violence, violation that may have been experienced by others, and experiences of isms. People are also likely to experience poor mental health in the following months. It is also common for people of said community to experience discrimination and be vilified by the media. As a result, people of racial and ethnic communities become more vulnerable to experiences of racial and ethnic trauma. Q. How did you react to the shootings in Buffalo, in Laguna Woods and in Uvalde, respectively, and what have you been doing to process those events and cope? Seon-Walker: I grew up in New York. So it was particularly salient for me. I had many friends who went to SUNY Buffalo. I ended up speaking to someone that weekend who used to go and party in that very area where the shooting happened. And so it really struck home, to have that violence happen in New York, and to have that violence happening in Buffalo. And what it says to me is that there's still a lot of work that needs to be done. I wondered about how [the suspected gunman's] exposure to people that look different from him might have changed his decision. Because I think that there's a lot of pull right now in the country for people to separate and segregate even more. And I feel like that's the wrong answer. If we separate and segregate more, then we become the other, become the unknown. And you can vilify that which you don't know. If you have too many examples of wonderful people who don't look like you, then you're less likely to think that all these people can be this way because I have too many overwhelming samples. I think it humanizes more. And so I've kind of had that reaction. You know, how might this have been different? If he had different interactions, if he felt more connected to other people on a human level? If there was more support given to him earlier in his life, how could that have changed this outcome? Amin: I initially experienced a sense of shock, sadness and worry. As time went on and I read more about the details of these and the other shootings, as well as all the opinions and commentary, I began to feel a sense of numbness. It was hard to connect with any feeling at all for some time, and I found myself in a really negative state of mind. Acknowledging that was a "check engine light" moment a sign that I was carrying a lot of stress and needed to stop and process. What was most helpful was connecting with the present moment and my own community having tea with my parents, talking about what I was feeling with my colleagues, and setting boundaries with work to ensure I was leaving work at the door when I came home. It has also been helpful to hear others process their emotion and to be in community, both face to face and virtually. Zamarripa and Rojas Perez: These are devastating losses, and we reacted with deep sadness, shock, horror and anger. It is difficult to see members of our community hurting and in need of immediate healing. Avoidance of the news and social media was also common, as it triggered past memories of other events that have harmed our community. Zamarripa: To cope: Stayed connected with supportive loved ones, took time individually to grieve, not flooding [ourselves] with images and news coverage. Rojas Perez: In addition, after validating personal thoughts and emotions, transformed the anger and sadness into resilience and solutions to help our local community start the healing process. I have also joined community healing circles and sought support from mental health professionals. Most importantly, validated my emotions and thoughts. Q. What kinds of challenges and experiences have you been hearing from your patients since these shootings? Zamarripa and Rojas Perez: Patients have voiced how scared they are to send their children to school. They have shared wanting to purchase bulletproof backpacks or bulletproof vests for their children. Patients have also shared feeling targeted, especially our patients with undocumented status who also struggle with the constant fear of being deported. In addition, patients have noted avoiding news coverage of the event, as it prompts sadness and fear. Some of our patients have even shared feeling helpless. Seon-Walker: There's been a lot of fear from clients. There's feelings of, "Will I be safe?" I have some clients who work in schools or who have children who were at schools or loved ones in schools, and there's this feeling of, "If I send my children to school, will they be safe? Will they be coming back to me at the end of today?" There's been a lot of fear around that. There's a lot of apathy that I'm hearing as well: "What's being done?" I certainly heard concern today from one person talking about how long the police sat outside the school before they went in, and, "Are the police really going to be here for us? Are the police really going to protect us?" There's a lot of concerns about safety that come up with that. Amin: It has been hard for folks to shake the feelings of fear and worry these events have brought up. Many have expressed fear for their loved ones, and potentially for [themselves] to be harmed. It has also brought up a number of existential thoughts and questions many of which touch on one's identities and who they are as Americans, what the future holds, and what is their role in that. I think there has been a common feeling of heaviness to all of this. It has not just been the events of this week, but at least two years' worth of distress and upheaval that folks are carrying. Q. What are some ways others can healthily process news of recent mass shootings? Amin: My No. 1 recommendation is to take a break from the news and media. We are not built to take in a constant stream of stress and anxiety; our bodies and minds can't handle that. We have to find time to disconnect and [do so] on a consistent basis. I always encourage folks to start small can you turn off the screens, the alerts, the notifications, for just two minutes today? If you can do two minutes today, can we work up to five minutes next week? Being consistent with this also helps us build the habit and turn something into a lifelong practice. Making sure to process the emotion and thought you're holding is important. Journaling, talking it out, movement are all ways we can help our bodies digest the stress and avoid a buildup of emotion. And then, once we've processed our emotion we can more easily come to a space of taking action. I recommend folks connect with the things within their reach. We can't solve the bigger problems of the world, but we can still do things that align us with our values and keep us in touch with the person we want to be. Starting small here is key, especially when we feel overwhelmed by what's happening. Checking in on a neighbor, buying a coffee for a co-worker, holding the door for someone. These are things that we can easily minimize, but have the potential to go a long way in difficult moments. Seon-Walker: One is being aware of symptoms, like if you're having any intrusive symptoms, any flashbacks about what happened, any nightmares, trouble sleeping, if you're feeling activated, if you're feeling tingling in your body, or that you're having a panic or heart attack, any kind of arousal like that needs to be addressed. It's important to go and find some therapeutic help for symptoms like that, to really find spaces to have support. And that could be a mental health provider, it might be your spiritual provider, it might be a support group. Some people want to dance it out in a dance class. Some people are gonna want to go and participate in an art activity or listen to music. People have their own ways of doing that. But whatever the process is, it's important to engage in that process, to explore those things that might be helpful in order to really make sure that they work that through. Zamarripa and Rojas Perez: This is not an easy task, but folks can process the news in small dosages. They can also process with trusted individuals or groups who will validate their emotions and thoughts. People can also check in within themselves and see if they have the emotional bandwidth to engage in conversations related to the event. Another method is to process the news with a mental health professional, if available. Finally, it is important for people to validate whatever emotional response they are experiencing. Zamarripa: Some of us had a hard time getting to work the next day. Sometimes we're like, "Don't let it get the best of you. We have to move on. There's a time and place for that." But at the same time, these losses are so devastating. And then there's the racial history on top of that. If someone is feeling that overwhelming grief, make sure you allow the time for that, and for those of us feeling that anger, for us to know it's OK to feel angry, despite what people try to say. If we feel incredibly grief-stricken, if we don't feel like going to work these are valid feelings. We don't always have to understand them in the moment. That's how grief and trauma work. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. DENYS KARLOVSKY SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022, 14: 40 Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has called for a strengthening of controls over people and organisations the Russian authorities have declared "foreign agents." Source: Medvedevs Telegram Channel Medvedev's direct speech: "I must admit that control over foreign agents has been quite formal. But today, it is time to restore order. If they are engaged in activities directed against the country in such a difficult period and receiving money from our enemies for doing so, the response must be quick and tough. [We shouldnt have to] worry [about this], especially during a special military operation and unlimited anti-Russian sanctions. And at the legislative level, a more precise classification and stricter liability of foreign agents should be introduced. A bill has already been submitted to the State Duma that allows this to be done. The activities of foreign agents should be put under strict controls and become transparent to our society." Details: The ex-president of Russia believes that it is necessary to ban public activities and speeches by foreign agents and to prosecute them speedily. Medvedev is convinced that in the United States and a number of Western countries, control over the activities of organisations that have funding from abroad is much stricter than in Russia. They say that the anti-liberal legislation of the United States and a number of European countries allows local law enforcement officers to stop the activities of any foreign "human rights defenders" or people who raise some acute socio-political topic within 24 hours. Medvedev gave as an example that the US authorities would not allow a foreign organisation to conduct any public discussion about the murder of George Floyd in 2020 in Minneapolis. By 2022, Medvedev insists, Russian legislation on the activities of foreign agents had become significantly more liberal than similar laws in Western countries. Story continues Note: All human rights, cultural, media, business and political organisations in Russia that receive funding in part or in full from foreign citizens or legal entities registered abroad must mark each of their social media posts, public speech or product with the appropriate label. Organisations registered as "foreign agents" must request permission from the Russian authorities to give speeches in public and hold rallies or meetings. In addition, the Russian tax and financial services thoroughly check the activities of such organisations. Western human rights organisations, the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Commission and the UN, as well as foreign journalists, criticise Russian legislation as being contrary to human rights. Background: UAE-based luxury project developer Damac Properties has announced its foray into US real estate market by winning the $120 million bid to acquire land in the upscale Miami neighbourhood of Surfside. The Dubai group plans to build an ultra-luxurious, Cavalli-branded condominium project. The property, on Collins Avenue, offers residents 200 ft of direct beach frontage and access to South Beach and Bal Harbour. Surfside, in recent years, has become a hotspot for ultra-luxury condominium developments, including the Four Seasons Private Residences, the Fendi Chateau Residences, and the Arte Surfside buildings. The town also has a collection of high-end hotels, including the Four Seasons, the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour and its primary shopping area, the Bal Harbour Shops, is known throughout Miami as a luxury shopping destination. The Surfside project will be Damac's first in the US which wll come up on a 1.8 acre land that was sold to the group for $120 million through the court process. Commenting on the purchase, Chairman and Founder Hussain Sajwani, said: "Damac Properties has long been eyeing development opportunities in Miami. We see the city, which is known for being a luxury and fashion centre, as a natural fit for our company, which has an established reputation for its branded luxury offerings." Damac, known for its luxury real estate offerings both regionally and globally, is rapidly expanding its global footprint such as its flagship project in Europe - Damac Towers Nine Elms in the prestigious Zone 1 district of London with Versace interiors. The companys consistent success over the years, and more recently on the tailwinds of Dubais economic performance and forecast, has propelled it to eye various global opportunities for development and growth. Damac is also developing a luxury resort in the Maldives to be operated by global hotel brand Mandarin International and has already projects in Canada, the UK and across the Middle East.-TradeArabia News Service A 46-year-old Milwaukee man was killed in a hit-and-run crash late Friday, Milwaukee police said Saturday. The man was walking in the 4600 block of West Lisbon Avenue, which is near the exit of Highway 175, about 10:35 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle, police said. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, according to a news release. Milwaukee police had not released a vehicle a description or any other information as of early Saturday. As of Wednesday, 23 people had died in crashes in the city, according to the latest data available on the Milwaukee Police Department's traffic safety website. Last year, 67 people died in fatal crashes in the city. Anyone with any information is asked to call Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips App. Contact Ashley Luthern at ashley.luthern@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aluthern. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man killed in hit-and-run crash, police say Curious how Marvel Studios pulled off its Moon Knight television series with such style and flair? If you've got a Disney+ account, you can take a deep dive into the comic book project with the latest episode of Assembled, an ongoing docuseries that takes fans behind the curtain of the MCU's TV and filmmaking magic. Clocking in at over an hour, the making-of special for Moon Knight tackles every aspect of the hit show from Oscar Isaac's British accent to, to the design process of the hero's iconic costume, to the arrival of Marvel's first Egyptian superhero (played by May Calamawy). Head below for seven fun facts we learned from the documentary. Praise Khonshu! **SPOILER WARNING! The following contains major plot spoilers for all six episodes of Moon Knight!** 7. Meet Steven Grant Moon Knight PRESS Photo: Marvel Studios Head writer and executive producer Jeremy Slater didn't want to open the story from Marc's perspective due to the character's lone wolf attitude and penchant for keeping secrets. "Marc is a very closed-off character. We would be fighting an uphill battle for the entirety of the series," Slater explains in the documentary. "I really looked at Steven Grant and said, 'That's a story I know how to tell.' Once you're on board with who Steven Grant is as a character, you're in for the entire run." "The key was Steven," Isaac says a few minutes later. "Because Steven is sincere and also funny, but also a hundred percent sincerely terrified about what's happening. That allows for a multitude of different reactions that all still live in the same world." 6. The hieroglyph problem Moon Knight PRESS Photo: Marvel Studios If you look closely at the upper legs of Marc Spector's Moon Knight costume, you'll notice an inscription of various hieroglyphics that translate into his hero name. According to the project's Egyptology consultant Ramy Romany, however, the Ancient Egyptians did not have the word "knight" in their language. To get around this issue, he came up with the moniker of "protecting soldier of the moon," which was then turned into the symbols etched into the thighs of the outfit. "The design of it was a collaborative process, everyone chipped in," states director and executive producer Mohamed Diab. Story continues 5. Mr. Knight's costume was originally intended for Marc Moon Knight (2022) PRESS Photo: Marvel Studios Steven adopts the Mr. Knight look in Episode 2 when he and Layla are pursued by a jackal monster through the streets of London. Per Aaron Moorehead who directed two out of Moon Knight's six episodes with usual collaborator, Justin Benson Mr. Knight is meant to be a personification of "what Steven imagines is cool. James Bond, something like that. A dapper gentleman that's a trickster and strong and funny." "As Steven became this very English bloke, [I said:] 'I feel like Steven's Mr. Knight. Don't we think that?' And then they're like, 'We were thinking the same thing,'" Isaac recalls. "And so then that got switched." The costume was a custom three-piece suit conceptualized by costume designer Meghan Kasperlik, who looked to the comics for inspiration. "We really wanted to make sure to bring in a little texture and not have it be flat white. So when the light hits it, there's a slight lame that comes out to have a little brilliance to the suit," she explains. "It has a waistcoat with costume buttons, the Khonshu symbol. We adapted a sneaker because I wanted to give it a modernized look. Mohamed, our director, wanted them to have some straps on them in homage to mummies." 4. Arthur Harrow is meant to recall Killmonger and Thanos Moon Knight (2022) PRESS Photo: Marvel Studios Arthur Harrow's goal is pretty understandable: he just wants to live in a world where evil and suffering are a thing of the past. Who doesn't? It's just that his methods are a little iffy. Throwing his lot in with the Ancient Egyptian goddess known as Ammit, the influential cult leader judges people for the transgressions they might commit, and punishes them accordingly, which, ya know, sort of messes with the whole "free will" thing. "I think the most successful villains in the history of Marvel are the couple of villains that actually have some gray in them," Diab says. "Like Killmonger or Thanos. People actually thought, 'You know what? You have a point!' I hope people are gonna feel that about Harrow. He has a logic." "I could make a very compelling case that I'm not playing the villain," Ethan Hawke, who plays Harrow, muses 20 minutes later. "I've tried to create a character that could be seen from either side of the coin." 3. Oscar Isaac's brother stood in for Steven and Marc in Episode 5 Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant and Marc Spector in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT. Oscar Isaac as Steven Grant and Marc Spector in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT. Photo: Marvel Studios For the end of Episode 4 and all of Episode 5 (in which Marc and Steven explore their shared childhood trauma in the Duat), the production relied on Isaac's younger brother Michael Hernandez to stand in for either of the two identities. However, there were also times when Isaac didn't have anyone to spar with on set. "Sometimes, I had to make the choices for both characters beforehand, rehearse it once with me as Steven and then rehearse it with me as Marc, imagining how I wanted to react at the time, and memorize the blocking and then have to do it all to no one sometimes in the wider shot. So those were some of the harder days because it was just so technically demanding." Hoping to make the switch between identities a little less daunting, Isaac initially asked to shoot Marc and Steven's scenes on different days. "At first, I was unsure," the actor admits. "And so, I said, 'I don't want to film any Marc things on the same day as Steven. Can we just figure it out [and] do them on different days, so I can keep them really distinct?'" 2. Scarlet Scarab was not always part of the show May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT, exclusively on Disney+. May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT, exclusively on Disney+. Photo: Marvel Studios That's right Layla's transformation into Marvel's first Egyptian superhero, one of the most important moments of the entire show, was not in the original script. "The show didn't start with the Scarlet Scarab," Diab adds. "But seeing May and developing her as an Egyptian character, step-by-step, the idea came up: 'Let's make her into a superhero." In the comics, the hero is a man by the name of Dr. Abdul Faoul who uses an artifact called the Ruby Scarab to gain superhuman abilities and protect Egypt from outside invasion. Faoul also "reappropriates Egyptian artifacts from people who have stolen or gotten them by ill means and returns them to their rightful owners," explains executive producer Grant Curtis. "We thought, 'Man, the way our narrative is teeing up, that lines up with exactly what we needed for our show.'" "Right now, Marvel is the world to a lot of people," Diab continues. "To be a part of that world, it means that you exist. Representation really...I know this word now has been thrown right and left, but having someone like this onscreen, defending good, that's the kind of story that brings people together." "When I've seen Arabs on film, it's given me so much permission and faith that I also have a space and a place to do that," finishes Calamawy. 1. Oscar Isaac has now shot three projects in the same desert (L-R): Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant and May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT. (L-R): Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant and May Calamawy as Layla El-Faouly in Marvel Studios' MOON KNIGHT. Photo: Csaba Aknay/Marvel Studios Every time Oscar Isaac thinks he's out, the shifting sands and blistering heat keep pulling him back in. Over the span of just four years, the actor filmed three separate blockbuster projects Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Dune: Part I, and Moon Knight in the same location: Jordan's Wadi Rum desert. "It felt like a big summer vacation for everybody," he says of Moon Knight's Jordanian shoot, which took place at the very end of the production schedule. "We were out in the sun and right by the Red Sea and going up to Petra. It was an amazing way to end the whole thing." All six episodes of Moon Knight are now streaming on Disney+. Looking for more content concerning Ancient Egypt? DreamWorks Animation's The Prince of Egypt is currently available on Peacock. An artists conception shows astronauts at work on the moon. (NASA Illustration) How do you keep moondust from gumming up the works in NASAs future spacesuits and spacecraft? Thats one of the issues addressed in the latest batch of projects backed by NASAs Small Business Innovation Research program. NASA is working on ambitious, groundbreaking missions that require innovative solutions from a variety of sources especially our small businesses, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said Thursday in a news release. 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 NASAs leadership in space. Four SBIR research contracts will go to Washington state companies. And two of those contracts are going to Everett-based Off Planet Research. One Off Planet project focuses on the development of a flexible fiber seal that will hold up in dusty environments. The seal would make use of stainless steel and/or basalt fibers that align and interlock when compressed, conforming to surfaces to keep dust out. Traditional soft seals do not hold up well in space, while hard seals often restrict sealing capabilities or mobility, Melissa Roth, lead researcher at Off Planet Research, told GeekWire in an email. Our dust seal does not rely on elastomers or polymers that fail due to intense temperatures or volatile depletion in the vacuum of space. The materials are resistant to many chemicals and oxidizers, making them ideal for a wide range of use cases. Off Planets other project addresses one of the requirements for a next-generation NASA spacesuit designed for use during spacewalks and moonwalks. Next week NASA is due to announce wholl be making the spacesuit, known as the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit or xEMU. We will be developing a removable cover for the Service and Cooling Connector (SCC) on the xEMU that will protect the SCC from dust intrusion while operating on the lunar surface, Roth said. The SCC serves as the spacesuits main interface for water and oxygen flow. Story continues Roth said there could be additional uses for dust protection technology. We foresee additional applications as a port cover on commercial rovers and landers to increase the life span of interconnecting systems, such as the xEMUs, rovers, and ISRU [in-situ resource utilization] plants, she said. Kent-based Starfish Space is receiving a Phase I contract for its CETACEAN relative navigation software, which is designed to determine the relative position of two spacecraft during proximity operations. NASA funding would go toward improving computer vision image processing, and toward blending vision data with other sensor data. Starfish Space was founded in 2019 by Trevor Bennett and Austin Link, two veterans of Jeff Bezos Blue Origin space venture. In an email, Link told GeekWire that the SBIR contract will be a great opportunity for us to work more closely with NASA. CETACEAN is a key technology for Starfish Space as we develop the Otter space tug, Link said. Its one of the technologies that will help the Otter be particularly efficient for its two core missions: life extension for GEO [geosynchronous Earth orbit] satellites and debris removal in LEO [low Earth orbit]. We believe our technologies like CETACEAN also enable a new paradigm for how humans can operate in space: one where dynamic, autonomous interaction become common. Imagine, building JWST on-orbit rather than risking $8 billion on a single launch! Seattle-based Hover Inc. won a contract to advance the development of its miniaturized, ruggedized computing platform for autonomous and semi-autonomous aircraft. The platform hosts a certifiable real-time operating system that can run many different types of autonomy software applications, including detect-and-avoid concurrently, company founder James Lawson told GeekWire in an email. In its proposal, Hover says its technology could be incorporated into NASA experimental aircraft as well as commercial drones that aim to make use of the national airspace system. The company was founded in 2019 and is working in partnership with another Washington state aerospace company, Sagetech Avionics. Each Phase I SBIR contract has a value of $150,000, which is a 20% increase over the previous funding level, and covers a six-month period. Phase I contracts are designed to help small businesses mature their technologies, opening the way for further development and commercialization in later phases of the SBIR program. NASA also awarded a new round of Phase I contracts in a parallel program known as Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR. The space agency said it selected 333 proposals from 257 small businesses and 41 research institutions for SBIR and STTR Phase I funding, adding up to nearly $50 million nationwide. More from GeekWire: Law enforcement officers speak together outside of Robb Elementary School following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. According to reports, 19 students and 2 adults were killed, with the gunman fatally shot by law enforcement. Brandon Bell/Getty Images More than $2 million was raised for the family of a teacher killed during the Uvalde mass shooting. Irma Garcia was fatally shot during the shooting at Robb Elementary school on Tuesday. Her husband, Joe, died two days later due to a medical emergency, family said. More than $2 million has been raised for the family of a Uvalde, Texas teacher, who was among those who were killed during the mass shooting earlier this week. The GoFundMe was set up by family members of Irma Garcia, a fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary School, who reportedly shielded her students during the attack. In a tweet on Tuesday, Garcia's nephew called her a "hero." "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," the fundraiser said. "She loved her classroom kids and died trying to protect them. Please donate anything you can to help her family. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Garcia family for various expenses." Law enforcement said that the shooting left at least 19 children dead, and two adults. It's the deadliest mass shooting in a K-12 school since Sandy Hook in 2012. The gunman was identified as an 18-year-old man who was shot by authorities at the scene. Just two days later, Garcia's husband, Joe died due to a medical emergency on May 26. "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," the fundraiser said. The GoFundMe exceeded its initial $10,000 goal, raising $2.4 million, as of Saturday. The platform created a list of verified fundraisers connected to those impacted by the tragedy. Read the original article on Insider NAACP president Derrick Johnson slammed President Bidens reported plan to cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers, claiming the unprecedented move doesnt go far enough. President Biden, canceling $10,000 in student debt is like pouring a bucket of ice water on a forest fire. In other words, it wont do anything, especially for the Black community, Johnson said in a statement on Friday. The Black community will be watching closely when you make your announcement, but $10,000 is not enough. $10,000 in cancelation would be a slap in the face, Johnson added. President Biden, its not about whether you can do it, its about whether or not you have the will to do it. safe to say the NAACP not a fan of the $10k student loan forgiveness trial balloon reported by @tylerpager pic.twitter.com/1g5DvjsPrn Justin Sink (@justinsink) May 27, 2022 Johnsons comments come after the Washington Post reported that the White House intends to cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt per borrower making less than $150,000 a year, citing people familiar with the matter. Johnson argued in his statement and in a Twitter thread that black Americans were disproportionately affected by the student debt crisis, citing studies by the Brookings Institution. On average, Black borrowers have nearly $53,000 in student loan debt four years after graduationalmost twice as much as their white counterparts, Johnson wrote on Twitter. 37.5% of Black borrowers will default at some point, compared to 12.4% of white borrowers. 5. 37.5% of Black borrowers will default at some point, compared to 12.4% of white borrowers: https://t.co/Y1BKjk9I1T Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) May 27, 2022 The White House had planned to make an announcement on student debt within the coming days, but will likely wait in light of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Post reported. The Biden administration announced in April that it would renew a pause on student loan payments through the end of August. Story continues Some congressional Democrats including progressives such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) have called on the president to forgive student debt via executive action. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said in July 2021 that Biden does not have the authority to do so and must be accomplished via an act of Congress. The president cant do it, so thats not even a discussion, Pelosi said at a press conference. Not everybody realizes that, but the president can only postpone, delay, but not forgive. >> @SpeakerPelosi says Biden does *not* have the power to cancel student loan debt as some Democrats, led by @SenSchumer, are urging him to do. "That has to be an act of Congress," Pelosi says. pic.twitter.com/2V7ALDDG3y Michael Stratford (@mstratford) July 28, 2021 More from National Review Kittens waiting to be adopted on Friday at the Pet Refuge, a no-kill shelter in North Kingstown. NORTH KINGSTOWN Operators of a no-kill cat shelter say it's in danger of closing due to financial trouble. Fundraising efforts for the Pet Refuge were essentially shut down for two years because of COVID restrictions, and now the shelter is having trouble paying the cost of caring for its more than 100 cats, shelter operators say. "Everything we do is fundraising and donations. We weren't able to do any fundraising. We lost a lot of money," said Kim Filburn, secretary for the North Kingstown-Exeter Animal Protection League, which runs the shelter. "We are in dire financial trouble," she said. "We might have to close down." The organization was started in 1968, and it has been running a shelter from the Stony Lane location since 2004, according to Linda Stevens, president of the nonprofit organization. More: With owls dropping from trees and orphaned fox pups, spring is busy for animal rescuers One of the largest shelters for cats in Rhode Island, the Pet Refuge accepts cats from all over the state. It doesn't euthanize animals because of lack of space or medical conditions, but rather only if the cat has a fatal disease or severe pain. As a result, the facility has about 30 resident cats or "lifers," which haven't been adopted because of temperament, age or medical condition, Stevens said. "We have cats that have lived at the shelter for their entire lives," Filburn said. The North Kingstown-Exeter Animal Protection League doesn't receive any municipal funding and generates all of its own financing, much of it through in-person efforts such as dinners or campaigns in front of stores. All of that was curtailed during the height of the pandemic and is only now starting up again. 'They need humans': Here's why a RI woman operates an animal sanctuary for farm animals It costs about $180,000 annually to run the shelter, the women said. Expenses include food and medical care for the cats. Spaying and neutering alone costs $15,000 to $20,000 annually, according to Stevens. Other costs include paying for one full- and four part-time staffers, as well as heat and electricity for the building, which is likely to need a new roof and HVAC system within a couple of years, Stevens said. Story continues The shelter has started a GoFundMe appeal with a goal of $50,000. "We have done many gofundme appeals over the years to help individual cats, and now we have to do one to save our beloved shelter," the appeal says. "Without a significant infusion of money and fast, the doors to the Pet Refuge may close forever." Stevens believes Rhode Island's housing crunch also put an extra strain on the shelter. It's not uncommon for an owner to surrender a pet because they've lost housing or must move where they can't have a pet. More: Woonsocket veteran thought he'd have to give up his dog. The RISPCA made another plan "We get calls nearly every day from people who have to surrender their beloved animals due to their own displacement in their circumstances," the GoFundMe appeal says. "We want to keep our doors open to continue to take in these cats and kittens, often the ones that other shelters will not or can not take." "We truly are a refuge and are often the place of last resort," the appeal says. "And we want to make sure that every cat at Pet Refuge has a home with us until they get a forever home, or for their entire lives if they dont. What happens if the shelter has to close? "I can't even think about it," said Filburn. "We'd have to see if we could get somebody else to take the cats." Stevens said, "We just want to keep saving cats." jperry@providencejournal.com (401) 277-7614 On Twitter: @jgregoryperry Be the first to know. Sign up for our breaking news alerts This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: No-kill North Kingstown cat shelter may have to close due to finances Three days after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas left 19 children and two adults dead, the National Rifle Association kicked off its annual convention about 280 miles away in Houston. Facing shrinking membership and revenue and on the heels of a nationwide gun reform debate, keynote speakers such as former President Donald Trump attended the convention that is scheduled to continue through Sunday, according to the NRA's website. During the convention, Trump criticized Republicans who decided not to attend after the shooting in Uvalde, saying, "unlike some, I didn't disappoint you by not showing up." He also called the latest push for gun reform a politically-motivated one. "They want total gun confiscation," he claimed. "This would be the first step. Once they get the first step, a second, third and fourth. You'll have a whole different look at the second amendment." Texas Sen. Ted Cruz echoed Trump's sentiments, saying, "We know that keeping guns away from citizens who follow the law does very little to keep them away from criminals." Meanwhile, outside the convention hall, the state's Democratic leaders, in addition to protesters that included children, expressed outrage about the NRA convention's attendees. A young girl holds a sign during a protest outside the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston Friday, Houston, Texas May 27, 2022, as the NRA Convention is held a few days after the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. / Credit: Wally Skalij via Getty "They prioritize power and profits over lives. I don't know if you'll ever find common ground with someone who operates like that," Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke told CBS News. O'Rourke earlier in the week confronted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott regarding his response to the Uvalde shooting during a press conference. An activist on Friday night also confronted Cruz at a restaurant in Houston. In video shared on social media, Benjamin Hernandez, a board member of the group Indivisible Houston, asked Cruz why he attended the convention and implored the senator to support "stronger gun laws," including background checks. Cruz begins to answer several times, but Hernandez talks over him. Story continues Security quickly intervened and got between the two, as Hernandez repeatedly asked Cruz, "Why does this keep happening?" As security removed Hernandez from the restaurant, he yelled at Cruz, "Nineteen children died. That's on your hands. That is on your hands. Ted Cruz, that's on your hands!" Hernandez told CBS News on Saturday that he confronted Cruz because he believes the senator "needs to be held accountable." Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee told CBS News that months ahead of the midterm elections, she thinks Washington will not remain divided on gun laws. "I hope not. I hope my sense of anxiety and my sense of anger does not counter our responsibility of working on compromise and getting it done." Flowers placed at Uvalde town square in memorial for elementary school shooting victims Vice President Harris, second gentleman honor lives lost in Buffalo supermarket shooting Vice President Harris calls for Congress to act amid recent mass shootings in the U.S. Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of Winn Dixie and home of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket, made a donation of $395,000 to nine childrens hospitals, including Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< The donation was made in recognition of National Cancer Research Month. If you rounded up your grocery bill recently at one of Southeastern Grocers stores in Florida, you helped the company make this donation, along with customers in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. READ: Sale of former Flea World site to benefit children in Central Florida The donations help to support local pediatric care facilities, like Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with their child focused care and programs. Other Florida hospitals that received donations: Wolfson Childrens Hospital (Jacksonville) Golisano Childrens Hospital of Southwest Florida (Fort Myers) Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital (St. Petersburg) Nicklaus Childrens Hospital (Miami) Studer Family Childrens Hospital (Pensacola) Childrens of Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama) Childrens of Mississippi (Gulfport, Mississippi) Ochsner Hospital for Children (New Orleans, Louisiana) Since 2021, Southeastern Grocers has raised more than $856,900 for its childrens hospital partners. 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. Mourners visit a memorial for the victims of the mass shooting Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) Police acknowledgments that they waited an hour before confronting a gunman who killed 21 inside a Texas elementary school stirred disbelief from residents and alarm from law enforcement officials over the flawed tactics. I understand that theyre afraid for their own lives, but these guys are in tactical gear, said Laura Pennington, whose 8-year-old son, Adam, hid in the principals office as the massacre unfolded. They could have swarmed the building from all angles. He was terrorizing these children. They needed to do more. Pennington, whose brother-in-law was among those who rushed to the school to help but were forcibly kept outside by officers, was eventually reunited with her son Tuesday afternoon. But she said she was in touch with a woman whose niece was wounded in the attack and was still hospitalized Friday. Theres several more that are critical and I dont know if theyll live, Pennington said. I want to cry because they deserve better than that. Police are under growing scrutiny after significantly changing the narrative of events Tuesday, when the gunman arrived at the school. Initial reports said police confronted the 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos. But officials now admit they waited. 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," he told the Associated Press. An on-site commander kept 19 officers from storming a classroom and confronting the gunman. Of course it wasnt the right decision, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said at a news conference, choking back tears. It was the wrong decision. Period. With 19 officers, McCraw said, there were plenty of officers to do whatever needed to be done. But the commander inside Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District chief of police decided the team needed more equipment and officers to enter the classroom where the shooter was holed up. He said the team did not move to take out the gunman until a full U.S. Border Patrol tactical unit arrived. Story continues McCraw did not say how many children might have been saved had officers entered immediately. He also did not spell out the degree to which the commander was aware of the childrens 911 pleas. Ultimately, this is tragic. What do you tell the parents of 19 kids or the families of two teachers? McCraw said. Were not here to defend what happened. Were here to report the facts. Experts said they were alarmed by the tactics. Youve got to stop the bleed of those children, and youve got to stop others from being shot, former Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told The Times after the news conference. You have to go in immediately. The kids were calling 911 for help. Critically injured patients typically need to receive care within an hour or the risk of mortality significantly increases, Acevedo said, adding: We used to call it the golden hour. Pennington said she has many questions about why police didn't enter earlier. It would have been a noble risk. Pennington said. There were parents who ran in and actually saved their kids. Thats not their job, she said, "Imagine how many people he saved just by taking things into his own hands. These guys have weapons and theyre willing to fight for their families." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in an interview Thursday that there is a difference between the way lawmakers climb the ranks in Congress now and 10 years ago, adding that lawmakers in both parties today are entertainers. In the old days, like 10 years ago, if you wanted to do really well in Congress, if you wanted to succeed, you climbed a meritocracy. The measurement of success was policy and persuasion, Ryan said on CNBCs Squawk Box. Thats not necessarily what motivates people anymore. Theres a lot of entertainers in Congress from both parties, he said. Ryan served as House Speaker from 2015 to 2019 before leaving Congress. The old meritocracy that takes 10, 20 years to climb, of being a good policymaker, you can just leap-frog that whole process, be a really good entertainer, have an incredible [digital] presence and forget about policymaking and curate a brand for yourself, Paul said. Former President Trump was notorious for using Twitter to spread his viewpoints on issues and gained popularity through the platform. And lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a progressive firebrand and millennial, have shown adeptness at communicating with constituents through social media. Ryan said he believes the rise of the entertainer in Congress has hurt bipartisanship as it is bad for a brand if a person compromises on an issue. If you are going to entertain, if you are going to try to show that youre better than everyone else within your own ecosystem it makes it more difficult to be willing to compromise, Paul added. His comments come as lawmakers are in talks about gun control measures following the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers. A bipartisan group of five Democrats and five Republicans came together to begin discussions on a proposal, although it is unclear whether the talks will amount to anything. Since the shooting, Democrats have pushed for gun control measures like background checks, while Republicans are focusing on ways to up school security. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Equitativa (Dubai), the largest real estate investment trust manager in GCC and also manager of Emirates REIT, said it has sold its property hosting Jebel Ali School located within Akoya development in Dubai, to Taaleem Holdings for AED233.5 million ($63.5 million). Emirates REIT had held the plot since 2015 and had funded the development of the school facility with a capacity of over 1,800 students for the not-for-profit Jebel Ali School. The school, which was established in 1977, is a leading British curriculum school in Dubai for students aged 3-18 years. It relocated its operations to the new Akoya campus in 2016. The aggregate consideration of the transaction to be paid by Taaleem to Emirates REIT is equal to AED233.5 million ($63.5 million) and comprises both the property sale price; a quantum equal to the last valuation undertaken by one of the real estate trusts independent valuers and the settlement of the school outstanding liabilities towards the REIT, said the statement from Equitativa. Upon receipt of the full consideration, the total return on investment derived by Emirates REIT from the Jebel Ali School property over the hold period will be 1.4 times its investment, it stated. Following the completion of the divestment, Emirates REITs portfolio comprises 10 properties across Dubai with a net lettable area of 203,366 sqm. The value of the investment properties stands at AED2.6 billion, with circa 37.6% of the REITs net lettable area in educational assets. On the sale, CEO Thierry Leleu said Equitativa is delighted to have partnered with Taaleem and the Board of Governors at Jebel Ali School in closing this transaction for the benefit of Emirates REITs investors, Jebel Ali School and its students and faculty members. "This transaction highlights our dual commitment to optimize returns for our investors and support our tenants operations and growth. We look forward to redeploying the disposal proceeds in other opportunities," he added.-TradeArabia News Service One person is dead and a 22-year-old Atwater man was in custody Friday in what police called a domestic violence-related shooting. Preliminary investigation has indicated that the incident was related to previous domestic violence involving a female and the shooting victim, Atwater Police Chief Michael Salvador said in a news release. The shooting was reported around 2 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 800 block of Cedar Avenue, Salvador said. Officers found an adult male victim in one of the bedrooms of the apartment. He had suffered two gunshot injuries to the arm and torso. Life-saving efforts were attempted but the victim was declared dead at the scene. Based on information gathered from statements and evidence collected, officers arrested Jason Dominguez, 22, of Atwater and charged him with one count of homicide. The identity of the victim was withheld until next of kin is notified. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Atwater Police Department at 209-357-6384 and ask for Detective Sgt. Brum or Detective Vargas. The Amarillo Police Department released information about an investigation of underage drinking and the subsequent arrest of a local store owner. According to a news release, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Amarillo officers were spotted up at the Spirit Emporium located at 4617 Western. Amarillo Police Department "We have been receiving information the owner of this store was selling alcohol to persons under 21 years of age," the APD release says. "Officers observed a female, who appeared to be under age 21, enter the store. A short time later she came back out with alcoholic beverages and placed them in the back seat of a vehicle. Officers followed the female in the vehicle and observed a traffic violation and made a traffic stop. The female was identified and found to be 18 years of age. She gave a statement in which she admitted to buying the alcohol. She then told officers she was never asked for identification by the clerk who is also the owner." Officers identified the store owner as Bikram Singh, 64. He was arrested and booked at the Randall County jail on the charge of purchase or furnishing alcohol to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was also notified and responded to the store. This incident is still being investigated by TABC and the police department. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: APD: Amarillo store owner arrested for selling alcohol to minors A possible murder-suicide was discovered by deputies during a welfare check in Lakewood Ranch on Friday afternoon, the Manatee County Sheriffs Office said Saturday in a news release. A relative had contacted the sheriffs office, saying they had not heard from their sister and brother-in-law for a week and asking for a welfare check. Deputies found two people dead inside the home at Lake Vista Condos just before 1:30 p.m. The sheriffs report listed them as a 63-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man. Due to the advanced level of decomposition, the victims have not been positively identified at this time and their names are not being released pending ID and next of kin notification, the sheriffs office said. Deputies said suspicious circumstances were noted and they believe the deaths were a murder and suicide. They do not have reason to believe there is an active threat to the community, the release said. The investigation is ongoing and this story will update as more information is available. The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Tulsa Police DepartmentLast month, Michael Louis had an operation on his back. But the pain had become too much to bear, he claimed. And when an enraged Louis couldnt find relief, he blamed the man trying to helphis doctor.Police said Louis fatally shot two orthopedists, a medical receptionist, a bystander, and then himself at a medical office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday afternoon, using a semi-automatic rifle he bought just three hours earlier from a (Photo: NDN Collective Video Screenshot) The hotel owner who banned Native Americans from her property in South Dakota two months ago was arrested today for assaulting protesters at a demonstration organized by NDN Collective. Connie Uhre, 75, the owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City, was charged with three counts of simple assault by the Rapid City Police Department for spraying what appeared to be a cleaning agent in the faces of several people outside the hotel. Uhres arrest was confirmed by Warren Poaches, a spokesperson for the Rapid City police. "More information on the crime will be available on Monday," Poaches told Native News Online. The incident, which was recorded, occured during a protest at the hotel that was organized by NDN Collective. Both Uhre and the Grand Gateway have been under fire since March, when she made disparaging comments about Native American people and banned them from the hotel property after a shooting incident on the property that eventually left one dead. In a video published by NDN Collective, Uhre had a bottle of Pledge, a home cleaning product, and sprayed three separate times towards other demonstrators outside the Grand Gateway Hotel. "I didn't think she would do that, being elderly," Lucie McClellan, one of the victims of the incident, told Native News Online. "I was shocked and am facing three surgeries for my eye. McClellan has glaucoma and diabetes and attends the demonstrations with her husband. She's originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma. "We didn't know what it was, and at first I thought it was mace," Lloyd Big Crow, one of the demonstrators at Friday's event, told Native News Online. Big Crow's nephew, Blaine Pourier, was the victim of a shooting at the Grand Gateway on March 20. "This is what we mean when we say that white supremacy is violent," Sunny Red Bear, director of racial equity for NDN Collective, said in a statement on Friday. Red Bear was also sprayed by Uhre. Story continues "Connie Uhre already made her view of Native people clear when she said she'd ban all of us from her business, and when her staff followed through on that those actions were violent." Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. On Saturday, March 26, leaders of the Great Sioux Nation in South Dakota and hundreds of demonstrators issued a "Notice of Trespass (Cease and Desist) order against Connie Uhre and the Grand Gateway Hotel with hopes of shutting the business down. After the order was delivered, the hotel posted on its website that it's "temporarily closed" and organizers have maintained protesting at the hotel property for the last six weeks, calling the business "racist." "Connie Uhre's behavior today was not only racist, violent and disgusting it was also illegal," NDN Collective President and CEO Nick Tilsen said in a statement on Friday. "This incident will be added to the federal civil rights lawsuit that was filed in March." NDN Collective filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court-South Dakota Western District after members of the organizations were denied room rentals two days in a row. The lawsuit alleges that the hotel practices "intentional racial discrimination against Native Americans. Under South Dakota law, assault is codified as a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Third, and more, subsequent convictions for simple assaults are punished as felonies in South Dakota. About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a freelance journalist and based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, where he also contributes to Unicorn Riot, an alternative media publication. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. " Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net Who needs the royal life when you can be regular shmegular? While no shortage of ink has been spilled on Prince Harrys and Meghan Markles official departure from The Firm to live more freely in sunny California while pursuing Netflix and Spotify deals, the promise of a more low-key existence is increasingly appealing to other royal types, too. More from WWD After renouncing her royal title, Japans former Princess Mako of Akishino married Kei Komuro last year and picked up stakes for New York. Under Japanese law, female members of the imperial family who marry commoners forfeit their status. While her husband has embarked on his law career, she is believed to be helping curators in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Asian Art Department with research on an informal and unpaid basis. The former princess, who is the niece of Emperor Naruhito, has taken her husbands name. She is not currently an employee at The Met. Formerly known as Princess Mako of Akashino, Mako Komuro now does unpaid research at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Asian Art Department. - Credit: Pool for Yomiuri/AP Pool for Yomiuri/AP Several years ago Princess Martha Louise of Norway took to Instagram to reveal that she would no longer use the title unless she is on official duty for Norways first family or in a private setting. Princess Grace of Monacos granddaughter Charlotte Casiraghi has made the distinction that she is not a princess. She is, however, a brand ambassador for Chanel and founder of Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco. Her younger brother, Pierre, is a businessman, proven sailor and Dior ambassador. His wife Beatrice Borromeo also fronts Dior, but is more widely known as an established Italian journalist. And the Casiraghis cousin Pauline Ducruet heads up the inclusive sustainable clothing brand Alter Designs. Charlotte Casiraghi, who has publicly stated that she is not a princess, attended the Chanel Cruise show. - Credit: Stephane Feugere/WWD Stephane Feugere/WWD Other indicators of modernizing monarchies are that this month there were reports that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge prefer to be known by their first names rather than their titles. Story continues The adage whats old is new stands true, according to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams. He notes how the one who comes to mind most famously and most notoriously is the Duke of Windsor, but suggested that some of his behavior can be attributed to how he was treated as a child by his father George V, who although popular as a king was an appalling bully. But there is no question that he temperamentally simply didnt fit into the role of what he used to call kinging. He didnt want to be Prince of Wales. He didnt like the responsibilities. So, he was deeply selfish. One has to remember, of course, that he set trends in those days. Obviously he was a sort of Princess Diana of his particular era in that people did follow him in a similar fashion, Fitzwilliams says. With the imperial household agency in Japan controlling the monarchy, access to it and what it does, its more or less that youre entering some sort of mausoleum, Fitzwilliams says. There isnt any freedom for the members. Theres this business of the pressures to have a male heira lot of the myth of things going back 2,500 years or whatever it is is manufactured. That unquestionably must have been a very painful individual choice [for former Princess Mako]. It must have been not approved by a lot of people in Japan and certainly not by courtiers. It would have been a very brave choice the decision to live your own life and opt out, so to speak. Looking ahead, its anyones guess whether more royals will prefer to live private lives. Fitzwilliams says, Thats very difficult to say because there are still more than 40 royal families in the world with functioning monarchies. Fourteen of them are queens, he said. Highlighting how Scandinavia is much more open and egalitarian than some other countries, that suits the people there and doesnt seem to put too much pressure on the royal themselves. Prizing privacy over duty depends on the individual and their background, from his viewpoint. Years ago it was thought there wouldnt be many royals by the end of the last century yet, there are. And there are still a number of things in favor of royalty and monarchy even though it is hereditary. Vernon Bogdanor, our [the U.K.s] chief constitutional expert, has said that the prime job of head of state is placed above party politics and the political fray, which was very significant. Its not just that people would necessarily want a monarchy. Its that they very often dont want the alternative, which is a politician in some form or another. Signs of progress are evident with different monarchies, Fitzwilliams says, especially when you look to how stiff and and starchy European royalty were in the 1950s and 1960s. After Swedens and Norways crown princes married for love, the whole thing changed. But what didnt change so quickly was [male-preference] primogeniture [for those in the line of succession], which was only abolished in 2013. On the whole, its up to the individual. Of course, there are circumstances where individuals think they can cope, and they find they cant. Theres the pressure of the press. The paparazzi was far, far less so [full-on] after [the death of Princess] Diana. But even so, with social media every move that you make [is chronicled], Fitzwilliams says. Its a gilded cage. Whether or not you can stay alive happily and thrive and survive in it, its a challenge. Another royal commentator, Rafe Heydel-Mankoo, takes a similar tack, allowing that it is definitely understandable when royals, who are more removed from the throne, embark on other careers since they dont have royal roles. A sign of the shifting tide was the Prince of Wales much-publicized decision to slim down the British monarchy. He says, Along with privilege comes responsibility and with the privilege of being an HRH, there are services to be rendered. But I can certainly see in this day and age why the younger members want to live their own lives, particularly to be free and unfettered. Along with being part of the royal family comes all of the intense media scrutiny. From his standpoint, it boils down to how much work there is to go around. If there is sufficient work, I would expect any member of a royal family to do the duties that are allocated to them. They do have unbelievable privilege and with that privilege comes the responsibility of duty and self-sacrifice. Those are values that the queen of Denmark and our own queen have taken to heart and sacrifice means not necessarily doing what you want to do, but fulfilling a life of service to the country. That is a career. But if monarchies are being slimmed down and there arent enough functions to be fulfilled, its understandable why some would rather be engaged with other activities than sitting idly, twiddling their thumbs. That said, Heydel-Mankoo believes there should be a code of conduct regarding any career choices so that they dont embarrass a royal family in any way, or stand against the values of a nation. For example in Japan, of course, theres a very strong tradition of honor and shame. Anything that would bring shame on the royal family or the imperial family would reflect poorly on the nation as a whole, he says. Asked about former Princess Makos decision to relocate to the U.S., Heydel-Mankoo notes how that it is a very fascinating time in Japan, which is the country that is most steeped in tradition. Its been petrified not in a scared sense, solidified in its traditions. The reality is British monarchy has survived where others have fallen, because it has evolved and adapted to the times. The monarchy of today isnt the monarchy of the 1990s. Japan is in that risky position, where Japanese society is proceeding at pace and there is an understanding among the Imperial family, Im sure that they too need to evolve and adapt, if they are to ensure their survival. After relinquishing their royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have settled into living in California. - Credit: Mischa Schoemaker/Sipa USA via AP Mischa Schoemaker/Sipa USA via AP With the former Duke and Duchess of Sussex having departed the scene, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie Countess of Wessex and the octogenarians Duke of Kent and Duke of Gloucester have stepped in to take up some of the jobs, Heydel-Mankoo says. Everyone is now waiting for Prince Williams children to come of age so that they can take up some of the duties and responsibilities. While they are still in their childhood, other royals are taking part. But as they become in their 20s, were going to see all the other royals embarking on private careers in life, he says and that independent route will become more accepted by other royal families. He adds, Japan is a bit of a different situation but in Europe, they have much smaller royal families already. Its inevitable that you will see this happening. Youre already seeing it with the husbands, who have married into royal families and want to maintain their own private and professional lives. It has not caused much of a scene in some of the Scandinavian countries, but they have a much slimmer structure. Theres no real function or role for royals to fulfill. The former Duke and Duchess of Sussex are prime examples of what not to do in terms of pursuing a career, says Heydel-Mankoo. Everything theyve done in advancing their career profiles has been on the basis of their status as members of the royal family. Yet all of the products and the statements they are making to advance their careers are essentially attacking the royal family and getting mileage out of issues that the royal family would rather not discuss in public. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. VALENTYNA ROMANENKO SATURDAY, 28 MAY 2022, 10:16 The Russian Federation has announced pseudo-humanitarian routes in the Black Sea for civilian shipping. Source: Press Service of the Ukrainian Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "Russia is cynically announcing supposedly safe routes in the Black Sea for civilian shipping. Such a statement is manipulation. The aggressor country cannot be a guarantor of security, because from the first days of the full-scale invasion, in violation of the rules of security of civil navigation and international humanitarian law, Russia has been shelling foreign civilian ships." Details: The Ukrainian Navy emphasises that Russian naval groups, continuing to disregard the rules of international maritime law, continue to block civilian shipping in the Black and Azov Seas, making them a combat zone. Currently, two Russian Kalibr-type cruise missile carriers with a total salvo of up to 16 missiles are located in the Black Sea and ready to use missile weapons. The Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, pointed out that Ukraine would not abide by the fictitious rules of an aggressor country, a vile murderer and a looter. Ukraine is an independent, democratic and lawful state that adheres to the norms of international law, including international maritime law. The only truly safe routes can be those that are agreed upon by international agreements, where civilised countries are the guarantors of security. Russian forces have captured a key town with major ramifications for their invasion of Ukraine, according to the Russian military and British intelligence. Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Russia had total control of the town of Lyman, according to state media. The UK's Ministry of Defense said in a memo Saturday that Lyman will prove a critical area to hold due to its railways and key bridges. "By 27 May, Russian forces had likely captured most of the town of Lyman, in the north of Donetsk Oblast, in what is likely a preliminary operation for the next stage of Russia's Donbas offensive," the ministry said. "Lyman is strategically important because it is the site of a major railway junction, and also gives access to important rail and road bridges over the Siverskyy Donets River," the memo continued. RUSSIA CLAIMS IT TESTED HYPERSONIC ZIRCON CRUISE MISSILE The intelligence report went on to speculate that Russian military forces will likely utilize the position to force a river crossing to their advantage. "In the coming days, Russian units in the area are likely to prioritise forcing a crossing of the river. For now, Russia's main effort likely remains 40 km to the east, around the Sieverodonetsk pocket, but a bridgehead near Lyman would give Russia an advantage in the potential next phase of the Donbas offensive, when it will likely seek to advance on key Ukrainian-held cities deeper in Donetsk Oblast, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk." The British intelligence community has released a series of reports documenting expected developments on the Russian side of the conflict. Russia has successfully tested a hypersonic Zircon cruise missile, the country's Ministry of Defense said Saturday. The missile has previously been touted as a major breakthrough in weapons development, with the Saturday launch clearing a distance of 625 miles, according to reports. IRYNA BALACHUK SATURDAY, 28 MAY 2022, 08:43 Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has said Russia hoped that "common sense would prevail" over Washington's possible supply of long-range missile weapons to Ukraine. Source: Russian Embassy in the United States on Telegram Quote from Antonov: "According to US media reports, the administration may give Kyiv HIMARS MLRS and M270 MLRS, which will be equipped with M31 GMLRS guided missiles. There is a risk that such equipment will be placed near Russia's borders and Ukrainians will be able to strike at Russian cities. Such a situation is unacceptable and intolerable for us. I am confident that our Armed Forces will do everything to nullify the capabilities of the [Ukrainian] Armed Forces." Details: Antonov also added that Russia is now basing its position on a statement by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby that the final decision on this issue has not yet been made. According to him, Russia has repeatedly communicated to the United States through diplomatic channels that "the unprecedented pumping of weapons to Ukraine significantly increases the risks of escalation of the conflict." Antonov added that the Americans are well aware that "their actions take away the prospects for peace" and that their actions threaten "unpredictable consequences for global security." "We hope that common sense will prevail, and Washington will not take such a provocative step. We are calling for an end to the senseless and extremely risky pumping of weapons into the country. It is important to refrain from threats against us and claims of a military victory for Ukraine," Antonov concluded. Background: On 27 May, the US Department of Defense stated that it "knows and is aware" of Ukraine's request for multiple rocket launchers, but "decisions have not yet been made." On 28 May, the New York Times quoted U.S. officials as saying that US President Joe Biden's administration had approved sending long-range multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine. Action demanded against Nupur Sharma and netizens ask global Muslim leaders to take note. Muhammad Raafi | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharmas blasphemous comments on the marriage of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has stirred up a major controversy. Sharma made the comments during a television debate on the Gyanvapi mosque on Times Now. Political commentators and social activists have demanded the arrest of Sharma and said that insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is unacceptable. Prime Time debates in India have become a platform to encourage hate mongers to speak ill about other religions. @TimesNow's Anchor @navikakumar is encouraging a rabid communal hatemonger & a BJP Spokesperson to speak rubbish which can incite riots. Shame on you @vineetjaintimes pic.twitter.com/lrUlkHEJp5 Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 27, 2022 Saket Gokhale, the national spokesperson of the All-India Trinamool Congress, said that a complaint has been filed in Chanakyapuri police station in the national capital against Sharma for making extremely inflammatory and false comments on Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He said it was a clear attempt to incite communal disharmony and Sharma must be arrested. Noted author and executive editor of the Force Magazine, Ghazala Wahab termed Sharmas comments aimed at making the ground supple for mass-scale violence. Sharmas comments received a massive backlash after the video was tweeted by a renowned fact-checker Mohammad Zubair. He tweeted the video with a comment: Prime Time debates in India have become a platform to encourage hate mongers to speak ill about other religions. @TimesNows Anchor @navikakumar is encouraging a rabid communal hatemonger & a BJP Spokesperson to speak rubbish which can incite riots. Shame on you @vineetjaintimes. (SIC) Reacting to Sharmas comments, a Twitter user, Wasim wrote: This woman (@NupurSharmaBJP) from Indias ruling party is openly blaspheming against Rasulallah The same people who are getting full economic support from Hindutva expats that live in Muslim lands. Muslims across the world should raise their voice against this snake. (SIC) Meanwhile, Sharma alleged that she has been receiving death and rape threats after Zubair tweeted a video of her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Sharma claimed that Zubair, co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, put out a heavily edited video from one of her debates, saying Zubair will be wholly & solely responsible if anything untoward happens to me or any of my family members. There is a so-called fact-checker who has started to vitiate the atmosphere by putting out a heavily edited and selected video from one of my debates last night. Ever since Ive been receiving death and rape threats, including beheading threats against me and family members, Sharma said. After Sharma tagged Delhi Police on Twitter accusing Zubair of inciting communal passions, Zubair said he was sure the police will register an FIR against the BJP spokesperson if they see the full video. Thanks for tagging @CPDelhi @DelhiPolice, If they happen to see the full video, I am sure there will be a sou moto FIR registered against you for inciting communal violence by sitting on a news debate and giving hate speeches targetting a religion, he wrote. Sharma later posted screenshots of some tweets and said she was getting continuous death and beheading threats against her and her family because of Zubairs attempts to incite communal passions and vitiate the atmosphere by building a fake narrative. Delhi Police replied from its official Twitter handle saying, The matter has been forwarded to the concerned officials for necessary action. You will be contacted shortly. Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha, however, debunked Sharmas claims and said that the claim that Zubair put out an edited video is completely false, and a lie propagated by Sharma. Zubair put an unedited clip of the relevant part of the video where Nupur Sharma uses derogatory/insulting language on live TV. Although Times Now has made the video on their YouTube channel private, however, Sinha said that they have the entire 33-minute video downloaded. Times Now has also distanced itself from Sharmas views. Terming the coordinated attack against Zubair as an attempt to shirk accountability by hoisting false allegations, Sinha said that Zubair is not responsible for the alleged threats by Twitter users against Sharma, or how they react after watching the video. Muhammad Raafi is a journalist based in New Delhi. He covers politics and human rights. He tweets at @MohammadRaafi Rwanda on Saturday said two of its soldiers were being held captive by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and accused government authorities there of backing the group responsible. It comes as a diplomatic feud between the two neighbours escalates, with both sides accusing each other of aiding armed militias in the volatile eastern DRC region that borders Rwanda. On Saturday, RwandAir announced it was cancelling flights to DRC, after Congolese authorities suspended the carrier and summoned Kigali's ambassador over what it alleges is Rwanda's support for M23 rebels. Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) later said two soldiers had been kidnapped on patrol and were being held by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), another rebel group active in eastern DRC. "We call upon authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo that work closely with these genocidal armed groups to secure the release of the RDF soldiers," the RDF said in a statement. The two soldiers were named by the RDF as Corporal Nkundabagenzi Elysee and Private Ntwari Gad. The abduction followed an attack earlier this week along the border by Congolese forces and FDLR rebels, the RDF added. Kigali had already called for an "urgent investigation" into that incident, which it said involved Congolese forces shelling Rwandan territory and injuring civilians. - Rising tensions - Fighting between Congolese forces and M23 erupted on several fronts this week in North Kivu, a conflict-torn eastern province of DRC, which borders Rwanda. The United Nations said on Friday the fresh clashes had displaced 72,000 people, and warned that those on the run faced constant violence and the looting of their homes. DR Congo said M23 -- a primarily Congolese Tutsi group -- had received support from Rwanda. Kigali has denied involvement, with a government spokeswoman saying Rwanda has no intention of being drawn into an internal matter of its neighbour. Kinshasa said late Friday it would take "conservative measures" against Rwanda, which included summoning the ambassador and blocking flights from the national carrier. Story continues The airline, RwandAir, responded on Saturday by cancelling "with immediate effect" all flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma. 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. Kinshasa has regularly accused Rwanda of carrying out incursions into its territory, and of backing armed groups there. More than 120 armed groups roam volatile eastern DRC, many of which are a legacy of regional wars more than two decades ago. Relations had begun to thaw after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi took office in 2019, but the recent resurgence of M23 violence has reignited tensions. The militia group 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. str-np/lc Samoa signed a bilateral agreement with China on Saturday, promising "greater collaboration" as Beijing's foreign minister continues a tour of the South Pacific that has sparked concern among Western allies. The deal's details are unclear, coming midway through a Chinese delegation's eight-nation trip -- but an earlier leaked draft agreement sent to several Pacific countries outlined plans to expand security and economic engagement. The mission has prompted Western leaders to urge regional counterparts to spurn any Chinese attempt to extend its security reach across the region. A press release from the Samoan government confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa had met and discussed "climate change, the pandemic and peace and security". Local media were invited to witness the signing of a deal, but no questions were taken. The deal also contained an agreement to help build a police fingerprinting lab in addition to an already announced police academy in the country, which follows earlier commitments of "capacity building" for law enforcement in the Solomon Islands. The release said that China would continue to provide infrastructural development support to various Samoan sectors and there would be a new framework for future projects "to be determined and mutually agreed". "Samoa and the People's Republic of China will continue to pursue greater collaboration that will deliver on joint interests and commitments," the release said. The Chinese delegation has already visited the Solomon Islands and Kiribati this week. It arrived in Samoa on Friday night before flying on Saturday afternoon into Fiji, where Wang will visit Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and attend a group meeting of foreign ministers from Pacific countries. Other stops are expected in Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. In a duel for influence, Australia's new Foreign Minister Penny Wong was in Fiji on Friday, seeking to woo island states after the Solomon Islands took Canberra by surprise last month by signing a wide-ranging security pact with China. Story continues "We have expressed our concerns publicly about the security agreement," Wong told reporters in the capital of Suva. "As do other Pacific islands, we think there are consequences. We think that it's important that the security of the region be determined by the region. And historically, that has been the case. And we think that is a good thing." At the first stop in Honiara on Thursday, Wang lashed out at "smears and attacks" against the security pact already signed with the Solomon Islands. While the wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan circulated to several pacific nations, both obtained by AFP, would give China a larger security footprint in a region seen as crucial to the interests of the United States and its allies. 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". al/oho Oxygen A Southern California couple have been arrested for allegedly torturing and physically abusing their five nieces and nephews over a four-year period from 2017 to 2021. Jessica Salas-Ruiz, 26, and Fernando Inzunza, 36, of Rialto, California were taken into police custody on May 25 and booked into the West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino on multiple counts of corporal punishment of a child. Inzunza was also charged with one count of torture. They are each being held on a $750,000 bail. F School shooter Salvador Ramos passed his talking to strangers online, allegedly carrying on conversations rife with threats and aggression, oftentimes aimed at young women and girls. The troubling digital interactions primarily took place on Yubo, an app that features livestreaming alongside large chat rooms called panels. In the months before Ramos unleashed carnage inside classrooms at Robb Elementary School, the 18-year-old allegedly posted images of dead cats and quipped about sexual assault and violence, according to the Washington Post. He also shared photos of a rifle he claimed he was going to use to shoot up a school. In one video from a live chatroom, recorded by other Yubo users, Ramos can allegedly be heard saying, Everyone in this world deserves to get raped. A 16-year-old boy from Austin, Texas, recalled Ramos online behavior for the Post, adding that he received a death threat from the suspected shooter back in January. I witnessed him harass girls and threaten them with sexual assault, like rape and kidnapping, said the teen, who did not wish to be identified It was not like a single occurrence. It was frequent. He said he and his friends repeatedly reported Ramos for bullying and other offenses. Hannah, an 18-year-old from Ontario, Canada, who did not wish to share her last name, said the alleged gunman also threatened to shoot up her school and rape and kill her and her mother during one livestream session. She reported him in April, she told CNN, but Ramos was back online after a weeklong ban. Others who interacted with Ramos said they had negative experiences but did not report him, but no one understood the gravity of his words until news of the shooting at Robb Elementary School started to spread. Authorities said Ramos entered through an open door at the school in Uvalde, barricaded himself inside a classroom and then opened fire. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in the hourlong attack. Story continues Ramos was fatally shot by responding police officers. A motive in the shooting remained unknown. Yubo use skyrocketed amid the coronavirus pandemic, with people all over the world eager to find new ways to connect amid lock downs and limited group gatherings. The app, nicknamed Tinder for Teens, has been downloaded more than 18 million times in the U.S., including more than 200,000 times last month, according to estimates reported by the Post. Users only need to be 13 to sign up. Yubo spokeswoman Amy Williams declined to comment on the specific actions the company has taken against Ramos in the past. As there is an ongoing and active investigation and because this information concerns a specific individuals data, we are not legally able to share these details publicly at this time, she said. Hueneme High School Law enforcement agencies found two alleged threats of violence this week at local schools were not credible, but posted precautionary patrols at several campuses Friday as schools grapple with the aftermath of the elementary school shooting Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and two teachers. Oxnard Police Department officials said in a Facebook post Thursday evening that investigations into a purported threat at Hueneme High School found "no danger" to students and staff. Police officials in Camarillo said a threat emailed to staff at University Prep Charter School was "not credible," according to an email to parents from school director Charmon Evans on Thursday evening. Police services in the city are provided by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Nevertheless, deputies were told to focus on schools during their routine rounds to create a reassuring presence, said sheriff's Sgt. Jason Karol on Friday. Oxnard police also told officers to focus their rounds on school sites and posted extra officers at Hueneme High, according to Cmdr. Luis McArthur. Police officials in Port Hueneme, Simi Valley and Ventura also said they added officers at several schools out of an abundance of caution. None had heard of specific threats. Law enforcement officials across the state and country have been dealing with a rise in purported threats after the Uvalde shooting, according to news accounts. Local anxiety spread across social media Thursday after posts described a supposed threat from a Hueneme High student against students and staff, but police and school officials say the post was inaccurate. "It was a misinterpretation of events," McArthur said on Friday. "There was no threat of violence." In December, multiple teens were arrested over allegedly making false threats at a number of local schools, with some incidents prompting lockdowns. In those cases, most of the teens reportedly told police they had been joking, but authorities stressed they take all threats seriously. Story continues Tom McCoy, superintendent of Oxnard Union High School District, wrote in a parent email that a post alleging the district had done nothing to respond to the Hueneme threat was untrue and was causing the community unnecessary panic. In an interview with the Star, McCoy said a group of students had reported concerns about the behavior of a classmate but that "there was no threat." McCoy said district students and families should continue to report "anything they hear that's concerning," either directly, through the district's anonymous tip line online or by calling or texting 844-805-2580. "We are running down every and any possible rumor and story to make sure our students and staff are safe," McCoy said. "We think about safety every day, not just on the day after a national tragedy." Isaiah Murtaugh covers education for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at isaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.com. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Police in Oxnard, Camarillo say school threats not credible Sleaford Mods has hit out at Harry Styles and his unremarkable albums that are forced on you like KFC. The English post-punk duo shared their strong views on Twitter on Saturday (28 May). Harry Styles. Forced on you like KFC. Every unremarkable album release pounded into your sensory temples, they wrote. Its insufferable. Earlier this month, the former One Direction band member released his third album Harrys House. You can read The Independents four-star review of the record here. In January this year, Sleaford Mods made up of Jason Williams and Andrew Fearn released their 11th studio album as a critical response to the governments handling of the coronavirus crisis. You can read The Independents three-star review of Spare Ribs here. Recorded mid-pandemic, Spare Ribs is touted as a portrait of pandemic Britain and a response to the governments incompetent, uncaring treatment of the public as disposable meat throughout the Covid debacle. But any coherent protest gets lost in the shouting, writes Mark Beaumont. Their post has received mixed responses from followers, with some people agreeing with the duo and others defending Styles as brilliant. Sloviansk TPP Read also: Zelensky says Russian invaders trying to achieve goals in Donbas by 100th day of invasion Sloviansk TPP is located in the Mykolaivka territorial community of Donetsk Oblast. In recent days, this community has been under constant rocket and artillery fire from invading Russian forces. Read also: Lyman in Donbas is mostly under Russian control Donbasenergo said it had decided to suspend the operation of Sloviansk TPP, in order to save the lives and health of the station staff, as well as due to the need to evacuate employees and their families. Read also: One day on the evacuation train that takes scores westward from war-torn Donbas "During the active phase of the war, the power plant's staff heroically ensured the operation of generating equipment and the supply of electricity to Ukraine's power system," the statement says. Early on May 28, Ukraine's General Staff in a Facebook update said that "in the Sloviansk area, the enemy did not conduct active hostilities, (but) conducted intensive reconnaissance. The (enemys) main efforts were focused on maintaining the occupied positions, replenishing losses and stocks, as well as creating conditions for the resumption of the offensive." "The enemy carried out artillery shelling of civilian infrastructure in the areas of the settlements of Studenok, Sviatohirsk, Bohorodychne, Karnaukhivka and Virnopillya, Ukraines General Staff said. Russian army aviation forces continued to strike in the area of the village of Dovhenke," it added. May 28Prosecutors in Boston announced charges on Friday in a cold case the murder of Brian Watson, a South Boston man whose body was found on the side of Interstate 93 in Manchester in 1984. According to a news release from the Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney's Office, prosecutors believe Watson was shot by another South Boston man named Michael Lewis, now 61, who was 24 when he allegedly shot Watson. Lewis was arrested in South Boston on Friday just after noon, after a grand jury indicted him for first-degree murder. "Brian Watson was a young father cut down seemingly on a whim," said Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. "Mr. Watson's family has endured many, many years of loss and heartache. At the very least, they now have some answers." Watson was last seen alive when he was 23, on July 16 or 17, 1984, when prosecutors say Lewis and another man who prosecutors did not identify picked him up in a car. Lewis, then 24, and the unnamed man were driving around the neighborhood trying to find a drug dealer, according to prosecutors. According to prosecutors, the drug dealer had told notorious gangster James "Whitey" Bulger that the unnamed man was selling drugs too, and prosecutors claim Bulger had demanded thousands of dollars from the unnamed man. The unnamed man and Lewis picked up Watson and asked him to take them to the drug dealer, prosecutors said. But as they were driving, prosecutors allege Lewis turned around to the back seat of the car, and shot and killed Watson. The two drove to New Hampshire, prosecutors claim, and dumped Watson's body on the southbound side of Interstate 93 in Manchester, just north of the Londonderry town line. Watson's body was found two months later, on Sept. 16, 1984. His body was decomposed, and he was identified by dental records, according to prosecutors. An autopsy determined he had been shot to death. For years, the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office has listed Watson among the state's "cold cases." Prosecutors said the investigation had years of fits and starts. According to the news release, federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts made a "significant break" in the case in 2009, but did not have the evidence necessary for local prosecutors to indict Lewis. "Further information developed by investigators this year provided sufficient evidence to move forward with Friday's indictment of Lewis," read a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Stockton Police Department car. The Stockton Police Department released video footage confirming a 19-year-old was shot during a police intervention earlier this year. The department said that on March 12, officers responded to a disturbance call on the 500 Block of East Bianchi Road at 10:30 p.m. They heard multiple gunshots and believed they were being shot at by someone in or near a car. Both officers shot back and the car drove away. Sam Barlow was later located and identified as the 19-year-old shot in the fire exchange. Medics transported Barlow to a hospital where he was in critical but stable condition, Stockton Police said in the videos presentation slides before the officers body camera footage. While being treated at the hospital, medics removed a bullet from Barlow, who has since been released from the hospital. Officers Gerardo Munoz and Kristen McClure responded to this call and are not injured. A forensic examination revealed the bullet removed from the teenager was fired from Munozs handgun, police said. Stockton Police listed some details about the weapons found on Barlow and the car, later found unoccupied three blocks away from the shooting scene. The registered owner of the Chrysler was Sam Barlow, police said. Because this case resulted in an officer-involved shooting, a multi-agency investigation began with the San Joaquin County District Attorneys Bureau of Investigation and Californias Department of Justice along with Stockton Police. This cases multi-agency critical incident investigation and Stockton Polices internal departmental use of force review remain active investigations. Stockton Police posted the 4-minute video including the information slides and officer bodycam footage publicly on Facebook and YouTube. Record reporter Laura Diaz covers social justice and societal issues. She can be reached at ldiaz@recordnet.com or on Twitter @laurasdiaz_. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Police confirms 19-year-old was shot by officer during March 12 call Vicky Leta/ Before Roe v. Wade, a nationwide network of clergy helped women seeking abortion care. With the landmark ruling poised to fall, similar networks are being revitalized by religious leaders. One minister in Texas helps 20 people travel to New Mexico every two weeks for abortions. Every two weeks, a group of 20 people board a flight in Dallas, Texas, escorted by a member of the clergy. They head to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a day trip to a clinic, where each person receives personalized reproductive care. The group organizing and fundraising for the trips includes Christian ministers and Jewish rabbis, united in the common goal of getting people the care they need. The people on the trips qualify by being below a certain income level. Some have never been on an airplane before. Most have jobs. Some are college students. Almost all have children. Most get surgical abortions on the trip. At the end of the long day, they all fly home. "The resources they have to get access to what I consider a fundamental right, to terminate a pregnancy and control their bodies, is limited by their position in society, which is why this whole thing is a war on the poor," Daniel Kanter, the senior minister and CEO of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas, told Insider. Kanter organizes the trips along with other clergy members. Five years ago he helped found a multi-faith chaplaincy team, made up of Christian and Jewish clergy, to provide counseling to women at an abortion clinic in Dallas. But things changed last year when Texas passed an especially punitive law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. "SB8 changed almost everything about the chaplaincy," Kanter said. "Our patient load went from 100 patients a day to 30 patients a day, and 15 weren't eligible for an abortion procedure because they were more than 6 weeks pregnant. So we pivoted to a travel program." As the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, more and more faith leaders are working on ways to help people access the care they need. More models like Kanter's are popping up or in the works, as a network of religious leaders that helped women get abortions before Roe is being revitalized. Story continues A 33-year-old mother of three from central Texas is escorted down the hall by clinic administrator Kathaleen Pittman prior to getting an abortion, Oct. 9, 2021, at Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport, Louisiana. Rebecca Blackwell, File/Associated Press Religious leaders helped women get abortions before Roe The Clergy Consultation Service was founded in 1967, six years before Roe, at a time when many states banned abortions. Rev. Finley Schaef, a Methodist minister in Manhattan, co-founded the group after a mother sought his help in obtaining an abortion for her teenage daughter. The CCS grew to include more than 1,000 clergy members across 38 states. They helped about half a million people obtain safe abortions between 1967 to 1973, according to Katey Zeh, a reverend and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a group that grew out of the CCS. "It's so central to our faith to care for people, so it's no surprise that clergy were part of the group helping people get abortion care," Zeh told Insider. When the CCS was formed, many Christian and Jewish traditions supported abortion rights, she said: "People understood that it was important that people should not be dying from unsafe abortion." Zeh said clergy today are simply continuing the work on reproductive rights that religious leaders have been doing for decades. She acknowledged the perception that people of faith, particularly Christians, are widely opposed to abortion, but said it's inaccurate. Polling suggests most members of Christian and Jewish traditions, Muslims, and even Catholics support the right to an abortion. "It's just that there's a very vocal group of what we call white Christian nationalists that have made this the central issue of their political platform and they have used and weaponized Christianity, in particular, to make it seem like this is just an obvious thing, that if you are a Christian then you must be anti-abortion," Zeh said. Anti-abortion activists Allen Siders, center, and Pastor Keith Dalton, of the Church at Jackson, call out at speakers during an abortion rights rally in Jackson, Mississippi, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press She added that the message has been repeated so much people believe it, even though it's not statistically true for many Christian traditions. Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and evangelicals are generally more anti-abortion than other denominations, but Zeh said they're not the full picture. "Our voices are drowned out by a very fringe belief," she said of Christians who support abortion rights. Networks are popping up from Minnesota to Ohio Ruth MacKenzie, a minister in residence at Kanter's church in Dallas, is one of the chaplains that has accompanied folks on the New Mexico day trips. "Traveling with those women from Dallas to New Mexico, I was just so saddened and angered at what we are putting women through," she told Insider. "All of those women were doing a very intimate and hard thing all by themselves." The days could last over 13 hours. The people seeking care walk into a room of strangers and undergo medical procedures without their loved ones by their side, but MacKenzie said she was struck by how the women supported each other. MacKenzie is moving back to Minnesota next month and is coordinating with other clergy members to recreate some of what Kanter's group is doing. Unlike Texas, Minnesota is unlikely to outlaw abortion and will likely become a destination for abortion seekers, especially from North Dakota and South Dakota, neighboring states that have "trigger laws" in place. "We will be like New Mexico is for Texas," MacKenzie said, adding that she's working with ministers in Minnesota to figure out how they can best support abortion clinics and people traveling to them from out of state. Others are preparing for a post-Roe world by offering counseling and education on reproductive rights to religious communities. "The opposition likes to paint it as they have the market cornered on morality," Elaina Ramsey, the executive director of Faith Choice Ohio, told Insider. Anti-abortion protesters pray as demonstrators gather outside the Houston, Texas, City Hall during a Bans Off Our Bodies rally on May 14, 2022. Mark Felix/AFP/Getty Images With a focus on education, advocacy, and counseling, the group provides resources and training for people of faith and clergy to learn about, discuss, and advocate for reproductive rights and justice. Faith Choice Ohio is also launching a faith-based abortion fund that will help abortion seekers travel out of state for care. The fund will help pay for travel and other costs, like care packages or childcare, in addition to providing the seekers with clergy counseling. "This is a deep part of the moral commitment that faith traditions have to serve their neighbors and show up in times of crisis and beyond," Ramsey said, though she acknowledged there can be a mistrust of religious groups doing this work. "That, I completely understand because the opposition to abortion care often comes from religious zealots, people who claim a faith tradition but do not speak for me as a Christian," she said. They often hear stories about how meaningful it is for people of faith to see religious leaders supporting reproductive rights and simply assuring them they do not think they are going to hell if they have an abortion. "That's why I do this work. I want to reclaim this from all the anti-abortion people, the way that they've weaponized faith and religion," she said. "We're here to say that it doesn't have to be that way." Have a news tip or story to share? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider The mother of a teenager who killed 21 people in a Texas school shooting has begged forgiveness for her son, saying he had his reasons for doing what he did. Nineteen students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde were killed in the mass shooting on Tuesday. The massacre, carried out by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was the deadliest school shooting in the US since Newtown, Connecticut, nearly a decade ago. Speaking after her son was shot dead by law enforcement officers, Adriana Martinez Reyes said she had no explanation for his attack on the school. I have no words to say. I dont know what he was thinking, a distraught Ms Reyes told CNN affiliate Televisa, when questioned by a reporter from the inside of a vehicle. He had his reasons for doing what he did and please dont judge him. I only want the innocent children who died to forgive me. Adriana Martinez Reyes begs forgiveness for her son Salvador Ramos (screengrab) Asked to describe her son, she said: He was very quiet ... he didnt bother anybody. Ramoss father, a 42-year-old also named Salvador Ramos, expressed remorse for his sons actions on Thursday. I just want the people to know Im sorry, man, [for] what my son did, the elder Ramos told the Daily Beast. He shouldve just killed me, you know, instead of doing something like that to someone. Screenshot from Ramos Instagram account (social media/AFP via Getty Image) The 18-year-old arrived at the school having stolen the family truck and shot his grandmother in the face. She called the police on him herself, and remains in a critical condition in hospital. A high school dropout, Ramos had no criminal record and no history of mental illness, and investigators are still seeking a motive. He had previously hinted on social media that an attack could be coming, and according to Texas governor Greg Abbott, he had written an online message saying he was about to shoot up an elementary school minutes prior to the attack. Mr Abbott, who had earlier described Ramos as the sheer face of evil, said on Friday that he was livid about what he had learned about the police response, as it became apparent that law enforcement failures may have contributed to the death toll. Story continues Crosses with the names of Tuesday's shooting victims have been placed outside Robb Elementary School (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) My expectation is that the law enforcement leaders that are leading the investigations ... they get to the bottom of every fact with absolute certainty, Mr Abbott said. There are people who deserve answers the most. He added: Law enforcement is going to earn the trust of the public by making sure they thoroughly and exhaustively investigate exactly what happened, Additional reporting by AP Lydia Seabol Avant. [Staff file photo/The Tuscaloosa News] Every time my 7-year-old daughter sees her teacher outside of school, whether it is at church or at a birthday party, she shouts Mrs. Millleeeerrrr and runs up to give her a bear hug, often taking several seconds or up to a half minute before letting go. My girl is a natural hugger, but especially so to her teachers. My first-grader's experience in school has been relatively short, but weve already been blessed with some amazing teachers. Much like her hugs to Mrs. Miller, my daughter recently saw her old kindergarten teacher during a middle school band concert we were attending for my oldest child. My 7-year-old again lit up at the sight of her old teacher, shouting Mrs. Flowweeerrs! before running to her and almost tackling Mrs. Flowers in a hug. It's easy for us parents to see the impact that teachers have on our childrens lives, and not just in the way that they greet them. I can tell it in the way my 7-year-old improved in her reading this year, going from below average to above average in only one school year. Id like to think it was the reading weve been doing with her every night at home, but I know the true spark and real progress shes made is not because of us its because of her teacher and others who work with our girl every day of the week. Id like to think that my sons deep love of history facts and anything military related was genetic, being handed down to him from my husband, who was a history major, or either of his grandfathers who served in the military during Vietnam or any of of his great-grandfathers all of whom served in the military during World War II. But I realize passion about learning isnt necessarily passed down simply by birth. Its because of his teachers that he loves to learn. And it's because of our sons third-grade teacher last year that our boy thinks he may want to be a teacher, too. As long as hes teaching history, he says. And Id like to think that Ive passed down my love of writing to my oldest child, my 13-year-old daughter, who recently declared that she thinks she would like to write books one day. However, I know its the teachers shes had over the years who taught her to write, to think creatively, to envision stories in her head, who are the real sources of her newly declared career path. Story continues Teachers have so much of an impact, and they rarely know how much. I recently had the opportunity to follow a group of high school seniors as they visited their favorite teachers. The students each wrote their favorite teacher a letter about the impact they had on them and read it out loud. For the seniors, it was a chance to say a final 'thank-you' to someone who helped shape them, before they rode off into the sunset of their post-graduation future. But for the teachers, Id like to think it was more than that. They were surprised; all of them cried. And one of the teachers explained it to me afterward. She often wondered if all the work she was putting into her work as a teacher was worth it if she was really making an impact on her students. And then, one day, a former student that she had taught six years ago in sixth grade walked in the door with a letter. That letter confirmed that all of her work is so worthwhile. Teaching is a job where people in the profession often dont see firsthand the seeds of learning that they planted come to full bloom. But as parents, we do. And as a parent of three school-age kids, I cant say it enough, teachers thank you. Lydia Seabol Avant writes The Mom Stop for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at momstopcolumn@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Thank you, teachers, from one very grateful parent| THE MOM STOP Dominick Reuter/Insider Social-media pediatricians the PediPals urge people to stop sharing formula alternatives online. Potentially harmful recipes have spread across social media plaforms during the nationwide shortage. "There's no one size fits all," Dr. Ana said, which is why the recipes can be dangerous. Viral social media posts offering supposed alternative recipes for baby formula have spread during the ongoing shortage of the product in the US, but medical experts with online followings are speaking out against the trend, calling the DIY substitutes dangerous. Amateur baby formula recipes have spread across numerous platforms including on Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, Bloomberg reported. While social media platforms have removed some videos that violate their rules prohibiting medical misinformation, the platforms haven't removed such videos consistently, the report said. "We understand the need to try to do anything to help each other out but it seemed that it was just more and more videos and different recipes, all of which, if you have any kind of nutritional or medical background, you can see are extremely dangerous," said Dr. Sami, a Texas-based physician who is one-half of the PediPals, a pediatrician duo who makes social-media content to help educate parents on childcare. At first, Sami told Insider she saw just a few videos promoting at-home formula recipes. But eventually, she said she realized there were more of them, and the videos were going "more and more viral." Some videos promoting at-home formulas seen by Insider called for ingredients like evaporated milk and Karo syrup. Other TikTok creators called for hemp seeds, pitted dates, and vanilla. Some creators recommend that people feed infants goat milk as an alternative. All of these options care be potentially harmful to infants, doctors told Insider. One recipe video seen by Insider had more than 1.4 million views on Friday. Dr. Ana, also a Texas pediatrician and the other half of the PediPals, told Insider the videos she saw generally originated from creators who appeared to have "no expertise at all" in pediatric care. Story continues "They say this worked for me, this worked for my mom, my grandma, and so this should obviously work for you," Ana said. But that type of "blanket advice" can be dangerous, she said. "There's no one size fits all, and the formula is so researched and there's so much that goes into putting all the right nutrients and electrolytes in because babies are very vulnerable," Ana told Insider. Sami's frustration with these videos compelled her to make an impassioned plea on TikTok. In the May 15 video, which has 1.2 million views, Sami urged creators to stop sharing the recipes. "Back in those days, infant mortality was just an accepted part of life," Sami said in the video, responding to people sharing recipes and advice passed down from previous generations that she says modern medicine has made obsolete. "People used to pop out 8 to 10 babies, and 2 of them would die," she added. "Our babies actually live, and we don't want to go back in time." Bad formula recipes could lead to health problems for babies Improper nutrition from an at-home formula recipe could lead to several problems, including electrolyte imbalances and vitamin deficiencies, which could lead to seizures, heart issues, and problems with bone development, the doctors said. "There are so many things that can happen," Ana said. "And just because it doesn't happen to some people doesn't mean that other children can't suffer from this type of advice." Even too much water can be harmful to newborns, the PediPals added. "It's all in the same realm of horrible because a kitchen is not a sterile environment," Sami said. "Babies are super fragile, especially newborns, and especially babies under six months of age. They don't have fully developed kidneys. They can't just drink anything, so these recipes don't come from a place of safety or evidence. They're old wives' tales." Ana and Sami said they started PediPals in 2020 as a means to offer help and educate parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more recently they said they've found themselves debunking dangerous misinformation that's spread online. At first, the duo started a podcast but later spread across social platforms, including TikTok, where they recently crossed 500,000 followers. They said they both worked full-time as pediatricians and made the social-media content on the side. While platforms like TikTok have rules prohibiting medical misinformation, Ana and Sami are part of an entire subgenre of TikTok creators: medical experts who debunk and respond to inaccurate and dangerous misinformation spread on the app. But speaking out against misinformation online is often difficult for creators, who previously told Insider they received death threats and harassment for making content calling out other creators for sharing bad information. The PediPals said they'd faced threats for doing things like speaking out about vaccines, abortion, and COVID-19. The duo asked to be identified only by their first names, which are also their online identities as the PediPals, because of the threats they've received in the past. "Medical creators are unfortunately targeted," Sami said. "You have to have a lot of bravery if you want to talk about evidence-based medicine." Read the original article on Insider Former President Trump criticized Democrats for not backing measures to increase security in schools during a Friday address at the National Rifle Associations annual meeting that came days after a teenage gunman armed with an assault weapon killed 19 children and two elementary school teachers in the nations latest gruesome mass shooting. Trump, who is seen as a leading contender to be the GOPs presidential nominee again in 2024, did not offer support for gun restrictions in his address, instead lambasting Democrats over school safety. Whatever our differences may be on other issues, what on earth is stopping Democrats from immediately passing measures to ramp up school security, Trump said How many more tragedies will it take until they agree to set aside their far left political agenda and do what is really needed and actually works, Trump added. Democrats are pressing for more restrictions on guns in the wake of the shooting in Texas and another mass shooting a week earlier in Buffalo, N.Y., in which a gunman targeted a Black neighborhood. A ban on assault weapons expired in 2004 and there has been little traction moving on even narrow measures such as background checks legislation in Congress despite mass shooting after mass shooting. During his speech, Trump suggested metal detectors, armed guards and single-entry points for schools to combat mass shootings. Gun control supporters have argued that calls for school security measures and other issues miss the larger issue of guns that links the various mass shootings. Trump was one of several GOP heavyweights who appeared at the annual meeting, though there were some notable absences. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered a video address but did not appear in person so that he could continue with the states response to the Texas killings. Trump took a swipe at those who didnt show up to the event, though it was not clear who he was speaking about. And, unlike some, I didnt disappoint you by not showing up, Trump said. Gotta show up. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Deena Beasley (Reuters) - Use of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid spiked this week, but some doctors are reconsidering the pills for lower-risk patients after a U.S. public health agency warned that symptoms can recur after people complete a course of the drug, and that they should then isolate a second time. More quarantine time "is not a crowd-pleaser," Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, an infectious disease specialist at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, told Reuters. "For those people who really aren't at risk ... I would recommend that they not take it." Use of Pfizer's Paxlovid, authorized to treat newly infected, at-risk people in order to prevent severe illness, has soared as infections have risen. More than 162,000 courses were dispensed last week - compared with an average of 33,000 a week since the drug was launched late last year, according to government data. Biden administration officials have pushed for wide use of Paxlovid, which the government purchased and provides free. But higher use has also come with more reports from people who say their symptoms eased with Paxlovid only to return a few days after finishing a five-day regimen of the pills. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing case reports and concerns that relapsed patients could spread the virus, issued its advisory that Paxlovid users should isolate for a second five days if symptoms rebound. "I am shying away from giving it to people who are very low- risk, and are not terribly ill, particularly people who are vaccinated and boosted," said Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of public health and epidemiology for Northwell Health. He said he is still recommending Paxlovid for people who have significant health conditions or are over age 75. Pfizer, in an email, said it is monitoring the data, but believes the return of detectable virus is uncommon and not uniquely associated with its drug. "We have not seen any resistance emerge to date in patients treated with Paxlovid," a spokesperson said. Story continues Paxlovid's emergency authorization stipulates that it should be used only for newly infected people with risk factors, but doctors said many others have sought out a prescription. "We get a lot of requests - maybe somebody is traveling and they want to take it just in case," said Dr. Tara Vijayan, infectious disease specialist at UCLA Health in Los Angeles. "We are not offering it as a just-in-case." The CDC also said it is unclear whether cases of rebound symptoms have anything to do with Paxlovid, or are simply part of the natural trajectory of COVID-19. The agency did not flag any specific concerns about health effects. "COVID historically has had this sort of stuttering course - people will feel better one day and then feel worse the next day, but I can say we haven't seen these rebound symptoms with other COVID treatments," said Vijayan, referring to therapies such as monoclonal antibodies. "The patients that do get a rebound, it's usually very mild," said Dr. Earl Strum, medical director of employee health at Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles. Some question how much Paxlovid is helping given the high number of people vaccinated or previously infected with COVID-19. The drug was authorized in December after a study in unvaccinated, high-risk COVID patients with conditions like diabetes showed an 88% reduction in hospitalization or death. At the time, the Delta variant was prevalent, but it has since been displaced by the more transmissible Omicron. "There's so much more baseline immunity around. There's still a lot of infections, but they're not nearly as severe," Northwell's Farber said. He estimated the rate of Paxlovid-related COVID rebounds at around 10% - higher than the 3-4% rate cited by Pfizer in its trials of the drug. Jason Gallagher, an infectious diseases expert at Temple Universitys School of Pharmacy, said the rebounds do not detract from the drug's utility. "It prevents you from going to the hospital ... if you become symptomatic after you stop taking it, that stinks, but the overall drug was a success," he said. (Reporting by Deena Beasley in Los Angeles; Editing by Caroline Humer and Matthew Lewis) MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Pro-choice U.S. lawmakers visiting Mexico said Americans are turning to their southern neighbor to access abortions as some states tighten restrictions on the procedure and with the Supreme Court expected to strike down the right to an abortion. "As Texas has taken a step back into the dark, I am so grateful that so many people here in Mexico have opened their arms to pregnant Texans and helped them access the care they need," said Texas state representative Erin Zwiener at a news conference in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Friday. Texas has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country, banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy. The state lawmakers visited Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey this week to meet with pro-choice advocates, who have made gains in relaxing Mexico's abortion restrictions even as the United States has moved in the opposite direction. "We have a lot to learn ... from this Mexican model," said Colorado state senator Julie Gonzales. In Mexico, activists have for years helped women skirt abortion bans by providing information about how to induce a medication abortion using easily accessible pills. In the United States, where these pills are less widely available, litigation over medication abortion is likely to take center stage should the Supreme Court gut or overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. For women living along the border, Mexico offers another option, said Arizona state senator Stephanie Stahl Hamilton. "Viagra is much cheaper in Mexico, and men are willing to come across the border to get their prescriptions," she said. "One would wonder, if it's okay for men, why wouldn't it be okay for women?" (Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener and Daniel Becerril in Monterrey; Editing by Sam Holmes) A residential building in Popasna destroyed by Russian shelling. 8.32 p.m: Ukrainian forces went on the offensive in Kherson Oblast inflicting losses to the Russian invading troops, Ukrainian Army General Staff has reported. Russians had to withdraw to disadvantageous positions next to the villages Andriivka, Lozove, and Bilohirka. The fight has been going on. 6.16 p.m: Attempts to offer a compromise to Putin to save his face will not end the war in Ukraine. On the contrary, it will increase the risks of Russian aggression in the future, Ann Applebaum, a historian and journalist wrote in an opinion piece for the Atlantic. The expression off-ramp has a pleasing physicality, evoking a thing that can be constructed out of concrete and steel. But at the moment, anyone talking about an off-ramp in Ukraineand many people are doing so, in governments, on radio stations, in a million private argumentsis using the term metaphorically, referring to a deal that could persuade Vladimir Putin to halt his invasion. Some believe that such an off-ramp could easily be built if only diplomats were willing to make the effort, or if only the White House werent so bellicose. Its a nice idea. Unfortunately, the assumptions that underlie that belief are wrong. 1.22 p.m: Russians shelled residential districts of Mykolaiv, mayor Oleksandr Senkevych has reported. Casualties have been reported, he said, promising to reveal details soon. One person was killed and six were wounded in the attack, Mykolaiv Oblast Council reported later. 12.45 p.m: More Western weapons coming to Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Reznikov called the cooperation of the partner states, which provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment, unprecedented. He also spoke about new models of Western weapons Ukrainian soldiers have already been using at the front in Ukraine. According to Reznikov, three types of 155-mm artillery are already "successfully working" on the front line - M777 howitzers, FH70 howitzers, CAESAR ACS. Story continues "It was simply impossible to imagine it back in March," the minister said. Morning Digest Overnight, Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast, northeastern Ukraine, from Russian territory. Russian forces used artillery and rockets to attack the Ukrainian region, which was recently occupied by Russians. As the result, an agricultural enterprise was destroyed, Sumy Governor Dmytro Zhyvitsky said in a statement. Ukraine's defense forces inflicted heavy losses on the Russian army and forced it to retreat in the areas of the settlements of Novopil (Donetsk Oblast) and Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhya Oblast). Although yesterday Russian propaganda media RIA reported that Ukraine has lost control over Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian troops are still fighting for the region. Severodonetsk, a city, almost surrounded by Russian forces and mostly destroyed by invaders' shelling, is still under Ukrainian control. Ukrainian forces have managed to push the Russian troops farther away the city, Ukraine's General Staff said. "Street fighting broke out in some places, but the Russian army was pushed back to its previously occupied positions, Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Hayday said. Read also: Russian shelling kills 10 in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukrainian forces withdraw from Lyman in Donetsk Oblast According to him, another bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk was damaged, but travelling between the cities remains possible. In total, Ukrainian forces repelled eight attacks in Donbas over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Army General Staff reported in its morning update from the front. Five tanks, 10 armored vehicles, and four enemy vehicles were destroyed. Air defense units destroyed a Russian Orlan-10 drone. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has destroyed a Russian tactical company group with equipment and manpower. In the Kharkiv Oblast Ukrainian stormtroopers shot down a Russian modern Ka-52 attack helicopter. The Russians are trying to push forward in the Bakhmut area of Donetsk Oblast. The invading forces have been trying to reach the rear of Ukrainian troops and disrupt logistics. With the support of mortar and artillery fire, the Russians carried out offensive and assault operations in the areas of the settlements of Nagirne, Vasylivka, and Komyshuvakha, but with no success so far. Overall Russia has lost 30,000 soldiers killed in action in Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in February. However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has no intention to stop the massacre and has been conducting hidden mobilization in Russia, the Ukrainian General Staff has said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first trip Sunday to the war-torn east since Moscow's invasion started, as Russian forces tightened their grip around key cities in the Donbas region. After visiting Kharkiv, Zelensky announced that he had fired the northeastern city's security chief in a rare public rebuke. Zelensky said the man was dismissed "for not working to defend the city from the first days of the full-scale war, but thinking only of himself," and that while others had toiled "very effectively", the former chief had not. Although the president did not name the official, Ukrainian media reports identified him as Roman Dudin, the head of the Kharkiv region's SBU security service. Earlier, Zelensky's office posted a video on Telegram of the president wearing a bullet-proof vest while viewing destroyed buildings in Kharkiv and its surroundings. With the war devastating much of his country, the Ukrainian president is set to speak by video link Monday to European Union leaders in Brussels as they seek to break a deadlock on a Russian oil embargo. - Pressure on the east - Russia, since failing to capture the capital Kyiv in the early stages of the war and then retreating from the Kharkiv area, has shifted its focus to the eastern Donbas region. Its forces said on Saturday they had captured the town of Lyman in the contested region and were upping the pressure on the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk. Zelensky has been based in Kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale attack on Ukraine. "In this war, the occupiers are trying to squeeze out at least some result," Zelensky said in a later Telegram post Sunday. "But they should have understood long ago that we will defend our land to the last man," he added. While one-third of the Kharkiv region remained under Russian control, "We will for sure liberate the entire area," said Zelensky. "We are doing everything we can to contain this offensive." Story continues - 'Constant shelling' - The situation in Lysychansk had become "significantly worse", the regional governor of the Lugansk region, Sergiy Gaiday, said on Telegram. "A Russian shell fell on a residential building, a girl died and four people were hospitalised," he said. On the other bank of the Donets river, Russian forces "carried out assault operations in the area of the city of Severodonetsk," according to the Ukrainian general staff. Fighting in the city was advancing street by street, Gaiday said. Zelensky, in his daily address, described a scene of devastation in Severodonetsk, saying, "All critical infrastructure has already been destroyed... More than two-thirds of the city's housing stock has been completely destroyed." In the embattled city, where an estimated 15,000 civilians remain, a local official said "constant shelling" made it increasingly difficult to get in or out. "Evacuation is very unsafe, it's isolated cases when we manage to get people out. Now the priority is for the wounded and people who need serious medical assistance," said Oleksandr Stryuk, head of the city's military and civil administration. The water supply is also increasingly unstable, and residents have gone more than two weeks without a mobile phone connection, he added. On Sunday, the Russian defence ministry said it had destroyed a Ukrainian armed forces arsenal in the southeastern city of Kryvyi Rih with "long-range high-precision missiles". Russian forces also targeted a Ukrainian anti-air defence system near Mykolaivka in the Donetsk region, as well as a radar station near Kharkiv and five munitions depots, one close to Severodonetsk. - 'New face' - On his trip to Kharkiv, Zelensky discussed reconstruction plans with local officials, saying there was a chance for areas devastated by Russian attacks to "have a new face". According to local officials, over 2,000 apartment blocks have been wholly or partially destroyed by Russian shelling in the region. In Kharkiv itself, customers were returning to the well-known Crystal Cafe in the central public park after it reopened at the end of April. Residents come by for a coffee, a bite to eat or to sample the "Biloshka" ice cream, a Crystal specialty the vendor has been serving since the 1960s. "We need to keep employment. The city is coming back little by little," the cafe's manager, Alyona Kostrova, 36, told AFP. The menu has been trimmed due to supply problems and the locale is operating with a reduced staff, down to seven or eight from 30 or 40 before the war. Far from the city centre in the neighbourhood of Saltivska, where Russian shells continue to fall, the atmosphere is different. "I would not say that people are buying a lot. People have no money," said Vitaly Kozlov, 41, who peddles eggs, meat and vegetables locally. Volodymyr Svidlo, 82, told AFP he "has no pension", and comes "once a week" to the neighbourhood to sell items, such as onions, dill and flowers from his garden in order to make ends meet. - Emergency summit - When Zelensky speaks to EU leaders at their emergency summit Monday, he will press them "to kill Russian exports" as he seeks to crank up international pressure on Moscow. A new round of European sanctions has been held up by Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has close relations with Russia's Putin. The landlocked country is heavily dependent on Russian crude oil supplied via the Druzhba pipeline. Hungary has asked for at least four years and 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries and increase pipeline capacity for alternative suppliers, like Croatia. But under a new proposal put to national negotiators on Sunday, the Druzhba pipeline could be excluded from a sanctions package, which would only target oil shipped to the EU by tankers. burs-sea/lc/bbk/bfm By Max Hunder and Conor Humphries KYIV (Reuters) -Russian forces stepped up their assault on the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday after claiming to have captured the nearby rail hub of Lyman, as Kyiv intensified its calls for longer-range weaponry from the West to help it fight back in the Donbas region. Slow, solid Russian gains in recent days point to a subtle momentum shift in the war, now in its fourth month. The invading forces appear close to seizing all of the Luhansk region of Donbas, one of the more modest war goals the Kremlin set after abandoning its assault on Kyiv in the face of Ukrainian resistance. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday its troops and allied separatist forces were now in full control of Lyman, the site of a railway junction west of the Siverskyi Donets River in the Donetsk region that neighbours Luhansk. However, Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Hanna Malyar, said the battle for Lyman continued, the ZN.ua website reported. Sievierodonetsk, some 60 km (40 miles) from Lyman on the eastern side of the river and the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, was under heavy assault from the Russians. "Sievierodonetsk is under constant enemy fire," Ukrainian police posted on social media on Saturday. Russian artillery was also shelling the Lysychansk-Bakhmut road, which Russia must take to close a pincer movement and encircle Ukrainian forces. "There was significant destruction in Lysychansk," the police said. The governor of Luhansk, which along with Donetsk comprises the Donbas, said on Friday Russian troops had already entered Sievierodonetsk. Ukrainian troops may have to retreat from the city to avoid capture, Governor Serhiy Gaidai said. It was not clear whether they had begun to pull out on Saturday. Ukrainian presidential adviser and peace talks negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak on Saturday repeated a call for deliveries of U.S.-made long-range multiple-rocket launchers. U.S. officials tell Reuters such systems are actively being considered, with a decision possible in the coming days. Story continues "It is hard to fight when you are attacked from 70 km away and have nothing to fight back with. Ukraine can return Russia behind the Iron Curtain, but we need effective weapons for that," Podolyak posted on Twitter. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced hopes in a late-night video address that allies would provide needed weaponry and added that he expected "good news on this next week." BUILDINGS DESTROYED Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region said in a brief Facebook post they had been on the defensive all day, fending off seven Russian attacks and destroying a tank. Some 90% of buildings in Sievierodonetsk were damaged, Governor Gaidai said, with 14 high-rise buildings destroyed in the latest shelling. Several dozen medical staff were staying on in Sievierodonetsk, but they faced difficulty just getting to hospitals because of the shelling, he said. Reuters could not independently verify the information. Analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said that while Russian forces had begun direct assaults on built-up areas of Sievierodonetsk, they were likely to struggle to take ground in the city itself. "Russian forces have performed poorly in operations in built-up urban terrain throughout the war," they said. Zelenskiy said the military situation in the Donbas was very complicated, adding that defences were holding up in a number of places, including Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. "It's indescribably difficult there. And I am grateful to all those who withstood this onslaught," he said in his late-night video address. The British defence ministry said in its daily intelligence report that if Russia succeeded in taking over those areas, the Kremlin would likely view it as a "substantive political achievement," one it could use to justify its invasion to the Russian people. In a television interview, Zelenskiy said he believed Russia would agree to talks if Ukraine can recapture all the territory it has lost since the invasion began on Feb. 24. Still, Zelenskiy ruled out the idea of using force to win back all the land Ukraine has lost to Russia since 2014, which also includes Crimea, which Moscow annexed that year. "I do not believe that we can restore all of our territory by military means. If we decide to go that way, we will lose hundreds of thousands of people," he said. Russia says it is waging a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine and rid it of nationalists threatening Russian-speakers there. Kyiv and Western countries say Russia's claims are a false pretext for war. Thousands of people, including many civilians, have been killed and several million have fled their homes, either for safer parts of Ukraine or to other countries. Ukraine's General Staff said on Saturday that multiple Russian strikes had hit communities and infrastructure near Kharkiv, the country's second largest city. A solar power station in the region was badly damaged after an apparent missile strike, a Reuters photographer said. GUNS AND GRAIN Pushing diplomatic efforts to find a solution to a conflict that has myriad ramifications beyond Ukraine's borders, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a joint phone call on Saturday. They urged him to lift the Russian blockade of the port of Odesa to allow Ukrainian grain exports, France said. The Kremlin said Putin told them Moscow was willing to discuss ways to make it possible for Ukraine to resume shipments of grain from Black Sea ports. Ukraine is a major grain exporter and the blockage of its exports threatens to result in food shortages in a number countries, including in Africa. Meanwhile the supply of weapons to Kyiv from its allies continued. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said it had started receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark. Still, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishyna said NATO had shown itself incapable of mounting a united response to the Russian invasion. "We have to talk clearly about the catastrophic consequences for the future of all Europe if Ukraine is defeated," she said in a Facebook post. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Conor Humphries, Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv, Vitaliy Hnidyi in Kharkiv and Reuters journalists in Popasna, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Phil Stewart and Angus MacSwan; Editing by Frances Kerry, Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis) US Vice-President Kamala Harris has made an impassioned plea for a ban on assault weapons in the wake of two deadly mass shootings in the US. Ms Harris was attending the funeral of Ruth Whitfield, 86, killed in a supermarket in Buffalo on 14 May. That shooting came just 10 days before an attack on a Texas primary school left 19 children and two teachers dead. Ms Harris, listing these and other attacks, said it was time to say "enough is enough" to gun violence. "Everybody's got to stand up and agree that this should not be happening in our country and that we should have the courage to do something about it," she told the congregants at the funeral. She added that the solution was clear - and included things like background checks and an assault weapons ban. "Do you know what an assault weapon is?" she asked, continuing: "It was designed for a specific purpose: to kill a lot of human beings quickly. An assault weapon is a weapon of war, with no place, no place in a civil society." The 18-year-old gunman in Tuesday's shooting in Uvalde had two AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles, at least one of which he is reported to have bought soon after his birthday. After he was shot dead, police found as many as 1,657 rounds of ammunition and 60 magazines in his possession. A memorial to those killed in Uvalde, Texas The Buffalo, New York, shooter, also 18, had previously come into contact with authorities, but no red flags came up when he legally bought his own AR-15-style weapon. "Why should anyone be able to buy a weapon that can kill other human beings without at least knowing, 'Hey, has that person committed a violent crime before? Are they a threat against themselves or others? That's just reasonable," Ms Harris said on Saturday. However, attempts to bring in universal background checks and bans on assault weapons have hit roadblocks. The issue is divisive in the US, with almost all Democrats backing stronger controls, compared to just 24% of Republicans. Story continues The powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) gun lobby uses its substantial budget to influence members of Congress on gun policy. On Friday, former Republican President Donald Trump called not for tighter gun controls, but for better protected schools. Speaking at the NRA's meeting, he said that decent Americans should be allowed firearms to defend themselves against "evil". The same day, it emerged police did not enter the classroom in Uvalde, Texas, because of the active shooter inside. Instead - as children called the emergency services begging for help - they waited 40 minutes, a decision police have now admitted was "wrong". US President Joe Biden is expected to make his own call for tighter gun controls during a visit to Uvalde on Sunday. On Saturday he urged Americans to "make their voices heard" against gun violence. Delicate balancing act for Biden By Will Grant, BBC News, Uvalde President Biden faces a challenge in striking the right balance in Uvalde. Primarily, he will be there to offer his condolences and sympathy to the victims' families. As someone who has lost children himself, he will be deeply empathetic to their loss. However, some mourning relatives do not want to see him, or any politician, amid fears their grief may be co-opted into the wider political debate on gun control. Before travelling to Uvalde, Mr Biden told students in Delaware that it was still possible to "make America safer" but as he seeks cross-party support for tighter gun regulations, he's in direct conflict with leading Republicans who blame the problem on issues of school security and mental health, rather than guns. As such, meaningful bipartisan co-operation looks very unlikely. Such questions, however, may well be paused for a few hours in Uvalde while he mourns the 21 victims of one of the worst school shootings in US history. BEIJING (AP) The top U.N. human rights official said Saturday that she raised concerns with Chinese officials about the impact of the broad application of counterterrorism and deradicalization measures on the rights of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in China's Xinjiang region. Michelle Bachelet, who visited the northwestern region as part of a six-day trip to China, said the visit was not an investigation but a chance to have direct talks with senior Chinese leaders and pave the way for more regular interactions to support China in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law. It provides an opportunity for me to better understand the situation in China, but also for the authorities in China to better understand our concerns and to potentially rethink policies that we believe may impact negatively on human rights, she said in a video news conference before leaving the country. Bachelet's measured words, while expected, did not satisfy activists and likely will not sit well with governments such as the United States, which have been critical of her decision to visit Xinjiang. Chinas ruling Communist Party, which has vehemently denied all reports of human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang, showed no sign of being open to change in a government statement on the trip. The statement, attributed to Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, accused some Western countries and anti-China elements of fabricating sensational lies about Xinjiang under the guise of human rights. It said that the government had adopted lawful measures to combat violent terrorism and brought security, stability and prosperity to the region in China's northwest. The Chinese side pointed out that essentially, Xinjiang is not at all a human rights issue, but a major issue concerning upholding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the statement said. All ethnic groups of Xinjiang belong to the family of the Chinese nation. Story continues Agnes Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, said that Bachelet should condemn human rights violations in Xinjiang, and call on China to release people arbitrarily detained and end systematic attacks on ethnic minorities in the region. The high commissioners visit has been characterized by photo opportunities with senior government officials and manipulation of her statements by Chinese state media, leaving an impression that she has walked straight into a highly predictable propaganda exercise for the Chinese government," Callamard said in a news release. Bachelet, making the first visit by a U.N. high commissioner for human rights to China in 17 years, said she raised the lack of independent judicial oversight for a system of internment camps that swept up a million or more Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, according to estimates by experts. China, which describes the camps as vocational training and education centers to combat extremism, says they have been closed. The government has never publicly said how many people passed through them. Bachelet, who visited a prison and a former center in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar, noted the reliance by police on 15 indicators to determine tendencies towards violent extremism" that could result in detention, the allegations of use of force and reports of unduly severe restrictions on religious practices. It is critical that counterterrorism responses do not result in human rights violations," she said. The application of relevant laws and policies, and any mandatory measures imposed on individuals, need to be subject to independent judicial oversight, with greater transparency of judicial proceedings. All victims must be able to seek redress. Bachelet described as deeply worrying the arrest of lawyers, activists, journalists and others under Hong Kong's national security law, noting the semi-autonomous Chinese city's reputation as a center for human rights and independent media in Asia. She said it is important to protect the linguistic, religious and cultural identity of Tibetans and that they be allowed to participate fully and freely in decisions about their religious life. I ... stressed the importance of children learning in their language and culture in the setting of their families or communities, she said. Before her trip, Bachelet heard from Uyghur families living abroad that have lost contact with their relatives. In her meetings in China, she said she appealed to authorities to make it a priority to take steps to provide information to families. To those who have sent me appeals asking me to raise issues or cases with the authorities, I have heard you," she said. Your advocacy matters and my visit was an opportunity to raise a number of specific situations and issues of concern with the government." The U.N. and China agreed to set up a working group to hold follow-up discussions on a range of issues, including the rights of minorities, counterterrorism and human rights, and legal protection, Bachelet said. Crime scene tape surrounds Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong A co-worker of the gunman told The New York Times he was nicknamed "school shooter" prior to the attack. Multiple people who knew the 18-year-old shooter described him as "aggressive" and "intimidating." He would go on to kill 21 people during a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. A former co-worker of the Uvalde gunman who attacked Robb Elementary School told The New York Times they and other workers at the local Wendy's had nicknamed him "school shooter" prior to the incident that killed 21 people. The New York Times reported the gunman's co-worker said he would frequently snap at colleagues and customers. His long hair and dark clothing, combined with his hostile behavior, led them to call him names. He would go on to open fire on an elementary school classroom, killing 19 students and two teachers. Multiple people told The New York Times the gunman was "aggressive" and "intimidating," including former classmates and people the 18-year-old had spoken to online. He frequently discussed and threatened violence, posting pictures of guns online and sending harassing messages to girls on Instagram. "He'd reply to my stories with things like 'i wanna kill u' or like 'i hate you,'" Kendra Charmaine, a 17-year-old in California who interacted with the shooter online, told The New York Times. Read the original article on Business Insider UVALDE, TX - MAY 25: A Texas State Trooper receives flowers for the victims of a mass shooting yesterday at Robb Elementary School where 21 people were killed, including 19 children, on May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was reportedly killed by law enforcement. Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images The mother of the Robb Elementary School gunman begged for forgiveness in an interview on Friday. Speaking with CNN affiliate Televisa, Adriana Martinez said her son "had his reasons" for killing 21 people. "Please don't judge him. I only want the innocent children who died to forgive me," Martinez said. Adriana Martinez, the mother of the gunman who killed 21 people during a shooting at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, begged for forgiveness for herself and her son in a Friday interview with CNN affiliate Televisa. "I have no words. I have no words to say. I don't know what he was thinking," Martinez, speaking from inside her car, told an interviewer with Televisa. Her comments, originally in Spanish, were translated by CNN: "He had his reasons for doing what he did. And please don't judge him. I only want the innocent children who died to forgive me." The 18-year-old gunman shot his grandmother in the face before driving to Robb Elementary School, barricading himself in a classroom and opening fire. He killed 19 students and two teachers in the deadliest US school shooting in a decade, prior to being killed by police. When asked what reasons the shooter could have had to commit the killings, Martinez repeated she had "no words" and that he may have gone to the elementary school "to get closer to those children instead of paying attention to the other bad things." "Forgive me," CNN reported Martinez said. "Forgive my son." Read the original article on Business Insider The police chief for the school district who made the call to not breach the classroom where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers was elected to Uvaldes City Council just three weeks before the deadliest school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre. Pedro Pete Arredondo, who ran on a campaign that promised to engage in community outreach and communication, stopped 19 of his officers on Tuesday from breaking into Robb Elementary School because he believed the gunman had barricaded himself and was no longer an active threat to the children, who he continued to open fire on for at least an hour. NBC News reported on Mr Arredondos election on Saturday. Col Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, acknowledged in a press conference on Friday that the decision made by the chief of police for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District was not the right one. From the benefit of hindsight where Im sitting now, of course it was not the right decision, Col McCraw said of the officers call. It was the wrong decision. Period. Theres no excuse for that. Based on Col McCraws account, Mr Arredondo was acting on bad information and because of that, he spent those precious early moments in the active shooting trying to locate keys to access the facility. The chief of police was not present for the news conference and is reportedly under the protection of a pair of officers from a neighbouring police department, according to the New York Times, as scrutiny over the police chiefs actions has turned inward in recent days as more of the shootings timeline has been unearthed. Mr Arredondo had only returned to his hometown of Uvalde in recent years, after returning in 2020 from serving as a police captain with the United Independent School District in Laredo, Texas for the earlier part of his career. He then accepted the position of chief of police in Uvalde after the man who previously held the position, Leo Flores, was forced to resign after being arrested for threatening an officer and for unlawfully carrying a gun, the Uvalde Leader-News reported. Story continues Earlier this month, the schools police chief decided to exchange on his local likability as a law enforcement officer and see if that could translate to local politics. The results of the 7 May election proved to make good on his gamble, as he received an overwhelming share of support from voters in the municipal election and successfully landed a seat on the Uvalde City Council, the newspaper reported. Receiving nearly 70 per cent of the vote, he beat out three other candidates with his campaign to deliver on community outreach, fiscal responsibility and helping out the elderly. Im very excited, I am ready to hit the ground running, he told the newspaper. Mr Arredondo did not respond when contacted by The Independent for comment. Splurge stays, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and Netflix-inspired vacations are sparking this summers travel trends. After two years of millions not taking flights or holidays in general due to pandemic-related restrictions, many are racing to visit their favorite countries or venture into hideaways they have only read or dreamed about. People are traveling more than ever to make up for the last two years, with last-minute plans gaining ground for big trips, according to Artisans of Travel founder and chief executive officer Ashley Isaacs Ganz. More from WWD Overall, luxury travel is back and they are ready to splurge. They want the very best of everything right now. They want everything private. Theyre privatizing access to museums [or] sites. [Think an after-hours tour of the Uffizi in Florence followed by dinner in a private palazzo or a solo expedition to an archeological site or tombs in Egypt.] Many are asking for private boat charters or jets. Theyre upgrading room categories to top suites. Theyre taking friends and family members, she says. Some are opting to splurge for bucket-list escapes like ones to Egypt. - Credit: Courtesy of Indagare Courtesy of Indagare International flight prices have jumped 31 percent compared to last year and domestic flight prices are up 25 percent, according to the online travel booking site Kayak.com. Searches for international summer travel are more than 70 percent above last year, whereas domestic flight searches are up 18 percent. The surge in travel demand, a 95 percent rise in fuel prices compared to 2019 and lower seat capacity for summer escapes arent deterring many. Airlines expect to shuttle 2.4 million travelers a day, according to Hoppers 2022 Travel Guide. Despite airfares soaring and hotel prices jumping by 36 percent compared to last year at this time, people will be taking trips, with 24 percent flying for the first time since the pandemic took hold, according to Hoppers Hayley Berg. Story continues Along with Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain, other European ports of call like Vienna, Prague and Budapest are in high demand, as are Dubai, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, Ganz says. As parts of Asia and the Pacific Rim reopen, places like Bali, Australia and New Zealand are bouncing back. Artisans of Travels Greece by Yacht tour, where clients idle away the day on yachts and stay in top-notch hotels each night, is one of the most popular jaunts this summer. A lot of families are booking that trip, despite a starting price of $85,000 a person for two people, or $51,000 a person for four people. Greece remains a popular destination for many summer vacationers. Here, a glimpse of Mykonos. - Credit: Courtesy of Artisans of Travel Courtesy of Artisans of Travel Pandemic streaming and binge watching of Emily in Paris and Call My Agent are inspiring many trips to Paris, especially among teenagers. Shows are often influencing where people want to go to see the decorative art sites or museums that have been remodeled or recently reopened and featured in these series. Inventing Anna is prompting others to hit Morocco, Ganz says. Elise Bronzo, vice president of sales at Indagare, a membership-based travel and media company, agrees that many travelers are flocking back to perennial European favorites like France and Italy. Others are taking a carpe-diem approach and planning bucket-list trips like African safaris, or hiking jaunts in Patagonia, she says. Undaunted by higher airline ticket prices due to fewer available flights, Indagare travelers have upped their travel budgets by 30 percent on average and extended their trips, rationalizing they spent nothing on travel during the pandemic. Hotel budgets are also up, with members spending about $1,500 a room each night compared to between $1,100 and $1,200 a night pre-pandemic. Five-day stays werent out of the question before COVID-19, but that is no longer the case. Travel in 2019 had reached an age of fast fashion, where we feel that we are now going into more haute couture. Rather than just try to check things off their list of countries to travel to, they are preferring to immerse themselves in one country, or possibly two, by planning stays anywhere from 10 days up to a month, Bronzo says. More remote locales like Amelia Romano, Ischia, Sicily, Malta and Paros are increasingly of interest. Despite many countries and European airlines lifting mask mandates, travelers are being advised to play it safe by maintaining mask protocols and hand washing since the U.S. still requires a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. Private aviation is increasingly popular due partially to many airlines being grounded and limited options for shorter-haul flights to more remote places. Convenience is the ultimate luxury, Bronzo says. Some of the innovations that will be coming out in the months and years ahead will be more customer-friendly, luxury, short-haul flights to destinations with smaller airports like Asheville, N.C., and Palm Springs. Given the hassles tied to travel, flying private is increasingly popular and those who can swing it are seeking larger aircraft to ferry their friends. In March, Bombardier delivered its 100th Global 7500 to VistaJet. With a list price of $75 million, the Global 7500 is the worlds largest and longest-range business jet that can carry 19 passengers and, in its fully equipped version, has a bedroom, living room, dining room (which can double as a conference room), lounge, kitchen, a bathroom with a stand-up shower and a powder room. Others like NetJets are also buying larger aircraft like the Global 7500, as well as the Global 5500 and the Global 6500. Bombardier - Credit: Courtesy of Bombardier Courtesy of Bombardier With many vacationers eager to cash in on travel credits for trips that were booked in 2020 and 2021, ample advance planning is essential for big-ticket trips like safaris, and even less exotic ones like Europe. Europe is more popular than ever, but there are amazing places to visit in Africa as well. Its important to look farther afield to places like Morocco, which need our tourism dollars more than ever. So consider for the fall Marrakech, Egypt and many of the other really far-flung places, Bronzo says. Morocco is high on some travelers lists, thanks to the Netflix series Inventing Anna. - Credit: Courtesy Courtesy A larger base of people are seeking more experiential and meaningful trips versus typical tourist outings, said Vacation With an Artist, or VAWAA, founder Geetika Agrawal. The pandemic just totally accelerated that, because everyone had a project during the pandemic. Someone was baking bread, someone was making art, someone was making music everyone started hobbies. First-quarter demand was the highest in VAWAAs history and the summer is shaping up the same way. Customers are increasingly more inclined to take flight with family and friends to, for example, learn stone sculpturing in Mexico. Doing so deepens bonding with each other and a local community, while also allowing someone to pursue a passion, Agrawal says. VAWAA experiences range from $500 to $3,000 a person, excluding flights and accommodations. In some cases, people can stay with the artist for as little as $300 for a four- or five-day stay. These humble accommodations dovetail into the richness of the experience, which is what most VAWAA travelers are after, Agrawal says. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Mourners laid to rest the last of 10 Black people killed in a racist attack at a Buffalo supermarket with a service on Saturday that became a call to action and an emotional plea to end the hate and violence that has wracked the nation. The funeral for 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield the oldest of the 10 people killed in the attack two weeks ago included an impromptu speech by Vice President Kamala Harris. She attended the service at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Buffalo with second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Harris told the mourners this is a moment in time for all good people to stand up to the injustice that happened at the Tops Friendly Market on May 14, as well as at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and in other mass shootings. This is a moment that requires all good people, all God-loving people to stand up and say we will not stand for this. Enough is enough, said Harris, who wasnt scheduled to speak and came to the microphone at the urging of the Rev. Al Sharpton. We will come together based on what we all know we have in common, and we will not let those people who are motivated by hate separate us or make us feel fear. Following the funeral, Harris and Emhoff visited a memorial outside the supermarket. The vice president left a large bouquet of white flowers, and the pair paused to pray for several minutes. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden had placed flowers at the same memorial on May 17 and had visited with the victims families. Biden is expected to head to Texas for a visit this weekend with the families of victim's of Tuesday's school shooting. Harris later told reporters that the administration is not sitting around waiting to figure out what the solution looks like to the nation's gun violence problem. We know what works on that, she said, reiterating support for background checks and a ban on assault weapons. Lets have an assault weapons ban, she said. An assault weapon is a weapon of war with no place, no place in civil society. Background checks: Why should anyone be able to buy a weapon that can kill other human beings without at least knowing: Hey, that person committed a violent crime before, are they a threat against themselves or others?" Story continues Harris said the nation has to come together, as well. We have to agree that if we are to be strong as a nation, we must stand strong, identifying our diversity as our unity, she said. It's been a sad week of goodbyes for family and friends of the Buffalo shooting victims, a group that includes a restaurant worker who went to the market to buy his 3-year-olds birthday cake; a father and die-hard Buffalo Bills fan who worked as a school bus aide; and a 32-year-old sister who moved to the city to help a brother battling leukemia. Whitfield, a grandmother and mother of four, had been inside the supermarket after visiting her husband of 68 years in a nursing home when a gunman identified by police as 18-year-old Payton Gendron began the deadly onslaught. Authorities said Gendron, who is white, targeted the store three hours from his home in Conklin because it is in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who delivered a fiery tribute to Whitfield at the beginning of the funeral service, called for all accomplices who aided and abetted this monster who opened fire in the supermarket to be held accountable, from the gun manufacturers and distributors to the parents of the suspect. Crump said those those who instructed and radicalized this young, insecure individual should also be held to account for taking Whitfield from her family, the Buffalo community and the planet. He called her one of the most angelic figures that we have ever known. It is a sin that this young depraved man, not a boy, went and killed Ruth Whitfield and the Buffalo 10, Crump said, referring to the victims. Sharpton described being floored to learn the shooter live-streamed his assault on Twitch, noting how his mother had grown up in Alabama, where hooded members of the Ku Klux Klan once killed Black people. Today, he said, white supremacists are proud to practice racism. Sharpton made a pitch for gun control measures during his eulogy, saying all communities need to come together and disarm the haters. There is an epidemic of racial violence that is accommodated by gun laws that allow people to kill us, he said. You aint got to love us, but you shouldnt have easy access to military weapons to kill us. In all, 13 people were shot in the attack which federal authorities are investigating as a hate crime. Three people survived. Whitfield was the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield. Gendron is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail. His attorney has entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. __ Pool reports were contributed to this story. Haigh reported from Connecticut. 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 Actor Moses Brings Plenty (Lakota) spoke about his career path as an actor and his aspiration to be President during this interview at the 2022 Reservation Economic Summit. (Photo: Levi Rickert) LAS VEGAS Chris James, president and CEO of the National Center for American Enterprise Development, sat down with actor Moses Brings Plenty (Lakota) of the popular Yellowstone television series this week at the 2022 Reservation Economic Summit (RES). When asked about what is next for him, Moses Brings Plenty, wearing his hair in braids with a black cowboy hat, said: Yellowstone's going to be kind of hard, tough to top. But in the end, I do have an idea, and my idea has been a dream for a while. I think when the time is right, maybe I'll start pursuing it and make it a reality. And that is to be the next President of the United States. His answer pleased the audience that clapped and gave out some whooping sounds. This on-stage interview by James with Brings Plenty has been edited for clarity and brevity. CHRIS JAMES: What do you think about how Native Americans have been portrayed historically, and how they are portrayed now? What made you decide to take the role in Yellowstone, and how do you feel like you contribute to the representation of our community? MOSES BRINGS PLENTY: I took the role because I was going to be the sidekick to another Native who was a tribal chairman. And, of course, Kevin Costner being in a project, who wouldn't? Just before I did take the role, I was contemplating on whether or not I was going to step away from pursuing this anymore. In fact, I talked to my family and told them what I had in mind, and that I was done with it. I called my agent, and my family and my agent all said, 'Let's just finish up the year. See what happens. And then Yellowstone came about and I got the opportunity to work with Gil Birmingham, who was an amazing Native actor. I want to quote a few things from him. And also, of course, Kevin Costner and everyone, all the cast members of that show are absolutely amazing. And so, I'm still a student, you know, but by landing this role, it revitalized and gave me a breath of fresh air to continue on, because what I'm pursuing is much bigger than me. And that is to open, to flat out just rip the doors down and make more opportunities for Indian country to be involved in. Story continues How have you seen some of the representation changes in the media over the years? I've seen substantial changes in the media today, and we have a lot of good, powerful, strong voices out there who care about our existence, and care about our hopes and the dreams of all of us. I think we're finally heading in the correct direction, and I'm really excited about all of it. What do you think are some improvements that could be made in the industry? Well, I think there's a number of things that can be done better from both sides. The one side being that they start to treat us as more of equals as well as our co-stars. I think we're due for some A-List Native actors, not saying me, but you know. And also, some award-winning directors that have those opportunities. They're great writers, we have great producers, great directors, that are just not given those opportunities and now finally I think we are kind of going in that direction, but I think it can be done so much better. Thats that side. On our side, I believe that for us to really truly support one another, we have to speak in good terms and good ways about each other as Native people because there is no greater enemy than ourselves. We have to be able to come back together the way that our ancestors used to be and understand and know that if we stand together, we will always be successful. We will always be stronger. But if we mess with each other because of jealousy, the negative competitiveness that that comes up rears its ugly head, and we begin to see negative things about each other. Then we're just setting ourselves backwards versus progressive. What are some of your most rewarding roles or one of the worst roles to play? There are several. I got to portray Crazy Horse (and) Sitting Bull. And of course Mo in Yellowstone, so I'm pretty lucky to have played historical figures that were heroes to me like Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. That was so significant to me because I remember when I was playing Crazy Horse, I was riding a horse, and I was waiting for them to say action. As I was sitting there, I was petting the horse. And it dawned on me because I was looking at my blood veins. For a long time in my life, I couldn't comprehend why my grandmothers and grandfathers always said They're not gone. They're here. They're here through you. And then in that moment it hit me that our ancestors are still here. They're in our blood veins. That blood is still alive in each and every one of us. It made me feel so much different. It made me look at myself even more to the point from the spiritual perspective that if my life were to end today, would Wakha Thaka, or Creator, or God, or whatever we want to call the higher power within, would they be welcoming to me? And I am doing everything in my power to live in a way that the Great Spirit would want. How do you sell yourself to stakeholders? Can you talk about how you approach the craft of acting? It's simple. What it boils down to for me is work ethic. Representation is everything. The industry seems large, but everyone's connected, and if your work ethic (is) not that great then people will talk about it. So I make it a point to be on time, if not early. I give it 110% regardless. I mean even coming here. This is something huge for our people, what you all do, and I appreciate it, and I'm honored and humbled that you all invited me here to see all these beautiful faces. It's [acting] a business that we still have to understand, and we have to go and do it with a smile on our face. Love and Compassion are two great values that we need to bring back to life and hold much higher than what we hold onto. What would be one thing you wish you knew before you started your career? What advice would you give? Do your homework. Do your homework when it comes to selecting a team that's gonna help you further your career because a team is so important. Today I'm very blessed to have the team that I have. You want people who care about your career, who care about your existence, so on and so forth. I wish I would have known that back in the day because I took some hard trips. And the other part too, is culture honestly. Culture is everything. I remember when my grandfather was telling me You can be anything you want to be. Just never forget where you came from and where you are. So, culture is the number one driver for me. Because there are sacrifices that have been made for us. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. I wanted to see better representation of us on TV and, and have more significant roles and characters. And so, to be able to see the change, you have to be the change. That's something I work hard at. I didn't know anything about acting. I was born and raised at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I grew up with no running water and electricity. I tell you what, those were the best days of my life because it was simple. I grew up in Lakota country because we have relatives on the Cheyenne River reservation and also in Rosebud, so I spent time on three reservations growing up as a kid. And so all my experiences in life, you know, the number one thing that I recall the most was that some folks, especially from society, said, You're not going to get far by being Indian, and I was like, wow, I want to change that. So I became all that I can be, and I want to be more. You know, whether it's headshots, or acting classes, you can be a great actor, but you still want to always stay on point and fresh. We are the business, and so it can be done. I'm a reservation kid, through and through. You can take me off the Rez, but you can't take the Rez out of my heart. What's next for Moses Brings Plenty? Yellowstone's going to be kind of tough to top. But in the end, I do have an idea, and my idea has been a dream for a while. I think when the time is right, maybe I'll start pursuing it and make it a reality. And that is to be the next President of the United States. I mean, there's no one saying that I can't do it other than myself and $20 million. I asked how I get my main foot in the hat for the presidency? An individual told me Well, firstly, youd have to raise $20 million. I said Okay, I got a few good horses. Ill campaign riding on horseback across the country. So, if you ever see me on horseback riding across the country, you know what's up. Any last thoughts to the audience? Any more thoughts about how folks can get to their next level? Believe. Truly believe in yourself. Believe in your business no matter what anyone else says. Believe in yourself and believe in your business. The whole world could be against you, but if you have that belief, you're going to definitely succeed. Always understand and know that. Never forget where you came from and who you are, embrace who you are, love who you are, so that you can love others. Be compassionate to yourself, so you can be compassionate to others. And to all our grandmothers, thank you. You're my leaders in my life. About the Author: "" Contact: office@nativenewsonline.net Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Zelensky was speaking during an appearance on the Dutch television channel NOS. In his comments, the Ukrainian president responded to recent statements by a number of global political leaders about alternatives to EU membership for Ukraine. Asked by a NOS journalist about the idea of French President Emmanuel Macron creating a parallel organization for countries who want to join the EU notably, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova Zelensky said: We dont need such an alternative. Read also: Zelensky signs Ukraine's EU membership application All we want is support from these countries, but we dont want the alternative. The NOS journalist then asked about how Zelensky felt about the recent address by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to the Ukrainian parliament, where he didnt mention Ukraines possible EU membership. Zelensky said that he had had a phone call with Rutte on this issue. I was very frank with him: if you think we dont belong to the EU, you should tell this to us directly, Zelensky said. According to him, Rutte offered the following explanation: The EU has an open-door policy toward Ukraine, but some additional steps are needed. Zelensky added that Dutch society mostly supports Ukraines potential membership of the EU, so this is the reason why politicians of this country should be supportive too, as they are elected by the people. Read also: Ukraine not interested in surrogates for EU candidate status, FM Kuleba says The Ukrainian president added that Ukraine was ready to become a candidate member for EU accession and is prepared to carry out the necessary reforms. Obtaining candidate status would be an important signal for Kyiv that would make the country stronger in its fight against the Russian invasion, he said. On May 9, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraines accession to the EU might take a few years. Meanwhile, German chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was interested in the idea of creating a parallel organization. Story continues Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, meanwhile, has said that anything less than EU membership would be considered in Ukraine as a betrayal by the European countries. Earlier, Zelensky already refused to accept any alternative to the EU membership, though admitted that the candidate status would be helpful. He called hesitations about Ukraines European choice a compromise between Europe and Russia. On May 24, Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands, said that Ukraine wasnt likely to be able to join the EU quickly. On May 27, Corriere Della Sera, a popular Italian newspaper, revealed that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has proposed that Zelensky create a new European alliance that would be an alternative to the EU. Read also: EU allows companies to sidestep sanctions and pay for Russian gas in rubles Corriere Della Sera journalists, analyzing their sources, assumed that such an alliance could also include Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and maybe Turkey. So far, the list of EU candidate members includes Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Russia's war against Ukraine - the main events of May 28 "The invaders are trying to achieve the goals they intended to achieve in the first days after Feb. 24 by at least the 100th day of war," he said. Read also: Lyman in Donbas is mostly under Russian control "They have concentrated maximum artillery, maximum reserves, missile strikes and aircraft in the Donbas." Zelensky said that Ukraine would liberate all settlements in the Donbas, where Russian troops have brought suffering and destruction. Read also: Russia in sustained offensive in Donbas "If the invaders think that Lyman and Severodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong," the president said. "Donbas will be Ukrainian, because it is us. And even if Russia brings destruction and suffering there, we will still rebuild every city, every territorial community. There will be no alternative to our Ukrainian flags there." Read also: Russian invaders seize city of Svitlodarsk in Donbas local governor Ukrainian defenders repulsed eight enemy attacks in the Donbas on May 27. Fighting continues on five fronts. Over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also destroyed five enemy tanks, 10 armored fighting vehicles, four military vehicles (one of them with ammunition), and one Orlan-10 UAV, Ukraines General Staff says. Read also: Russian invaders intensify the offensive in Donbas, gain no success so far, General Staff says At the same time, the invaders shelled 49 settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. Racism a poison running through American body politic 09:53, May 28, 2022 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily Demonstrators take part in a "Black Lives Matter" protest commemorating Juneteenth in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 19, 2020. New Yorkers on Friday marked Juneteenth, the day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, with marches and protests as the country is having a new moment of reckoning about racial injustice. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Its been two years since George Floyd died under the knee of a white police officer. The African Americans death sparked lasting and widespread protests across the U.S. in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I cant breathe has become a slogan for racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. to oppose racism. However, systemic racism, a stain on the soul of America, is still a huge obstacle on the way of racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. to pursue human rights. Just as The Washington Post put it, people of all races took to the streets to demand accountability, justice and reform, and Black people should not continue to be targeted for harm based on the color of their skin. However, its been two years and Black people still cant breathe. Racism is a deep-rooted tumor of the American society. It is continuing to cause human rights tragedies for the racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. According to USA Today, hundreds of people from ethnic minority groups were killed by U.S. law enforcement officers just within a year after the death of George Floyd. Statistics released by American social groups indicated that 266 African Americans were killed by police officers last year, and they were almost three times more likely than white Americans to be killed by police. At the 49th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council held in March this year, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet noted that given the large number of deaths of African Americans caused by police brutality in the U.S., relevant departments should take practical actions to investigate into such cases and bring relevant lawbreakers to justice. Racism is an institutional and systemic defect of the U.S. It is embodied in every aspect of the American society. In February 2021, Stanford News, a website of Stanford University, carried an article examining systemic racism in the U.S. The article suggests that in education, youth of color are more likely to be closely watched; in the criminal justice system, people of color, particularly Black men, are disproportionately targeted; and in the economy and employment, from who moves forward in the hiring process to who receives funding from venture capitalists, Black Americans and other minority groups are discriminated against in the workplace and economy-at-large. Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C. based think tank, pointed out that the structural racism in the U.S. has deprived colored communities of the opportunity to lift their social stratum, making it harder for colored groups to get higher-quality education, jobs, housing, healthcare and equal judicial treatment. According to a report by the U.S. News & World Report, the U.S. ranked among the bottom 10 countries for racial equality. Racism is exacerbating social divide in the U.S., making discrimination, hatred and violence prevalent. The recent mass shooting targeting at African Americans in Buffalo, New York astonished the world. From the 2015 shooting by a white gunman at an African American church in North Carolina, to the 2019 El Paso killing targeting at Latinos, and to the rising Asian hate after COVID-19 broke out, the U.S. has been seeing more and more hate crimes motivated by racism. According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center, 32 percent of Black adults, 21 percent of Asian adults and 14 percent of Hispanic adults in the U.S. said they worried every day or almost every day that they might be threatened or attacked because of their race or ethnicity, while this figure was 4 percent among White Americans. Do equality and human rights really exist in a society where peoples rights to life and existence, the most important human rights, are measured by their skin colors? The repeated tragedies like the death of George Floyd prove that systemic racism needs a systemic response, said a UN official. There needs to be a comprehensive rather than a piecemeal approach to dismantling systems entrenched in centuries of discrimination and violence, the official added. However, the U.S. system cannot dismantle racial inequality and discrimination for African Americans, said E. Tendayi Achiume, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Given the polarization of American politics, the U.S. government can barely roll out any practical measure to narrow the racial gap. Some American politicians even publicly resorted to right-wing extremism to fuel the white supremacy. The U.S. President admitted that White supremacy is a poison running through our body politic in a recent visit to the city of Buffalo. However, the current political system is not only unable to offer an antidote, but also constantly exacerbating the systemic racism. Without racial justice, the U.S. cannot be a truly free and democratic country. Two years after George Floyd was killed, the systemic racism of the U.S. society is still there and making ethnic minority groups unable to breathe. This is how human rights are protected in the country. The U.S. should face up to its deep-rooted systemic racism to avoid further human rights tragedies. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) The National Weather Service office in Blacksburg has confirmed that Friday mornings storm damage in eastern Bedford County was caused by a tornado with winds up to 135 mph. The tornado, on the ground for 6.25 miles with a width up to 330 yards, was rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale following a Saturday storm survey by weather service personnel. Tornadoes are rated on the scale from 0 for the weakest, barely lifting shingles off houses, to 5 at the strongest, sweeping well-constructed homes off their foundations. The 135-mph estimated strongest winds of this tornado put it near the middle of the EF-2 range. The weather service, in a Saturday evening statement, said it inspected damage from near the Norwood community north-northeast across U.S. 221 to Bethany Church Road and Langford Lane, then northeast to just west of the Ivy Hill Golf Course and then north to the western slopes of Fleming Mountain. The worst damage occurred in the Bethany Church Road-Langford Lane area, the weather service said, with the outer wall of one house and two mobile homes destroyed there. The weather service reported a total of 15 residences with at least some damage, plus 35 other structures such as sheds and outbuildings damaged. Two people suffered minor injuries in the tornado, officials said. No additional thunderstorms are expected in the region until the latter part of next week, as hot, dry weather returns with highs topping 90 in the Roanoke and Lynchburg areas in the early to middle part of the coming week. Contact Kevin Myatt at kevin.myatt@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter @kevinmyattwx . Former Lynchburg Circuit Judge R. Edwin Burnette served as a judge of several different courts over more than 40 years. But it wasnt his time on the bench that showed him the true power of addiction. Instead, Burnette said, it was when he saw it firsthand with a family member that he realized he needed to address the issue. Thats when I realized that addiction was not something that someone does to feel good ... addiction takes over so you do this so you dont feel bad, Burnette told a crowded Lynchburg City Council Chamber on Thursday night in Lynchburg City Hall. It was Burnettes family members own struggle with addiction he said led him to help launch the Lynchburg Adult Drug Treatment Court in 2017. And on Thursday night, five graduates of the drug court were honored for their accomplishment. Wesley Brogdon, Jerimiah Brooks, Marvin Hubbard, Kymauni Moore and Jacquawn Carter were celebrated by the programs support staff, local judges, elected officials and family as they marked off a major milestone in their road to recovery. Brogdon told the crowd gathered in City Hall he was skeptical of the drug court upon first hearing about it. But upon completion, he said the program changed his life for the better. I didnt know what was going to happen at the end, Brogdon said, Judge [J. Frederick] Watson said to try it; I didnt want to try at first. I still wanted to hang out on the streets and stuff. When facing certain drug charges, individuals can plead guilty to the offense and opt into the program that requires close monitoring and routine check-ins and therapy to treat their addiction. The options most face either are incarceration or drug court. Those accepted into the program work with Horizon Behavioral Health and officials from the court system to receive step-by-step rehabilitation that helps them along the way. Brogdon said he went through the process without telling anyone but his mother, telling people he was going to school. And his teachers at the drug court are the ones he credited with getting him on the right path. Now that hes graduated, Brogdon is looking forward to attending conferences in Richmond, South Carolina and even Seattle to tell his story of pushing through addiction to make a better life for himself. Watson, the current presiding judge over the drug court, said Brogdon isnt just in recovery, hes now leading. Hes a leader in the field of recovery, now that hes working with other people to get them on the same path as himself. Brooks, who Watson said came to drug court determined that he was going to kick his addiction, did exactly what he told Watson he set out to do from day one. Brooks said, Where I was a few months back, Im not that person anymore. Watson said often people come into drug court and have a roller coaster trajectory. Some weeks things look great, but one bad weekend can send things going downhill. Brooks, he said, never had that problem, and came in with an upward trajectory from day one. I appreciate every single one of you that helped me get on the right track, Brooks said, looking to a large group of support staff from the program. Marvin Hubbard, Watson said, wasnt always on the easiest road to recovery. When we talk about trajectories, Marvin was one of these, Watson said as he waved his hand up and down, motioning like a roller coaster. Early on, I had real concerns about Marvin ... but once it clicked for Marvin, it clicked and his trajectory all of a sudden became a straight line. Hubbard agreed with Watson, saying drug court was the rough road and he didnt think he was going to make it to the end. I just turned 65 years old and for the grace of God, I am here today, he said. Hubbard recalled when he first needed the program, and he approached his attorney, Lynchburg Public Defender Aaron Boone, telling him, Going to jail isnt going to help me. I need help. Hubbard said he didnt wait and immediately reached out to get into a recovery program, which ultimately led to him getting into drug court. I may not be all I want to be, Hubbard said, but Im better than I used to be. Moore and Carter, the other two graduates, were unable to make the ceremony Thursday, but they still were recognized by Watson and others in the court for their perseverance through what Burnette said is a tougher option than incarceration. You chose the much tougher road, Burnette said. Its much easier to take your time, sit in a jail, watch TV and have three squares. But you chose a much more challenging path. Burnette explained the program is like a GPS. Its a heck of a lot better than a map, he explained. I can give somebody a map and say, Figure it out, but isnt it much nicer when youre in the car and it says, In 500 feet, turn right onto Church Street? Thats what sets this apart. Its all about getting people back on the path they have strayed from, according to Burnette. Both of the judges at the ceremony recognize the need for the drug court, which is why they are popping up in several other localities in the area. In Nelson County, officials just received approval from the Virginia Supreme Court to launch a drug court. In Bedford County, there is a family drug court docket. All of this is an effort to curb drug and substance addiction and keep people from behind bars long term. Some people think that going to drug court is a way to avoid jail, Watson said, but ... we have drug court participants through our sanctions in the drug court, maybe have spent more nights in jail than they would have had they just pled guilty, been convicted and went about their way. Burnette said we cant incarcerate our way through that problem, talking about the crisis of drug and substance addiction. I have people in front of me [in court] that Ive seen more often than my family, and were on a first name basis. They could not stay clean. Rep. Bob Good and Del. Wendell Walker delivered remarks during the ceremony, imploring the graduates to lean on faith in God and their support team to stay on the right path to recovery, as graduation is just another milestone in the journey. We are all a reflection of those who poured into our lives, invested in our lives, Good told the graduates. By graduating, this has helped to give you a new future as you begin again. Its not easy to turn away from addiction, but youre demonstrating courage and resolve by doing what youre doing tonight. Walker added while the program has put the graduates on first base, youve got to get around the other bases to score here. But youve started the right process here. Debra Jefferson, a worker for Horizon Behavioral Health, the organization that plays a huge part in establishing treatment plans for those in drug court, said during her remarks that addiction is a disease and it doesnt discriminate, or make a difference where you come from. Jefferson, who endured a 28-year battle with addiction herself, told graduates to hold onto this gift and lean on the support they will get. The graduates also were invited to be a part of the drug courts alumni program, which will allow them to connect with previous graduates, as well as current students that are in the program. This is a gift, and it can maintain and stay a gift as long as you treat it that way, Jefferson told the graduates in her remarks. And I know you can do it because if a street urchin like me can ... you can too. 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. 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 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. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch. Goldbergs column is provided by Tribune Content Agency. Fusako Shigenobu, the founder of the now-disbanded Japanese Red Army militant organization that committed a string of terrorist attacks around the world in the 1970s and 1980s, was released from prison on Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence. Shigenobu, 76, was incarcerated for masterminding the 1974 seizure of the French Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, by the leftist revolutionary group that she founded three years earlier in Lebanon. In that attack, Japanese Red Army members took the French ambassador and others hostage to use them as trade pieces to secure the release of a member of the group who had been arrested in France. Shigenobu left Japan for the Middle East in 1971 and evaded capture until she was arrested in Osaka Prefecture in 2000. She formally dissolved the terrorist organization in 2001 while in prison. The group sought to provoke a socialist world revolution through multiple high-profile acts of terrorism. It was responsible for a 1972 attack at Lod airport, now called Ben Gurion, in Tel Aviv in which around two dozen people were killed and more than 70 injured. The Japanese Red Army also stormed the Swedish and U.S. embassies in Kuala Lumpur in 1975 before demanding the release of members detained and imprisoned in Japan. Two years later, members hijacked a Japan Airlines flight near India. Members were also linked to a 1986 mortar attack on the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta and a 1988 car-bombing of a U.S. military club in Naples, Italy, in which five were killed. ...continue reading The Gretna Public Library is excited for the Oceans of Possibilities this summer with the return of a more traditional summer learning program. The past couple of years had looked different for summer reading, with the number of in-person events much smaller, due to the coronavirus pandemic. We are excited to be holding many more in-person events and to be able to see the kids, said childrens librarian Jennifer Lockwood. We feel that the library is most effective when were out in the community and working with patrons and community members in person. Along with reading, the program now referred to as the summer learning program is an opportunity to learn. They dont have to just read books to participate, but also get out in the world and learn things as well, Lockwood said. No library card is needed to participate in the program or attend events, just to check out books. (A discounted non-resident card is available for the summer for only $15.) Programming is offered at three levels for children, tweens and teens, and adults. For kids and teens, especially, we try to impart in them that reading is a skill, Lockwood said. If they dont purposefully pick up a book or some sort of reading material for the whole summer, they lose some of the skill they had learned over the past school year and would be starting behind in August. We encourage them to keep up and improve their skills over the summer. Fitting in with the Oceans of Possibilities theme for the summer, each Tuesday craft of activity in the park will be ocean or beach-themed. All of the childrens storytimes are also themed for the ocean. The full childrens event schedule is as follows: Ocean Activity in the Park will be held Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. in Peterson Park. Recommended for ages 4 and up. Drop in any time between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. for a craft or activity in the park. Visit the library calendar page to see what activities are scheduled for what dates. Family Storytime for all ages will meet Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. at the childrens library, under the shade outside when weather permits, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in Peterson Park. Picnic table seating is available, or bring a chair or blanket. Bibliobop Storytime for all ages meets Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in Peterson Park. This storytime includes dancing and moving. Bring a chair or blanket. Family Book Club for grades kindergarten and up, plus an adult, will meet Mondays, June 20 and July 18, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the main library. Read a book as a family, and then chat about it with other families. Each book is available for the first eight families who pick it up from the library. Grade 3-5 Book Club will meet Mondays, June 13 and 27; July 11 and 25, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the main library. Each book is available for the first 15 children to pick it up from either library. Special events for all ages will be held at Gretna United Methodist Church, 11457 S. 204th St. No registration required. Special events are as follows: Wildlife Encounters Friday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. Meet and learn about some awesome animals. Dinosaur Dimensions Thursday. June 9, 6 p.m. Dont miss this opportunity to interact with dinosaurs and learn some really cool dino facts. Amazing Bubble Show Friday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. Presented by Omaha Childrens Museum. Discover new tools to create bubbles, turn bubbles into smoke and even make bubbles big enough for a person to stand in. Balloon Animal Adventures Friday, June 24, 6:30 p.m. Learn about animals and make balloon animals. Aquatic Animals Friday, July 8, 2p.m. Presented by the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District. Explore a variety of local aquatic animals and find out what they can tell us about the health of their water ecosystems. Splash of Magic Friday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. Presented by Magician Jeff Quinn. Our favorite local magician is back with lots of jokes, tricks and audience participation. Teen-specific programming is offered, as are special prizes for teen winners. Teen events include book clubs, movie nights, game nights and more. Fifth graders may also attend teen events. For a full list of events, check out the library calendar on the GPL website. A lot of teens connect through reading and dont really have that space to connect over the summer with school out, said Heba Thiele, the new young adult librarian. I would like this to be a space thats open to them. Thiele is starting the Teen Advisory Board back up. Any teens interested in helping decide what events the library offers should stop in for an application. All ages events, such as the Sea Turtle Talk, are also on the schedule. This event, set for July 21 at 7 p.m., is by registration only. Dive into learning about sea turtles from the Brevard Zoo in Florida. This program will be held on Zoom and will not be recorded. Registration can be done online. Ashley Suey, the adult services librarian, said she is most excited for the drawing workshops with Leslie Jansen, an expert art teacher that taught Suey and many other Gretna Public Schools students. Its going to be really fun, Suey said. Shes a part of Gretna and has kind of been rooted here. Theres probably going to be some adults and teens that have had her over the years. The workshops are open to teens and adults, and will be held July 8 and 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the main librarys meeting room. Registration is required and can be done online or with a librarian. Suey said she is also looking forward to the adult summer book clubs. A full list of adult events can be found in the calendar on the librarys website. Theyre very near and dear to my heart, she said. Weve got a lot of interesting books this year. Suey said she hopes the programs offered through the library will help adults find time to read. Even if you are getting little bits in each and every day, were trying to promote that by making it a little more fun, she said. Im hoping, over the years, the adults are getting some enjoyment out of it, with the Bingo card. Anyone can sign up for the summer learning program on READsquared, via the library website, or pick up a paper booklet from either library location during open hours. Along with earning prize books, a variety of prizes are available for participants of all ages. For more information, visit gretnapubliclibrary.org. Following a long, but successful school year, Emily Baxter is ready for summer break. Baxter was born and raised in Treynor, and she graduated from Treynor High School in 2014. Following high school, she attended Iowa Western Community College to get an associates degree in education. Baxter said she wanted a career in which she could help impact the lives of young people, and she felt that teaching would be a good path to follow. After Iowa Western, she went to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and earned a bachelors degree in elementary education in 2018. Baxter worked as a paraeducator at Bloomer Elementary School in Council Bluffs while working toward her bachelors degree and then was hired on full-time. She then started working toward a masters degree in reading instruction from Grand Canyon University. She earned that degree last year, and she remains at Bloomer, teaching first grade. Thursday marked the end of the school year for the Council Bluffs Community School District, and the fourth year of Baxters career at Bloomer. She said it was an emotional day saying goodbye to her students, but it just showed how much the school has meant to her the past few years. Its been great, she said. The families are amazing and Ive had a great experience with the administrative staff and coworkers. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. While she had a great school year, Baxter said she is excited for the summer break. She plans on taking a couple trips to Okoboji with her husband, Zach, and their 18-month-old son, Bronson. They also enjoy riding all-terrain vehicles, and theyll be taking a trip to South Dakota for some off-road excursions. She hopes her students have a fun, productive summer and she cant wait to see them next fall. Thomas Riley, candidate for Iowa House District 20, wants to go to Des Moines to make it easier for residents back home to follow their dreams, particularly if their dreams involve opening a small business. I dont think Iowa should be a place where its difficult to start a business, to run a business, and to contribute to the community in that way, Riley said in an interview with the Daily Nonpareil. Born and raised in Council Bluffs, Riley is a plumber by trade, having earned the title of master plumber, which is the highest professional level one can attain. Only a master plumber can own their own plumbing business and manage their own employees. Currently, Riley is a business manager for a construction services company, and the executive director of the Council Bluffs Business Association. Ive tried to help other small businesses overcome some regulatory hurdles that are put in place to protect the public but theres always room to maneuver in those to try to help locals achieve their goals here in Council Bluffs if they want to start a business, Riley said. Thousands of people go across the river to Omaha for work, Riley said. And he would like to reverse that trend. I think theres a lot of talent that could be based here in Iowa that goes to Nebraska because theres a more favorable business environment, Riley said. Nebraskas corporate tax rate begins at 5.58% for businesses that earn less than $100,000 per year, and tops out at 7.5% for businesses that make $100,000 or more. Iowa has a comparable rate for profits less than $100,000, at 5.5%, but that number jumps to 9% if your business earns between $100,000 and $250,000 per year, and inches up to 9.8% for those that bring in $250,000 or more. The Iowa legislature is working in the right direction to make this a more hospitable place for business, Riley said. Id like to preserve those gains, defend them, and then continue and be a voice for western Iowa in Des Moines. In addition to helping local businesses, Riley is also in favor of HF2577, the controversial school transparency bill that would give parents online access to all instructional materials taught in the classroom and allow children to opt-out of certain content. Teachers would also be expected to provide parents with a course syllabus or summary of the material that will be taught, and schools would have to publish a list of what books are available in their library, and create a system for parents to request a book be reviewed or removed entirely. Its not an issue with the schools academically, but, culturally, I think theres some concerns, Riley said. But I think those concerns can be allayed with public schools working to provide information to the parents that can help them guide their children in whatever moral or character development that they do in their household. I dont think the schools should be undermining anything these families are doing to develop their children into young adults. Ultimately, Riley wants to help people achieve their goals and protect their interests. I believe in liberty and the freedom that our Constitution embodies, and I want to defend and protect that primarily, he said. Life, liberty and property, that should be all of our goals everyday, and that will be my goal as representative of the people here in Council Bluffs and Carter Lake. Riley is competing against fellow Republican Sarah Abdouch in the June 7 primary election. 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. If Sarah Abdouch is elected to represent District 20 in the Iowa statehouse, shes not planning on sticking around very long. She knows exactly what she wants to accomplish, and is ready to step away once she does. I have a laser focus, Abdouch said in an interview with the Daily Nonpareil. I know exactly what I want to get done. Everyone wants to take a stand on a million different issues, but the fact is, youre only going to handle a few big ones in your tenure in the legislature. So you need to know exactly what youre going for, why youre doing it. Abdouch got into politics from a sense of personal responsibility. I think a lot of people feel that responsibility most when they get older, said Abdouch, 31. I think that it is a civic responsibility to be involved in politics, to run for office, and it should be something that were all doing from the time were very young to the time were very old. Its like jury duty for me. Its something that we should do. Abdouch has featured prominently in Iowa Republican politics. A member of the Pottawattamie County Republican Central Committee, she also served as state director for Convention of States, a Koch brothers-backed initiative that wants to convene a convention of states under Article V of the Constitution in order to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and place term limits on federal officials, according to the organizations website. For me, one of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make is not understanding where the things that affect their lives come from, Abdouch said. So, for me, its understanding the local government, the state government, the federal government, what the agencies do. Its something you study for a really, really, really long time. But in that study, its one of those things where you also realize exactly where you can make a difference and where youre best suited. Abdouch moved with her family to Council Bluffs from Adel, Iowa when she was 12. She briefly lived in a Chicago suburb to finish college, but once she graduated in 2011 with an English degree from Wheaton College, she returned to western Iowa and became involved in local politics. She first ran for state representative in District 15 in 2018, and again in 2020, but was not successful. She knew that the Statehouse was where she could be most effective in bringing about change. The Statehouse, first of all, is where I know the most people and I could hit the ground running right away because I know how it works already, Abdouch said. And I have a lot of connections. But also, the Statehouse and Senate are where the laws are being passed that are most important to me and the ones that I care about the most. After graduating from Wheaton, Abdouch immediately moved back to Council Bluffs. She returned just in time to witness the devastating 2011 Missouri River flood. When the river flooded again in 2019, Abdouch realized what her primary legislative concern would be: flood management. Its something we cant do at the county level, Abdouch said. Its something that isnt going to be done at the federal level anymore, so the states really need to step up and take a posture on making sure that the Missouri River doesnt have another hundred-year flood in the next five years. Abdouch said she would like to do something about the silt currently collecting along the riverbed. There isnt barge traffic on the Missouri River anymore, and so because of that, the Army Corps of Engineers does not have the responsibility to keep the channel open, Abdouch said. In 2006 they ceased dredging, so now the silt has been building up for a long enough period of time that its causing the channel to shallow. To solve the problem, Abdouch would like to see the states around the river form a compact for managing and maintaining upkeep. This has been done before with the Colorado River and theres a lot of details youd have to iron out, because I think when the Colorado River compact was put in place, you didnt have the EPA and other federal entities that would want to get involved in that process, Abdouch said. So itll probably be much more difficult. Abdouch is also passionate about parents ability to choose what schools their children attend. She supports SF2369, which recently passed in the Iowa Senate. If the legislation were to pass the state House and be signed into law by the governor, it would give tax dollars to private schools. I was homeschooled growing up, Abdouch said. I was one of seven kids and my parents paid for both our schooling and somebody elses schooling, because theres no such thing as school choice, because money doesnt follow the people. So they were funding other peoples kids to go to school while they were also raising us. I just dont think thats right. Abdouch is competing against fellow Republican Thomas Riley in the June 7 primary election. 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. Morocco, Tunisia, and Japan are pooling efforts to valorize bio-resources in North Africa. In this connection, the three countries held a seminar in Rabat on the collaborative research and technical cooperation project on the scientific development of biological resources in arid and semi-arid areas for the creation of a new industry. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), as part of the Partnership for Scientific Research and Technology for Sustainable Development (SATREPS), this project aims to establish scientific evidence on the medicinal and industrial values of specific and abundant bio-resources in the North African region. The project also aims to develop scientific technologies to process, enhance and further promote the sustainable use of these bio-resources, especially those producing oil such as Argan and olive, among other aromatic and medicinal plants. This project, implemented in Morocco and Tunisia since 2016, has enabled the participating institutions in Morocco, namely the Hassan II Agro-Veterinary Institute (IAV) in Rabat and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, to benefit from a number of technical trainings in Japan, using state-of-the-art equipment provided by the project. Under this project, Moroccan researchers have produced 60 publications and 80 papers that were presented at international conferences, highlighting the success of scientific collaboration with Japan. The Japanese ambassador to Morocco, Hideaki Kuramitsu, noted that the technical assistance scheme SATREPS, designed by Japan, represents an opportunity for researchers on both sides, to inaugurate a new era of ownership of research projects that were previously done in external laboratories. In addition, Kuramitsu welcomed the policy of great economic change operated by the new development model towards a knowledge-based green and inclusive economy, ensuring that scientific research and innovation are disciplines capable of providing real solutions to such a change. This meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by representatives of government, academic institutions of higher education and research, inter-professional federations and the private sector, Japanese companies, and representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia. Donald Trump reads the names of the victims of the Uvalde mass shooting during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention on May 27 in Houston. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images The deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, transfixed the nation this week. Even in a country that has become inured to this kind of violence, the horrifying details stood out. The gunman who was able to easily buy an AR-15 just after he turned 18, stockpiled 1,657 rounds of ammunition, and then targeted a grade school. The anguished parents who needed to submit to DNA tests so that their children could be identified. And the botched response, where law enforcement stood idly by while children, trapped in their own classroom with a killer, made desperate 911 calls for help with their dead teachers phone. None of these grotesqueries penetrated the first day of the NRAs annual convention on Friday in Houston, even as one speaker after another denounced the rampage. Instead, a handful of prominent Republicans, speaking to a crowd of ardent gun-rights supporters, slapped together remixes of the same tune they or many of their predecessors played after Parkland, after Sandy Hook, or even after Columbine. This time, the overarching argument was that gun-control measures are ineffective. After all, laws cannot stop Evil. Texas governor Greg Abbott noted in a prerecorded video message: There are thousands of laws on the books across the country that limit the owning or using of firearms, laws that have not stopped madmen from carrying out evil acts on innocent people in peaceful communities. He added, In Uvalde, the gunman committed a felony under Texas law before he even pulled the trigger. Its a felony to possess a firearm on school premises, but that did not stop him, and what he did on campus is capital murder. Instead, he reasoned, these policies were whats dangerous. Senator Ted Cruz, conjuring the image of a single mother on a subway train who would be left defenseless without a firearm, said gun-control regulations were about liberal elites trying to take control. He described them as a cabal of the most powerful politicians and their allies in the media, the leaders of the largest corporations, and the most famous celebrities, and those who amplify and echo them who sought political advantage from disarming Americans while living behind their great bulwarks of security. The dark plans of liberal elites were made even more explicit by other speakers, who saw new gun regulations as a Trojan Horse for authoritarianism. South Dakota governor Kristi Noem warned that the enemies of the Second Amendment are schooled in the ways of Marx and Lenin and somehow intimated that the worst excesses of the French Revolution were the result of the lack of an analogue to the Second Amendment in the Declaration of the Rights of Man. North Carolina lieutenant governor Mark Robinson went even further. He declared we will not allow you to strip us of our rights, to bring us to our knees. We know what your machinations are, weve seen this movie before in a place called Russia, in a place called Germany. An attendee examines a rifle at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the National Rifle Association annual convention on May 27. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Other old familiar lines on the right like the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with gun ran somewhat hollow in light of the police inaction in Uvalde on Tuesday, but they were repeated anyway. Speakers did acknowledged the tragedy, however. Former president Donald Trump read the name of each person murdered on Tuesday, and a recording of a single chiming church bell was played after every name. Trump reads the names of the Uvalde shooting victims, with a bell ringing after each of them pic.twitter.com/nDH8OoMj5N Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 27, 2022 There was also an emphasis on taking unspecified steps to help people with mental-health issues, and to build stronger families, and, of course, a reference to violent video games. One particularly strong emphasis was on increasing school security. In his keynote address, Trump argued that schools should have a single point of entry with strong fencing and metal detectors with police or armed resources on duty at all times. This echoed much of the rhetoric on the right in recent days that pointed to schools having too many points of entry as a key weakness and the need to create only a single point of ingress. Trump added some topical notes too, grousing that if we have $40 billion to send to Ukraine, we should be able to do whatever it takes to keep our children safe at home. And he struck familiar tones on violent crime, railed yet again against the riots and disturbances during the summer of 2020, and teased the possibility of deploying federal troops into American cities if he was elected to the White House again in 2024 in order to crack down on violent crime like never before. The existence of evil in our world is not a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens, the existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens, Trump also said. The United States long ago reached a point where the same notes are sounded in the aftermath of every big mass shooting. The last place that tune would change is an NRA convention, where the cause of gun violence is always something other than guns, and the solution to gun violence is always more guns. Memorial Day is a time to remember heroes. Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins fit that description, and more than two years after his death, his legacy continues to grow. On April 17, 2020, the Medal of Honor recipient passed away at the age of 86 and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery next to his wife Mary. Earlier this month, the police department in York, Pennsylvania, held a swearing-in ceremony for a police dog named after Adkins. K9 Bennie, a Labrador retriever, will partner with Sgt. John Huncher, a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan. Their mission is to visit schools and the local hospital, interact with York residents and improve officer wellness. Naming a police dog after Adkins is a fitting tribute to the Vietnam soldier who was sworn in as a Lee County deputy and buried with his badge. Defining moment On a March morning in 1966, Bennie Adkins was sleeping at Camp A Shau, a Special Forces outpost in Vietnam. At 3:50 a.m., he awoke to a barrage of North Vietnamese mortar, rifle and machine gun fire. In the next 38 hours, Adkins would be wounded 18 times, twice blown into the air by mortar strikes, but he kept launching mortars, firing rifles and throwing grenades, not to mention dragging fellow soldiers to safety, and under heavy fire retrieving air-dropped supplies and loading other wounded onto evacuation helicopters. When fellow soldiers were in danger, or helicopters were trying to land, or an Air Force jet pilot was shot down and another pilot was trying to rescue him, Adkins increased his volume of fire to draw enemy fire on himself and away from his brothers in arms. When he received the order to evacuate, Adkins and the other survivors dug their way out of a bunker but missed the last helicopter because he was carrying a wounded soldier. Adkins led them into the jungle where they evaded the enemy for another 48 hours. For these actions, Adkins received the Medal of Honor in 2014 at the age of 80 from President Barack Obama. Six years later, under a dark sky, Adkins body was placed in a long white hearse and escorted by police from Opelika to Atlanta. He was flown to Arlington National Cemetery and buried there next to Mary. Sworn deputy Shortly after Adkins received the Medal of Honor, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones made him a deputy. It was an honorary circumstance, Jones said, but as far as we were concerned, he was a sworn deputy sheriff for the Lee County Sheriffs Office. Jones calls Adkins a good friend and a national treasure. When you think about the definition of hero, he fits it on all accounts, Jones said. He was always the first to give credit to others in all situations and certainly in the circumstance surrounding the actions on that day in March in Vietnam. His selfless attitude, his willingness to do whatever he could to help others, certainly was in prominent display that day while he did what he could to protect his fellow soldiers. Adkins daughter, Mary Ann Blake, lives in Auburn, and her brothers Michael and Keith also live in Lee County. Blake said her father kept his deputy's badge in his pocket. From the day my father was sworn in as a Lee County Deputy by Sheriff Jay Jones, he carried his badge every day and everywhere he traveled throughout the United States, either by car or plane, Blake wrote in an email. He was very honored and proud to carry the badge. Today, that badge is in her fathers casket in Arlington National Cemetery, she said. K9 Bennie Leashes of Valor is a national nonprofit organization that describes its mission as bringing service dogs and post-9/11 Veterans together in order to enrich and improve the lives of both, according to its website. Recently, the organization branched out to provide therapy dogs to police departments, healthcare facilities and other frontline workers. We also want to make sure our heroes here at home have access to the healing power of canines, Danique Masingill, president of Leashes of Valor and a U.S. Navy veteran, wrote in an email. Under the new initiative, Leashes of Valor has placed its second therapy dog in Pennsylvania with the York City Police Department. We did not have any direct ties to Pennsylvania or York Police, Masingill said, but Bennie has truly brought communities together, and the impact is difficult to measure. He is impacting lives. We were tremendously honored to name a K9 after Medal of Honor recipient Bennie G. Adkins and to continue to share his legacy. Blake said the impact of her fathers life continues to spread through programs like Leashes of Valour and also through the Bennie Adkins Foundation, which provides scholarships to soldiers as they transition to civilian life. But her parents real legacy, she said, was the way they raised their children. We never considered our father as a war hero, Blake wrote in an email. He was just our dad. Our parents always encouraged us to strive to do the best that we could do in whatever career path we chose. Giving up was not an option. That is why he was a war hero, why they were both heroes: they never gave up on each other. Jones said that the recent swearing-in of K9 Bennie as we approach Memorial Day is a special reminder of Adkins and the life he lived. We think thats an absolutely wonderful example of how his memory continues to live on, Jones said. He is one of those that, through his service to this country, we owe a debt that we obviously will never be able to repay. Although the EU is positive that an increase in investment in renewables will help to create a balance, it seems to be greenwashing the effects of coal on the worlds carbon emissions. This month, Europe conceded that it will have to continue its coal production if it wants to meet the regional energy demand. Despite big promises, Europe is acknowledging the importance of coal, as it continues to impose sanctions on Russian energy before having the necessary oil, gas or renewable alternatives ready to take its place. At the same time, the G7 is trying to help several Asian countries transition away from their coal dependency to less carbon-intensive alternatives. But can Europe continue its coal addition while telling others to stop producing the dirty fossil fuel? This month, Europe conceded that it will have to continue its coal production if it wants to meet the regional energy demand, as sanctions on Russian energy take their toll. The European Commission has launched a strategy, the REPowerEU plan, to increase its renewable energy production in order to reduce its reliance on Russian energy. However, it also stated that coal plants across the region may need to be running for longer than initially expected. The Commission anticipates an additional $220 billion in investment in renewable energy developments over the next five years if it is to increase Europes renewable energy output to the amount required to speed up the clean energy transition. And it is now recommending the aim of 45 percent renewable energy by 2030. While this demonstrates the EUs commitment to the transition, the Commission expects the region will require up to $2.14 billion in financing to secure its crude supply, and a further $10.7 to meet its natural gas needs. With the supply of natural gas falling, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans stated you might use coal a bit longer that has a negative impact on your emissions. But if at the same time, as we propose, you rapidly speed up the introduction of renewables solar, wind, biomethane you then have the opposite movement, he added. This wording seems like a classic case of greenwashing, particularly as many European powers vowed to give up coal entirely long before 2030. But with consumer prices rising dramatically due to oil and gas shortages, there may be little available alternative in the mid-term. Related: Biden Administration Seeks Restart Of Idled Oil Refineries Just a few weeks ago, at the G7 talks in Berlin, Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that the G7 should play a leading role in the phasing out of fossil fuels, including coal, and encourage the transition to renewable alternatives. At this point, more countries across the region were discussing a return to coal to avoid damaging energy shortages. But, according to Reuters, a draft communique outlines the commitment from the G7 to phase out coal by the end of the decade although a pushback was expected from the U.S. and Japan. Habeck said that the sanctions being imposed on Russian energy should provide the first step to quickly exit fossil fuel energy altogether. John Kerry, the climate envoy for the U.S., also voiced his concern over the wars interference with global climate goals. It is absolutely critical, that we heed the science that dictates that we must accelerate our efforts for conversion to independence, to renewable energy, he stated at the conference. At the same time as the European Commission is starting its ongoing reliance on coal, the G7 is encouraging India, Indonesia, and Vietnam to reduce their dependence on coal power plants. The seven powers in the organization will establish a strategy to support developing countries in their plans to phase out coal. The G7 already pledged $8.5 billion in funding for South Africa to help it switch from coal plants to renewable alternatives. This initiative would see the expansion of the scheme across other regions. The scheme will receive additional financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). While funding the transition away from coal to renewable energy developments is a positive step, the organization may appear someone hypocritical in its approach, with France, Germany, and Italy forming almost half of the G7. If EU countries cannot reduce their reliance on the dirtiest fossil fuel, it seems contradictory to ask several developing nations to do just that. While there is a clear need to find a mid-term alternative to Russian oil and gas, Europes ongoing reliance on coal is a step backward in reducing global carbon emissions. Although the European Commission is positive that an increase in investment in renewable energy will help to create a balance, it appears to be greenwashing the detrimental effects of coal on the worlds carbon emissions. In addition, asking developing countries in Asia to substantially reduce their dependence on coal, while continuing to rely on it itself, is somewhat contradictory and may hinder the effort to encourage a worldwide movement away from coal. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Glencore has reportedly set aside as much as $1.5 billion to deal with the fines, though thanks to high commodity prices, the fines may wind up as just a drop in the hat. $1.5 billion US is a lot of money by any measure. However, the reality is that Glencore is making so much in this climate of metal scarcity and elevated prices, that they likely wont have a hard time accommodating the fine. So when metal market news broke of their massive, three nation fine, there was not much reaction. But as well see, the money may not be the real concern. Glencore is now an FTSE 100 company, which means it is under much more public scrutiny than when it was a freewheeling, privately-owned trader. Of course, that time period is also when much of the culture that led to their current disgrace evolved. Even so, the share price took a small hit from the news, but it is still up substantially on the month. What may be more difficult for Glencore to stomach is the damage the joint US, Brazilian, and UK reprimand will have on their reputation. A Host of Accusations According to a report in the Financial Times, the current chair of Glencore, Kalidas Madhavpeddi is not taking the news lying down. Glencore today is not the company it was when the unacceptable practices behind this misconduct occurred, he said. So what exactly were these unacceptable practices? The investigations started back in 2018 and 19. Since then, the firm has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of bribery and market manipulation. This included breaking money-laundering laws and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Venezuela. They have since agreed to pay penalties of $700 million for the bribery. To resolve market manipulation investigations, the firm will pay $485 million. Meanwhile, in the UK, a Serious Fraud Office prosecution charged the company with paying bribes of 10.5 million to influence officials at Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures and the Societe Nationale de Raffinage. The goal, according to the UK, was to advantage Glencores operations in Cameroon. The company also stands accused of bribing agents to assist them in obtaining crude oil cargoes or gain an undue favorable price for those cargos. Fines have still to be set for the latter cases but are included within the estimated total of $1.5 billion. Not Exactly Victimless Crimes Many of us have read accounts of how trading companies and their buccaneering ways back in the day. In fact, like Robin Hood, some of us may have a degree of admiration for their sheer audacity. However, its important to remember that these were not victimless crimes. In many cases, payments were made to corrupt regimes and individuals. This influx of cases only served to tighten the hold despotic governments had over their countries. Related: Could Iraq Dethrone Saudi Arabia As Largest Oil Producer? In February, the Guardian reported that Glencore had set aside $1.5bn to cover potential fines and costs related to bribery and corruption investigations in the UK, US, and Brazil. Although the settlement is significant, it is still smaller than the $4 billion the company announced it will return to shareholders after record profits. Whatever happens in the interim, this will not be the end of Glencores bad press. Both Dutch and Swiss authorities are reportedly investigating alleged wrongdoing. Some of this is thought to be related to operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Glencore is a major player in cobalt and copper mining. Nothing New in Metal Market News In the interest of fairness, Glencore is not an outlier in such shenanigans. While this post has no direct evidence to offer, its probable that all the major trading houses engage in such practices from time to time. In many cases, this was the only way to compete with each other for resources and cargoes. Robin hood allegedly stole from the rich to give to the poor. However, in the case of the trading companies, they kept it for themselves. Not surprisingly, there are now calls for retired senior executives from the time these bribes were paid to be held to account. That said, we recommend you dont hold your breath. If youre the type who likes to follow such unprincipled goings-on, we recommend you read The World for Sale by Javier Blas. If you lived through those years when Glencore was stirring the global financial pot, youll enjoy it that much more. By AG Metal Miner More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: As European energy markets are dealing with the fallout of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Brussels now seems to have realized that there are natural gas and LNG sources available on the southern shores of the Mediterranean. The potential of the East Med, in which Egypt, Israel, and potentially Cyprus, are in the process of setting up major LNG exporting infrastructure, has suddenly popped up on the desks of Brussels bureaucrats and experts. After years of almost total neglect by Europe, caused by cheap natural gas and an anti-Cairo attitude, Egypt is back in the picture. To boost possible LNG or natural gas deals between Egypt (East Med) and European partners, Israel is stepping up its efforts to supply volumes too. The ball started rolling after Israeli Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar and EU Commissioner for energy Kadri Simson met in Paris in March. After this meeting, an EU-Israeli team was set up to work out a political framework in coordination with the Egyptians to enable gas to flow to Europe. According to Israeli sources, EU representatives openly indicated that East Med gas will be needed if the EU is not willing to enable more coal-fired power generation. All agreed that no other short-term suppliers are available to counter a potential blockade of Russian natural gas supplies. The EU-Israeli discussions include Egypt, as Cairo is the only party that actually has available export capacity in place. Israel and Brussels both agree that exporting East Med gas via Egypts LNG plants in the Nile Delta (Idku-Damietta) is the only feasible option at the moment. No real emphasis has been given to the still continuing hype around a possible deepwater natural gas pipeline to Europe. After years of being shunned by most, based on price, cost, or volume issues, Egypts strategic position in energy markets is again being recognized. Another major change, seen by East Med partners, is the dramatic change of mind within the European Union. Before the Ukraine war, and the cost-of-living crisis, European countries were only talking about removing oil, gas, and coal from the energy mix. Sky-high energy prices and very tight supply may have sparked a change of strategy in Brussels. Related: Biden Administration Seeks Restart Of Idled Oil Refineries For a number of years, Israel has been trying to get access to the European market. In 2020, the East Med offshore gas pipeline deal was signed, targeting a pipeline from Israels offshore gas fields to Greece. This project was doomed from the beginning, as costs were too high, even in todays high-price environment. One of the main backers, the U.S., has pulled its support since President Biden came to power. Domestic interest in Israel for offshore gas also waned as the new government has been wary to provide new licenses. Ultimately, it is long-term deals that are needed to make future projects feasible. For Israel, European gas demand is important, as it not only brings in additional revenues but also opens doors in Brussels. Israeli politicians should be looking at securing not only exports but also enough supply for Israel itself for the next 30-40 years. Israels consumption of natural gas has been increasing by about 1 billion cubic meters per year. In 2019, Israel consumed about 11.25 billion cubic meters. Currently, Israel is estimated to have around 900 Bcm in proved reserves. Still, Brussels is pushing Israel and Egypt to supply additional volumes. The full focus is on the capacity available, and possible expansion of the Egyptian Damietta-Idku plants. Brussels is trying to entice East Med parties by offering increased cooperation and investments in the clean energy sector too. In a reaction to the Egyptian media, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla said that Egyptian LNG is already meeting a part of European demand. In an interview with Asharq Bloomberg, El Molla reiterated that East Med partners are looking to increase supply and capacity further. Potential additional natural gas supply to Egypts LNG plants could also come from Cyprus. The island nation expects to build out infrastructure at its Aphrodite gas field. A natural gas pipeline to Egypt is expected to be onstream by 2025. Related: U.S. Oil Rigs Dip For First Time In 9 Weeks Furthermore, El Molla indicated that Egypt exports around 1 Bcf of gas per day, and is expecting this figure to grow to 1.5 bcf per day by 2024. At present, total natural gas production in Egypt is between 6.6-6.7 Bcf per day. The Aphrodite field is expected to hold 4.5 Tcf of natural gas, mostly to be transported to Idku and Damietta LNG plants in Egypt. One thing is clear, demand fundamentals are strong, prices are very attractive, and E&P constraints are minor. The East-Med could be one of the options for diversification of energy supplies for the EU, but geopolitical challenges remain. The ongoing criticism by Brussels bureaucrats or respective European governments of Egypts government, led by President Sisi, is a potential obstacle to additional energy deals. In an increasingly competitive LNG market, European nations shouldnt count on Egypts unconditional support. It will take more than a diplomatic trip to Cairo to heal old wounds. Despite these geopolitical challenges, a new multilateral energy relationship is on the horizon. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: While LNG prices may not return to previous highs, analysts expect elevated prices for years to come. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine upended global energy markets, the LNG industry has been grappling with many uncertainties. In fact, the only real certainty is that spot LNG prices will remain elevated for years to come, even if they don't hit the most recent record highs again. Key demand centers in Europe and Asia are facing their own set of uncertainties at the end of the heating season and ahead of next winter, the peak demand period in the northern hemisphere. Uncertainties range from how much Europe will have managed to fill its storage capacity by next November, to how much Asia will buy on the spot market to stock for the winter after lackluster demand so far this year. LNG supply and demand will also depend on whether Russia will cut off supply to more EU customers after halting deliveries to Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland, and on how cold next winter will be in Europe and Asia. "We have massive uncertainty over what will happen next," Steve Hill, Executive Vice President at Shell Energy, said at this week's World Gas Conference in South Korea. "If we convert the Russian pipeline gas volume into Europe in 2021 into an LNG equivalent, and add on the LNG volumes delivered into Europe in 2021, that's 200 million tonnes of LNG equivalent. That's half the size of the current (global) LNG industry," Hill said, as carried by Reuters. It's clear that Europe will not be able to replace all the Russian pipeline gas with LNG soon. The world just doesn't have that much supply capacity and will not have it until some point in the middle of this decade. Larger volumes of LNG are expected to hit the market in 2026 and afterward, when the U.S. projects under development and Qatar's expanded capacity come on stream. Since the energy crisis of last autumn, Europe has displaced Asia as the growth driver of LNG demand and is no longer "the market of last resort" for LNG cargoes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has further spurred Europe to start reducing its heavy reliance on Russia's piped gas, without which the continent currently risks a severe industrial slowdown and a rush to secure heating for next winter. As of May 26, gas storage capacity in the EU was 44.45% full, while in the UK, this capacity is over 91% full, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe. Storage levels in Europe are back to normal levels for this time of the year, but there is nothing normal in the global energy market this year, so LNG demand in Europe is expected to remain high through the start of the next winter season. Moreover, the EU member states are now required to reach a minimum 80% gas storage level by November 1 to protect against potential interruptions to supply. From 2023, the target will be raised to 90% full gas storage by November 1. "Filling the EU's gas storage before the next winter is crucial for ensuring our security of supply," European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said last week. Related: Oil Prices Are Set To Surge Even Higher This Summer While Europe will continue to race to buy much higher volumes of LNG compared to last year, the demand outlook in Asia is less certain. Asian LNG imports fell 10% year-on-year in Q1 2022, with Chinese, Japanese, and Indian imports down 11%, 14%, and 25%, respectively, Wood Mackenzie has estimated. Overall Asian LNG demand is now expected to be flat this year compared to 2021, WoodMac says. High spot LNG prices have priced out Asian buyers, while market volatility and uncertainties, and concerns about energy security have prompted a growing number of buyers to seek long-term contracts. The race for LNG supply could give rise to the second wave of U.S. LNG projects, but new supply will take time to develop, Kateryna Filippenko, Principal Analyst, Global Gas Supply, at Wood Mackenzie, said last week. But much of this new LNG supply, including from projects that have taken FIDs in previous years, is likely to come only after 2026. Until around 2026, "Europe will have to compete with Asia for the marginal LNG molecule to satisfy demand just as it is right now," Filippenko noted. "Competition between Europe and Asia for limited LNG will be intense until a new supply wave arrives after 2026. Prices will inevitably remain elevated until then." By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Energy companies are showing excitement for lithium, often referred to as white gold, just as they showed great enthusiasm for oil in its heyday, well aware that its going to be part of the vehicle revolution of the future. Argentina is suddenly attracting worldwide attention for its lithium resources, needed to meet the rising global demand for battery production as the electric vehicle (EV) uptake soars. The global demand for lithium, and other vital resources for EV production, is expected to continue increasing over the next decade, as governments halt the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines and encourage the shift to EVs through subsidies and tax cuts. However, the price of the highly sought-after metal has increased by around 500 percent over the last year, meaning that the availability of lithium is lagging behind battery and EV production. Analysts from the Macquarie Group Ltd. are now suggesting the possibility of a perpetual deficit. The huge push by governments to switch to EVs, as well as a rise in public demand, has led automakers around the world to invest heavily in the development of a plethora of EV models to suit all needs. The EV market has seen greater investment than even wind and solar power in recent years, viewed as a major contributor to the reduction of global carbon emissions. However, the rise in lithium prices means that the metal used in EV battery production could push prices up by as much as $1,000 per vehicle. This comes at a time when car manufacturers are trying to reduce EV costs to make them more marketable. If there is not a rapid increase in lithium mining, it could significantly hinder government aims for a clean energy transition. This month, a gathering was held in Buenos Aires for 400 mining executives and political representatives to discuss the future of Argentinian lithium. Industry majors such as Elon Musk showed interest in lithium mining for Tesla batteries. Meanwhile, Chinese and American firms entered into a bidding war, while the Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto group and Chinas Zijin Mining Group Co. committed $1 billion to the Argentinian industry. The strategic importance of Argentina is becoming apparent, as one of the few places on earth with such an abundant supply of lithium available, with an estimated 19 million metric tonnes of reserves. At present, Argentina has 13 lithium projects underway, compared to 10 in the U.S. And with rising interest in the market, several more projects are likely to follow. Michael Widmer, head of metals research at Bank of America, stated If Argentina didnt come through, itd be almost impossible for the lithium market to stay well-supplied. Related: Private Equity Is Back With A Bang In Oil & Gas Argentinas copper mining industry could also contribute to establishing the country as a hub for resource mining and, potentially, battery manufacturing. The Bajo de la Alumbrera copper mine in the Catamarca province opened in 1997, and since it was depleted in 2018 five new copper mines have been developed. The government is now trying to foster greater investments in both lithium and copper mining as it develops its role in the global mineral industry. Other countries, such as Chile and Australia, are currently providing much of the worlds lithium. But this is set to change as supplies run out in current mining projects, shifting attention to new lithium zones such as Argentina. The countrys lithium production is expected to overtake lithium-major Chile by 2027. And companies are quick to invest, with major steelmaker Posco Holdings Inc. providing $830 million in funding for a lithium hydroxide plant in Argentina. Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia form the lithium triangle, holding around half of global lithium resources between them. The three South American countries are now looking to forge a relationship to increase their role in the EV supply chain as demand for their natural resources grows. At present, none of the countries have a significant stake in high-value lithium products but they are intent on profiting more greatly from their vast resources. Argentina Mining Undersecretary Fernanda Avila stated, the three countries have different perspectives on how to produce the lithium, but we have a shared perspective on what to do next with it Were working together to develop new technologies and techniques to go further in the value chain. She also commented that Argentina hopes to eventually develop a battery manufacturing industry. And Mexico also seems to want a piece of the action, potentially establishing Latin America as a lithium powerhouse. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) recently announced the nationalization of Mexicos lithium industry along with several other fossil fuels and renewable resources. AMLO signaled toward potential joint cooperation with Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, to share experiences to enhance lithium mining across the countries. With mounting international interest in Argentinas mining sector, particularly in lithium, the South American country is demonstrating its ability to rapidly develop its mineral mining industry. However, its interest doesnt stop there, by forging a relationship with Bolivia and Chile, as well as other Latin American powers, it could expand its role in minerals to eventually become part of the high-value supply chain. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, FBI data shows that people of Asian descent increasingly have been targets of racially motivated attacks. "Hate crimes have spilled over to affect the community in dramatic ways. People feel scapegoated and blamed for the pandemic," said Dr. Howard Kyongju Koh, the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. That has fueled a rise in anxiety and depression in a population that is already one of the least likely to access much-needed mental health services, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America. Koh, who is a former U.S. assistant secretary for health and of Korean descent, has written extensively about racially motivated violence against Asian Americans and its health consequences. A recent article he co-wrote in the journal Health Affairs cites national polls from 2020 and 2021 in which more than a third of Asian adults in the U.S. said their mental health worsened during the pandemic, with 58% saying reports of violence against other Asian people affected their mental health. In 2019, just 9%-10% of U.S. adults of Asian descent reported mental health issues, according to federal statistics. A 2021 survey by the Asian American Psychological Association showed the level at more than 40% since the arrival of COVID-19. Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults in the AAPA survey, 38% reported symptoms of depression or anxiety. But according to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health, Asian Americans are 60% less likely and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders three times less likely to receive mental health services than their white peers. When they do seek help, according to the AAPA, they face challenges: 62% of Asian Americans and 41% of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders diagnosed with mental health conditions said they needed assistance accessing care. The effects of not getting that help go beyond the psychological, potentially causing long-lasting harm to their hearts. Research published in January in the journal BMJ Open linked living in areas with high levels of hate crimes to a greater risk for heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Studies also show a strong association between anxiety and depression and a higher risk for heart disease. Structural inequities are among the reasons people of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander background may not get the help they need. Research, for example, is limited by minimal funding just 0.17% of the National Institutes of Health research budget is committed to studying health effects on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) adults. Then, there is the problem of aggregation of data under such a broad umbrella. "This population is extremely heterogenous, covering about 100 languages and 50 ethnicities," said Koh. "The term 'Asian American' is about as useful as the term 'European American.'" According to the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 24 million people of Asian descent lived in the United States in 2020, with roots in more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. With an additional 1.6 million Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, AANHPI individuals make up about 7% of the U.S. population. One reason people in Asian American communities are less likely to use mental health services stems from how they determine when a problem rises to the level of needing professional assistance, said David Takeuchi, an associate dean for faculty excellence and professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. Takeuchi has been researching how Asian American adults address mental health issues and how the pandemic has impacted their need for services. "If it's more an emotional problem and not a physical illness, they may see it as something they can work through, unless it interferes with functioning of daily life," he said. Stigma also plays a role, Koh said. "People may feel pressure to live up to a model minority stereotype and experience some sense of shame and stigma when they are not able to do so," he said. "Stoicism may also be a factor for some who then only seek help when symptoms are severe." But stigma doesn't affect only the individual, Takeuchi said. In his research, which is not yet published, he found Asian American adults were concerned about embarrassing their family if they sought mental health services. If family members consented, he said, "they were more likely to see a specialist." People in Asian American communities also may face language barriers and lack confidence in their ability to navigate the U.S. health care system, Koh said. "We have a system that is hard to navigate for anybody," he said. "And they may not feel the clinicians who are assigned to them are sensitive to their issues." When they do get help, it's more likely to be through community service agencies, such as local and national nonprofit organizations or university-based counseling and referral services, than through private providers, Takeuchi said. Over the past decade, those agencies have stepped up efforts to spread information about their services, but the pandemic has stretched resources thin. Asians Do Therapy is one initiative that grew out of the need for a more culturally relevant approach to mental health services. The website highlights the therapy experiences of Asian American celebrities and others and offers tips on how to find an appropriate therapist, questions to ask to make sure it's a good fit, and advice on how to find free or reduced-fee services. The Asian Mental Health Collective provides a national directory of Asian American therapists and a list of related resources, such as human service and mental health agencies that can provide support. Takeuchi said many agencies offer help, "but people just may not know about their existence. There have been a lot of informational campaigns, but it remains a major issue." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org. By Laura Williamson, American Heart Association News Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. NEW DELHI (AP) An Indian court sentenced a Kashmiri separatist leader to life in prison on Wednesday after declaring him guilty of terrorism and sedition, triggering a clash between protesters and police and a partial shutdown of businesses in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Mohammed Yasin Malik, 56, led the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, one of the first armed rebel groups in the Indian-held area, but later shifted to peaceful means in seeking the end of Indian rule. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since British colonialists granted it independence in 1947. Both countries claim the region in its entirety and have fought two wars over its control. Malik was arrested in 2019 and was convicted last week on charges of committing terrorist acts, illegally raising funds, belonging to a terrorist organization, and criminal conspiracy and sedition. Before Wednesday's sentencing, dozens of Kashmiris gathered at Maliks home in Srinagar, the largest city in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Some marched through the streets, chanting We want freedom and Go back India. Government forces fired tear gas at the marchers, who threw stones. No injuries were immediately reported. Shops and businesses closed in the main centers of Srinagar. Prosecutors said the judge rejected their request for a death sentence. The government banned Malik's organization in 2019, accusing it of funding terrorism and blaming it for the deaths of minority Hindus in the Himalayan region. Malik protested the charges during the trial and said he was a freedom fighter. The terrorism-related charges leveled against me are concocted, fabricated and politically motivated, he said. If seeking azadi (freedom) is a crime, then I am ready to accept this crime and its consequences, he told the judge. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned Malik's sentencing, and its Foreign Ministry said it summoned India's top diplomat in Islamabad. Today is a black day for Indian democracy & its justice system," Sharif tweeted. "India can imprison Yasin Malik physically but it can never imprison idea of freedom he symbolizes. Life imprisonment for valiant freedom fighter will provide fresh impetus to Kashmiris right to self-determination. In the late 1980s, Malik joined a group of young people who traveled to Pakistani-controlled Kashmir for arms training, seeking independence for all of Kashmir from India and Pakistan. By 1989, Indian-controlled Kashmir was in the throes of a full-blown rebellion, with Malik and his comrades conducting attacks against the Indian security establishment and pro-India Kashmiri politicians. India responded with a massive militarization of Kashmir, saying it was fighting a Pakistan-sponsored proxy war. It unleashed a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, and soldiers were given broad impunity and allowed to shoot suspects on sight or detain them indefinitely. Malik was arrested during a raid by Indian troops in 1990 and was released in 1994. He took over control of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, shifting away from armed rebellion and seeking the end of Indian rule over the territory through peaceful political means. In 2003, Malik and his associates began collecting signatures of Kashmiris seeking the right to self-determination. They traveled for two years to hundreds of villages and towns, gathering over 1.5 million signatures. He helped lead an anti-India uprising in 2008 with large-scale protests that marked a shift from armed struggle to non-violent resistance. He continued to lead large public gatherings in subsequent years seeking an end of Indian rule. Malik held several unsuccessful rounds of talks with the Indian government, including with two prime ministers. He is married to a Pakistani artist, Mushaal Hussein, and they have a 10-year-old daughter. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict since 1989. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, a coalition of anti-Indian Kashmiri political groups, said Malik was being punished for his political beliefs and was convicted in invented cases under draconian laws. The group urged the Indian government to release all Kashmiri political prisoners and resolve the Kashmir conflict through dialogue. Hussain reported from Srinagar, India. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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 service's Special Crime Division, said the charges followed a review of evidence gathered by London's 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 London's 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 didn't 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 I'm not running away," he said, noting that his start there was troubled by a "disastrous production" in 2005 of Arthur Miller's last play. But, he said, "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 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. 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 Rapp's lawyers, not Spacey's, who brought up the criminal charges in court. Official: Girl told 911 'send the police now' as cops waited UVALDE, Texas (AP) Students trapped inside a Texas classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 as officers waited more than an hour to confront the shooter. That's according to authorities, who said that one of the children pleaded for dispatchers to send the police. The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety told a news conference Friday that the commander at the scene in Uvalde the school districts police chief believed that the gunman was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms at Robb Elementary School and that children were no longer at risk. He said that was the wrong decision. NRA speakers unshaken on gun rights after school massacre HOUSTON (AP) 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. Officials: Texas shooter talked about guns in private chats Texas authorities say the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school discussed his interest in purchasing a gun on private social media conversations. But during a Friday news conference, they backed away from earlier accounts that the shooter made public threats less than an hour before the attack. Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday, a day after the shooting, that the only information that was known in advance was posted by the gunman on Facebook." But by Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety said the information was in a private message. Governor saw deadly arrest video months before prosecutors BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards watched a key video of Black motorist Ronald Greene's deadly 2019 arrest six months before prosecutors knew it existed. The Democratic governor has distanced himself from allegations of a cover-up, saying evidence was promptly turned over. But an Associated Press investigation found that wasnt the case with the video he watched in October of 2020. It didn't reach those with the power to charge troopers who stunned, punched and dragged Greene until nearly two years after his death. Edwards' lawyer says the governor couldn't have known at the time that prosecutors didn't have the video. Ukraine fears repeat of Mariupol horrors elsewhere in Donbas KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Moscow-backed separatists have been pounding eastern Ukraines industrial Donbas region, and claim to have captured a railway hub, as Ukrainian officials plead for the sophisticated Western weapons they say they need to stop the onslaught. The advance of Russian forces raises fears that cities in the region may undergo the same horrors inflicted on the people of the port city Mariupol in the weeks before it fell. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnskyy is striking a defiant tone, saying, "Donbas will be Ukrainian. The fighting Friday focused on two key cities: Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk. Authorities say 1,500 people in Sievierodonetsk have died since the wars start. Iran seizes 2 Greek tankers in Persian Gulf as tensions rise DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says it has seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The Guards statement on Friday night said the ships were seized over unspecified violations. It did not elaborate. The U.S. Navys Mideast-based 5th Fleet had said it was investigating earlier reports that Iran seized two Greek tankers. Iran had threatened to take punitive action earlier in the day over Athens being involved in the U.S. seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Greek waters. The Guards announcement comes as tensions remain high between Iran and the West over stalled negotiations regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear program. McCarthy, GOP lawmakers escalate standoff with Jan. 6 panel WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is making it clear that he will likely defy a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. An attorney representing McCarthy wrote to the committee Friday that it does not have the authority to issue subpoenas to the lawmakers. He also demanded the panel provide answers to his questions and documents if his client were to comply. The apparent defiance will escalate a standoff over McCarthy and other GOP lawmakers testimony as the committee will now have to decide whether it will enforce its congressional subpoenas. It's looking to wrap up its investigation and prepare for public hearings in early June. Liberal Los Angeles could take right turn in mayor's race LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles is a heavily Democratic city, but voters this year could take a turn to the political right. A leading candidate for mayor is Rick Caruso, a billionaire former longtime Republican who sits on the Reagan Presidential Foundation board. He's promising to expand and not defund the police. Caruso is in a tight race with Democratic U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, who is a favorite of the party's progressive wing. Twelve names are on the ballot for the June 7 primary but several candidates have dropped out. Bass and Caruso, who is now a Democrat, could end up in a November runoff that would present a stark choice. Prepare for sticker shock if you are traveling this summer DALLAS (AP) If you haven't booked your summer vacation plans, you are already too late to snag the best deals, according to travel experts. Airfares are up, hotels rates are up, and airlines are bracing for a big summer. High prices are not the only thing travelers need to worry about. Airlines have thousands fewer employees than they did before the pandemic, and that means they could struggle to handle the expected crowds. Consumers seem to be taking it all in stride. Airlines say bookings are running at record levels, and spending on U.S. flights is running ahead of 2019 levels. Butler scores 47 points, Heat beat Celtics to force Game 7 BOSTON (AP) Jimmy Butler had 47 points, nine rebounds and eight assists and the Miami Heat forced the Eastern Conference finals to a decisive seventh game by beating the Boston Celtics 111-103 on Friday night. Ten years after LeBron James scored 45 points in Boston to help the Heat avoid elimination in Game 6 of the conference finals en route to the first of their back-to-back NBA titles, Butler had 17 points in the fourth quarter to top him and send the series back to Miami. With a victory at home Sunday, the Heat would advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. Jayson Tatum had 30 points and nine rebounds for Boston. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The actions or more notably, the inaction of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers moved swiftly to the center of the investigation into this week's shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. The attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead in a fourth grade classroom was the nation's deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, and for three days police offered a confusing and sometimes contradictory timeline that drew public anger and frustration. By Friday, authorities acknowledged that students and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. Officials said he believed that the suspect was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms and that there was no longer an active attack. The chief's decision and the officers' apparent willingness to follow his directives against established active-shooter protocols prompted questions about whether more lives were lost because officers did not act faster to stop the gunman, and who should be held responsible. In these cases, I think the court of public opinion is far worse than any court of law or police department administrative trial, said Joe Giacalone, a retired New York police sergeant. This has been handled so terribly on so many levels, there will be a sacrificial lamb here or there. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to talk publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. But it wasnt clear why the school chief ignored their warnings. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a news conference earlier in the week lauded the police for saving lives, said he had been misled about the initial response and promised there would be investigations into exactly who knew what, when, who was in charge and what they did. The bottom line would be: Why did they not choose the strategy that would have been best to get in there and to eliminate the killer and to rescue the children? Abbott said. Criminal charges are rarely pursued against law enforcement in school shootings. A notable exception was the former school resource officer accused of hiding during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. Potential administrative punishments meted out by the department itself could range from a suspension or docked pay to forced resignation or retirement or outright termination. In terms of civil liability, the legal doctrine called qualified immunity, which shields police officers from lawsuits unless their actions violate clearly established laws, could also be at play in future litigation. The Uvalde School District police chief, Pete Arredondo, decided that the group of officers should wait to confront the assailant, on the belief that the active attack was over, according to Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The crisis ended shortly after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and shot and killed Ramos. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday, and Uvalde officers were stationed outside his home, but they would not say why. Prosecutors will have to decide whether Arredondo's decision and the officers' inaction constituted a tragic mistake or criminal negligence, said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Levenson said prosecutors could bring state felony charges of criminally negligent homicide, though she said federal civil rights charges would be unlikely because they require intent. I dont know that we expect every officer to make a perfect decision on the spot," she said. "But waiting this long given what we know about how shooters act predictably leads to tragedy. In the Parkland case, former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson is scheduled to go to trial in September on charges of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, culpable negligence and perjury. He has said he did the best he could at the time. The unprecedented and irresponsible decision by Florida prosecutors to bring a criminal case against Peterson might lead to other police elsewhere being stripped of their liberty" and facing decades in prison "solely because a finding is made after the fact that things could have been handled differently, Mark Eiglarsh, the former deputys attorney, said in an email. Maria Haberfeld, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said the police department's policies, procedures and training will be scrutinized to see whether the officers on the ground in Uvalde followed them. If they did, and criminal charges are still brought, she said it would send a chilling message to police nationwide. "If you follow your procedures, youre still brought up on charges. So whats the point of having procedures? she said. But Jorge Colina, a former Miami police chief, wants to know more about what was going through the minds of the officers inside the school as the chief told them to wait in the hall. Did someone challenge the decision there? he said. Did someone raise an objection at least? Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Uvalde, Texas; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Mike Balsamo in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. More on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Pfizer said Wednesday that it will provide nearly two dozen products, including its top-selling COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, at not-for-profit prices in some of the worlds poorest countries. The drugmaker announced the program at the World Economic Forums annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, and said it was aimed at improving health equity in 45 lower-income countries. Most of the countries are in Africa, but the list also includes Haiti, Syria, Cambodia and North Korea. The products, which are widely available in the U.S. and the European Union, include 23 medicines and vaccines that treat infectious diseases, some cancers and rare and inflammatory conditions. Company spokeswoman Pam Eisele said only a small number of the medicines and vaccines are currently available in the 45 countries. New York-based Pfizer will charge only manufacturing costs and minimal distribution expenses, Eisele said. It will comply with any sanctions and all other applicable laws. The drugmaker also plans to provide help with public education, training for health care providers and drug supply management. What we discovered through the pandemic was that supply was not enough to resolve the issues that these countries are having, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said Wednesday during a talk at Davos. Pfizers plan will still leave many middle-income countries and other nations to pay through the nose for lifesaving drugs they cant afford, said a statement from the Peoples Vaccine Alliance, a group of human rights organizations advocating for broader sharing of vaccines and their underlying technology. We shouldnt hail pandemic profiteers as heroes, even when they make qualified gestures like this, the statement said. Earlier this month, the head of the World Health Organization called on Pfizer to make its COVID-19 treatment more widely available in poorer countries. The companys COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, brought in nearly $37 billion in sales last year, and analysts expect the companys COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid to add almost $24 billion this year, according to the data firm FactSet. Each week The Pantagraph profiles a different community member. Know someone we should talk to? Email kheather@pantagraph.com. Name: Joan Hartman Position: Chief executive officer, McLean County Center for Human Services 1. What do you hope to accomplish at the McLean County Center for Human Services? My biggest goals for MCCHS center around increasing access to mental health care through collaborations with other community stakeholders. One of the biggest deficits in mental health care in our community is access to psychiatric services. Our team is putting together a plan to help address that need for both adults and kids. We have so many great partnerships and this will be one more really important one. 2. What experiences do you bring to this position? I have been working in behavioral health for the past 38 years and have had the opportunity to work in several states with various organizations. Some of my past experiences include developing youth outpatient and residential substance use services in Louisville, Kentucky, directing outpatient and inpatient adult and youth psychiatry and substance use disorder services in Rock Island, and most recently I spent 15 years with Chestnut Health Systems here in Bloomington. The most valuable experience I bring is almost 40 years of recovery from a substance use disorder. It has been through my own experience that I bring a passion for helping others achieve recovery to every position I have held. 3. What are some highlights from the updated McLean County Mental Health Action Plan? We are fortunate, in this community, to have our local government be so aware and concerned about the mental health of our community. The MHAP brings forward several areas of opportunity for collaborative efforts among behavioral health providers to continue to work together to address our communitys needs. We have a very strong network of providers in McLean County who are eager to step up and fill these needs and we are thrilled that the county has funding to put toward those efforts. With this combination of funding and local expertise, we will be seeing great things in the future! 4. What has MCCHS done to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May? Last week we hosted an open house in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and invited community stakeholders to come tour our Recovery Program in the Tower Plaza Building, which was generously donated to MCCHS by the Segneri Family. This beautiful building is now home to our recovery support services, including our day program and case management services. The open house also gave people an opportunity to learn about our Youth Outreach Program, which provides school- and community-based counseling and support to students in all seven school districts in McLean County. Attendees also learned more about our crisis services, which provide 24-hour mobile crisis assessment and intervention throughout the county in collaboration with our first responders, hospitals, social service agencies, individuals and families. 5. What services does McLean County Center for Human Services provide and how can our community access those services? Here at MCCHS we provide individual, group and family therapy for those struggling with mental health issues; psychiatry; recovery support, including group, individual and case management services; and outreach services for children and adolescents, along with our 24-hour crisis services. To get help from MCCHS, just give us a call at 309-827-5351 or email us at info@mcchs.org. 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. BLOOMINGTON The Heart of Illinois Cluster Dog Show returned to Bloomington this weekend with over 100 dog breeds from across the globe gathering at the Interstate Center. Brenda Matherly, chairperson of the Cornbelt Kennel Club, said there were over 800 dogs there on Saturday alone. She noted that Saturday and Sunday of the show are usually busier than Friday and Monday. The event is hosted by two organizations, Cornbelt Kennel Club and the Illinois Valley Kennel Club. Each organization hosts split days: Friday and Sunday for IVKC while Cornbelt has Saturday and Monday. Matherly said this ensures both clubs have a busy day and a light day. The dogs are separated based on their characteristics into seven different groups, such as hound group or sporting group. They are then judged on categories like health and quality of movement. Winners move up in rank and receive more points in the competition. A dog can only compete in one group, Matherly said, but a handler can have multiple dogs enter the competition as long as they manage their time correctly. "Most dogs will start their show career at 6 months," she said. However, Matherly said there is no monetary incentive for the owners. Winners will receive vouchers for vendors at the show, but no cash money. Instead, dogs get judged and move up in rank, and can become champions and grand-champions, she explained. This increases the dog's "breeder stock," a valuation determining the quality of pups they will have. Matherly said the shows and rankings "show that (handlers) are breeding quality animals." Matherly said the shows she has attended "very rarely have incidents" between dogs, and that the handlers take great care with their animals. "These people are committed to their dogs," she said. The show continues Sunday and Monday, starting at 8 a.m. each day at the Interstate Center, 1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington. Admission is free for spectators. For more information, go to www.cornbeltkennelclub.org. 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. Members of the Teen Art Group all had different ideas for their exhibit in uptown Normal, but they say it came together into a cohesive show. BLOOMINGTON The West Market Street Council will allocate a portion of a $10,000 crime prevention grant to set up a Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center on Bloomington's west side. The grant comes through a coordination between the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action. Karen Irvin from the McLean County chapter of Moms Demand Action said the grant is one of 10 that Everytown for Gun Safety issues annually to communities across the country. Irvin said the grants were awarded to organizations who serve "people, places and spaces that have been affected by gun violence." The funds will also be used for a beautification project through West Market Street Council, as well as the annual West Bloomington Block Party on Aug. 6, the council said in a news release. Organizers said the VIP Center's pop-up tent will make its inaugural appearance at the annual Wear Orange Day program from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 4, at Anderson Park in Normal. Wear Orange is a national organization that recognizes and honors victims of gun violence by wearing the color that hunters wear for safety. It began in June 2015 after teenager Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in Chicago. Later that evening, Jazz Upfront, 107 W. Front St. in Bloomington, will host a celebration with a buffet and music for the VIP Center starting at 6 p.m. The celebration is open to the public, but they will be accepting donations for the center. Dameca Kirkwood will lead the VIP Center. She said her vision is for it to be a place "where you're able to come and know that you are valued, that you are a very important person, know that how you're feeling, what you're feeling can be real, and to try to give the individual a certain kind of path to deal with (conflict) outside of violence." Kirkwood said, "I want it to be a place where you can come if there's a bad situation, where you can come and you can feel good about the day." "Right now it's a tent," Kirkwood said, though she hopes that there will be a brick-and-mortar location in the future. Irvin said Kirkwood "has a unique perspective on young people and how they've been affected by gun violence." Kirkwood said her main motivation is the loss of her 27-year-old son, Trevonte, in October 2018. "I never wanted to do this. I never wanted to do any of this. Whether it's crying, public speaking, VIP," she said. If not for Trevonte's murder, she said, "there wouldn't be any talk, there wouldn't be any grant." Jordyn H. Thornton was convicted in February of first-degree murder in Trevonte Kirkwood's death; his sentencing is scheduled for June 28. A co-defendant, Quentin Jackson, was sentenced last year to 17 years in prison for his role in the shooting. When her son died, Kirkwood said, she was not prepared for anything that would come afterward. She described how difficult it was to visit his body after they had performed the autopsy, and how she had to tell her 5-year-old granddaughter that her father was dead. "I was not ready to pick out a casket," she said. "Now I know," Kirkwood said. "You know better, you do better, I don't want to prepare anybody for this life." She said that is her hope for the VIP Center: "We try and get in front of it." Irvin said she hopes the VIP Center can "provide opportunities for conversations about gun violence." Kirkwood said the name, VIP, started at her own kitchen table. She would allow people into her home to sit and talk, as "very important persons," about the violence going on in their lives. Now, she said, there are always young people coming to her and seeking advice from "Auntie 'Meca." She said youths in the area call, text and send her emails about issues ranging from violence at school to guns in the house. "I have every intention to do the best that I can for our community, for the young African Americans, Latinos, Caucasians it doesn't matter at this point. These young people and these kids, they need an outlet," Kirkwood said. "I just know that I have to do it, as a mom. I can't turn away from it," she said. The VIP Center can be contacted via email at vipofblono@gmail.com or by phone at 309-362-0114. West Market Street Council can be reached via email at westmarketstreetcouncil@gmail.com or by phone at 309-287-1813. 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. LANSING A suburban Chicago man was ordered held on a $1 million bond for allegedly slashing another man repeatedly with a machete after they argued over parking outside an apartment, police said. Rashad Crosby, 25, of Calumet City, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, with additional charges pending following Tuesday morning's attack, Lt. Scott Bailey of the Lansing Police Department told The (Northwest Indiana) Times. Officers called to the scene in Lansing, south of Chicago, found a 61-year-old man with multiple deep cuts to his body. He was taken to a hospital where he is recovering following surgery. The man told police he had argued with Crosby about not being allowed to park in an apartment parking lot. Police said Crosby then used his vehicle to strike the victim's vehicle before attacking the man with a machete. Within an hour of the attack, a Calumet City officer saw Crosby sitting inside a vehicle parked in that nearby Cook County community. Crosby fled on foot, still holding the machete, but officers arrested him following a chase and confiscated the machete. Crosby was taken to for a bond hearing, where a Cook County judge issued a $1 million bond for him. It was unclear Friday whether Crosby has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I support Judge Amy McFarland for Circuit Judge in the Republican primary. Amy is an Associate Judge, having been appointed to this position in 2016 by the Circuit Judges of the 11th Circuit. She currently serves as the Presiding Judge of the Family Court in McLean County, which is a testament to the high regard in which she is held since, traditionally, a Circuit Judge serves as a Presiding Judge. Judge McFarland was named Presiding Judge because of her experience in family law as a highly respected attorney and mediator prior to being appointed Associate Judge. She now is training judges from across Illinois on family law issues at annual Judicial Education conferences. She was also appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois COVID-19 Operations Task Force and is on a national committee to make bold recommendations for family law reforms. In addition to her family law practice, Amy served as a public defender and general practitioner, where for 20 years she practiced law in the courtroom daily. This trial experience matters. Amy is a known quantity as a judge -- her opponent is not. In the recent bar poll 90% of the attorneys who practice before Judge McFarland ranked her as qualified. Her opponent was not recommended for the position. She has demonstrated that she is a fair judge, has the right judicial temperament and the respect of the bar and her colleagues. That is why I am voting for Amy McFarland for Circuit Judge. I urge you to do the same. Elizabeth Robb, Normal Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I am sick and tired of receiving political flyers in my mail several times a week from the campaign of the mayor of Aurora. Since I know Senator Darren Bailey personally, I know that much of the contents of these flyers are false; grossly misrepresenting the truth. I attended an earlier Republican governor candidates forum in Washington, Illinois. The only candidate who refused to attend and speak was the candidate from Aurora who began an immediate smear campaign to discredit all the other candidates. I was not acquainted with the other candidates only with Senator Bailey, but the Aurora mayors flyers contained obviously photo-shopped pictures trying to present all the other candidates as supporting past Democratic candidates. When I vote, I will try to consider all the candidates, investigate their plans to rescue Illinois and then determine which one would be most likely to improve our great state. Since I know Senator Darren Bailey personally as a man with great integrity, I can say with great confidence that he would do his best to clean up the corruption in our wonderful state. Judy Swindle, Bloomington Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It caught the attention of the public in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the assertion that it could boost the immune system and fight the virus. Until then, not much was known about the valuable plant which grows in almost every part of the world. The neem tree, whose botanical name is Azadirachta Indica, is a popular ancient medicinal herb that has been part of traditional remedies that date back almost 2,000 years. In many parts of the world, it is referred to as the miracle tree due to its many benefits. Origin According to environmentalists, the tree was brought into East Africa during the 19th Century by East Indian immigrants fundamentally for its medicinal properties. It is now widely grown in Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Though wildly grown, it thrives well when planted in any environment. The neem is a hardy tree that can tolerate temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius. However, extended cool weather with temperatures below 35 degrees Celsius would cause the tree to drop its leaves. It doesn't tolerate colder temperatures, wet climates, or prolonged drought. That being said, fresh neem tree seeds could be grown indoors in a pot filled with good quality, well-drained potting soil. Medicinal values According to traditional folks, all parts of the tree had the potential to cure various ailments. Oil can be extracted from the seeds which can be used as a natural insect repellent and are often incorporated into shampoo, soap, lotion, and other skincare products. Additionally, the oil makes a great fungicide for issues such as powdery mildew, black spot, and sooty mould. Although the bark of the plant isnt widely used, it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties which makes it useful as a mouthwash in treating gum disease. Traditionally, natives chewed the twigs which served as effective, impromptu toothbrushes. The sticky bark resin is commonly used as glue. Neem leaves also have anti-bacterial properties which are effective in treating infections and burns. The leaves destroy the bacteria that cause infections, stimulate the immune system and promote rapid healing. In most traditional set-ups, people usually boil some of the leaves and drink the water, while others squeeze out water from the leaves with their palms and add it to water to have their bath. Others also boil the leaves, pour the hot water into a bucket and inhale the steam with a sheet over their heads, trapping the vapour. Its flowers are widely appreciated for their sweet aroma, which honeybees love. Potency In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the Traditional Medicines Practitioners Association, Kojo Odum Eduful, recommended the inhalation of steam from boiled neem leaves as an effective practice to help treat symptoms of the virus. "I can vouch for it because neem leaves can treat lots of fever; if it is true that the virus enters through the nose and tries to go down your lungs and also true that it can't stand high temperature, then I advise you boil the leaves to a 100 degrees Celsius. I can vouch for it," he said. Afforestation Aside from its medicinal purposes, the tree also helps to combat erosion and fight climate change. For instance, in the Savannah Ecological Zone, the neem tree is one of the main trees that formed the ecosystem. An environmentalist, Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa, who is the Convener of the Green Republic Project, told the Daily Graphic that neem was a fast-growing tree and because it was evergreen, it was highly recommended for reforestation. He indicated that the tree could help to combat erosion when planted on slopes and landslides, adding that the fallen leaves also helped to neutralize acidic soils. He, therefore, called for the massive plantation of the tree to help restore the depleting vegetation and help the country in its quest to fight climate change. Campaign Despite the numerous benefits of the wild tree, some people continue to fell them for firewood, charcoal and farming purposes. In February 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to launch a campaign on protecting neem trees in the country. 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 authorities in Malawi have announced a 25% devaluation of the local currency, the kwacha, starting on Friday. The announcement has come when Malawi is in the middle of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to determine the details of a new financial assistance programme. To secure backing, the government has been asked to make adjustments to its economic policies, but central bank chief Wilson Banda says the decision to devalue the local currency has not been forced on the country by the international lending institution. Mr Banda told the media in the southern city of Blantyre that the local currency had been devalued to allow the market to determine the exchange rate. "It's a decision we have taken as the central bank looking at the economic trends. With or without the IMF we were going to do it," Mr Banda said. A devaluation means that anything imported becomes more expensive and there are fears that commodity prices will rise. Exports, on the other hand, become cheaper. 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 Democratic Republic of Congo has summoned Rwanda's ambassador and suspended RwandAir flights to Congo in response to what it says is Kigali's support for M23 rebels carrying out a military offensive in its eastern borderlands. Rwanda denies supporting the rebels, who advanced as close as 20 km (12 miles) this week to eastern Congo's main city of Goma and briefly captured the army's largest base in the area. Congo and U.N. investigators had also accused Kigali of supporting the M23 during a 2012-2013 insurrection that took Goma before being forced back and chased into Uganda and Rwanda. Kigali denied doing so. Congo's government spokesman Patrick Muyaya announced the suspension of flights from Rwanda's national carrier and the summoning of the ambassador late Friday night following a meeting of the national defence council. He said the government had designated the M23 a terrorist group and would exclude it from negotiations being held in Kenya with militia groups active in eastern Congo. "A warning was made to the Rwandans, whose attitude is likely to disrupt the peace process ... where all the armed groups, except for the M23, are committed to the path to peace," Muyaya said. Rwanda's government was not immediately available for comment on Saturday. On its website, Rwanda's army requested the release of two Rwandan soldiers it said were "kidnapped" along its border with Congo. An image circulating on social media of two men in Rwandan military uniforms surrounded by Congolese soldiers has been cited by Congolese users as evidence of the Rwandan army's presence inside Congo. Congo's government has not commented on the photo, but Muyaya presented video footage during his remarks showing munitions and a military uniform that he said belonged to Rwandan forces and were recovered by the Congolese army. The M23 and Rwanda's government have, in turn, accused Congo's army of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia founded by ethnic Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide. Congo denies this. Rwanda invaded Congo in 1996 to pursue the militiamen. Eastern Congo has experienced near constant conflict since then due to foreign invasions and insurgencies by rebel groups. 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 With barely 24hrs to the Regional elections of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the Ashanti Region, the Tertiary Students Confederacy(TESCON) have called for an audit in the voters album. The student group says there is more than compelling evidence that all is not well with the election process in the Ashanti Region. For a considerable period, Aspirants in the contest have made requests to the party regarding the voters album. At an emergency press confab at the Catering rest house in Kumasi on Friday, May 27, 2022, the TESCON leaders claim the album to be used for the election tomorrow is not the names of the TESCON president whose documents were taken for the preparation of the album. Infact, after thorough scrutiny, 35 anomalies have been detected in their album, ie: many of the supposed delegates are not students of the said schools, some are past TESCON members who are no more in the school and others totally unknown to TESCON. Many ghost names are found in the album. As we speak, we have received names of people who are not members of TESCON, some of which are nurses and former students. They alleged some unaccepted institutions found their way into the album with assigned delegates. Members of the media, the following institutions have emerged as unaccredited TESCON institutions but have found its way into the album with assigned delegates: Newman College of Health Kessben adum campus Global college of aviation Oxford School of Journalism Ghana Baptist University college, Abuakwa. However, Kumasi Nursing and Midwifery training college which they claim is accredited has been excluded, they said. In conclusion they noted; Based on this we wholey reject the supposed delegates list, it is not credible, it is fraudulent and not a true representation of the TESCON. We request that those of our leaders of TESCON who have so far been meeting with aspirants, and based on the established convention since 2010 be reinstated as the delegates to the Regional conference come tomorrow, Saturday, 2022. 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 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Western Regional delegates conference took off Smoothly at the Nzema Manle Complex in the Ellembelle constituency to elect executive members to steer the affairs of the party in the Region for the next four years. Delegates began arriving from their respective constituencies as early as 6:00 am while others spent the night at the venue. Meanwhile, supporters of the various candidates clad in their candidate's branded T-Shirts and danced to brass band music amidst chanting party songs and tailor-made songs for their candidates. There is a heavy security presence including National Security operatives to ensure peaceful polls. The election, which is being supervised by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has a total number of 335 voting delegates. The delegates are made up of nine Members of Parliament (MPs), 10 Council of Elders, 10 Patrons, two National Council members, two Council of State members, 17 Regional Executives and 17 delegates each from the 17 constituencies. Mr Francis Ndede Siah, Regional Chairman of the party who officially opened the Conference called for peaceful cohesion among candidates. He indicated that they all belong to one 'bigger family' whose fortunes should be put first against any individual interest. Mr Siah who is going unopposed as regional chairman urged the candidates to accept the outcomes of the election. He also urged them to throw their weight behind those who would emerge, winners, to form a formidable force ahead of the 2024 general elections. Mr Peter Mac Manu, NPP Campaign Manager for the 2020 elections said the NPP was ahead of all the political parties in holding its delegates conference in the country and urged all and sundry to accommodate each other irrespective of the outcome of the election since it was the same elephant family. He said the NPP had what it takes, the human resources and developmental prowess to win the 2024 general elections. Mr Manu expressed the optimism that the NPP government would be retained in the 2024 elections for its hard work and developmental agenda. 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 Major Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has said that the government has released an amount of GH25 million due the Parliament as its budgetary allocation for goods and services. According to him, the Speaker of Parliament complained about the delay of the release of the money on the floor of the House because he was not aware of the process involved. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Annoh-Dompreh, added that officials of Parliament including the Clerk and Chief Account Officer were aware that the money had hit the accounts of Parliament. they (Clerk and Chief Account Officer) all had knowledge of the processes involved and the fact that the releases had been done Im talking about a GH 25 million outstanding goods and services to Parliament. So yesterday when Speaker was lamenting, indeed officially the release had been effected, the process had kick start so it was just a matter of a few hours for it to hit Parliaments account. The Speakers statement was a bit presumptuous and if he had exercised a bit of restraint, he may not have made the comment that Parliament is broke, he said. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said the delay by the Ministry of Finance to release the needed funds to Parliament is affecting the house. According to him, Parliament has no money to function hence the halt in approving financial commitments of the House. "Parliament is currently being run on arrears and the House should not be treated as one of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)," Graphic online quoted the Speaker as having said. He said the government has written to the House to reduce their budget by 50 percent. This is an arm of government. We are not part of the MMDAs. We have even been written to reduce our budget in some cases by 50 percent, Bagbin complained. 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 Major Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has bemoaned the direction given by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to give an account of Ghanas COVID-19 expenditure before a loan request can be approved. According to him, the action of the Speaker was unfortunate since he did not have the power to give such directions of his own volition. The Major Chief Whip, who was speaking at a press conference in Accra, indicated that only Members of Parliament can conclude on such a decision for the Speaker to only communicate. ... the Speaker has no persona of his own. Such a decision has to be the sense of the house. He [Bagbin] cannot communicate his own decision, especially when he is not a Member of Parliament. The sense of the house at that moment is that the question should not be put, but it wasnt that the Finance Minister must first come to the house to render an account, he said. Also, Annoh-Dompreh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, added that the government was not running away from accountability for its COVID-19 expenditure as some persons are asserting. Nobody is shying away from accountability, but that wasnt what the house was saying. When the Majority Leader returns, we are going to engage the Speaker. Going forward we dont want to have any banter with the speaker but where we think that things need to be straightened we will find a diplomatic way of reaching out to ensure that we have peace for the progress and execution of the work of parliament, he added. The Speaker of Parliament summoned Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to appear before the House with details of monies received and expended in the name of Covid-19, after the shooting down of a 75 million Euros loan agreement between the government of Ghana and the European Investment Bank, EIB for the Covid-19 health response Ghana Project. Members of the Minority Caucus led by MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, Cassiel Ato Forson questioned the failure of the finance minister to properly account for funds received in the name of the pandemic so far. Another Minority MP, Ho West MP, Emmanuel Bedzra then threatened to mobilize the NDC MPs to vote against the loan since the President himself has through relaxation of the Covid restrictions given an indication the worst of the pandemic is over. Majority Chief Whip Frank Annor-Dompreh sensing the mood in the house prayed to the Speaker to stand down the agreement. 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 New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates in the Ashanti Region have gathered at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi to elect new executives to run the affairs of the party in the region for the next four years. About 950 delegates are expected to cast their ballot to elect nine officers at various levels to man the party ahead of the 2024 general elections, reports Daniel Kenu from Kumasi. The positions being contested are that of chairman, which has five contestants but has been reduced to a two-horse race between incumbent, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, populary referred to COKA. Robert Asare Bediako former Asokwa Constituency Chairman, Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, former MP for Ejisu and Oheneba Adum Bawuah are the other contestants in the chairmanship race Apart from the Mampong Constituency, which will have no delegates voting at the conference because of a court case, the remaining 46 constituencies in the region will have 17 each delegates casting their ballots. All members of the regional executive committee, the 44 members of parliament in the region, the regional representatives on the national executive committee, 10 members of the council of elders in the region and one TESCON representative from each of the recognised tertiary institutions in the region will be casting their ballot. 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 Some unidentified gunmen on Friday night attacked some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while they were returning from the Upper East Regional Executive Elections held in Bolgatanga. They were attacked near the SSNIT offices, just a few meters away from a police station. The members were delegates of the Bawku Central Constituency. Two persons including the driver of the vehicle were severely injured. The police are yet to effect any arrests but investigations have already begun. The Constituency executives on Saturday, May 28 condemned the attack, calling on government to heighten security not only in Bawku but also the surrounding districts. Its now clear that the surrounding districts within the Bawku zone have either allowed their districts to be part of the Bawku chieftaincy dispute or making their jurisdictions to be used to commit crimes. We appeal to government to impose the ban on motor riding in the other five districts if they really want peace and security to prevail, a statement signed by Communication Officer Nurudeen Gumah urged. Source: 3news 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 Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya looks at the Palcaraju mountain where his Huaraz home is under threat from a melting glacier. German judges and experts have arrived at the edge of a melting glacier high up in the Peruvian Andes to examine a complaint made by a local farmer who accuses energy giant RWE of threatening his home by contributing to global warming. The visit by the nine-member delegation to the region is the latest stage in a case the plaintiffs hope will set a new worldwide precedent. Leading the demand for "climate justice" is 41-year-old Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya, who lives in the mountains close to the city of Huaraz. He has filed suit against the German firm RWE, saying its greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for the melting of nearby glaciers. The trip was ordered by the Higher Regional Court in the northern German city of Hamm, where Lliuya submitted his claim against RWE, having previously had his case dismissed by another court in Essen. The delegation must determine what risk the melting glaciers pose to the city of Huaraz and its 120,000 inhabitants below the Palcacocha glacier. "We want the RWE company to be held responsible for environmental damages," Lliuya, a farmer and tourist guide supported by the German environmental NGO Germanwatch, told AFP. "In general they have polluted all over the world and with this claim we are trying to do something," added Lliuya. The Palcacocha lake at 4,650 metres above sea level is at risk of flooding the Huaraz town below if melting glacier water overflows. RWE operates in 27 countries in the world, including Chile and Brazil, but not Peru. The claim "was rejected in the first instance because it did not have any legal basis and did not respect German civil law," RWE spokesman Guido Steffen told AFP. "We are confident this will happen again with the appeal." RWE insists that "according to law, individual emitters are not responsible for universal processes, that are effectively global, such as climate change." Lliuya and Germanwatch met during the COP20 climate change conference in Lima in 2014, after which the German NGO's activists traveled to Huaraz to discuss a potential claim in Germany. Feeling 'impotent' Lliuya says his greatest fear is that the melting glaciers result in the Palcacocha lake overflowing. At an altitude of 4,650 meters (15,000 feet), the huge blue-turquoise lake sits below the Palcaraju and Pucaranra glaciers in the Huascaran national park, and could flood Huaraz below if it bursts its banks. Climate change brought on by greenhouse gas emissions from private enterprise and industries is responsible for melting glaciers, activists say. "As a farmer and citizen I don't want these glaciers to disappear, they're important," said Lliuya. But he says he feels "impotent" because "you know you're in a risk zone and there are businesses and industries that have caused this." Lliuya owns a half hectare "chacra"the Quechua word for a small farmsteadon the slopes of the mountain. He owns chickens and sheep and grows corn and quinoa. Lliuya lives a modest life with his wife and two children. Their kitchen has few utensils and a wide tree trunk that serves as the dining table. He is also afraid that a drought in the underground aquifers could threaten local agriculture and Huaraz's water provisions. Battle in German courts The case against RWE was brought in 2015 and the German company won at the first instance the following year. But in 2017, the court in Hamm agreed to hear the case. Saul Luciano Lliuya (left), his son Brandon (centre) and wife Lidia live in a modest house with a tree trunk for a dining table. The visit by experts, which was ordered in 2019, was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Germanwatch and Lliuya want RWE to pay for the costs to protect Huaraz from any eventual flooding. "This case refers to our historic emissions of greenhouse gases, and we have always complied with governmental limits, including our carbon dioxide emissions," says RWE, which has stated a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Peru has lost 51 percent of its glaciers over the last 50 years, the national water authority said in 2020. Noah Walker-Crawford, a climate change researcher at University College London (UCL) and Germanwatch analyst, told AFP that 1,800 people died in 1941 when Palcacocha flooded Huaraz due to a glacial avalanche. UCL researcher Noah Walker-Crawford (left) says disaster has struck Huaraz before due to a glacier avalanche. Since then, the volume of Palcacocha dropped by 96 percent over three decades. "But then, due to the rapid recession of the glaciers due to global warming, the lake has grown rapidly," said Walker-Crawford. Explore further Peruvian farmer presses climate claim on German polluter 2022 AFP Fire rages along a ridgeline east of highway 518 near the Taos County line as firefighters from all over the country converge on Northern New Mexico to battle the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fires on May 13, 2022. Credit: Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP Two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in New Mexico history have both been traced to planned burns set by U.S. forest managers as preventative measures, federal investigators announced Friday. The findings shift responsibility more squarely toward the U.S. Forest Service for initiating a natural disaster that has destroyed at least 330 homes as flames raged through nearly 500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers) of high-altitude pine forests and meadows. The wildfire also has displaced thousands of residents from rural villages with Spanish-colonial roots and high poverty rates, while unleashing untold environmental damage. Roughly 3,000 firefighters, along with water-dropping planes and helicopters, continue to fight the blaze as it approaches mountain resorts and Native American communities. Firefighting costs already surpass $132 million, climbing by $5 million a day. Fire and law enforcement officials offered a cautious but hopeful Friday night status report, with fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner noting they need to watch the so-called "red flag" conditionswarm, dry weather with high windsstarting Saturday. "The weather is a big concern for us," Turner acknowledged, saying even an errant pine cone rolling down a slope and crossing a control line could spread flames. "Red flag warning is a big message for tomorrow." He said dry conditions are expected through Tuesday, but some moisture and even thunderstorms are possible starting Wednesday. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez described a rising sense of outrage as the fire triggers new evacuations of families and livestock. Fear of flames is giving way to concern about erosion and mudslides in places were superheated fire penetrates soil and roots. "The destruction these two fires caused is immeasurable and will be felt for generations," said Leger Fernandez, sponsor of a bill that would reimburse residents and businesses routed by the fire. The Forest Service has not yet released detailed planning documents for the original planned burns that might indicate whether fire protocols were followed. Scientist and forest managers are racing to develop new tools to forecast the behavior of planned fires amid climate change and an enduring drought in the American West. The intentionally set blazes, known as prescribed burns, are aimed at limiting the accumulation of timber and underbrush that, if left unattended, can fuel extremely hot and destructive wildfires. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the active fire lines of the Hermits Peak wildfire, in Las Vegas, N.M., May 11, 2022. More than 5,000 firefighters are battling multiple wildland blazes in dry, windy weather across the Southwest. Evacuation orders remained in place Thursday, May 19, 2022, for residents near fires in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. Credit: Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies via AP, File The Biden administration announced in January a $50 billion plan to stave off catastrophic wildfires that would more than double the use of planned fires and logging to reduce trees and other vegetation that serve as tinder in the most at-risk areas. Prescribed burns often are used in wildland areas that are too vast to thin by hand or machine. The two fires east of Santa Fe joined in April to form the massive blaze at the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains, in the Sangre de Cristo range. One of the fires was previously traced to April 6, when a planned burn, set by firefighters to clear out small trees and brush, was declared out of control. On Friday, investigators said they had tracked the source of the second fire to the remnants of a planned winter fire that lay dormant through several snowstorms only to flare up again last month. Investigators said the prescribed "pile burn" was initiated in January at Gallinas Canyon in the Santa Fe National Forest outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, and concluded in the final days of that month. Fire was reported again in the same vicinity April 9 and escaped control 10 days later amid dry, hot and windy conditions, Forest Service investigators found. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in a statement called the investigation results a "first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility" for the New Mexico wildfire. She highlighted her pending request to President Joe Biden to direct the Federal Emergency Management Administration to pay for 100% of costs related to a broad range of recovery efforts. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore last week announced a 90-day pause and review of protocols for planned fires that limit the buildup of flammable vegetation. He cited extreme fire danger and unfavorable weather and did not specifically link the review to New Mexico's fires. "It will also ensure the prescribed burn program nationwide is anchored in the most contemporary science, policies, practices and decision-making processes, and that employees, partners and communities have the support they need to continue using this critical tool to confront the wildfire crisis," the agency said in a statement Friday. Moore said prescribed fires go as planned in more than 99% of cases. Notable exceptions include the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire that swept through national security installations and residential neighborhoods at Los Alamos. So-called pile burns can often include wildland debris collected over months or even years. Forest managers cut back trees and gather debris into mounds, preferring to burn forest fuels in the winter when planned burns are easier to control. In January, Santa Fe National Forest workers started burning through a series of piles across an area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers), after advising the public of possible smoke hazards. Explore further Forest Service ban on prescribed fires stalls work to protect Colorado residents, water supplies 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Vanuatu was hit by a devastating cyclone in 2020. Vanuatu's parliament has declared a climate emergency, with the low-lying island nation's prime minister flagging a US$1.2 billion cost to cushion climate change's impacts on his country. Speaking to parliament in Port Vila on Friday, Prime Minister Bob Loughman said rising sea levels and severe weather were already disproportionately affecting the Pacifichighlighting two devastating tropical cyclones and a hard-hitting drought in the last decade. "The Earth is already too hot and unsafe," Loughman said. "We are in danger now, not just in the future." The parliament unanimously supported the motion, and it follows similar declarations by dozens of other countries, including Britain, Canada and South Pacific neighbour Fiji. "Vanuatu's responsibility is to push responsible nations to match action to the size and urgency of the crisis," the leader said. "The use of the term emergency is a way of signalling the need to go beyond reform as usual." The declaration was part of a "climate diplomacy push" ahead of a UN vote on his government's application to have the International Court of Justice move to protect vulnerable nations from climate change. Last year, the nation of around 300,000 said it would seek a legal opinion from one of the world's highest judicial authorities to weigh in on the climate crisis. Though a legal opinion by the court would not be binding, Vanuatu hopes it would shape international law for generations to come on the damage, loss and human rights implications of climate change. He also outlined the country's enhanced commitment to the Paris agreement to be reached by 2030 at the cost of at least US$1.2 billionin a draft plan primarily focused on adapting to climate change, mitigating its impacts and covering damages. Most of the funding would need to be from donor countries, he said. This week, Australia's new Foreign Minister Penny Wong used a trip to Fiji to promise Pacific nations a reset on climate policy after a "lost decade" under conservative rule. "We will end the climate wars in our country; this is a different Australian government and a different Australia. And we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you, our Pacific family, in response to this crisis," Wong told a Pacific Island Forum event. 2022 AFP Members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority tour New Orleans' hurricane-ravaged Lower 9th Ward, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, as much of the 9th Ward was destroyed when the levee broke at the Industrial Canal during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Seventeen years after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers has completed an extensive system of floodgates, strengthened levees and other protections. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File Seventeen years after Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers has completed an extensive system of floodgates, strengthened levees and other protections. The 130-mile (210-kilometer) ring is designed to hold out storm surge of about 30 feet (9 meters) around New Orleans and suburbs in three parishes. It is "the largest civil works project in the Corps' history and is the result of nearly two decades of hard work and collaboration at the local, state and federal level," Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a symbolic handoff to the state Friday. "The people of New Orleans have experienced the worst Mother Nature has to offer, and with the completion of the system, they'll be protected by the best of engineering, design and hurricane protection." The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, and federal meteorologists predict it will be busy. Congress provided $14.5 billion for what is formally called the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System and related projects. It includes two features the Corps describes as the world's largesta pumping station and a 1.8-mile (2.9-kilometer) barrier that can be closed against storm surges. Louisiana will pay $1.1 billion, the governor's office said in an email Friday. It did not say whether that includes interest. The levees stood up to Hurricane Ida in 2021, though some suburbs outside the system flooded. By 2011, the system could protect against a storm with a 1% chance of occurring in any given year, according to the Corps. Features added since then include armoring levees to prevent erosion and scouring when stronger storm surges rise above their tops, and three permanent canal closures and pumps. "We know that eventually we will face a surge greater than the 1-percent elevations so we designed the HSDRRS to be overtopped," Col. Stephen Murphy, commander of the Corps' New Orleans District, said in a news release. "With all of the armoring now in place, this system enters the 2022 Hurricane Season stronger than it has ever been." The state has been taking control of the system for years as components were built, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate noted. It said maintenance and operation costs are expected to run about $25 million a year for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and about $7.8 million annually for its west bank counterpart. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Two Opdivo (nivolumab)-Based Regimens as First-Line Treatments for Unresectable Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Details Category: Antibodies Published on Saturday, 28 May 2022 12:35 Hits: 1155 Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy and Opdivo plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) approved based on a Phase 3 trial showing improved overall survival versus chemotherapy alone1,2 Opdivo-based treatments are now approved for five indications in upper gastroesophageal cancers1 PRINCETON, NJ, USA I May 27, 2022 I Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both Opdivo (nivolumab) (injection for intravenous use) in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and Opdivo plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as a first-line treatment for adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) regardless of PD-L1 status. The approvals are based on the Phase 3 CheckMate -648 trial, which evaluated Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy (n=321) and Opdivo plus Yervoy (n=325) each compared to chemotherapy alone (n=324), and was the largest Phase 3 trial of an immunotherapy in first-line ESCC.1 In the trial, Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy alone, both in all randomized patients, a secondary endpoint, which was hierarchically tested (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.61 to 0.90, P=0.0021) and in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%), a primary endpoint (HR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.71, P<0.0001).1,2 In all randomized patients the median OS (mOS) was 13.2 months (95% CI: 11.1 to 15.7) with Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy versus 10.7 months (95% CI: 9.4 to 11.9) with chemotherapy alone.1 In patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%) the mOS was 15.4 months (95% CI: 11.9 to 19.5) for Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy versus 9.1 months (95% CI: 7.7 to 10) with chemotherapy alone.1 The median progression-free survival (PFS) in all randomized patients, which was a hierarchically tested secondary endpoint, was 5.8 months (95% CI: 5.6 to 7.0) for Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy and 5.6 months (95% CI: 4.3 to 5.9) for chemotherapy alone (HR= 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.99, P=not significant). Per pre-specified analysis, PFS did not meet statistical significance.1 The median PFS in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%), which was a co-primary endpoint, was 6.9 months (95% CI: 5.7 to 8.3) for Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy and 4.4 months (95% CI: 2.9 to 5.8) for chemotherapy alone (HR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.86, P=0.0023).1 Opdivo plus Yervoy also improved OS compared to chemotherapy in all-randomized patients, a secondary endpoint, which was hierarchically tested (HR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65 to 0.95, P=0.0110) and patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%), a primary endpoint (HR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.84, P=0.0010).1,2 The mOS was 12.8 months (95% CI: 11.3 to 15.5) with Opdivo plus Yervoy versus 10.7 months (95% CI: 9.4 to 11.9) with chemotherapy alone in all randomized patients and 13.7 months (95% CI: 11.2 to 17.0) with Opdivo plus Yervoy versus 9.1 months (95% CI: 7.7 to 10) with chemotherapy alone in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%).1 The median PFS in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%), which was a co-primary endpoint, was 4.0 months (95% CI: 2.4 to 4.9) for Opdivo plus Yervoy and 4.4 months (95% CI: 2.9 to 5.8) for chemotherapy alone (HR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.78 to 1.34, P=not significant). Per pre-specified analysis, PFS did not meet statistical significance.1,2 Median PFS in the PD-L1 (1%) population was not statistically significant and therefore it was not hierarchically tested in the all comers population. Opdivo alone and Opdivo plus Yervoy are associated with the following Warnings and Precautions: severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis and hepatotoxicity, endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, dermatologic adverse reactions, other immune-mediated adverse reactions; infusion-related reactions; complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); embryo-fetal toxicity; and increased mortality in patients with multiple myeloma when Opdivo is added to a thalidomide analogue and dexamethasone, which is not recommended outside of controlled clinical trials.1 Please see the Important Safety Information section below. Today brings welcome news for many advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients and oncologists, said Jaffer A. Ajani, M.D., CheckMate -648 co-first author and lead U.S. investigator, and professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a challenging disease, and theres a need for additional treatment options that may extend survival in the first-line setting.3,4 In the CheckMate -648 trial, two nivolumab-based combinations showed a survival benefit compared to chemotherapy alone, offering new treatment options regardless of PD-L1 status.1 This application was reviewed under the FDAs Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program, which aims to ensure that safe and effective treatments are available to patients as early as possible.5 At Bristol Myers Squibb, we recognize the need that exists for many patients facing upper gastroesophageal cancers, including advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and we are focused on our goal to bring forward new treatment options with proven survival benefits regardless of PD-L1 status and histology, said Adam Lenkowsky, senior vice president and general manager, U.S., Cardiovascular, Immunology, Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb.6 Todays approvals bring two first-line immunotherapy-based treatment options at once, Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy and Opdivo plus Yervoy as the first dual immunotherapy option, to newly diagnosed patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, further building on the role of Opdivo-based regimens in upper gastroesophageal cancers.1 About CheckMate -648 CheckMate -648 is a randomized Phase 3 study evaluating Opdivo plus Yervoy or Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy (fluorouracil and cisplatin) against chemotherapy (fluorouracil plus cisplatin) alone in adult patients with previously untreated unresectable advanced, recurrent, or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.1,2 The primary endpoints of the trial are overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) determined by blinded independent central review (BICR) in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (1%) for both Opdivo-based combinations versus chemotherapy.2 Secondary endpoints of the trial, including OS and PFS as determined by BICR in the all randomized population, were tested hierarchically only if corresponding primary endpoints were significant.1,2 In the Opdivo plus Yervoy arm, patients received treatment with Opdivo 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks and Yervoy 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks up to 2 years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.1,2 In the Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy arm, patients received treatment with Opdivo 240 mg on Day 1 and Day 15, fluorouracil 800 mg/m/day on Day 1 through Day 5 for five days, and cisplatin 80 mg/m on Day 1 of a four-week cycle.1,2 Patients were treated with Opdivo until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to 2 years.1,2 In patients who received Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy and in whom either fluorouracil and/or cisplatin were discontinued, other components of the treatment regimen were allowed to be continued. 2 Patients who discontinued combination therapy because of an adverse reaction attributed to ipilimumab were permitted to continue Opdivo as a single agent.2 Select Safety Profile from CheckMate -648 Study Opdivo and/or chemotherapy were discontinued in 39% of patients and were delayed in 71% of patients for an adverse reaction.1 Serious adverse reactions occurred in 62% of patients receiving Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy.1 The most frequent (2%) serious adverse reactions in patients receiving Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy were pneumonia (11%), dysphagia (7%), esophageal stenosis (2.9%), acute kidney injury (2.9%), and pyrexia (2.3%).1 Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients treated with Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy; these included pneumonitis, pneumatosis intestinalis, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury.1 The most common (20%) adverse reactions in patients treated with Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy were nausea (65%), decreased appetite (51%), fatigue (47%), constipation (44%), stomatitis (44%), diarrhea (29%), and vomiting (23%).1 Opdivo and/or Yervoy were discontinued in 23% of patients and were delayed in 46% of patients for an adverse reaction.1 Serious adverse reactions occurred in 69% of patients receiving Opdivo plus Yervoy.1 The most frequent (2%) serious adverse reactions in patients receiving Opdivo plus Yervoy were pneumonia (10%), pyrexia (4.3%), pneumonitis (4%), aspiration pneumonia (3.7%), dysphagia (3.7%), hepatic function abnormal (2.8%), decreased appetite (2.8%), adrenal insufficiency (2.5%), and dehydration (2.5%).1 Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients treated with Opdivo plus Yervoy; these included pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary embolism, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.1 The most common (20%) adverse reactions in patients treated with Opdivo plus Yervoy were rash (31%), fatigue (28%), pyrexia (23%), nausea (22%), diarrhea (22%), and constipation (20%).1 About Esophageal Cancer In the United States, it is estimated that approximately 20,640 new cases of esophageal cancer will be diagnosed and approximately 16,410 deaths will result from the disease in 2022 alone.7 Esophageal cancer, which can impact the patients ability to swallow and eat, is a type of gastroesophageal cancer that starts in the inner layer of the esophagus (the mucosa) and grows.8,9 The mucosa is normally lined with squamous cells.9 Cancer starting in these cells is called squamous cell carcinoma, which is most often found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, and accounts for less than 30% of esophageal cancers in the United States.9 For about 39% of patients, esophageal cancer is diagnosed in the advanced stage, which is typically harder to treat.10 INDICATIONS OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer with residual pathologic disease in adult patients who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with ipilimumab, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum- containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Please see US Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO and YERVOY. Clinical Trials and Patient Populations Attraction-3esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 577adjuvant treatment of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer; Checkmate 648previously untreated, unresectable advanced, metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy; Checkmate 648previously untreated, unresectable advanced, or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 649previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction or esophageal adenocarcinoma Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision transforming patients lives through science. The goal of the companys cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patients life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future. About Bristol Myers Squibbs Patient Access Support Bristol Myers Squibb remains committed to providing assistance so that cancer patients who need our medicines can access them and expedite time to therapy. BMS Access Support, the Bristol Myers Squibb patient access and reimbursement program, is designed to help appropriate patients initiate and maintain access to BMS medicines during their treatment journey. BMS Access Support offers benefit investigation, prior authorization assistance, as well as co-pay assistance for eligible, commercially insured patients. More information about our access and reimbursement support can be obtained by calling BMS Access Support at 1-800-861-0048 or by visiting www.bmsaccesssupport.com. About the Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb further expanded the companies strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies as single agents and combination regimens for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are wholly owned subsidiaries of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. In certain countries outside the U.S., due to local laws, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are referred to as, Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company and Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company. References Opdivo Prescribing Information. Opdivo U.S. Product Information. Last updated: May 2022. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Chau I, Doki Y, Ajani JA, et al. Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab plus Chemotherapy versus Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: First Results of the CheckMate 648 study. Poster presented at: 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Congress. June 4-8, 2021. American Cancer Society. Treating Esophageal Cancer by Stage. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/treating/by-stage.html. Updated May 21, 2021. Accessed April 7, 2022. Dahiya DS, Kichloo A, Singh J, et al. Current Immunotherapy in Gastrointestinal Malignancies A Review. J Investig Med. 2021;69:689-696. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Real-Time Oncology Review Pilot Program. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/oncology-center-excellence/real-time-oncology-review. Updated March 10, 2022. Accessed May 24, 2022. Myint ZW, Goel G. Role of Modern Immunotherapy in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: a Review of Current Clinical Progress. J Hematol Oncol. 2017 Apr 24;10(1):86. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Esophageal Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Updated January 12, 2022. Accessed May 24, 2022. PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Esophageal Cancer Treatment (Adult). https://www.cancer.gov/types/esophageal/patient/esophageal-treatment-pdq. Last updated: November 18, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2022. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. American Cancer Society. What Is Cancer of the Esophagus? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/about/what-is-cancer-of-the-esophagus.html. Updated March 20, 2020. Accessed May 24, 2022. SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Esophageal Cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html. Accessed May 24, 2022. SOURCE: Bristol Myers Squibb LAKE GEORGE A referendum that could result in the dissolution of the village of Lake George as a government body will have a date set during the next Lake George Village Board meeting on June 20. Village of Lake George officials announced in a news release on Wednesday that the village clerk had determined a petition from the village electorate seeking a vote on the dissolution was valid. There are two ways to bring a matter before the public: The Village Board issues its own motion, or 10% of the electorate signs a petition and brings it to the village. Mayor Robert Blais said that roughly 80 out of the 661 registered voters in the village signed the petition. That forces the vote, he said. This is not the Village Board changing their mind. The board intends to seek a state grant once again to cover as much as half of the expected $50,000 to hire a consultant for the reorganization study, according to the news release. During a Village Board budget workshop meeting on March 7, Blais offered a resolution that determined that the board would not proceed with the dissolution study. Blais stated that securing financing for a $24 million wastewater treatment plant was a priority. The resolution states that the board is in the process of securing funding for the plant and negotiating financing in excess of $8 million for the facility. The resolution, which passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote in favor, stated that the dissolution of the village could impact financing for the plant and that this action was in the best interest of all of our taxpayers. The news release issued by the village states that the town of Lake George indicated that it would be willing to share the remaining cost of the study with the village. We decided in March not to (move forward with the study) because the timing was very poor, we felt, for the village, Blais said during a phone call on Friday. However, a bunch of voters circulated a petition, and that means we must go ahead with the vote. Along with securing financing for the wastewater treatment plant, the village is currently looking to fill positions. Those positions include a water clerk, a part-time planning and zoning clerk, a village clerk and purchasing agent. The date of the vote will be made official by the board during its meeting on June 20, but Blais said that he thinks it will happen in early September. Once a petition is brought forward, the village has 10 days to validate it. Once that is complete, a date for the vote must be set within 30 days of the petition validation. Were looking at when we usually hold elections. They are usually on a Tuesday, usually on the second Tuesday of the month. Im just predicting that its probably going to be somewhere around Sept. 13, he said. The date of the vote must be set within 90 days of the announcement, according to Blais. Blais said that, typically, villages that go into dissolution are small communities that dont have large budgets and cant get residents to run for office. The village of Lake George is not your average village, Blais said. Our budget is over $6 million. This isnt your average village that goes into dissolution. Jay Mullen is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls, Warren County and crime and courts. You can reach him at 518-742-3224 or jmullen@poststar.com. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 2 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. CANNES, France Lukas Dhonts sensitive coming-of-age film Close, about the tender friendship of two 13-year-old boys whose bond is tragically separated, has provided a late, emotional wallop at the Cannes Film Festival. Close, the Belgian directors second film after his controversy-generating debut Girl, has emerged as one of the standouts at Cannes, and one of the most poignant. While heartbreak in film is usually expressed through romantic relationships, Dhonts movie traces the painful fallout of two exceptionally close boys who drift apart when their intimacy is ridiculed. It comes from deep within, Dhont said in an interview on a balcony in Cannes a few days before the Thursday premiere of Close. When I was young because of fear I had for this closeness, I think I pushed a lot of friends away. If I hadnt done that, maybe they would have still been in my life. Maybe we would have had long and amazing friendships. Its something I still think about. In Close, which A24 acquired for distribution just ahead of its debut, the first breezy scenes between Leo (Eden Dambrine) and Remi (Gustav De Waele) are of running freely through fiends in summertime. Once they get to school, they still sweetly drape and lean on each other, but their mutual affection brings scorn and queer labels that Leo, at least, isnt ready to accept. Leo instead turns guarded and defensive with his feelings, which crushes Remi. For the 31-year-old Dhont, who was closeted in his teenage years, Close is a film he describes as part of me. I have the feeling that Ive been waiting to make this film for a long time, he says. I was a boy who had the feeling that I didnt really belong. I didnt really belong to the group of girls in my school and I didnt really belong with the group of boys in my school. So I disconnected in many ways from the people around me in school, and also the boys who tried to be friends with me. I lost a lot of precious friendships because I was just scared of them. I was scared of that closeness, scared to be a labeled a certain way. Dhonts film is in competition for the Palme dOr, an award some are predicting he would take home Saturday. Whether Dhont wins or not, the Cannes platform has returned him to the global spotlight after Girl was consumed by a firestorm of debate and criticism. After the film won the Camera dOr for best first feature in Cannes and landed enthusiastic reviews, many in the LGBTQ community questioned Dhont telling a story about a teenage ballerinas gender transition with a non-transgender lead. A scene depicting self harm was cited for irresponsibly depicting a false narrative of gender transition. For me, the process of Girl was a process of learning, of going into dialogue with perspectives that I wasnt necessarily aware of, said Dhont. It was a process of learning about myself and about others. Im very thankful for that experience. It transformed the way I make films. Every film, I think, you transform. But it did teach me a lot about perspective and how thats incredible vital and important in making a movie. OCEAN CITY Memorial Day weekend in this shore town combines the somber and the silly. On Monday, local veterans and community members are set to gather at 11 a.m. to remember service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. At noon Friday, it was time for the silly. For the 19th year, Ocean City businesspeople marched purposefully into the water, led by Suzanne Muldowney, known for her costumed representations of multiple characters in area events. Some, like plunge organizer and annual participant John Walton, wear business suits and ties, often dressed far more formally than seaside business usually requires. Others dress as pirates, mermaids or hermit crabs. This year, a contingent from the Aquatic and Fitness Center came as jellyfish, with paper tentacles dangling from umbrellas. The event goes on rain or shine. When it did not take place in 2020 because the beaches were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Walton went in by himself anyway. The event has taken place in heavy rain and in the midst of beach replenishment projects, so the gray mist that covered the beaches near the Music Pier at noon Friday was no big deal. WATCH NOW: Amphibious military vehicles land on Ocean City beach OCEAN CITY It was not an invasion, but the landing of two enormous amphibious military cra Hundreds of spectators lined the rail and the beach to watch the plunge, which followed the official unlocking of the ocean, in which city officials turn an oversized key in the sand. Things began with Natalie Ragazzo, a Miss New Jersey volunteer, singing The Star Spangled Banner, followed by comments from Mayor Jay Gillian. Members of City Council were also gathered on the beach. Its been a long, long, cold winter, but let me tell you, the suns going to come out and Ocean City is going to thrive like it normally does, Gillian said. Lets have a nice, safe, calm summer. So enjoy. Happy 2022. Also starting this weekend was a daily Boardwalk flag-raising ceremony at the Music Pier, occurring each morning with the national anthem and the playing of Lee Greenwoods God Bless the U.S.A. Saturday morning brings the Memorial Beach Challenge, a two-mile obstacle course that covers much of the beach between Fifth and 15th streets. Proceeds from the event benefit the 31 Heroes Project, an organization that specializes in creating programs, financial support systems and opportunities for service members, veterans and their families. The race begins at 8 a.m. near the Music Pier. It also includes a Kids Fun Run and Memorial Paddle Out. See memorialbeachchallenge.com for more information. The National Moment of Remembrance is also set for Monday. Established by Congress, the event asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity for one minute. Greg Murphy of Buglers Across America will play taps from the Music Pier to commemorate the moment. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OCEAN CITY Hundreds of police officers gathered Friday to welcome Davarjaye D.J. Daniel as one of their own. D.J., of Houston, is 10 years old. He has brain cancer and cancer in his spine. His family says it is terminal. D.J. has always felt comfortable around uniforms, his father, Theodis Daniel, told the officers at the Ocean City Music Pier. That bond strengthened after the family lost their home in Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Three police officers assigned to the shelter took Daniels sons under their wing, forming a temporary family at least until they were able to get home to their own children. That made a big impression on D.J., his father said, and it was something he remembered after his diagnosis. D.J. was diagnosed with metastatic anaplastic ependymoma brain and spine cancer three years ago. Originally, D.J. had a goal to become an honorary police officer in 100 departments, Daniel said. Now, hes shooting for 500. South Jersey students stage walkouts to support Texas shooting victims Hundreds of students at Collingswood High School joined a nationwide protest Thursday and wa The Friday event was a big step toward that goal, as D.J. took an oath of office as an honorary detective, an honorary investigator or an honorary police officer for more than 30 departments and law enforcement agencies at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk. Chiefs of police and other law enforcement leaders lined up at the event to administer the oath, many embracing D.J. afterward. He wore a Longport police uniform in his size, with chiefs stars on the lapel and honorary officer on the shield. Longport police organized the event. Chief Frank Culmone thanked the other departments who participated, adding he recognized it is tough to take time on what is one of the busiest weekends of the year for many of the departments. In spite of that, we have put everything aside and we are here to honor D.J. today, Culmone said. According to Culmone, before the event Friday, D.J. had been sworn in as an honorary officer with 450 law enforcement agencies around the country. Lt. Cherie Burgan of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department first heard about D.J. when she attended the FBI National Academy. According to local officers, police from all over the country were talking about D.J.s efforts. Culmone had recently been named the president of the Atlantic County Police Chiefs Association. Burgan wanted to know whether Culmone would be interested in organizing something for D.J. in this area. Sergeant convicted in Paterson police corruption case A Paterson police sergeant accused of leading a group of city officers who illegally stopped and searched numerous people and vehicles and stole thousands of dollars has been convicted of falsifying a police report. Federal prosecutors say Michael Cheff was also found guilty Thursday of conspiring to deprive an individual of civil rights. He now faces up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors said Cheff led a group of five officers who illegally stopped and searched people in the city on a routine basis and stole money from them. All five of the officers have pleaded guilty to various charges and testified against Cheff, claiming he took part in the thefts that occurred from 2016 to 2018. She happened to have an in in Longport, her husband, Sgt. Ray Burgan. Sgt. Burgan said Friday he took the idea to Culmone, who jumped at the chance. The local police union funded the flight from Texas, and a Longport family offered the use of their house to the family, Burgan said. Culmone said D.J.s father told him the boy has had 11 brain surgeries already. Through each of these surgeries, Ive learned, D.J. developed slightly different personalities and changed slightly, Culmone said. At one point, he said, D.J. reported that he saw God and was given a calling. As part of the presentation, D.J. sang a religious song, and got those gathered to clap along. Culmone said he did not see only police officers and chiefs, he saw a community gathered. Authorities identify teenager fatally shot in Vineland VINELAND Authorities on Friday identified the 15-year-old boy fatally shot this week in the city. Daniel, who described himself as a single father, said the family has traveled around the country as part of the effort. The East Coast is bringing it strong right now, he said. He said the effort also raises awareness of childhood cancer. D.J. has also been sworn in as an honorary member of sheriffs departments, prosecutors offices and the FBI. Longport police picked the family up at the airport in Philadelphia, where D.J. met Pennsylvania state troopers and Philadelphia police officers. On the way to stay in Longport, they also stopped at the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard in Egg Harbor Township, where he was also sworn in as an Air National Guard Special Forces officer and an honorary Jersey Devil fighter pilot. D.J.s siblings were in the front row, with his brothers also wearing small police uniforms. In his comments at the event, Theodis Daniel spoke about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which 21 people were murdered, including 19 students. Some of those students were D.J.s age, Daniel said. I think were going to Uvalde real soon, he 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. A Paterson police sergeant accused of leading a group of city officers who illegally stopped and searched numerous people and vehicles and stole thousands of dollars has been convicted of falsifying a police report. Federal prosecutors say Michael Cheff was also found guilty Thursday of conspiring to deprive an individual of civil rights. He now faces up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors said Cheff led a group of five officers who illegally stopped and searched people in the city on a routine basis and stole money from them. All five of the officers have pleaded guilty to various charges and testified against Cheff, claiming he took part in the thefts that occurred from 2016 to 2018. SPRINGFIELD The six Republican candidates for Illinois governor faced off Tuesday night in Chicago, albeit on two separate debate stages, hours after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that dominated a large portion of the debates. A scheduling conflict between two TV networks WGN and NBC 5 had the candidates split into groups of three. NBCs debate included Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, the polling and money frontrunner, along with former Waterloo state Sen. Paul Schimpf and suburban attorney Max Solomon. The WGN debate that followed included Sen. Darren Bailey, of Xenia, Petersburg venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan and suburban paving magnate Gary Rabine. Much of the discussion revolved around a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where an 18-year-old barricaded himself in a fourth-grade classroom and killed at least 21 individuals, including 19 children. Irvin noted he was mayor of Aurora in 2019 when a shooter killed six, including himself, at the Henry Pratt Company in that city. Irvin said a governor would have to make sure that not only we heal after this, these events that seem to be happening so much throughout our country day in and day out where we're comparing one violent act to another. We need to make sure that we support our police, and we support our neighbors, and our families, and our friends, and these school children that we don't allow weapons to get into the hands of criminals and those with mental illnesses, Irvin added. Irvins response followed Schimpf, who cited law enforcement support as well. We also have to be exploring mental illness and the challenge that mental illness faces, poses for our country, Schimpf said, without giving specifics. Solomon said all schools should have armed security guards. Bailey said he would look to repeal the states Firearm Owners Identification law a move that would require action from lawmakers and pointed to the state of New York, where shootings occur despite some of the most egregious gun laws that there are. He said hed like to partner with and empower community groups and church groups to be able to deal with mental health. Sullivan said some of the root causes are getting back to fatherhood, and promoting the family in our society again. I really do feel like when you remove God from our society, these are the types of things that happen, he said. Rabine responded that bad people are going to get guns regardless of policy. So we've got, we've got to really be better, in my opinion, raise our kids better than we are and do better things, he said. Schimpf also said he would look to get rid of the FOID law. We need to enforce the gun laws that we have, he said. Irvin said the FOID process which saw an overhaul passed by state lawmakers in 2021 that strengthened Illinois State Polices FOID enforcement abilities and directed the agency to create a searchable database with serial numbers of stolen gun is broken, but he endorsed background checks. ON CRIME, CHICAGO: Irvin, Schimpf and Solomon were asked if they would call in the National Guard which only governors can do to address violence in Chicago. If necessary, I would definitely call them in Chicago, you know, as governor, Irvin said without answering whether it would be necessary right now. He also claimed he called the National Guard into Aurora in response to rioting in 2020. Irvin said hed focus on three Cs children, cops, community, by getting kids into positive programs, putting more police officers on the beat and empowering the community to help our police take back their streets. I dont care how many people you arrest, if you don't give the community an opportunity to address and work and take pride and stock in their own community, it's just going to return, he said. The budget that passed this year with only Democratic votes included hundreds of millions of dollars for community youth investment and violence prevention programs, money for three new classes State Police troopers, and $10 million for law enforcement recruitment and retention. Bailey said he voted against the budget because more money always seems to be the answer for Illinois politicians, touting a zero-based budget process to cut the fat, although he did not identify programs he would cut. He also said more conversations are needed between lawmakers and law enforcement. When asked how he would keep guns out of the hands of mental health patients, Bailey said he would look to partner with churches and civic groups, then launched into an attack on Chicagos leaders. Let's focus on the city of Chicago a minute, let's just call it like it is. Let's think about Chicago, a crime-ridden, corrupt, dysfunctional hellhole. he said. Bailey, who promoted a measure in the General Assembly that would make Chicago a separate state from the rest of Illinois, said as governor he would be standing up and fighting for Chicago just as much as I will be fighting for the state of Illinois. Sullivan and Rabine said theyd push to create an option for voters to recall states attorneys, such as Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, although Illinois law does not currently allow it. Sullivan said he would surge the National Guard. Schimpf, a U.S. Marine who was an American adviser in the trial of Saddam Hussein, was more measured in his response. Well, the National Guard is not a solution that you can just say I'm going to call in the National Guard as a governor and that's going to solve all the problems, he said, noting hed be a more supportive governor of law enforcement. Solomon said he would have called in the National Guard yesterday, and he would accept federal aid no matter who is president. * * * ARROYO SENTENCED: Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo was sentenced this week to nearly five years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving a state senator and one of Arroyos private lobbying clients who sought favorable legislation for the sweepstakes gambling industry. Arroyo, 67, is a Chicago Democrat who represented the 3rd District in the House from 2006 to 2019. He was arrested on bribery charges in October 2019 and resigned his seat on Nov. 1 that year, just moments before a special investigative committee was to meet to consider whether he should be ousted from office. Even after resigning, though, Arroyo maintained that he was innocent. He finally pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2021. According to the indictment, in 2018 and 2019 Arroyo accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from a gaming company, Collage LLC, in exchange for promoting legislation authorizing electronic sweepstakes machines, which look and operate much like slot machines. In addition, he was accused of bribing a sitting state senator at the time, now known to be former Sen. Terry Link, a Lake County Democrat, for supporting that legislation. Arroyo and Link, who was wearing a wire, reportedly met at a Skokie restaurant in August 2019 where Arroyo handed Link a $2,500 check from Collage with a promise of additional monthly payments for as long as a year in exchange for Links support of the legislation. During that conversation, according to federal prosecutors, Arroyo told Link, This is the jackpot. That investigation was part of a wide-ranging probe into public corruption in the Chicago area conducted by U.S. Attorney John Lauschs office and the FBI. Also as a result of that investigation, Link was later charged and pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He was not immediately sentenced in exchange for his agreement to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. He resigned from the Senate in September 2020. And former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who had pressured Arroyo to resign and called the allegations against him beyond extraordinary, was indicted earlier this year on charges related to a separate bribery scheme involving utility giant Commonwealth Edison. He resigned in January 2021 after failing to win reelection to another term as speaker. * * * CENSUS UNDERCOUNT: Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that he is asking President Joe Biden and the federal government to increase Illinois share of federal funding to reflect the results of a recent Census Bureau study showing the state was very likely undercounted in the 2020 census. The news release from the governors office proclaimed, Updated census data indicates Illinois has surpassed 13 million residents for the first time in history. Meanwhile, Democrats in Illinois congressional delegation wrote directly to the Census Bureau to ask how the survey data will be used, warning of grave consequences of ignoring the new data. The official 2020 census numbers released last August, however, have not been changed, adjusted, updated or revised, according to the Census Bureau. Illinois population is still counted as roughly 12.8 million. Pritzkers assertions, along with those of many others, are based on last weeks release of data from the Census Bureaus Post-Enumeration Survey, or PES for short, which showed the state might have gained as many as 250,000 residents since the 2010 census. Consistent with our prior practice, we will not be adjusting the census counts for apportionment or redistricting, Census Bureau statistician Timothy Kennel said during a media briefing last week. The Post-Enumeration Survey is a probability survey of about 161,000 housing units in about 10,000 blocks across the country that is independent of the census operation. Based on data gathered in the PES survey, Illinois was among six states that had statistically significant undercounts in the 2020 census while eight states had statistically significant overcounts. After each decennial census, bureau officials go into the field to conduct a follow-up survey, known as the PES. This year, they randomly selected 161,000 households out of roughly 127 million occupied housing units in the country and sent the occupants a survey questionnaire, basically asking them the same questions that appear on the census form: names, ages and demographic profile of each occupant of the household. After subtracting from the sample any vacant structures, group living quarters and households that didnt respond to the survey, they were left with a sample of about 114,000 households nationwide. From there, they compared the information on the survey form with the information submitted in the actual 2020 enumeration. In this case, Illinois undercount was estimated at 1.97%. That would mean the population of the state that was reported in the 2020 census was only 98.03% of what it should have been, based on the survey. With 90% confidence, officials pegged the undercount between 3.43% and 0.51%. Pritzker and congressional Democrats arent trying to gain back the U.S. House seat that Illinois lost this year, which the Supreme Court ruled in 1999 is not permissible. Theyre concerned about Illinois share of roughly $1.5 trillion in federal funding that flows to state and local governments based on formulas that use census data. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Illinois state Senate District 36 has some familiar faces running for the seat. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms will face former state Rep. candidate Glen Evans in the Republican primary, while State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Current state Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, was drawn out of the district during the state legislative remapping process, leaving the seat open for the 2022 election. Anderson is running in his new district, the 47th. The primary election on June 28 will determine which Democrat and Republican candidate will be on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. May 19 was the first day to send in vote-by-mail ballots or vote in person at the Rock Island County clerk's office, 1504 Third Ave., Rock Island. Republicans Mike Thoms Thoms won reelection as Rock Island mayor in the April 2021 municipal election. If he wins election to the state Senate, he would be allowed to remain mayor. Thoms, 63, is a lifelong resident of Rock Island and attended Black Hawk College. He retired in 2005 after 29 years with Thoms-Proestler Co., a family-owned wholesale food service company where he worked his way up from warehouse worker to vice president of operations, managing 250 employees. Thoms has been a longtime community volunteer with a focus on youth services. He sits on the boards of directors for Junior Achievement; HavLife Foundation; the Putnam Museum; the YMCA and the YWCA Quad Cities, working to raise money for construction of the new facility in downtown Rock Island. He also serves on the facilities committee for the Rock Island-Milan School District and previously sat on the board of directors for Bethany for Families and Children. When he announced his candidacy in October, Thoms said his business and management experience made him the better candidate. "My experience in dealing with people has taught me how to negotiate, compromise and talk to people. Those are some of my strengths," he said. "I've started several businesses and investments with people since then. I understand the economy and economic development better than my opponent." Glen Evans Evans most recently challenged State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, in the 2018 and 2020 elections, losing both times. He previously ran as a Democrat in about 20 different local races. He has lost every election with the exception of two precinct committeeman races. He has run for Rock Island-Milan school board, Rock Island City Council, Rock Island County board, Rock Island Township supervisor and twice for Rock Island County clerk. When he announced his candidacy for state Senate in August, he said he changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican five years ago after attending a training with Americans for Prosperity, a Conservative political action group founded by the Koch brothers. Evans, 52, is an ordained minister with Wings of Faith Ministries, working with several churches in the area. He also is a member of Laborer's Local 309, serving as auditor from 2016 to 2018. Evans is currently second vice chairman of the Rock Island County Republican Party. "I am on the ballot because I am dissatisfied with what I see in community I grew up in," Evans said. "I want to make it better." Democrat Mike Halpin Halpin is unopposed in the Democratic primary election. He was elected state Representative for the 72nd District in 2016 and reelected in 2018 and 2020. He was elected Rock Island County Democratic Party Chairman in May 2021. Halpin, 42, is a native of Voorheesville, N.Y. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island with a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 2001. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with his law degree. He moved to Illinois after being hired by Congressman Lane Evans as a staff assistant and scheduler and served as law clerk for the Honorable Rita B. Garman of the Illinois Supreme Court from 2008 to 2010. He currently works as an attorney for McCarthy, Callas & Feeney, P.C., of Rock Island, focusing on family law, labor and employment law and real estate law. "Running for Senate is an opportunity for me to continue to represent people in western Illinois that are asking for help and asking for policies that are going to lift up them and their families," Halpin said when he announced his candidacy in September. 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. CHICAGO After nearly 10 months of delay, a judge Friday ended the court order preventing Illinois from issuing 185 new recreational cannabis store licenses though further litigation may jeopardize those licenses again. Cook County Circuit Judge Michael Mullen lifted the stay that was issued last year, allowing the state to begin licensing new businesses, many of them started by Black and Latino owners. The ruling means that companies that spent thousands of dollars to stay alive without revenue may now take steps toward opening, including finalizing zoning approval, buying or renting real estate, ordering supplies and hiring employees. That process may take several months to more than a year before the stores open. The courts had prohibited licensing while considering lawsuits by companies that argued they were unfairly excluded from lotteries to award the licenses. State officials plan a corrective lottery to give those plaintiffs another chance to win a license. By law, the first 75 licenses were supposed to have been issued two years ago, but were delayed by problems with scoring the license applications, which resulted in only 21 companies qualifying for a license lottery out of more than 700 applicants. People are super excited to move forward, said attorney Ryan Holz, who represents businesses in line to get new licenses, as well as others that were excluded from the license lotteries. But, he cautioned, theres also a real concern that businesses that were excluded may ask for a new court order to hold up the licenses again. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which licenses pot dispensaries, issued a statement that it anticipates releasing detailed information about next steps for applicants as soon as it gets guidance in a federal lawsuit. That case involves a challenge to the states residency requirements for dispensary owners. Today is a key development toward our ultimate goal of creating the most diverse, inclusive, and robust adult use cannabis industry of any state in the country, said the agencys secretary, Mario Treto Jr. We stand ready to swiftly move forward in ensuring Illinois standing as a national leader in the advancement of cannabis equity. Black and Latino applicants have complained they have been unfairly kept out of the legal cannabis business in Illinois, where just 21 licenses for full-size growers have been issued, almost entirely to white owners, several of whom have come to dominate the industry nationally. To ensure fairness for all applicants and correct any errors in the lottery process, the state agency announced, it is also working on finalizing plans for three corrective lotteries to be held in June one for each of the dispensary lotteries held in 2021. Updates will be available on the agencys adult use cannabis website. The legal reversal in the case came after one of the companies suing the state over the licensing process, WAH Group LLC, asked to end the prohibition on the new licenses. The firm, represented by attorney and co-owner Mazie Harris, won the rights to three licenses, so it stands to benefit from the process moving forward. WAHs request also noted that Cook County Judge Celia Gamrath, in another cannabis licensing case, had warned that it could take many months or years to resolve ongoing litigation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Whether youre a homebuilder in LeClaire, a soybean farmer in Mercer County, or a small-business owner in any one of the many communities we represent across southeast Iowa and central Illinois, its likely you have heard or downright fear the term WOTUS, or waters of the United States. WOTUS refers to the definition that determines which bodies of water are regulated under the federal Clean Water Act, and for decades, the lack of a clear definition has plagued rural America, creating confusion and unpredictability for nearly every farmer, rancher, small business, and private landowner. Historically, the definition or the lack of clear parameters for it has been used by extreme interest groups and serial litigators to slow, delay, or stop all forms of development in communities across the United States. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court announced they would hear Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (Sackett), a case that could put forth the proper test for finally defining WOTUS once and for all. In deciding Sackett, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to provide the certainty our farmers, ranchers, and landowners have long deserved. So, in light of this pivotal moment, we are taking action on behalf of rural communities in Iowa, Illinois, and across the United States to underscore the need for a clear, narrow definition of WOTUS. We felt it was critical that the voices of our constituents were heard and included in these critical deliberations, which is why we submitted an amicus brief to the Court in support of the Sackett family, who are fighting in our nations highest court to build upon their own property in Idaho. Our brief highlights the importance of state, local, and private conservation efforts and how a far-reaching federal mandate, like the 2015 Obama-Biden WOTUS rule, actually impedes upon this ongoing, effective conservation work to protect our clean water. It also outlines the legislative history of the Clean Water Act, clearly demonstrating that Congress never intended for the Environmental Protection Agency to have effectively limitless jurisdiction over every stream, ditch, and puddle. Unfortunately, thats exactly what a vague and sweeping Clean Water Act has led to. Under the 2015 WOTUS rule, nearly 97% of land in Iowa would be under federal jurisdiction. Farmers and ranchers including the 2,000 Illinois producers who filed public comments in opposition to the Biden Administrations recent WOTUS rulemaking who are working to innovate conservation practices, improve local ecosystems, or even simply rotate their crops or build a pond on their own farms would be punished by fines, permitting fees, and bureaucratic delays. We arent being facetious when we caution the repercussions of an expansive Clean Water Act. Private citizens including examples in our home states are currently being targeted by the Biden administration under the pretense of so-called environmental degradation for seeking to gasp build a pond! The administration has compiled a list of 333 targets of these types of degradation across the country. A farmer in central Illinois spent $55,000 on a new pond on his property including $10,000 on trees, fish, grasses, and wildflowers based upon his consultations with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to build a new refuge for flora and fauna. He is included in this list of supposed bad actors. Another farming family in Des Moines County sought to expand a pond that currently supports a lake in the Big Hollow Recreation Area from siltation. The dirt used from the excavation was also to be utilized for repairs and reconstruction of Highway 61. Again, in this case, a family has been targeted by the Administration for apparently harming the environment. Whats important to note is that the project never moved forward no action was ever taken yet federal agencies are arguing environmental degradation simply by how the land is currently categorized. In both of these cases, private citizens acting as good stewards worked with federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the NRCS to best support the environment and their communities. What incentive is there for landowners to be such stewards when they encounter convoluted bureaucracies and are punished with threats of fines and condemnation? We are proud to challenge these broken policies as members of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of 75 members of Congress from across the United States who advocate for locally-led and science-based conservation and private property rights guaranteed by the Constitution. We understand that rural communities are committed to clean water, and, as our brief argues, states, local communities, and private citizens are far more effective than the federal government when it comes to achieving real, lasting results. Rural America is the backbone of our nation. We know this case could have massive implications on the ability for rural economies and local communities to thrive, which is why we will continue to tell the stories of our constituents and work to deliver the certainty our districts deserve. Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeksrepresents represents Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. Republican Rodney Davis represents Illinois' 13th Congressional District. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A $1.1 billion processing plant could be built in the Black Hills Industrial Park in south Rapid City, a realty company announced Friday. Kingsbury and Associates and Sirius Realty of Rapid City and Greenville announced plans to construct an 8,000 head per day processing facility over three years. The 1-million-square-foot facility will process beef and a specialty bison line. It could also bring about 2,500 jobs to the area. Megan Kingsbury, president and managing partner of Kingsbury and Associates and who is spearheading the project, said in a news release that the goal is to restore competition in American meat processing. Kingsbury, a fifth-generation producer from Western South Dakota, said she understands how difficult it is for producers to be profitable. "I want to fix that," she said. "We want to compete with the big four meat packing giants and be that all-important 'second bidder' in the cash market. We will build a brand that is America first focusing on procuring American cattle and feeding American citizens affordable, high-quality protein as our first priority." The facility will focus on bringing and developing new technologies in robotics and artificial intelligence that make processing easier, safer and more efficient, according to the release. Kingsbury said the company will employ and develop technologies to mitigate any negative effect people may associate with processing facilities. She said they would capture the methane to help power the facility, utilize renewable energy sources, recycle a majority of the water used daily, and continue work on efficient transportation plans. "The American rancher is less than a generation away from being extinct if we don't do something fast," Kingsbury said. "We've already seen the high cost of meat in stores and the low prices producers are receiving for their animals. There is profit in this industry up and down the supply chain if we restore competition. When that happens everyone who produces and consumes high-quality beef wins." The industrial park is the preferred site for the plant, which is located on state Highway 79 and Old Folsom Road. Groundbreaking in Hot Springs Dakota Territory Beef, a partner with United Ranchers Cooperative, broke ground on a new processing plant in Hot Springs Friday. The facility will be able to process 25 cattle a week and bring seven new jobs to the area. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 A lawyer leading the class action lawsuit on behalf of a Black Hawk neighborhood against the state of South Dakota warned current and future homeowners that the entire neighborhood is at risk from an abandoned gypsum mine Wednesday. Kathy Barrow, a lawyer with national law firm Fox Rothschild representing a group of homeowners in the Hideaway Hills neighborhood, said there is possible misleading information from a 2021 study regarding the risks around houses built above the mine. We see people, real estate agents and those kinds of things trying to say, Well, this isnt by the mine collapse, so this house is fine, and thats just not right, she said. Were concerned about that, and I know people are tired. Its been two years now and were still slogging through litigation and trying to get a remedy for the folks out there. But the answer is not to try to steer other people in it with things that try to quantify risk. A sinkhole opened in the neighborhood April 27, 2020, exposing an abandoned gypsum mine and forcing 40 people to evacuate from 15 homes. Since then, Fox Rothschild and another local law firm have performed multiple studies to indicate and find what is in the subsurface. Barrow said Fox Rothschild had an evidentiary hearing in state court April 1 and was ordered to submit findings of fact and conclusions for the courts consideration. She said her law firm will submit documents for June 1 and expect a determination in July or August. Rob Gerrard, principal owner and professional engineer with Western Engineers, said the 2021 report completed by the local Fitzgerald Law Firm was done using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). He said the report helped give his firm a target of where to drill. He said Western Engineers found a lot of inconsistencies in the fill material used to fill the mine. He said the gypsum mine, which was used by the state up until 2001, was an open pit mine and back-filled with material. A lot of that material was uncontrolled because that property, when it was recommended, was recommended for pasture land, which was never meant for residential dwellings, Gerrard said. That material wasnt controlled. We dont know how it was brought in and compacted. He said they also found pockets of clay in areas, and gypsum fracture fragments and gypsum powder all throughout the material. Gypsum is moderately water soluble. Gerrard said when fill materials are brought in for a structure to be built on, theyd be selective of the material and control how its brought in as far as how compact it is and how much moisture there is. He said gypsum isnt a stable material and does dissolve in water over time. He said because the material was uncontrolled, it could settle or heave, which would cause damage to homes. Gerrard said even on the surface people can see where the roads are experiencing significant damage, which allows water to infiltrate into the ground. He said there could be more testing, but nothing is scheduled at the moment. Barrow said if the certification is granted, both parties would get a discovery period like any other litigation. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@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. A Corvallis man was charged Friday with three felony counts of sexual abuse of children for allegedly distributing and possessing child pornography. Tyler Karl Vandehey, 23, appeared Friday in Ravalli County Justice Court on the charges that date back to 2020. According to the charging affidavit, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received multiple cyber tips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in October 2020. Those tips were reported by electronic service providers Google and MG Freesites that showed images and files were uploaded to accounts allegedly tied to Vandehey. A Montana Division of Criminal Investigation agent viewed some of the 200 files and videos from Google and MG Freesites Cyber Tips and found they contained child sexual abuse material. The IP address identified as a CenturyLink account was owned by Vandehey, according to the affidavit. Investigators executed a search warrant on Vandeheys residence in December 2020. The affidavit said Vandehey admitted then that he was interested and consistently viewed, downloaded and acquired child pornography. Vandehey alleged admitted to receiving and distributing videos containing child pornography of juveniles engaged in sex and nudity over the platform Telegram. Several electronics were seized for forensic analysis but the state had not yet received the results. In April 2022, the state agent received additional cyber tips that allegedly showed Vandeheys telephone had downloaded files on April 5 and 6. The agent was granted a search warrant for the account associated with the phone and found about 544 videos and 42 images of child sexual abuse material, including images of children as young as toddlers. On May 26, another search warrant was executed on Vandeheys home. The affidavit said Vandehey admitted he had resumed searching for and downloading child pornography from the Internet. Ravalli County Justice Jennifer Ray set bail at $150,000. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 13 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. Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. Montana offers endless outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and tourists alike. Fly fishing for trout on the Bitterroot and its numerous tributaries is one of the most popular of all activities. As of Friday, May 27, the Montana Snotel site has snowpack in the Bitterroot watershed at 186% of average. After a dry winter, April and May came in with below average temperatures and above average precipitation.This combination has kept most of our moisture locked up in the high country. Great news as our snowpack was a dismal 83% in March. The National Weather Service predicts this trend will continue over the next 8-14 days. Beyond that they predict the 3 month period between June and September to have average temperatures and slightly below average precipitation. If accurate, this is positive news for fly fishers and irrigators. I am anticipating higher than normal flows in June and decent flows lasting into July and maybe early August. Painted Rocks reservoir filled on May 18 and the water stored there will supplement flows in August and September. Higher flows in June will present challenges to floaters and wade fishers alike. It may be a couple weeks before runoff recedes. When you venture out be aware of flows by checking USGS flow data at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/rt . Also check in with fly shops, local guides, shuttle drivers and experienced rowers who know where new hazards are located and what stretches are somewhat safer to float. The Bitterroot river is one of the most dangerous rivers in the state claiming one life per year on average. If you are new to rowing the Bitterroot river isnt the best place to learn. Inexperience and failure to wear a life jacket are common denominators in most drowning deaths. Life jackets save lives! Please note that no woody debris can be removed from water ways without a 310 permit from the Bitterroot Conservation District https://bitterrootcd.org. I spoke this week to the FWP fisheries biologist for the Bitterroot, Jason Lindstrom to get an idea how fish population are holding up in the river. Jason conducts annual fish population surveys to determine the health of our fishery. He reported that all trout populations in the Bitterroot are within long-term averages. Surprisingly, West Slope cutthroat trout populations are doing well. This is good news as many of us were concerned about the impact of last year's drought on native trout. Cutthroat are less tolerant to higher temps than non-native brown and rainbow trout. FWP is updating its fisheries management plan and there is talk of lowering the temperature threshold for hoot owl restrictions. Nothing has changed yet, but keep an eye out for notices from FWP this summer. As anglers we should practice good catch and release tactics to reduce stress and mortality on all our trout. These practices include, fishing with barbless hooks, minimize handling and time out of water for fish, stop fishing when water temperatures exceed 65 degrees, and never walk on or fish over spawning redds. FWP also conducts surveys on angling pressure, and as expected angler use continues to increase and reached a record high last year. This trend will probably continue into the foreseeable future. To reduce our impact and to preserve the resource and the experience please practice good etiquette while angling. Respect other anglers and landowners and try to give folks some space. Floaters, try to make contact with wade fishermen as you approach and ask if they would like you to float behind or in front of them. A friendly smile and wave can go along way and may even help you find out what fly is working. There wont be many good fishing options this weekend on the main river. If you venture out fish side channels and slower runs with nymph rigs. Tributaries are also running high but you may be able to find some better opportunities and solitude. Memorial Day isnt just a day off for barbecues, it is a time to honor those who have fallen in service to our nation to preserve our freedom. Have a great summer! Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A woman in West Virginia fatally shot a man who began firing an AR-15-style rifle into a crowd of people that had gathered for a party, authorities said. Dennis Butler, 37, was killed Wednesday night after he pulled out the rifle and began shooting at dozens of people attending the birthday-graduation party outside an apartment complex in the city of Charleston, police said in a statement. The woman, who was attending the party, drew a pistol and fired, killing Butler, the statement said. No one at the party was injured. "Instead of running from the threat, she engaged with the threat and saved several lives last night," Chief of Detectives Tony Hazelett told news outlets Thursday. Butler was at the apartment complex earlier in the evening in a vehicle and had been warned to slow down because children were playing, police said. They said he left, but returned later, parked in front of the complex and began firing. After fatally shooting Butler, the woman waited along with several witnesses for police to arrive, and all have cooperated with the investigation, authorities said. Hazelett said no charges would be filed against the woman. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Serving as a legislator before and after the state constitution was ratified in 1972 was recently discussed by a bipartisan panel at the Montana Historical Society. Then-Republican Bob Brown and Democrat Dorothy Bradley discussed the changes Thursday in a panel moderated by Democrat Evan Barrett. This was the last in a series of four discussions about the document that are now posted on the Historical Society's YouTube channel. There will be a larger celebration June 15-16 at the state Capitol of the historic event that has come to be known as "ConCon." The remaining delegates, their descendants, legal scholars, political luminaries, historians, ConCon staffers, policy experts and others are expected to attend. Barrett at Thursday's event called the constitution of 1972 "a watershed moment" for Montana. Bradley served eight sessions in the Legislature and had an unsuccessful run for governor. Brown served 13 sessions and served as secretary of state and also had a unsuccessful run for governor. Barrett said the story actually began with the first Earth Day in 1970 at Montana State University, where Bradley and Brown met each other. They both decided to run for the Legislature and announced their filing together. Its always best to hear history from someone who has gone through it, Barrett said. Barrett said nearly 500 people ran for 100 delegate seats and were approved by voters. The delegates sat in alphabetical order, rather than by party, which observers now say was a very smart move. The 1972 document replaced the 1889 constitution drafted by the mining industry, when Copper King W.A. Clark had presided over the constitutional convention. Barrett said when Bradley and Brown returned to the Legislature in 1973, they had a new constitution to deal with. Bradley said it was a mixed blessing that the legislators could not run for the constitutional convention. She noticed she was the only woman in the House and in the ConCon, nearly 20% of the 100 delegates were women. I thought: Remember that. When you give people a chance to get into it, they will surface and jump in,'" Bradley said. "And every single one of them were great leaders. She urged people to read the state constitution. Pick it up. It is such good reading, Bradley said. She said the equality of sexes study and the commission on local government have been slightly forgotten, but remain big issues to her. The equality study says neither the government nor any private party can discriminate on the basis of gender, religion or culture. She says this was unique. This started a two-year interim study in the Legislature to take out reference to take bias out of Montana law. Bradley said Dale Harris, executive director of the Constitutional Convention, pushed through a rule that included options for local government. Those options include a charter or adopting some governing powers. How he got it through I will never know, she said. She said delegate Dorothy Eck of the League of Women Voters said the league was most concerned about open government and local government reform. Bradley remains surprised at the furor it caused. Brown said prior to the 1972 constitution that committee chairs would hold hearings in secret or keep certain members of the public and the media out. We just had to learn to catch as catch can, Brown said. He said there is a Right to Know provision in the constitution that says it is unconstitutional to not notice a committee hearing or prevent people from listening. That is one of the provisions that opened the door and let in the sunlight to Montana state government that did not exist until then, Brown said. Barrett said now there are openness rules that werent always there. They were asked if they had any second thoughts about the document. Brown said he did not have any concerns, but said the most controversial provision was a right to a clean environment. He said some companies, farmers and ranchers opposed this. Bradley was more deliberate in her answer. I have never thought the delegates fell short, ever, she said. She did say the right of privacy on the issue of choice is under scrutiny. They were also asked if the greatest threats to the constitution are the hints of lawmakers interested in amending it. There are good safeguards, they said. Brown said the far right has always been critical of the constitution. He said if people voted on it this year, passage would difficult. Brown said the anniversary provides an opportunity to see what a great document it is. He said it is about 12,000 words long and people should read it. Barrett said the biggest threat is there is a lack of knowledge of what is in the constitution. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The chief deputy of the Montana Attorney General's Office confirmed Friday she is in the process of leaving the post, but declined to comment further on the transition. Chief Deputy Attorney General Kris Hansen was named Attorney General Austin Knudsen's No. 2 over the Department of Justice in December 2020 before Knudsen took office the following month. Hansen was previously the deputy state auditor and chief legal counsel under then-State Auditor Matt Rosendale. Before that, she was a Republican lawmaker representing Havre at the state Legislature. She served for two sessions, in 2011 and 2013, in the state House, and spent another two sessions in the Senate in 2015 and 2017. Hansen confirmed in a brief phone call that she has "not fully" departed from the office but that the process is underway. She directed further questions to the Attorney General's spokesperson. A spokesperson with the Attorney General's Office said Friday Hansen was leaving "to attend to personal and family matters." The spokesperson did not respond to additional questions, including whether a replacement has been selected. Hansen was directly involved in a number of controversial episodes involving the Attorney General's Office last year, one of which drew an investigation by state lawmakers. In that case, Hansen took a call from the family of a former state Senate staffer who claimed a Helena hospital had cut off access to the family member who was sick with COVID-19. The patient was involved in Republican politics and a longtime member of local GOP groups. In response to the family's claims, which included saying the hospital denied the patient ivermectin, the Attorney General's Office dispatched a Montana Highway Patrol trooper to St. Peter's Hospital to speak with the family. Hospital officials said three public officials "harassed and threatened" its doctors. The Attorney General's Office has maintained Knudsen and Hansen did not threaten anyone. A subsequent legislative investigation found Hansen discussed "legal ramifications" with the patient's health care providers. Hansen also authored a defiant letter to the state Supreme Court at a critical moment in last year's conflict between Republicans and the judicial branch. At the time, the Attorney General's Office was representing the Senate Republicans, which sought to unearth Supreme Court records as it built up its own investigation into whether jurists were determining the constitutionality of legislation that would later be challenged in the courts. The Supreme Court quashed one of the Legislature's subpoenas to the state administration department ordering the release of the court administrator's emails. In her letter, Hansen called the court's order to quash the subpoena an "interference in the Legislature's investigation." "The Legislature does not recognize this court's order as binding and will not abide by it," Hansen wrote. Hansen is also a Montana National Guard veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-2009 and served a tour with the Central Intelligence Agency in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993-1994, according to the press release that announced her as Chief Deputy Attorney General in late 2020. Hansen was also previously secretary for the state GOP. Update: This article has been updated to include additional information from the Attorney General's Office about Hansen's departure. 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. Connie Uhre, 75, owner of the Grand Gateway Hotel, was arrested Friday afternoon on three counts of simple assault, Rapid City police announced Friday. Brendyn Medina, spokesperson with the department, said police responded to a call around 12:45 p.m. Friday at the Grand Gateway Hotel. Medina said police met with witnesses and reviewed video footage. After further investigation, Uhre was placed under arrest. He said the charges stem from her use of a cleaning chemical on individuals. In multiple videos from demonstrators at the NDN Collective picket line boycott event, Uhre can be seen getting out of her vehicle in the Grand Gateway parking lot and spraying at least three demonstrators with Pledge, a cleaning spray. At least one demonstrator was sprayed directly in the face. In one of the videos, Uhre tells the Native American demonstrators that the spray substance is "bug spray." After she gets back into her vehicle, one of the demonstrators said, "Maybe one day you'll love our people." Uhre can be heard saying, "I do love your people. Not the bad ones." Members of NDN Collective have conducted demonstrations three times a week for the last six weeks against all Uhre-owned properties following Uhre's comments on Facebook stating Native Americans were banned from the hotel, along with Cheers Lounge. The Uhres also own The Foothills Inn. Uhre's comments were made following a shooting at the hotel March 19 that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Myron Pourier. Quincy Bear Robe, 19, faces a second-degree murder charge in state court for Pourier's death. NDN Collective released a statement stating Uhre attacked Sunny Red Bear, the collective's racial equity director. "This is what we mean when we say that white supremacy is violent," Red Bear said in the statement. "No matter how long they lie dormant, peoples racist worldviews eventually come out in their actions." Red Bear said she hopes people will begin to understand and believe when people say how dangerous and real racism is. NDN Collective President and CEO Nick Tilsen said Uhre's behavior was not only racist, violent and disgusting, but also illegal. He said the incident will be added to the federal civil rights lawsuit the collective filed in March. "We now call upon the Department of Justice to intervene and hold Connie Uhre and the Grand Gateway Hotel accountable for these racist and illegal acts against our people," he said. "It requires aggressive action to dismantle white supremacy. Everybody in this community should be outraged. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The use of artificial intelligence in the workplace has been at the center of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions recent guidance on The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Use of Software, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence to Assess Job Applicants and Employees. The guidance can help employers understand the ADA requirements when using AI in employment-related decision-making, and can also help applicants and employees in understanding how to address disability-related concerns when applying for jobs or promotions. Employers have implemented a variety of software programs in the recruitment process such as automatic resume-screening software, hiring software, chatbot software for hiring and workflow, video interviewing software, analytics software, employee monitoring software, and worker management software. The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. The federal law covers employers with 15 or more employees, but Virginia state law covers those with more than five employees. The EEOC has a broad definition of disability, but generally it can include a physical or mental impairment. Even if an employer uses a third party to administer its algorithmic decision-making, the employer can still be responsible for violating the ADA if the software discriminates against a person with a disability. While the ADA prohibits disability-related inquiries prior to an offer of employment, the employer can provide applicants with information that reasonable accommodations are available to them. For example, if a hiring process includes a video interview, the employer or software vendor may tell applicants that the job application process will involve a video interview and provide a way to request a reasonable accommodation. If an applicant requests a reasonable accommodation, the employer needs to respond promptly and provide a reasonable accommodation, unless doing so would involve significant difficulty or expense. Mere inconvenience is not enough to show undue hardship. For example, some employers use a knowledge test software that tracks timing, but an applicant may have limited mobility making it difficult to use a keyboard. The EEOC stated, In this situation, the employer would need to provide an accessible version of the test (for example, one in which the applicant is able to provide responses orally, rather than manually) as a reasonable accommodation, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. If it is not possible to make the test accessible, the ADA requires the employer to consider providing an alternative test of the applicants knowledge as a reasonable accommodation, barring undue hardship. Any medical information collected in connection with the reasonable accommodation request must be kept separate from the applicant or employees personnel file. Employers also need to be cautious about screen out algorithms. Screen out is unlawful if the individual who is screened out is able to perform the essential functions of the job with a reasonable accommodation. For example, employers may use a video chatbox that analyzes applicants speech patterns to reach conclusions about their ability to solve problems, but it will not likely score an applicant fairly if the applicant has a speech impediment that causes significant differences in speech patterns. The EEOC also cautioned against gamified tests, which use video games to measure abilities, personality traits and other qualities, to assess applicants and employees. The EEOC said, If a business requires a 90 percent score on a gamified assessment of memory, an applicant who is blind and therefore cannot play these particular games would not be able to score 90 percent on the assessment and would be rejected. But the applicant still might have a very good memory and be perfectly able to perform the essential functions of a job that requires a good memory. This is true even if the test has been validated. Employers who use vendors should inquire whether the tool was developed with individuals with disabilities in mind, including whether the tool could require disclosure of medical information, whether the interface is accessible, whether there are alternative formats and what efforts the vendor has made to make sure the algorithm does not disadvantage individuals with disabilities. In addition to the inquiry, employers should consider disability-related issues in implementation. The EEOC suggests: clearly indicating that reasonable accommodations, including alternative formats and alternative tests, are available to people with disabilities; providing clear instructions for requesting reasonable accommodations; and in advance of the assessment, providing all job applicants and employees who are undergoing assessment by the algorithmic decision-making tool with as much information about the tool as possible, including information about which traits or characteristics the tool is designed to measure, the methods by which those traits or characteristics are to be measured, and the disabilities, if any, that might potentially lower the assessment results or cause screen out. Employers should make sure that anyone involved in the process understand the ADA and how to evaluate reasonable accommodation requests. As the nation reels from the murder of at least 19 elementary schoolers and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, robbing them of their lives and educational journeys, Richmond-area high school graduates are entering a new chapter of their lives, whether continuing their education, beginning their career or joining the military. While high school graduations have looked different in the past few years because of the coronavirus pandemic, traditions remain true, including honoring the top students of each graduating class. The Richmond Times-Dispatch spoke with four area valedictorians, all of whom will attend college in Virginia. Two aspire to join the medical field, one wants to become a lawyer, and another, a clinical psychologist. Richmond-area graduations kicked off on Monday, as all of Chesterfield Countys graduates received their diplomas last week. Richmond, Hanover and Henrico public schools graduate in June. (At the time of publication, Henrico County Public Schools did not provide information for the districts 2022 valedictorians.) *** Damarious Banks, 18, Richmond Public Schools Armstrong High School valedictorian, will attend Norfolk State University. Most of the women in Damarious Banks family are nurses. His passion for nursing began through his family. After graduating from Armstrong High School next month, Banks will continue his education with a full-ride academic scholarship at Norfolk State University, where he will study nursing. Upon graduating, he will attend graduate school to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. Banks, who first wanted to become a doctor, decided he didnt want to go down that vigorous path. However, he still wants to practice medicine and work with kids. As a first-generation college student, attending a historically Black college or university was of the utmost importance to Banks. Black excellence and having a sense of family at college drove his decision to attend an HBCU, as well as the presence of a marching band. From a young age, Banks has enjoyed music. His grandma first tried to teach him the piano, but Banks had no interest. He ultimately decided to play the trumpet to follow in the footsteps of his father. His dad, who attended John Marshall High School, was in the schools band during his freshman and sophomore years. Banks loved playing the trumpet from the start. And once he learned of the marching band, his interest in music only grew more. From middle school to high school when I heard the marching band, I was like, ITS the marching band, Banks said. In writing his valedictorian speech, his main focus was to let his fellow classmates know that anything is possible and that they can come back from anything. I like to call us the class of reconstruction, Banks said. We are the first class to come back into the building [since COVID began]. We are the first to show that anything is possible. We came back into this building from a virtual world. This summer, through the Partnership for the Future program, Banks will intern at the Childrens Museum of Richmond. One day, Banks said, he will give back to Richmond, beginning with Armstrong High. He wants the excellence of Armstrong to be known, through creating his own foundation and creating a pipeline between the high school and Norfolk State. I wouldnt know who I would be without having my education, Banks said. Its always been my life, coming to school since I was young. Id do anything to succeed. *** Chesterfield County Public Schools Meadowbrook High School valedictorian Naldy Turcios, 18, will attend the University of Virginia. Naldy Turcios took a leap of faith when deciding on what her college major would be upon graduating from Meadowbrook High Schools International Baccalaureate Specialty Center as the 2022 valedictorian. A first-generation college student, Turcios went back and forth between choosing to major in something she loves or a major that might guarantee a good job. She ultimately followed her heart. Turcios will study political science at the University of Virginia. Turcios said she thought UVA was the right place to pursue the rest of my education because of the opportunities it offers and its academically challenging so I know that I would grow in that environment, too. Turcios added that being able to follow her dreams of studying political science while receiving financial aid to attend college has been a blessing for her and her mom. After graduating from college, Turcios plans to attend law school. While she hasnt decided exactly what type of law she wants to pursue, she has a couple of ideas, including immigration law. Having seen friends parents being deported, Turcios said, those personal experiences will drive her passion to help others in the same situations. I have a very hard time speaking for myself sometimes, I get nervous, she said. But one thing I noticed about myself is that when Im speaking up for somebody else, I get all this profound new confidence and I like helping other people. I like knowing that I can be a voice for them. As a young child, Turcios lived in Guatemala for four years. She came back to the United States when she was 9 years old. When she came to Chesterfield, she was held back a grade level because she didnt know English. While Turcios received a lot of support in the third grade, she also faced discrimination. She remembers being one of only two Hispanic girls in her third-grade class, and a fellow student asked why she had moved to America if she couldnt speak English. I try not to let it get to me because you know, Im already here and I was born here, Turcios said. So it was kind of like, Where else would I go? Turcios ended up moving to another Chesterfield elementary school, and the support she had received at her first school stayed there. It was up to her to understand her teachers lessons while facing a language barrier. I went from being a top student in Guatemala to being a student that had no idea what was going on over here, Turcios said. And [for a period of time] it kind of took away my interest as far as in school. Becoming valedictorian was a bit unexpected for Turcios, as it was never her goal. Her drive and inspiration to achieve good grades was not for the honor, rather to receive merit scholarships for college. Being able to receive an education has really given me the foundation to advance in life, Turcios said. I feel very blessed that I have been able to finish high school and I have the opportunity to attend college. When I was in Guatemala, even if you were ever to go and visit, once you get to the airport, youre going to see kids as young as probably 5 either selling lollipops or newspapers outside [to help earn money for their families], she added. Kids dont really have the chance to keep furthering their education. During her schools graduation ceremony, Turcios took the time to notice how happy all of her peers were to be graduating. Parents were shouting from the stands in celebration, because they were so proud of their children. Attending Meadowbrook High allowed Turcios to see the world in completely different lenses. The schools rich diversity exposed Turcios to different cultures and ethnicities, but also allowed her to learn the stories of her classmates, their struggles and how they persevered. Being a Meadowbrook graduate to Turcios means, Im more educated, not just in the sense of books, but Im also educated in life. In her advice to her peers, she said not to give up after facing an obstacle. Its important to know that the path to success is not one straight line. Sometimes things will not work out the way you expect it to and it might bring you down, but dont lose sight of what you want. Before leaving for college, Turcios plans to find a summer job while taking an online summer program with UVA. As her mothers translator, Turcios will take the summer to help her mom prepare to live apart and be ready for any language-barrier difficulties that may come. *** Ellie Cook, 18, valedictorian of Mechanicsville High School in Hanover County, will attend the University of Virginia. Ever since she was young, Ellie Cook has found a lot of pride and confidence in receiving good grades. Its something thats always motivated me, Cook said. I love the feeling of putting in a lot of work and seeing the results from that. At her high school graduation next month, she will be honored as the top of her class, as the valedictorian. In preparing her speech, she spoke with some of her favorite teachers, who greatly impacted her time at Mechanicsville High. Cooks speech includes Spanish teacher and National Honor Society sponsor Meilin Jao, who has become a mentor to Cook by helping her increase her confidence, especially with public speaking. I also included my own advice as well. We dont have to have our path figured out right now, we have the time to find that and to be confident that we will find our path at some point, Cook said. During her sophomore year, Cook took an Advanced Placement psychology class and loved it. The incoming University of Virginia student said she has a natural ability to talk to others and provide advice when needed. While her AP psychology class helped shape her goal to become a clinical psychologist, Cooks favorite class in high school was her two-year International Baccalaureate History of Americas. The class thoroughly covered a couple of topics, including authoritarian states. Cook found the courses structure of spending considerable time on each topic interesting. Having danced since the age of 4 and being a member of 804 Dance Place in Ashland, Cook would like to join a dance club in college. She also wants to join clubs centered in volunteering and community service. *** Richmond Public Schools Open High School valedictorian Sanaa Hayes, 18, will attend The College of William & Mary. Always drawn to mathematics and sciences, upon graduating from Open High, Sanaa Hayes will major in biology under a pre-med track at The College of William & Mary. She plans to attend medical school and study oncology. Seeing her grandmother battle and beat breast cancer has influenced Hayes to eventually work with cancer patients. Attending college is not new for Hayes. At Open High, Hayes participated in the early college academy program. She took a majority of her classes during her final two years of high school at Reynolds Community College. Hayes received an associates degree in social sciences from Reynolds before formally graduating from high school. Graduating from Reynolds is her favorite high school memory. For her upcoming Open High graduation, in her valedictorian speech, Hayes is going to tell her classmates that despite the hard times that they may face, they can all be successful. Of course weve been through a lot of hard times and theres more hard times that will eventually come in our future. Theres always people you can depend on ... that youre not alone, Hayes said. They [her peers] can be successful in whatever theyre doing, whether theyre going to college or whether theyre joining the workforce or anything like that. While juggling being both a high school and college student, Hayes balanced multiple jobs babysitting, tutoring classmates and younger students, and being a shift leader at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. This summer, through the Partnership for the Future program, Hayes will intern at the Science Museum of Virginia for the second summer, while still working at Tropical Smoothie. During her internship last summer, Hayes spent a lot of time talking to guests about the museums dinosaur exhibit. She enjoyed playing with kids and telling them all about dinosaurs. Some kids knew more things about dinosaurs than I did, Hayes said with a laugh. At William & Mary, Hayes is interested in joining the minorities in medicine club and maybe the birdwatching club. While birdwatching is not a regular part of her routine, Hayes is excited to venture out and try new things. By Darcy N. Bryan As a California obstetrician, I never interacted with nurse midwives, and could only nod my head in agreement when my colleagues voiced leeriness about working with them. After all, the buck stops with the doc, and we feared midwives clinical decisions would lead to traumatic deliveries and bad outcomes. Id heard the cautionary tales about messy transfers from birthing centers confronting the on-call OB. Now that Ive moved to Florida and shared 24-hour calls in hospital labor and delivery units with midwives the types of shifts that leave us both rumpled and bleary-eyed I have come to respect, depend on and celebrate these amazing professionals, along with the unique powers and perspectives they bring to obstetrics. Having spent most of my professional life as a doctor, caring for women and delivering their babies, why did it take so long for me to learn that, in most cases, midwives provide legitimate and valuable care? Ultimately, it boils down to the United States health care system and how fragmented, expensive, and even harmful it sometimes can be for new moms and newborns. The U.S. has the dubious distinction of ranking 60th in the world in maternal survival after childbirth. Its the only developed nation with rising maternal mortality rates. U.S. childbirth is highly medicalized and often strips women of autonomy, respect and a sense of connectedness with the birthing process. Visits to the doctor are brief and usually interventional, consisting of ordering lab work, ultrasounds and monitoring. There is minimal time for counseling and the nurturing care that a scared mom so often needs. The midwife model of obstetrical care and the birthing centers where midwives often practice have a different, more holistic approach. The focus is communal and relational, with more emphasis on well-being and psychosocial support. Community birth center deliveries typically are one-half to one-third the cost of hospital births. A 2016 Cochrane review, among many other studies, shows midwives provide high-quality, affordable obstetrical care for low-risk pregnancies; and their management of pregnancy often leads to fewer episiotomies, instrumental births and cesarean section deliveries. Clearly, midwives are getting some important things right. What prevents this high-quality, high-value approach to obstetrics from being ubiquitous in the U.S., as it is in England and other developed countries? Its Americas regulatory and third-party-payer environment. Strong evidence supports interprofessional, collaborative practice models between doctors and hospitals, and nurse midwives and community birthing centers. However, U.S. birth centers where midwives work often are forced to operate in isolation, with variable quality and accreditation. The midwife-birth center model of care is hard to effectively expand across the country, primarily due to a lack of supportive state policies, overly strict limitations to which tasks midwives can perform, and barriers to adequate reimbursement for obstetrical services. In some states, midwife-attended births are as low as 0.4%. Most women with low-risk pregnancies have little alternative to delivery in the expensive, medicalized environment of the hospital. How might women in the U.S. have more choice over the management of their pregnancies and receive less expensive care? The first step is fostering professional collegiality between physicians and nurse midwives. Each bring something complementary to the table. Midwives, obstetricians and practice administrators must come together in their professional organizations, and reach consensus on national guidelines ensuring the best evidence-based care with respect to hospital and birth center deliveries. Community birth centers and hospitals also need to establish collaboration agreements, facilitating transfer to higher-order obstetrical care in the rare case of an emergency. Additionally, state laws need to be made more favorable to autonomous practice by nurse midwives. We must remove unnecessary restrictions on the services they provide restrictions that in turn lead to higher costs for new mothers and the loss of continuity of care throughout pregnancies. Birth centers also should be exempted from certificate-of-need laws a proven failure of a state policy that significantly reduces the emergence of new birth centers into the market. Women suffer from a lack of options when it comes to obstetrical care. Often, they pay too much and get too little in terms of quality, value and personal care. Supporting the nurse midwife and community birth center model of care for low-risk pregnancies, and allowing it to better integrate with our doctors and hospitals, will give women the freedom of choice they deserve. Earlier this month, we honored and celebrated the class of 2022 at Marymount University through our 71st annual commencement ceremonies. These graduates have had quite the journey starting their higher education in a much simpler time, experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic in the middle of their collegiate studies, and now graduating and embarking on their future careers when life is starting to feel just a little more normal once again. They are leaving campus and entering the real world at an unprecedented time in history. No matter what happens next in regard to COVID-19, our nation and the world have reached a pivotal point. Domestically, we as Americans seem to be more divided than ever as increasing political polarization continues to threaten the very nature and existence of our democracy. Internationally, we have watched as an aggressive and unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked a conflict, resulting in the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. But as the late Desmond Tutu said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. And we see that light through the Ukrainian people. In the United States, we always have had freedom, and we sometimes might take it for granted. But now, we are seeing how Ukrainians are willing to give up their lives in defense of their homeland and their hard-earned freedoms. Their courageousness and steadfastness against overwhelming odds has been nothing short of inspirational. This resonates with me because of my own familys escape from Cuba. We, too, were going to lose our freedom and possibly our lives because of Fidel Castros revolution. When I was just 8 months old, I fled with my family to Puerto Rico and we faced many challenges. However, we found freedom once again, and thats a feeling we never wanted to give up. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to petition not everyone in the world is lucky enough to have access to these fundamental rights. But we do, and after receiving a values-based education, the class of 2022 is ready to go out into the world as compassionate leaders and protectors of freedom in whatever fields they choose. In my own experience, I have learned that compassionate leaders must always try to walk in the shoes of others to better understand what they are experiencing at a much deeper level. They also must take action to bring about real and lasting change by tapping into their wisdom and the wisdom of others using their collective resources to change minds, reverse unjust policies and raise the consciousness of others. Finally, they need to understand how to motivate others to succeed in meeting goals. At higher education institutions across the country, it is our duty to prepare the next generation to be effective as compassionate leaders. Members of this graduating class also have been prepared to lead through circumstances outside our direct control, as they have been resilient in the face of COVID-19. Theyve adapted to all of the changing conditions, shown up to class against a backdrop of uncertainty, while all the way supporting themselves and each other. Despite the pandemics disproportionate impacts on so many groups of people, they still managed to excel in the classroom, in their internships and in their extracurricular activities. There were so many questions we all had about the pandemic when it started: How long will this last? How long would it take to find a vaccine? When can life be normal again? As we traversed the pandemic together, we had to collectively discover what was needed to reach a day like commencement. Members of the class of 2022 were tested in their subjects of study, while being tested by the pandemic and they succeeded. Their resilience has been an inspiration for the rest of us, and they are the hope for our future. Direct hurricane landfalls are not common in Virginia. We certainly get the impacts from hurricanes, no matter where they make landfall. Because the Atlantic coastline at Virginia Beach tilts westward with respect to the Atlantic Ocean, direct landfalls are statistically more difficult in Virginia compared to other locations along the Atlantic coast. Tropical systems usually approach from the south or the southeast, meaning North Carolina typically gets the impacts before Virginia. These climatological tracks also give Norfolk a modest advantage, since the entrance to the Elizabeth River is from the north, rather than the south. Even so, a storm approaching from the southeast could still send a surge of water up the Chesapeake Bay and the tidal locations of the James and York rivers. As Sandy proved along the East Coast in 2012, unusual tracks are not impossible tracks, and the impacts of a major hurricane directly on Virginia would be devastating. Among the largest challenges facing Virginia ahead of a major hurricane would be the evacuation of metropolitan Hampton Roads. Upward of 400,000 people would need to be evacuated, and while there are several roads that lead away from the coast, there is only one interstate. Several years ago, a plan was put into place to reverse the eastbound lanes on Interstate 64 if a large-scale evacuation were needed. Perhaps youve seen some of the gates along the on-ramps if you have driven down that stretch of the highway. The plan has never been used, but it is tested regularly. The impacts of such an evacuation would be felt in Richmond, as huge volumes of traffic would be coming into metro Richmond from the east. Logistically, a full-lane reversal is more than just dropping a few gates like the regular reversal of the HOV lanes along Interstate 95 between Fredericksburg and Washington. If a major hurricane approaches, the decision to initiate the reversal would come from the governors office, and a series of events would be put into motion. The eastbound on-ramps to I-64 would be closed by manually bringing down the gates, with Virginia State Police remaining on site to ensure no one drives around the barriers. Once closed, state police would drive on the reversed lanes to be certain they are cleared of eastbound traffic, and they would lead the initial round of traffic traveling westward on the normally eastbound lanes. The reversal is highly structured, beginning in Norfolk, and very close to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. Traffic that is already in the westbound lanes in Norfolk would be directed to cross into the eastbound lanes before accessing the tunnel. Crucially, the westbound lanes would remain accessible from all locations along the interstate, but traffic that migrated to the reversed lanes would be able to exit in only two places before getting to Richmond Williamsburg and Bottoms Bridge. Effectively, the reversed lanes become true express lanes, with only two ways off for 70 miles. For logistical reasons, if drivers exited those reversed lanes at one of those two points, they could not re-enter them. Instead, they would have to rejoin the regular westbound lanes. The reversal ends where I-64 meets Interstate 295 on the east side of Richmond. Traffic in the regular westbound lanes would be forced to exit onto I-295. This allows the traffic in the reversed lanes to migrate back to the regular westbound lanes, where there is already a paved crossover in place. Regarding how long this would continue, the reversal plan would end before tropical storm force winds are forecast to reach Virginias coast. This allows emergency personnel enough time to restore the lanes and seek shelter for themselves. Of course, human behavior is a difficult thing to predict. Knowing how many people would actually use the lanes is a large source of uncertainty. VDOT conducts regular drills, called Table Top Exercises, to test the logistics of the reversal plan. Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management are involved with the drills, which are deliberately labor-intensive. In their most recent drill on May 11, the largest complication was communications, to be certain everyone involved is able to remain in contact. For example, a secure radio channel is required, as traditional mobile communications would likely be overwhelmed. The drills are also necessary because turnover has become an issue. Nearly half of the Virginia Department of Transportation field workers have been with VDOT for less than 2 years, having almost no prior knowledge of the I-64 reversal plans. But the drill gave VDOT the results it expected, and according to Mark Irving, the VDOT Central Region incident management coordinator, there were no big surprises, and all involved in the process recognized the many issues that may arise when these operations should be put in place. Hopefully, it does not have to be put into place. But it is good to know there is a plan. DANVILLE The Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill came close to landing a $5.5 billion Hyundai electric vehicle manufacturing plant recently, according to local officials. The 3,500-acre park was one of the top two sites in the country considered by the South Korea-based automobile manufacturer, said Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville. The project would have brought about 8,500 jobs to the Dan River Region, he said. But the company chose to locate at a site in Bryan County, Georgia, near Savannah, The Associated Press reported May 20. At one point, the company was looking at sites in 10 states, Marshall said Friday. The project was probably the largest that Berry Hill, and the closest the region has gotten to attract such a large endeavor, he said. We were told this would have been the largest economic development project in rural U.S.A., Marshall said. Georgias governor called the Hyundais plans the largest economic development project in the states history, the AP reported. Hyundai said it plans to employ at least 8,100 workers at the Georgia plant, where it will assemble electric vehicles as well as vehicle batteries, according to the AP. State and local officials in Georgia had bought a tract for $61 million last year in hopes of luring a major manufacturer. The state of Georgia and partner local governments bought 2,200 acres in Bryan County a year ago to lure a large manufacturer but the site wasnt large enough for Hyundai, so the state and its partners purchased two additional neighboring tracts to expand the site to more than 2,900 acres, according to the AP. Hyundai is expected to begin construction early next year and begin making up to 300,000 vehicles per year starting in 2025, the AP reported. The company and state officials said they expect suppliers to invest an additional $1 billion in the area, according to the AP. Hyundai Motor Group sells cars under the Hyundai and Kia brands. The South Korean automaker already operates two American assembly plants in Montgomery, Alabama, and in West Point, Georgia. Economic development officials in Danville and Pittsylvania County would not confirm that Hyundai was considering locating at the park, but did say Berry Hill was eyed for a major project. The final decision was an extremely close call, said Danville Economic Development Director Corrie T. Bobe. The mega site in southwestern Pittsylvania County is owned by the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, a joint entity that purchases property with taxpayer money for economic development projects. Bobe congratulated Georgia for winning the project and added that the Dan River Region has invested heavily in development of the mega site. It is at the point that it is incredibly attractive to high-impact projects, Bobe said. Pittsylvania County Economic Development Director Matt Rowe said, This is a very hugely competitive site. its always in consideration for transformative projects. Marshall said there was a lot of discussion back and forth between Gov. Glenn Youngkin, state and local officials, and Hyundai representatives. Bobe and Rowe gave a presentation on the Berry Hill mega site to the companys executives, Marshall added, praising Bobes and Rowes skills. Any citizen who would sit there and listen would be very proud of them for how well-researched they were about the company, Marshall said of Bobe and Rowe. He also credited the work of Linda Green, executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. Other officials involved in discussions were state Sen. Frank Ruff and Dan Pleasant, chair of the board of directors for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Georgia edged out the mega site because the Bryan County location was further along its site grading than Berry Hill, Marshall said. Were going to put more money into the site so we can have a larger area graded so that will not be a problem in the future, Marshall said. Rowe said everything was fairly equal in the site selection process. We certainly appreciate Danny being supportive in getting more money for the mega site, Rowe said. Green added that weve had bipartisan and bicameral agreement on the importance of mega site funding and mega site development. The Dan River Region and localities in a 60-mile radius of the area would provide plenty of workers for an 8,000-plus-job project, Rowe said. The area including Greensboro and Rockingham County, North Carolina, in addition to Danville and Pittsylvania County, would provide about 500,000 laborers, Rowe said. Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as Roanoke and Lynchburg would also bring workers, he added. There is a significant workforce here, Green said. Also, the region is heavily investing in creating a workforce pipeline from middle school to high school and to community college and beyond, Bobe said. We are in close proximity to a large number of colleges and universities and research-and-development institutions for attracting large manufacturers, she said. Those who knew Salem native and naval rescue swimmer James Buriak spent Memorial Day weekend trying to do what he would have done: help others. Its about...sharing Jimmys story, which is giving back to the community, wanting to be part of something bigger than himself and just trying to honor his wishes, Megan Buriak, James wife said on Saturday afternoon at the AWS1 James Buriak Foundation fundraiser held at Olde Salem Brewing Co. in Salem. Started by Megan, the foundation supports the families of Navy and Marine Corps members who, like James Buriak, pass away in a Navy or Marine Corps aviation mishap. Megans friends and family members were there, too not just for the fundraiser, but to remember James life. Jimmy was just an overall amazing human, said Rebecca Hardin, the wife of James Buriaks best friend. Hardin met Buriak while he lived across the road from her husband in the Virginia Beach area. I felt like a protective older sister, Hardin said. ...He was funny, just full of life. ... He was very self-reflective. Megan Buriak said many of the same things that James was easygoing and a loving father. Helping others mattered deeply to him and his decision to be a Naval rescue swimmer reflected that, as well as his enthusiasm as an athlete. In August, James Buriak and four others died in a Naval helicopter crash off the coast of San Diego, where he, Megan and their son, Caulder, lived. The crash occurred on the way back from a training mission and was the result of mechanical failure. Essentially when he died I took out a notebook and started writing all of the things that were concerning to me, Megan said. Most military families live paycheck to paycheck. Things like the crash that took James life dont happen often, Megan said, but they are devastating when they do. A claim for James life insurance policy was denied thanks to a clause excluding non-airfare-paying air crash deaths from coverage and the couples assets were frozen for a period following James death, leaving Megan locked out of their bank accounts. The Tunnels to Towers Foundation paid off the mortgage on the Buriaks San Diego home and the $118,000 raised from a GoFundMe for the family will continue to support Megan and Caulder. Megan will also receive $500,000 over time from the U.S. Navy as part of a standard death benefit. All of that support came in later, though; in the days and weeks immediately after her husbands death, daily expenses were the most daunting. Megan Buriak had a strong support network but not everyone does, she said. Thats where the foundation will come in, to help families who end up in the same situation as Megan and Caulder. Were the stopgap between when the service members paycheck stops and those death benefits kick in, which can take...weeks, Megan said. For families with children ages 13 or younger, the Foundation will provide 30 days of child care, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food. The foundation also does 14 days of groceries for all families, whether or not they have children. Megan and Caulder live in San Diego, but the nonprofit is coast to coast, Megan said. Its still in its infancy, though, and needs to build up funds before its ready to assist future families hence Jimmy Fest, a series of Salem area fundraisers held in the week leading up to Memorial Day. We want Jimmy Fest to a reoccurring annual event here in Salem and Roanoke ... over Memorial Day week, Megan said. Its what James would have wanted, Megan said, and keeping his memory alive keeps him alive. Those interested in supporting the foundation can do so online at theaws1jamesburiakfoundation.org. People may also visit gofundme.com/f/families-of-the-navy-helicopter-crash to directly support the families of all five service members who passed away in August. 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 National Weather Service office in Blacksburg has confirmed that Friday mornings storm damage in eastern Bedford County was caused by a tornado with winds up to 135 mph. The tornado, on the ground for 6.25 miles with a width up to 330 yards, was rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale following a Saturday storm survey by weather service personnel. Tornadoes are rated on the scale from 0 for the weakest, barely lifting shingles off houses, to 5 at the strongest, sweeping well-constructed homes off their foundations. The 135-mph estimated strongest winds of this tornado put it near the middle of the EF-2 range. The weather service, in a Saturday evening statement, said it inspected damage from near the Norwood community north-northeast across U.S. 221 to Bethany Church Road and Langford Lane, then northeast to just west of the Ivy Hill Golf Course and then north to the western slopes of Fleming Mountain. The worst damage occurred in the Bethany Church Road-Langford Lane area, the weather service said, with the outer wall of one house and two mobile homes destroyed there. The weather service reported a total of 15 residences with at least some damage, plus 35 other structures such as sheds and outbuildings damaged. Two people suffered minor injuries in the tornado, officials said. No additional thunderstorms are expected in the region until the latter part of next week, as hot, dry weather returns with highs topping 90 in the Roanoke and Lynchburg areas in the early to middle part of the coming week. Contact Kevin Myatt at kevin.myatt@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter @kevinmyattwx . 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. FOREST A violent storm Friday morning destroyed or damaged numerous structures and downed trees and power lines in a roughly 2.4-square mile area of Bedford County, but officials reported no fatalities and few injuries. The storm peeled roofs off homes and left a trail of debris in its wake in the Crockett Road area of Goode, just a few miles west of Jefferson Forest High School. While the storm prompted tornado warnings, official confirmation of a tornado is pending an evaluation by the National Weather Service. Two people suffered minor injuries, according to a Bedford County news release. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management assessed 50 structures in the Crockett Road area and determined 15 received varying levels of damage, according to the release. Of those 15, three were destroyed. Earlier in the day, county officials had estimated about 45 structures were damaged. No one was found during search-and-rescue operations, and officials received no reports of missing people. At about 7:15 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning urging people to seek shelter after severe thunderstorms made their way through the Lynchburg area. The first calls reporting damage came in at 7:43 a.m., according to Monty Coleman, chief of the Forest Volunteer Fire Department. I was the first arriving fire responder and the sheriffs office had a unit already here when I arrived. Upon my arrival here was basically catastrophic damage in the immediate area at the intersections from where there was one structure that was completely gone, there was trees down around a house and the house had significant damage to it. We were met with high wind and rain still happening at that time and lightning. Our crews just immediately started that rescue mode, which is what theyre trained to do, Coleman said. When we got here you know, its something you see on TV out in the Midwest all the time; you really dont expect it out here in the mountain region of our county. Patricia Spruce has lived in a home along Bethany Church Circle, which is connected to Crockett Road, for 20 years and said she has never seen something like this. I heard a rumbling and I thought this tree was going to come through the bedroom, Spruce said. I just took off running and was heading to the bathtub. It blew the windows out of the house and everything. A large tree missed Spruces bedroom, situated on a front corner of her home, by less than a foot. We have a cat door to the laundry room for the cats and the suction was so bad it sucked that right out of the door, Spruce said. It sounded like a freight train; it even moved the posts on our house. Spruce and her husband were not injured during the storm but will have some home repairs and cleanup to take care of. Abby Johnson, deputy chief of operations for Bedford County Fire and Rescue, said multiple structures were catastrophic losses. They are down to the foundation surrounded by debris, so they are complete losses and a good portion of those have significant damage, Johnson said. The Bedford County Sheriffs Office, Virginia State Police, the Bedford Fire Department, Forest Volunteer Fire Department, and emergency crews from Campbell County and Lynchburg were on the scene. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Forestry Service and the American Red Cross also were assisting. A temporary shelter was set up at the Goode Fire and EMS Station, at 9261 Forest Road, to help residents and family members, but it was expected to close Friday evening. Residents still needing resources were asked to call the American Red Cross at 1-855-891-7325. Elsewhere in the region, Amherst County Public Schools closed Friday due to rising water levels following the morning storms, according to a notice from the school system. The update came after secondary schools temporarily sheltered in place and the start of school initially was delayed for elementary schools before the closure announcement. As the weather cleared and the sun came out, residents of homes damaged and destroyed ventured out to check on their neighbors and begin clean up efforts. Travis Hostetter and his roommate, Anthony Mays, returned to their home situated on top of a hill that was leveled during the storm. Mays walked around the mangled home, holding his dachshund, Shadow, who suffered a broken leg in the chaos and was still groggy from the anesthesia. Nothing was left standing of the home that belonged to Hostetters grandmother, who passed away a few months ago, except a few inner walls. Hours later, Spruce had still not seen her four cats but was confident they were still in the home, just shaken and hiding. When search-and-rescue efforts concluded, the roads were cleared of fallen trees so power crews could move in to begin work on the power lines, lifting them off of the road and putting up new poles. As of 6 p.m. Friday, residents remained without power. Killing our future for no reason at all Perhaps this is how it all ends self-government, self-defense, self-control, liberty, unity, family. Perhaps the fate of the nation is to watch its soul die along with the at least 19 students and two adults shot to death Tuesday at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. This is us, the American people, on both sides of that gun and countless other guns on countless playgrounds, shopping centers, streets and homes, killing our children, ourselves and each other. Killing our future. This is who we are. This is what we have become. We can no longer send our children to school without pangs of anxiety that they will be in the line of fire in what ought to be havens of safety and learning. Nor can we find refuge in churches, mosques or synagogues, or in shopping centers, or at baby showers, picnics or parties. When we feel in danger, we get out our guns. Our guns put us in danger, so we get more. Abraham Lincoln, in his earliest known public address, said that the still-young United States could never be brought down by a foreign enemy. It was 1838, he was only 28, and the Civil War was still nearly a quarter-century into the future. But he was correct when he told his Lyceum audience that All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. No, any danger to the U.S. comes from within. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher, he said. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. He was president by the time the nation had its most serious brush with suicide over the question of whether freedom means some people have the liberty to buy, own and exploit others, or whether it instead means all must be free. The Civil War was straightforward, with a clear enemy even though it was ourselves that wore different uniforms and could be defeated on the battlefield. Now its not so simple. We are again our own enemies, but what are we killing ourselves for? We dont even know. We just keep getting our guns, loading them and pulling the trigger. We elect political leaders who promise action, but we never hold them accountable. In any case, the killings continue. This may be the suicide of which Lincoln spoke. This may be why we die, not for a great cause but for a loss of love and respect for one another and the dream that bound our forebears together. Los Angeles Times Disinformation boards failure was predestinedThe Disinformation Governance Board has been put on pause leaving skeptics of the new body within the Department of Homeland Security sighing with relief. The board was from the start too mired in controversy to perform its intended function. But its collapse is no cause for celebration. The rollout of the DGB was rife with mistakes. Its name was eerie enough (and its infelicitous initials close enough to KGB) to conjure the specter of an Orwellian Ministry of Truth, and details on the boards function were scarce enough to lead even those who might have otherwise supported it in concept to wonder about its effect on free expression. The American Civil Liberties Union, for instance, pointed out that any real enforcement authority for the DGB to direct the removal of information on the Internet would be unconstitutional. The ACLU was right: The DGB couldnt and didnt have any real enforcement authority. Instead, it was meant to be an internal coordinating body, given a mission to establish best practices for DHS in the work the agency is already doing to fight malign influence campaigns online. Whether the creation of the DGB was the most effective way to draw up these best practices which could range from offering tips on correcting false narratives through public messaging to advising agencies on how to monitor social media for disinformation without impinging on civil liberties was never clear. Yet this episode has shown how vulnerable the government is to the same types of campaign the DGB was supposed to help it fight. Some of the questions about the boards ambit were legitimate; worries about the perceived liberal bias of the woman picked to lead it, researcher Nina Jankowicz, while overblown, still merited consideration. But amid the legitimate criticisms arose a focused, aggressive right-wing effort to mislead citizens about the boards role, and to harass Ms. Jankowicz until she tendered her resignation. Those most at fault in this imbroglio, of course, are the actors who flooded the Web with lies, racism and misogyny. But DHSs own errors were a showcase in some of the worst practices for blunting disinformation: failing to anticipate how opportunists might exploit its odd name or vague mission to sow distrust, for instance, and then failing to mount a robust response as smears spread far and wide. These failures are the reason the DGB had to be, at least temporarily, dismantled. Theyre also a reason, however, that some version of the job it was designed to do remains necessary. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, the Biden administration has learned from this going forward. The Washington Post A gaffe or the truth?Former President George W. Bush wrote the book on Freudian slips. Or at least he provided the fodder for someone else to publish the paperback, Bushisms, highlighting a career laden with gaffes. Now in retirement, a softer-spoken, more introspective Bush is proving hes still capable of waking up his audiences with some presidential-quality zingers. Speaking in Dallas, Bush delivered what were supposed to be some hard-hitting criticisms of Russian leader Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. But what he actually said was that it was the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. Bush quickly corrected himself, joking, Iraq, too, anyway, and blamed the gaffe on his age (a relatively youthful 75 by todays White House standards). The U.S. invasion of Iraq has served as a legal justification for Putins action against Ukraine since the basis for the 2003 war was to root out weapons of mass destruction that didnt exist, much as non-existent Nazis in Ukraine justified the Russian invasion. St. Louis Post-Dispatch " " When it was built in 2006, the Miroir d'Eau was the world's largest reflecting pool. Geoffrey Gilson Photography/Moment Open/Getty Images Bordeaux, France, has long been known for its wine, but today, the city also draws tens of thousands of visitors annually with an attraction all ages can enjoy. Created in 2006, Bordeaux's Water Mirror or Miroir d'Eau for the French speaking is situated across from the Place de la Bourse, an 18th-century square that was commissioned by King Louis XV and faces the Garonne River. The penultimate king before the French Revolution might be pleased to learn that the Water Mirror, often with Place de la Bourse in the background, is currently the most-photographed site in Bordeaux, says the Bordeaux Tourism & Conventions. It's also listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Advertisement Sounds fascinating, but what exactly is a water mirror? It's like a reflecting pool in that it displays a reflection of the surrounding architecture. However, unlike the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, for example, which is between 18 and 30 inches deep (46 and 72 centimeters), a water mirror is shallow. Bordeaux's is just 2 centimeters, or not quite an inch, deep. Also unlike the Lincoln pool, Bordeaux's Water Mirror invites visitors to step in. On any given day, barefoot Bordelais and tourists young and old can be seen walking across the expanse. Toddlers like to roll around in it, and teens use it for filming a video of their latest dance routine. When it was launched, the Bordeaux Water Mirror was the largest reflecting pool in the world, with an area of 3,450 square meters (37,135 square feet), says Nicolas Corne, press relations officer at Bordeaux City Hall, in an email. " " A young French girl dances as the sun sets on Bordeaux's Water Mirror on June 24, 2018. David Silverman/Getty Images While the location today is one of photographable beauty, that wasn't the case a few decades ago. The site had been occupied by parking areas and industrial activity, creating a barrier to the quays of the Garonne, notes Stephane Llorca, managing director, JML Water Feature Design, the firm that handled the project. The city of Bordeaux, driven by Mayor Alain Juppe and the Communaute Urbaine des Bordeaux (CUB) inaugurated an ambitious plan to transform a vast area and reconnect the city with the river. "Upon his arrival in Bordeaux in 1995, the former mayor Alain Juppe launched several urban projects aimed at renovating the city and restoring its influence," explains Corne. "In particular, he chose to allow the people of Bordeaux to return to their Garonne River." In 1999, the CUB launched a competition among five teams of architects, and JML was the winning team. The mirror was part of the waterfront revitalization designed by landscape architect Michel Corajoud and architect Pierre Gangnet. Llorca says that inspiration for the concept came from Venice, Italy the acqua alta (high water) and the partial flooding of the Piazza San Marco. But unlike the Italian flooding, which can sometimes be significant, the Bordeaux water levels are kept closely in check. "The depth of the water was defined in order to ease public interaction" and maintain a "manageable volume of water," says Llorca. As the water cycles through the three experiences, it is constantly filtered and chemically treated. The concept is similar to a large closed-circuit swimming pool. Paved with granite, the Bordeaux Water Mirror took two years to construct. As incredible as the water mirror is to view from the surface, it's what's underneath that counts. The shallow pool of water is surrounded by a drain, and it has an underground reservoir of 800 cubic meters (28,252 cubic feet) that, thanks to its series of pumps, enables the mirror to progress through several continuous cycles. There are 15 minutes of a few centimeters of water followed by five minutes of stopped water flow and a wet surface, then five minutes of fog made possible by hundreds of nozzles specifically designed for this purpose. " " The water attraction has three cycles; this one showcases the fog setting. Tony Hisgett /Flickr, used under CC by 2.0 "The entire underground of the mirror is a technical room," states Llorca. "It is an old port warehouse that we have refurbished and is accommodating a large reservoir and all the mechanical and electrical systems." The water mirror is drained once a year, and its water is recycled for street cleaning. Although Bordeaux has mild winters average lows are in the upper 30s Fahrenheit (single digits in Celsius) the mirror's operation is halted for several weeks to avoid the risk of freezing. In the event of a big festival or concert, like the Bordeaux Fete le Fleuve, the water flow can be easily stopped, making it appear empty on the surface. Everything is controlled by computer, according to Corne. The Bordeaux mirror was the first of its kind, but it has inspired imitators in cities around the world. "The success of the water mirror in Bordeaux has precipitated a new trend in the public design realm," says Llorca. "It is now recognized as a 'standard.'" Now That's Interesting Although in pictures, the Bordeaux Water Mirror looks like it sits within the courtyard of the Place de la Bourse, it's actually located across the street along the river between Quai de la Douane and Quai Louis XVIII. " " The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector assembly in a tunnel of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), in Cessy, France. Nine years after the historic discovery of the Higgs boson, the world's largest particle accelerator is trying to find new particles that would explain, among other things, dark matter, one of the great enigmas of the universe. VALENTIN FLAURAUD/Getty Images What is about 200 times the mass of an electron, exists for about 2-millionths of a second, continually strikes every inch of Earth's surface, and seems to behave in a way that pokes a hole in long-accepted laws of physics? That would be the muon, a particle first discovered in the late 1930s, which is formed in nature when cosmic rays strike particles in our planet's atmosphere. Muons are passing through you and everything around you at a speed close to that of light. Nevertheless, many of us probably didn't even realize their existence until April 2021, when the particle made the news headlines after researchers at the U.S. government's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory more commonly known as Fermilab released the initial results of a three-year-long Muon g-2 experiment. Advertisement The Fermilab study confirmed previous findings that the muon behaves in a way that's contrary to the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the theoretical framework that aims to describe how reality works at the tiniest level. As this article in Science explains, muons which exist in a sea of other tiny particles and antiparticles that affect them actually are slightly more magnetic than the Standard Model would predict. That, in turn, points to the possible existence of other, still-unknown particles or forces. As one of the researchers, physicist Jason Bono, explained in a news release from his alma mater Florida International University, the team knew that if they confirmed the discrepancy in muons' magnetism, "we wouldn't know exactly what's causing it, but we would know it's something that we don't understand yet." The initial results, along with other recent particle research, could help build the case for a new physics that would replace the Standard Model. From Fermilab, here's a YouTube video explaining the results and their significance: "Muons are like electrons except 200 times heavier," explains Mark B. Wise, in an email interview. He's a professor of high energy physics at the California Institute of Technology and a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. (If that doesn't sufficiently impress you, he also served as a technical consultant on particle accelerators for the 2010 Hollywood film "Iron Man 2"). "According to Einstein's formula E=mc2, this means that muons at rest have greater energy than electrons," Wise says. "This allows them to decay to lighter particles while still conserving energy overall." Another key difference is that electrons are believed to be pretty close to immortal, but muons only exist for 2.2 millionths of a second, before they decay into an electron and two kinds of neutrinos, according to this U.S. Department of Energy primer on the particle. The muons that are constantly being created when cosmic rays strike particles in Earth's atmosphere travel astonishing distances in their brief existence, moving at close to the speed of light. They strike every inch of Earth's surface and pass through almost everything in their immediate path, potentially penetrating a mile or more into Earth's surface, according to DOE. " " The centerpiece of the Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab is a 50-foot-diameter (15-meter-diameter) superconducting magnetic storage ring, which sits in its detector hall amidst electronics racks, the muon beamline, and other equipment. The experiment operates at minus 450 degrees F (minus 232 degrees C) and studies the precession (or wobble) of muons as they travel through the magnetic field. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab Some have described muons as the key to understanding all subatomic particles, though Wise doesn't go quite that far. "In the search for physics beyond our present understanding you should study all particles," he says. "The muon has some advantages though. For example its anomalous magnetic moment is very precisely predicted which makes it more sensitive to new physics, beyond our present theory that would alter this prediction. At the same time it can be measured very precisely." Studying muons isn't a simple matter, though. Fermilab is using a 700-ton (635 metric ton) device containing three rings, each 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter, that was shipped by barge and truck to Illinois from its original home at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York a few years back. The device is capable of generating a magnetic field of 1.45 Tesla, approximately 30,000 times that of Earth's magnetic field. "It's fascinating that to study something so tiny and short-lived, they need these huge pieces of equipment," Wise explains. "When they are produced at high energy they travel almost at the speed of light and can travel a fair distance before they decay. So you might look for the evidence they leave in a detector." For example, since muons are charged particles, they can ionize the matter they pass through. The electrons that are produced by this ionization can be detected, according to Wise. " " A cosmic ray shower, c 1930s. This picture was taken by Carl Anderson (1905-1991), who discovered the muon and the positron. SSPL/Getty Images Wise says the Fermilab team's recent discover that the particle is slightly more magnetic than physicists expected is significant. "It disagrees with the present theories prediction for the muon magnetic moment (the present theory is usually called the Standard Model). So there is some new physics beyond that in our present theory that is present and changes the prediction for this quantity," Wise says Like many important discoveries, the Fermilab's finding raises more new questions, and there's much that scientists still want to know about the muon. "What is the new physics is the question it raises," Wise says. "There are also some other anomalies that are not explained in the [Standard Model] that involve muons. Are they all connected in some way?" Wise also sounds a note of caution about the Fermilab findings. "It may be there is some systematic effect in the experiment that is not understood and is impacting the interpretation of the measurement," he explains. "Similarly for the theory. So this anomaly could ultimately disappear. It is very important to check such things as much as is possible." Now That's Interesting As Fermilab physicist Chris Polly notes in this 2020 essay, every particle in the universe even in the deepest, most seemingly empty expanses of space is surrounded by an "entourage" of other particles, which continually "blink in and out of existence." Over the course of about five weeks, national, state and local news headlines have been flooded with stories of deaths related to senseless acts of violence involving guns. My mind is perplexed and my heart aches. On the heels of Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday, and Mothers Day, we should be celebrating high school and college graduations, but instead families are mourning the loss of loved ones, some not old enough to have had a care in the world and far too young to have died. I am appalled by the response, or lack thereof, of elected officials, civic leaders, and the community at large. I am equally disappointed in the faith community who has remained silent in the face of so much evil. Every now and then, when a shooting occurs, there will be a neighborhood prayer vigil or a peaceful protest march, but those are simply moments that produce no real movement because they lack momentum. In most instances, the events are one and done, although they are designed to serve as acts of solidarity, or a time to bring awareness to the issue. There are annual Stop the Violence events or days of remembrance like the one hosted by my family in honor of my baby brother who was murdered three years ago, but the impact is minimal. People show up, eat free food, listen to good music and hang out with good people, but nothing changes. People will march down the streets carrying banners and signs with messages demanding their solution to the issue be adopted. They will stand on the steps of government buildings in protest and they will stand in a neighbors yard to offer prayers, but the death tolls continue to rise. It seems as though we have become numb and can no longer feel the impact these occurrences, as though they are just mishaps, but a normal part of life. Gun violence is taking the nation by storm. Right here in Florence, South Carolina, over the course of just a few weeks, several young men lost their lives. In just the month of April, it seems the shootings wont stop. On April 12th, the news reported two Florence residents, both 27 years old, were killed after an altercation inside a car led to a gunfight. The weekend leading up to April 25 was labeled Bloody Weekend. On April 23rd, the news reported that a teenager was dead after a shooting early Saturday on Philadelphia Place in Florence, South Carolina. This shooting claimed the life of 17-year-old young man. On April 24, a 37-year-old Florence resident was shot and killed after refusing to give someone a ride. On this same weekend, an 11-year-old lost his life when he was fatally shot during a dispute between two men, both under the age of 40, in the Scranton area. This same weekend claimed the life of a 32-year-old Florentine, who also died after being shot. During this same weekend, a 17-year-old high school senior who was an all-around senior athlete at South Florence High School was killed during a shooting in Myrtle Beach. I am saddened by the occurrences of two mass shootings over this past week. This past Saturday, ten people were killed in a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. And, then on Tuesday, at least 19 students and 2 adults were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Senseless acts of gun violence completed by careless individuals continue to take this nation and the city and county of Florence, South Carolina, by storm! None of these persons died as a result of AIDS, diabetes, a heart attack or a stroke. They did not die as a result of a car accident, an accidental overdose or the use of any type of illicit or illegal drugs. They did not die as the result of an accident on the job or some type of criminal domestic violence, but all of these people died as a result of senseless acts of gun violence. So much death, but the community of faith has seemingly remained silent. We constantly call for institutional and individual responsibility and action from our national, state and local government officials and yes, there is work that they need to do. We call for the schools to be fair and equitable and to protect our children and yes, there is work that they need to do! But, where is the church, the community of faith? I believe the solution to this issue will be tribunal. The governmental (elected and appointed officials and entities have a role to play; our school system, the educators, guidance counselors and those in authority have a role to place; and the community of faith, too, has a responsibility. As a matter of fact, we should be leading the way. We cannot undo whats already been done, but we can change the trajectory of our future. What the world needs now is love! The answer is found in the good book I read daily. There is a passage that commands these words: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind Love your neighbor as yourself. The church/community of faith must exemplify this love and we must saturate our communities, our state and this great nation with it. Today, I encourage those who profess to be a part of the church/the community of faith to spread the love. I encourage readers to dig deep into your inner being and find the love of God within yourself. Dig past the pain. Work past the problems. Go beyond the hate and find the love that God has placed deep into your heart and obey the command to love. Gun laws have their place, but what the world needs now is LOVE! Michelle M. Law-Gordon is the pastor of Open Door Baptist Church and a lifelong member of New Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence. She is a member of the Morning News Faith & Values Advisory Board. Contact her and other board members at fvboard@florencenews.com. Helping to spread a federal sentencing "message" for a "corruption superspreader" | Main | "A Lost Chapter in Death Penalty History: Furman v. Georgia, Albert Camus, and the Normative Challenge to Capital Punishment" May 28, 2022 Supreme Court of Canada declares all LWOP sentences unconstitutional as "degrading in nature and thus intrinsically incompatible with human dignity" As this press article details, "Canadas supreme court has ruled that life sentences without the chance of parole are both cruel and unconstitutional, in a landmark decision that could give more than dozen mass killers who committed inherently despicable acts the faint hope of release in the future." Here is more from the press piece about Friday's ruling: The court unanimously determined on Friday that sentencing killers to lengthy prison terms with little hope of freedom risked bringing the administration of justice into disrepute. The closely watched case centred on the fate of Alexandre Bissonnette, the gunman who killed six worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City in 2017, but the courts decision will possibly have consequences for at least 18 others who are serving multiple life sentences. In Canada, those serving a life sentence for first-degree murder are eligible to apply for parole at 25 years. But in 2011, the Conservative government gave justices the ability to hand out consecutive sentences, rather than concurrent blocks of 25 years. In the case of Bissonnette, the 27-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder in 2018, after he entered the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City with a semi-automatic rifle and pistol, opening fire on worshippers. The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, called the act a terrorist attack. Drawing on the 2011 provision, Crown prosecutors asked a judge to impose a parole ineligibility period of 150 years, the harshest sentence ever handed down in Canada since the abolition of the death penalty. Prosecutors said Bissonnette should serve 25 consecutive years for each of the six people he murdered. The sentencing judge instead ruled Bissonnette would have the chance of parole at 40 years. That decision was overturned in 2020 by Quebecs court of appeal, which ruled unanimously that Bissonnette should have a chance of parole at 25 years. Bissonnette, now 32, will be eligible to apply for parole in his 50s. The ruling of the court applies retroactively to 2011 and could affect at least 18 others whose parole eligibility exceeds 25 years, even those who have exhausted their appeals. In some cases, people have been handed a 75-year wait period before being able to apply for parole.... Acknowledging the heinous crimes of those serving multiple life sentences, Chief Justice Richard Wagner wrote that the ruling must not be seen as devaluing the life of innocent victims. This appeal is not about the value of each human life, but rather about the limits on the states power to punish offenders, which, in a society founded on the rule of law, must be exercised in a manner consistent with the Constitution. The full ruling in R. v. Bissonnette, 2022 SCC 23 (Canada May 27, 2022), is available here. Here is just one of many notable passages: The objectives of denunciation and deterrence are not better served by the imposition of excessive sentences. Beyond a certain threshold, these objectives lose all of their functional value, especially when the sentence far exceeds human life expectancy. The imposition of excessive sentences that fulfil no function does nothing more than bring the administration of justice into disrepute and undermine public confidence in the rationality and fairness of the criminal justice system. A punishment that can never be carried out is contrary to the fundamental values of Canadian society. The effects of a sentence of imprisonment for life without a realistic possibility of parole support the conclusion that it is degrading in nature and thus intrinsically incompatible with human dignity. Offenders who have no realistic possibility of parole are deprived of any incentive to reform, and the psychological consequences flowing from this sentence are in some respects comparable to those experienced by inmates on death row, since only death will end their incarceration. For offenders who are sentenced to imprisonment for life without a realistic possibility of parole, the feeling of leading a monotonous, futile existence in isolation from their loved ones and from the outside world is very hard to tolerate, so much so that some prefer to put an end to their lives rather than die slowly and endure suffering that seems endless to them. Furthermore, in international and comparative law, a sentence that deprives offenders of any possibility of being released is generally considered to be incompatible with human dignity. To review, then, in Canada it is unconstitutional to impose functional life without parole sentences on even mass murderers, wheres in the United States many thousands of persons (and mostly persons of color) have been sentenced in recent decades to LWOP terms for federal drug offenses. May 28, 2022 at 10:51 AM | Permalink Comments I actually agree with them that a term of years that vastly outstrips a human's lifespan brings the judiciary into disrepute. That does not, however, mean I believe that a term of 'natural life' equally does so. I would be quite comfortable with a sentencing regime that transforms any recommended sentence longer than 75 years into natural life. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | May 28, 2022 1:06:45 PM There was an inmate at FCI - Gilmer in Glenville, West Virginia whose sentencing Judge used life insurance actuarial tables to determine the defendant's estimated remaining life expectancy. The Judge then factored in 15% time credit for good behavior and calculated a sentence that would lead to the defendant's release within 1 year before he should die. Pursuant to the crimes of conviction, the Judge could not impose an outright life sentence, so he constructed a de facto life sentence. The Judge had strong feelings about the man's criminal history and danger to society. Posted by: Jim Gormley | May 28, 2022 8:10:26 PM Post a comment File photo: In May last year, about seven people drowned after a tourist boat had capsized off the Boyolali regency in central Java (Basarnas/AFP via Getty Images) At least 26 people are feared missing after a boat carrying 43 people capsized in Indonesia. The remainder 17 passengers were saved by passing tugboats, said rescue officials on Saturday. The boat had sunk off Sulawesi island after it left Paotere port in Makassar, South Sulawesi provinces capital on Thursday midnight. It had failed to reach its destination on Friday after which rescue officials launched a search operation, said news agency Reuters citing local media. On Saturday, South Sulawesis search and rescue agency chief said those rescued were taken to the provinces South Kalimantan and Jeneponto areas. We have confirmation that the boat had sunk in the search area, said Djunaidi, the rescue agency chief identified by only one name. We received information saying that 17 people were found and saved by passing tugboats, he added. Officials suspect fuel shortage and bad weather to be the likely causes of the accident. Indonesias weather agency had warned of bad weather, including waves up to 8ft long, in Makassar strait areas on Thursday, reported Reuters. There have been a number of boat capsizes reported from Indonesia over the years. About seven people drowned after a tourist boat had capsized off the Boyolali regency in central Java in May last year. Officials said the cause of the accident was overcapacity. One of the countrys worst accidents had occurred off western Sulawesi decades ago in 2009, when around 250 people were feared dead after a ferry capsize. Only 18 survivors were rescued with the help of fishing boats. The ships captain who was pulled out alive said 150 people had jumped off the boat before it sank. Additional reporting by agencies As the world faces a growing food crisis provoked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many have looked to South America's "breadbasket" -- major wheat producers Brazil and Argentina, along with Uruguay and Paraguay -- as a possible solution. But experts and analysts say a variety of factors -- climate, cost, domestic needs -- make such a solution highly unlikely. Russia and Ukraine alone produce 30 percent of the world's wheat supply. Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russia have disrupted supplies of fertilizer, wheat and other commodities from both countries, pushing up prices for food and fuel, especially in developing nations. A suspension of India's exports have further exacerbated the problem. Here's a look at the major wheat producing countries in South America, and how they might, or might not, be able to help alleviate the crisis: - Brazil: higher yield, but big needs at home - Agricultural giant Brazil is due to increase its wheat crop coverage by between three and 11 percent this year, according to Embrapa Wheat, a state-run research unit affiliated with the Brazilian agriculture ministry. Record prices, surging demand and the "expectation of favorable weather, strengthen the projection of an increase in the planted area" from 2.7 million hectares in 2021 (6.7 million acres) to a little over three million in 2022, said Embrapa Wheat. But the country of 213 million people is already unable to meet domestic demand -- estimated at 12.7 million tons a year, and rising. Internal logistical and transport costs have pushed many farmers, particularly in the south, to favor exporting, thus ramping up the need to import. Brazil is actually the world's eighth largest importer of wheat, most of which (87 percent) comes from Argentina. - Argentina: lack of water reserves - Argentina, home to 45 million people, is also traditionally a major wheat producer -- but current climatic conditions are unfavorable, meaning it is unlikely to help fill the global void. Story continues "We expect about an eight percent drop in the land area planted with wheat," Tomas Rodriguez Zurro, an analyst at the Rosario grains exchange, told AFP. That amounts to a drop from 6.8 million to 6.3 million hectares, due mostly to a drought affecting the country, Rodriguez Zurro explained. "In general, we plant wheat to then plant soybean, but the water reserves are very low, so the producers don't want to risk planting wheat in case it reduces the humidity reserves even more" for subsequent plantings, said Rodriguez Zurro. On top of that, farmers say they will use less fertilizer due to soaring prices -- another factor limiting production, the analyst said. Russia is the world's largest exporter of fertilizers with more than 12 percent of the global market, but its sales have been virtually paralyzed by sanctions. - Paraguay and Uruguay: small global impact - Both Paraguay, a country of 7.5 million, and Uruguay (population: 3.5 million) enjoy good wheat yields -- but they have a much smaller global impact and neither expects to increase production. "Wheat production is expensive, very expensive," said a source at Uruguay's agriculture ministry. Farmers there expect a yield "similar to last year, or slightly higher," the source said -- a total that should satisfy domestic demand and allow exports to remain at roughly one million tons a year. In Paraguay, production should also remain stable, according to Hector Cristaldo, president of Paraguay's farmers' union, but he added: "Our volumes are not significant on the world stage." Paraguay consumes 700,000 tons and exports as much again, almost exclusively to Brazil. In mid-May, when India banned exports, wheat reached a record price of 438.25 euros ($456.68) per ton in European trading. bur-mr/gm/jb/bc/sst 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 UVALDE, Texas Students trapped inside a classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 during this week's attack on a Texas elementary school, including one who pleaded, "Please send the police now," as officers waited more than an hour to breach the classroom after following the gunman into the building, authorities said Friday. The commander at the scene in Uvalde the school district's police chief believed that 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos was barricaded inside adjoining classrooms at Robb Elementary School and that children were no longer at risk, Steven McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at a contentious news conference. "It was the wrong decision," he said. Friday's briefing came after authorities spent three days providing often conflicting and incomplete information about the more than an hour that elapsed between the time Ramos entered the school and when U.S. Border Patrol agents unlocked the classroom door and killed him. Three police officers followed Ramos into the building within two minutes. In the next half hour, as many as 19 officers piled into the hallway outside. But another 47 minutes passed before the Border Patrol tactical team breached the door, McCraw said. As the gunman fired at students, law enforcement officers from other agencies urged the school police chief to let them move in because children were in danger, two law enforcement officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to speak publicly about the investigation. One of the officials said audio recordings from the scene capture officers from other agencies telling the school police chief that the shooter was still active and that the priority was to stop him. Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers inside the room. His motive remained unclear, authorities said. There was a barrage of gunfire shortly after Ramos entered the classroom where officers eventually killed him, but those shots were "sporadic" for much of the time that officers waited in the hallway, McCraw said. He said investigators do not know if children died during that time. Throughout the attack, teachers and children repeatedly called 911 asking for help, including the girl who pleaded for the police, McCraw said. Young survivors of the attack said they pretended to be dead while waiting for help. Miah Cerrillo, 11, told CNN that she covered herself with a friend's blood. After the shooter moved into an adjacent room, she could hear screams, more gunfire and music being blared by the gunman. Samuel Salinas, 10, who also played dead, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the assailant shot teacher Irma Garcia before firing on the kids. Questions have mounted over the amount of time it took officers to enter the school to confront the gunman. It was 11:28 a.m. Tuesday when Ramos' Ford pickup slammed into a ditch behind the low-slung Texas school and the driver jumped out carrying an AR-15-style rifle. Five minutes after that, authorities said, Ramos entered the school and found his way to the fourth grade classroom where he killed the 21 victims. But it was not until around 12:50 p.m. that police killed Ramos, McCraw said, when shots could be heard over a 911 call from a person inside the classroom as officers breached the room. What happened during that time frame, in a working-class neighborhood near the edge 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 didn't see that." According to the new timeline provided by McCraw, after crashing his truck, Ramos fired on two people coming out of a nearby funeral home, officials said. Contrary to earlier statements by officials, a school district police officer was not at the school when Ramos arrived. When that officer did respond, he unknowingly drove past Ramos, who was crouched behind a car parked outside and firing at the building, McCraw said. At 11:33 a.m., Ramos entered the school through a rear door that had been propped open and fired more than 100 rounds into a pair of classrooms, McCraw said. He did not address why the door was propped open. Two minutes later, three local police officers arrived and entered the building through the same door, followed soon after by four others, McCraw said. Within 15 minutes, officers from different agencies had assembled in the hallway, taking sporadic fire from Ramos, who was holed up in a classroom. Ramos was still inside at 12:10 p.m. when the first U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrived. They had raced to the school from nearly 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in the border town of Del Rio, the agency said in a tweet Friday. But the commander inside the building the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo decided the group should wait to confront the gunman, on the belief that the scene was no longer an active attack, McCraw said. The crisis came to an end at 12:50, after officers used keys from a janitor to open the classroom door, entered the room and fatally shot Ramos, he said. Arredondo could not be reached for comment Friday. No one answered the door at his home, and he did not reply to a phone message left at the district's police headquarters. Gov. Greg Abbott, who at a Wednesday news conference lauded the police response, said Friday that he was "misled," and he's "livid." In his earlier statements, the governor told reporters, he was repeating what he had been told. "The information that I was given turned out, in part, to be inaccurate," he said. Abbott said exactly what happened needs to be "thoroughly, exhaustively" investigated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 VERMILLION, S.D. -- While working as a massage therapist in Sioux City, Cassie Thompson has encountered clients with a slew of complicated medical conditions that cause them chronic pain. "I just really became frustrated with a lack of understanding that we had about really good efficacious ways to treat pain," said Thompson, who spends a great deal of time supporting patients in hospice care. Thompson graduated from North High School in 2002. But, is was years later that she would enroll in classes at the University of South Dakota. She is now a senior majoring in medical biology and cellular and molecular neuroscience. "I'm much older than the traditional student. I didn't have the opportunity to go to college straight out of high school," she said. Thompson's educational path seems to have served her well. She was one of 58 college students from 53 institutions in 2022 to be named a Truman Scholar. The Truman Scholarship Foundation is a living memorial to 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman. It was created by his friends and family after his death in 1972. Truman, who often spoke about the importance of promoting young leaders, envisioned a program for students that would encourage educated citizenship and political responsibility, according to the foundation's website. The foundation identifies aspiring leaders when they are college juniors and rewards their commitments to careers in public service with a prestigious $30,000 scholarship. As it sought to select this year's recipients, the foundation reviewed 705 files from 275 institutions. Thompson is only the 18th Truman Scholar to ever come from USD. "I want to go to medical school," said Thompson, who plans to pursue dual Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees. "I'd like to work on a lot of different levels. I'm hoping to end up somewhere where I'm helping to get resources to places where they need to be." Thompson is currently conducting research on the neurobiology of pain and how that affects learning and memory. She's using the leech, which has a relatively simple nervous system, in her research. "We're trying to do sort of condition diversion experiments to see if the leeches are capable of learning to avoid different preferences and, then, we're going to use different drugs to help affect different neurobiological systems to see if that helps change the behavior back to more like a baseline to see if that helps their pain," she explained. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson co-founded The Siouxland COVID Safety Alliance in Sioux City. The advocacy group distributed tens of thousands of masks and collaborated with multiple community agencies advocating for equitable evidence-based practices. "A lot of it started with just really wanting to get information out to the community and also wanting to make sure they had access to PPE. One of the biggest things for me was following the emerging science and trying to communicate that to the public, so we built a community online on Facebook," Thompson said. "That was a really important thing for us to do." Prestigious honor Thompson said an advisor in the honors program at USD encouraged her to apply for the scholarship, which she described as an "intense process." In addition to completing the actual application, Thompson participated in a panel interview. "There were a number of essay questions that were pretty in-depth and, then, you had to come up with a policy proposal, which was also very in-depth," she said. "The application itself took a lot of time and it required a lot of introspection, so you really had to stop and think about what you cared about, what was important to you, where you saw yourself, different goals you had." On a Monday near the end of the spring semester, Thompson received an email from her advisor asking her if she would participate in an interview about being a nontraditional student. "I was mildly suspicious. We had two other finalists from USD; and we had all kind of been commiserating with each other about the stress of the process. They had both heard they'd been rejected and I hadn't heard anything yet, but their names were also at the beginning of the alphabet, so I thought maybe it was just an alphabetical thing," she said. Thompson agreed to the interview in Aalfs Auditorium. A microphone was placed on her and she looked toward spotlights as she was peppered with questions. All of a sudden, the university's president, Sheila Gestring, and a host of other faculty members emerged from behind a burgundy curtain to reveal Thompson had been selected to receive the scholarship. "It was really exciting. It was just kind of shocking, overwhelming," she recalled. "When you apply to a prestigious or a nationally competitive scholarship, you don't go into it with a lot of expectations. You just do your best and put your best out there and see what happens. So, finding out that if was actually a reality was hard to believe." This week, Thompson was slated to be in Liberty, Missouri, for Truman Scholars Leadership Week. The event gives scholars the opportunity to meet other scholars, engage in professional development, work on group projects and be honored at an awards ceremony. "They want to empower people who want to be change agents, who want to do things in the world to make it a better place," Thompson said. 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. SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- South Sioux City residents will have fewer days this year to set off fireworks within the city during the July 4 holiday. The South Sioux City Council on Monday passed an ordinance limiting the discharge of fireworks within the city limits to 8 a.m.-11 p.m. on July 2, 3 and 4. The previous ordinance allowed discharge during the same hours, but during a seven-day period from June 29-July 5. The council's action to reduce the number of days for fireworks was in response to citizens who felt the time period in previous years was too long, Mayor Rod Koch said. "We had lots and lots of complaints," Koch said. The ordinance also gives the mayor the authority to issue an emergency proclamation further limiting the discharge of fireworks because of drought, wind or other circumstances that he, in consultation with the fire chief, determines may create a public health or safety danger. Sales of fireworks in the city remain legal from June 24-July 5. Fireworks discharge also remains legal from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 31, with sales from Dec. 28 through Jan. 1. In neighboring Sioux City, fireworks may be discharged within city limits from 1 p.m.-11 p.m. on July 3 and 4. Love 2 Funny 1 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. ATLANTA (AP) One Georgia state Senate seats and as many as 10 state House seats are headed to runoffs on June 21 after a majority of voters couldn't choose a party nominee on Tuesday. Banker Mike Hodges and former state House member Jeff Jones will contend for the Republican nomination in Senate District 3 on the Georgia coast, covering all of Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn and McIntosh counties and part of Ware County. If current results hold through certification, there could be 10 runoffs in House districts: Republican incumbent Sheri Gilligan, a sometime critic of House Speaker David Ralston, appears to have fallen short of a majority in House District 24 in southwestern Forsyth County. The Associated Press says the race is too close to call. Gilligan would face Carter Barrett if there is a runoff. In House District 28 in northern Forsyth and western Hall counties, a newly drawn open seat, Republicans Brent Cox and Julie Tressler advanced to a runoff from a six-way primary. The seat had been held by Republican Timothy Barr, who lost a congressional primary. Republican Derrick McCollum may missed a majority in House District 30 in southern Hall and northeastern Gwinnett counties in another race that's too close to call. He could be headed to runoff against Whitney Pimentel. In south Cobb County, Democrats Monica DeLancy and Terry Cummings advanced to a runoff from a five-way primary, seeking a House District 39, which has been held by retiring Democrat Erica Thomas. Republican Betsy Kramer advanced to a runoff in House District 50 in the north Fulton city of Johns Creek. Narender Reddy leads for the second spot, although its too close to call. In House District 61 in southern Fulton and northeastern Douglas counties, Democratic incumbent Roger Bruce was forced to a runoff. Rashaun Kemp leads for the second spot, although it's too close to call. Democrats Imani Barnes and Jacqueline Adams are in a runoff for an open seat in House District 86, which stretches from Clarkston into southern DeKalb County. Democrats Saira Draper and Michelle Schreiner advanced to a runoff in House District 90 in southwestern DeKalb County, including parts of Atlanta. The open seat had been held by Democrat Bee Nguyen, who is running for secretary of state, and Democratic nominee for governor Stacey Abrams before her. Republicans Lauren Daniel and Noelle Kahaian moved to a runoff in House District 117, a newly drawn district in Henry and Spalding counties. In Glynn County, Republicans Rick Townsend and Bob Duncan moved to a runoff in a seat now held by retiring Republican Don Hogan. In a final race that's too close to call, Democratic activist Nabilah Islam holds a slim majority over state Rep. Beth Moore in a two-way contest for the nomination in state Senate District 7 in southwestern Gwinnett County. Officials will certify vote totals and winners in coming days. In other notable results, Republican incumbent Bonnie Rich of Suwanee lost to fellow Republican incumbent David Clark of Buford in House District 100 in parts of Gwinnett, Hall and Forsyth counties. Rich had headed House redistricting efforts, and thus lost a district she had drawn for herself after Clark, who had said he was stepping down, decided to run again. Clark had openly rebelled against Ralston. A series of other House Republican incumbents, including Martin Momtahan of Dallas and Alan Powell of Hartwell, easily turned back right-wing challengers. In the Snellville area of Gwinnett County, Democratic incumbent Shelly Hutchinson beat fellow incumbent Rebecca Mitchell after the two were drawn together during redistricting. Similarly, Republican incumbent Danny Mathis of Cochran beat incumbent Robert Pruitt of Eastman after the two were drawn into a new House District 149, which includes Wilkinson, Twiggs, Bleckley, Dodge counties, and part of Telfair County. Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy. 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 Cher Scarlett, a software engineer, has a history of being misidentified by face-scanning technology, including one instance that may have surfaced a distant ancestor in a photo. So when she was introduced to an online facial-recognition tool she hadn't heard of, she wanted to see whether it would mistake photos of her mom or daughter for her. On February 1, Scarlett uploaded some images of her teenage daughter and her mom to PimEyes, a facial-recognition website meant to be used to find pictures of yourself from around the web ostensibly to help stamp out issues such as revenge porn and identity theft. She didn't get any images of herself in return pictures of her daughter yielded other kids, she said, while one of her mom led to some pictures of her mother, plus images of other, similar-looking women. She decided to try something else. Scarlett next uploaded a couple pictures of herself, curious if they would lead to pictures of her relatives. They didn't, but the results stunned her anyway: tucked under some recent images of herself and mistaken matches showing photos of Britney Spears and the pop star's sister, Jamie Lynn, were pictures of a younger version of Scarlett. They were pictures of a dark time she didn't totally remember a time at age 19 when, she said, she traveled to New York and was coerced into engaging in humiliating and, at times, violent sexual acts on camera. "I'm looking at these pictures, and all I can think is that somebody has photoshopped my face onto porn," Scarlett told CNN Business in an interview. Scarlett, who is known for being a former Apple employee who founded the worker organizing movement known as #AppleToo, has been open online and in the media about her life and struggles, which she has said include experiencing sexual abuse as a child, dropping out of high school, battling addiction, and having nude pictures of herself shared online without her consent. What happened to her in New York in 2005 was so traumatic that she tried to take her own life in the weeks that followed, she said, and in 2018 she began going by the last name Scarlett (she officially changed her name in December 2021). She's worked hard to overcome past trauma. Based in Kirkland, Washington, she's spent years working as a software engineer. She's raising her daughter, and she's a recovering drug addict. Since leaving Apple in late 2021 she has pending complaints against Apple that are being investigated by the National Labor Relations Board (Apple did not respond to a request for comment) she began a job as a senior software engineer at video game developer ControlZee in March. But with a few clicks of a mouse, PimEyes brought back a real-life nightmare that occurred nearly two decades ago. She has since tried and failed to get all of the explicit photos removed from PimEyes' search results, despite the site saying it would scrub images of Scarlett from results. As of this week, sexually explicit images of Scarlett could still be found via PimEyes. Giorgi Gobronidze, who identified himself to CNN Business as the current owner and director of PimEyes (he said he bought the company from its previous owners in December), said he wishes nobody would experience what Scarlett went through, which he acknowledged as "very, very painful." "However, just simply saying, 'I don't want to see images' or 'I don't want to see the problem' doesn't make the problem disappear," he said. "The problem isn't that there is a search engine that can find these photos; the problem is there are the photos and there are people who actually uploaded and did it on purpose." A 17-year-old died by suicide hours after being scammed. The FBI says he was targeted in 'sextortion' scheme. Law enforcement calls the scam "sextortion," and investigators have seen an explosion in complaints from victims leading the FBI to ramp up a campaign to warn parents from coast to coast. It's true that the discovery of unknown images may be useful for some people who are attempting to stamp out such pictures of themselves online. But Scarlett's saga starkly shows how easily facial-recognition technology, which is now available to anyone with internet access, can lead to unexpected harms that may be impossible to undo. The technology has become increasingly common across the United States in the past several years, and there are no current federal rules regulating its use. Yet it has been blasted by privacy and digital rights groups over privacy and racial bias issues and other real and potential dangers. More people will "undoubtedly" have experiences like Scarlett's, said Woodrow Hartzog, a professor of law and computer science at Northeastern University. "And we know from experience that the people who will suffer first and suffer the hardest are women and people of color and other marginalized communities for whom facial-recognition technology serves as a tool of control over." As Scarlett put it, "I can't imagine the horrible pain of having that part of my life exposed not by me - by somebody else." "You may find this interesting" Scarlett's discovery of the stash of photos on PimEyes was my fault. I've long been familiar with her work as a labor activist, and follow her on Twitter. Because I write often about facial-recognition software, I contacted her after she posted a confounding tweet in late January related to an experience she had on Facebook in October 2021. Scarlett had been tagged in an old-looking black-and-white picture of a woman and man a photo that had been posted to Facebook by a friend of a friend, to whom she said she is distantly related. She said at the time she had been "auto-tagged" via Facebook's facial-recognition software, which was disabled after the photo had been posted; she now believes the tag was a suggestion enabled by the software. Stranger still: Some sleuthing on Ancestry.com led her to believe the woman in the photo was her great-great-great grandmother. (Facebook said it never automatically tagged users in images prior to turning off the facial-recognition feature it could, however, suggest that a user be tagged in an image if that user had the facial-recognition setting turned on, and would notify a user if they appeared in an image on Facebook but hadn't been tagged.) Scarlett and I talked, via Twitter's private messages, about the strangeness of this experience and the impacts of facial-recognition software. That's when I sent her a link to a story I had written in May 2021 about a website called PimEyes. Though the website instructs users to search for themselves, it doesn't stop them from uploading photos of anyone. And while it doesn't explicitly identify anyone by name, as CNN Business discovered by using the site, that information may be just clicks away from the images PimEyes pulls up. Its images come from a range of websites, including company, media and pornography sites the last of which PimEyes told CNN Business in 2021 that it includes so people can search online for any revenge porn in which they may unknowingly appear. PimEyes says it doesn't scrape images from social media. "You may find this interesting," I wrote, introducing my article. Minutes later, Scarlett told me she had paid $30 for PimEyes' cheapest monthly service. (PimEyes shows users a free, somewhat blurred preview of each image that its facial-recognition software determines is likely to include the same person as in the photo that the user initially uploaded; you have to pay a fee to click through to go to the websites where the images appear.) Shortly after that, she sent me a message: "oh no." Processing the results It took Scarlett time to process what she was seeing in the results, which included images related to the forced sex acts that were posted on numerous websites. At first, she thought it was her face pasted on someone else's body; then, she wondered, why did she look so young? She saw one image of her face, in which she recalls she was sitting down; she recognized the shirt she was wearing in the photo, and the hair. She sent me this photo, which appears benign without Scarlett's context it shows a younger version of herself, with dark brown hair parted in the center, a silvery necklace around her neck, wearing a turquoise tank top. She saved a copy of this image and used it to conduct another search, which she said yielded dozens more explicit images, many aggregated on various websites. Some images were posted to websites devoted to torture porn, with words like "abuse," "choke," and "torture" in the URLs. "And it was just like," Scarlett said, pausing and making a kind of exploding-brain sound as she described what it was like to stare at the images. In an instant, she realized how memories she had of her brief time in New York didn't all match up with what was in the photos. "It's like there's this part of my brain that's hiding something, and part of my brain that's looking at something, and this other part of my brain that knows this thing to be true, and they all just collided into each other," she said. "Like, this thing is no longer hidden from you." Adam Massey, a partner at CA Goldberg Law who specializes in issues such as non-consensual pornography and technology-facilitated abuse, said for many people he's worked with it can feel like "a whole new violation" every time a victim encounters these sorts of images. "It's incredibly painful for people and every time it's somewhere new it is a new jolt," he said. Not only did Scarlett see more clearly what had happened to her, she also knew that anyone who looked her up via PimEyes could find them. Whereas in past decades such imagery might be on DVDs or photos or VHS tapes, "it's forever on the internet and now anybody can use facial-recognition software and find it," she said. Opting out Scarlett quickly upgraded her PimEyes subscription to the $80-per-month service, which helps people "manage" their search results, such as by omitting their image results from PimEyes' public searches. Scarlett got help in sending out DMCA takedown requests to websites hosting images she wanted taken down, she said. She isn't the copyright owner of the images, however, and the requests were ignored. Scarlett is angry that people don't have the right to opt in to PimEyes. The website doesn't require users to prove who they are before they can search for themselves, which might prevent some forms of use or abuse of the service (say, an employer looking up prospective employees or a stalker looking up victims). Gobronidze said PimEyes operates this way because it doesn't want to amass a large database of user information, such as photographs and personal details. It currently stores facial geometry associated with photos, but not photos, he said. "We do not want to turn into a monster that has this huge number of people's photography," he said. Users can opt out of PimEyes' search results for free, but Scarlett's story shows this detail can be easy to miss. Users first have to find the link (it's in tiny gray text atop a black background on the bottom right of PimEyes' website); it requires filling out a form, uploading a clear image of the person's face, and verifying their identity with an image of an ID or passport. "It's definitely not very accessible," said Lucie Audibert, legal officer with London-based human rights group Privacy International. Gobronidze said the option to opt out will become easier to find with a website update that's in the works. He also shared a link that anyone can use to request PimEyes take data pertaining to specific photos of their face out of its index, which he said will become easier to find in the future as well. He also wants users to know they don't need to pay to opt out, and said the company plans to publish a blog post about the opt-out process this week. Scarlett did opt out, saying she asked PimEyes to remove her images from its search results in mid-March. She hadn't heard anything from PimEyes as of April 2, when she chronicled what she went through on Medium a decision she made in part because she was hoping PimEyes would respond by honoring her request. It was about more than that, though, she said. "We need to look at facial recognition software and how it's being used, in terms of [how] we're losing our anonymity but also the far-reaching consequences of losing that anonymity and letting anybody put in a picture of our face and find everywhere we've been on the internet or in videos," she said. Also in early April, Scarlett upgraded to PimEyes' $300 "advanced" tier of service, which includes the ability to conduct a deeper web search for images of your face. That yielded yet more explicit pictures of herself. On April 5 three days after publishing her Medium post and tweeting about her experience PimEyes approved Scarlett's request to opt out of its service, according to an email from PimEyes that Scarlett shared with CNN Business. "Your potential results containing your face are removed from our system," the email said. Gobronidze told CNN Business that PimEyes generally takes no more than 24 hours to approve a user's opt-out request. "The images will resurface" But as of May 19, plenty of images of Scarlett including sexually explicit ones were still searchable via PimEyes. I know because I paid $30 for one month's access to PimEyes and searched for images of Scarlett with her permission. First, I tried using the recent picture of Scarlett that appears in this article a photo she took in May. PimEyes reported 73 results, but only showed me two of them: one of Scarlett with bleached hair, which led to a dead link, and another of her smiling slightly, which led to a podcast episode in which she was interviewed. Below the results, PimEyes's website encouraged me to pay more: "If you would like to see what results can be found using a more thorough search called Deep Search, purchase the Advanced plan," it read, with the last four words underlined and linked to PimEyes' pricing plans. Next, I tried an image of Scarlett from 2005 that she instructed me to use: the one of her in a sleeveless turquoise top with a necklace on, which she said was the same image she sent to PimEyes to opt her out of its search results. The results were far more disturbing. Alongside a handful of recent photos of Scarlett from news articles were numerous sexually explicit images that appeared to be from the same time period as the image I used to conduct the search. This shows the opt-out process "sets people up to fight a losing battle," Hartzog, the law professor, said, "because this is essentially like playing whack-a-mole or Sisyphus forever rolling the boulder up the hill." "It will never stop," he said. "The images will resurface." Gobronidze acknowledged that PimEyes' opt-out process doesn't work how people expect. "They simply imagine that they will upload a photo and this photo will disappear from the search results," he said. The reality is more complicated: Even after PimEyes approves an opt-out request and blocks the URLs of similar-seeming photos, it can't always stamp out all images of a person that have been indexed by the company. And it's always possible that the same or similar photos of a person will pop up again as the company continuously crawls the internet. Gobronidze said users can include multiple pictures of themselves in an opt-out request. Scarlett still has questions, such as what PimEyes plans to do to prevent what happened to her from happening to anyone else. Gobronidze said part of this will come via making it clearer to people how to use PimEyes, and through improving its facial-recognition software so that it can better eliminate images that users don't want to show up in the site's search results. "We want to ensure that these results are removed for once and all," he said. Scarlett, meanwhile, remains concerned about the potential for facial-recognition technology in the future. "We need to take a hard stop and look at technology especially this kind of technology and say, 'What are we doing? Are we regulating this enough?'" she said. *** The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UVALDE, Texas (AP) Days after a local man burst into an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers before officers managed to kill him, the signs of grief, solidarity and local pride are everywhere in Uvalde. Many are wearing maroon, the color for Uvalde's school district. And light blue ribbons adorn the giant oaks that shade the city's central square, where mourners come to lay flowers around a fountain and write messages on wooden crosses that bear the victims' names. In front of a day care center on one of the city's main streets, 21 wooden chairs sit empty. Everyone in the predominantly Latino city of roughly 16,000 people seems to know someone whose life has been turned upside down by losing a family member or close friend in the attack at Robb Elementary School, which was one of the deadliest of its kind. Joe Ruiz, pastor of Templo Cristiano, said a teacher who is friends with his wife herself a former Uvalde teacher summed up the community's mood best by saying people have cried out everything they could and are now just tired and needing rest. Police have come under heavy criticism for waiting more than 45 minutes to confront the 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, inside the adjoining classrooms where he unleased carnage. As the investigation into the attack continues, including Ramos' reasons for carrying it out, some residents have expressed anger toward the police. Among them is 24-year-old carpenter Juan Carranza, who said he watched the attack unfold from across the street from the school. The next day, he called the officers cowards. Steven McCraw, who heads the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Friday that the school district's police chief, Pete Arredondo, made the wrong decision to wait so long before sending officers into the locked classrooms. He said Arredondo, who was in charge of the law enforcement response during the siege, believed Ramos was barricaded inside the two adjoining classrooms and that children were no longer at risk. Arredondo, who graduated from Uvalde High School and was recently elected to the City Council, hasn't spoken publicly since McCraw criticized his decision-making, and his house now has a police guard. Oasis Outback, where Ramos bought his guns, has stayed open and its barbecue restaurant did its usual brisk Friday night business. The gun shop at the back of its sporting goods section was temporarily closed out of respect to victims' families, according to a posted sign. An Oasis employee who declined to give her full name said the store has been getting angry calls blaming it for the attack, but the callers' phone numbers were not from the area. Support for gun rights is strong in Uvalde, which is roughly halfway between San Antonio and the border city of Del Rio. But some parents and relatives of victims are calling for change. I just don't know how people can sell that type of gun to a kid 18 years old. What is he going to use it for but for that purpose? said Siria Arizmendi, a fifth grade teacher whose niece, Eliahna Garcia, was killed. She spoke in her dining room shortly before Eliahna's great-grandparents, also Uvalde residents, arrived. Javier Carranza, a 43-year-old gun owner and Army veteran whose daughter, Jacklyn, was killed, said it was kind of ridiculous to sell such firepower to an 18-year-old and that better background checks are needed. Uvalde sits amid flat fields of cabbages, onions, carrots, corn and peppers, but mechanized farming replaced many jobs. Construction material companies are among its most coveted employers. The city is home to a Border Patrol station that operates a highway checkpoint and monitors freight trains in what has suddenly become one of the busiest corridors for illegal crossings. A massive camp of Haitian migrants that sprang up under a bridge in Del Rio last year made headlines around the world. Many residents can trace their family's presence in Uvalde through three or four generations, creating a cherished sense of community. On one Friday night each month, stores stay open late and food vendors occupy the central square outside a neoclassical courthouse. Uvalde Strong messages adorn store windows, T-shirts and lawn signs. Curbs and sidewalks are less common the farther one gets from the central square, with roosters walking on cracked pavement near Robb Elementary School. Ruiz, the Templo Crisitano pastor whose children and grandchildren live in Uvalde, asks new parishioners about their ancestry to get to know them better. Before Tuesday, occasional traffic deaths were the biggest tragedies to befall Uvalde. We've had individuals murdered, but not on a mass scale like this," said Tony Gruber, pastor at Baptist Temple Church. For more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting 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 ORLANDO, Fla. Hurricanes are terrifying and deadly forces, but experts are growing more concerned by the amount of deaths tallied up after a storm is passed, as they've observed indirect death totals increasing in recent years. "Now we're seeing more people dying after the storm," said Michael Brennan, the branch chief at the National Hurricane Center. "In Louisiana, especially after both Laura and Ida, lots of carbon monoxide fatalities due to improper generator use in these so-called indirect deaths." With the official start of hurricane season coming June 1, the National Hurricane Center wants to bring those numbers down like it did when it increased efforts to educate the public about storm surge deaths. Since 2017, the NHC has seen seven deaths related to storm surge. In comparison, just in the last two storm seasons, it's seen 70 indirect deaths from just hurricanes Laura and Ida. Last September, Hurricane Ida struck Louisiana and ran up the northeast United States, causing $75 billion in damages of the $80 billion incurred through the entire season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ida also dealt 55 direct deaths and 34 indirect deaths 26 were in Louisiana. Of those, 13 were due to heat exhaustion during power outages, five died due to exacerbated medical conditions while evacuating, six were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning, one was killed after falling off a roof, and another died in a confrontation with an alligator near a flooded marsh in St. Tammany Parish. Last year, the Category 4 storm Ida brought intense 20-foot storm surge to some areas of Louisiana, which saw over 1 million customers lose power, according to the NOAA. In recent years, the NHC has campaigned warning residents that it isn't a hurricane's winds they should be afraid of but rather its waters, which have been traditionally more deadly. In 2019, the NHC released a study showing 90% of hurricane-related deaths were water-related, with 49% of that statistic involving storm surge. Since then, the NHC targeted residents with messages of deadly storm surge hoping to get them to evacuate flood-prone areas. During Ida, only one person in Louisiana died in the storm surge. NHC director Ken Graham is happy to see a lower distribution of storm surge deaths in the last two seasons despite busy tropical activity, but he finds the high count of indirect deaths striking. "And I think we're making a difference with storm surge," Graham said. "Despite this busy period, more people have lost their lives from carbon monoxide poisoning than storm surge since 2017. That's staggering." The 2020 season's Hurricane Laura also struck the Louisiana area with high storm surge. Laura directly killed seven people in the U.S. None of the fatalities were reported as storm-surge-related, and all seven seemed to have died due to trees falling. However, there were 34 indirect deaths in Louisiana and Texas all 34 were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Improper generator use isn't the only factor endangering residents. In powerless areas, heat often becomes a dangerous variable to the medically vulnerable, and first-time chainsaw users trying to clear downed trees can be a danger to themselves. For these reasons and more the NHC is taking action, said Dan Brown, the NHC warning coordinator meteorologist. "We will be increasing our post-storm messaging. That's a big focus this year. After a hurricane passes residents need to take a lot of precautions in the recovery phase. If you don't know how to use a power tool, find someone. Remember to rehydrate. Keep the generator properly ventilated and away from the inside of your home," he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Prudence, Is it OK to have some not so important things you wont ever compromise on in a relationship? Im a pretty easygoing person but also a bit indecisive, so my boyfriend makes a lot of decisions in things. Hes started not asking me before he makes certain decisions, like what to eat for dinner or a movie to watch. This normally doesnt bother me, but he brought home a documentary on a topic I really dont like. I told him I didnt want to watch it, and he said just try it for 10 minutes. I said, no, I know I dont want to watch this. We ended up getting into a fight about it and have been thinking about certain things that might be nonnegotiables, and Im realizing Im not sure Ive communicated how nonnegotiable these things are. The problem is, some of these things seem a bit dumb or frivolous to be a nonnegotiable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, I am horribly afraid of flying, but I love international travel. I once got upgraded and realized that being in flat business-class seats is super important to keeping my stress level down. Ive talked to my boyfriend about international travel, and hes adamant about budget travel in economy. He says saving the money is important to him. I mentioned getting credit cards to earn miles, and he says he never wants to get a credit card. I have one for emergencies, and I would never want to be without it. I love international travel. Because of the pandemic, weve both been saving up and want to take some big international trips, but Im starting to think its not going to work if he doesnt take me seriously. I know traveling isnt a necessity, but I feel like having an emergency credit card and flying in business class keep me much more comfortable in somewhat uncomfortable circumstances. Am I being frivolous for wanting these things to be nonnegotiables? Advertisement Advertisement Nonnegotiables Dear Nonnegotiables, Youve figured out a way to make flying less scary, and it sounds like youve worked out a financial plan that supports that. The conversation you and your boyfriend are having is about your values around money and also about the ways you honor your emotional well-being. You dont think about money in the same way, and thats fine. You should both make an effort to understand where the other is coming from and build a shared language around that. If not having a credit card ever is a nonnegotiable to him, for instance, you could be at an impasse. Or you could talk through the possibility of getting a credit card to earn miles, using it for household expenses you were going to pay for in cash anyway, and then paying it off at the end of each month. He may see the value in that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im inclined to think that none of this is about business class or your fear of flying, really. I think this is an opportunity to reframe how you talk to each other and value each others opinions. Try bringing up the conversation with your boyfriend again but see if you steer it in a direction thats less about nonnegotiableswhat you wont doand more about planswhat you will. Ask him if he can get on board with your well-thought-out plan, for yourself and for your shared finances. See if you can have a conversation about the places you understand each other or the places where he trusts your judgment and build from there. Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, I am part of a chat group which consists of immigrants from my birth country who currently live in North American countries. We are all minorities here. We discuss all kinds of things, including politics. One of the recent participants has admitted he likes to stir the pot. On several occasions, he has butt heads with me. On one occasion, after having another blowout in the group chat, I closed the app and went to sleep while he went on a rant on Clubhouse attended by other chat members. As you can expect, he disparaged me behind my back. I got notification from the Clubhouse app the next day and the whole Clubhouse session was recorded. I dont really care about his rant on me. However, on that same recording, he espoused a racist statement directed toward the work culture of another minority group. He used his experience working with a minority co-worker and generalized the whole race based on this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He currently works in an international company, and it seems like he is holding a managerial position. Do I know if hes dealing with a subordinate minority member under him? No, but I cant discount the possibility either. Since he is comfortable espousing a racist view in public while being recorded, do I have an obligation to let his employer know about this? Im not interested in blackmailing him since were all immigrants in this country, but on the other hand, I feel like his employer should know of this issue to mitigate the damage he can cause. I know if I let his employer know, he will throw a fit and the other chat group members will pin the blame on me for snitching. Advertisement Advertisement Pity the Backstabber Dear Pity the Backstabber, No, you dont have an obligation. Mostly because the connection between the work and the offense are a little murky. If his job has an ethics clause or some sort of policy to protect the company from embarrassment, this might apply. But I dont think you have enough information about his job to know for sure. Obligation aside, it sounds like you want to do this. Thats within your right, but I do think it has a little more to do with revenge than perhaps youre letting on. And thats fine, too! But if youre going to do it, you have to be prepared to take whatever blowback comes and also accept the possibility that his employer wont do anything about it. Advertisement Get Dear Prudence in 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. Dear Prudence, My parents got an extremely ugly divorce about 30 years agothrowing plates, yelling at one another, the whole nine yards. They havent been in the same room since my mother moved us all across the country 20 years ago. I am in infrequent contact with my father. We send one or two text messages to one another every couple of months. I am much, much closer with my mother. Well, a few weeks ago, my father told me that he was moving to the same city as my mother because his new wife had gotten a job there. Its a fairly small city, so the possibility that they run into each other is nonzero. Do I tell her? Shes going to feel betrayed that Ive been speaking to him (even through infrequent texts), but if she runs into him at the grocery store, shes going to be horrified and shell still blame me, so it feels like a lose-lose. On top of that, my mothers anxiety is pretty bad, and she already hates leaving the house. I dont want to make it worse by having her worry that shes going to run into her shitty ex-husband every time she walks out the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caught in the Middle Dear Caught in the Middle, Let me preface this by saying that if your father is a danger to your mother, or was in the past, you should let her know for her own safety and work on a plan to keep her safe. You may have to take a more active role in mediationsetting some grocery stores as off limits for him, for instance. From your letter, Im not sure that this is the case but I wanted to get it out there upfront. If there were hard feelings on both sides but no abuse, you should consider asking your father to let your mother know hes moving to the area. Normally, I would never suggest this with divorced exes. But its clearly weighing on you, and the possibility of a surprise run-in is, as you put it, nonzero, so it makes sense for your father to send a letter or email alerting your mother and perhaps making some assurance of noninterference. What youre all dealing with is an unexploded time bomb, and a reasonable way to control the blast (because defusing seems out of the realm of possibility for your parents) is to reduce the amount of surprise. The unspoken rules of the divorce have changedshe moved you across the country presumably to get him out of her life and vicinity. Now that hell be back in her vicinity, they need new rules. This is their responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement That said, theres also the problem of the unexploded bomb youre holding. As I understand it, your mother assumes that after you moved away you never spoke with your father again. At some point in the past, that arrangement stopped working for you and you changed it. Its within your right. But, as difficult as it will be, you should have a conversation with your mother about your need for an infrequent relationship with your father. You should also ask her about her needs from your relationship. What does she need to feel safe, to feel loved, to relieve a feeling of betrayal? It may be a hard conversation, but right now youre all working off of old paradigms and that has you feeling around in the dark. Advertisement Advertisement Catch up on this weeks Prudie. More Advice From How to Do It I am a 34-year-old woman and Ive been with my boyfriend for 13 years. We dont have kids (yet), we have a great relationship, the sex is always good, and we hardly fight. I honestly cannot complain: Hes the type of man every woman would want. Hes caring, very thoughtful, funnyI could keep going, but you get the point. Anyway, I feel bad for even thinking this way, but I am not and never have really been physically attracted to him. On Friday, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw offered the most complete timeline of Tuesdays shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 children and two teachers dead. For the first time, McCraw acknowledged that the police in Uvalde, Texas, did not do everything they could and should have done to try to save those people, contradicting the initial story from law enforcement officials. Indeed, as children in the classrooms under assault by shooter Salvador Ramos called 911 pleading for police to help, the chief of police of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District and commanding officer at the scene, Pete Arredondo, ordered his officers to stand down and await backup, even as there was plenty of officers to do what needed to be done, McCraw said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most chilling takeaway from Fridays briefing was that there was a more than 40-minute gap between when officers likely should have gone into the classroom to try to neutralize the shooter and when they actually went in, according to McCraws description. Its still entirely unclear whether any injured children who might have been saved by first responders ultimately died in that time, or whether any additional children were shot and killed in that interim period. McCraw said he was unable to answer those questions. But he did substantially change the publics understanding of what, exactly, happened inside and outside Robb Elementary on Tuesday. Beyond that, the discrepancies between what police originally said about the massacre and this latest presentation underline not only the utter debacle of the police as they confronted this crisis on the ground, but their failures in the days that followed. Advertisement Advertisement First, here is the relevant timeline as McCraw described it: May 17: The day after his 18th birthday, and one week before the shooting, Ramosnow legally able to buy semi-automatic rifles in Texaspurchases the first of two semi-automatic rifles at the Oasis Outback sporting goods store in Uvalde. In the ensuing days he also buys a large cache of ammo. Ultimately, he had purchased and had a total of 1,657 total rounds of ammunition, McCraw told the public on Friday. Advertisement Around 11 a.m. on May 24: Ramos shoots his grandmother, who is injured and calls 911 before being transported for medical attention. 11:27 a.m.: McCraw describes video evidence that shows the exterior door of the school, where we knew the shooter entered was propped open by a teacher. Advertisement 11:28 a.m.: Ramos crashes his vehicle into a ditch in front of the school and near a funeral home. The teacher that propped the door open runs into Classroom 132 to retrieve her cell phone and that same teacher walks back to the exit door and the door remains propped open. Men at the funeral home seek to confront Ramos and are shot at. One of them calls 911 at 11:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement 11:31 a.m.: Patrol vehicles approach the funeral home. The schools officer, who was not at the scene at the time of the initial incident, drives by Ramos as he hides behind a vehicle and confronts a teacher, whom the officer mistakes for the shooter. Ramos begins firing several dozen bullets at the school. Advertisement Advertisement 11:33 a.m.: The shooter enters the unlocked door to the school and begins shooting into the adjacent and connected classrooms, 111 and 112, firing more than 100 rounds based on the audio evidence at that time. Advertisement Advertisement 11:35 a.m.: Three Uvalde Police Department officers enter the school from the same door that Ramos had and are fired upon. As they approach a door to enter the classrooms, which is closed, two are grazed and none has any serious injuries. They retreat from the door, and four of their colleagues enter. 11:37 a.m.: Ramos fires 16 more rounds from inside one of the classrooms. 11:51 a.m.: More officers begin to arrive. The classrooms are not breached. Advertisement 12:03 p.m.: More officers arrive, with as many as 19 officers in the school at that time. At this time, a student calls 911 and whispers that she is in Room 112. The classrooms are not breached. 12:10 p.m.: The student calls back and says that multiple of her classmates are dead. The classrooms are not breached. 12:13 p.m.: The student calls back again. The classrooms are not breached. 12:15 p.m.: Members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit (who will later enter the room and kill Ramos) arrive. They have shields and are fully armed. 12:16 p.m.: The student calls back again and says that eight or nine students in the classroom are still alive. The classrooms are not breached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12:19 p.m.: Another student calls 911 from the adjacent Classroom 111 and hangs up when another student tells her to. 12:21 p.m.: Ramos fires again, possibly at the door, possibly at children still in each of the conjoined classrooms. Law enforcement move down the hallway, McCraw says. The classrooms are not breached. 12:36 p.m.: The initial student caller calls back to 911 and informs them that the shooter had shot the door. The classrooms are not breached. 12:43 p.m.: The initial student caller calls 911 at this time and again four minutes later, and asked 911 to Please send the police now, McCraw says. 12:50 p.m.: The Border Patrol Tactical Unit team finally breaches the door and kills Ramos before beginning to clear the area. Two of the students described as calling 911 are ultimately rescued alive, though McCraw said that I cant tell you that with certainty whether other children who may have called 911 from the classroom could have been killed in that period. There are 58 total magazines from the shooter at the school and ultimately 315 rounds of ammunition found inside, including 142 spent rounds of ammunition. There are 35 spent rounds of law enforcement ammunition at the immediate site of the shooting, eight in the hallway outside of the classrooms, and 27 inside Classroom 111, where Ramos was killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After presenting this timeline, McCraw put the responsibilityif not the outright blamefor the decision not to breach the classroom in the midst of an active shooter situation on Arredondo, even though a breach is standard protocol for police departments in Texas in such a scenario. McCraw said Arredondo made the decision because he claimed to have incorrectly believed it was a barricaded subject situation and not an active shooter situation. According to McCraw, Arredondo told the other officers on the scene that there were no kids at risk during that entire more-than-40-minute period when there enough officers on the scene, with students calling 911 begging for police to intervene. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to an active shooter, you dont have to wait on tactical gear, plain and simple, youve got an obligation, McCraw said. If shooting continues, and you have any reason to believe theres individuals alive in there, youve got an obligation to move back to an active-shooter posture, and that means everybody at the door. Advertisement This did not happen, and the question continues to be why. McCraw did not have an answer, aside from explaining Arredondos judgment at the time. McCraw offered that the belief is that there may not be anybody living anymore, and that the subject is now trying to keep law enforcement at bay or entice them to come in to do suicide by cop. He said he could not at this time answer questions as to whether the police on the scene were aware of the 911 calls from the children inside, and why they might not have been. Still, he acknowledged that officers on the scene had a duty to enter and try to save any students who may have been dying in the classroom. Clearly there was kids in the room, clearly theyre at risk, and, oh by the way, even when he goes back to shooting, there may be kids that are injured, that may have been shot but injured, and its important for lifesaving purposes to immediately get there and raid, McCraw said. This was all during a period when parents of students were reportedly pleading with officers outside of the building to either do something or allow them to enter the school to attempt to rescue their kids. Some, according to reports, were arrested, handcuffed, and tased by those outside police. McCraw responded, I dont have any information on that, when asked if any family members had been tased. When asked how many students had died between 12:03 p.m., when there were upward of 19 officers in the school, and 12:50 p.m., when the shooter was finally neutralized, McCraw responded, I dont have that answer right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As horrifying as all this is, it somehow feels worse when you consider the discrepancies between McCraws current, more apparently reality-based response, and the official story as first presented by law enforcement. Some of those discrepancies: The school police officer was initially said to have been on the scene, and to have confronted the shooter before he entered. He was neither on the scene nor did he confront the shooter. (He confronted a teacher after arriving late.) McCraw could not explain why the school officer was not on campus at the time of the initial incident, saying, Well have all those answers down the road. It was reported by the schools social media account that the school was undergoing lockdown procedures. In reality, a teacher had left a door open for the shooter to enter after the first shots were fired. Advertisement It was reported that Border Patrol agents secured the situation upon arrival. According to CNN, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said that his own agents acted in an as-timely-as-possible fashion. 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, Ortiz said. It turns out they were on the scene for nearly 40 minutes before being allowed to breach the door. In that time, additional shots were fired. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing anonymous officials, that a commanding officerpresumably Arredondohad prevented the Border Control agents from breaching the classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson Chris Olivarez initially defended the actions of police, which his boss McCraw later acknowledged had been wrong. Olivarez told CNN the officers had the suspect contained inside the classroom and that if those officers werent there, if they did not maintain their presence, there is a good chance that gunman could have made it to other classrooms and commit[ted] more killings. We know now that appropriate procedure for them was to breach the classroom, particularly after more shots were fired at 12:21 p.m. Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez on Thursday also defended that police response as timely and appropriate. It is important for our community to know that our officers responded within minutes, he said. The degree to which the Arredondo apparently botched the rescue was so extreme that McCraw couldnt help but criticize it, even after promising at the start of the press conference that he wasnt there to defend what was done or to criticize what was done, or the actions taken. Ultimately, McCraw concluded of the decision not to breach: Of course it was not the right decision, it was the wrong decision, very wrong, there is no excuse for that. For more on what its like to survive a school shooting, listen to this special encore episode of Amicus. Smart technologies facilitate construction of barrier-free environment in China 10:06, May 28, 2022 By Han Xin ( People's Daily Luyang district, Hefei city, east Chinas Anhui province, gives out electric wheelchairs to people with disabilities for free, Dec. 14, 2021. (Photo by Ge Chuanhong/Peoples Daily Online) It is 10:32 a.m., Beijing Time. After Wu Tao, a young man with visual impairment, opened an app on his mobile phone, the system automatically began to read the time on the screen out loud. With the help of the assistive touch feature, I can scroll up and down to reset the time on my mobile phone, Wu said. He tapped the screen deftly and set the alarm clock for half an hour later. The visually impaired man couldnt have been able to use his mobile phone so easily without its barrier-free designs that support tactile interaction. Although many apps support screen reading, the effect of the text-to-speech feature can be affected by noises in the environment, said Zhou Juejia, secretary general of the technical committee of Xiaomi Corporation, a major Chinese smartphone manufacturer. The company has carefully designed the tactile interactive system of its products so that people with visual impairment can quickly locate the user interface elements, including various widgets, according to Zhou. By helping visually impaired users quickly locate unread messages and switch from one song to another whenever they want, we have brought them a better user experience, Zhou added. A series of new technological products and advances have been made to help people with special needs enjoy digital life. Chinese telecom operators have explored a model that allows people with disabilities receive telecom services via remote video. Many websites and apps have simplified the procedures for booking tickets, online car-hailing, etc. for them, and launched new features such as the text-to-speech service to help special groups share the fruits of informatization. Since January 2021, a campaign aimed at making Internet apps more suitable for the elderly and barrier-free has been carried out nationwide to pool resources to help special groups tackle the difficulties in enjoying intelligent services, according to an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). For over a year, China has witnessed positive results in the construction of an environment for information accessibility, with more complete transformation standards, more diversified scenarios covered and mature infrastructure, the official said. A total of 375 websites and apps had been transformed for the convenience of old and physically impaired people and passed relevant assessments as of the beginning of May this year. They made breakthroughs in better satisfying the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities for traveling, shopping, getting medical and telecommunication services, and handling other affairs, helping them enjoy intelligent services. The brick-and-mortar service halls of three major Chinese telecom operators - China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom - specially designed and rolled out a service for people with special needs that enables them to reach customer service staff by pressing one button. It has benefited over 100 million people. A volunteer helps a visually impaired man read with a text-to-speech device at a library in Wuyi county, Jinhua city, east Chinas Zhejiang province, Oct. 13, 2021. (Photo by Zhu Hui/Peoples Daily Online) People with disabilities have special needs for digital technologies, but they seldom express their needs online, noted Tang Kaixin, product general manager at the social responsibility department of Douyin, a Chinese online video-sharing platform. Tang believes that only by carrying out massive field research and in-depth analysis of users needs can the platform continuously optimize its products based on the feedback and win the recognition of users. We have established and operated communities involving more than 300 visually impaired users on social media platforms, so as to better listen to the voices of users and improve the user experience of our products, Tang said. To increase the penetration rate of barrier-free products, it is necessary to promote the sharing of technologies between enterprises, said an MIIT official. This year, the country will enhance policy guidance, invite professional institutions to strictly evaluate the results of app transformation for physically impaired people, and summarize experiences and practices that can be replicated and promoted promptly, the official pointed out. Through both online and offline channels, the achievements of enterprises special services for the elderly and people with disabilities can be fully publicized, which will encourage the whole industry to launch more considerate, practical and user-friendly products for special groups, according to the official. A woman with visual impairment experiences the browsing function on the first barrier-free website of Zhoushan city, east Chinas Zhejiang province, Oct. 14, 2021. (Photo by Chen Yongjian/Peoples Daily Online) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji) Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, one of several weekly political newsletters that has formed an exploratory committee to run in New Yorks 10th Congressional District. (This is a joke about New York redistricting! Read entry No. 7.) This was a lousier week than normal. And while were not going to allow ourselves to get optimistic that Congress could act following a school shooting, we will at least take a look at where things are. The one good thing that happened, though, is that Donald Trump tried to kick a whole bunch of people who refused to overturn election results out of office, and face-planted. Lets start with the most surprising one. A managed retreat researcher responds to Brenda Coopers Out of Ash. Multiple choice question: Your favorite beautiful, coastal city is at risk of being flooded by sea level rise, and you have the power to do something. Do you a) Build a sea wall b) Rearrange it into the hills c) Move the entire city inland d) Do nothing These are the options facing todays leaders. The research is unequivocal: Sea levels are rising, and were expected to see 1 to 3 feet of global sea level rise by 2100 if emissions arent cut. While some cities elect to ignore the sea at their doorsteps, others are on the hunt for any possible solution to the rising tide. Miami is considering a 20-foot, $6 billion sea wall. Texas is planning for a $29 billion dike to guard against storm surges in the Houston Ship Channel. Fiji has relocated a small village a mile inland onto a hillside. But Indonesia is doing something almost without precedent: building an entirely new capital city hundreds of miles away from Jakarta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Brenda Coopers short story Out of Ashes, the future governor of Washington has done something similar: Shes managed to successfully relocate the states capital inland, to New Olympia. Her only problem? No one wants to live there. In the world of climate policy, the idea of moving people and homes away from sea level rise, known as managed retreat, is so politically toxic that politicians are hesitant to speak about it, much less plan for it. So Coopers governor seems to have accomplished the impossible just by getting planners, builders, and corporations on board with building out a new capital city from scratch about an hours drive inland from Olympia. The governors task isnt entirely unprecedented, even if her scale is breathtaking. The tiny town of Valmeyer, Illinois, was relocated entirely in the 1990s, after witnessing the destruction of repeated flooding. With almost 70 percent of Valmeyer voicing support, the town of 900 was rebuilt a mile away, at a cost of $45 million and four years of waiting. In the end, though the move was considered a success, about 22 percent of Valmeyers original residents didnt take relocate to the new Valmeyer. Some chose to move to other towns, while about a dozen families remained in the original location. Today, the new Valmeyer continues to lack commercial development, with the towns former businesses unable to weather the long pause before Valmeyers reopening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grantham, Australia, retreated in 2011and experienced its share of growing pains, too. Over 11 months, almost 90 families were relocated less than a quarter-mile from the site of a devastating flood at a cost of about $18 million. But even with the regional council footing the bill for the land, some Grantham residents got stuck in the old town, because they didnt receive enough insurance money to be able to relocate to the new town. Advertisement Advertisement So its no surprise that a bigger relocation leads to bigger problems, at least in Coopers world. Washingtons governor, Louise, cant help but feel like she failed her constituents when her beautiful new capital is a ghost town. While the new citys construction was delayed, the people of flooding Olympia left for elsewhere. Now, New Olympia is dead whenever the state assembly isnt in session, and sterile even when it is. Theres no nightlife, the university wont be open for another few years, the city cant draw work-from-home techies, and the franchises can only afford to stay open half the timeeven with subsidies theyve managed to claw from the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Louise knows shes done something wrong, but she cant figure out how to fix it. Shes tried to provide everything people might need in the gleaming, inland city. Moving there seems to be a rational decision in the face of climate destruction. So why wont people take the plunge? Perhaps the first mistake is assuming humans always act rationally about their housing decisions. Miami real estate has gone up 150 percent in the past 10 years, even as planners prep for 2 feet of sea level rise by 2060. Recent research has shown that sea level rise isnt leading to decreased property values for coastal homes. But its also possible that those living in and buying houses on threatened coasts arent acting irrationallytheyre just placing a higher value on the myriad intangible factors that make a place into a home. Its certainly true that some residents cant afford to relocate to inland areas, or have jobs they cant perform elsewhere. But for others, its cultural ties and family networks keeping them in place. For still more, its the atmosphere of a city that keeps them thereclubs, museums, festivals, performances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This absence of cultural ties, of atmosphere, is more or less what a constituent confesses to Gov. Louise when she asks why he wouldnt relocate to sterile New Olympia. I like the opera, he admits, sheepishly. Theres no opera way out there. These cultural and emotional connections are one reason why even perpetually high-cost-of-living coastal cities like New York and San Francisco have no trouble drawing in new residents, and why cheap, inland cities like Tulsa and Topeka are offering cash to people willing to move there. This kind of strong, emotional connection that roots an individual to a specific area is known as place attachment, and its proven to get residents actually invested in their places, in setting norms and preserving neighborhoods. Place attachment is exactly whats missing from communities like New Olympia that start from scratch. Advertisement But can we fix that? Are there ways to build place attachment to create appealing communities for those whose homes are no longer safe for habitation? The answer begins with the same discovery Gov. Louise made: the importance of community engagement. By getting large swaths of the community meaningfully involved in the planning process of creating a new space, governments can create a shared sense of investment and commitment to new areas of development. Ensuring that residents get ultimate self-determination over what new communities look like, rather than being subjected to top-down decisions, can go a long way in rebuilding trust. This is particularly essential given the long history of inequitable and unjust relocations of low-income communities and communities of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wide-scale community engagement can reveal residents city design and use preferences, which will prove essential in creating a city that actually appeals to them. An individuals bond with nature is one key element in place attachment theory. What kind of greenspaces do residents make the most use of? What kinds of public spaces are well-utilized in the current community, and how can we repeat their successes? Advertisement Advertisement And, importantly, what are the intangible things about a place that make it special, that make it feel like home, rather than a collection of buildings? Norfolk, Virginia, is a populous coastal city at great risk of sea level rise. In 2016, in preparation for Norfolks Vision 2100 plan for a changing environment, the city engaged residents in community asset mapping in order to gain essential, citizen-level data on the people, places, things and spaces that make the city great, so these assets could be accounted for in future planning. Advertisement By allowing members of the community to take the lead in planning, designing, and even budgeting for new cities and towns, we can create a sense of investment and improve the odds that people feel attached to new places, that these spaces feel like home. Advertisement Because ultimately, as much as it frustrates Gov. Louise, you cant force people to move to a new city, no matter how great it is. The government shouldnt control whether people abandon their homes to set off for a new city. There will always be holdouts, as Valmeyer proved, and residents deserve the right to stay in those places if they so choose. But by ensuring that communities shape the cities of their future, we can create cities that can soon become homes. We can work hard to build cities informed by their future residents, so that when we build it, they will come. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Sign up to receive the Future Tense newsletter every other Saturday. When my husband asked me if I wanted to try the cat trivia game on Netflix, I thought it was going to be some sort of quiz about felines. I like cats, so I said sure. Then things got weird. Really weird. The cat trivia game, it turns out, is Cat Burglar, which Netflix calls an edgy, over-the-top, interactive trivia toon. It debuted in February and comes from the makers of Black Mirror. While you answer trivia questions, a Looney Tunes-esque cartoon about a cat named Rowdy tries to pull off a museum heist; answer the questions right to keep the story moving. Heres the trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trivia questions are not what oneor at least Imight normally think of as trivia. When playing on a recent day, I had to guess what was big in 90s, grunge or grime. I had to choose whether watercolors or arson is a popular retirement pastime. Whats the real expressionsexy as an ox or sly as a fox? Whats grounds for dismissala gross mustache or gross mismanagement? Whats the most tactful breakup linethis isnt working or are you still here? Advertisement Advertisement The cartoon is slow-moving, but if you decide to look away from the screen for a bit until the next question appears, beware: Dont answer quickly enough, and the cat will die. Answer correctlyand the questions do change every timeand the story will continue to unfold, meaning there are many different ways it can end. But the gaps between questions can be surprisingly long, and theres no audio cue that a new Q is on the screen. I made it through about 10 minutes before giving up. As Polygon pointed out in its ranking of all of Netflixs interactive offerings, the storyline doesnt change based on your input, and you dont have control over the options. Its just a cat burglar tale, alongside completely irrelevant questions. Did Netflix have a cartoon it decided wasnt working and a trivia game that wasnt working and decide to mush them together? Whatever the case, this represented Netflixs first trivia title. Advertisement But its push into interactive TV for adults began with 2018s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. (Funny enough, if you Google Black Mirror Bandersnatch, one of the questions that pops up under People also ask is What was the point of Black Mirror Bandersnatch?) Theres a special episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and You vs. Wild, a spinoff of Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls. Clearly, Netflix thinks that interactive TV for adults will be key to its future. Soon after Cat Burglars debut, Varietys Kevin Tran wrote, Netflix can use the information gathered from interactive title choices to inform its content strategy. If, for example, Netflix were to offer an interactive title based on Squid Game, where viewers could choose between going through the story as any of the franchises main characters and the majority of viewers chose Sae-byeok, that would help Netflix justify creating a spinoff of Squid Game focused on the last surviving female contestant of the original series. As Tran notes, Netflix also clearly sees mobile gaming as part of its strategyand there is definitely a mobile game vibe to the cartoon, which might be why it failed to keep my attention as I watched it on my TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, with Netflix losing even long-term subscribers (the only reason I havent canceled yet is that you cant get Bojack Horseman on Blu-ray), I wonder: Will Netflix dump even more money into these rather bizarre interactive shows? Probably. Coming soon: Bojack Horseman: Choose Your Own Major Depressive Adventure. Here are stories from the recent past of Future Tense. Sean Steinberg Why Good Customer Service Has Become a Key Part of Ransomware Scams Leslie Bienen and Margery Smelkinson Dont Let the Pandemic Make You Hate Microbes Josephine Wolff The Government Finally Figured Out What Hackers Are the Good Guys Emily Oster No, Researchers Have Not Pinpointed the Cause of SIDS Future Tense Fiction This months story is Out of Ash, by Brenda Cooperauthor of, among many other things, Wilders and Keepers. It imagines a climate change future in which the governor of Washington has spent a lot of political might and real money to relocate the flood-prone state capitalbut then no one wants to live there. In the response essay, managed-retreat researcher Molly BrindAmour writes about what relocating towns and cities threatened by climate change really requires: buy-in from citizens. Wish Wed Published This Someone Stole Seth Greens Bored Ape, Which Was Supposed to Star In His New Show, by Sarah Emerson, BuzzFeed News Future Tense Recommends I didnt love the ending of Act of God by Jill Ciment. But the rest of the book makes up for it. Its a plague story of sortsan iridescent supermold begins taking homes in Brooklyn during a hot summer, forcing residents to flee and officials to burn down the houses. But because insurance companies consider the supermolda possible consequence of climate changean act of God, the displaced residents are left with nothing. I will never look at mushrooms the same way. (For more on the act of God, insurance, and climate change, read this 2019 Future Tense article by Kyle Piscioniere.) What Next: TBD On Fridays episode of Slates technology podcast, host Lizzie OLeary talks to reporter Anna-Cat Brigida about El Salvadors risky Bitcoin move. Last week, Lizzie and Jason Bartlett of the Center for a New American Security discussed North Koreas crypto-hacking army. Guest host Ray Suarez interviewed Emma Llanso of the Center for Democracy and Technology about how social media platforms try (and often fail) to stop the spread of videos like the Buffalo mass shooting. Tomorrow, Lizzie will talk to Wireds Lily Hay Newman about digital security and the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade. Upcoming Event Join us on Wednesday, June 1, at 6 p.m. Eastern for the next installment of our Science Fiction/Real Policy book club, presented in conjunction with Issues in Science and Technology. Well be reading All Systems Red by Martha Wells. The novel explores a spacefaring future in which corporate-driven exploratory missions rely heavily on security androids. In Wells engagingat times funnytale, one such android hacks its own system to attain more autonomy from the humans he is accompanying. The result is a thought-provoking inquiry into the evolving nature of potential human-robot relations. RSVP here. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. This story was originally published by Undark and has been republished here with permission. Outer space isnt what most people would think of as an ecosystem. Its barren and frigid void isnt exactly akin to the verdant canopies of a rainforest or to the iridescent shoals that swim among coral cities. But if we are to become better stewards of the increasingly frenzied band of orbital space above our atmosphere, a shift to thinking of it as an ecosystemas part of an interconnected system of living things interacting with their physical environmentmay be just what we need. Advertisement In April, in the journal Nature Astronomy, a collective of 11 astrophysicists and space scientists proposed we do just that, citing the proliferation of anthropogenic space objects. Thousands of satellites currently orbit the Earth, with commercial internet providers such as SpaceXs Starlink launching new ones at a dizzying pace. Based on proposals for projects in the future, the authors note, the number could reach more than 100,000 within the decade. Artificial satellites, long a vital part of the space ecosystem, have arguably become an invasive species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The band of orbital space just above our atmosphere is becoming so densely populated with satellites that it may threaten the practice of astronomy. Whereas the main source of light interference used to be the cities below, it is now increasingly the satellites above. These artificial stars can be 1 billion times brighter than the objects astronomers hope to study, and they emit radio waves that can interfere with telescopes. By some estimates, around one in 20 images from the Hubble Telescope are affected by the streaks of passing satellites. By 2030, the authors say, one-third of Hubbles images could be impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Yet the choice by the authors of the Nature Astronomy paper to call the orbital space around Earth an ecosystem reflects the fact that its not just astronomers who are affected by the recent infiltration of the night sky. Rather, the cluttering of orbital space is impacting the well-being of creatures both above the skies and below. To begin with, there are the handful of astronauts at any given moment who call low-Earth orbit homeand the plants, worms, and tardigrades that have been their playthings on the International Space Station. Space junk created by the rare but inevitable collisions between satelliteswhich can travel faster than bullet speedis becoming a threat to that life. In 2021, a 5-millimeter hole was punctured in the International Space Stations robotic arm by debris of unknown origin. Advertisement Advertisement But clutter in low-Earth orbit also threatens ways of life for entire communities of people here on the ground. The traditions and cosmologies of many Indigenous peoples, for example, are rooted in the movements of the stars. Polynesian sailors feats of navigation by starlight are unparalleled. The Palikur people of the Amazon see constellations as boats driven by shamans that bring rain and seasonal fish. The recent deluge of light pollution in our night skies is more than a headache to these and other Indigenous peoples, whose cosmologies may wither if the numbers of satellites arent kept in check. New artificial mega constellations could mask those that have been relied on for millennia. (This issue may provide rare common ground between Indigenous peoples and professional astronomers, the latter of whom have historically been aligned with colonialism and courted controversy with the construction of new telescopes on sacred Indigenous lands.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many nonhuman animals, evidence suggests that a clear night sky might be a basic survival need. The hazy stripe of the Milky Way is used by dung beetles to navigate back to their burrows. Migratory birds, harbor seals, and some species of moths all use the movement of the stars as a compass, too. Who knows how many other creatures might depend on a clear view of the night sky? Advertisement Advertisement To protect the space ecosystem, we should treat it the way many aspire to treat our atmosphere and our oceans: as a global commons, a resource that lies beyond national, corporate, or individual ownership. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty took steps toward this ideal by recognizing that all nations have an equal interest in the exploration and use of outer space. Yet even that treaty establishes space as a resource humans can use for our own benefit. Thats like defining an ecosystem in terms of the natural capital it offers to humans, rather than recognizing the protection of habitats and biodiversity as an intrinsic good. Advertisement More apt would be to emphasize not the potential benefits that space provides to humans but rather the potential threats that humans pose to orbital space. In this view, overuse of the global commons by any one actor imposes a shared expense on us all. In our management of Antarctica, for example, preservation goes hand in hand with human activity on the continent. In this light, we shouldnt see low-Earth orbit as the next frontier of capitalist extraction, but rather as an ecosystem to be protectedone that, like other ecosystems, has limits and tipping points beyond which there is no return. Some groups have started to open up conversations and build initiatives to this effect. The authors of the Nature Astronomy paper, for example, propose a space traffic footprint akin to a carbon footprint. And in February, the International Astronomical Union launched the Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. The center, which will be co-hosted by the National Science Foundations NOIRLab and the Square Kilometer Array Observatory, aims to act as a hub of information and advocacy, bringing together stakeholders such as astronomers, ecologists, and Indigenous peoples alike. While much remains to be done, the issue is one of perspective as much as policy. It will take a shared commitment to the value of a clear night sky, and collaboration across diverse communities, to preserve orbital space for generations to come. Unlike other ecosystems, the near-barrenness of the band of space just beyond our atmosphere is precisely what makes it unique and valuable. Preserving this transparent window grants us all access to what lies beyond. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Amira Perez, of the Morgan Park High School Junior ROTC program, marches in Chicago's Memorial Day parade on May 28, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Memorial Day weekend kicked off Saturday in sun-drenched Daley Plaza with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony followed by a parade, which stepped off shortly after noon. The city is blessed with pleasant weather only every few years, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois said to the crowd of about 150. Advertisement I feel like we go through Memorial Day here when its blazing hot, followed by at least a couple where its freezing cold, and then we get one good one every fourth year, so this is a great day, Duckworth said. The ceremony, which also included Mayor Lori Lightfoot and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and others, began about 11 a.m. and the parade marched south on State Street, featuring thousands of veterans, several local high schools, Chicago Fire Department firefighters and more. Advertisement As Lightfoot spoke to the crowd, which included many Gold Star families and loved ones of those who died while serving in the military, she praised the relatives who attended. Amira Perez, of the Morgan Park High School JROTC program, marches in Chicago's Memorial Day parade on May 28, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Mayor Lori Lightfoot greets Navy ROTC cadet Jonathan Rodriguez during the Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at Chicago's Daley Plaza on May 28, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) The service member serves, but so too does the family, Lightfoot said. We want to thank all the family members here in support of the men and women in uniform. Lightfoot introduced this years keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon. Loh said Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember and honor over 1.2 million American heroes. The willingness of American veterans to give their lives for something greater than even their own self-existence must be honored and will be continued to be honored, Loh said. As part of the ceremony, the city also proclaimed May 28, 2022, as Rick Murray Day, in honor of Murray, who passed away in November and was remembered for serving in the Korean War, performing jazz music around the city, taking part in the Memorial Day parade year after year and continuing to help veterans by serving on the citys Memorial Day committee, the mayors advisory council and more. Murrays daughter Candace Price, accepted the proclamation from Lightfoot on his behalf. This years recipient of the Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award was Jean Harris, of Lagrange Park, who is a support coordinator covering northern Illinois for Survivor Outreach Services. Harris said she has been attending Chicagos Memorial Day celebration for years, always to honor her son, Sgt. Joshua William Harris, who was killed Sept. 7, 2008, at 21 years old while serving in Afghanistan. Advertisement Harris said she is glad the city continues to honor veterans and celebrate Memorial Day in big ways year after year and hopes the tradition stays alive. I hope that they dont stop, Harris said. Its nice for everyone, so I hope it continues for years to come. Amigo Volo and the words world record seem to go hand in hand. Over the course of his award-winning career, the five-year-old male trotter has set at least one world record at ages two, three and four, and done so on half-mile, five-eighths-mile, and one-mile ovals. His most recent world-record performance came in December at Yonkers Raceway and started a stretch that saw the gelding win four of five races before embarking on a four-month layoff in mid-January. Now, Amigo Volo is ready to return to work. On Sunday, he heads to the $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational Trot at Harrahs Philadelphia, where he posted one of his world-record efforts as a two-year-old in 2019. He is the 4-1 third choice in a field of eight and will leave from post five with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Richard Nifty Norman. Amigo Volo prepped for his comeback with a 1:53.4 qualifier win this past Tuesday at Philly. The Maxie Lee wasnt in Normans plans originally, but when an invitation was extended, the trainer accepted. They came up short on horses and he qualified good, Norman said. I have to race him somewhere anyway, so I thought we would throw him in. Its a good field of horses, and I think having him in there gives it a little more interest. He normally takes two or three races to get himself tight, so Im not expecting big things, but the horse has been great and training back good. Hell be all right. Well see how it goes. You never know. Amigo Volo, a Dan Patch Award winner at age three, suffered with sickness issues last season. He was winless in his first six races, but after an 11-week respite and addition of Lasix went on to post six wins, three seconds, and three thirds in his next 13 starts. Since weve had him on Lasix, hes been a lot better, Norman said. He was very good at the end of the year, and his last race at Yonkers (in January), he was dynamite. For his career, Amigo Volo has won 21 of 46 races and $1.78 million for owners Pinske Stables and David J. Miller. The Maxie Lee morning-line favourite, at 5-2, is When Dovescry. The six-year-old mare, also a Dan Patch Award winner in 2019, finished third in her seasonal debut on May 6 in a division of the Miss Versatility Series at The Meadowlands and last week was sixth in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, won by Ecurie D in a world-record 1:49.1 at the Big M. Back Of The Neck, who saw his connections turn down an invitation to Sundays Elitloppet in Sweden, is the 3-1 second choice in the Maxie Lee followed by Amigo Volo. Rounding out the field are Lovedbythemasses, Hillexotic, Eurobond, Mississippi Storm, and Sermon. This is a good opportunity for (Amigo Volo); a nice place to start off, just down the road, the New Jersey-based Norman said. If you get a piece, its pretty good money. Post five is a good spot for him. And Ecurie D isnt in there. The Maxie Lee is part of a star-studded card at Harrahs Philadelphia that also includes the $100,000 Commodore Barry Invitational Pace and the $100,000 Betsy Ross Mare Invitational Pace, with Dan Patch and O'Brien Award-winning pacer Lyons Sentinel making her five-year-old debut. In addition to Amigo Volo, Norman will send out a starter in the Commodore Barry. Jacks Legend N is 7-1 on the morning line, leaving from post seven with Dunn driving. The eight-year-old gelding has won 33 of 94 career races and earned $784,976. Earlier this season, he had two wins in the preliminary rounds of the MGM Borgata Series at Yonkers. He heads to the Commodore Barry off a third-place finish behind Nicholas Beach and This Is The Plan in last weeks Open at The Meadowlands. Nicholas Beach, the Commodore Barrys defending champion and 3-1 morning-line favourite, won the Open in 1:47. Jacks Legend N came home in :25.4 and was clocked in 1:47.3. I was hoping he would get a good draw because hes been racing good, Norman said. He needs some luck, but hes a very good horse. Hes good on the front, but hes a better closer. Hes a horse that would really benefit from a strong pace, and if he got dragged into the race, I think he could beat a lot of horses if he was raced the right way. Hes a big, beautiful horse, thats good gaited and has a big engine. Hes an easy horse to be around. Action begins at 12:40 p.m. (EDT) at Harrahs Philadelphia. The Maxie Lee is Race 12 on the 15-race card, sandwiched between the Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry. Free program pages will be available at the PHHA website. (USTA) The Friday night action at The Meadowlands featured a pair of $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for three-year-olds on the trot, and Fashion Schooner and Pretender were the winners of their respective divisions. Fashion Schooner, a daughter of Walner and 2009 Hambletonian Oaks champion Broadway Schooner, impressed in the split for fillies, making the lead while parked past the quarter in :26.3 and going down the road from there, recording a safe 1-length win over 2-1 second choice Jiggy Jog S in 1:51.3, a new lifetime best. Misswalner Fashion was third. I was very impressed by her, said winning trainer Jim Campbell, who conditions both the winner and third-place finisher. I was happy that [driver] Timmy [Tetrick] was able to use her to get good position. He then backed down the second quarter very well. She did whatever Timmy wanted her to do. She dug in and couldnt have been better. After a two-year-old season that saw her make only three starts and win none, Fashion Schooner upper her 2022 stats to three wins in four tries, good for lifetime earnings of $150,062. She got off on the right foot this year, said Campbell. I still really believe that even though she raced only three times last year, it really prepared her for this year. She didnt race much because she got sick in early springtime and took a long time to get over it. The Hambletonian Oaks is definitely something we are aiming for. As the 6-5 favourite, Fashion Schooner returned $4.60 to win. Trainer Nancy Takter no doubt has Hambletonian dreams dancing in her head after her Pretender took the division for colts and geldings in 1:52.1. Driver Yannick Gingras had to make a bold decision down the backstretch, as he had to steer Pretender three-wide around a struggling Classic Hill at the three-eighths, but for the Muscle Hill-Maven product, it turned out to be the right move, as Pretender cleared the top just after the half before withstanding a wicked late charge by 7-5 favourite Temporal Hanover to record a neck win in 1:52.1. Periculum was third. I would rather have not gone three deep but it was a straightaway, so I thought it was the move to make, said Gingras. Youre going for that kind of money, so people are going to try. Week by week, Pretender is getting better and better. I was confident in the horse but nearing the wire he was a little lonely. Im very happy with his performance. Pretender has now won three of four this year and five of 16 lifetime. His bank account stands at $253,128. As the 8-5 second choice, he paid $5.40 to win. Before the regular 13-race card, a pair of $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for three-year-old pacers were contested as non-betting events. In the split for colts and geldings, Count Mara surged to the lead around the far turn before going on to win by 7-3/4 lengths over a sloppy track in miserable, rainy conditions. The John Pyott trainee, a gelded son of Lis Mara-Madam Countess, was driven by Tetrick and won for the third time from 10 lifetime starts while establishing his lifetime-best of 1:58.3. Polaris Breech was second. Not So Evil took the division for fillies in 1:56.3 for the husband and wife team of driver Pat and trainer Traci Berry. The daughter of Great Vintage-Evil Fight surged to the lead at three-quarters before holding off second-place finisher Bee Aware by three-quarters of a length to record her fourth victory from 10 lifetime outings. The Brett Pelling-trained Wickedly Innocent, a three-year-old by American Ideal-Miss Innocent, remained unbeaten in five 2022 outings, charging home from eighth at three-quarters to score in last-to-first fashion for driver Todd McCarthy in a lifetime-best 1:51 in a mid-range conditioned event for pacing fillies and mares as the 3-5 public choice. Facing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. (Meadowlands) After an on-track racing career where trotter Lordy Lordy took a mark of 1:55.1 in a qualifier and banked $31,500, the prospect of the horse being a sale topper and fetching seven figures doesn't seem plausible. Yet that's exactly what happened on Friday (May 27) at the Mid Ohio Memorial Cataloged Trotting Sale in Mt. Hope, Ohio. A five-year-old son of Muscle Massive - Grace Victoria, Lordy Lordy amassed a summary of 3-2-2 from 13 lifetime starts and took his mark in a qualifier at Harrah's Philadelphia. The horse clearly impressed the throngs of buyers at the Ohio sale on Friday, as he was purchased by Maple Equine of Horse Cave, Ky. for a reported $1.375 million. The price tag of Lordy Lordy wasn't the only notable figure that came from the sale. Trotter Stinglike A B K, a three-quarter brother to millionaire Winning Mister and Win Missy B who was racing in Preferred trots at Freehold and Yonkers this time a year ago, was sold for $750,000 at Friday's sale. Pleasant Ridge Equine of Goshen, Ind. signed the papers on the winner of $132,000 with a mark of 1:55h. Full sale results are available on the sale's website. This week's Rewind takes readers back an even 40 years to 1982. Robert Smith's story tells of one of the many victories that year by the incredible Cam Fella, lovingly known as "The Pacing Machine". This piece is centered on a late season victory in that year's Provincial Cup at Windsor Raceway. Forty years ago the calendar read 1982 and most accounts of anything to do with harness racing included something related to Cam Fella. This horse was the newsmaker of this era and was having a season to end them all. He made a number of appearances in Canada that year as a three-year-old and today's story covers the final start of his 1982 campaign in early November. On the evening of Sunday, November 7 a "lucky" crowd of 7,777 people attended the evening's festivities which highlighted the 17th renewal of Windsor's signature race The Provincial Cup. A field of seven would face what would surely be an almost insurmountable task and that was to try to topple the eighth entrant, the overwhelming favourite Cam Fella. Entering the race this "super hero" had raced a total of 32 times that season and on 27 occasions returned to the winner's circle with a huge throng of supporters. He also finished second twice. The horse's owners, Norm Clements and Norm Faulkner, and trainer-driver Pat Crowe had experienced quite a ride. In the process the horse had earned an incredible $829,715 for his efforts. Pat Crowe, trainer and driver of Cam Fella Driver Pat Crowe was no stranger to Windsor fans or the Raceway. Back in 1965 when the new all-weather track was built for winter racing a then 28-year-old Crowe was on the backstretch with his public stable. Despite his successes and availability as a catch-driver in the years following, he had never been an entrant in the Cup. He obviously relished this opportunity. The 1982 Cup took on a new format and with it a huge increase in the size of the purse. In the 16 previous races it was an open event but this year for the first time it was for three-year-olds only. The purse, which had gradually crept up over the years, had been stuck at $50,000 for 10 consecutive years dating back to 1972. This year it took a giant step as it doubled to $100,000. THE RACE Coming into the night's action Cam Fella was certainly expected to win but he had a couple of very credible foes in the field. Expected to be in the thick of things was another Toronto-owned horse Sokys Atom driven by Doug Brown, winner of the previous year's big race behind Lime Time. Also a serious contender was Sparkling High for driver Jim Hysell and Florida owners Everglade Acres. A couple weeks previous they had finished 2-3 behind Cam. Excluding Cam Fella the other seven entrants in the race had collectively won a total of 42 races this season so there was some quality in the field. As the race started Brown shot to the front and then Denis Desjardins with Sans Limite took the field to an opening quarter of 28 seconds. Crowe sat quietly in third but not for long. On the backstretch he took Cam out and led the field at the half in :58.1. Next to try for the lead was Norm Dauplaise with Watering Hole but Crowe just stepped up the pace a bit with a :28.3 third quarter. By the head of the lane Brown and Sokys Atom sat in the "Golden Chair" and appeared to have the last hope of overcoming the leader. Out he came and advanced a brief half length but that was all. Crowe never took the whip out from under his arm and with a final panel in 29 seconds was home in front. In second spot was Sokys Atom while Dr. John Hayes driving Striking Sun closed for third spot. The winning time of 1:55.4 equalled the Cup record set by Try Scotch and Shelly Goudreau in 1979. It also broke the existing track record for three-year-old colts jointly shared by Brigadier General and Armbro Acton. If fans had anything further to see it may have been a new overall track record but that remained unchanged at 1:54.2 and still belonged to Direct Scooter. To the surprise of no one Cam Fella was sent off at odds of 1-9 resulting in the lowest win price in Cup history; $2.20. A minus pool of $524 was created when the show pool was within $4 of the win. The handle for the Cup program was $835,331. The Windsor crowd of 7,777 was far from the largest in Cup history which was 12,057 in 1972 but was the biggest since the visit of Niatross two years before this when over 10,000 attended. Following the race Windsor Star sport's columnist, who covered the Windsor track scene for many years, caught up with a few of the drivers for their comments. Driver Pat Crowe said "Winning is the main thing. When I was racing here the Cup was the big race and everybody wanted to be in it. So to win it and tie the record in my first drive in the Cup, that's pretty nice." Co-owner Norm Clements added "He's never had a world record but he beats all the world record holders." Doug Brown, who seemed to be pleased at being second, said "Sure I had a shot at him at the head of the stretch but it was a little shot. Being second to that horse isn't all that bad I guess." John Hayes, who finished third a little over five lengths behind Sokys Atom, said much the same thing; "We got what we came here for, third place." Following the third place horse was Sparkling High, Watering Hole, Sans Limite, Armbro Andy (Cam Fella's stablemate), and the only filly Gypsy Black in last place. Cam Fella on the right closes out his winning mile at Windsor to capture the top prize in the Provincial Cup. Sokys Atom and Doug Brown managed to get a good look at the winner as they finished second. (Windsor Star photo) Program From 1982 Provincial Cup A view of the Provincial Cup as it was displayed for many years near the Windsor Raceway clubhouse entrance (Photo from authors collection) Cam Fella poses with Norm Clements (left), co-owner; Pat Crowe, trainer-driver; and Norm Faulkner (right), co-owner. This 1982 photo followed the announcement that he had just been named U.S. Horse Of The Year. Quote For The Week: "Sometimes our body works in different ways. Our feet smell and our nose runs." Go figure. Who Is It? Can you identify this young driver at Flamboro? What Is It? Can you identify the above pictured item which was given out as a Canadian harness racing promotional item. The annual general meeting of the Prince Edward Island Standardbred Horse Owners Association (PEISHOA) will be held Monday, May 30. The meeting will get underway at 7:00 p.m. in the grandstand of Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park. All members or those wishing to become a member are welcome to attend. In a recent legislative update, State Senator Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, stated his office has been working hard to effect change for veterans and active duty soldiers. Last week, Reeves was in Seattle for the first in-person meeting in two years of the National Conference of State Legislators Military & Veterans Task Force, of which he is Co-Chairman. Some of the groups bigger focuses are strengthening National Guard recruitment, resiliency, and retainment, the state senator said in the update. On the national level, we tackled combatting veterans suicide and how we can facilitate better awareness and mental health treatment at the state level, Reeve said in the update. He participated in a discussion at the meeting on veteran suicide prevention, 988 crisis hotline implementation, and related topics with Rep. Tina Orwall, a Washington Democrat, and Codie Marie Garza, suicide prevention program manager at Washington Dept. of Veteran Affairs. There was also an overview of State Programs to Support Women Veterans as women make up 11% of the nations 17 million veterans, according to NCSL. This is expected to increase as women now comprise 20% of new recruits, 15% of active-duty military and 18% of the guard and reserve forces, according to ncsl.org. The state senator got to visit Naval Base Kitsap while in Washington State. Attendees took the Seattle Ferry to Bremerton and were picked up by Base personnel. Kitsap is the third-largest U.S. Navy installation in the United States, home to a range of strategic missions, including all types of submarines, two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the largest fuel depot in the Continental U.S., according to ncsl.org. There were wins back at home in Virginia recently as well, Reeve said in the update. Youngkin signed two of his bills into law on FridaySB529 and SB768. SB768 amends the definition of qualified survivors and dependents under the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to include that a child who is a stepchild of a deceased military service member shall receive all Program benefits, according to the legislative update. The education program is a key recruiting tool to entice veterans to remain in Virginia, Reeves said. It provides tuition and fee waivers for veterans with severe disabilities and for families of military members who died on active duty. The reality of modern families is such that some veterans may have been the step-parent of a child since birth but never legally adopted the child. Senate Bill 768 fixes this. The state senator said SB529 was another big win for active duty members. The Pentagon has been highlighting how important it is, operationally, for consistent and affordable child care for active duty service members. This bill is a massive first step in easing access to child care for all active duty members in our Commonwealth, Reeves said. The state senator is one of six Republican congressional candidates seeking the Republican nomination in June to run against two-term incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th. Reeves, active in veterans causes and legislation, is a former Army Ranger who also worked as a narcotics detective. 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. Veterans of the Korean War were honored and remembered during a Friday morning ceremony at the Stafford County Armed Services Memorial, located behind the countys government center. Col. Michael Brooks, base commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico, told the gathering that Memorial Day weekend is a time for the community and the nation to reflect on those who served their country. And then those that we have lost along the way, Brooks said. Fridays ceremony was dedicated to veterans of the Korean War. During that war more than 70 years ago, nearly 37,000 American servicemen lost their lives and another 103,000 were injured. In all, there were a total of 146 U.S. personnel who received the Medal of Honor for valor during combat in the Korean War, Brooks said. And there were thousands more heroic acts performed by many servicemen and women. During his remarks, Brooks highlighted several Korean War heroes who were among the casualties and recipients of the Medal of Honor, including Marine Pvts. Charles Gene Abrell, 19, of Terra Haute, Indiana, and William Baugh, 20, of McKinney, Kentucky, as well as Army Sgt. Leroy Mendonca, 18, of Honolulu. Brooks said their heroic acts occurred in what many have labeled The Forgotten War, which took place between 195053. I can assure you, it is not forgotten, nor will it ever be, Brooks said. Brooks said he hopes the memories of the three young men he spoke about will help people remember this Memorial Day just a few names of those who served their country and paid the ultimate price. I highlighted those individuals because I wanted everyone to realize that the sacrifice for this nation is a burden shared by all, Brooks said. Retired Army 1st. Sgt. John Hart of Fayetteville, North Carolina, said it was good to visit a community that still understands the sacrifices made by those in uniform. He said the remarks by Brooks shined a light on our nations youth, who for generations fought to safeguard Americas freedom. These are lives that were cut short in the service to their country and for the ideals that we hold dear and the future of our country, Hart said. Its profound that they sacrificed themselves at such a young age. Jimmy Dillard of Spotsylvania County, a Korean War veteran, said he was grateful for the countys continued dedication to recognizing veterans, especially in the war he fought in. Today means a lot, Dillard said. The things they do for veterans here, I think its real nice. Although the county traditionally recognizes those who have fallen in Americas wars every year on the Friday before the first holiday weekend of the summer, Fridays event in Stafford honored those who served in Korea, while last years ceremony focused on Vietnam. Richard Ferguson of Stafford, a Vietnam War veteran, said he came to this years ceremony because he believes veterans of all wars should be honored and remembered. My way of thinking is all veterans are forgotten or were looked down on, Ferguson said. The ceremony today was something that was long overdue. The event included musical selections performed by the Quantico Marine Corps Brass Quintet, and the national anthem was performed by Stafford high schools all state choir under the direction of Joe Eveler. The nations colors were presented by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington Armed Forces Color Guard. Motorcycle riders whose Rolling Thunder chapter advocates for prisoners of war and servicemen and women missing in action servicemen stood in attendance. Chris Brown, Stafford Countys fire and rescue chaplain, provided the opening and closing prayers for the event. As the ceremony closed, Brooks and Crystal Vanuch, chair of the countys Board of Supervisors, laid a wreath at the memorial in remembrance of all veterans. George McWhirt of Stafford, who was drafted into the Korean War beginning with a Greyhound bus ride from the Stafford courthouse to an indoctrination center in Richmond in 1951, served his two-year enlistment in Germany during the Korean War. He was married on Memorial Day in 1953, nearly two months before the war officially came to a close. Its an experience Ill never forget, McWhirt said. Today is a special day for us. James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com A suspect in a Scottsbluff shooting died Saturday after being shot by Cheyenne Police. Davin Darayle Saunders, 38, had been sought in the Tuesday, May 24, shooting death of a 60-year old woman, Karen Cooper, of Loveland, Colorado. He had reportedly last been seen in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Tuesday night after being involved in a domestic disturbance. According to information released by Cheyenne Police Department, Saunders died after a Cheyenne Police and Laramie County Joint SWAT Team responded to a home and had an encounter with Saunders. Information released by the department reports that Saunders had been located at a residence near the 2500 block of E. 11th Street in Cheyenne. The CPDs joint SWAT team responded to the area to conduct surveillance. Officers obtained a warrant to enter the residence. While on scene, the SWAT team attempted to communicate with Saunders, asking him to exit the residence, but he refused, according to information released by Cheyenne Police. Officers deployed gas in an attempt to safely lure Saunders out of the home, but he allegedly pulled a firearm and officers fired on Saunders, killing him. No further injuries were reported. In an update Saturday afternoon, Cheyenne Police called the scene active and said it had been turned over to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Scottsbluff Police had been seeking Saunders since Tuesday, when officers responded to a home in the 1700 block of Avenue Z at about 5 p.m. to a report of an argument and shots having been fired. Arriving officers found a woman, identified as Cooper in a chair. Emergency personnel attempted to revive the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Saunders, identified in court affidavits as having shot the woman, had fled the scene, jumping into the vehicle of a woman as she left the scene during the argument. Shortly thereafter, he jumped out of the vehicle, fleeing on foot. He is believed to have escaped when another woman picked him up and he was involved late Tuesday night in a disturbance involving a firearm at the Cheyenne Walmart. However, he had fled on foot before officers arrived and remained on the lam until Saturday's shooting involving police. He had been sought on charges of murder in the second-degree, a Class IB felony; possession of a deadly weapon to a prohibited person, a Class ID felony; and one count of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; a Class IC felony. The woman killed in the shooting was identified as Saunders' aunt. Police had also been investigating a shooting in which Saunders had allegedly shot another woman in the foot earlier this month. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form It was a banner year for Gering High Schools expanded dual credit partnership with Western Nebraska Community College, according to a press release from Gering Public Schools. A year after announcing and implementing the 33 additional course options for Gering students, the expanded collaboration has been a success, GHS Principal Mario Chavez said. We knew there would be high interest and wed have some things to learn with growth this rapid, but overall weve had a great experience and are pleased to see outcomes and impact like this for our students, he said. Highlights from the 21-22 GHS dual credit partnership with WNCC are: 1,251 college credit hours; 421 college courses successfully completed by GHS students; 97.3% success/passing rate. Additionally, several students finished the year with industry certifications which included emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, basic nursing assistant, engine and powertrain (diesel tech), welding, drivetrain and under hood repair (auto tech), automotive paint and refinish (autobody) and Microsoft Office. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Great Park Pursuit is back this year, aiming to get children and families outdoors and in Nebraska parks and other places. The Great Park Pursuit (GPP) encourages players to follow clues that will lead to a sign post at 20 sites across Nebraska between May 1 through Oct. 31. Once players have solved the riddle to the sign post, they use a pencil or crayon to make a rubbing of a nature impression on the post or use the mobile app to prove they were there. Prizes are based on the number of impressions collected and the grand prize is an outdoor recreation package with a retail value of $1,500. The program, in its 15th year, was originally designed to promote healthy, outdoors activities in Nebraskas parks. There were initially 10 posts placed at parks around the state, Bob Hanover, assistant parks division administrator at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said. We wanted people to have a round trip of at least a 20-minute walk, just for healthy outdoor activity. Over the years, that modified a little bit because we wanted to include parks that maybe you couldnt walk for 10 minutes in one direction. Starting with 10 locations initially, the program has evolved to include 20 rotating sites across the state. Sites included on the 2022 list in the Panhandle are: Chimney Rock, Fort Robinson, Hemingford Community Park and Wildcat Hills. Chimney Rock has recently upgraded its museum and tripled the size of the facility. It will be its first time on the GPP list. We approached Chimney Rock several years ago, and they werent in a position where they could, but this year they were ready, Hanover said. We wanted to encourage people to get out there, give them a little love, it certainly wouldnt hurt to see their new expansion out there. The Wildcat Hills Nature Center has been on the list three previous times, but the clues and sign post will not be the same. We are excited to be a part of the park pursuit again this year and have had great success with it in previous years, Amanda Filipi, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission outdoor education specialist stationed at the center, said. Weve already had a few people come in so far and theyve been doing the process digitally. One of the coordinators for the program said the locations are cycled across the state featuring different places every year. GPP coordinators use a formula of state parks, community parks, Nebraska Natural Resources Districts areas, and national forest or park properties to create a ratio of diverse experiences at each location. We want to promote the vast array and diversity of parks that are within the state of Nebraska and outdoor opportunities, whether that be a fishing pier or the State Fair, or a trail, Hanover said. We just want to make sure people can do what they can do outside and enjoy Nebraska as an outdoor state. The program is a partnership between the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Participants need to visit the negpp.org website to create an account and print verifying sheets or download the mobile app. Once players have found the designated sign post, they can make a rubbing of the image on the verifying sheet to mail in or use the mobile app to snap a photo validating that you were there. All 20 sign posts at the different locations feature unique nature images. What kids love about it is we have the embossing images on each post, Hanover said. They love to get a crayon, or pencil, or marker, or whatever to do the embossing on the post. Three years ago, we included the use of the mobile app and thats been extremely popular as well. Some of the locations are more remote, and Hanover encourages people to go prepared. For more information on the GPP program and to register, visit negpp.org. Nicole Heldt is a reporter with the Star-Herald, covering agriculture. She can be reached at 308-632-9044 or by email at nheldt@starherald.com. 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. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday to review the regulations of the CPC on political consultation work. It was noted at the meeting that political consultation is an essential part of the multiparty cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC, an important form of socialist consultative democracy, and a significant avenue for pooling wisdom, building consensus, and promoting scientific and democratic decision-making. The formulation of the regulations is of great significance for strengthening Party leadership over political consultation work, for providing sounder standards and institutions for political consultation work, for upholding and improving China's political party system, and for consolidating and expanding the patriotic united front. It was stressed at the meeting that in order to deliver better political consultation work, we must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and implement Xi's important thinking on strengthening and improving the united front work and the work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. We must boost consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. We must uphold overall Party leadership and make full use of the institutions and mechanisms for CPC-led political consultation work to ensure political consultation is in the right political direction and its efficiency and effect are enhanced. With a focus on carrying out the central task and serving the overall interests of the country, greater efforts should be made to build consensus. Through political consultation we should seek common ground while shelving and narrowing differences and build a shared understanding on fundamental and major issues, so as to rally strengths from all sectors of society closely around the Party and form a synergy to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and realize national rejuvenation. Party committees and leading Party members' groups at all levels were asked to improve their leadership to ensure full implementation of the regulations and the CPC Central Committee's policies and decisions on political consultation work. Other matters were also discussed at the meeting. LINCOLN The young man who asked State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue for her signature on a voter identification petition this week obviously didnt know whom he was approaching. Blood, a six-year state lawmaker and the Democratic candidate for governor, immediately challenged the man when he said he was with the state of Nebraska. She confronted a second circulator later, a woman who was collecting signatures in the same commercial parking lot near 72nd and Pacific Streets and made the same claim about working for the state. State employees are not allowed to circulate petitions or otherwise engage in political activities while on the clock. All I can say is, we had a chat, Blood tweeted afterward. Shes among Omaha-area residents in recent days who have reported encounters with people circulating voter ID petitions who allegedly misrepresented themselves as working for state government or who have not accurately described the purpose of the petition. Former Sen. Shelley Kiel said two circulators came separately to her home in the Dundee area of Omaha. Both claimed to work for the state one specifically said she worked for the Secretary of States Office. Both repeated their claims when Kiel questioned them. This is not something they come up with on their own, Kiel said. They clearly were told to say something like that. Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who is leading the Citizens for Voter ID petition drive, said the reports were very isolated and not representative of the hundreds of voter ID petition circulators working across the state. We take these isolated, alleged incidents very seriously, she said, adding that petition organizers are investigating the reports. If they are found to be true, she said, there will be consequences up to and including termination. Citizens for Voter ID hired Vanguard Field Strategies, a GOP firm based in Austin, Texas, to bring in paid circulators and manage the signature-gathering effort, although Slama said the drive also has volunteers collecting signatures. Vanguard also managed the signature gathering for James Craig, a former Detroit police chief who had been viewed as a front-runner in Michigans GOP gubernatorial primary election, according to The New York Times. His spot on the ballot is in jeopardy after the state election bureau concluded this week that thousands of his petition signatures were fraudulent. More than half the 21,305 signatures submitted by his campaign were rejected, leaving him well short of the number needed. Slama said she was unfamiliar with the Michigan situation and believes the voter ID circulators are overwhelmingly doing outstanding jobs, including reading the object statement to would-be signers as required by law. She said signature-gathering is ahead of schedule. Citizens for Voter ID seeks to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that, if passed, would require people to present valid photo identification before they can vote. The drive must collect valid signatures from 10% of registered voters, or about 124,000 people, by July 7 to qualify. All but $1,000 of the $377,000 raised for the petition effort so far was donated by Marlene Ricketts, mother of Gov. Pete Ricketts. Reports filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission show that the drive had $36,947 left as of the end of April. However, Slama said she expects the grassroots support will continue. John Cartier, director of voting rights for Civic Nebraska, said an opposition group called Nebraskans for Free and Fair Elections is collecting reports of misrepresentation, fraud and other improprieties by the voter ID petition drive. He said those reports could be used in a lawsuit targeting the voter ID proposal if it qualifies for the ballot. He said the group also is trying to discourage people from signing the petition and spreading the word that people can have their names removed from a petition by filling out a form available at county and state election offices. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form There are so many individuals at all levels who have truly made Woodland their home, living and working in the school system for years and years, Evans said in a news release. This dedication speaks to the heart that Woodland holds for students and the greater community; thats what my wife and I have looked for since we relocated to Washington from Texas years ago. WOODLAND Blubber can shield you from cold water. Thats what Woodland Elementary School students learned first hand when staff from an Astoria museum visited the school earlier this month to talk about gray whales. Students dipped their bare arms in ice water for 10 seconds, then again with their arms covered by bags of vegetable shortening, a blubber simulator, according to the Woodland School District. The first-graders were surprised how much the fat provided warmth. Field Educator Kelly McKenzie with the Columbia River Maritime Museum used such hands-on experiments to teach students May 12 how gray whales protect themselves from the Pacific Northwests cold waters. She also taught students the difference between mammals, like whales which breathe air and live in the water, and fish, which live and breathe under water. During the presentation, students held whale rib bones and vertebrae, as well as touched a piece of baleen, a series of plates gray whales have in place of teeth that allows food like krill to filter through from mud and dirt. The average Pacific Gray Whale, which .... can be the size of a school bus, eats 2,500 krill each day, McKenzie said in a press release by the school district. The maritime museums staff teaches kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Oregon and Washington for free, reports the school district. McKenzie said she enjoys spreading maritime information. For me, I love how every day is so different since I have to change my lessons depending on each grade level, and my favorite part is engaging and teaching students about important maritime topics, McKenzie said in the press release. 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. Washingtons Congressional delegation is seeking money to improve a Longview road, monitor local river sediment levels and expand a local tribal substance-abuse center. The funding requests were made for Community Project Funding, a program introduced this year as a reformed version of earmarks. The system allows legislators to request funds for projects that affect voters back home. Earmarks were banned in 2011 after questions arose about their misuse. Earlier this month, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, requested a total of $20.4 million in Congressional spending across 15 projects in the third district of southwest Washington. Six of the projects were in Cowlitz County or largely affected Cowlitz County and would make up half of the requested funds. Three local projects received support from Herrera Beutler as well as Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. Those projects are: $2.1 million to the Cowlitz 911 Center to replace outdated dispatch equipment. $900,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study possible improvements to the ship turning basin in the Columbia River near Longview. $856,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support sediment monitoring in the rivers still affected by fallout from the Mount St. Helens eruption. Craig Wheeler, spokesman for Herrera Beutlers office, said the congresswoman received more than 70 requests for project funding from her district. Wheeler said the projects that made it through showed strong community engagement and support. The largest single project requested by Herrera Beutler was $5.5 million for safety improvements along Columbia Heights Road. The new work focuses on providing sidewalks and road repairs along the mile of road between Cascade Drive and Fishers Lane. The road safety measure has long been one of Longviews federal priorities. Herrera Beutler had secured funding for the road project in the version of the infrastructure bill that passed the House of Representatives last year but the funds did not end up in the final version of the bill. Longview Mayor MaryAlice Wallis, Mayor Pro-tem Mike Wallin and public works director Ken Hash traveled to Washington, D.C. in early May to meet with the congresswomen about the slate of projects that the city was prioritizing. It really does make a difference if youre in front of them. It shows that city is very supportive of the project. It also shows the good relationship between the city and their lobbyists, Wallis said. Herrera Beutler and Cantwell both recommended that Longview receive $215,000 to create a new training simulator for the Longview Police Department. The simulator would focus on de-escalation training for officers dealing with people in crisis. Herrera Beutler requested $762,000 to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to expand their substance abuse treatment center in Longview. Rep. Adam Smith requested an additional $2.6 million to turn the Cowlitz Tribal Health Services center in Tukwila into a farther-reaching health care campus. All projects still need to go through the subcommittees in the House and Senate before any funding is provided. Decisions about funding will begin to come out this summer. 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. Residents are warned to check their Jif peanut butter, which could be part of a recall due to a salmonella outbreak. A Whitman County resident, who was not hospitalized, has a confirmed case of salmonella linked with the outbreak involving 11 other states, according to the Department of Health. Late last week, the J. M. Smucker Co. issued a voluntary recall for certain Jif peanut butter products sold in the U.S. due to potential salmonella contamination. Consumers should immediately dispose of Jif peanut butter with lot codes 1274425 through 2140425, with 425 at the end of the first seven numbers. Lot codes are included alongside the best-if-used-by date. People should also wash and sanitize utensils that may have touched the recalled peanut butter. Salmonella infection is very serious, and it is important that people avoid consuming the recalled peanut butter products because it could make you sick, Scott Lindquist, state epidemiologist, said in a statement. Nationwide, the salmonella outbreak has led to two hospitalizations but no deaths. Other states involved in the outbreak include Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the health department. People usually become sick one to three days after infection. Symptoms include diarrhea that can be bloody, fever, chills, stomach cramps and occasionally vomiting. Most people infected with salmonella recover without treatment after four to seven days. Some people may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization. People who have eaten the recalled product and feel ill should consult their health-care provider. The Daily News, Longview, Wash. 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. Veterans organizations Monday are holding events across the region to honor people who died serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day has been a federal holiday since 1971, but the day of remembrance began more than a hundred years before, when people starting decorating the graves of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers who died in the American Civil War. This year, events large and small are planned locally, including the first Memorial Day event in three years at Portlands national cemetery, which is primarily for U.S. veterans and their spouses. Longview The Longview American Legion Post No. 155 is hosting a roughly 30-minute ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Longview Memorial Park, 5050 Mount Solo Road. Rick Little, vice president of the cemeterys Steele Chapel, said the event will include a speech from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue firefighter and U.S. Army veteran Robert Brown, who served 12 months in Afghanistan. Soprano soloist Karen Prichard of Longview is scheduled to sing the national anthem. The Mount St. Helens Detachment Marine Corps League No. 889 is set perform a rifle salute and the Sea Cadets Decatur division is slated to perform the color guard ceremony. Little said coffee and cookies will be offered at Steele Chapel after the event. The Longview American Legion will also host a spaghetti meal for members and their guests. Kelso The Kelso American Legion is hosting a short ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at Kelso Veterans Park, across from the police department on the corner of South Pacific Avenue and Oak Street. Dan Halverson of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders said the event will include a speech, rifle salute and performance of Taps. Kalama The Kalama Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Kalama American Legion are hosting a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Kalama Oddfellows Cemetery, also known as the IOOF Cemetery off Spencer Creek Road. Randy Hahn, who is with both Kalama veterans organizations, said the roughly 20-minute ceremony will include speeches from Brian LaRoy of the American Legion and a Kalama Baptist pastor. Vancouver The Community Military Appreciation Committee is hosting a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site at 612 East Reserve St., Vancouver. The annual event is scheduled to be held on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground and include a flag raising and wreath laying ceremony. Portland The Department of Veterans Affairs Willamette National Cemetery is hosting its first Memorial Day event since 2019 on Monday, with a wreath laying ceremony at 10 a.m. at 11800 Southeast Mt. Scott Blvd. in Portland. The cemetery is one of 155 national cemeteries operated by the VA. The roughly hour-long event is scheduled to include speeches, a rifle salute and a performance of Taps. The Daily News, Longview, Wash. Love 1 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. Strategic ambiguity is what U.S. diplomats call Americas policy on Taiwan and China. The strategy is to keep the peace by maintaining ambiguity over the degree the U.S. would go to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion. To date, that intentional vagueness has met its objective of keeping Taiwan from declaring formal independence, which would incense China, and from China invading what it considers a renegade province. On Monday, however, President Joe Biden was unambiguous about U.S. policy. During a stop in Japan, Biden was asked by a reporter, Are you willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan if it comes to that? Yes, Biden answered simply, later adding: Thats the commitment we made. He was likely referring to the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which actually does not commit the U.S. to militarily defend Taiwan, but to provide self-defense capabilities. Biden apparently believes otherwise in a view thats also shared by several respected foreign policy experts. But Bidens approach, if that indeed reflects U.S. policy, may not be as effective a strategy, according to Ryan Hass, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Hass, an expert in East Asia, told an editorial writer in an e-mail interview that there are few issues in the world where words matter more than on the question of war in the Taiwan Strait and that in this respect, the inconsistencies in the Biden administrations responses to questions about whether the United States would intervene in a cross-Strait conflict is troubling. Americas abiding interest is in preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Hass continued. Preserving this objective requires standing in the way of the two paths that could lead to conflict, either a Chinese military invasion or efforts by Taiwan to declare de jure independence. The more that President Biden locks the U.S. into a specific response to a future hypothetical conflict, the less room for maneuver he leaves for himself or his successors. China, Hass said, already assumes U.S. intervention if it attacks Taiwan. Accordingly, he believes that there is not deterrent value for any U.S. president to say out loud that the U.S. would intervene in any future conflict. There is risk, however, that such a statement could prompt Beijing to take visible responses to register displeasure. Indeed Chinese officials did, rhetorically and by announcing new military drills near Taiwan. Theres also a risk that Taipei could misinterpret the statement and not as aggressively build its defensive capabilities, or that it may choose to roil the fragile status quo. More constructively, Biden used his trip to introduce a 13-nation pact called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. Along with the U.S. and regional leaders Japan, India, South Korea and Australia, the agreement includes Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam (but notably, not Taiwan). Together the 13 countries represent about 40% of the global economy. But unlike Bidens unambiguous statement on Taiwan, theres more ambiguity to the new arrangement, as its designed to address issues like supply chain resilience, digital trade, corruption and clean energy. Unlike a more muscular free trade agreement, it does not address issues of market access, which will make it not only less economically meaningful but less of a geopolitical counterweight to China. Had Biden really wanted to blunt Beijings increasing influence, he would have advocated for the pact his former boss, President Barack Obama, negotiated, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which went forward without the U.S. after it was irresponsibly demonized during the 2016 campaign by both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. China has sought aggressively to sell the idea that the U.S. is an anxious, declining power retreating into greater isolation, while China is the new core of Asias economic growth story, Hass said. If the U.S. were to return to its seat at the trade table in Asia through CPTPP [the renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership], it would render obsolete Chinas efforts to present America as a fading power and itself as the growth engine of the future. Biden is right to not let the long-delayed pivot to Asia become derailed due to the Ukraine crisis. But strategic ambiguity has maintained peace in the region peace that can be undone if not carefully maintained. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 What are comets? NASA says comets are icy, small Solar System bodies which usually have highly eccentric elliptical orbits. They are also known as falling stars. We very well know that in the solar system, planets orbits the Sun. But do you know that along with planets, there are objects made up of dust and ice called comets, that also orbit the sun. They are rare to see and when they come, they flaunt their magnificently luminescent tails. As NASA mentions, comets are large objects made of dust and ice that orbit the Sun. Best known for their long and streaming tails, these ancient objects are leftovers from the formation of the solar system going back as far as 4.6 billion years ago. After reading about the comets, a question that arises is where do they come from? Comets are usually found in the centre of the solar system. Some of them are found beyond the orbit of Neptune, which is the place where the Kuiper Belt lies. There are also known to exist short period comets that take less than 200 years to orbit around the Sun. Others live in the outer edge of the solar system, called Oort Cloud which is 50 times farther away from the Sun. These comets are known as long-period comets and they take 250,000 years to complete one orbit of the Sun. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: We usually get to read news of a comet coming towards Earth and eventually head towards the Sun. So, do comets die when they enter the solar system? The answer is unclear yet, but they do when the gravity of a planet or star pulls the comet from their trajectory towards them and a collision occurs. This changes their direction towards the Sun and this is when some comets dive right into the Sun, never to be seen again. When the comet is in the inner solar system, either coming or going, that's when we see it in our skies. For thousands of years people have been interested in learning about comets but since we cant see or look at them from the Earth, it was difficult to know much about them. It has certainly changed now as in recent years several spacecraft have had the chance to study comets up close. A case in point was the comet Leonard that visited us a few months ago and spacecraft from Earth were able to photograph it whiz past us. A few years ago, NASAs Stardust mission collected samples from Comet Wild 2 and brought them back to Earth. Scientists found those particles to be rich in hydrocarbons, which are chemicals we consider the building blocks of life. Rosetta, a mission of the European Space Agency that had several NASA instruments onboard, studied Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Rosetta dropped a lander on the nucleus, then orbited the comet for two years. Rosetta detected building blocks of life on this comet, too. A legal conference on the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) was held on Friday, one of the celebratory events for the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Organized by the Department of Justice of the HKSAR government, the conference, themed "Stability to Prosperity", brought together prominent and heavyweight speakers from different sectors to discuss how the central government can consolidate the constitutional order of the HKSAR and bring Hong Kong's democratic development back on track, the interpretation and practice of the Basic Law, as well as how to boost Hong Kong's economy. Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR, said in her speech that Hong Kong is an inseparable part of China, and "one country" is undoubtedly the backbone as well as a major prerequisite for the sustained development of "two systems". She firmly believed that only by acting in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, relying on the central government and safeguarding national security can Hong Kong's prosperity and stability be ensured. Over the past 25 years, the practice of "one country, two systems" has been a universally recognized success, said Wang Linggui, deputy director of the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. The next five years will be crucial for Hong Kong as it has transited from chaos to order and is advancing to prosperity, Wang said, adding that Hong Kong should stay firmly committed to the right path of "one country, two systems" and ensure the full and accurate implementation of the Basic Law. Chen Dong, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that in the past 25 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the implementation of the Basic Law has safeguarded China's sovereignty, security, and development interests and the central government's overall governance over the region. As long as Hong Kong sticks to the fundamental principle of "one country", makes good use of the advantages of "two systems" and becomes better integrated into the overall development of the country, it will be able to effectively cope with various risks and challenges and continue to write a new chapter in the practice of "one country, two systems", Chen said. When it comes to PC gaming, there are always people who want the best for their setup. This setup not only includes peripherals like gaming keyboards but also things like a good table or gaming chair. Razer has started expanding in the latter category, and just announced a new model yesterday. Razer's latest gaming chair is the Razer Enki Pro, a top-of-the-line model that offers the best features and comfort levels. As you can see, this is a large chair that's suitable for taller people. It has a recommended height of up to 204cm, and the seat base is 21-inch so even larger people can sit on it comfortably. Moreover, it has a strong steel frame that can support weights of below 136kg. Unlike most gaming chairs, the Razer Enki Pro doesn't have a separate lumbar cushion. Instead, it has a built-in lumbar arch to support your lower back. There's also a high-quality headrest with soft foam that's attached magnetically. Razer went for a mix of Premium EPU synthetic leather and Alcantara for the upholstering in terms of materials. Additionally, the chair uses high-density PU moulded foam. The Razer Enki Pro expected price in Malaysia is RM4299. If you're interested, you can check out the product page. So, what do you think about Razer's new gaming chair? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more news like this. Elon Musk has clashed before with US securities regulators keen to find out why he didn't let them know sooner about increasing his stake in Twitter ahead of moving to buy the global online platform. US market authorities have asked Elon Musk to explain an apparent delay in reporting his Twitter stock buys, the agency revealed Friday, the latest questions on the methods and intent of his troubled bid for the platform. Musk became a major Twitter stockholder following the purchase of 73.5 million shares in early April, and less than two weeks later launched a hostile takeover bid. He went on to ink a $44 billion deal to buy the San Francisco-based company, but has since given mixed signals regarding how committed he is to following through. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) letter to Musk showed regulators asked him to explain why he didn't disclose within a required 10-day time period his increased stake in Twitter, especially if he planned to buy the company. "Your response should address, among other things, your recent public statements on the Twitter platform regarding Twitter, including statements questioning whether Twitter rigorously adheres to free speech principles," regulators said in the letter dated April 4. Neither Musk nor the SEC immediately responded to requests for comment. The Tesla chief is a frequent Twitter user, regularly firing off inflammatory and controversial statements about issues or other public figures with remarks that are whimsical or business-focused. A clash between Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018 ended with him paying a fine, stepping down as Tesla board chairman, and having to be more careful what he tweets about the electric car company. He has sparred repeatedly with federal securities regulators, who cracked down on his social media use after a purported effort to take Tesla private in 2018 fell apart. Musk has cited the right to freedom of speech as a driver of his efforts to undo an agreement with the SEC that tightened his use of the social media platform following his August 2018 tweet that funding was "secured" to take Tesla private. Musk also faces a lawsuit filed this week accusing him of pushing down Twitter's stock price in order to either give himself an escape hatch from his buyout bid, or room to negotiate a discount. The suit alleges Musk tweeted and made statements intended to create doubt about the deal, which has roiled the social media platform for weeks. "Musk proceeded to make statements, send tweets, and engage in conduct designed to create doubt about the deal and drive Twitter's stock down substantially," according to the complaint. His aim was to gain leverage to get Twitter at a much cheaper price, or back out of the deal without suffering any penalty, the suit argued. 2022 AFP As told in the Book of Joshua, after Moses death, his protege, Joshua, led the ancient people of Israel into the land of Canaan. Before Joshua did that, he gave them a choice: serve the Lord their God who would lead them into life, or choose death by serving the foreign gods and idols of their ancestors and those of the land. The Book of Joshua says that he gathered all the tribes of Israel at the holy place of Shechem, and there he exhorted them to serve the Lord in sincerity and in faithfulness, to put away the gods that their ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord. He ended his speech by saying as for me and my household we choose the Lord. Then the people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods. Then they recited all that the Lord had done for them: brought them and their ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the bondage of slavery; protected them along the way; and at the end they say, therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God. Then Joshua made a covenant with the people that day. Before they entered the Promised Land, Joshua gave them a choice: serve the Lord their God who would lead them to life, or forsake their God, and choose death by serving the foreign gods of their ancestors and those of the land. As it was for the ancient people of Israel, we in our own day can choose life with the living God or we can choose the death of idol worship. I share the sorrow, dismay, anger and frustration that many people feel after the shooting in the Uvalde elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers. I am left wondering why this sort of thing happens so often in our country. Is it our easy access to guns? Is it the failures of our mental health system? Is it our glorification of violence in some movies and video games? Is it the role of the media and the saturation coverage they provide after such events? As we consider the why let us also ponder some of what has transpired in the last 10 years. In July 2012, at a movie theater in Colorado, 12 people were shot and killed, and 58 wounded. In Newtown, Connecticut, 20 children and six adults were murdered at an elementary school. Forty-nine were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Florida and another 58 were killed at an outdoor festival in Las Vegas. In 2017, 26 were killed at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and another 10 were killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas. Earlier this month, 10 people were killed at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. After the Sutherland Springs shooting, John Miller, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism for the New York Police Department at the time, said in relation to the growing list of mass shootings, So I guess we know who we are and what is important to us. If our guns are more important than our elected officials, more important than our families at the mall, more important than our children in school, if thats who we are I think we need to ask why? Given that we have chosen to do so little in terms of preventing such mass shootings, and given that the measures we have taken have done so little in preventing such occurrences, it does some that we value access to guns over our children and families. Why might that be the case? The big problem for the ancient Israelites going forward in the land of Canaan was idolatry, worshiping the gods they worshiped as slaves in Egypt and the gods of the land of Canaan, instead of the God who had brought them out of slavery. In our day and age, our gods, our idols, tend to be celebrity, fame, our nation or heritage, power, money and sex, and I would also add guns. We can turn anything we create into an idol and worship it. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, or contrary to the Gospel or Gods purposes, but our proclivity is to cast them into gold, and fall down and worship them, and that leads to death. If we wonder what idol we are worshipping, which god we are serving besides the living God, there are some criteria we can use to help us decide whether it is a god or not. Timothy Keller, Presbyterian pastor, church planter and author said in his book, Counterfeit God: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters, When anything in life is an absolute requirement for our happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an idol, something we are actually worshipping. When such a thing is threatened, our anger is absolute. Our anger is actually the way the idol keeps us in its service, in its chains. Over the years, people have recommended actions that could help prevent such events like that which occurred in Uvalde: limiting access to guns, requiring background checks for gun show purchases, and more access to mental health care. All these things are well and good and should be considered. More fundamentally we have to decide what we value most and make sure we are not worshipping idols whether they are guns, fame or power. Idols are the way of death. The Book of Joshua and the history of the ancient Israelites as described in the books that follow Joshua make that clear. The way of God is the way of life. Its our choice to make. So let us choose to put away our idols and serve the living God, so that we and all others may live. Daryl Hay is the rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Downtown Bryan. UVALDE Children inside a Texas elementary school frantically called 911, begging for the police to save them, as a tactical decision by a commander kept 19 officers from storming a classroom in what a law enforcement official acknowledged on Friday was a mistake in judgment. Of course it wasnt the right decision, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said at a news conference, choking back tears. It was the wrong decision. Period. With 19 officers, McCraw said, there were plenty of officers to do whatever needed to be done. But the commander inside Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District chief of police decided the team needed more equipment and officers to enter the classroom where the shooter was holed up. He said the team did not move to take out the gunman until a full U.S. Border Patrol tactical unit arrived. Nineteen children and two teachers died in the massacre Tuesday. The magnitude of the mistake became glaringly clear Friday as officials also shared details of the 911 calls from children still alive in the barricaded classrooms. At 12:03 p.m., McCraw said, a 911 caller whispered that she was in Room 112 and that multiple people were dead. Ten minutes later, she said eight or nine students were still alive. More than half an hour later, a child calling from Room 111 said she could hear law enforcement officers next door. Please send the police now, she pleaded. McCraw did not say how many children might have been saved had officers entered immediately. He also did not spell out the degree to which the commander was aware of the childrens 911 pleas. Ultimately, this is tragic. What do you tell the parents of 19 kids or the families of two teachers? McCraw said. Were not here to defend what happened. Were here to report the facts. McCraw emphasized that every officer in Texas has gone through active-shooter training and learns you go in without waiting exactly the opposite of what officers did in Uvalde. Texas embraces active-shooter training, active-shooter certification, McCraw said. And that doctrine requires officers we dont care what agency youre from, you dont have to have a leader on the scene every officer lines up, stacks up, goes and finds where those rounds are being fired at and keeps shooting until the subject is dead. Period. Some parents whose children were in the school said they were even further troubled by the new timeline. Officers on the scene should have done more, they said. I understand that theyre afraid for their own lives, but these guys are in tactical gear, said Laura Pennington, whose 8-year-old son, Adam, hid in the principals office as the massacre unfolded. They could have swarmed the building from all angles. He was terrorizing these children. They needed to do more. Pennington, whose brother-in-law was among those who rushed to the school to help but were forcibly kept outside by officers, was eventually reunited with her son Tuesday afternoon. But she said she was in touch with a woman whose niece was wounded in the attack and was still hospitalized Friday. Theres several more that are critical and I dont know if theyll live, Pennington said. I want to cry because they deserve better than that. Law enforcement experts across the country were also shocked to learn new details of Tuesdays police response, which ignored best practices adopted by Texas law enforcement to immediately send officers in to confront and kill active shooters. Youve got to stop the bleed, said Art Acevedo, former police chief of Miami, Houston and Austin. You have to go in immediately. The kids were calling 911 for help. Travis Norton, a leader of the California Association of Tactical Officers after-action review team who has studied numerous mass shootings, said it is a common mistake in such situations to think when the shooting stops, we stop. That is the problem with the term active shooter: The shooter is still active if there are people in harms way, he said. But law enforcement keeps making the same mistake, he said. In the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, the 2018 Borderline Bar and Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, and the 2021 King Soopers grocery store shooting in Boulder, Colorado, on-scene commanders mistook a lack of shots for a barricade situation, Norton said. In contrast, when a gunman attacked a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, officers did not stop when the killer stopped shooting. Investigators in Uvalde are interviewing witnesses and poring over video to piece together a timeline that explains how the 18-year-old gunman, Salvador Ramos, was able to walk up to the school with a long gun, enter through an unlocked door and barricade himself inside a classroom for over an hour before he was shot and killed. With pressure mounting to explain the delayed response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott scrapped plans to attend the National Rifle Associations annual convention in Houston and traveled to Uvalde on Friday. In his initial remarks, Abbott did not address errors by law enforcement or acknowledge previous misinformation he provided. Later, in response to a question from a reporter, he said he was initially misled about what happened in Uvalde and was absolutely livid. There are people who deserve answers the most and those are the families whose lives have been destroyed, he said. They need answers that are accurate. For the second time this week, Abbott was confronted about his reluctance to support restrictions on guns. On Wednesday, former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke accused Abbott of inaction. On Friday, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, urged Abbott to call lawmakers in for a special session to pass meaningful gun control measures. Calling the massacre unacceptable, Abbott said Texas officials would look to pass the best laws to make our communities and schools safer. But Abbott said he would not consider a ban on assault-style rifles. Ever since Texas has been a state, an 18-year-old has had the ability to buy a long gun, a rifle, he said. Maybe were focusing our attention on the wrong thing? Earlier this week, Abbott hailed the speedy response of valiant local officials who he said had engaged the gunman before he entered Robb Elementary School. They showed amazing courage by running toward gunfire, the Republican governor said at a Wednesday news conference. And it is a fact that because of their quick response, getting on the scene, being able to respond to the gunman and eliminate the gunman, they were able to save lives. The gunman roamed outside the school for 12 minutes before entering unchallenged through an unlocked door, according to a timeline given by Texas Ranger Victor Escalon on Thursday. About 90 minutes passed from when the gunman crashed his car outside the school at 11:28 a.m. until he was reported shot dead at 12:58 p.m. That delay as a crowd of anguished parents gathered outside and begged to get in to confront the gunman has led to growing scrutiny of the law enforcement response to the deadliest U.S. school shooting in almost a decade. Some parents have criticized police for not stopping the shooter sooner, and San Antonio-area Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro on Thursday urged the FBI to investigate local law enforcement actions. Texas officials have repeatedly changed the narrative of the timeline, leaving unexplained how the shooter had time to get into the school after the crash, enter through an unlocked door and barricade himself in at least one classroom. They have not explained why local law enforcement officers apparently spent an hour inside the school negotiating with an active shooter. Ramos rampage began just after 11 a.m., when he shot his grandmother in the face at her Uvalde home. According to officials, Ramos then posted a social media message declaring that Im going to shoot an elementary school and drove off at a high speed in his grandmothers pickup. At 11:28 a.m., Ramos crashed the truck in a ditch and jumped out of the passenger side, carrying a rifle. He fired at two people at a funeral home as he walked toward Robb Elementary, climbed a fence and crossed the school parking lot. At 11:33 a.m., the gunman entered the school and began shooting more than 100 rounds into adjoining Rooms 111 and 112. Two minutes later, three Uvalde Police Department officers entered the school through the same door used by Ramos and went directly to the classroom door. Two officers received grazed wounds from the suspect. They were soon followed by three other Uvalde police officers and one county deputy sheriff, McCraw said, making a total of seven officers. By 12:03 p.m., as many as 19 officers were massed in the corridor. But it was not until 12:50 p.m. more than an hour after law enforcement entered the building that officers breached the door using keys they were able to get from a janitor. A Border Patrol tactical officer shot and killed Ramos. The new timeline raises questions not just about a slow active-shooter response, but glaring security lapses in a school district that has invested in threat-assessment teams, a threat-reporting system, social media monitoring software, fences around schools and motion detectors to detect campus breaches. According to online district records, teachers are instructed to keep their classroom doors closed and locked at all times. Even though Uvalde is a small city of 16,000, its school district has its own police department, formed a few months after the 2018 school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. It has six officers and one security guard. One of its newest hires, Officer Adrian Gonzalez, had been an assistant commander and SWAT training commander at the Uvalde Police Department for 10 years and had taken training courses in advanced SWAT tactics and how to respond to active shooters and rescue hostages. Uvalde law enforcement officers have repeatedly participated in active-shooter training courses, according to official statements and online documents. In April 2018, the Uvalde Police Department and the Uvalde County Sheriffs Office took part in a five-day active-shooter response course conducted at the Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy. The training included mock scenarios at various public places, including an elementary school, police said. In October of that same year, a mock active-shooter drill was held at Sabinal High School, about 20 miles east of Uvalde. The drill included members of the Uvalde County Office of Emergency Management, Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the department. Police had experience with credible threats. In April 2018, about two weeks after the training at Middle Rio Grande, Uvalde officers arrested two juveniles who they said were planning to conduct a school shooting on their senior year (2022) at the Uvalde High School. On Friday, McCraw said Ramos was not one of those juveniles. On May 16, 2018, a school resource officer responded to a possible threat of a school shooting at Uvalde High after a student stated she overheard a comment in the hallways that a school shooting was going to occur sometime today, according to a new release. Police were not able to identify the person who may have made the comment. Eight days later, on May 24, Uvalde High was placed in temporary lockdown while officers investigated a school shooting threat. An investigation revealed that the concerning information was from a previous threat investigation and was cleared without incident, police said. WASHINGTON The warning signs were there for anyone to stumble upon, days before the 18-year-old gunman entered a Texas elementary school and slaughtered 19 children and two teachers. There was the Instagram photo of a hand holding a gun magazine, a TikTok profile that warned, Kids be scared, and the image of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles displayed on a rug, pinned to the top of the killers Instagram profile. Shooters are leaving digital trails that hint at whats to come long before they actually pull the trigger. When somebody starts posting pictures of guns they started purchasing, theyre announcing to the world that theyre changing who they are, said Katherine Schweit, a retired FBI agent who spearheaded the agencys active shooter program. It absolutely is a cry for help. Its a tease: can you catch me? The foreboding posts, however, are often lost in an endless grid of Instagram photos that feature semi-automatic rifles, handguns and ammunition. Theres even a popular hashtag devoted to encouraging Instagram users to upload daily photos of guns with more than 2 million posts attached to it. For law enforcement and social media companies, spotting a gun post from a potential mass shooter is like sifting through quicksand, Schweit said. Thats why she tells people not to ignore those type of posts, especially from children or young adults. Report it, she advises, to a school counselor, the police or even the FBI tip line. Increasingly, young men have taken to Instagram, which boasts a thriving gun community, to drop small hints of whats to come with photos of their own weapons just days or weeks before executing a mass killing.Days before entering a school classroom on Tuesday and killing 19 small children and two teachers, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos left clues across Instagram. On May 20, the day that law enforcement officials say Ramos purchased a second rifle, a picture of two AR-style semi-automatic rifles appeared on his Instagram. He tagged another Instagram user with more than 10,000 followers in the photo. In an exchange, later shared by that user, she asks why he tagged her in the photo. I barely know you and u tag me in a picture with some guns, the Instagram user wrote, adding, Its just scary. The school district in Uvalde had even spent money on software that, using geofencing technology, monitors for potential threats in the area. Ramos, however, didnt make a direct threat in posts. Having recently turned 18, he was legally allowed to own the weapons in Texas. His photos of semi-automatic rifles are one of many on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube where its commonplace to post pictures or videos of guns and shooter training videos are prevalent. YouTube prohibits users from posting instructions on how to convert firearms to automatic. But Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, does not limit photos or hashtags around firearms. That makes it difficult for platforms to separate people posting gun photos as part of a hobby from those with violent intent, said Sara Aniano, a social media and disinformation researcher, most recently at Monmouth University. In a perfect world, there would be some magical algorithm that could detect a worrisome photo of a gun on Instagram, Aniano said. For a lot of reasons, thats a slippery slope and impossible to do when there are people like gun collectors and gunsmiths who have no plan to use their weapon with ill intent. Meta said it was working with law enforcement officials Wednesday to investigate Ramos accounts. The company declined to answer questions about reports it might have received on Ramos accounts. You are here: China The Luohu International Family Team, a volunteer organization set up in 2021, held a meeting of exchanges recently in the service center of the Shuibei neighborhood in Luohu district. In the meeting, the expats communicated about their lives and work in Shenzhen, deepening their mutual understanding. The Luohu authorities held the meeting to show the district's support for "meaningful" work and its commitment to promoting exchanges of people from different countries in Luohu. Volunteers from Malaysia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United States, shared their views on work and gave suggestions on the district's work. A long-planned roundabout at Grand Islands Five Points intersection is scheduled to go out to bid in September. The project will construct a roundabout at the intersections of Broadwell Avenue, Eddy Street and State Street. The NDOT-led project is expected to cost $3.6 million with a 20% local match contribution. The project is expected to begin construction in spring 2023. In August, The Independent reported that the bidding process for the project was being delayed by the Nebraska Department of Transportation until this fall 2022. The project is among those included in the final draft of 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program. An update on TIP was provided at Tuesdays meeting of Grand Island Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. GIAMPO Coordinator Allan Zafft, who began in the position in February, detailed the projects in the plan. There are eight NDOT and nine Grand Island highway projects, and three Grand Island and one Hall County transit in the plan, Zafft reported. A roundabout at Five Points is needed, City Public Works Director John Collins told The Independent. With a roundabout, city officials estimate there would be a 37% reduction in accidents and 80% reduction in serious accidents, said Collins. From what we can see in the city, it should get rid of a lot of our problems, he said. This increases pedestrian safety quite a bit and it will allow anyone to turn left from any of the legs. If you go out there today, there are some prohibited turning movements. Other projects going to bid this year include: -Locust Street reconstruction, from Fonner Park to First Street, is in design right now. This project is estimated to cost $6.8 million. We look to have construction 2024, if not beginning construction in late 2023, said Zafft. -Old Potash Highway widening and intersection improvements, from North Road to Webb Road, and an extension of Claude Road, from Old Potash to Faidley Avenue. This project, estimated to cost $17.9 million, is scheduled for completion this spring. -Broadwell Avenue planning and environmental linkage study, from Faidley Avenue to Anna Street, currently in progress and is estimated to cost $412,000. We submitted the draft document for the PEL to Federal Highway, said Zafft. We received comments from them. Were in the process of working with NDOT to address those comments. Were also working with NDOT on the next steps after the PEL. Transit projects are also included in the 2023-2027 TIP. Roughly $4.5 million is estimated for operating assistance for transit services in the Grand Island urbanized area, including costs associated with operating, bus support equipment and facilities, and other capital items. An estimated $421,000 for operating assistance for transit services in areas outside of the Grand Island urbanized area (Hall County) is also planned. About $5.5 million is planned for design and capital acquisition for projects. And $175,000 for a transit development plan, which will serve as a basis for defining the mobility needs within the service area. For more details, visit www.grand-island.com/departments/public-works/metropolitan-planning-organization. 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 dozen Nebraska State Troopers, including six based in Grand Island, have been recognized for their efforts to keep Nebraska roads safe through impaired driving enforcement and education. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) presented Hero Awards to the 12 troopers, as well as officers, deputies, and advocates from several other agencies and organizations around the state on Tuesday. The annual MADD Heroes Award ceremony was held at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln. MADD honors law enforcement and public safety advocates for their work to keep drunk or drugged drivers off Nebraska roadways. Enforcement and education are two keys to keeping Nebraska roads safe for all, Col. John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said in a news release. Were tremendously proud of our troopers and our public safety partners for their efforts to combat impaired driving. MADD is a fantastic partner in that mission, and we salute their work across the state to highlight the critical importance of always having a sober driver. The troopers honored from Troop C in Grand Island were Ryan Stirn, Zach Lorang, Jordan Girardi, Travis Bauer, Andrew Hewitt and Nicole Saathoff. Five people from Lincoln-based Troop H were recognized. They were Sgt. Michael Thorson and Troopers Ben Nguyen, Ty Schoenefeld, Nathan Knudson and Ethan Schroeder. Also honored was Timothy Flick of Troop E, headquartered in Scottsbluff. In 2021, Nebraska troopers arrested nearly 1,200 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. So far in 2022, troopers have made more than 350 DUI arrests. Troopers also conduct hundreds of events across the state each year to educate Nebraskas youth about the dangers of drinking and driving. Just this week, two former personal branding clients reached out saying they regretted joining their new companies. Surprisingly, they shared feelings of embarrassment, even though their reasons for leaving were completely legitimate. The culture is really bad. The job announcement overpromised and underdelivered. Each person gave the new role a solid six months before throwing in the towel and looking for other work. This is happening across the world as the great resignation gives way to what is being labeled, quitters remorse, by career experts and reporters. First of all, I hate the word, quitter. It connotates giving up on something and seemingly places the blame on the one leaving the situation. Does that mean we should never escape an abusive relationship or leave a job with a toxic work environment? Labeling disgruntled workers with the quitter tag clears the employer of any responsibility. It allows them to ignore internal complaints and leaves employees feeling powerless. And who wouldnt quit that kind of job? According to a March survey of about 2,000 United States workers who quit their job in the past two years, about one in five said they regretted doing so. In fact, only 26 percent of job-switchers stated they liked it enough to stay, while 33 percent reported they had already begun searching for a new role. Quitters remorse may not necessarily be regret for leaving a previous job, but more a case of finding out a new job was oversold. Vulnerable employees may be more easily swayed by fancy job descriptions promising all of the things missing from their current role. Then upon joining their new company, they find high levels of turnover and underperforming leadership teams. In a 2022 study by The Muse, 72 percent of surveyed workers said their new role or company was very different from what they had been led to believe. Quitting work is nothing new. We all have a natural urge to better ourselves and our families whether were in a recession or not. For nearly a year, around four million US workers have quit their jobs every month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these workers are looking for better pay or roles that align more with their skillsets. Others simply want more flexibility in their lives. Since the early 2000s, people have steadily started diversifying their careers by taking on remote work opportunities or choosing freelance lifestyles. Im one of them. When companies started closing down their offices during the onset of the pandemic, this gave the rest of the more traditional W-2 working population a chance to see the benefits for themselves. Now we are seeing these professionals demand more flexible work schedules and hybrid/remote setups. And if they dont get it, they will walk. Overcoming Remorse As long as there are no glaring moral conflicts or ethical issues with your new role, I recommend pushing through emotions of regret. Feeling out of place initially especially if you worked for your previous employer for a while is completely natural. There are new people, new responsibilities, and new expectations to get used to. Slowly build up your relationships and efficiency while you sort things out. No job will ever be perfect. There will be tough days, gossipers, and bad bosses and well never think we make enough money for our work. But we should never be afraid to seek better employment opportunities. Even at the risk of being called a quitter. Joe Szynkowski is the happy founder and owner of The UpWrite Group, a small local firm that has offered corporate communications, personal branding, public relations, and ghostwriting services since 2008. Email Joe@TheUpWriteGroup.com for more information. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Natural gas exploded to the highest level since 2008 and crude hit the highest prices since March. Natural gas is being boosted by approaching summer temperatures. Air conditioning is powered by electricity and generated by gas. Fertilizer, also made from gas, has been in demand as gas supplies from Russia are threatened. The U.S. seizure of an Iranian Oil tanker and plans for an E.U. embargo deal contributed to speculation that petroleum will be driven higher. Natural gas for July delivery hit a high of $9.44 per 10,000 mm BTU on Thursday. Friday afternoon natural gas was $8.68, while July crude traded at $114.50 per barrel. Tulip bulb mania The massive rise in our stock markets, housing, and Bitcoin causes some to look at past bubbles for hints of what may happen in our financial future. One haunting example of financial group behavior began in the Netherlands in 1634. Investors purchased tulips, watched the price spike, and stampeded into a speculative frenzy which accelerated until February of 1637 when prices suddenly collapsed. Toward the end of the Tulipmania, allegedly the middle-class public drove the price of a single tulip above the value of the average house. Investors were certain the price would rise further or even indefinitely. The breathtaking speed of the crash when the bubble burst was like our U.S. stock market crash in 1929 or smaller crashes in 1987 or 2008. Of course, modern safeguards seem to assure today's investors that bubbles cannot happen again and that a bubble cannot be burst again. We'll see. NOAA predicts huge hurricane season Our National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association released their forecast of named storms, including up to 10 hurricanes with six of them major. This forecast ranks as the second worst in history next to 2020. NOAA and the International Panel on Climate Change attribute the storm frequency to climate-change warming sea-surface temperatures Increased storms mean increased rainfall, which would be welcome if it reached our Southwest. Regrettably, the rains have been on our East and Southern coasts and do not move on to where the moisture is most needed. Pigs fly, sugar sours Hogs won the award for the biggest rally this week of all our domestic agricultural markets, whereas sugar was down the most. Friday afternoon, July Hogs were at $1.1150 per pound, up almost 2 cents on the week. Sugar for July delivery brought $19.59 per pound, down about a quarter penny. July corn brought $7.77 per bushel, July beans $17.37, and July Chicago wheat $11.66. Opinions are solely the writers. Walt Breitinger is a commodity futures broker in Valparaiso, Indiana. He can be reached at 800-411-3888 or www.indianafutures.com. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell any market. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 L&S Magazine: Tell us about yourself and your roots in the Midwest. Jacoby Andrick: I was born and raised in Central Illinois and went to a small rural school surrounded by a corn field. I grew up in Decatur, where most of my family still resides. Currently Im a wedding and newborn photographer living in St. Louis with my husband and our two small kids. I attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 2014. While living in Nashville, I realized how much I love the Midwest. The south wasnt for us, so we made our way to St. Louis in 2016 to be closer to our families and also because we love St. Louis as a city. I truly believe the Midwest is best. L&S: What do you remember or love most about your time at Southern Illinois University Carbondale? JA: The core memory that will stick with me is the beauty of the campus and the area. I feel like Southern Illinois is such a gem of the Midwest, and I am always telling friends here in St. Louis to visit. I have so many great memories with my now husband at Giant City Park, walking together on campus, and eating at local restaurants like Quatros. During my time as a student at SIUC, I also briefly worked at the Daily Egyptian newspaper and also started working with Wright-Way Rescue, a no-kill animal rescue in Murphysboro. Even though I didnt work as a photographer at the DE or at Wright-Way, both experiences were really formative for me professionally. L&S: How did you find your passion for photography? JA: Like so many other millennials, I was introduced to the small digital camera and carried that around with me everywhere. I was the teenager who would take my friends out after school to do photoshoots. I'd go home and edit them, and then upload them on MySpace. Did I age myself there? After I took my own senior pictures, it dawned on me that this could be a real path for me. I started my business when I was in high school at 17 years old. I feel so lucky that I knew what I wanted to do with my life from such a young age. L&S: How long have you been shooting weddings? Whats your favorite part about the job? JA: I photographed my first wedding around 10 years ago, but weddings became a pillar of my business in 2014, shortly after I graduated from SIU. My favorite part of the job is the people. I will never lose sight of how special it is to witness every intimate part of someones wedding day. Through the process, I often become friends with my clients and then get to photograph them as they grow their family. Its really cool that I get to be there from the very beginning. L&S: How would you describe your working style? JA: As a photographer, my approach is to go into every wedding wearing my 30 year goggles. I want my clients to look at their wedding photos and see the people and emotions they felt. While wedding details are fun to create, its the photos of your parents, your best friends, and family that will be the ones you treasure when you look back on your wedding day. L&S: Lets get personal for a moment. Tell us about your marriage. How long have you been together and how did you meet? Do you remember the moment you fell in love? JA: My husband Macklin and I met 12 years ago, right before we both headed to SIU. We met through mutual friends in Decatur after graduating at different high schools. We had an idealistic teenage summer romance and coincidentally were both heading to the same university. The rest is history. We now have two young kids, and hes still my favorite person on earth. L&S: Whats the secret to a successful marriage and how do you personally make it work? JA: When you find the right person, I truly believe it should feel easy. Find the person that, in the good times, makes it feel effortless. And in the bad times, you are both putting in the work to get yourselves through it. My husband Macklin and I truly work as a team in all things. L&S What is your personal motto? JA: When life pushes you in a certain direction, its up to you to be the ball and roll towards it. Trusting in that hasnt let me down yet. L&S: Tell us about some of your core beliefs. JA: Im a firm believer in positive thinking. Positive thoughts bring positive things to your life. I also believe conversation with good friends, preferably over a strong margarita, are essential to quality of life. L&S: What advice do you have for couples seeking out a wedding photographer? JA: Find someone that you really jive with on a personal level. You will be hanging out with your wedding photographer more than any other person on your wedding day. Its so important to see them as a friend. When looking for a photographer, also ask them for a full wedding gallery to look through. Anyone can put a handful of great images on a website; find someone who can create great photographs in any situation you hand them. L&S: What are some things to avoid? What should they look for? What do you say to couples on a budget? JA: Weddings are expensive, theres no doubt about that. But at the end of the day, you really only walk away with your photos. If your wedding images are really important to you, Id advise you to allocate a good portion of your budget into photography. You really get what you pay for. Look for a photographer who has good reviews, a solid contract, is insured, and isnt afraid to send you a full gallery or two. I do think there is a way to be mindful of a budget while also choosing quality wedding vendors. In weddings, time is money, so my advice would be to choose a true pro but maybe scale back the timing of your wedding event. L&S: So were giving you permission to brag about yourself for a second. Lets name drop. What other publications have you and your photography been featured in? JA: Ive been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides.com, and the regions Knot magazine. L&S: Anything else youd like to share about yourself or your profession? JA: The photography community is really close and supportive, at least here in St. Louis. Most of us are women, so its really empowering to be able to refer clients to one another and see all of us succeed. Also I feel like bridezillas really arent as common as people think. I personally dont have any crazy stories! L&S: How can someone reach you to find out more? JA: They can reach out on my websites contact form or by email. You can also see more recent work or follow me on Instagram @jacobyandrickphoto Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At 10 a.m. Monday, the City of Carbondale will host its annual Memorial Day Service at Woodlawn Cemetery to honor the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation, as it has done for many years. It is local legend that Gen. John A. Logan started Memorial Day. While that isnt exactly true, Mike Jones of the Gen. John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro says Logan played an important role in establishing the national holiday. Memorial Day, also called Decoration Day, began in the south, according to Jones. Southern women were in the habit of decorating the graves of those lost in war with flowers and flags. After 700,000 men died in the Civil War, small celebrations were held throughout the south. Jones said the first larger celebration was in April 1866 in Columbus, Georgia. The ladies set aside a day and invited other states in the South to join in, and most of them did, Jones said. In March of 1868, Mary Logan visited Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia. She was struck by the flags and wreaths from the previous years Memorial Day, Jones said. Mary Logan went home and told her husband that the Union needed to do the same thing to honor those lost in the war. On May 5, 1868, Logan, as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order 11, which set aside May 30 as the day to decorate the graves of those who died in the Civil War. He then asked Congress to recognize the order. In effect, that created a national Memorial Day. Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the nation's gratitudethe soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan, Logans General Order 11 reads. General Order 11 is now remembered on plaques throughout the country, as it is at Jackson County Courthouse on a plaque dedicated in May 1930 by Logans daughter Dolly. Carbondales services at 10 a.m. Monday in Woodlawn Cemetery will be led by Councilwomen Carolin Harvey. Guest speaker is Lt. Col. Tamiko Mueller of the U.S. Army Reserve. Carbondale Police Department Honor Guard will raise the flag. The 31st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company C., will perform the rifle salute. Chairs will be set up for the service. Immediately following the service, a self-guided walking tour through historic Woodlawn Cemetery will mark brief biographies of some of the notable veterans near their headstones. Memorial Day services will take place across the country on Monday. Some highlights of other services planned in Southern Illinois include the following: SATURDAY Mound City National Cemetery, 141 State Highway 37, will have services at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28. The speaker will be Thomas Hovatter. There will be no parking in the cemetery until after the event is over. Visitors can park on the outer perimeter of the ceremony and walk into the cemeterys main gate. MONDAY Herrin will have services at 9 a.m. at the Herrin Doughboy Memorial. The service will include patriotic music, brief remarks and a memorial ceremony. A Memorial Day service will be at 10 a.m. at Little Arlington in the Sunset Lawn Cemetery in Harrisburg. Marion services will be at 11 a.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery. Murphysboro American Legion will host services at 11 a.m. at the Gen. John A. Logan Museum. Mike Jones will speak. West Frankfort services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Military Museum, located in the citys downtown. 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 Luohu district government deployed work related to the construction of a unified national market, a project recently proposed by the central authorities, in a conference held on May 11. Luohu mayor Fan Defan presided over the conference. The attendees of the conference recognized the importance of the project. According to the statement of the meeting, Luohu will advance the development of pilot cities for an innovative business environment, implement special measures to ease market access and introduce pilot projects for high-quality infrastructure development with high standards. The district will also further standardize market competition and intervention, promote substantive progress in the reform of the government procurement system and the construction of the credit system, strengthen anti-monopoly efforts in key areas, and investigate and punish unfair competition. Such efforts will guarantee a fair and just environment. Luohu will also strengthen coordination with Hong Kong and Macao and explore integrating market regulation mechanisms. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety's forensics laboratory has been reaccredited through the FBI. "We hope to offer these services on a regional basis to other municipalities and organizations," Orangeburg DPS Interim Chief Charles Austin told City Council Tuesday. "It is quite an accomplishment. We are delighted that we are able to announce ... that our lab is not only well but it is operating and we are looking forward to some great things." Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler praised Austin and his staff for their work in helping to get the lab reaccredited. "I think we are one of the first in the state to do something of this magnitude and we so appreciate other agencies can now come and get their DNA done and that they can solve some problems sooner," Butler said. The city is preparing a formal announcement and celebration of the reaccreditation in June. In 2004, Orangeburg and Claflin University forged the partnership to improve forensic laboratory services in the hope of reducing crime in the area. Officials recognized that forensic evidence was not being processed quickly enough, causing a backlog of cases. Members of the states congressional delegation secured much of the funding for the full-service forensics lab at Claflin. More than $1 million was spent to renovate existing space and buy equipment for the state-of-the-art facility. The lab conducts DNA and ballistic analysis, thus relieving dependency on the State Law Enforcement Division. As the lab processes the DNA, it creates a profile in a local database to generate police investigation leads and to help identify suspects. Love 1 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. Thomas M. Fogle Sr. recalls having to machete his way through the thick jungle, not ever knowing what mortar round, land mine or even wild animal was ahead of him. It was part of the intensely stressful environment he was in during his year-long service in Vietnam. The 75-year-old Bolentown resident was drafted into the military in 1968. Fogle chose to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Bobby, and join the United States Marine Corps. It was either serve in the Army or go in the Marine Corps. Thats the only two things I had to decide. I just chose the Marine Corps, he said. It was very intense Fogle would eventually find himself in the throes of battle as a rifleman during the Vietnam War and remembered the intense training it would first take to prepare him for the mission. The Vietnam War pitted communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong against South Vietnam and the United States. The war ended when U.S. forces withdrew in 1973 and Vietnam unified under communist control two years later. Fogle began his basic training at Parris Island, which has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. The discipline and all of that kind of set me back a little bit, Fogle said, noting that the physical demands of Marine training were no joke. Combat training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, wasnt any better. It was very intense, very strenuous. They sent us through a gas chamber ... That was kind of tough. Its C-4 gas. The marches and the drilling and all of that was very intense, said Fogle, who also had to learn how to properly board and disembark helicopters and ships. Then there were the times he had to crawl under barbed wire while under machine gun fire. They use live ammunition. ... They would just spray the area with live machine gun fire and you had to crawl up underneath it and all that. Nobody would stand up, he said. He came home for two weeks from combat training before heading to Camp Pendleton, California, for warfare training. That was more of a desert-type environment out there than over on the East Coast. They had villages and everything built up to demonstrate what we were going to face in Vietnam and how to attack these villages and all that, Fogle said. It wasnt long before he received the order to go to Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam known for its sandy beaches and history as a French colonial port. I flew into Da Nang about 4 oclock in the afternoon. This was a big Air Force base where we landed. It was probably about 300 Marines on this one flight. They put us in a Quonset hut. I was in the second Quonset hut, and they told us, In the middle of the night, if you hear a siren go off, you better get out and get in a bunker, he said. The dangers of war were soon upon him. With his voice breaking, Fogle continued, Sure enough, about 2 a.m. the sirens started going off, and everybody runs out and gets to their bunker. But the Quonset hut next to mine took a direct hit. Two Marines died. The Marine vet said it was tough to lose those two servicemen. I didnt know them, but they were on the same plane and everything coming over there that I was on, he said. Fogle had the determination to press forward in spite of loss. My men depended on me Well, you had to just keep on going and keep doing what you were doing and trusting in the Lord. I did a lot of praying. Thats a fact, he said. The next day he and the Marines were flown to Dong Ha Air Force Base, which had served as a U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army base northwest of Quang Tri in central Vietnam. It was there that the truck convoy he joined would soon be hit by enemy fire. The truck convoy had to go up to Vandegrift Combat Base ... to a place called The Rockpile ... They ambushed our truck convoy from the hillside, he said. The Rockpile was a jagged mountain rising more than 700 feet from the Cam Lo River bottom. Its relatively inaccessible location made it an important U.S. Army and Marine Corps observation post and artillery base from 1966 to 1969. Fogle continued, The first truck in that convoy hit a landmine and turned over. The road was blocked. They were shooting at us from the hills and everything. The Marine Corps helicopters and gunships came and opened up on their positions, and we got to Vandegrift Combat Base. It was one of several brushes with death or injury he would be met with. While he was at the Dong Ha Air Force Base, he recalled the serious injury of a new friend he had just met. Everything in the Marine Corps is laid out in structure: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta is all in a row. My friend, who I just met on that airplane, was going to Hotel Company. My company was Delta, so I got to my company headquarters ahead of him. As he turned to go walk on down the line to Hotel Company, a mortar round hit and took his leg off just above the boot. He was medevacked out. I never saw him again. Its very real, and, yeah, it wasnt nothing fun about it, he said. Fogle said he nevertheless learned a few lessons, including the value of developing a camaraderie with his fellow service members. My men depended on me, and I depended on them. I never did go on any kind of R&R. I just stayed in my unit and did the best I could. When I first got over there, I was with the 4th Marine Division, he said. Fogle continued, After I was with them for like two to 2-1/2 months, the 4th Marine Division pulled out and came back home. I went south to Da Nang. I got with the 1st Marine Division. ... I was with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines. As a rifleman in the infantry unit, most of Fogles duties involved search-and-destroy missions. Go out on patrols in the daytime, ambushes at night, that kind of stuff. Just every day is the same thing. They are trying to destroy us, and we are trying to destroy them is what it amounts to. I was at a place called Hill 190, and then I was taken over there at a place called Nam O Bridge. Then I went back to Hill 190. Hill 190 was my platoon base, Fogle said. He recalled having to kill an enemy who had infiltrated the ranks at Nam O Bridge. We had a barber in our compound. He cut all of the Marines hair in there. We were out on an ambush one night. This barber had one leg shorter than the other leg, about four inches. So he had trouble walking and running, Fogle said. He continued, We were out on an ambush one night, and we killed him and two others that night. When we brought them back in our compound, our captain could not believe his eyes. He said, He is in our compound cutting our hair, and he is gathering up information to feed to the Viet Cong. As a matter of fact, I think I got a picture of him. You couldnt trust nobody over there. Hes not sure why God let him live through his war experience, but hes glad he did. I dont know. I mean, he definitely had his hands on me, said Fogle, who recalled the wet and hostile jungle environment. The jungle was thick in there, and you had to machete your way through it. The rice paddies were very hard on us. Wet all the time. The monsoon rains were terrible. I had never seen so much rain in all my life. ... I never saw a tiger, but I did see a couple of leopards, he said. The return home He said he and his fellow soldiers did not receive a heros welcome when they returned home. In California out there was the worst place. When I flew back into Bakersfield, California, to a place called Norton Air Force Base, there were protesters out there by the hundreds. They were throwing tomatoes at us and spitting at us and calling us baby killers and all kind of bad things, he said. It was just more intense out there on the West Coast than anywhere else, Fogle said, noting that the emotional toll from such treatment could be tough. When he reflects back on his service, he thinks about whether it was worth the sacrifice. Now, today? No, it wasnt worth it. No. Too many lives were lost. Too many, he said, growing emotional. His posttraumatic stress disorder is among his own residual effects of war. He said that the best part of his experience was leaving Vietnam in 1970 and returning home to his beloved wife, Betsy. They are the parents of three children, the grandparents of nine and the great-grandparents of six. That was the best thing. I was married in 68. I was married two months before I joined the Marine Corps. She moved in with my parents while I was gone. ... I flew into Columbia Airport, and her and my mother and my sister were standing up there. It felt very good, he said. Fogle served as a rural carrier for the Orangeburg Post Office for nearly 12 years before health challenges forced him into retirement. Of his military service, he said it was ultimately important for him to serve his country. I think its everybodys duty to support this country and to fight communism and all that. I think that the military is a good organization, especially for young men in teaching them responsibility, said Fogle, who also appreciated the opportunity to talk about his military experience. It means a lot. A lot of this stuff Ive held in for 40 years, and the PTSD is real. They say itll get better over the years, but its always in the back of your mind, he said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 1 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. In my drought- and fire-plagued home valley, 40 miles north of San Francisco, a debate has been simmering for decades over a massive development planned on state-owned property. The conflict is focused on nearly 1,000 acres of rural and wildland in Sonoma Valley. The prime wine-country property has been eyed for development since long before 2018, when the state transitioned its last clients from the Sonoma Developmental Center, Californias oldest hospital for the feeble-minded. What remains on the land are decaying historic buildings, an active fire department, a popular network of footpaths through oak and redwood forests, and the valleys only two municipal drinking-water reservoirs. Now the state, working with Sonoma Countys planning staff, proposes to transform the former Center into a vibrant, mixed-use community. Its retail shops, offices, and some 900 new housing units would augment the valleys wineries, tourism, manufacturing, and small businesses. But in a time and place of growing aridity, the proposal reads like a pipe dream. Unfortunately, the state didnt consider land and water constraints before making its plan, says historical ecologist Arthur Dawson, who chairs an advisory board for North Sonoma Valley. Water, especially, is in short supply. The valleys 44,000-acre groundwater basin and recycled water provide only half of the communitys water. Piped-in supplies make up the other half, shipped from increasingly drought-stressed river basins farther north. Lack of water availability, though, isnt considered a deal-breaker. Susan Gorin, one of the countys supervisors, has said that the Center grounds can meet the needs for our community: affordable housing, living-wage jobs and certainly the preservation of open space, while also making sense financially. In other words, while generating state revenue. Its no secret that Sonoma Valley and its 50,000 residents are water insecure. As part of research teams monitoring local surface and groundwater beginning in 2000, I witnessed the decline of once-healthy streams and aquifers up close. The bottom line: Once-abundant water wealth has been depleted by a population growing at 5% annually and an agricultural economy invested 70% in irrigated wine grapes. Many plan proponents believe that the developments new homes and businesses can draw on the old Centers two reservoirs and aging water system. Opponents see those as already necessary for emergency drinking water and firefighting. Underlying the debate is Sonoma Valleys status as a high-priority basin under Californias 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Act requires groundwater resources to be managed to avoid undesirable results, says Sandi Potter, retired Sonoma County water-resource planner. Those results are already evident in the valleys declining groundwater levels, drying streams, and seawater intrusion into aquifers. According to Potter, the law means development can no longer go on unbridled without regard to a watersheds actual capacity. Sonoma Valleys management plan under the Act is rock solid, but it has yet to be tested on new development. Meanwhile, valley residents visit the old Center lands every day to hike, cycle, and ride horseback. Many helped vision the Centers repurposing before the closure, attended two years of project meetings and submitted comments on its Environmental Impact Study. The nonprofit Sonoma Land Trust, long involved in protecting the areas wildlife habitat, has said that the plans lack of specificity could lead to a focus on single-family, market-rate homes. That would not help to meet state goals for affordable, multi-unit housing. Meanwhile, the valleys workforce has been increasingly shut out of Sonomas real-estate market. Median home prices are approaching a million dollars and many of the vacancies that exist are devoted to second or vacation homes, according to the countys Economic Development Board. In response, Dawson started a petition to the Board of Supervisors proposing a project that would be half as dense and less tailored to the valleys overwhelming influx of wealth. He gathered 1,500 signatures quickly: Everyone is saying no. But no to development has rarely meant no when it comes to Californias Cadillac Desert landscapes. In a valley once rich with marshes, streams, and forests, a community now living on drained, fire-prone land needs to stop drawing on water from rivers and watersheds miles away. For now, though, all we can do now is keep pushing for development decisions that make sense. Becca Lawton is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is a retired fluvial geologist and Grand Canyon River guide living in California. beccalawton.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Donald Trump is hosting a rally today in Casper, marking his first political appearance in Wyoming. He's here to support land attorney Harriet Hageman, his pick to challenge Rep. Liz Cheney for Wyoming's lone House seat. The Star-Tribune has multiple journalists reporting at today's rally. Here's the latest: Crowd goes crazy for Trump 5:01 p.m. Trump stepped out onto the Ford Wyoming Center stage to rapturous cheering. He started by tossing MAGA hats into the crowd and quickly turned his ire onto Cheney, the media and Democrats in Congress. Trump called Wyoming's House race the most important race in the country this year and said he loved the Wyoming GOP for punishing Cheney with a censure after her vote to impeach him. He also said he was "very proud" of Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne for his role in the Cheney censure. "There is no RINO in American that has thrown in her lot with the radical left more than Liz Cheney," he told the crowd. He returned multiple times to criticizing the media, even while asking why there were so many reporters in attendance. "Every one of them is fake news," he said, to big cheers. After ripping into Cheney, Trump's speech drifted over a number of topics, from the Russia investigation to his most popular tweets. At one point, he told the crowd to get off Twitter and onto his social media platform, Truth Social. Hageman focuses on Wyoming roots 4:32 p.m. Hageman led off the second half of the rally and started her speech by focusing on her Wyoming roots, contrasting her time in the Equality State with her opponent, Rep. Liz Cheney. She talked about her upbringing in Fort Laramie and time at college, first in Casper and then the University of Wyoming. "I am Wyoming," she said. "I know what it means to ride for the brand. I have fought for Wyoming and I will fight for you." The Cheney family is from Casper, but Liz Cheney spent only a few years here growing up. She returned to Wyoming in 2012, a year before launching an unsuccessful Senate bid. She won her House seat in 2016. "I will reclaim Wyoming's congressional seat from that Virginian that now holds it," Hageman said. Hageman drew a huge response after going through a list of things she said Republicans were fed up with -- mask mandates, vaccine mandates, Cheney and the "radical Biden agenda." Taking a breather 4:09 p.m. We're still waiting for the second part of the rally to begin. The venue has filled up, but it is not at capacity. The crowd appears excited as they wait for the rest of the speakers: Don Jr., Hageman, Gaetz and Trump himself. Trump had been scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. 3:13 p.m. The doors of the Ford Wyoming Center opened at 11 a.m. But the last people in line to see Trump didn't get inside until about 2:30 p.m., about the same time the first round of speakers were wrapping up. Here's what it looked like inside around that time. A big screen broadcast the rally outside the center for those who were still in line when the rally began. 'RINO hunter' 1:56 p.m. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado drew big cheers by touting her support for Second Amendment rights and by leading a "We love Trump" chant. Boebert, like many of Cheney's opponents, depicted Wyoming's congresswoman as a war monger and a member of the out-of-touch elite. "I am a professional RINO hunter," Boebert said, referencing the "Republican In Name Only" acronym. "And it has been brought to my attention that your RINO-in-chief needs to be taken out of Wyoming." 'Mega ultra MAGA country' 1:42 p.m. Former lawmaker Marti Halverson used her speech to argue that Trump's policies aligned with Wyoming's politics. Wyoming, she said, was "mega ultra MAGA country." "President Trump, this is your home on the range," she said. "Nowhere else does your America-first agenda so closely match a state's longtime conservative values." Rally underway 1:10 p.m. The rally is getting underway even as more people continue to file into the Ford Wyoming Center. Royce McCollum, sister of fallen Wyoming Marine Rylee McCollum, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Wyoming Republican Party Chairwoman Frank Eathorne led off the speakers. Eathorne helped lead the charge to censure Cheney after her impeachment vote. "I would run through barbed wire for that guy," he said of Trump. "How about you?" A few minutes later, Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow.com, walked out to big applause. He immediately launched into allegations of fraud in the 2020 election, claiming Trump won by about 20,000 more votes in Wyoming than he did. There has been no evidence of fraud in Wyoming's 2020 presidential election. Cheney criticism 12:02 p.m. Prior to her steadfast criticism of Trump, Cheney was a popular figure in Wyoming among Republicans. But many have soured on her since then. Eric Graham, who is here with his wife Brooke, their son and some friends, said he used to support Cheney until she voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. capitol. Now, the family is planning to vote for Hageman. "Cheney has had a good track record, but since Trump, she's just gone a different way," Eric said. MyPillow CEO sighting 11:15 a.m. Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow and a staunch Trump supporter, is here. Lindell has been a big supporter of Trump and boosted his unfounded claims of election fraud. About 10 minutes later, Hageman walked by. Both received a warm welcome from the crowd on the other side of the barriers. Long line, enthusiastic crowd 10:39 a.m. By 10 a.m., the line to enter had spilled out past the entryway barriers and around the entire front parking lot. It took a reporter about six minutes to walk from the edge of the barriers to the end of the line. Susan Gonderson and Nicole Jaramillo came to the rally together. Both had dressed in layers, being mindful of the weather. When the sun came up it was about 50 degrees but its expected to hit 75 by the afternoon, according to the National Weather service. I was thinking light comfortable, American and Christ-focused, Jaramillo said of her outfit. For Gonderson, it was a chance to break out her American flag accessories: complete with matching shoes, earrings, a necklace, pin and handkerchief. Jaramillo also had red-white-and-blue earrings, and a cross necklace. Shes on the hunt for a souvenir shirt, she said. There were more than a dozen merchandise tables near where people were waiting in line. They all sold many of the same things: shirts, stickers, hats and flags. The apparel had sayings like, "Let's go Brandon" and "Gods, guns and Trump." Oldies blasted out of speakers just a stone's throw away. Mike Brightly, who lives near Powell, said he already feels a camaraderie with the other people in line. "Love of country, love of God, love of freedom," he said. Front Row Joes 9:40 a.m. There's a group called the Front Row Joes standing at the front of the line. The group started in 2016 when Trump was elected. A few of the members camped out overnight to hold their spot. They're from all over - South Dakota, Florida, Ohio, Montana, Michigan, California. They say they've been to almost all the Trump rallies since the beginning of the year. Adam Radogna, a 7-11 store owner from Ohio, said he hasn't missed any this year. He joined the Front Row Joes in 2018. He didn't know much about Harriet Hageman, the politician and Rep. Liz Cheney challenger that Trump is here to support. The same goes for many of the other speakers. "We're just here to support Trump," Radogna said. Big crowds 8:59 a.m. A little past 8 a.m., the line of cars coming into the Ford Wyoming Center already stretched past the horizon. The train of vehicles marches forward slowly, and sporadically, like a conveyor belt. Some of the vendors selling Trump and American flag-themed merchandise said they set up the night before. A man from North Carolina named Thomas said hes been selling goods at Trump rallies for a few years now. The job has taken him all over the country. Hes come to recognize some of the other vendors his rivals at the events. Were friends, but its still business, he said. Theres a bit of drowsiness in his voice he slept in his car last night, he said. But, he said, working the rallies is freeing lifestyle. And the energy of the crowd pulls him through. Long-distance visitors 8:17 a.m. Today's rally is expected to attract thousands of people from Wyoming. But there's plenty of out-of-state visitors as well, along with a menagerie of vendors selling Trump-related merchandise. One was Patrick Howard, a merchandise vendor from Greensboro, North Carolina, who was folding pink and black "Women for Trump, Save America" T-shirts on a plastic folding table before the Ford Wyoming Center parking lot opened at 8 a.m. Howard has been traveling around the country selling merchandise at Trump events. He's been to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia this year. In fact, he drove to Wyoming from Pennsylvania, where there was a Trump rally earlier this month. This is his first time in Wyoming. What is it about Trump that motivates him? "He's straight up, he don't hold nothing back," Howard said. "I love that, he speaks his mind." Big political names 8:09 a.m. While Trump is by far the most famous politician set to appear at today's rally, he's far from the only one. The former president will be joined by a lineup of his most fervent political supporters. They include Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida (who visited Cheyenne in January 2021 to slam Cheney), Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Kat Cammack of Florida. His son, Don Jr., will appear as well. A little background 8 a.m. Polls and election results show Trump remains deeply popular here. But theres one main reason hes making his first known visit to Casper: Liz Cheney. After the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol, Cheney blamed Trump for inciting the riot and voted to impeach him. Shes also been his highest-profile Republican critic. Trump has made it clear he wants to see her lose her spot in Congress, and he has endorsed land attorney Harriet Hageman to challenge her in the GOP primary. Saturdays rally is a chance for him to support Hageman as the heart of the campaign season gets underway. For more background on the rally, click here. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 11 Saturday's rally may have been in support of Harriet Hageman. But many in the crowd said they were there for one person: Donald Trump. Police in Wyoming shot and killed a Nebraska homicide suspect on Saturday after finding him inside a Cheyenne home, authorities said. Police say officers fired at Davin Darayle Saunders after he pulled a gun while they attempted to remove him from the home. They had fired gas into the house to get him to leave. Authorities in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, wanted Saunders on multiple homicide-related charges, according to Cheyenne police. They say he was considered armed and dangerous and had a history of violence. On Tuesday, Cheyenne police learned Saunders was possibly there. The tracked him to a home on the 2500 block of East 11th Street. Cheyenne's SWAT team conducted surveillance at the home, and received a warrant to go inside. The SWAT team asked Saunders to leave the home, but police say he refused. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation will handle the inquiry into the shooting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 1 Fifty-five years ago, on June 12, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case of Loving v. Virginia, struck down in the name of equal protection and due process a state law banning interracial marriage. The Court declared that the right of marriage, though nowhere mentioned in the Constitution, is a fundamental right, the exercise of which is protected by the 14th Amendment. The Courts unanimous opinion, written by Chief Justice Earl Warren, represented a powerful blow to one of the remaining remnants of Jim Crow and Virginias effort to promote White Supremacy. The 1924 anti-miscegenation law at issue, An Act to Preserve Racial Integrity, prohibited only whites from marrying people of color. The state made no effort under the law to ban African Americans, Orientals or any other racial class from marrying one another. Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, had fallen in love while attending high school in Virginia. In June of 1958, the couple was married in Washington, D.C., in accordance with its laws. When the Lovings returned to their home in Caroline County, Virginia, they were charged with violating the state law banning interracial marriage. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a year in prison. However, the trial judge suspended the sentence for a period of 25 years on the condition that the Lovings left the state and didnt return for 25 years. In his opinion, the judge expressed the belief that God had created separate races and placed them on separate continents to preclude mixed marriage. Following their convictions, the Lovings took up residence in Washington, but in 1963, eager to return to their home in Virginia, they filed a motion in state court to vacate the judgment on grounds that the law was repugnant to the 14th Amendment. They were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, which had been contacted on behalf of the Lovings by U.S Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The Lovings faced an uphill battle in Virginia state courts. The high court in the state upheld the 1924 statute, which reflected laws and practices that grew out of the period of slavery, on grounds that Virginia possessed legitimate purposes in the enactment of the legislation. The courts defense and endorsement of White Supremacy rested on the states valid need to preserve the racial integrity of its citizens, and to prevent the corruption of blood, the rise of mongrel breed of citizens, and the obliteration of racial pride. Chief Justice Warrens opinion denied that there was any rational foundation to support the racist laws and emphasized in the application of the strict scrutiny test to laws that created classifications based on race, that the 14th Amendment imposed a heavy burden of justification on the state to defend such statutes. The clear and central purpose of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, Warren declared, was to eliminate all official sources of invidious racial discrimination in the states. The Virginia miscegenation statute was viewed by the court as arbitrary and invidious discrimination since it prohibited generally accepted conduct if engaged in by members of different races. Chief Justice Warren reiterated the Courts practice of repudiating distinctions based solely on a citizens ancestry, for they are odious to a free people whose institutions are founded upon the doctrine of equality. In addition to the statutes violation of the Equal Protection Clause, Warren held, it also deprived the Lovings of their liberty under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, which recognizes that the freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men. The Court held that the state has no authority to interfere with the exercise of this fundamental right through means of invidious discrimination. Virginia had argued that the regulation of marriage, including the performance and dissolution of marriage, fell to the states under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The Supreme Court acknowledged that states enjoy broad authority under the state police power to regulate marriage but reminded readers that this power is not absolute and is subject to the commands of the 14th Amendment. In the end, the Court in Loving, as it had in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), in striking down segregation in public schools, objected to the miscegenation statute on grounds that it imposed an invidious racial classification and promoted White Supremacy. Racial classification and racial subordination in America, the Court said, are anathema to the core values and principles of the 14th Amendment. The Courts landmark ruling in favor of the Lovings permitted the couple to return to their hometown, where they lived the remainder of their lives. June 12, the anniversary of the decision, is commemorated each year as Loving Day, celebrating multiracial families. David Adler, PHD, is a noted author who lectures nationally and internationally on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Presidential power. His scholarly writings have been cited by the US Supreme Court and lower courts by both Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress. Adlers column is supported in part through a grant from Wyoming Humanities funded by the Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Adler can be reached at david.adler@alturasinstitute.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You are here: China Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged efforts to advance the study of the Chinese civilization amid the push to enhance people's confidence in the Chinese culture. Xi made the remarks on Friday afternoon while addressing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on a national research program dedicated to tracing the origin of the Chinese civilization. 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. Government is not supporting a proposal for an increase in tuition fees by the St Augustine Well, my dear, we didnt know where to look. The old codger was getting away with it again, Al Foul had this imposing stature, burly almost like a lumberjack, with slicked back hair circa 1950s blue-collar hipster and piercing eyes that at first glance could intimidate. But get him on stage, strumming his guitar and working the bass drum with his right foot, a makeshift percussion box and tambourine with his left, and the true character of the man came through. I think the reason everybody loved him was that he was a really good person, Tucson guitarist Ben Nisbet said Thursday as news of Fouls death on Wednesday, May 25, began circulating on social media and among the tight-knit Tucson music community. He was the person who had an incredibly strong sense of integrity and a remarkable moral compass. He looks like this tough guy, but Al was someone who was very profound and ... able to take the best out of life, added Naim Amor, who also played guitar in Fouls band for a number of years and had been friends with him for nearly 20. Definitely not someone who would cry over himself, but someone who was very sensitive and very compassionate. Foul had been battling throat cancer for 18 months and died late Wednesday night at home with his wife, KXCI radio personality Hannah Levin, by his side. He was 50 years old. Foul born Alan Lewis Curtis took his name from his time with Bostons short-lived drunk rock punk band the Foul Mouthed Elves. He was in his late teens when he moved to Arizona from his native Boston, first to Phoenix and then to Tucson. He started performing in Tucson in the early 1990s with his band Al Foul & the Shakes and solo as a one-man band, singing rockabilly-influenced original songs that beckoned the birth of American rock. He was such a unique entity in town. He was one of the very few who channeled that incredible old school rock n roll sound, said Hotel Congress music booker David Slutes, who was fronting the popular Sidewinders/Sand Rubies band around the time Foul was starting his Tucson music career. No one did what Al Foul did. Some people did rockabilly and roots rock, but his energy and commitment was unlike any one else. His music was rooted in rockabilly and punk with flashes of country and Americana that he performed at a number of Tucson venues including the old Vaudeville on East Congress Street to Ches Lounge on North Fourth Avenue. Musically, he was fearless, said bluesman Tom Walbank, who met Foul not long after Walbank moved to Tucson in 2001. You could describe him as country or rock and roll, but he was just Al. He had arrived at his own genre, very much in his way as you would describe Johnny Cash. He was an incredible musician and one of the most naturally gifted musicians I have worked with in any setting of any kind, added Nisbet, a multi-instrumentalist and classically trained violinist who played for years with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Levin said her husband of a year was a lot different than some of the bravado that defined his stage presence. He strongly disliked a lot of trappings of modern masculinity and rock n roll cliches,recalled Levin, who met Foul at a Thanksgiving eve party in 2015 where she was the DJ and he was performing. He disliked professional sports, gambling, strip bars and hard drugs but loved cooking, woodworking and painting. Levin said Foul started painting when he was diagnosed with cancer and had gotten very good at it. People loved his paintings, she said. Walbank described Foul as larger than life, which was what French musician and DJ Laurent Allinger said attracted him to Foul when they first met in 1997. Allinger and his band the Little Rabbits were recording at Jim Waters Waterworks studio and would see Foul hanging out at 7 Black Cats, The Grill, Ches Lounge and other downtown Tucson bars. Al was playing and I was immediately captivated by his attitude and the sincerity of his singing, even though I didnt understand the words, Allinger said in an email interview. I dont remember if he was in a one-man band format or with his band The Shakes. His music had a variety of influences from traditional music to punk rock with his wild way of playing. ... I immediately sensed in him an open mind and something fascinating. A unique character not trying to imitate anyone. Allinger and Foul became fast friends and Foul came to Allingers hometown of Nantes, France, a number of times over the past 20 years including in 2005 with several other Tucson bands for the We Got Cactus Tour that included stops in several French cities. He and Allinger also performed as a duo Al Foul & French Tourist with Allinger working the turntable while Foul sang. Allinger was with Foul at his final performance last December at Ches Lounge. Levin said Foul was in a great deal of pain that night, but it was important for him to do it, especially because Laurent Allinger was there and he knew it would be their last show together. In a Facebook post on March 5, 2021 the day that a tribute album by 28 local musicians covering Fouls songs was released to help defray Fouls medical bills Foul mused about his time in Nantes and about his music and his adopted hometown of Tucson. I am fortunate to have had a long and complicated relationship with music. Its who I am and all I ever wanted to be, he wrote. Tucson gave me the opportunity as young man to be whomever I wished to be. There was no pressure or scene pushing or pulling in any direction, just a bunch of folks doing their own thing. I was lucky to find this place. Amore said Foul understood Tucson from the moment he unpacked his guitar back in the 1990s. If you came to Tucson in the 1990s or even now, you didnt come here for fame. You came here to live it fully instead of trying to make it big, Amore said. Al came here to embrace what Tucson is. Walbank said the loss of Foul is immeasurable. He was part of the fabric, Walbank said. If theres an elaborate quilt and its made out of all of us, theres a piece missing. He made his mark, though. He will never be forgotten. 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. Christenson, Phyllis Lee passed away May 17, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. Born April 1, 1949 in Angola, Indiana, she was one of eight siblings, predeceased by her parents, Robert and Esperance Eff, several brothers and a sister, her beloved husband and best friend, Bobby Gillette, and her son, Kenneth Vessel. .... Read more 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. Question: I have been hearing and reading a lot about water shortages. What does that mean for me as a homeowner? Answer: There is a lot of information floating around about the drought what is causing it and how can we be assured that Arizonans will have enough water. Vineetha Kartha, Colorado River programs manager for the Central Arizona Project (CAP) explains where we get our water: Arizona gets more than 30% of its water from the Colorado River Basin. The Basin is divided into an Upper Basin Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and a Lower Basin Arizona, California, Nevada, and by treaty, parts of northern Mexico. Each Basin has a major reservoir. The Upper Basin reservoir is Lake Powell, on the Arizona/Utah border and the Lower Basin reservoir is Lake Mead, on the Arizona/Nevada border. Lake Powell and Lake Mead operate conjunctively. That means that the operations of one affect the other. The system is designed to work so that runoff originating in the Upper Basin fills Lake Powell, and Lake Mead is filled by releases from Lake Powell and intervening flows below Glen Canyon Dam. As reported on May 19 on KOLD, Tucson receives about 144,000 acre-feet of water annually from Lake Mead and uses only about 100,000. The city has been storing the surplus underground and has more than seven years of CAP water banked. The water shortage Kartha notes that as of Jan. 1, Lake Mead has been operating under a Tier 1 shortage declaration, which was declared by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. This has resulted in a substantial cut to Arizonas share of the Colorado River about 30% of CAPs normal supply; about 18% of Arizonas Colorado River supply; and just under 8% of Arizonas total water use. These mandatory Arizona reductions are borne by our CAP water users. The result has been reduced availability of Colorado River water for central Arizona agricultural users. The Colorado River Basin has been in a prolonged drought. We are experiencing the driest conditions in the Colorado River Basin in more than 1,200 years and these conditions are expected to continue well into the future. Both Lake Powell and Lake Mead are approaching critical elevations and will require unprecedented management actions to protect infrastructure in both the Upper Lower Colorado River Basins. Protecting infrastructure protects water supplies. Homeowner impact It is likely that Arizona will be in a Tier 2 shortage next year. The Arizona Republic reported on May 4, that Scottsdale and Tucson have declared themselves to be in the first stage of their respective drought plans and are reducing government water uses. Phoenix plans to take payments from the state in lieu of some of its Colorado River deliveries next year, part of the states latest drought mitigation effort. While this situation is serious its important to note that supplies to homes and businesses do not face a threat in 2023. But the outlook for Arizonas Colorado River supply certainly warrants additional actions. Everyone should commit to conserving water as the precious resource that it is. Conserving can delay or reduce further mandatory reductions to our supply. Complying with groundwater laws The Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) was created in the mid-1990s to help water providers and landowners comply with Arizonas groundwater laws. It is comprised of cities, towns and private water companies, called Member Service Areas and Subdivisions, known as Member Lands. It is a special function of the Central Arizona Project, serving the same three-county service area Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties. CAGRD plays an important role in Arizonas groundwater management by replenishing groundwater pumped by our members. In 1980, Arizona passed the Groundwater Management Act, one of the toughest groundwater laws in the country. This law regulated groundwater pumping in Arizonas most populated areas. It also created the Assured Water Supply Program, which stated that new development could rely on groundwater but must assure a 100-year supply of groundwater, which must also be replenished. The Arizona legislature created CAGRD to give water providers and landowners that rely on groundwater a mechanism to replenish their groundwater pumping. CAGRD replenishes water into our aquifers layers of sand and gravel beneath the ground. They send water to recharge basins where the water percolates through to the aquifer. What can you do? Laura Grignano, CAGRD Manager, encourages each of us to commit to at least one thing to conserve water. It is important to educate ourselves about our water providers drought plans and seek information about their water conservation programs. CAGRD recently launched a conservation campaign. By its nature, CAGRD is aimed at protecting our precious water resources replenishing the water our members pump and recharging our aquifers. While not a water provider, CAGRD also supports and encourages conservation because less groundwater use means less water that needs to be replenished. In addition, CAGRD recently launched a digital conservation campaign that you may be seeing in your social media feeds. Links to a special page will feature Water Use It Wisely, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, and Arizona Water Facts. Yes, we are in a drought. No doubt about that. We all need to do our part, but panic and misinformation are not the answer. Stay tuned to Rosie on the House, as we will continue to closely monitor this issue. There is a bounty of ideas and technology that can help solve tomorrows problem, but it is individual water conservation that can solve todays problem. Think twice about the water youre using in your day-to-day life. Remember, energy saving equals water savings. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert since 1988, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio broadcast, heard locally from 10 to 11 a.m. on KNST (790-AM) in Tucson and from 8 to 11 a.m. on KGVY (1080-AM) and (100.7-FM) in Green Valley. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX Gov. Doug Ducey has vetoed legislation which would have required county election officials to cancel the registration of anyone they determine is not qualified to vote. The move Friday, the first by the governor this session, came amid concerns from county officials that what was in HB 2617 could lead to mischief as it would allow individuals to make unsubstantiated claims that some people on the voter registration rolls should be removed. Jennifer Marson, executive director of the Arizona Association of Counties, said that, in turn, would trigger automatic investigations. Marson, in a letter Friday to Ducey, also pointed out what she said were illegal provisions in the measure. The governor, in his veto message, said he agrees. "The implementation of this provision is vague and lacks any guidance for how a county recorder would confirm such a determination," Ducey wrote. "Our lawfully registered voters deserve to know that their right to vote will not be disturbed without sufficient due process," he continued. "This provision leaves our election system vulnerable to bad actors who could seek to falsely allege a voter is not a qualified elector." HB 2617 was sponsored by Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, who called it "a simple, common-sense election integrity bill to help clean up the voter-roll maintenance." "It should be going on already," he told colleagues. "We have to pass this to obviously have the county do their work." But it also is being pushed by the business-oriented Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the same group that worked to convince the Arizona Supreme Court to block voters from having a say on a $1.9 billion tax cut where the majority of the proceeds would have gone to the most wealthy. The organization also is behind a ballot measure to add additional requirements on those who want to vote by mail. "The first step in election integrity is ensuring clean and current voter rolls," said Greg Blackie who lobbies for the organization. And that, he said, requires not just ensuring that people are legally qualified to vote but also "regular maintenance to ensure that people who are no longer qualified, whether due to death, felony conviction, residency status or for other reasons are regularly removed." In a written statement, Chaplik called the veto "shocking." "I worked directly with the gov's office on the Senate amendment language for the bill," he said. "I was never told they didn't like the language we all worked on." And Chaplik took a shot at the governor's staff. "This is a failure of communicating from his office and working together as a party to be efficient and effective with passing strong policy for election integrity," he said. But gubernatorial press aide C.J. Karamargin said the lawmaker knows the reasons for the veto. Some of what was in HB 2317 was fairly straightforward, like saying that people should be deleted from Arizona voting lists when they get a driver's license in another state. Another provision required court officials to forward to recorders a list of people who ask to be excused from jury duty because they are not citizens. Marson, however, told the governor it's not that simple. "County recorder's offices are not designed to be investigative bodies," Marson wrote to Ducey. "Yet this bill allows anyone, without any evidence, to simply give a list of names of those suspected to be improperly registered to the county," Marson continued. "And the county must take a variety of steps to confirm if the person should be registered." In fact, she said, one provision even allows for verbal complaints, with nothing more. "A person could call in or submit claims anonymously," Marson said. "Counties would have no mechanism to track or halt bad actors who use this new law to report, without any evidence, anyone they believe to be suspicious." And she said there are other problems. It would have required county records, on a monthly basis, to compare a list of registered voters who they have "reason to believe are not United States citizens" with records maintained by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services." "Upon what is that based?" Marson asked about what would give recorders that reason to believe. "It is up to each recorder to decide?" And then there was the provision that required county recorders to determine if a person actually lived where he or she said. The vagueness of that clearly bothered Ducey. "There are certain aspects of being a qualified elector are objectively quantifiable, such as age and citizenship status," he wrote. "But the determination of residency can be a fact-specific inquiry," the governor continued. "The subjectivity of this provision, as well as a lack of guardrails against false claims, included in HB 2617, leaves voter registration susceptible to being canceled based on fiction rather than fact." Marson also said the questions of illegal registration are the purview of county and state prosecutors, including an Election Integrity Unit within the Attorney General's Office, saying any of those "would be a more appropriate entity to determine if voter fraud is occurring." There were things in Chaplik's bill that the governor said he liked. "For example, requiring the Department of Transportation to notify the secretary of state when a registered voter receives an out-of-state license is a step forward in maintaining accurate voter rolls," Ducey wrote. "Moreover the process outlined in the bill that describes how counties are notified when a prospective juror is not a U.S. citizen also provides tools to make sure only qualified electors are participating in Arizona elections," he continued. And the governor indicated he would sign such a bill into law containing that measure. Chaplik, in explaining the measure, said nothing in HB 2317 would automatically remove anyone from the voter registration rolls. Instead, it would have required county recorders to send a notice to who appear to not be legally registered telling them their registration would be canceled in 90 days unless they provide "satisfactory evidence'' of qualification. Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at "@azcapmedia" or email azcapmedia@gmail.com. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. An environmental control system designed and made by Tucson-based Paragon Space Development Corp. was successfully tested aboard Boeings unmanned Starliner crew capsule recently during its first successful docking with the International Space Station. Paragons Humidity Control Subassembly was tested and operated on the unmanned Boeing CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2 prior to its successful landing on Wednesday, May 25. Boeings Starliner successfully docked with the space station for the first time on May 20, after lifting off May 19th from Florida. Boeing awarded Paragon a contract in 2015 to build the humidity control system for Starliner, which incorporates Paragons patented water-processing technology to provide cabin atmospheric humidity control using no moving parts, the company says. Its really quite an accomplishment to have the HCS aboard this historic mission the first truly new humidity control technology developed in 60 years of human spaceflight, Paragons President and CEO Grant Anderson said in a news release. The Starliner capsule landed Wednesday under parachute at White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico after testing the end-to-end capabilities of the crew-capable spacecraft, NASA said. Starliners first manned flight has been delayed due to software and hardware issues unrelated to Paragons work. During a test flight in 2019, the Boeing spacecraft failed to reach the ISS due to software issues but landed safely. Boeing scrubbed a planned Starliner flight last summer after corrosion was found on propellant valves. Since its founding in 1993, Paragon has been involved in numerous projects for NASA, and more recently with private space-exploration companies, including development of environmental-control and life-support systems, space suits and flight systems. Paragons humidity-control system also is being built into Northrop Grummans Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, part of a planned NASA lunar space station. A water-purification system made by Paragon was installed aboard the ISS in February 2021 for testing. Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 520-573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Uvalde a mix of pride and anger as it grieves school attack UVALDE, Texas (AP) Days after a local man burst into an elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers before officers managed to kill him, the signs of grief, solidarity and local pride are everywhere in Uvalde. Many are wearing maroon, the color for Uvaldes school district. And light blue ribbons adorn the giant oaks that shade the citys central square, where mourners come to lay flowers around a fountain and write messages on wooden crosses that bear the victims names. In front of a day care center on one of the citys main streets, 21 wooden chairs sit empty. Everyone in the predominantly Latino city of roughly 16,000 people seems to know someone whose life has been turned upside down. Police inaction moves to center of Uvalde shooting probe The actions of a school district police chief and other law enforcement officers are at the center of the investigation into this weeks shocking school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Authorities acknowledged Friday that children and teachers repeatedly begged 911 operators for help while the police chief told more than a dozen officers to wait in a hallway at Robb Elementary School. The delay in confronting the shooter who was inside the school for more than an hour could lead to discipline, lawsuits and even criminal charges against police. TIMELINE: Texas elementary school shooting, minute by minute In the hours and days since the fatal shooting of 19 children and their two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, authorities have given varying accounts of what happened and how they responded. The investigation of the massacre at Robb Elementary School is ongoing, but much is already known about the nearly two hours that passed between when authorities say Salvador Ramos shot his grandmother and when police radio traffic indicated that the 18-year-old gunman was dead and the siege was over. Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin has insisted that European nations halt sanctions on his country and weapons shipments to Ukraine. Putin held a three-way telephone call on Saturday with the leaders of France and Germany. The Kremlin says the Russian leader affirmed Moscow's openness to resuming talks to end the fighting. But Russias recent progress in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region could embolden Putin to keep pursuing his military goals in the country. Moscow claimed that its forces had captured another small city in the Donbas, the second this week. After failing to occupy Ukraine's capital, Russia set out to seize the last parts of the eastern region not controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists. FBI records on search for fabled gold raise more questions A scientific analysis commissioned by the FBI shortly before agents went digging for buried treasure suggests that a huge quantity of gold could be below the surface of a rural site in western Pennsylvania. That's according to newly released government documents and photos that deepen the mystery of the 2018 dig at Dent's Run. The report was authored by a geophysicist who performed testing at the site. The government has long claimed its excavation did not yield any of the Civil War-era gold that legend says was buried there. The newly revealed geophysical survey was part of a court-ordered release of government records on the FBIs treasure hunt. Ex-Proud Boys leader to stay jailed until Capitol riot trial A federal judge has ruled that former Proud Boys national chairman Henry Enrique Tarrio must remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he conspired with other members of the far-right extremist group to attack the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said in an order issued late Friday that Tarrio poses a danger to the public. The judge refused to release Tarrio on bond. An indictment in March charged Tarrio and others with plotting to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and interfere with the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote, which Democrat Joe Biden won over Republican President Donald Trump. Children among 31 killed at church fair stampede in Nigeria ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Police say a stampede at a church charity event in southern Nigeria has left 31 people dead and seven injured. One witness said the dead included a pregnant woman and many children. Police said the stampede took place at an annual Shop for Free program organized by the Kings Assembly Pentecostal church in Rivers state. Such events are common in Nigeria, Africas largest economy, where more than 80 million people live in poverty. Police say Saturdays charity program was supposed to begin at 9 a.m. but dozens arrived early and somehow the locked gate was broken open. Dozens of residents thronged the scene, mourning the dead. Doctors and emergency workers treated some of the injured as they lay in the open field. As US mourns shootings, NRA in turmoil but influence remains HOUSTON (AP) Nearly 10 years ago, the mass shooting of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School looked like it might lead to a breakthrough in the political stalemate on guns in the United States. That hope was dashed shortly afterward when the National Rifle Association's CEO gave a defiant speech. Now, Republicans are making similar points as the nation reels from the shooting that killed at least 19 children at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. While much has changed since Sandy Hook, and the NRA is not the powerhouse it once was, it seems that an expansive view of gun rights is so tightly woven into the fabric of conservatism it might not matter. 'Triangle of Sadness' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Fest CANNES, France (AP) Ruben Ostlunds social satire Triangle of Sadness has won the Palme dOr at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, handing Ostlund one of cinemas most prestigious prizes for the second time. Cannes also named Korean star Song Kang Ho best actor for his performance in Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-edas film Broker, about a Korean family seeking a home for an abandoned baby. Best actress went to Zar Amir Ebrahimi for her performance as a journalist in Ali Abbasis Holy Spider, a true-crime thriller about a serial killer targeting sex workers in Iran. This years award for best first film went to Riley Keough and Gina Gammell for War Pony, a drama about the Pine Ridge Reservation made with Oglala Lakota and Sicangu Lakota citizens. Madrid wins Champions League final marred by crowd chaos PARIS (AP) Real Madrid became European champion for a record-extending 14th time after beating Liverpool 1-0 in a Champions League final that started 37 minutes late because of disturbing crowd issues outside the Stade de France. Brazil winger Vinicius Junior scored the only goal with a close-range finish in the 59th. minute. It gave Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti a record fourth European Cup title. Madrid completed a Champions League-La Liga double. Liverpool finished the season that promised so much with just two domestic cups in England. Police deployed tear gas on Liverpool fans waiting in long lines to get into the stadium before kickoff. Some fans climbed fences to get into the stadium. 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. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) First she saw the graphic cellphone video showing Ahmaud Arberys shooting death in Georgia, then news that Breonna Taylor had been shot in her Kentucky home during a botched drug raid. But when Teresa Parks watched videos of the white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee onto a Black man's neck, and heard George Floyd cry out for his mother as his life drained away, she was spurred not just to tears, but also to action. After Floyd's May 2020 death, Parks and a friend formed a Black Lives Matter group in their hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, a largely white city that had elected no Black leaders since 1969. Parks' activism led to her appointment to a task force that city leaders said was designed to make the community more welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds. That task force issued a report in December 2021 with more than 60 recommendations, but so far the city commission hasnt discussed them. And that's not unusual. All over Kansas, elected leaders convened task forces or held town hall meetings to gather community input on racial justice and diversity issues after demonstrators in more than a dozen communities protested Floyds death. But almost two years later, the passion and energy evident in those protests hasnt translated into widespread change. One of the most common results has been formalizing changes that had already been made. Topeka and Lawrence police banned no-knock search warrants, for example, but police in both cities had already discontinued the practice. In several Kansas cities including Wichita and Kansas City, police have put into writing the practices they said they had already adopted. Lauren Bonds, the legal director for a New Orleans-based group of lawyers, legal workers and law students called the National Police Accountability Project, said local leaders sometimes form working groups when they want to appear to be on the right side of an issue but lack the political will to make real change. Youll put some people of color on it, and then youll be able to point to that when someone says you didnt respond to this egregious situation, but then you dont actually have to change anything, said Bonds, who is based in Kansas City, Kansas. The Hispanic population in Kansas has more than quadrupled over the last 30 years, largely because of immigrants attracted to jobs in the meatpacking industry in the southwest of the state, and the Black population grew 15% between 1990 and 2020. But Kansas remains largely white and non-Hispanic; 72% of residents self-identified as such in the 2020 census and the Kansas Legislature was 92% white that year according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Proposals pushed by advocacy groups on behalf of racial justice in Kansas typically stall. After the Floyd protests, for example, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed a committee on racial equity and justice, saying communities of color do not have the luxury of time for leaders to address these issues. But neither the panel nor the governor pushed the Legislature to adopt the groups recommendations. And this year, the momentum in the Republican-controlled Legislature swung away from racial justice toward limiting what public schools teach about racism and tightening voting laws. Kevin Willmott, a University of Kansas film professor who in 2019 won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for BlacKkKlansman, said that when elected officials create task force groups, they often face little opposition, giving people hope that they can bring change. But then the task force doesnt change anything, Willmott said. So it appears on the surface like youre being brought to water, but youre not allowed to drink. They know that you just allow the focus to drift away and then you get to go back to normal. Until the next George Floyd, which might be in Kansas. You never know, he said. Post-Floyd racial justice efforts in other Kansas cities have seen mixed results. In Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, then-Mayor David Alvey created a task force in 2020 to discuss policing practices, but he told task force members not to advocate for specific changes during meetings. It was such a politically charged atmosphere, Alvey said. I wanted to keep the politics out of it as much as possible. About a quarter of Wyandotte Countys population is Black and voters have elected a similar percentage of Black commissioners since 2005. Alvey narrowly lost reelection last year to Tyrone Garner, who became the communitys first Black mayor. Garner, who previously served as deputy police chief, ran for office on a police reform platform. He also announced a new committee to look into policing practices, which he said would unlike his predecessors group craft proposals for the city to vote on. The committee held introductory meetings last month. Garners views of the community and policing have been shaped by his years as a police officer. Early in his career, a Black police major told him about how minority officers previously werent allowed to arrest or interact with white residents. Stories like that prompted Garner to pay attention to how colleagues talked about minority police leaders and officers. Among other things, Garner hopes his new task force will consider requiring an outside law enforcement agency to conduct police misconduct investigations. Discussions are in progress in other Kansas communities. In Topeka, a task force set up by a former mayor is reviewing police policies in response to proposals to ban chokeholds, prohibit officers from firing at fleeing suspects and create an independent citizen panel to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The group has met for almost two years and hasnt made any recommendations to the City Council. City commissioners in Salina approved a 2020 proposal to create a new citizens review board, but advocates were disappointed that it didnt give the board authority to investigate complaints. In the affluent Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, where Black residents make up about 1% of the population, the citys budget this year included $10,000 for a diversity committee that is using some of the funds to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. After rallies in the southwestern Kansas community of Liberal following Floyds death, the city held a town hall where attendees discussed their experiences with racism. Latinos make up almost two-thirds of Liberals population. About a month after the meeting, Liberal city commissioners passed an ordinance calling for similar public forums as needed, but so far no other meetings have occurred. Racial justice advocate Kathleen Alonso pushed for the ordinance, but told the AP that she had shifted focus to increasing voter turnout. In November, Liberal elected two Hispanic members to the city commission, including its first Latina city commissioner. In Manhattan, Parks, the local Black Lives Matter founder, is hopeful instead of frustrated that the city hasn't yet taken up the task force's more than 60 recommendations. Many of them are outside the city governments control, but some are in its purview, including the hiring of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer to work across city-sponsored organizations. Through her involvement, Parks has gained a line of communication with police that enables her to share information with other residents when theyre worried about something theyre hearing or seeing on social media. Thats leading to a better relationship between police and Black residents, who make up about 6% of the community, and that was one of Parks' main goals. Shortly before her Black Lives Matter groups 2020 demonstration, Parks met an officer to contact with concerns. That new line of communication was tested that year when a witness made a video recording of a man who appeared to be having a seizure while he was detained in handcuffs. Parks contacted the officer and learned from police that they had kept him in handcuffs to prevent him from injuring himself. They answered every single question that we had and we were able to bring that back and kind of give people a little bit of clarity about the situation, Parks said. It's all aimed at meeting Parks' goal of avoiding a high-profile police killing like George Floyd's in Manhattan. To hear that grown man call out for his mother I just couldnt I cant even talk about it, Parks said, her voice shaking. That is just something I would never want to see for my kids. Andy Tsubasa Field 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. On Twitter, follow Andy Tsubasa Field at https://twitter.com/AndyTsubasaF 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. October 12, 1940, was a sun-drenched autumn day in Southern Arizona, with afternoon temperatures reaching toward 85 degrees. North of Tucson, along Highway 79 on the way to Florence, the desert terrain was gritty and parched. A car pushing 75 miles an hour could be seen from miles away thanks to billowing swirls of powdery dust it kicked up. Only a few automobiles could deliver that kind of speed back then. This car was a 1937 Super-Charged V8 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible designed and built in Indiana. Driven by a bonafide cowboy, the radiant yellow roadster with a red leather interior was a one-of-a-kind American touring car. Further up Route 79, near mile marker 115 about 18 miles south of Florence, the bridge was washed out by flash floods. Warning signs and barriers were in place with work crews on site. Standing on the brakes, the driver tried to stop his coffin-nosed Cord convertible, swerved twice, then rolled over into the wash. Not long before the crash, the driver had left a saloon at Oracle Junction, near the current Lupes Restaurant. He reportedly imbibed in whisky and played a few poker hands with good friend Bud White before leaving to meet with relatives in Florence. He never made it. At approximately 2:12 p.m. that day, Thomas Hezikiah Mix, age 60, was dead. Lore has it that Mix met with Pima County Sheriff Ed Echols for supper a night earlier and later bunked at the old Santa Rita Hotel in Tucson. Mix reportedly gambled and drank until 3 a.m. with hotel musicians. At around 1 p.m. that day, he drove north out of Tucson on Oracle Road. Tom made 370 Western movies and at the time was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, earning up to $18,000 a week more than $220,000 in todays dollars. He was one of the most famous men in the world. Many films were shot at his ranch in Prescott. During the stock market crash, he lost his wealth, including his home in Beverly Hills, the Bar Circle Ranch, and movie studios in Prescott. Mix was married five times and paid dearly for four divorce decrees. Upon his death that fateful Saturday afternoon, his remains were taken to a small mortuary in Florence. Later, his body was flown from Tucson to California for a Freemason Masonic and military funeral service. Movie stars and thousands of fans attended the Oct. 16, 1940, service. Among them: Gene Autry, Gary Cooper, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Mickey Rooney, Buck Jones, Harry Carey, Samuel Goldwyn and Cecil B. DeMille. Mix was dressed in his favorite white Western dress suit and buried with his boots on in a bronze casket. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Pima County Sheriff Ed Echols was an honorary pallbearer. Tom Mix was a magically magnetic, almost mystical, celebrity who created a celebrated historic Western legend in his era. He is still regarded as one of the most influential actors in films. In 1967, Mixs fame endured when his likeness was featured with other 20th century celebrities on the cover of the Beatles Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Two years to the day of the movie stars demise, Tony The Wonder Horse, Mixs beloved steed, died. The remarkably trained horse, which comprehended hundreds of word commands, lived to be 40 years old. Tony is memorialized at the top of the stone monument near the Highway 79 wash, where Mix died. Next month: An Arizona man restored Tom Mixs luxury car. Photos: Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Movie actors in Tucson Jerry Wilkerson is a former press secretary for two U.S. Congressmen and was a correspondent for WBBM Chicago CBS Newsradio and Chicago Daily News. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and a former Police Commissioner. Email: franchise@att.net Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The University of Central Oklahoma College of Mathematics and Science recently awarded a scholarship to Coweta resident Madison Gray in recognition of her academic excellence and outstanding service to the university. Gray, a nursing major, received the Dr. Robert Curly Endowed Scholarship in Nursing. On behalf of the faculty and staff in the College of Mathematics and Science, I congratulate each of our scholarship recipients, said Gloria Caddell, Ph.D., dean of Centrals College of Mathematics and Science. The achievements of these outstanding students reflect the mission of the college and the university. We applaud them for their commitment to academic excellence and exceptional work. We are also grateful to our alumni and the benefactors of our college whose generosity made these awards possible. For more information about the UCO College of Mathematics and Science, visit uco.edu/cms. TOKYO (AP) Fusako Shigenobu, who co-founded the terrorist group Japanese Red Army, was released from prison Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence, and apologized for hurting innocent people. I feel strongly that I have finally come out alive, she said, welcomed by her daughter and a crowd of reporters and supporters in Tokyo. I have hurt innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first. Although those were different times, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize deeply, said Shigenobu, who wore a black hat and gray suit. Shigenobu was convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy in the Hague, the Netherlands. She was arrested in 2000 in Osaka in central Japan, where she had been in hiding. The Japanese Red Army, formed in 1971 and linked with Palestinian militants, took responsibility for several attacks including the takeover of the U.S. Consulate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1975. The group is also believed to have been behind a 1972 machine-gun and grenade attack on the international airport near Tel Aviv, Israel that killed 28 people, including two terrorists, and injured dozens of people. Shigenobu was not physically present in the attacks. A year after her arrest, she declared the group dissolved. Japanese media reports said Shigenobu had undergone surgery for cancer during her incarceration. Kozo Okamoto, who was injured and arrested in the Israeli airport attack, was released in 1985 in a prisoner exchange between Israeli and Palestinian forces. He is reportedly in Lebanon. Okamoto and several other members of the group are still wanted by Japanese authorities. Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A 92-year-old Tulsa woman was killed Friday morning in a collision near Inola, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Georgiv Snelson was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze when the collision occurred about 11:45 a.m. at U.S. 412 and Gregory School Road four miles west of Inola. A passenger in her vehicle, a Tulsa youth, was flown by helicopter to a Tulsa hospital in critical condition, troopers said. Snelson was also taken to a Tulsa hospital, where she died, troopers said. The driver of a 2006 Jeep Liberty that was also involved in the collision, a man from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, reportedly was not injured. Troopers said they were still investigating what caused the collision. A man wanted for murder in Wisconsin was apprehended by Tulsa police at downtown Greyhound Bus Station Friday morning. Police say the manager of the bus station, located at 317 S. Detroit Ave., reported that a man had a firearm on a bus and wanted him removed. Once officers confronted Tiron Washington, he took off running. Police say witnesses saw the man put the gun on top of a tire of a parked car. Police secured the weapon and continued the search. The suspect was arrested after a foot chase. Police say he presented a Florida drivers license and a Social Security card with a different name on it. Police say once the man later gave his real name, multiple warrants for his arrest were discovered out of Illinois and Wisconsin. The charges from Wisconsin included first-degree homicide, use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm. He also faces additional charges in Oklahoma for possession of a firearm, false personation, obstruction, resisting arrest, possession of a fake ID and carrying a concealed weapon. Washington will be extradited to Wisconsin. 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 two-year moratorium on new medical marijuana grower, dispensary and processor licenses begins Aug. 1 in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority will stop processing applications for new grower, dispensary and processor licenses after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3208 on Thursday. Current grower, dispensary and processor licenses are not affected by the legislation, according to a news release. The moratorium ends Aug. 1, 2024, or earlier if the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority determines all pending license reviews, inspections or investigations are complete. All of our current grower, dispensary and processor licensees who stay in compliance with our rules should know HB 3208 doesnt change anything for them owners of current licenses will still be able to apply for renewal when its time, OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry said in the release. OMMA stands ready to implement HB 3208 by incorporating it into our rules during the rulemaking process, fulfilling the regulatory duties entrusted in us by Gov. Stitt, the Legislature and every Oklahoman. Most applicants for new and renewed grower, dispensary and processor licenses may still resubmit a corrected license application once if the initial application is rejected after Aug. 1. Some circumstances may require a denial, and other circumstances could allow an additional chance to resubmit a corrected application. After Aug. 1, any applicant for a grower, dispensary or processor application whose application is denied may not apply for a new license until the moratorium is over. Licensees who surrender a license after Aug. 1 also may not apply for a new one during the moratorium. Any grower, dispensary or processor licensee who allows the license to expire after Aug. 1 without submitting a renewal application will not be able to apply for a renewed or new license during the moratorium. Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action has opposed the moratorium since it was proposed, as well as a new law increasing license fees. Stitt said earlier in his 2022 State of the State address that such steps are necessary as bad actors have been able to get a foothold in Oklahomas medical marijuana industry. 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 had been over 10 years since Kylie Willis last heard it. But there could be no mistaking that voice. It was her late fathers. And somehow, it seemed to be addressing her directly. It happened last year when I was about 6 or 7 months pregnant with my daughter Cassie, Willis said. One day I just suddenly hear this voice in my head. And its my dad. And he was saying, I kissed her. Though the words were clear, at first Willis wasnt sure what to make of it. But now, she said, I think he was telling me that he kissed Cassie he kissed her before he sent her down to us. Her daughter, now 5 months old, is still a little too young to learn about her grandfather, Staff Sgt. Kirk Owen, Willis added. But when the time is right, the kiss is the first memory Im going to share with her, she said. This Monday will mark the 10th Memorial Day that Owen, an Oklahoma National Guardsman killed in action in Afghanistan, has been present only as a memory for Willis and her family. After first interviewing his survivors in 2011, the Tulsa World caught up with Willis recently to talk about her 10-year journey since, and how shes honoring her fathers memory with her career. Willis is now in her fourth year with Children of Fallen Patriots, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that provides college scholarships and educational counseling to children who have lost a military parent in the line of duty, or Gold Star children as they are known. Willis, who is married now and enjoying life as a new mom, was a beneficiary of the program, which helped her graduate debt-free with a bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University in 2018. More recently, Willis younger sister, Kayci, also took advantage of the program, earning a degree from the University of Oklahoma. At the time of her own graduation, Willis never guessed she would go to work for the organization. But the next thing she knew, she had accepted a job and was moving to D.C., she said. As an enrollment coordinator, my job is to find all of the eligible students for our scholarships, she said. In the past three years, shes helped the organization enroll around 1,300, while building up a database of around 11,000 potential clients. Helping ensure that the next generation of Gold Star children can get a college education is a mission she can feel good about, she said. And its also helping her heal after the loss of her father. I was very lost Kirk Owen, who served with the Sand Springs-based 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, joined the National Guard at age 31. He served as a chaplains assistant in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and went on to serve a yearlong deployment in the infantry in Iraq in 2007-08. At the time of his death in Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2011, he was a scout. Owen, 37, was one of several Oklahoma guardsmen killed during the deployment. With many of them leaving behind families, Willis and her sister found themselves at the center of a small community of new Gold Star children. I was the oldest at 15, she said. My sister was next. Everyone else was like under 10. So there were quite a few, and they were all very young. As the oldest, I always felt kind of like the leader, she added. I just felt that if somebody was going to have a voice, it needed to be me. Willis was still young herself, though, and at an age when a fathers absence is felt deeply. I was very lost for quite a while, she said. Even through college, I had a really rough time. I struggled with depression and anxiety. It wasnt until she joined Children of Fallen Patriots, she said, that she met others her age who had been through what she had. And it has helped spur her healing. Willis said, Its really been within the past three or four years that Ive started to figure out who I was and kind of define my life, not making the tragedy the center of it. Because thats what it was for the longest time. Still worth it The family has continued adjusting to its loss over the last decade. But last year, briefly, it seemed like any healing that had occurred might come undone. It was on a trip back to Oklahoma for the 10th anniversary of her fathers death that Willis heard the news about the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. That was a long month for me and my family, Willis said, adding that the capital city of Kabul officially fell on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the day Owen was buried. When all the questions followed of whether Afghanistan and the sacrifice of so many lives had been worth it it made Willis angry. My message continually through all of that was this was not for nothing. And I think my dad would agree, she said. Much good was accomplished on behalf of Afghan citizens, she said. And it would not have been possible if it werent for soldiers like my dad and many other fathers and mothers of students and friends that I have now. It was for something. It was still worth it. Despite coinciding with that news, the return trip to mark the anniversary was good for Willis. She got to share it with her sister and their mother Tiffany, who still lives in Sapulpa. They visited meaningful sites, including Owen Park, a park that was dedicated in Owens honor in the neighborhood where the family lived. Theres also her dads gravesite at Sapulpas Green Hill Cemetery. Hes buried there under a tree, Willis said. He had told my mom that was what he wanted if anything ever happened to him. Willis stored up more memories on that trip, and she expects shell be reliving many of them on Monday. The memory of the kiss, as she calls it, is especially dear to her. Memorial Day can be a really hard day, she said. But my dad would not want us to sit around moping, sulking and being sad. So I always make an effort to get out and enjoy the life that I have because of what he has done for me. And Willis hopes that what she, in turn, is doing for others honors Owens memory. Lives have literally been changed because of this organization, she said of Children of Fallen Patriots. I would just ask everyone to share the word, she said. Thats the biggest thing. Thats how we find families. Its kind of surprising how many people you might know that we could help. For more information, go to fallenpatriots.org. Video: Oklahomas most beautiful places to visit. 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. This Memorial Day weekend will offer plenty of opportunities to commemorate the lives of those whove died in service to their country, led by two of the Tulsa areas oldest holiday traditions. The Memorial Day ceremony at Tulsas Memorial Park Cemetery, co-sponsored by American Legion Post 1, returns on Monday after two years off due to the pandemic. The ceremony officially starts at 10 a.m. at the cemetery, 5111 S. Memorial Drive. In Broken Arrow, the annual Memorial Day Weekend Ceremony and Avenue of Flags will return for a 50th year at Floral Haven Cemetery, 6500 S. 129th East Ave. The event, which was scaled back during the pandemic, kicks off with a program at 10 a.m. Saturday. Over 4,000 flags will be flying, donated over many years from the caskets of military veterans. Flags donated in the past year will be raised at the end of Saturdays observance ceremony. Other events are planned through Monday at Floral Haven. The annual reading of the honor roll, which includes the names of all the veterans buried at Floral Haven during the past year, will occur over the Veterans Field Carillon Tower. Times are 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m. Monday. Prior to the ceremony Monday at Memorial Park, the Tulsa Community Band will perform starting at 9:30 a.m., with a flyover by Tulsa Warbirds also at that time. The ceremony will include keynote remarks by war veteran Eric Ramos and 1st Sgt. Jermaine Hawkins, who is currently in service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Field of Heroes Veterans Park in Tulsa will be the site of the fourth annual Memorial Day Field of Heroes, hosted by Tulsa VFW Post 577 and Survivor Outreach Services Oklahoma. The Field of Heroes is a display of empty boots representing Oklahomas fallen service members. This display has and will continue to allow Gold Star families, veterans and our Tulsa community to all remember our fallen and experience the emptiness left behind by their selfless sacrifice, said Josh Starks, Tulsa VFW Post 577 past commander. The public dedication will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, but the display will run Saturday morning through Monday evening. Free film screenings Circle Cinema is hosting free Memorial Day screenings of the film American Veteran: The Return. The screenings are set for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday at the cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave. Memorabilia from Oklahoma veterans will be on display, courtesy of the Keith Myers Traveling Military Museum. Narrated by Oklahoma Walk of Fame inductee Wes Studi, the film traces the veteran experience across American history and exploring the present-day divide between civilian and veteran communities. From citizen-soldiers returning from the Revolution to todays warrior class, it illuminates the veteran experience. Flash UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Thursday praised China's support for the UN peacekeeping operations. "China is one of our main supporters, really both in terms of the financial contributions, also in terms of the contributions in the field with more than 2,000 peacekeepers," the UN peacekeeping chief told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. China is one of the member states "that also provides us with the voluntary funding," which, he said, is "extremely important" because it is "enabling us to carry out the number of reforms and new work trends that are indispensable to peacekeeping reforms." Lacroix said that they expect continuous support from China, and also "a cooperation that can help us adapt our peacekeeping missions to the evolving challenges." Lacroix underscored the importance of partnership with countries such as China and other countries with similar capabilities providing safety, security and medical support. Financial support from member states is "obviously critical," Lacroix said. The UN is aware that members' financial stability is under pressure as a result of the current situation, he said, however, the UN has to deliver on mandates and "we have to do so in a way that where the protection of our peacekeepers is insured, to the extent possible." That is the reason why the UN is implementing "the strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping," Lacroix explained, adding that the UN should apply the benefits of new technology to achieve more efficiency. This year, the UN will mark International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29 annually, under the theme "People. Peace. Progress. The Power of Partnerships." Through this theme, Lacroix said, the UN hopes to send a message to member states: be consistent, which means the member states are encouraged to support the UN peacekeeping operations "with adequate resources." Webbers Falls, which locals describe proudly as a sleepy little town, erupted into chaos on the Sunday before Memorial Day 2002. An Arkansas River barge hit the Interstate 40 bridge at 7:45 that morning, collapsing all four lanes and sending eight passenger vehicles and three tractor-trailers plunging into the water. Fourteen people died, including a 3-year-old girl. And Webbers Falls, 100 miles southeast of Tulsa, became ground zero for one of the biggest news events in Oklahoma history. An army of first responders swarmed into the tiny town, nearly doubling its population, and media came from around the world to camp out at a local convenience store. It was just really, really hectic, said Jewell Horne-Hall, who was the mayor at the time. We were just busy. In fact, I think I was up about 19 hours that first day. Twenty years later, Horne-Hall will lead a commemoration ceremony Monday morning, attracting survivors and victims families from as far away as Texas and Arkansas. The town hosted annual commemorations until 2019, when widespread flooding caused extensive damage in the area. Then COVID-19 disrupted plans in 2020 and 21, making this weekends event the first in four years. Participants will gather at 10 a.m. near the Webbers Falls memorial, a sculpture built from steel beams salvaged from the bridge and featuring an angel reaching for a dove. Federal investigators blamed the tragedy on the tugboat captains heart condition, which apparently caused him to black out and lose control of the barge. The state rebuilt the bridge in record time, reopening the span just 64 days, 2 hours and 40 minutes after it collapsed. But in the meantime, interstate traffic detoured through Webbers Falls, causing 24-hour traffic jams. Some people thought maybe it would help the small businesses, said Horne-Hall. I dont think it did because the traffic was so heavy that if people got off, it was hard for them to get back on. It may have hurt some of the businesses instead of helping. Faith helped the town cope with the tragedy, she said. We got through it with Gods help because God is always with us if we turn to him. 2019 video and photos: Crews remove sunken barge remnants from Webbers Falls dam(tncms-asset)22dfba2b-8d31-5ff5-9782-279c34721ea7[1](/tncms-asset) 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. Among the new laws passed this legislative session is one moving toward solutions for what advocates have called Oklahomas youth suicide epidemic. House Bill 4106 by Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt last week. It directs public school districts and local mental health providers to develop a protocol for handling students in crisis. It is backed by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and state Education Department. Supporters say districts have a patchwork of different policies on how to respond to students at risk of harming themselves or others. Some districts have no formal process. The law seeks to link community resources for children and youth. Its a good first step, but not nearly enough. No funding has been attached to the law, meaning it doesnt broaden services or lower costs. The law addresses acute situations in which students are in immediate need. It doesnt provide for preventative care or treatment for symptoms leading to a crisis. It doesnt put licensed therapists in schools. HB 4106 provides a foundation for the worst situations. It is necessary and important, but hopefully its the beginning a much larger approach. We applaud the lawmakers who shepherded this law through the legislative process. Too often, Oklahomas greatest threats get drowned out by the culture wars meant to gain favor in an election year. Youth suicides, suicidal ideation and other brain health disorders have increased significantly in the last few years, exacerbated by the isolation and uncertainly of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, Zack Stoycoff, executive director of the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, called the states youth suicide situation a true epidemic, noting that Oklahoma sees almost 10 suicides or overdose deaths per 100,000 people in the 10-17 year old age range. Thats 32% above the national average. School assessments indicate that 17% of Oklahoma students considered suicide in 2020 and 9.8% attempted. Hospital emergency rooms saw double the number of youths in suicidal crisis, sometimes leaving no beds for kids in physical health emergencies, according to Healthy Minds. In January, the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information reported an alarming increase of poisonings with self-harm intent among adolescent girls. Cases more than doubled in a 10-day period, most using over-the-counter medications. Tulsa World reporter Curtis Killman found that during the pandemic, Oklahoma experienced a 12% uptick in deaths due to suicide, drug overdoses and alcoholism. Suicide makes up the highest number of those brain health deaths, according to his analysis. Youth mental health needs to be on every Oklahoma priority list. Our children are dying preventable deaths, and our families need help. Schools cannot do this alone; educators are not therapists. We thank the lawmakers who championed this bill and look forward to building on it in the coming years. 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. Oklahoma is where I was born and raised. I love this state and our people. Every legislative session, more young Okies like me weigh the decision to leave. Why should we want to raise our future families in schools relying on emergency certified teachers and are falling apart due to legislators refusal to fund them adequately? Even in a year with flush surpluses, education funding increases are practically flat. If Texas schools can afford to put up billboards in Oklahoma, can you fault us for imagining what their classrooms are like? I agonize over a future scenario where my spouse might face an ectopic pregnancy and be forced to die alongside my unborn child who would face the same tragic fate regardless. It sounds like a dystopian nightmare, but every legislative session, it becomes closer to reality. The vast majority of my most brilliant OU classmates have already decided to take their degrees and leave. I want to stay and attempt to positively impact the state and the people I love dearly. However, every year that decision becomes more difficult to reconcile. Our Legislature spends millions in taxpayer dollars to provide solutions to problems that simply dont exist yet nothing changes, and the cycle repeats the following year. Legislators actions provide them with a great primary campaign mailer while leaving the rest of us with little to no tangible positive change. If this continues, young Oklahomans may have no option but to flee the state weve always called home. Editor's note: Oklahoma law banning abortions allows exceptions 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. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter. 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. BANGKOK -- Thailand and Vietnam are in talks on a pact to raise the price of their rice exports to increase their leverage in the global market and improve farmer incomes, a Thai government official said on Friday. Agriculture officials from Thailand and Vietnam, the world's second and third biggest rice exporters, met in Bangkok on Friday to discuss joint measures to support their farmers and rice industries and manage growing production costs. "We aim to raise rice prices, increase farmer income and increase bargaining power in the global market," Thai government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said in a statement after discussions on the sidelines of a farms expo. "The rice price has been low for more than 20 years while the cost of production has been increasing." Vietnam's agriculture ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. Vietnam and Thailand account for roughly 10% of global production of rough rice, and about 26% of global exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any move to raise prices would be bad news for buyers and consumers amid rising global food prices. Big exporter Thailand is seeing rising foreign demand for its agricultural commodities, helped by a weaker currency. India, the world's top rice shipper, accounts for about 40% of global supply but prices hit a five-year low this week on a weaker Indian rupee and abundant supply in top exporting countries. So far in 2022, Thai export prices for 5% broken rice have averaged about $420 a tonne, or 16% more than India's average of $363. The chairman of Vietnam's Food Association said his organisation would meet its Thai counterpart in June for more talks on rice production but would not aim to control prices. "The meeting will focus on measures to cooperate in sustainable food production," Nguyen Ngoc Nam told Reuters. "It's not reasonable to talk about raising or controlling rice prices at this time when global food price is on the rise." He said Vietnam's priority was managing exports to ensure its own food security, adding it would export 6 million tonnes of the grain this year, down from 6.24 million tonnes last year. India does not plan to curb rice exports because it has sufficient stocks and local rates were lower than state-set support prices, trade and government sources said on Thursday. Standing in the middle of a stretch of land surrounded by dunes and pine forest, Juan Romero examines the cracked ground then stares at the dusty horizon. "It's dry... really dry," the retired teacher said at the huge Donana National Park in southern Spain, home to one of Europe's largest wetlands, which is threatened by intensive farming. "At this time of the year this should be covered with water and full of flamingos," added Romero, a member of Save Donana, a group that has been fighting for years to protect the park. Water supplies to the park have declined dramatically due to climate change and the over-extraction of water by neighbouring strawberry farms, often through illegal wells, scientists say. The situation could soon get worse as the regional government of Andalusia, where Donana is located, has proposed expanding irrigation rights for strawberry farmers near the park. It's a battle pitting environmentalists against politicians and farmers, and the proposal to widen irrigation rights has drawn backlash from the EU, the UN and major European grocery store chains. Water supplies to Donana have declined drastically in recent years because of climate change and intensive farming. Photo: AFP The proposal would regularise nearly 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) of berry farmland currently irrigated by illegal wells, said Juanjo Carmona of the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). "For Donana it would be a disaster," he added. The park, whose diverse ecosystem of lagoons, marshes, forests and dunes stretch across 100,000 hectares, is on the migratory route of millions of birds each year and is home to many rare species such as the Iberian lynx. "Donana is a paradise for migrating birds. But this ecosystem is threatened," said Romero. The driving force behind the plan to extend irrigation rights is the conservative Popular Party (PP), which governs the southern region of Andalusia with the support of far-right party Vox. The plan's fate will be decided after a snap poll in Andalusia on June 19 but with both parties riding high in the polls the controversial proposal looks set to go head. Guided tours of Donana National Park, which is threatened by intensive strawberry farming, are popular. Photo: AFP 'Red gold' Defenders of the proposal argue it will aid those who unfairly missed out during a previous regularisation of farms in the area put in place in 2014 under a Socialist government. About 9,000 hectares of farms were regularised but another 2,000 hectares that started being farmed after 2004 were deemed illegal. "This plan was badly done. It should have used 2014 as the cut-off date," said Rafael Segovia, a lawmaker with Vox in Andalusia's outgoing regional parliament. The proposed amnesty "does not present any danger for Donana", Segovia said, adding people should take into account the "economic importance of the sector". Huelva, the drought-prone province where the park is located, produces 300,000 tonnes of strawberries a year, 90 percent of Spain's output. Known locally as "red gold", strawberry farming employs some 100,000 people and accounts for nearly eight percent of Andalusia's economic output. UNESCO, the UN's cultural agency, has designated the park one of its World Heritage sites and has called for illegal farms near Donana to be dismantled. It has warned that the regional government's plan would have an impact that would be "difficult to reverse". The European Commission has also weighed in. It has threatened to impose "hefty fines" if any steps were taken to extract more water from Donana park after a European court ruling last year scolded Spain for not protecting its ecosystem. And around 20 European supermarket chains, including Lidl, Aldi and Sainsbury's, sent the regional government a letter urging it to abandon the plan. Over-extraction of water by neighbouring strawberry farms, often through illegal wells, have caused water supplies to Donana to decline. Photo: AFP 'Ruin us' Consumers may get the impression that all strawberries in Huelva come from illegal farms, said Manuel Delgado, the spokesman of an association that represents some 300 local farms. "This situation will likely cause a major reputational problem," he said. The group, the association of farmers Puerta de Donana, argues the plan to extend irrigation rights would "only serve the interests of a minority". "Water resources are limited," said Delgado, who fears farms will be forced to drastically reduce the amount of land they cultivate due to a lack of water. "That would ruin us," he said. Backers of the plan, including other larger farmers' associations, reject these concerns. "There is no water problem in Huelva, it's a lie," said Segovia, the Vox lawmaker. He said water could be diverted to the province's farms from the Guadiana River on the border with Portugal, a solution rejected as "not sustainable" by the WWF. "When there is no rain, there is no rain everywhere," said the WWF's Carmona, adding Spain should instead rethink its agricultural model. Passions are running high. Romero said ecologists who oppose the plan have received death threats. "Without radical changes to curb the overexploitation of water resources, Donana will be a desert," he said. HOUSTON/WASHINGTON -- Former President Donald Trump on Friday argued the United States should make it easier to confine "deranged" people and eliminate gun-free school zones after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers this week at a Texas school. "Clearly, we need to make it far easier to confine the violent and mentally deranged into mental institutions," Trump said in a speech at a convention in Houston of the National Rifle Association, a gun rights advocacy group. Tuesday's fatal shooting of 19 pupils and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, by an 18-year-old gunman equipped with an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle again focused attention on the NRA, a major donor to Congress members, mostly Republicans. On suggestions to improve the security of schools, Trump said every school should have a single point of entry, strong fencing and metal detectors, adding there should also be a police official or an armed guard at all times in every school. "This is not a matter of money. This is a matter of will. If the United States has $40 billion to send to Ukraine, we can do this," he said, referring to Washington's financial and military support for Ukraine after Russia's attack in February. The former U.S. president also called for eliminating gun-free school zones, adding that such zones leave victims with no means to defend themselves in case of an attack by an armed person. "As the age-old saying goes, the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," Trump added. "The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens." Video images of the main auditorium in Houston, which holds about 3,600 people, showed it to be about half-full as Trump took the stage on Friday afternoon. Nguyen Duy Hai, who had his 200lb tumor removed in 2012, died early this morning at Lam Dong general hospital. >> 200lb tumor patients life one year after surgery Pham Vu Thanh, a doctor at Lam Dong hospital, confirmed with Tuoi Tre that Hai developed difficulty breathing and was in a coma when he was hospitalized at 4pm on Oct. 24. Thanh added that hospital staff put Hai on a ventilator and gave him emergency medical care but failed to save his life. Dr. Bui Xuan Thanh, deputy director of Lam Dong general hospital, told Tuoi Tre that Hais family rushed him to Hoan My Da Lat hospital before admitting him to Lam Dong hospital. His family said Hai suffered acute pain from the tumor incision before his death. Dr. Jean-Marcel Guillon, Chief Executive Officer of FV hospital where Hai was operated on last year, responded by email that the hospital has assigned a team to attend go over Hai's residential home in Da Lat central highlands city for the funeral service. The team will also work with their counterparts from Hoan My Da Lat hospital and Lam Dong hospital to find out the cause of his death. "At the moment, we are trying to understand. It seems that it happened very suddenly, but we dont know yet for sure" - Dr. Guillon said. Check out the news you should not miss today: Society -- Sixty-three people were found using narcotics after police officers raided a club in Ho Chi Minh City in the small hours of Friday. -- Three sanitation workers and residents leapt into a lake to save a mother who was carrying her two children when she committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in the northern province of Thanh Hoa on Friday afternoon. -- A tree was uprooted in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, crushing a passing automobile during the prolonged rains and strong winds that hit Ho Chi Minh City on Friday evening. -- Police in the southern province of Binh Duong on Friday arrested two suspects for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring where over one kilogram of methamphetamine was confiscated. -- From January through April, the enforcement team at Ho Chi Minh City's bus stations, ferry terminals, and water terminals sanctioned five instances of smoking in public and warned 592 cases, the Center for Health Consultation and Community Development said on Friday. -- Police in the Mekong Delta Province of Tien Giang on Friday arrested a 34-year-old man for using petrol to burn another man to death over conflict. Health -- Dong Nai Province recorded more than 340 cases of dengue fever requiring hospitalization in the most recent week, bringing the total number of cases to more than 3,150, with 70 percent of the patients under the age of 15. Business -- A representative of Vietnam's real estate giant Tan Hoang Minh Group said on Friday that the business had transferred VND296 billion (US$12.7 million) to the Ministry of Public Security to reimburse their investors. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!